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                              Divrei HaYamim Bet                              
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                                  Chapter 1                                   

  1. Shlomo the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and YHWH his Elohim was with him, and made him exceedingly great.
  2. Shlomo spoke to all Yisrael, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every prince in all Yisrael, the heads of the fathers’ households.
  3. Then Shlomo, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Giv'on; for Elohim’s Ohel Mo'ed was there, which YHWH’s servant Moshe had made in the wilderness.
  4. But David had brought Elohim’s ark up from Kiryat Ye'arim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
  5. Moreover the bronze altar that Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur, had made was there before YHWH’s Mishkan; and Shlomo and the assembly were seeking counsel there.
  6. Shlomo went up there to the bronze altar before YHWH, which was at the Ohel Mo'ed, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.
  7. That night, Elohim appeared to Shlomo and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.”
  8. Shlomo said to Elohim, “You have shown great chesed to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
  9. Now, YHWH Elohim, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
  10. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?”
  11. Elohim said to Shlomo, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honour, or the life of those who hate you, nor yet have you asked for long life; but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king,
  12. therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, and none after you will have.”
  13. So Shlomo came from the high place that was at Giv'on, from before the Ohel Mo'ed, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Yisrael.
  14. Shlomo gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand and four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
  15. The king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
  16. The horses which Shlomo had were brought out of Mitzrayim and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.
  17. They imported from Mitzrayim then exported a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred and fifty. They also exported them to the Chitti kings and the Arami kings.

                                  Chapter 2                                   

  1. Now Shlomo decided to build a house for YHWH’s name, and a house for his kingdom.
  2. Shlomo counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
  3. Shlomo sent to Churam the king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house in which to dwell, so deal with me.
  4. Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of YHWH my Elohim, to dedicate it to him, to burn before him incense of sweet spices, for the continual show bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Shabbats, on the new moons, and on the set feasts of YHWH our Elohim. This is an ordinance forever to Yisrael.
  5. “The house which I am building will be great, for our Elohim is greater than all gods.
  6. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?
  7. “Now therefore send me a man skilful to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave engravings, to be with the skilful men who are with me in Yehudah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
  8. “Send me also cedar trees, cypress trees, and algum trees out of Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. Behold, my servants will be with your servants,
  9. even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful.
  10. Behold, I will give to your servants, the cutters who cut timber, twenty thousand cors of beaten wheat, twenty thousand baths of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.”
  11. Then Churam the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Shlomo, “Because YHWH loves his people, he has made you king over them.”
  12. Churam continued, “Blessed be YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who would build a house for YHWH and a house for his kingdom.
  13. Now I have sent a skilful man, endowed with understanding, Churam-abi,
  14. the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; and his father was a man of Tyre. He is skilful to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in iron, in stone, in timber, in purple, in blue, in fine linen, and in crimson, also to engrave any kind of engraving and to devise any device, that there may be a place appointed to him with your skilful men, and with the skilful men of my adonai David your father.
  15. “Now therefore, the wheat, the barley, the oil, and the wine which my adonai has spoken of, let him send to his servants;
  16. and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you need. We will bring it to you in rafts by sea to Yafo; then you shall carry it up to Jerusalem.”
  17. Shlomo counted all the foreigners who were in the land of Yisrael, after the census with which David his father had counted them; and they found one hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred.
  18. He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens, eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to assign the people their work.

                                  Chapter 3                                   

  1. Then Shlomo began to build YHWH’s house at Jerusalem on Har HaMoriah, where YHWH appeared to David his father, which he prepared in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Yevusi.
  2. He began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
  3. Now these are the foundations which Shlomo laid for the building of Elohim’s house: the length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits.
  4. The porch that was in front, its length, across the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred and twenty; and he overlaid it within with pure gold.
  5. He made the larger room with a ceiling of cypress wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains.
  6. He decorated the house with precious stones for beauty. The gold was gold from Parvaim.
  7. He also overlaid the house, the beams, the thresholds, its walls, and its doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.
  8. He made the most kodesh place. Its length, according to the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
  9. The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid the upper rooms with gold.
  10. In the most kodesh place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold.
  11. The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
  12. The wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
  13. The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were towards the house.
  14. He made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and ornamented it with cherubim.
  15. Also he made before the house two pillars thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.
  16. He made chains in the inner Beit HaMikdash, and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
  17. He set up the pillars before the Beit HaMikdash, one on the right hand and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Yakhin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

                                  Chapter 4                                   

  1. Then he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
  2. Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim. It was round, five cubits high, and thirty cubits in circumference.
  3. Under it was the likeness of oxen, which encircled it, for ten cubits, encircling the sea. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.
  4. It stood on twelve oxen, three looking towards the north, three looking towards the west, three looking towards the south, and three looking towards the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hindquarters were inward.
  5. It was a handbreadth thick. Its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It received and held three thousand baths.
  6. He also made ten basins, and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash in them. The things that belonged to the burnt offering were washed in them, but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
  7. He made the ten lamp stands of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the Beit HaMikdash, five on the right hand and five on the left.
  8. He made also ten tables, and placed them in the Beit HaMikdash, five on the right side and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.
  9. Furthermore he made the court of the priests, the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze.
  10. He set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, towards the south.
  11. Churam made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Churam finished doing the work that he did for King Shlomo in Elohim’s house:
  12. the two pillars, the bowls, the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,
  13. and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks—two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars.
  14. He also made the bases, and he made the basins on the bases—
  15. one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.
  16. Churam-abi also made the pots, the shovels, the forks, and all its vessels for King Shlomo, for YHWH’s house, of bright bronze.
  17. The king cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.
  18. Thus Shlomo made all these vessels in great abundance, so that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.
  19. Shlomo made all the vessels that were in Elohim’s house: the golden altar, the tables with the show bread on them,
  20. and the lamp stands with their lamps to burn according to the ordinance before the inner Beit HaMikdash, of pure gold;
  21. and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold that was purest gold;
  22. and the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and the fire pans of pure gold. As for the entry of the house, its inner doors for the most kodesh place and the doors of the main hall of the Beit HaMikdash were of gold.

                                  Chapter 5                                   

  1. Thus all the work that Shlomo did for YHWH’s house was finished. Shlomo brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of Elohim’s house.
  2. Then Shlomo assembled the elders of Yisrael and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of Yisrael, to Jerusalem, to bring up the Aron YHWH’s Brit out of David’s city, which is Tzion.
  3. So all the men of Yisrael assembled themselves to the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.
  4. All the elders of Yisrael came. The Levi'im took up the ark.
  5. They brought up the ark, the Ohel Mo'ed, and all the kodesh vessels that were in the Tent. The Levitical priests brought these up.
  6. King Shlomo and all the congregation of Yisrael who were assembled to him were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.
  7. The priests brought in the Aron YHWH’s Brit to its place, into the inner Beit HaMikdash of the house, to the most kodesh place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
  8. For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
  9. The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark in front of the inner Beit HaMikdash, but they were not seen outside; and it is there to this day.
  10. There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moshe put there at Chorev, when YHWH made a Brit with the children of Yisrael, when they came out of Mitzrayim.
  11. When the priests had come out of the kodesh place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and didn’t keep their divisions;
  12. also the Levi'im who were the singers, all of them, even Asaf, Heiman, Yedutun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets);
  13. when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking YHWH; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised YHWH, saying, “For he is good, for his chesed endures forever!” then the house was filled with a cloud, even YHWH’s house,
  14. so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for YHWH’s kavod filled Elohim’s house.

                                  Chapter 6                                   

  1. Then Shlomo said, “YHWH has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
  2. But I have built you a house and home, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
  3. The king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Yisrael; and all the assembly of Yisrael stood.
  4. He said, “Blessed be YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hands fulfilled it, saying,
  5. ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Mitzrayim, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Yisrael to build a house in, that my name might be there, and I chose no man to be prince over my people Yisrael;
  6. but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Yisrael.’
  7. Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael.
  8. But YHWH said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart;
  9. nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.’
  10. “YHWH has performed his word that he spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Yisrael, as YHWH promised, and have built the house for the name of YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael.
  11. There I have set the ark, in which is YHWH’s Brit, which he made with the children of Yisrael.”
  12. He stood before YHWH’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Yisrael, and spread out his hands
  13. (for Shlomo had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the middle of the court; and he stood on it, and knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Yisrael, and spread out his hands towards heaven).
  14. Then he said, “YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, there is no Elohim like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep Brit and chesed with your servants who walk before you with all their heart;
  15. who have kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.
  16. “Now therefore, YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Yisrael, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’
  17. Now therefore, YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David.
  18. “But will Elohim indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
  19. Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, YHWH my Elohim, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you;
  20. that your eyes may be open towards this house day and night, even towards the place where you have said that you would put your name, to listen to the prayer which your servant will pray towards this place.
  21. Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Yisrael, when they pray towards this place. Yes, hear from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.
  22. “If a man sins against his neighbour, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house,
  23. then hear from heaven, act, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
  24. “If your people Yisrael are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house,
  25. then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Yisrael, and bring them again to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.
  26. “When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray towards this place and confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them,
  27. then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Yisrael, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
  28. “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is—
  29. whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Yisrael, who will each know his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread out his hands towards this house,
  30. then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know (for you, even you only, know the hearts of the children of men),
  31. that they may fear you, to walk in your ways as long as they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.
  32. “Moreover, concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Yisrael, when he comes from a far country for your great name’s sake and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when they come and pray towards this house,
  33. then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Yisrael, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.
  34. “If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you send them, and they pray to you towards this city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;
  35. then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
  36. “If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near;
  37. yet if they come to their senses in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;’
  38. if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray towards their land which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and towards the house which I have built for your name;
  39. then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
  40. “Now, my Elohim, let, I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
  41. “Now therefore arise, YHWH Elohim, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. Let your priests, YHWH Elohim, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.
  42. “YHWH Elohim, don’t turn away the face of your anointed. Remember your chasadim to David your servant.”

