THE CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS OF JUDA

THE SECOND BOOK

The 1st Chapter

And Salomon the son of David waxed strong in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and magnified him on high. And Salomon communed with all Israel, the captains over thousands and hundreds, the judges and all other Lords and ancient heads throughout all Israel. And so Salomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the hill altar of Gabaon: for there was the tabernacle of witness of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord made in the wilderness. But the Ark of God had David brought from Kariath Jarim, into the place he had prepared therefore. For he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. Moreover the brazen altar that Bezeleel the son of Uri, the son of Or had made, was at Gabaon also, before the tabernacle of the Lord. And Salomon and the congregation went to visit it. And Salomon offered there before the Lord upon the brazen altar that was by the tabernacle of witness, a thousand burntsacrifices. And the same night God appeared unto Salomon and said to him, ask what I shall give thee. And Salomon said unto God: thou hast shown great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me king in his stead. And now Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be true. For thou hast made me King over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Wherefore give me wisdom and knowledge how to behave myself unto this people: for who is able tojudge this people that is so great ?

Then God said to Salomon, because thou hadst this in thine heart, and didst not ask treasure and riches, and honour and the lives of thine enemies, neither yet long life: But hast asked wisdom and knowledge, to judge my people, over which I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge shall be given thee, and I will give thee treasure, riches, and glory also, that among the kings before thee or after thee, none was or shall be like thee. And so Salomon came from the hillaltar that was at Gabaon to Jerusalem from the tabernacle of witness and reigned at Jerusalem. And Salomon gathered chariots and horsemen: that he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he bestowed in the chariot cities and about the king at Jerusalem. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and Cedar trees as plenty as the mulberry trees that grow in the valleys. And the horses which Salomon had, were brought him out of Egypt from Keva. The kings merchants fetched them out at Keva at a price. They came and brought out of Egypt a chariot for five hundred sickles, and an horse for one hundred and fifty. And so brought they to all the kings of the Hethites and to the kings of Siria through the hands of the said merchants.

The 2nd Chapter

And Salomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom: and told out three score and ten thousand men to bear burdens and four score thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

And Salomon sent to Hiram king of Tire saying: As thou didst deal with David my father and didst send him Cedar wood, to build him an house to dwell in, even so deal with me now: that I may build an house for the name of the Lord my God, to consecrate it to him to burn sweet odours and to set shewbread before him perpetually, and for burntsacrifices morning and evening, and on the Sabbath days, and the first day of every new moon, and in the solemn feasts of the Lord our God, so to continue ever in Israel. And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above other Gods. So that who can be able to build him an house: when that heaven, neither heaven above all heavens, is able to receive him, what am I then that I should build him an house ? Nay, but to burn sacrifice before him: send me now therefore a cunning man to work in gold, silver, brass, iron, scarlet, crimson and Jacinth colour, and that can skill to grave, to be with the cunning men that are with me in Juda and Jerusalem, which David my father did prepare. And send me also Cedar trees, fir trees and Algume trees out of Libanon. For I know well thy servants can skill to hew timber in Libanon. And see, my men shall be with thine, that they may prepare me timber enough. For the house which I build is great and wonderful. And behold, I sent for thy servants the cutters and hewers of timber twenty thousand quarters of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand quarters of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

And Hiram king of Tire answered in writing and sent to Salomon: because the Lord loveth his people, therefore he hath made thee king over them. And Hiram said moreover: blessed be the Lord God of Israel which hath made both heaven and earth, that he hath given David the king a wise son that hath discretion and understanding, to build an house for the Lord, and another for his kingdom. And now I have sent a wise man and a man of understanding called Hiram Abi, and is the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, (howbeit his father was a Tirian) and he can skill to work in gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, timber, scarlet, Jacinth, byss and crimson: and grave all manner of gravings, and to find out all manner of subtle work that shall be set before him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my Lord David thy father. And now the wheat, barley, oil and wine which my lord hath said, let him send his servants. And we will cut wood out of Libanon, as much as thou shalt need, and will bring it to thee in ships by sea to port Japo: and thence thou mayest carry them to Jerusalem. And Salomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the time his father David had numbered them. And they were found an hundred and eighty thousand and six hundred. And he set eighty thousand of them to bear burdens, and eighty thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to courage and to set the people a work.

