2 Chronicles 29-32

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2 Chronicles 29

Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had done. 3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of Yahweh, and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the broad place on the east, 5 and said to them, Hear me, you Levites; now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of Yahweh, the Elohim of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh our Elohim, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and turned their backs. 7 And have shut the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and they have not burned incense, and have not offered burnt offering in the sanctuary to the Elohim of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be tossed to and fro, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes. 9 For lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now; for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers, and burn incense.

 

12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of the king by the words of Yahweh, to cleanse the house of Yahweh. 16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of Yahweh to clean, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Yahweh to the court of the house of Yahweh. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron. 17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of Yahweh; and they sanctified the house of Yahweh in eight days: and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace, and said, We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh, and the altar of burnt-offering, with all the vessels of it, and the table of showbread, with all the vessels of it. 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign cast away when he trespassed, we have prepared and sanctified; and, behold, they are before the altar of Yahweh.

 

20 Then Hezekiah the king arose early, and gathered the princes of the city, and went up to the house of Yahweh. 21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats, for a sin-offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Yahweh. 22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: and they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they also killed the lambs, and sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 23 And they brought near the he-goats for the sin-offering before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands on them: 24 and the priests killed them, and they made a sin-offering with their blood upon the altar, to make atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded that the burnt-offering and the sin-offering should be made for all Israel.

 

25 And he set the Levites in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Yahweh by his prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of Yahweh began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 And all the assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt-offering was finished.

 

29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

 

31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you have consecrated yourselves to Yahweh; come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of Yahweh. And the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank-offerings; and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt-offerings. 32 And the number of the burnt-offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt-offering to Yahweh. 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt-offerings: so their brethren the Levites helped them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. 35 And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and with the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the service of the house of Yahweh was set in order. 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which Elohim had prepared for the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

 

2 Chronicles 30

And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, to keep the passover to Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover to Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written. 6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, You children of Israel, turn again to Yahweh, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that have escaped from you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And do not be like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Yahweh, the Elohim of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8 Now do not be stiffnecked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your Elohim, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Yahweh your Elohim is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.

 

10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also upon Judah came the hand of Elohim to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Yahweh.

 

13 And there assembled at Jerusalem many people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense they took away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt-offerings into the house of Yahweh. 16 And they stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of Elohim: the priests sprinkled the blood which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly that had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the passovers for every one that was not clean to sanctify them to Yahweh. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the passover contrary to what is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, May the good Yahweh pardon every one 19 that sets his heart to seek Elohim, Yahweh, the Elohim of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 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 Yahweh day by day, singing with loud instruments to Yahweh. 22 And Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites that had good understanding in the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the Elohim of their fathers.

 

23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days; and they kept another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25 And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not anything like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.

 

 

2 Chronicles 31

Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had 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, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of Yahweh. 3 He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the 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 Yahweh. 4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Yahweh. 5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine, and oil and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things they brought in abundantly. 6 And the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their Elohim, 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 Yahweh, and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned 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 ablations into the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

 

11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Yahweh; and they prepared them. 12 And they brought in the ablations and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second. 13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of Elohim. 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill offerings of Elohim, to distribute the oblations of Yahweh, and the most holy things. 15 And under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Yahshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: 16 besides them that were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even every one that entered into the house of Yahweh, as the duty of every day requited, for their service in their offices according to their courses; 17 and them that were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their courses; 18 and them that were reckoned by genealogy of all their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness. 19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, that were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men that were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the mates among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites.

 

20 And thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good and right and faithful before Yahweh his Elohim. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of Elohim, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his Elohim, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

 

 

2 Chronicles 32

After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 So there was gathered many people together, and they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the middle of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? 5 And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying, 7 Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him: 8 with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Yahweh our Elohim to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

 

9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 In this manner says Sennacherib king of Assyria, On what do you trust, that you remain in Jerusalem under seige? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Yahweh our Elohim will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar, and upon it shall you burn incense? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the elohim of the nations of the lands in any wise able to deliver their land out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the elohim of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your Elohim should be able to deliver you out of my hand? 15 Now therefore do not let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe him; for no eloah 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 Elohim deliver you out of my hand?

 

16 And his servants spoke yet more against Yahweh Elohim, and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters, to rail on Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the elohim of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the Elohim of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand. 18 And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language to the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to terrify them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the Elohim of Jerusalem, as of the elohim of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.

 

20 And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven. 21 And Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, 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 had come into the house of his elohim, they that came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword. 22 In this manner Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from then on.

 

24 In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death: and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not render again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 However Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the anger of Yahweh did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

 

27 And Hezekiah had very much riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of good vessels; 28 storehouses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and flocks in folds. 29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for Elohim had given him very much substance. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 However in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, Elohim left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

 

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him on the hill of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

 

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