Chapter II: Part 2

12:010:001 And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters,
and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the
elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,

12:010:002 Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's
sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses,
a fenced city also, and armour;

12:010:003 Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and
set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's
house.

12:010:004 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings
stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

12:010:005 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city,
the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to
Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou
shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is
good in thine eyes.

12:010:006 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye
be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the
heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel
by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy
persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought
them up.

12:010:007 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they
took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their
heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.

12:010:008 And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have
brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them
in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.

12:010:009 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and
stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I
conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all
these?

12:010:010 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the
word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of
Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his
servant Elijah.

12:010:011 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in
Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his
priests, until he left him none remaining.

12:010:012 And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was
at the shearing house in the way,

12:010:013 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said,
Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah;
and we go down to salute the children of the king and the
children of the queen.

12:010:014 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and
slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty
men; neither left he any of them.

12:010:015 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the
son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said
to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?
And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand.
And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the
chariot.

12:010:016 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So
they made him ride in his chariot.

12:010:017 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto
Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the
saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.

12:010:018 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them,
Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.

12:010:019 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his
servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have
a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting,
he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent
that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

12:010:020 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they
proclaimed it.

12:010:021 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of
Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And
they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was
full from one end to another.

12:010:022 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth
vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them
forth vestments.

12:010:023 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house
of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and
look that there be here with you none of the servants of the
LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.

12:010:024 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings,
Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the
men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that
letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.

12:010:025 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering
the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the
captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they
smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the
captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of
Baal.

12:010:026 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal,
and burned them.

12:010:027 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the
house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

12:010:028 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

12:010:029 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made
Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the
golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

12:010:030 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in
executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto
the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy
children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of
Israel.

12:010:031 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of
Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins
of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

12:010:032 In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael
smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

12:010:033 From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and
the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by
the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.

12:010:034 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all
his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles
of the kings of Israel?

12:010:035 And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in
Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

12:010:036 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was
twenty and eight years.

12:011:001 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was
dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

12:011:002 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah,
took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the
king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and
his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not
slain.

12:011:003 And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years.
And Athaliah did reign over the land.

12:011:004 And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over
hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to
him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them,
and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed
them the king's son.

12:011:005 And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall
do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall
even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;

12:011:006 And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part
at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of
the house, that it be not broken down.

12:011:007 And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even
they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the
king.

12:011:008 And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his
weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let
him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as
he cometh in.

12:011:009 And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things
that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man
his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that
should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

12:011:010 And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king
David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the
LORD.

12:011:011 And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand,
round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to
the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the
temple.

12:011:012 And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon
him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and
anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save
the king.

12:011:013 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the
people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.

12:011:014 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as
the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the
king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with
trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason,
Treason.

12:011:015 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the
hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have
her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill
with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain
in the house of the LORD.

12:011:016 And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the
which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she
slain.

12:011:017 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and
the people, that they should be the LORD's people; between the
king also and the people.

12:011:018 And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal,
and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in
pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before
the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house
of the LORD.

12:011:019 And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and
the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought
down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way
of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on
the throne of the kings.

12:011:020 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in
quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's
house.

12:011:021 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.

12:012:001 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty
years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was
Zibiah of Beersheba.

12:012:002 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD
all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

12:012:003 But the high places were not taken away: the people still
sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

12:012:004 And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the
dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD,
even the money of every one that passeth the account, the
money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh
into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

12:012:005 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his
acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house,
wheresoever any breach shall be found.

12:012:006 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king
Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the
house.

12:012:007 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the
other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the
breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of
your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the
house.

12:012:008 And the priests consented to receive no more money of the
people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

12:012:009 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the
lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as
one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that
kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into
the house of the LORD.

12:012:010 And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the
chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and
they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the
house of the LORD.

12:012:011 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them
that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the
LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders,
that wrought upon the house of the LORD,

12:012:012 And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and
hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD,
and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

12:012:013 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of
silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or
vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the
house of the LORD:

12:012:014 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the
house of the LORD.

12:012:015 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they
delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt
faithfully.

12:012:016 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the
house of the LORD: it was the priests'.

12:012:017 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath,
and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

12:012:018 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that
Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of
Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the
gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD,
and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria:
and he went away from Jerusalem.

12:012:019 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Judah?

12:012:020 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash
in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

12:012:021 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of
Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried
him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son
reigned in his stead.

12:013:001 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah
king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over
Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.

12:013:002 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and
followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made
Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

12:013:003 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he
delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into
the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.

12:013:004 And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto
him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of
Syria oppressed them.

12:013:005 (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out
from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel
dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

12:013:006 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of
Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there
remained the grove also in Samaria.)

12:013:007 Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty
horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the
king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the
dust by threshing.

