26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.

L 16 And they stood in their place | vites, and all the congregation that after their manner, according to the came out of Israel, and the strangers law of Moses the man of God: the that came out of the land of Israel, priests sprinkled the blood, which they and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the pass-b 27 ¶ Then the priests the Levites overs for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.

arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling-place, even unto heaven.

CHAP. XXXI.

OW when all this was finish

b 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manaseet, Issachar and Zebulon, had noted, all Israel that were precleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one.

19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

sent went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

2 ¶ And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

f 20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.ƒ 21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. d 22 And Hezekiah spake comfort-d 3 He appointed also the king's ably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace-offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.

portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt-offerings, and the burnt-offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new-moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.

d 4 Moreover, he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and f24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did the Levites, that they might be engive to the congregation a thousand couraged in the law of the LORD. Bullocks and seven thousand sheep: f 5 And as soon as the comand the princes gave to the congre- mandment came abroad, the chilgation a thousand bullocks and ten dren of Israel brought in abundance thousand sheep and a great num- the first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil, ber of priests sanctified themselves. and honey, and of all the increase 25 And all the congregation of of the field; and the tithe of all Judah, with the priests and the Le-things brought they in abundantly.

:

6 And concerning the children of courses, as well to the great as to Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the the small. cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

16 Besides their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges, by their courses;

18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

f 19 Also of the sons of Aaron the
priests, which were in the fields of the
suburbs of their cities, in every se
veral city, the men that were ex-
pressed by name, to give portions to
all the males among the priests, and
to all that were reckoned by gene-
alogies among the Levites.
c 20 And thus did Hezekiah
throughout all Judah, and wrought
that which was good and right and
truth before the LORD his God.

11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them, 12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully over which Cona- 21 And in every work that he benial the Levite was ruler, and Shi-gan in the service of the house of mei his brother was the next. God, and in the law, and in the 13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and commandments, to seek his God, Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, he did it with all his heart, and prosand Jozabad, and Eliel, and Isma-pered. chiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, | were overseers under the hand of

Conaniah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

CHAP. XXXII.

establishment thereof, SenFTER these things, and the

nacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that be was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

f 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the free-will-offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things. f 15 And next him were Eden, ažd 3 He took counsel with his princes Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shema- and his mighty men to stop the waiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in ters of the fountains which were the cities of the priests, in their set without the city: and they did help office, to give to their brethren by him.

f4 So there was gathered much ple of other lands? were the gods people together, who stopped all the of the nations of those lands any fountains, and the brook that ran ways able to deliver their lands out through the midst of the land, say-of my hand? ing, Why should the kings of As-e 14 Who was there among all the syria come, and find much water? gods of those nations that my fathers 5 Also he strengthened himself, utterly destroyed, that could deliver and built up all the wall that was his people out of my hand, that your broken, and raised it up to the tow- God should be able to deliver you ers, and another wall without, and out of my hand? repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abun-ah deceive you, nor persuade you dance.

f 6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

c 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him.

8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

g 9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

15 Now therefore let not Hezeki

on this manner, neither yet believe
him for no god of any nation or
kingdom was able to deliver his
people out of my hand, and out of
the hand of my fathers how much
less shall your God deliver you out
of my hand?

f 16 And his servants spake yet
more against the LORD God, and
against his servant Hezekiah.
c 17 He wrote also letters to rail
on the LORD God of Israel, and to
speak against him, saying, As the
gods of the nations of other lands
have not delivered their people out
of my hand, so shall not the God of
Hezekiah deliver his people out of
my hand.

18 Then they cried with a loud voice, in the Jews' speech, unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

f 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king 19 And they spake against the of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, God of Jerusalem, as against the that ye abide in the siege in Jerusa-gods of the people of the earth, lem? which were the work of the hands of

11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade man. you to give over yourselves to died 20 And for this cause Hezekiah by famine and by thirst, saying, the king, and the prophet Isaiah the The LORD our God shall deliver us son of Amoz, prayed and cried to out of the hand of the king of As-heaven. syria?

12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places, and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the po

m 21 ¶ And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

f 22 Thus the LORD saved Heze- f 39 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of kiah and the inhabitants of Jerusa- Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, lem from the hand of Sennacherib they are written in the vision of Isaithe king of Assyria, and from the ah the prophet, the son of Amos, hand of all other, and guided them and in the book of the kings of Juon every side. dah and Israel.

23 And many brought gifts unto 33 And Hezekiah slept with his the LORD at Jerusalem, and pre-fathers, and they buried him in the sents to Hezekiah king of Judah: chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons so that he was magnified in the sight of David: and all Judah and the of all nations from thenceforth. inhabitants of Jerusalem did him hom 24 ¶ In those days Hezekiah was nour at his death and Manasseh his sick to the death, and prayed unto son reigned in his stead. the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.

CHAP. XXXIII.

ANASSEH was twelveyears

Mold when he began to reign,

and he reigned fifty and five years

u 25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted in Jerusalem : up therefore there was wrath upon c 2 But did that which was evil in him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. the sight of the LORD, like unto the e 26 Notwithstanding, Hezekiah abominations of the heathen, whom humbled himself for the pride of his the LORD had cast out before the heart, both he and the inhabitants children of Israel. of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

ƒ 3 ¶ For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared 27 And Hezekiah had exceed-up altars for Baalim, and made ing much riches and honour and groves, and worshipped all the host he made himself treasuries for sil-of heaven, and served them. ver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, of the LORD, whereof the LORD and for all manner of pleasant jew- had said, In Jerusalem shall my els: name be for ever.

28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.

4 Also he built altars in the house

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

o 6 And he caused his children to t 29 Moreover, he provided him pass through the fire in the valley of cities, and possessions of flocks and the son of Hinnom: also he observherds in abundance: for God had ed times, and used enchantments, given him substance very much.

30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper water-course of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

t 31 Howbeit, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. f 7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the

land which I have appointed for God, and the words of the seers that your fathers; so that they will take spake to him in the name of the heed to do all that I have command- LORD God of Israel, behold, they ed them, according to the whole law are written in the book of the kings and the statutes and the ordinances of Israel. by the hand of Moses.

9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.

19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built bigh places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the

c 10 And the LORD spake to Ma-
nasseh, and to his people: but they seers.
would not hearken.

f 20 So Manasseh slept with his g11 Wherefore the LORD fathers, and they buried him in his brought upon them the captains of own house and Amon his son

the host of the king of Assyria, reigned in his stead. which took Manasseh among the 21 T Amon was two and twenty thorns, and bound him with fetters, years old when he began to reign, and carried him to Babylon. and reigned two years in Jerusalem.

c 12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and c 22 But he did that which was evil humbled himself greatly before the in the sight of the LORD, as did God of his fathers, Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;

f 13 And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

23 And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but g 14 Now after this, he built a wall Amon trespassed more and more. without the city of David, on the 24 And his servants conspired west side of Gihon, in the valley, against him, and slew him in his own even to the entering in at the fish-house. gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.

f 15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that

he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

25 T But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

he

CHAP. XXXIV.

JOSIAH was eight years old

when he began to reign, and reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

16 And he repaired the altar of c 2 And he did that which was right the LORD, and sacrificed thereon in the sight of the LORD, and walkpeace-offerings and thank-offerings, ed in the ways of David his father, and commanded Judah to serve the and declined neither to the right LORD God of Israel. hand, nor to the left.

17 Nevertheless, the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only. f 18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his

d 3 ¶ For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and