                                  Chapter 7                                   

  1. Now when Shlomo had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and YHWH’s kavod filled the house.
  2. The priests could not enter into YHWH’s house, because YHWH’s kavod filled YHWH’s house.
  3. All the children of Yisrael looked on, when the fire came down, and YHWH’s kavod was on the house. They bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, worshipped, and gave thanks to YHWH, saying, “For he is good, for his chesed endures forever!”
  4. Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before YHWH.
  5. King Shlomo offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated Elohim’s house.
  6. The priests stood, according to their positions; the Levi'im also with instruments of music of YHWH, which David the king had made to give thanks to YHWH, when David praised by their ministry, saying “For his chesed endures forever.” The priests sounded trumpets before them; and all Yisrael stood.
  7. Moreover Shlomo made the middle of the court that was before YHWH’s house kodesh; for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Shlomo had made was not able to receive the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the fat.
  8. So Shlomo held the feast at that time for seven days, and all Yisrael with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Chamat to the brook of Mitzrayim.
  9. On the eighth day, they held a solemn assembly; for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
  10. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that YHWH had shown to David, to Shlomo, and to Yisrael his people.
  11. Thus Shlomo finished YHWH’s house and the king’s house; and he successfully completed all that came into Shlomo’s heart to make in YHWH’s house and in his own house.
  12. Then YHWH appeared to Shlomo by night, and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself for a house of sacrifice.
  13. “If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence amongst my people,
  14. if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
  15. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to prayer that is made in this place.
  16. For now I have chosen and made this house kodesh, that my name may be there forever; and my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually.
  17. “As for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my ordinances,
  18. then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Yisrael.’
  19. But if you turn away and forsake my statutes and my mitzvot which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,
  20. then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made kodesh for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword amongst all peoples.
  21. This house, which is so high, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has YHWH done this to this land and to this house?’
  22. They shall answer, ‘Because they abandoned YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Mitzrayim, and took other gods, worshipped them, and served them. Therefore he has brought all this evil on them.’”

                                  Chapter 8                                   

  1. At the end of twenty years, in which Shlomo had built YHWH’s house and his own house,
  2. Shlomo built the cities which Churam had given to Shlomo, and caused the children of Yisrael to dwell there.
  3. Shlomo went to Chamat Zobah, and prevailed against it.
  4. He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Chamat.
  5. Also he built Beit Choron the upper and Beit Choron the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
  6. and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Shlomo had, and all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and all that Shlomo desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
  7. As for all the people who were left of the Chitim, the Emorim, the Perizim, the Chivim, and the Yevusim, who were not of Yisrael—
  8. of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Yisrael didn’t consume—of them Shlomo conscripted forced labour to this day.
  9. But of the children of Yisrael, Shlomo made no servants for his work, but they were men of war, chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
  10. These were the chief officers of King Shlomo, even two-hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people.
  11. Shlomo brought up Pharaoh’s daughter out of David’s city to the house that he had built for her; for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Yisrael, because the places where YHWH’s ark has come are kodesh.”
  12. Then Shlomo offered burnt offerings to YHWH on YHWH’s altar which he had built before the porch,
  13. even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the mitzvah of Moshe on the Shabbats, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times per year, during the Chag HaMatzot, during the Chag HaShavuot, and during the Chag HaSukkot.
  14. He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levi'im to their offices, to praise and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required, the doorkeepers also by their divisions at every gate, for David the man of Elohim had so commanded.
  15. They didn’t depart from the mitzvah of the king to the priests and Levi'im concerning any matter or concerning the treasures.
  16. Now all the work of Shlomo was accomplished from the day of the foundation of YHWH’s house until it was finished. So YHWH’s house was completed.
  17. Then Shlomo went to Ezion Geber and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.
  18. Churam sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of Shlomo to Ofir, and brought from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Shlomo.

                                  Chapter 9                                   

  1. When the queen of Sheva heard of the fame of Shlomo, she came to test Shlomo with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great caravan, including camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. When she had come to Shlomo, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
  2. Shlomo answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from Shlomo which he didn’t tell her.
  3. When the queen of Sheva had seen the wisdom of Shlomo, the house that he had built,
  4. the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers, their clothing, his cup bearers and their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to YHWH’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
  5. She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
  6. However I didn’t believe their words until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold half of the greatness of your wisdom wasn’t told me. You exceed the fame that I heard!
  7. Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom.
  8. Blessed be YHWH your Elohim, who delighted in you and set you on his throne to be king for YHWH your Elohim, because your Elohim loved Yisrael, to establish them forever. Therefore he made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”
  9. She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was never before such spice as the queen of Sheva gave to King Shlomo.
  10. The servants of Churam and the servants of Shlomo, who brought gold from Ofir, also brought algum trees and precious stones.
  11. The king used algum tree wood to make terraces for YHWH’s house and for the king’s house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers. There were none like these seen before in the land of Yehudah.
  12. King Shlomo gave to the queen of Sheva all her desire, whatever she asked, more than that which she had brought to the king. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
  13. Now the weight of gold that came to Shlomo in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,
  14. in addition to that which the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Shlomo.
  15. King Shlomo made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one large shield.
  16. He made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
  17. Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
  18. There were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
  19. Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any other kingdom.
  20. All King Shlomo’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered valuable in the days of Shlomo.
  21. For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with Churam’s servants. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
  22. So King Shlomo exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
  23. All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Shlomo to hear his wisdom, which Elohim had put in his heart.
  24. They each brought tribute: vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armour, spices, horses, and mules every year.
  25. Shlomo had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
  26. He ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Pelishtim, and to the border of Mitzrayim.
  27. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
  28. They brought horses for Shlomo out of Mitzrayim and out of all lands.
  29. Now the rest of the acts of Shlomo, first and last, aren’t they written in the history of Natan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Achiyah the Shiloni, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Yarov'am the son of Nebat?
  30. Shlomo reigned in Jerusalem over all Yisrael forty years.
  31. Shlomo slept with his fathers, and he was buried in his father David’s city; and Rechav'am his son reigned in his place.

                                  Chapter 10                                  

  1. Rechav'am went to Shechem, for all Yisrael had come to Shechem to make him king.
  2. When Yarov'am the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Mitzrayim, where he had fled from the presence of King Shlomo), Yarov'am returned out of Mitzrayim.
  3. They sent and called him; and Yarov'am and all Yisrael came, and they spoke to Rechav'am, saying,
  4. “Your father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore make the grievous service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.”
  5. He said to them, “Come again to me after three days.” So the people departed.
  6. King Rechav'am took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Shlomo his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me about how to answer these people?”
  7. They spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”
  8. But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
  9. He said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may give an answer to these people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter’?”
  10. The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall tell the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter on us;’ thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.
  11. Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’”
  12. So Yarov'am and all the people came to Rechav'am the third day, as the king asked, saying, “Come to me again the third day.”
  13. The king answered them roughly; and King Rechav'am abandoned the counsel of the old men,
  14. and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
  15. So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about by Elohim, that YHWH might establish his word, which he spoke by Achiyah the Shiloni to Yarov'am the son of Nebat.
  16. When all Yisrael saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion do we have in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Yishai! Every man to your tents, Yisrael! Now see to your own house, David.” So all Yisrael departed to their tents.
  17. But as for the children of Yisrael who lived in the cities of Yehudah, Rechav'am reigned over them.
  18. Then King Rechav'am sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labour; and the children of Yisrael stoned him to death with stones. King Rechav'am hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
  19. So Yisrael rebelled against David’s house to this day.

                                  Chapter 11                                  

  1. When Rechav'am had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Yehudah and Binyamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Yisrael, to bring the kingdom again to Rechav'am.
  2. But YHWH’s word came to Shemayah the man of Elohim, saying,
  3. “Speak to Rechav'am the son of Shlomo, king of Yehudah, and to all Yisrael in Yehudah and Binyamin, saying,
  4. ‘YHWH says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to YHWH’s words, and returned from going against Yarov'am.
  5. Rechav'am lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Yehudah.
  6. He built Beit Lechem, Etam, Tekoa,
  7. Beit Tzur, Sokho, Adullam,
  8. Gat, Mareshah, Zif,
  9. Adoraim, Lakhish, Azekah,
  10. Tyre'a, Ayalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Yehudah and in Binyamin.
  11. He fortified the strongholds and put captains in them with stores of food, oil and wine.
  12. He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Yehudah and Binyamin belonged to him.
  13. The priests and the Levi'im who were in all Yisrael stood with him out of all their territory.
  14. For the Levi'im left their pasture lands and their possessions, and came to Yehudah and Jerusalem; for Yarov'am and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to YHWH.
  15. He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goat and calf idols which he had made.
  16. After them, out of all the tribes of Yisrael, those who set their hearts to seek YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.
  17. So they strengthened the kingdom of Yehudah and made Rechav'am the son of Shlomo strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Shlomo.
  18. Rechav'am took a wife for himself, Machalat the daughter of Yerimot the son of David and of Avichayil the daughter of Eliav the son of Yishai.
  19. She bore him sons: Ye'ush, Shemaryah, and Zaham.
  20. After her, he took Ma'akah the granddaughter of Avshalom; and she bore him Aviyah, Atai, Ziza, and Shelomit.
  21. Rechav'am loved Ma'akah the granddaughter of Avshalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
  22. Rechav'am appointed Aviyah the son of Ma'akah to be chief, the prince amongst his brothers, for he intended to make him king.
  23. He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Yehudah and Binyamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.