12:013:008 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and
his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles
of the kings of Israel?

12:013:009 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in
Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

12:013:010 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began
Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria,
and reigned sixteen years.

12:013:011 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he
departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.

12:013:012 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and
his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah,
are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Israel?

12:013:013 And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his
throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of
Israel.

12:013:014 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died.
And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over
his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of
Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

12:013:015 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took
unto him bow and arrows.

12:013:016 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the
bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands
upon the king's hands.

12:013:017 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then
Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the
LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria:
for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have
consumed them.

12:013:018 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said
unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote
thrice, and stayed.

12:013:019 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou
shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou
smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou
shalt smite Syria but thrice.

12:013:020 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the
Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

12:013:021 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold,
they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the
sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and
touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his
feet.

12:013:022 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of
Jehoahaz.

12:013:023 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on
them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither
cast he them from his presence as yet.

12:013:024 So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in
his stead.

12:013:025 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of
Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out
of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did
Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

12:014:001 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel
reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.

12:014:002 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and
reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's
name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

12:014:003 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet
not like David his father: he did according to all things as
Joash his father did.

12:014:004 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people
did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

12:014:005 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in
his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king
his father.

12:014:006 But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto
that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein
the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to
death for the children, nor the children be put to death for
the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own
sin.

12:014:007 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took
Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this
day.

12:014:008 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz
son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one
another in the face.

12:014:009 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah,
saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that
was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife:
and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and
trode down the thistle.

12:014:010 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted
thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest
thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou,
and Judah with thee?

12:014:011 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel
went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another
in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.

12:014:012 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled
every man to their tents.

12:014:013 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son
of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to
Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate
of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

12:014:014 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that
were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of
the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

12:014:015 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his
might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they
not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Israel?

12:014:016 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria
with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his
stead.

12:014:017 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the
death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

12:014:018 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in
the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

12:014:019 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he
fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew
him there.

12:014:020 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem
with his fathers in the city of David.

12:014:021 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen
years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

12:014:022 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king
slept with his fathers.

12:014:023 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of
Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign
in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.

12:014:024 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he
departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
who made Israel to sin.

12:014:025 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath
unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD
God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant
Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of
Gathhepher.

12:014:026 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very
bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any
helper for Israel.

12:014:027 And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of
Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of
Jeroboam the son of Joash.

12:014:028 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and
his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and
Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

12:014:029 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of
Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

12:015:001 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel
began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

12:015:002 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he
reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's
name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

12:015:003 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD,
according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

12:015:004 Save that the high places were not removed: the people
sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

12:015:005 And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the
day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the
king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

12:015:006 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Judah?

12:015:007 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with
his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned
in his stead.

12:015:008 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did
Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six
months.

12:015:009 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as
his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

12:015:010 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote
him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

12:015:011 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12:015:012 This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu,
saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the
fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

12:015:013 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and
thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full
month in Samaria.

12:015:014 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to
Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and
slew him, and reigned in his stead.

12:015:015 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which
he made, behold, they are written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12:015:016 Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the
coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him,
therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were
with child he ripped up.

12:015:017 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began
Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten
years in Samaria.

12:015:018 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he
departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of
Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

12:015:019 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem
gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be
with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

12:015:020 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the
mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to
give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned
back, and stayed not there in the land.

12:015:021 And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Israel?

12:015:022 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son
reigned in his stead.

12:015:023 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son
of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned
two years.

12:015:024 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he
departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who
made Israel to sin.

12:015:025 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired
against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the
king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of
the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

12:015:026 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did,
behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Israel.

12:015:027 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah
the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and
reigned twenty years.

12:015:028 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he
departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who
made Israel to sin.

12:015:029 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king
of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah,
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land
of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

12:015:030 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the
son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in
his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

12:015:031 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did,
behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Israel.

12:015:032 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel
began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

12:015:033 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and
he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name
was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

12:015:034 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he
did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

12:015:035 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people
sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He
built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.

12:015:036 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Judah?

12:015:037 In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the
king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

12:015:038 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son
reigned in his stead.

12:016:001 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the
son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

12:016:002 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right
in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.

12:016:003 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made
his son to pass through the fire, according to the
abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from
before the children of Israel.

12:016:004 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on
the hills, and under every green tree.

12:016:005 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of
Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz,
but could not overcome him.

12:016:006 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and
drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and
dwelt there unto this day.

12:016:007 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria,
saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out
of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the
king of Israel, which rise up against me.

12:016:008 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house
of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and
sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

12:016:009 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of
Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the
people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

12:016:010 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of
Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz
sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the
pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

12:016:011 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that
king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it
against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

12:016:012 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the
altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered
thereon.

12:016:013 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and
poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his
peace offerings, upon the altar.

12:016:014 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the
LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar
and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the
altar.