The 3rd Chapter

And Salomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, which was shewed David his father when he prepared a place in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build the second day of the second month the fourth year of his reign. And this is the foundation of Salomon in building the house of God. The length was three score cubits after the old cubit, and the breadth twenty. And the porch at the end was as large as the house breadth twenty cubits: and the height was an hundred and twenty cubits. And he overlaid it on the inner side with pure gold.

And the great house he siled with fir tree, and overlaid it with good gold, and graved thereto palm trees and chains. And he paved the house with precious stone goodly. And it was gold of Pharuiam. And he overlaid the house: both beams, posts, walls and doors with gold, and graved Cherubs upon the walls.

And he made the house most holy, whose length was twenty cubits like to the breadth of the house, and the breadth thereof was also twenty cubits. And he overlaid it with the best gold, that drew to the sum of six hundred talents. And the weight of the nails of gold was thereto fifty sickles. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

And he made in the house most holy two Cherubs of Image work, and overlaid them with gold. And the wings of the Cherubs were twenty cubits long. The one wing was five cubits and touched the wall of the house, and the other wing was likewise five cubits and touched the wing of the other Cherub. And the one wing of the other Cherub was five cubits, and touched the wall of the house, and the other wing was five cubits also, and raught to the wing of the other Cherub. So that the wings of the said Cherubs raught twenty cubits. And they stood on their feet and looked inwards. And he made a forehanging of Jacinct colour, of scarlet, crimson and and byss: and caused the Cherubs to be bordered thereon. And he made before the house two pillars of thirty five cubits long. And the head that was above on the top of one of them was five cubits. And he made such chains as was in the quere, and put them on the heads of the pillars, and made an hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. And he reared up the pillars before the temple: one on the right hand and another on the left, and called the right Jachin and the left Boaz.

The 4th Chapter

And he made an altar of brass twenty cubits long and twenty cubits broad and ten cubits high. And he cast a brazen sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, and round in compass and five cubits high: and a line of thirty cubits might have compassed it round about. And the fashion of oxen did compass it round about under it: that is to wete(know), two rows of oxen cast when it was cast did compass that sea which was ten cubits wide, round about. And it stood also upon twelve oxen: of which three looked North, three West, three South and three East, and the sea upon them above on high, and the hinder parts of them inward. And the thickest of it was an handbreadth, and the brim like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies. And it received and held the thousand baths.

And he made ten lavers: and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash with all. And in them they thrust the flesh of the burntofferings. But the sea was for the priests to wash in. And he made ten candlesticks of gold in their fashions, and put them in the temple: five on the right hand and five on the left. And he made also ten tables and put them in the temple: five on the right side and five on the left. And he made an hundred basins of gold. And he made the court of the priests, and the great court and doors to it: and overlaid the doors of them with brass. And he set the sea in the right side of the East end, toward the South. And Hiram made pots, shovels and basins.

And Hiram finished the work he made for king Salomon unto the temple of God: The two pillars with their scalps of the two heads that were on the tops of the pillars: and the two wreaths to cover the two scalps of the heads that were on the tops of the pillars: and four hundred pomegranates for the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates for every wreath, to cover the two scalps of the heads that were on the pillars. And he made bottoms, and lavers upon the bottoms: and the sea with twelve oxen under it. And thereto pots, shovels, flesh hooks, and all their vessels did Hiram Abi make for king Salomon for the house of the Lord, of bright brass. In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the thick earth, between Socoth and Zaredatha. And made of all these vessels so mighty great abundance, that the weight of brass could not be reckoned.