                                  Chapter 12                                  

  1. When the kingdom of Rechav'am was established and he was strong, he abandoned YHWH’s law, and all Yisrael with him.
  2. In the fifth year of King Rechav'am, Shishak king of Mitzrayim came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against YHWH,
  3. with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Mitzrayim: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Kushim.
  4. He took the fortified cities which belonged to Yehudah, and came to Jerusalem.
  5. Now Shemayah the prophet came to Rechav'am and to the princes of Yehudah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “YHWH says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
  6. Then the princes of Yisrael and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “YHWH is righteous.”
  7. When YHWH saw that they humbled themselves, YHWH’s word came to Shemayah, saying, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
  8. Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
  9. So Shishak king of Mitzrayim came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of YHWH’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Shlomo had made.
  10. King Rechav'am made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.
  11. As often as the king entered into YHWH’s house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room.
  12. When he humbled himself, YHWH’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Yehudah.
  13. So King Rechav'am strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned; for Rechav'am was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which YHWH had chosen out of all the tribes of Yisrael to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Amoniyah.
  14. He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek YHWH.
  15. Now the acts of Rechav'am, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemayah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies? There were wars between Rechav'am and Yarov'am continually.
  16. Rechav'am slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Aviyah his son reigned in his place.

                                  Chapter 13                                  

  1. In the eighteenth year of King Yarov'am, Aviyah began to reign over Yehudah.
  2. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Mikhayhu the daughter of Uriel of Giv'ah. There was war between Aviyah and Yarov'am.
  3. Aviyah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men; and Yarov'am set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valour.
  4. Aviyah stood up on Har Tzemarayim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Hear me, Yarov'am and all Yisrael:
  5. Ought you not to know that YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, gave the kingdom over Yisrael to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a Brit of salt?
  6. Yet Yarov'am the son of Nebat, the servant of Shlomo the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his Adonai.
  7. Worthless men were gathered to him, wicked fellows who strengthened themselves against Rechav'am the son of Shlomo, when Rechav'am was young and tender hearted, and could not withstand them.
  8. “Now you intend to withstand the kingdom of YHWH in the hand of the sons of David. You are a great multitude, and the golden calves which Yarov'am made you for gods are with you.
  9. Haven’t you driven out the priests of YHWH, the sons of Aharon, and the Levi'im, and made priests for yourselves according to the ways of the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of those who are no gods.
  10. “But as for us, YHWH is our Elohim, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests serving YHWH, the sons of Aharon, and the Levi'im in their work.
  11. They burn to YHWH every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also set the show bread in order on the pure table, and care for the gold lamp stand with its lamps, to burn every evening; for we keep the instruction of YHWH our Elohim, but you have forsaken him.
  12. Behold, Elohim is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Yisrael, don’t fight against YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers; for you will not prosper.”
  13. But Yarov'am caused an ambush to come about behind them; so they were before Yehudah, and the ambush was behind them.
  14. When Yehudah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried to YHWH, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
  15. Then the men of Yehudah gave a shout. As the men of Yehudah shouted, Elohim struck Yarov'am and all Yisrael before Aviyah and Yehudah.
  16. The children of Yisrael fled before Yehudah, and Elohim delivered them into their hand.
  17. Aviyah and his people killed them with a great slaughter, so five hundred thousand chosen men of Yisrael fell down slain.
  18. Thus the children of Yisrael were brought under at that time, and the children of Yehudah prevailed, because they relied on YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.
  19. Aviyah pursued Yarov'am, and took cities from him: Beit El with its villages, Yeshanah with its villages, and Efron with its villages.
  20. Yarov'am didn’t recover strength again in the days of Aviyah. YHWH struck him, and he died.
  21. But Aviyah grew mighty and took for himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
  22. The rest of the acts of Aviyah, his ways, and his sayings are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.

                                  Chapter 14                                  

  1. So Aviyah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years.
  2. Asa did that which was good and right in YHWH his Elohim’s eyes,
  3. for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,
  4. and commanded Yehudah to seek YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.
  5. Also he took away out of all the cities of Yehudah the high places and the sun images; and the kingdom was quiet before him.
  6. He built fortified cities in Yehudah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because YHWH had given him rest.
  7. For he said to Yehudah, “Let’s build these cities and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought YHWH our Elohim. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
  8. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand out of Yehudah who bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand out of Binyamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valour.
  9. Zerach the Kushi came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
  10. Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
  11. Asa cried to YHWH his Elohim, and said, “YHWH, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, YHWH our Elohim; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. YHWH, you are our Elohim. Don’t let man prevail against you.”
  12. So YHWH struck the Kushim before Asa and before Yehudah; and the Kushim fled.
  13. Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So many of the Kushim fell that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before YHWH and before his army. Yehudah’s army carried away very much booty.
  14. They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of YHWH came on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.
  15. They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.

                                  Chapter 15                                  

  1. The Ruach Elohim came on Azaryah the son of Oded.
  2. He went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Yehudah and Binyamin! YHWH is with you while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
  3. Now for a long time Yisrael was without the true Elohim, without a teaching priest, and without law.
  4. But when in their distress they turned to YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, and sought him, he was found by them.
  5. In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great troubles were on all the inhabitants of the lands.
  6. They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for Elohim troubled them with all adversity.
  7. But you be strong! Don’t let your hands be slack, for your work will be rewarded.”
  8. When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Yehudah and Binyamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed YHWH’s altar that was before YHWH’s porch.
  9. He gathered all Yehudah and Binyamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim, Menashe, and Shimon; for they came to him out of Yisrael in abundance when they saw that YHWH his Elohim was with him.
  10. So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.
  11. They sacrificed to YHWH in that day, of the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep.
  12. They entered into the Brit to seek YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;
  13. and that whoever would not seek YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
  14. They swore to YHWH with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with cornets.
  15. All Yehudah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them. Then YHWH gave them rest all around.
  16. Also Ma'akah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
  17. But the high places were not taken away out of Yisrael; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
  18. He brought the things that his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated, silver, gold, and vessels into Elohim’s house.
  19. There was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

                                  Chapter 16                                  

  1. In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Ba'asha king of Yisrael went up against Yehudah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Yehudah.
  2. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of YHWH’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Aram, who lived at Dameshek, saying,
  3. “Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Ba'asha king of Yisrael, that he may depart from me.”
  4. Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Yisrael; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naftali.
  5. When Ba'asha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.
  6. Then Asa the king took all Yehudah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, with which Ba'asha had built; and he built Geva and Mitzpah with them.
  7. At that time Chanani the seer came to Asa king of Yehudah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram, and have not relied on YHWH your Elohim, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.
  8. Weren’t the Kushim and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied on YHWH, he delivered them into your hand.
  9. For YHWH’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
  10. Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.
  11. Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Yehudah and Yisrael.
  12. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great; yet in his disease he didn’t seek YHWH, but just the physicians.
  13. Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.
  14. They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in David’s city, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him.

                                  Chapter 17                                  

  1. Yehoshafat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Yisrael.
  2. He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Yehudah, and set garrisons in the land of Yehudah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
  3. YHWH was with Yehoshafat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,
  4. but sought the Elohim of his father, and walked in his mitzvot, and not in the ways of Yisrael.
  5. Therefore YHWH established the kingdom in his hand. All Yehudah brought tribute to Yehoshafat, and he had riches and honour in abundance.
  6. His heart was lifted up in the ways of YHWH. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Yehudah.
  7. Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Ovadyah, Zecharyah, Netan'el, and Mikhayhu, to teach in the cities of Yehudah;
  8. and with them Levi'im, even Shemayah, Netanyah, Zevadyah, Asael, Shemiramoth, Yehonatan, Adoniyahu, Toviyah, and Tobadonijah, the Levi'im; and with them Elishama and Yehoram, the priests.
  9. They taught in Yehudah, having the book of YHWH’s law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Yehudah and taught amongst the people.
  10. The fear of YHWH fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Yehudah, so that they made no war against Yehoshafat.
  11. Some of the Pelishtim brought Yehoshafat presents and silver for tribute. The Aravim also brought him flocks: seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats.
  12. Yehoshafat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Yehudah.
  13. He had many works in the cities of Yehudah; and men of war, mighty men of valour, in Jerusalem.
  14. This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: From Yehudah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valour;
  15. and next to him Yehochanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;
  16. and next to him Amasiah the son of Zikhri, who willingly offered himself to YHWH, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
  17. From Binyamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valour, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
  18. and next to him Yehozavad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.
  19. These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Yehudah.