12:016:015 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the
great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening
meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat
offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the
land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and
sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all
the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for
me to enquire by.

12:016:016 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz
commanded.

12:016:017 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed
the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the
brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon the pavement
of stones.

12:016:018 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the
house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house
of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

12:016:019 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

12:016:020 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in
his stead.

12:017:001 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son
of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.

12:017:002 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but
not as the kings of Israel that were before him.

12:017:003 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea
became his servant, and gave him presents.

12:017:004 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had
sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to
the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore
the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

12:017:005 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and
went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.

12:017:006 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria,
and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah
and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the
Medes.

12:017:007 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against
the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land
of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and
had feared other gods,

12:017:008 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast
out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of
Israel, which they had made.

12:017:009 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were
not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high
places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to
the fenced city.

12:017:010 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and
under every green tree:

12:017:011 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did
the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and
wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:

12:017:012 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye
shall not do this thing.

12:017:013 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by
all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from
your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes,
according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and
which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

12:017:014 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks,
like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the
LORD their God.

12:017:015 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made
with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified
against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and
went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning
whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like
them.

12:017:016 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and
made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove,
and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

12:017:017 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through
the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold
themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him
to anger.

12:017:018 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed
them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of
Judah only.

12:017:019 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God,
but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

12:017:020 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted
them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he
had cast them out of his sight.

12:017:021 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made
Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from
following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.

12:017:022 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam
which he did; they departed not from them;

12:017:023 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said
by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away
out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

12:017:024 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from
Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim,
and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the
children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in
the cities thereof.

12:017:025 And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that
they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among
them, which slew some of them.

12:017:026 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The
nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of
Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore
he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them,
because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

12:017:027 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one
of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go
and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God
of the land.

12:017:028 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from
Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they
should fear the LORD.

12:017:029 Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in
the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made,
every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

12:017:030 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth
made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

12:017:031 And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites
burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech,
the gods of Sepharvaim.

12:017:032 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the
lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed
for them in the houses of the high places.

12:017:033 They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the
manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

12:017:034 Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not
the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their
ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD
commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

12:017:035 With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them,
saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to
them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

12:017:036 But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with
great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and
him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.

12:017:037 And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the
commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do
for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.

12:017:038 And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not
forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.

12:017:039 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you
out of the hand of all your enemies.

12:017:040 Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former
manner.

12:017:041 So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven
images, both their children, and their children's children: as
did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

12:018:001 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah
king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah
began to reign.

12:018:002 Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and
he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's
name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

12:018:003 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD,
according to all that David his father did.

12:018:004 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down
the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses
had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn
incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

12:018:005 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was
none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were
before him.

12:018:006 For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him,
but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

12:018:007 And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he
went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and
served him not.

12:018:008 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders
thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

12:018:009 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which
was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel,
that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and
besieged it.

12:018:010 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth
year of Hezekiah, that is in the ninth year of Hoshea king of
Israel, Samaria was taken.

12:018:011 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria,
and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and
in the cities of the Medes:

12:018:012 Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but
transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of
the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

12:018:013 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib
king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of
Judah, and took them.

12:018:014 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to
Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which
thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria
appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of
silver and thirty talents of gold.

12:018:015 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the
house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.

12:018:016 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of
the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah
king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of
Assyria.

12:018:017 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh
from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against
Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when
they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the
upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

12:018:018 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them
Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and
Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

12:018:019 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus
saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is
this wherein thou trustest?

12:018:020 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and
strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou
rebellest against me?

12:018:021 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised
reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into
his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all
that trust on him.

12:018:022 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not
that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath
taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall
worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

12:018:023 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king
of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if
thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

12:018:024 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the
least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for
chariots and for horsemen?

12:018:025 Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to
destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and
destroy it.

12:018:026 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah,
unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the
Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in
the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the
wall.

12:018:027 But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy
master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me
to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own
dung, and drink their own piss with you?

12:018:028 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews'
language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king,
the king of Assyria:

12:018:029 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he
shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

12:018:030 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The
LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be
delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

12:018:031 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria,
Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me,
and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of
his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his
cistern:

12:018:032 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a
land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land
of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and
hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The
LORD will deliver us.

12:018:033 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land
out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12:018:034 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods
of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out
of mine hand?

12:018:035 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have
delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should
deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

12:018:036 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word:
for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

12:018:037 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the
household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph
the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told
him the words of Rabshakeh.

12:019:001 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent
his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into
the house of the LORD.

12:019:002 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna
the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with
sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

12:019:003 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day
of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children are
come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

12:019:004 It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of
Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to
reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the
LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the
remnant that are left.

12:019:005 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

12:019:006 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master,
Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou
hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria
have blasphemed me.