And Salomon made all the vessels that pertained to the house of God: the golden altar and the tables with the shewbread upon them, the candlesticks with their lamps to burn after the manner before the quere, and that of pure gold, and the flowers and the lamps, and the snuffers were gold and that perfect gold: and the dressing knives, basins, spoons and censers of pure gold. And the inner doors of the place most holy, and the doors of the temple too, were gold. And so was all the work that Salomon made for the house of the Lord finished.

And when the work that Salomon made in the house of the Lord was finished: then Salomon brought in the gifts dedicate by David his father, the silver and the gold and all the Jewels, and put them among the treasure of the house of God.

The 5th Chapter

Then Salomon gathered the elders of Israel together and all the heads of the tribes and ancient lords among the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem: to bring the Ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David which is Zion. And all the men of Israel resorted unto the king in the feast of the seventh month. And when all the elders of Israel were come, the Levites took up the Ark. And the priests and the Levites brought away the Ark and the tabernacle of witness, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle. And King Salomon and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the Ark, offered sheep and oxen, so many that they could not be told or numbered for multitude.

And the priests brought the Ark of the appointment of the Lord unto his place in the quere of the temple and place most holy: even under the wings of the Cherubs, that the Cherubs stretched out their wings over the place of the Ark and covered the Ark and her staves above on high. And the staves of the Ark, were so long, that they were seen a little before the quere, but not far without. And there it remaineth unto this day. Moreover there was nothing in the Ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, after they were come out of Egypt. And when the priests were come out of the holy place (for all the priests that were found sanctified themselves and did not wait by course). But the Levites every one of them that were under Asaph, Heman and Iduthun, and among their children and brethren, were arrayed in byss and sang with Cymbals, Psalteries, and harps standing East from the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets. And the trumpet blowers and the singers so agreed, that it seemed but one voice in praising and thanking the Lord. And as the voice of the trumpets, cymbals and instruments of melody arose, and as they praised the Lord, how that he was good and that his mercy lasteth ever, the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud: so that the priests could not endure to minister by the reason of the cloud. For the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

The 6th Chapter

Then Salomon said: the Lord hath spoken it, how that he will dwell in darkness. And I have built an habitation for thee and a place to dwell in for ever. And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood. And he said: blessed be the Lord God of Israel which spake with his mouth to my father David and hath fulfilled it with his hands, for God said: since the time I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there, neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem to have my name there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel: But the Lord said to David my father: for as much as it was in thine heart, to build an house for my name, thou didst well that thou haddest it in thine heart. Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house, but thy son which shall issue out of thy loins, he shall build an house for my name. And the Lord hath made good his saying that he hath spoken. For I arose in the room of David my father, and sat on the seat of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. And therein I have put the Ark wherein the covenant of the Lord made with the children of Israel, is. And he stepped forth before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and stretched out his hands, now Salomon had made a Brazen pulpit of five cubits long and five cubits broad, and three of height, and had set it in the midst of the great court, upon that he stepped and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel and stretched out his hands to heaven and said: Lord God of Israel there is no God like thee either in heaven or in earth, which keepest covenant and shewest mercy unto thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts. Which hast kept with David my father that thou promisedest him: thou saidest it with thy mouth and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is to see this day.

Now Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my father, that thou promisedest him saying: thou shalt not be without one or other in my sight that shall sit upon the seat of Israel. Of this condition yet, if thy children will take heed to their ways to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me. Now Lord God of Israel let thy saying be true, which thou saidest unto thy servant David. How be it in very deed, can God dwell with man on earth ? Behold, neither heaven or heaven above all heavens is able to contain thee: how should the house then which I have built for thee do it ? But turn to the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication (O' Lord my God) to hearken unto the voice and prayer which thy servant maketh before thee. That thine eyes be open over this house day and night, and over the place of which thou hast said, that thou wouldest put thy name there: to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth at this place: hearken therefore unto the prayers of thy servant and of thy people Israel, which they pray in this place. But hear thou it out of thy dwelling place heaven: and when thou hearest it be merciful. If a man sin against his neighbour, and an *adjuration (earnest appeal) be laid to his charge, to adjure him withal, and the adjuration come before thine altar in this house: then hear thou from heaven, and work and judge thy servants, that thou reward the evil and bring his way upon his head, and justify the righteous and give him according to his righteousness.