                                  Chapter 18                                  

  1. Now Yehoshafat had riches and honour in abundance; and he allied himself with Achav.
  2. After some years, he went down to Achav to Shomron. Achav killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramot Gilead.
  3. Achav king of Yisrael said to Yehoshafat king of Yehudah, “Will you go with me to Ramot Gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”
  4. Yehoshafat said to the king of Yisrael, “Please enquire first for YHWH’s word.”
  5. Then the king of Yisrael gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramot Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” They said, “Go up, for Elohim will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
  6. But Yehoshafat said, “Isn’t there here a prophet of YHWH besides, that we may enquire of him?”
  7. The king of Yisrael said to Yehoshafat, “There is yet one man by whom we may enquire of YHWH; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Mikhayhu the son of Imla.” Yehoshafat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”
  8. Then the king of Yisrael called an officer, and said, “Get Mikhayhu the son of Imla quickly.”
  9. Now the king of Yisrael and Yehoshafat the king of Yehudah each sat on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
  10. Tzidkiyahu the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, “YHWH says, ‘With these you shall push the Aramim, until they are consumed.’”
  11. All the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramot Gilead, and prosper; for YHWH will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
  12. The messenger who went to call Mikhayhu spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good.”
  13. Mikhayhu said, “As YHWH lives, I will say what my Elohim says.”
  14. When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Mikhayhu, shall we go to Ramot Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” He said, “Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand.”
  15. The king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in YHWH’s name?”
  16. He said, “I saw all Yisrael scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. YHWH said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’”
  17. The king of Yisrael said to Yehoshafat, “Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
  18. Mikhayhu said, “Therefore hear YHWH’s word: I saw YHWH sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
  19. YHWH said, ‘Who will entice Achav king of Yisrael, that he may go up and fall at Ramot Gilead?’ One spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way.
  20. A spirit came out, stood before YHWH, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “YHWH said to him, ‘How?’
  21. “He said, ‘I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “He said, ‘You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.’
  22. “Now therefore, behold, YHWH has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and YHWH has spoken evil concerning you.”
  23. Then Tzidkiyahu the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Mikhayhu on the cheek, and said, “Which way did YHWH’s Ruach go from me to speak to you?”
  24. Mikhayhu said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”
  25. The king of Yisrael said, “Take Mikhayhu, and carry him back to Ammon the governor of the city, and to Yoash the king’s son;
  26. and say, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.”’”
  27. Mikhayhu said, “If you return at all in peace, YHWH has not spoken by me.” He said, “Listen, you people, all of you!”
  28. So the king of Yisrael and Yehoshafat the king of Yehudah went up to Ramot Gilead.
  29. The king of Yisrael said to Yehoshafat, “I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Yisrael disguised himself; and they went into the battle.
  30. Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Yisrael.”
  31. When the captains of the chariots saw Yehoshafat, they said, “It is the king of Yisrael!” Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Yehoshafat cried out, and YHWH helped him; and Elohim moved them to depart from him.
  32. When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Yisrael, they turned back from pursuing him.
  33. A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Yisrael between the joints of the armour. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded.”
  34. The battle increased that day. However, the king of Yisrael propped himself up in his chariot against the Aramim until the evening; and at about sunset, he died.

                                  Chapter 19                                  

  1. Yehoshafat the king of Yehudah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
  2. Yehu the son of Chanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Yehoshafat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate YHWH? Because of this, wrath is on you from before YHWH.
  3. Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek Elohim.”
  4. Yehoshafat lived at Jerusalem; and he went out again amongst the people from Be'er Sheva to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.
  5. He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Yehudah, city by city,
  6. and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for YHWH; and he is with you in the judgement.
  7. Now therefore let the fear of YHWH be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with YHWH our Elohim, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”
  8. Moreover in Jerusalem Yehoshafat appointed certain Levi'im, priests, and heads of the fathers’ households of Yisrael to give judgement for YHWH and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.
  9. He commanded them, saying, “You shall do this in the fear of YHWH, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
  10. Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and mitzvah, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty towards YHWH, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.
  11. Behold, Amaryah the chief priest is over you in all matters of YHWH; and Zevadyah the son of Yishmael, the ruler of the house of Yehudah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levi'im shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may YHWH be with the good.”

                                  Chapter 20                                  

  1. After this, the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Amonim, came against Yehoshafat to battle.
  2. Then some came who told Yehoshafat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea from Aram. Behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).
  3. Yehoshafat was alarmed, and set himself to seek YHWH. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Yehudah.
  4. Yehudah gathered themselves together to seek help from YHWH. They came out of all the cities of Yehudah to seek YHWH.
  5. Yehoshafat stood in the assembly of Yehudah and Jerusalem, in YHWH’s house, before the new court;
  6. and he said, “YHWH, the Elohim of our fathers, aren’t you Elohim in heaven? Aren’t you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one is able to withstand you.
  7. Didn’t you, our Elohim, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Yisrael, and give it to the offspring of Avraham your friend forever?
  8. They lived in it, and have built you a Beit HaMikdash in it for your name, saying,
  9. ‘If evil comes on us—the sword, judgement, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this house, and before you (for your name is in this house), and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’
  10. Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Har Se'ir, whom you would not let Yisrael invade when they came out of the land of Mitzrayim, but they turned away from them, and didn’t destroy them;
  11. behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
  12. Our Elohim, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
  13. All Yehudah stood before YHWH, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
  14. Then YHWH’s Ruach came on Yachazi'el the son of Zecharyah, the son of Benayahu, the son of Ye'i'el, the son of Matanyah, the Levi'i, of the sons of Asaf, in the middle of the assembly;
  15. and he said, “Listen, all Yehudah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Yehoshafat. YHWH says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but Elohim’s.
  16. Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Yeru'el.
  17. You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of YHWH with you, O Yehudah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for YHWH is with you.’”
  18. Yehoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Yehudah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before YHWH, worshipping YHWH.
  19. The Levi'im, of the children of the Kehatim and of the children of the Korachim, stood up to praise YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, with an exceedingly loud voice.
  20. They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Yehoshafat stood and said, “Listen to me, Yehudah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in YHWH your Elohim, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper.”
  21. When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to YHWH and give praise in kodesh array as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to YHWH, for his chesed endures forever.”
  22. When they began to sing and to praise, YHWH set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Har Se'ir, who had come against Yehudah; and they were struck.
  23. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Har Se'ir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other.
  24. When Yehudah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped.
  25. When Yehoshafat and his people came to take their plunder, they found amongst them in abundance both riches and dead bodies with precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away. They took plunder for three days, it was so much.
  26. On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed YHWH. Therefore the name of that place was called “Beracah Valley” to this day.
  27. Then they returned, every man of Yehudah and Jerusalem, with Yehoshafat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for YHWH had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
  28. They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments, harps, and trumpets to YHWH’s house.
  29. The fear of Elohim was on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that YHWH fought against the enemies of Yisrael.
  30. So the realm of Yehoshafat was quiet, for his Elohim gave him rest all around.
  31. So Yehoshafat reigned over Yehudah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. He reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
  32. He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in YHWH’s eyes.
  33. However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the Elohim of their fathers.
  34. Now the rest of the acts of Yehoshafat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Yehu the son of Chanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Yisrael.
  35. After this, Yehoshafat king of Yehudah joined himself with Achazyahu king of Yisrael. The same did very wickedly.
  36. He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber.
  37. Then Eli'ezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Yehoshafat, saying, “Because you have joined yourself with Achazyahu, YHWH has destroyed your works.” The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

                                  Chapter 21                                  

  1. Yehoshafat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Yehoram his son reigned in his place.
  2. He had brothers, the sons of Yehoshafat: Azaryah, Yechi'el, Zecharyah, Azaryah, Mikha'el, and Shefatyah. All these were the sons of Yehoshafat king of Yisrael.
  3. Their father gave them great gifts of silver, of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Yehudah; but he gave the kingdom to Yehoram, because he was the firstborn.
  4. Now when Yehoram had risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Yisrael.
  5. Yehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
  6. He walked in the way of the kings of Yisrael, as did Achav’s house, for he had Achav’s daughter as his wife. He did that which was evil in YHWH’s sight.
  7. However YHWH would not destroy David’s house, because of the Brit that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children always.
  8. In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Yehudah, and made a king over themselves.
  9. Then Yehoram went there with his captains and all his chariots with him. He rose up by night and struck the Edomim who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots.
  10. So Edom has been in revolt from under the hand of Yehudah to this day. Then Livnah revolted at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken YHWH, the Elohim of his fathers.
  11. Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Yehudah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem play the prostitute, and led Yehudah astray.
  12. A letter came to him from Eliyahu the prophet, saying, “YHWH, the Elohim of David your father, says, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Yehoshafat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Yehudah,
  13. but have walked in the way of the kings of Yisrael, and have made Yehudah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute like Achav’s house did, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, who were better than yourself,
  14. behold, YHWH will strike your people with a great plague, including your children, your wives, and all your possessions;
  15. and you will have great sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.’”
  16. YHWH stirred up against Yehoram the spirit of the Pelishtim and of the Aravim who are beside the Kushim;
  17. and they came up against Yehudah, broke into it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, including his sons and his wives, so that there was no son left to him except Yehoachaz, the youngest of his sons.
  18. After all this YHWH struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
  19. In process of time, at the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of severe diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
  20. He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in David’s city, but not in the tombs of the kings.