Likewise if thy people Israel be put to the worse before their enemies, because they have sinned against thee: Yet if they turn and confess thy name, and make intercession and pray before thee in this house: then hear thou from heaven and be merciful unto the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.

If heaven be shut up, that there be no rain, because they have sinned against thee: yet if they pray at this place and confess thy name and turn from their sins at thy scourging: then hear thou from heaven and be merciful unto the sin of thy servants and of thy people Israel, that thou show them a good way to walk in, and send rain upon thy land which thou hast given unto thy people, for an inheritance.

If there chance dearth in the land, pestilence, burning or smiting of corn, grasshoppers or caterpillars, or that their enemies besiege them in the cities of their own land, or whatsoever plague or sickness it be. Then all the supplications and prayers that shall be made of all men among all thy people Israel, which shall know every man his own sore and his own grief, and shall stretch out their hands towards this house: thou shalt hear from heaven thy dwelling place, and shalt be merciful, and give every man according unto all his way, even as thou shalt know every mans heart: for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of Adam: that they may fear thee and walk in thy ways as long as they live upon the earth, which thou gavest to our fathers.

Thereto a stranger which is not of thy people Israel, if he come from a far land for thy great names sake and thy mighty hand and stretched out arm, and therefore come and pray at this house: thou shalt hear him from heaven thy dwelling place, and shalt do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for. That all the nations of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doeth thy people Israel: and that it may be known how that this house which I have built, is called after thy name.

When thy people shall go out to war, against their enemies the way that thou shalt send them. If they pray to thee, the way toward this city which thou hast chosen, and house which I have built for thy name: then hear from heaven, their supplication and prayer, and help them in their right.

If they shall sin against thee (as there is no man, but that he shall sin) and thou be angry with them and deliver them to their enemies, and they lead them away captive unto a land far or near, yet if their hearts come to them again in the land where they be in captivity, and turn and pray unto thee in the land where they be in captivity saying: we have sinned and have done evil and wickedly and turn again to thee, with all their hearts and all their souls, in the land of their captivity where they be kept in bondage, and so pray toward their land which thou gavest unto their fathers, and city which thou hast chosen, and to his house which I have built for thy name: Then hear from heaven thy dwelling place, their supplication and prayers and judge their cause, and be merciful unto thy people, though they have sinned against thee.

So now my God let thine eyes be open and thine ears attent unto the prayers made in this place. And now up Lord God in thy resting place: both thou and the Ark of thy strength, and let thy priests put on victory and thy saints rejoice in goodness. And Lord God turn not away the face of thine anointed: But remember the mercies promised to David thy servant.

The 7th Chapter

And when Salomon had made an end of praying, there came down fire from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices. And the glory of the Lord filled the house: that the priests could not go into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had fulfilled the house of the Lord. And all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, and stooped with their faces to the earth upon the pavement and bowed themselves and confessed unto the Lord, that he was good and that his mercy lasted ever.

And the king and all the people offered offerings before the Lord. So that king Salomon offered twenty two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. And so the king and all the people hallowed the house of God. And the priests waited on their offices, and the Levites with instruments of music of the Lord which king David made to confess unto the Lord that his mercy lasteth ever, when David gave praise through their hands. And the priests blew trumpets fast by them: and all Israel stood. Moveover Salomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the Lord: for there he offered burntofferings and the fat of the peaceofferings, because the brazen altar which Salomon had made, was not able to receive the burntofferings and the meat offerings and the fat.

And Salomon kept a feast the same season of seven days, and all Israel with him, an exceeding great congregation, even from Hemath unto the river of Egypt. And the eighth day they made a gathering. For they kept the hallowing of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. And the twenty third day of the seventh month, he let the people depart unto their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed to David, to Salomon and to Israel his people. And so Salomon finished the house of the Lord and the kings house and all that came in his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house, and that prosperously. And the Lord appeared to Salomon by night and said to him: I have heard thy petition and have chosen this place for myself to be an house of sacrifice. Moreover if I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people: yet if my people that are named after my name, shall humble themselves and make intercession and seek my presence, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and be merciful to their sins, and will heal their land. Thereto mine eyes shall be open and mine ears attent unto the prayers made in this place. And finally I have chosen and sanctified this house, that my name be there for ever, and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

And if thou shalt walk before me as David thy father walked, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe mine ordinances and my laws: then I will stablish the seat of thy kingdom, according to the covenant I made with David thy father, saying: thou shalt have ever one or other that shall rule in Israel. But and if ye turn away and forsake mine ordinances and my commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other Gods and bow yourselves to them: then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them, and will cast this house which I have sanctified for my name out of my sight, and will make a proverb and a tale of it among all nations. And this house that is so high, shall be a wonder to all that passeth thereby that they shall say: why hath the Lord dealt on this fashion with this land and with this house ? And it shall be answered then, because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and caught hold on other Gods, and bowed to them and served them: even therefore brought he on them all this evil.

The 8th Chapter

And after twenty years when Salomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house: he built the cities that Hiram gave him, and put of the children of Israel in them. And Salomon went to Hemath Zobah and strengthened it. And he built Thadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities which he built in Hemath. And he built Bethhoron the upper and Bethhoron the nether, and made them strong cities with walls, gates and bars. And Baalath and all the store cities that Salomon had, and all the chariot cities and the cities of Horsemen, and all that Salomon had lust (earnest desire) to build in Jerusalem and Libanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

And all the people that were left of the Hethites, Amorites, Pheresites, Hevites and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel: even the children of them, which were left after them in the land, and were not consumed of the children of Israel, them did Salomon make tributaries unto this day. But of the children of Israel did Salomon make no bondmen in his work: but they were men of war and rulers and great Lords with him, and captains over his chariots and Horsemen. And king Salomons officers that oversaw and ruled the people, were two hundred and fifty.

And Salomon brought the daughter of Pharao out of the city of David into the house that he had made for her. For he said: my wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for it is holy, because the Ark of the Lord came into it.

And from thenceforth Salomon offered burntofferings unto the Lord on the altar of the Lord which he had built before the porch to offer day by day according to the commandment of Moses, and in the sabbaths and new moons, and the three solemn feasts of the year, the feast of sweetbread, the feast of weeks and the feast of booths.

And Salomon put the sorts of priests in companies as David his father had ordered them, unto the offices, and the Levites unto their wait, for to praise and minister before the priests day by day, and the porters by course at every gate. For so had David the man of God commanded. And the commandment of the king unto the priests and the Levites concerning whatsoever cause it was, and concerning the treasures, was not disobeyed.

And all the work of Salomon went lustely forward even unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid: and from thence till he had finished it, that the house of the Lord was perfect. And then went king Salomon to Azion Gaber and to Eloth and to the seas side in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent him by the hand of his servants, ships and servants that could skill of the sea: Which went with the servants of Salomon to Ophir, and brought thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought it to king Salomon.

The 9th Chapter

And the queen of Saba heard of the fame of Salomon and came to prove him with riddles at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and with camels that bare sweet adours and plenty of gold and precious stone. And when she was come to Salomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Salomon *soiled her all her questions, that there was nothing hid from Salomon, which he told her not.*soiled: may be that planting of the seed of wisdom.

And when the queen of Saba had seen the wisdom of Salomon and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table and the sitting of his servants and the standing of his waiters, and their apparel, and his butlers with their apparel, and his parlour out of which he went into the house of the Lord, there was no more heart in her.