                                  Chapter 22                                  

  1. The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Achazyahu his youngest son king in his place, because the band of men who came with the Aravim to the camp had slain all the oldest. So Achazyahu the son of Yehoram king of Yehudah reigned.
  2. Achazyahu was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Atalyah the daughter of Omri.
  3. He also walked in the ways of Achav’s house, because his mother was his counsellor in acting wickedly.
  4. He did that which was evil in YHWH’s sight, as did Achav’s house, for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
  5. He also followed their counsel, and went with Yehoram the son of Achav king of Yisrael to war against Chaza'el king of Aram at Ramot Gilead; and the Aramim wounded Yoram.
  6. He returned to be healed in Yizre'el of the wounds which they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Chaza'el king of Aram. Azaryah the son of Yehoram, king of Yehudah, went down to see Yehoram the son of Achav in Yizre'el, because he was sick.
  7. Now the destruction of Achazyahu was of Elohim, in that he went to Yoram; for when he had come, he went out with Yehoram against Yehu the son of Nimshi, whom YHWH had anointed to cut off Achav’s house.
  8. When Yehu was executing judgement on Achav’s house, he found the princes of Yehudah and the sons of the brothers of Achazyahu serving Achazyahu, and killed them.
  9. He sought Achazyahu, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Shomron), and they brought him to Yehu and killed him; and they buried him, for they said, “He is the son of Yehoshafat, who sought YHWH with all his heart.” The house of Achazyahu had no power to hold the kingdom.
  10. Now when Atalyah the mother of Achazyahu saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring of the house of Yehudah.
  11. But Yehoshav'at, the king’s daughter, took Yoash the son of Achazyahu, and stealthily rescued him from amongst the king’s sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Yehoshav'at, the daughter of King Yehoram, the wife of Yehoyada the priest (for she was the sister of Achazyahu), hid him from Atalyah, so that she didn’t kill him.
  12. He was with them hidden in Elohim’s house six years while Atalyah reigned over the land.

                                  Chapter 23                                  

  1. In the seventh year, Yehoyada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds—Azaryah the son of Yerocham, Yishmael the son of Yehochanan, Azaryah the son of Oved, Ma'aseyah the son of Adayah, and Elishaphat the son of Zikhri—into a Brit with him.
  2. They went around in Yehudah and gathered the Levi'im out of all the cities of Yehudah, and the heads of fathers’ households of Yisrael, and they came to Jerusalem.
  3. All the assembly made a Brit with the king in Elohim’s house. Yehoyada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son must reign, as YHWH has spoken concerning the sons of David.
  4. This is the thing that you must do: a third part of you, who come in on the Shabbat, of the priests and of the Levi'im, shall be gatekeepers of the thresholds.
  5. A third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation. All the people will be in the courts of YHWH’s house.
  6. But let no one come into YHWH’s house except the priests and those who minister of the Levi'im. They shall come in, for they are kodesh, but all the people shall follow YHWH’s instructions.
  7. The Levi'im shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever comes into the house, let him be slain. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
  8. So the Levi'im and all Yehudah did according to all that Yehoyada the priest commanded. They each took his men, those who were to come in on the Shabbat, with those who were to go out on the Shabbat, for Yehoyada the priest didn’t dismiss the shift.
  9. Yehoyada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, bucklers, and shields that had been king David’s, which were in Elohim’s house.
  10. He set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, near the altar and the house, around the king.
  11. Then they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the Brit, and made him king. Yehoyada and his sons anointed him, and they said, “Long live the king!”
  12. When Atalyah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into YHWH’s house.
  13. Then she looked, and behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, with the captains and the trumpeters by the king. All the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. The singers also played musical instruments, and led the singing of praise. Then Atalyah tore her clothes, and said, “Treason! treason!”
  14. Yehoyada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword.” For the priest said, “Don’t kill her in YHWH’s house.”
  15. So they made way for her. She went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king’s house; and they killed her there.
  16. Yehoyada made a Brit between himself, all the people, and the king, that they should be YHWH’s people.
  17. All the people went to the house of Ba'al, broke it down, broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Matan the priest of Ba'al before the altars.
  18. Yehoyada appointed the officers of YHWH’s house under the hand of the Levitical priests, whom David had distributed in YHWH’s house, to offer the burnt offerings of YHWH, as it is written in the law of Moshe, with rejoicing and with singing, as David had ordered.
  19. He set the gatekeepers at the gates of YHWH’s house, that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in.
  20. He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from YHWH’s house. They came through the upper gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.
  21. So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Atalyah with the sword.

                                  Chapter 24                                  

  1. Yoash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Tzivyah, of Be'er Sheva.
  2. Yoash did that which was right in YHWH’s eyes all the days of Yehoyada the priest.
  3. Yehoyada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
  4. After this, Yoash intended to restore YHWH’s house.
  5. He gathered together the priests and the Levi'im, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Yehudah, and gather money to repair the house of your Elohim from all Yisrael from year to year. See that you expedite this matter.” However the Levi'im didn’t do it right away.
  6. The king called for Yehoyada the chief, and said to him, “Why haven’t you required of the Levi'im to bring in the tax of Moshe the servant of YHWH, and of the assembly of Yisrael, out of Yehudah and out of Jerusalem, for the Tent of the Testimony?”
  7. For the sons of Atalyah, that wicked woman, had broken up Elohim’s house; and they also gave all the dedicated things of YHWH’s house to the Baals.
  8. So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of YHWH’s house.
  9. They made a proclamation through Yehudah and Jerusalem, to bring in for YHWH the tax that Moshe the servant of Elohim laid on Yisrael in the wilderness.
  10. All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had filled it.
  11. Whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the hand of the Levi'im, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
  12. The king and Yehoyada gave it to those who did the work of the service of YHWH’s house. They hired masons and carpenters to restore YHWH’s house, and also those who worked iron and bronze to repair YHWH’s house.
  13. So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands. They set up Elohim’s house as it was designed, and strengthened it.
  14. When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Yehoyada, from which were made vessels for YHWH’s house, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, including spoons and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in YHWH’s house continually all the days of Yehoyada.
  15. But Yehoyada grew old and was full of days, and he died. He was one hundred and thirty years old when he died.
  16. They buried him in David’s city amongst the kings, because he had done good in Yisrael, and towards Elohim and his house.
  17. Now after the death of Yehoyada, the princes of Yehudah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.
  18. They abandoned the house of YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols, so wrath came on Yehudah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
  19. Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again to YHWH, and they testified against them; but they would not listen.
  20. The Ruach Elohim came on Zecharyah the son of Yehoyada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Elohim says, ‘Why do you disobey YHWH’s mitzvot, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken YHWH, he has also forsaken you.’”
  21. They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the mitzvah of the king in the court of YHWH’s house.
  22. Thus Yoash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Yehoyada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May YHWH look at it, and repay it.”
  23. At the end of the year, the army of the Aramim came up against him. They came to Yehudah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from amongst the people, and sent all their plunder to the king of Dameshek.
  24. For the army of the Aramim came with a small company of men; and YHWH delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers. So they executed judgement on Yoash.
  25. When they had departed from him (for they left him seriously wounded), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Yehoyada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died. They buried him in David’s city, but they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings.
  26. These are those who conspired against him: Zavad the son of Shimeath the Amoniyah and Yehozavad the son of Shimrit the Moaviyah.
  27. Now concerning his sons, the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding of Elohim’s house, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amatzyahu his son reigned in his place.

                                  Chapter 25                                  

  1. Amatzyahu was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Yeho'adan, of Jerusalem.
  2. He did that which was right in YHWH’s eyes, but not with a perfect heart.
  3. Now when the kingdom was established to him, he killed his servants who had killed his father the king.
  4. But he didn’t put their children to death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moshe, as YHWH commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.”
  5. Moreover Amatzyahu gathered Yehudah together and ordered them according to their fathers’ houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Yehudah and Binyamin. He counted them from twenty years old and upward, and found that there were three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go out to war, who could handle spear and shield.
  6. He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Yisrael for one hundred talents of silver.
  7. A man of Elohim came to him, saying, “O king, don’t let the army of Yisrael go with you, for YHWH is not with Yisrael, with all the children of Ephraim.
  8. But if you will go, take action, and be strong for the battle. Elohim will overthrow you before the enemy; for Elohim has power to help, and to overthrow.”
  9. Amatzyahu said to the man of Elohim, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Yisrael?” The man of Elohim answered, “YHWH is able to give you much more than this.”
  10. Then Amatzyahu separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Yehudah, and they returned home in fierce anger.
  11. Amatzyahu took courage, and led his people out and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the children of Seir.
  12. The children of Yehudah carried away ten thousand alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.
  13. But the men of the army whom Amatzyahu sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Yehudah from Shomron even to Beit Choron, and struck of them three thousand, and took much plunder.
  14. Now after Amatzyahu had come from the slaughter of the Edomim, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them and burnt incense to them.
  15. Therefore YHWH’s anger burnt against Amatzyahu, and he sent to him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?”
  16. As he talked with him, the king said to him, “Have we made you one of the king’s counsellors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped, and said, “I know that Elohim has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
  17. Then Amatzyahu king of Yehudah consulted his advisers, and sent to Yoash, the son of Yehoachaz, the son of Yehu, king of Yisrael, saying, “Come! Let’s look one another in the face.”
  18. Yoash king of Yisrael sent to Amatzyahu king of Yehudah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as his wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.
  19. You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall, even you and Yehudah with you?’”
  20. But Amatzyahu would not listen; for it was of Elohim, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.
  21. So Yoash king of Yisrael went up, and he and Amatzyahu king of Yehudah looked one another in the face at Beit Shemesh, which belongs to Yehudah.
  22. Yehudah was defeated by Yisrael; so every man fled to his tent.
  23. Yoash king of Yisrael took Amatzyahu king of Yehudah, the son of Yoash the son of Yehoachaz, at Beit Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
  24. He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in Elohim’s house with Oved-Edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, and the hostages, and returned to Shomron.
  25. Amatzyahu the son of Yoash, king of Yehudah, lived for fifteen years after the death of Yoash, son of Yehoachaz, king of Yisrael.
  26. Now the rest of the acts of Amatzyahu, first and last, behold, aren’t they written in the book of the kings of Yehudah and Yisrael?
  27. Now from the time that Amatzyahu turned away from following YHWH, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lakhish, but they sent after him to Lakhish and killed him there.
  28. They brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Yehudah.

                                  Chapter 26                                  

  1. All the people of Yehudah took Uziyahu, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amatzyahu.
  2. He built Eloth and restored it to Yehudah. After that the king slept with his fathers.
  3. Uziyahu was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Yekhilyah, of Jerusalem.
  4. He did that which was right in YHWH’s eyes, according to all that his father Amatzyahu had done.
  5. He set himself to seek Elohim in the days of Zecharyah, who had understanding in the vision of Elohim; and as long as he sought YHWH, Elohim made him prosper.
  6. He went out and fought against the Pelishtim, and broke down the wall of Gat, the wall of Yavneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and amongst the Pelishtim.
  7. Elohim helped him against the Pelishtim, and against the Aravim who lived in Gur Ba'al, and the Meunim.
  8. The Amonim gave tribute to Uziyahu. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Mitzrayim, for he grew exceedingly strong.
  9. Moreover Uziyahu built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
  10. He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains. He had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields, for he loved farming.
  11. Moreover Uziyahu had an army of fighting men who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Ye'i'el the scribe and Ma'aseyah the officer, under the hand of Chananyah, one of the king’s captains.
  12. The whole number of the heads of fathers’ households, even the mighty men of valour, was two thousand and six hundred.
  13. Under their hand was an army, three hundred and seven thousand and five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
  14. Uziyahu prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.
  15. In Jerusalem, he made devices, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad, because he was marvellously helped until he was strong.
  16. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly and he trespassed against YHWH his Elohim, for he went into YHWH’s Beit HaMikdash to burn incense on the altar of incense.
  17. Azaryah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of YHWH, who were valiant men.
  18. They resisted Uziyahu the king, and said to him, “It isn’t for you, Uziyahu, to burn incense to YHWH, but for the priests the sons of Aharon, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the Beit HaMikdash, for you have trespassed. It will not be for your honour from YHWH Elohim.”
  19. Then Uziyahu was angry. He had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in YHWH’s house, beside the altar of incense.
  20. Azaryah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead; and they thrust him out quickly from there. Indeed, he himself also hurried to go out, because YHWH had struck him.
  21. Uziyahu the king was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from YHWH’s house. Yotam his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
  22. Now the rest of the acts of Uziyahu, first and last, Yeshayahu the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote.
  23. So Uziyahu slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” Yotam his son reigned in his place.

                                  Chapter 27                                  

  1. Yotam was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Yerushah the daughter of Tzadok.
  2. He did that which was right in YHWH’s eyes, according to all that his father Uziyahu had done. However he didn’t enter into YHWH’s Beit HaMikdash. The people still acted corruptly.
  3. He built the upper gate of YHWH’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel.
  4. Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Yehudah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
  5. He also fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. The children of Ammon also gave that much to him in the second year, and in the third.
  6. So Yotam became mighty, because he ordered his ways before YHWH his Elohim.
  7. Now the rest of the acts of Yotam, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Yisrael and Yehudah.
  8. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
  9. Yotam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Achaz his son reigned in his place.

                                  Chapter 28                                  

  1. Achaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in YHWH’s eyes, like David his father,
  2. but he walked in the ways of the kings of Yisrael, and also made molten images for the Baals.
  3. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom YHWH cast out before the children of Yisrael.
  4. He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
  5. Therefore YHWH his Elohim delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram. They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Dameshek. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Yisrael, who struck him with a great slaughter.
  6. For Pekach the son of Remalyahu killed in Yehudah one hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.
  7. Zikhri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Ma'aseyah the king’s son, Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
  8. The children of Yisrael carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters, and also took away much plunder from them, and brought the plunder to Shomron.
  9. But a prophet of YHWH was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that came to Shomron, and said to them, “Behold, because YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, was angry with Yehudah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
  10. Now you intend to degrade the children of Yehudah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against YHWH your Elohim?
  11. Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives that you have taken captive from your brothers, for the fierce wrath of YHWH is on you.”
  12. Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azaryah the son of Yochanan, Berekhyah the son of Meshillemoth, Yechizkiyah the son of Shalum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
  13. and said to them, “You must not bring in the captives here, for you intend that which will bring on us a trespass against YHWH, to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Yisrael.”
  14. So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the princes and all the assembly.
  15. The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked amongst them, dressed them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Shomron.
  16. At that time King Achaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.
  17. For again the Edomim had come and struck Yehudah, and carried away captives.
  18. The Pelishtim also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Yehudah, and had taken Beit Shemesh, Ayalon, Gederoth, Sokho with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo and its villages; and they lived there.
  19. For YHWH brought Yehudah low because of Achaz king of Yisrael, because he acted without restraint in Yehudah and trespassed severely against YHWH.
  20. Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him.
  21. For Achaz took away a portion out of YHWH’s house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn’t help him.
  22. In the time of his distress, he trespassed yet more against YHWH, this same King Achaz.
  23. For he sacrificed to the gods of Dameshek which had defeated him. He said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Yisrael.
  24. Achaz gathered together the vessels of Elohim’s house, cut the vessels of Elohim’s house in pieces, and shut up the doors of YHWH’s house; and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
  25. In every city of Yehudah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked YHWH, the Elohim of his fathers, to anger.
  26. Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Yehudah and Yisrael.
  27. Achaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, because they didn’t bring him into the tombs of the kings of Yisrael; and Chizkiyahu his son reigned in his place.

                                  Chapter 29                                  

  1. Chizkiyahu began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Aviyah, the daughter of Zecharyah.
  2. He did that which was right in YHWH’s eyes, 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 YHWH’s house and repaired them.
  4. He brought in the priests and the Levi'im and gathered them together into the wide place on the east,
  5. and said to them, “Listen to me, you Levi'im! Now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, and carry the filthiness out of the kodesh place.
  6. For our fathers were unfaithful, and have done that which was evil in YHWH our Elohim’s sight, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of YHWH, and turned their backs.
  7. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burnt incense nor offered burnt offerings in the kodesh place to the Elohim of Yisrael.
  8. Therefore YHWH’s wrath was on Yehudah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.
  9. For behold, 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 Brit with YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.
  11. My sons, don’t be negligent now; for YHWH has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers and burn incense.”
  12. Then the Levi'im arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Yoel the son of Azaryah, of the sons of the Kehatim; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azaryah the son of Yehalel'el; and of the Gershonim, Yo'ach the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Yo'ach;
  13. and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Ye'u'el; and of the sons of Asaf, Zecharyah and Matanyah;
  14. and of the sons of Heiman, Yechu'el and Shim'i; and of the sons of Yedutun, Shemayah and Uzi'el.
  15. They gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the mitzvah of the king by YHWH’s words, to cleanse YHWH’s house.
  16. The priests went into the inner part of YHWH’s house to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in YHWH’s Beit HaMikdash into the court of YHWH’s house. The Levi'im took it from there to carry it out 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 YHWH’s porch. They sanctified YHWH’s house in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.
  18. Then they went in to Chizkiyahu the king within the palace and said, “We have cleansed all YHWH’s house, including the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, and the table of show bread with all its vessels.
  19. Moreover, we have prepared and sanctified all the vessels which King Achaz threw away in his reign when he was unfaithful. Behold, they are before YHWH’s altar.”
  20. Then Chizkiyahu the king arose early, gathered the princes of the city, and went up to YHWH’s house.
  21. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Beit HaMikdash, and for Yehudah. He commanded the priests the sons of Aharon to offer them on YHWH’s altar.
  22. So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They killed the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.
  23. They brought near the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands on them.
  24. Then the priests killed them, and they made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Yisrael; for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Yisrael.
  25. He set the Levi'im in YHWH’s house with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the mitzvah of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and Natan the prophet; for the mitzvah was from YHWH by his prophets.
  26. The Levi'im stood with David’s instruments, and the priests with the trumpets.
  27. Chizkiyahu commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, YHWH’s song also began, along with the trumpets and instruments of David king of Yisrael.
  28. All the assembly worshipped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
  29. When they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshipped.
  30. Moreover Chizkiyahu the king and the princes commanded the Levi'im to sing praises to YHWH with the words of David, and of Asaf the seer. They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
  31. Then Chizkiyahu answered, “Now you have consecrated yourselves to YHWH. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into YHWH’s house.” The assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.
  32. The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to YHWH.
  33. The consecrated things were six hundred head of cattle and three thousand sheep.
  34. But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levi'im helped them until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levi'im were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
  35. 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 YHWH’s house was set in order.
  36. Chizkiyahu and all the people rejoiced because of that which Elohim had prepared for the people; for the thing was done suddenly.

                                  Chapter 30                                  

  1. Chizkiyahu sent to all Yisrael and Yehudah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Menashe, that they should come to YHWH’s house at Jerusalem, to keep the Pesach to YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael.
  2. For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Pesach in the second month.
  3. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
  4. 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 Yisrael, from Be'er Sheva even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Pesach to YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it in great numbers in the way it is written.
  6. So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Yisrael and Yehudah, according to the mitzvah of the king, saying, “You children of Yisrael, turn again to YHWH, the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yisrael, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
  7. Don’t be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see.
  8. Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to YHWH, and enter into his Beit HaMikdash, which he has sanctified forever, and serve YHWH your Elohim, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
  9. For if you turn again to YHWH, your brothers and your children will find compassion with those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because YHWH your Elohim is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.”
  10. So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Menashe, even to Zevulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them.
  11. Nevertheless some men of Asher, Menashe, and Zevulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
  12. Also the hand of Elohim came on Yehudah to give them one heart, to do the mitzvah of the king and of the princes by YHWH’s word.
  13. Many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Chag HaMatzot in the second month, a very great assembly.
  14. They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them into the brook Kidron.
  15. Then they killed the Pesach on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levi'im were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into YHWH’s house.
  16. They stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moshe the man of Elohim. The priests sprinkled the blood which they received of the hand of the Levi'im.
  17. For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levi'im were in charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to YHWH.
  18. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, Menashe, Yissachar, and Zevulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Pesach other than the way it is written. For Chizkiyahu had prayed for them, saying, “May the good YHWH pardon everyone
  19. who sets his heart to seek Elohim, YHWH, the Elohim of his fathers, even if they aren’t clean according to the purification of the Beit HaMikdash.”
  20. YHWH listened to Chizkiyahu, and healed the people.
  21. The children of Yisrael who were present at Jerusalem kept the Chag HaMatzot seven days with great gladness. The Levi'im and the priests praised YHWH day by day, singing with loud instruments to YHWH.
  22. Chizkiyahu spoke encouragingly to all the Levi'im who had good understanding in the service of YHWH. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings and making confession to YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.
  23. The whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness.
  24. For Chizkiyahu king of Yehudah gave to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
  25. All the assembly of Yehudah, with the priests and the Levi'im, and all the assembly who came out of Yisrael, and the foreigners who came out of the land of Yisrael and who lived in Yehudah, rejoiced.
  26. So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Shlomo the son of David king of Yisrael there was nothing like this in Jerusalem.
  27. Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his kodesh habitation, even to heaven.

                                  Chapter 31                                  

  1. Now when all this was finished, all Yisrael who were present went out to the cities of Yehudah and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Yehudah and Binyamin, also in Ephraim and Menashe, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Yisrael returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
  2. Chizkiyahu appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levi'im after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levi'im, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of YHWH’s camp.
  3. He also appointed the king’s portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Shabbats, for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in YHWH’s law.
  4. Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levi'im, that they might give themselves to YHWH’s law.
  5. As soon as the mitzvah went out, the children of Yisrael gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the increase of the field; and they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly.
  6. The children of Yisrael and Yehudah, who lived in the cities of Yehudah, also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to YHWH their Elohim, and laid them in heaps.
  7. In the third month, they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
  8. When Chizkiyahu and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed YHWH and his people Yisrael.
  9. Then Chizkiyahu questioned the priests and the Levi'im about the heaps.
  10. Azaryah the chief priest, of the house of Tzadok, answered him and said, “Since people began to bring the offerings into YHWH’s house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for YHWH has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”
  11. Then Chizkiyahu commanded them to prepare rooms in YHWH’s house, and they prepared them.
  12. They brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. Konanyah the Levi'i was ruler over them, and Shim'i his brother was second.
  13. Yechi'el, Azazyah, Nahath, Asael, Yerimot, Yozavad, Eli'el, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benayahu were overseers under the hand of Konanyah and Shim'i his brother, by the appointment of Chizkiyahu the king and Azaryah the ruler of Elohim’s house.
  14. Kore the son of Yimnah the Levi'i, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free will offerings of Elohim, to distribute YHWH’s offerings and the most kodesh things.
  15. Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Yeshua, Shemayah, Amaryah, and Shekanyah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small;
  16. in addition to those who were listed by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into YHWH’s house, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions;
  17. and those who were listed by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levi'im from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;
  18. and those who were listed by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, 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 Aharon the priests, who were in the fields of the pasture lands of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name to give portions to all the males amongst the priests and to all who were listed by genealogy amongst the Levi'im.
  20. Chizkiyahu did so throughout all Yehudah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before YHWH his Elohim.
  21. In every work that he began in the service of Elohim’s house, in the law, and in the mitzvot, to seek his Elohim, he did it with all his heart and prospered.

                                  Chapter 32                                  

  1. After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered into Yehudah, encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to win them for himself.
  2. When Chizkiyahu saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was planning to fight against Jerusalem,
  3. he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of the city, and they helped him.
  4. Then many people gathered together and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the middle of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find abundant water?”
  5. He took courage, built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, with the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in David’s city, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
  6. He set captains of war over the people, gathered them together to him in the wide place at the gate of the city, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,
  7. “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him.
  8. An arm of flesh is with him, but YHWH our Elohim is with us to help us and to fight our battles.” The people rested themselves on the words of Chizkiyahu king of Yehudah.
  9. After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was attacking Lakhish, and all his forces were with him), to Chizkiyahu king of Yehudah, and to all Yehudah who were at Jerusalem, saying,
  10. Sennacherib king of Assyria says, “In whom do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?
  11. Doesn’t Chizkiyahu persuade you to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, ‘YHWH our Elohim will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria’?
  12. Hasn’t the same Chizkiyahu taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Yehudah and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You shall worship before one altar, and you shall burn incense on it’?
  13. Don’t you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their land out of my hand?
  14. Who was there amongst all the gods 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 don’t let Chizkiyahu deceive you nor persuade you in this way. Don’t 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 will your Elohim deliver you out of my hand?”
  16. His servants spoke yet more against YHWH Elohim and against his servant Chizkiyahu.
  17. He also wrote letters insulting YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, and speaking against him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the Elohim of Chizkiyahu not deliver his people out of my hand.”
  18. They called out with a loud voice in the Yehudim’ language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and to trouble them, that they might take the city.
  19. They spoke of the Elohim of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.
  20. Chizkiyahu the king and Yeshayahu the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.
  21. YHWH sent an malak, who cut off all the mighty men of valour, the leaders, and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he had come into the house of his god, those who came out of his own body killed him there with the sword.
  22. Thus YHWH saved Chizkiyahu 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. Many brought gifts to YHWH to Jerusalem, and precious things to Chizkiyahu king of Yehudah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from then on.
  24. In those days Chizkiyahu was terminally ill, and he prayed to YHWH; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign.
  25. But Chizkiyahu didn’t reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, Yehudah, and Jerusalem.
  26. However, Chizkiyahu humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that YHWH’s wrath didn’t come on them in the days of Chizkiyahu.
  27. Chizkiyahu had exceedingly great riches and honour. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of valuable vessels;
  28. also storehouses for the increase of grain, new wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of animals, and flocks in folds.
  29. Moreover he provided for himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for Elohim had given him abundant possessions.
  30. This same Chizkiyahu also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of David’s city. Chizkiyahu prospered in all his works.
  31. However, concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, Elohim left him to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
  32. Now the rest of the acts of Chizkiyahu and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Yeshayahu the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Yehudah and Yisrael.
  33. Chizkiyahu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent to the tombs of the sons of David. All Yehudah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honoured him at his death. Menashe his son reigned in his place.

                                  Chapter 33                                  

  1. Menashe was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
  2. He did that which was evil in YHWH’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom YHWH cast out before the children of Yisrael.
  3. For he built again the high places which Chizkiyahu his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and worshipped all the army of the sky, and served them.
  4. He built altars in YHWH’s house, of which YHWH said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”
  5. He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of YHWH’s house.
  6. He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practised sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in YHWH’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
  7. He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in Elohim’s house, of which Elohim said to David and to Shlomo his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Yisrael, I will put my name forever.
  8. I will not any more remove the foot of Yisrael from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given by Moshe.”
  9. Menashe seduced Yehudah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than did the nations whom YHWH destroyed before the children of Yisrael.
  10. YHWH spoke to Menashe and to his people, but they didn’t listen.
  11. Therefore YHWH brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Menashe in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
  12. When he was in distress, he begged YHWH his Elohim, and humbled himself greatly before the Elohim of his fathers.
  13. He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Menashe knew that YHWH was Elohim.
  14. Now after this, he built an outer wall to David’s city on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate. He encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height; and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Yehudah.
  15. He took away the foreign gods and the idol out of YHWH’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of YHWH’s house and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
  16. He built up YHWH’s altar, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Yehudah to serve YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael.
  17. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places, but only to YHWH their Elohim.
  18. Now the rest of the acts of Menashe, and his prayer to his Elohim, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael, behold, they are written amongst the acts of the kings of Yisrael.
  19. His prayer also, and how Elohim listened to his request, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
  20. So Menashe slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house; and Amon his son reigned in his place.
  21. Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
  22. He did that which was evil in YHWH’s sight, as did Menashe his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Menashe his father had made, and served them.
  23. He didn’t humble himself before YHWH, as Menashe his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
  24. His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.
  25. But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon; and the people of the land made Yoshiyahu his son king in his place.

                                  Chapter 34                                  

  1. Yoshiyahu was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
  2. He did that which was right in YHWH’s eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left.
  3. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the Elohim of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Yehudah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images.
  4. They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
  5. He burnt the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Yehudah and Jerusalem.
  6. He did this in the cities of Menashe, Ephraim, and Shimon, even to Naftali, around in their ruins.
  7. He broke down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Yisrael, then returned to Jerusalem.
  8. Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shafan the son of Atzalyah, Ma'aseyah the governor of the city, and Yo'ach the son of Yoachaz the recorder to repair the house of YHWH his Elohim.
  9. They came to Chilkiyahu the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into Elohim’s house, which the Levi'im, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from the hands of Menashe, Ephraim, of all the remnant of Yisrael, of all Yehudah and Binyamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
  10. They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of YHWH’s house; and the workmen who laboured in YHWH’s house gave it to mend and repair the house.
  11. They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Yehudah had destroyed.
  12. The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Yachat and Ovadyah the Levi'im, of the sons of Merari; and Zecharyah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kehatim, to give direction; and others of the Levi'im, who were all skilful with musical instruments.
  13. Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Of the Levi'im, there were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
  14. When they brought out the money that was brought into YHWH’s house, Chilkiyahu the priest found the book of YHWH’s law given by Moshe.
  15. Chilkiyahu answered Shafan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in YHWH’s house.” So Chilkiyahu delivered the book to Shafan.
  16. Shafan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, “All that was committed to your servants, they are doing.
  17. They have emptied out the money that was found in YHWH’s house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and into the hand of the workmen.”
  18. Shafan the scribe told the king, saying, “Chilkiyahu the priest has delivered me a book.” Shafan read from it to the king.
  19. When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
  20. The king commanded Chilkiyahu, Ahikam the son of Shafan, Abdon the son of Michah, Shafan the scribe, and Asayah the king’s servant, saying,
  21. “Go enquire of YHWH for me, and for those who are left in Yisrael and in Yehudah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is YHWH’s wrath that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept YHWH’s word, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
  22. So Chilkiyahu and those whom the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shalum the son of Tokhath, the son of Chasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect.
  23. She said to them, “YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,
  24. “YHWH says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Yehudah.
  25. Because they have forsaken me, and have burnt incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath is poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’”’
  26. But to the king of Yehudah, who sent you to enquire of YHWH, you shall tell him this, ‘YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael says: “About the words which you have heard,
  27. because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Elohim when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,” says YHWH.
  28. “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes won’t see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” They brought back this message to the king.
  29. Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Yehudah and Jerusalem.
  30. The king went up to YHWH’s house with all the men of Yehudah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests, the Levi'im, and all the people, both great and small—and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the Brit that was found in YHWH’s house.
  31. The king stood in his place and made a Brit before YHWH, to walk after YHWH, and to keep his mitzvot, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the Brit that were written in this book.
  32. He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Binyamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the Brit of Elohim, the Elohim of their fathers.
  33. Yoshiyahu took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Yisrael, and made all who were found in Yisrael to serve, even to serve YHWH their Elohim. All his days they didn’t depart from following YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.

                                  Chapter 35                                  

  1. Yoshiyahu kept a Pesach to YHWH in Jerusalem. They killed the Pesach on the fourteenth day of the first month.
  2. He set the priests in their offices and encouraged them in the service of YHWH’s house.
  3. He said to the Levi'im who taught all Yisrael, who were kodesh to YHWH, “Put the kodesh ark in the house which Shlomo the son of David king of Yisrael built. It will no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve YHWH your Elohim and his people Yisrael.
  4. Prepare yourselves after your fathers’ houses by your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Yisrael, and according to the writing of Shlomo his son.
  5. Stand in the kodesh place according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of your brothers the children of the people, and let there be for each a portion of a fathers’ house of the Levi'im.
  6. Kill the Pesach lamb, sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to YHWH’s word by Moshe.”
  7. Yoshiyahu gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and young goats, all of them for the Pesach offerings, to all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls. These were of the king’s substance.
  8. His princes gave a free will offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levi'im. Chilkiyahu, Zecharyah, and Yechi'el, the rulers of Elohim’s house, gave to the priests for the Pesach offerings two thousand and six hundred small livestock, and three hundred head of cattle.
  9. Konanyah also, and Shemayah and Netan'el, his brothers, and Chashavyah, Ye'i'el, and Yozavad, the chiefs of the Levi'im, gave to the Levi'im for the Pesach offerings five thousand small livestock and five hundred head of cattle.
  10. So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levi'im by their divisions, according to the king’s mitzvah.
  11. They killed the Pesach lambs, and the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from their hands, and the Levi'im skinned them.
  12. They removed the burnt offerings, that they might give them according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of the children of the people, to offer to YHWH, as it is written in the book of Moshe. They did the same with the cattle.
  13. They roasted the Pesach with fire according to the ordinance. They boiled the kodesh offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children of the people.
  14. Afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aharon were busy with offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night. Therefore the Levi'im prepared for themselves and for the priests the sons of Aharon.
  15. The singers, the sons of Asaf, were in their place, according to the mitzvah of David, Asaf, Heiman, and Yedutun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers were at every gate. They didn’t need to depart from their service, because their brothers the Levi'im prepared for them.
  16. So all the service of YHWH was prepared the same day, to keep the Pesach, and to offer burnt offerings on YHWH’s altar, according to the mitzvah of King Yoshiyahu.
  17. The children of Yisrael who were present kept the Pesach at that time, and the Chag HaMatzot seven days.
  18. There was no Pesach like that kept in Yisrael from the days of Shmuel the prophet, nor did any of the kings of Yisrael keep such a Pesach as Yoshiyahu kept—with the priests, the Levi'im, and all Yehudah and Yisrael who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
  19. This Pesach was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Yoshiyahu.
  20. After all this, when Yoshiyahu had prepared the Beit HaMikdash, Neco king of Mitzrayim went up to fight against Karkemish by the Euphrates, and Yoshiyahu went out against him.
  21. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, you king of Yehudah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. Elohim has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is Elohim who is with me, that he not destroy you.”
  22. Nevertheless Yoshiyahu would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of Elohim, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
  23. The archers shot at King Yoshiyahu; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!”
  24. So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Yehudah and Jerusalem mourned for Yoshiyahu.
  25. Yirmeyahu lamented for Yoshiyahu, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Yoshiyahu in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Yisrael. Behold, they are written in the lamentations.
  26. Now the rest of the acts of Yoshiyahu and his good deeds, according to that which is written in YHWH’s law,
  27. and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Yisrael and Yehudah.

                                  Chapter 36                                  

  1. Then the people of the land took Yehoachaz the son of Yoshiyahu, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
  2. Yoachaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
  3. The king of Mitzrayim removed him from office at Jerusalem, and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
  4. The king of Mitzrayim made Elyakim his brother king over Yehudah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Yehoyakim. Neco took Yoachaz his brother, and carried him to Mitzrayim.
  5. Yehoyakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in YHWH his Elohim’s sight.
  6. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon.
  7. Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the vessels of YHWH’s house to Babylon, and put them in his Beit HaMikdash at Babylon.
  8. Now the rest of the acts of Yehoyakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Yisrael and Yehudah; and Yehoyachin his son reigned in his place.
  9. Yehoyachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in YHWH’s sight.
  10. At the return of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of YHWH’s house, and made Tzidkiyahu his brother king over Yehudah and Jerusalem.
  11. Tzidkiyahu was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
  12. He did that which was evil in YHWH his Elohim’s sight. He didn’t humble himself before Yirmeyahu the prophet speaking from YHWH’s mouth.
  13. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by Elohim; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael.
  14. Moreover all the chiefs of the priests and the people trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted YHWH’s house which he had made kodesh in Jerusalem.
  15. YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place;
  16. but they mocked the messengers of Elohim, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until YHWH’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
  17. Therefore he brought on them the king of the Kasdim, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their Beit HaMikdash, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm. He gave them all into his hand.
  18. All the vessels of Elohim’s house, great and small, and the treasures of YHWH’s house, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.
  19. They burnt Elohim’s house, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burnt all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all of its valuable vessels.
  20. He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Paras,
  21. to fulfil YHWH’s word by Yirmeyahu’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Shabbats. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Shabbat, to fulfil seventy years.
  22. Now in the first year of Koresh king of Paras, that YHWH’s word by the mouth of Yirmeyahu might be accomplished, YHWH stirred up the spirit of Koresh king of Paras, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
  23. “Koresh king of Paras says, ‘YHWH, the Elohim of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Yehudah. Whoever there is amongst you of all his people, YHWH his Elohim be with him, and let him go up.’”