And then she said to the king: the saying which I heard in mine own land, of thine acts and of thy wisdom, is truth. But I believed not the words of them, until I came and mine eyes had seen it. And see, the one half of thy wisdom was not told me: thou exceedest the same that I heard, happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants which stand before thee always and hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God which had lust to thee, to make thee king on his seat, unto the Lord thy God. Because thy God loved Israel, to make them continue ever, therefore made he the king over them to do right and equity.

And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of sweet odours an exceeding great abundance with precious stones, that there was no such sweet odours as the queen of Saba, gave king Salomon. And thereto the servants of Hiram and the servants of Salomon which brought gold from Ophir, brought also Algume wood and precious stones. And the king made of the Algume wood stairs for the house of the Lord and in the kings palace, and harps and psalteries for singers. And there was no such wood seen before in the land of Juda. And king Salomon gave to the queen of Saba all her desire that she asked above that she brought unto the king. And so she turned and went away unto her own land with her servants.

The sum of gold that came to Salomon in one year, was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold, besides that which chapmen and merchants brought, and all the kings of Arabia and dukes of countries brought gold and silver to Salomon. And king Salomon made two hundred bucklers of gold, six hundred sickles of beaten gold to a buckler: and three hundred shields of Beaten gold, three hundred sickles of gold to a shield, and he put them in the house of the forest of Libanon.

And the king made a great seat of Ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. And there were six steps to the seat with a footstool of gold fastened to the seat: and pommels on each side of the sittingplace, and two lions standing by the pommels. And twelve lions stood one side and on the other, upon six steps, and there was no such in any kingdom.

And all the drinking vessels of king Salomon were gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanon, were pure gold. And as for silver, it was counted nothing worth in the days of Salomon. For the kings ships went to Tharsis with the servants of Hiram every three years once. And the ships of Tharsis brought gold, silver, the teeth of elephants, apes and peacocks.

And king Salomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Salomon, to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his present in vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, sweet odours, horses and mules year by year.

And Salomon had four thousand mangers of horses and chariots for them, and twelve thousand horsemen. And he bestowed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. And he reigned over all the kings from Euphrates unto the land of the Philistines and to the borders of Egypt. And the king made silver in Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and Cedar trees as plenteous as the mulberry trees that grow in the valleys. And Salomon had horses brought him out of Egypt and out of all lands.

And the rest of the acts of king Salomon both first and last are written in the book of Nathan the Prophet and in the prophecy of Ahiah the Silonite and in the visions of Jadi the sear of visions against Jeroboam the son of Nabat. And when Salomon had reigned in Jerusalem upon all Israel forty years, he laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

The 10th Chapter

And Rehoboam went to Sichem: for to Sichem were all Israel come to make him king. And when Jeroboam the son of Nabat, being in Egypt heard it (for he was fled for fear of Salomon the king) he returned out of Egypt. And they sent and called him. And so Jeroboam and all Israel came and communed with Rehoboam and said. Thy father made us a grievous yoke: but remit thou somewhat of the grievous service of thy father and of his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. And he said to them: come again after three days to me. And the people departed.

And king Rehoboam counselled with elders that stood before Salomon his father, while he lived, and said: what counsel give ye me, to answer this people again ? And they told him saying: if thou shalt be kind to this people and please them and shalt speak loving words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. But he left the counsel which the elders gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were nursed up with him and had stand in his presence, and said to them: what advice give ye that I may answer this people which have communed with me saying: Abate(make less) somewhat of the yoke which thy father did put upon us.

And the young men that were nursed up with him talked with him saying: thus answer the people that spake to thee saying. Thy father made our yoke heavy: But make thou our yoke somewhat lighter. Thus wise answer them: my little finger shall be heavier than thy fathers loins. For where my father put a heavy yoke upon you I will put more thereto, and where my father chastised you with whips I will chastise you with scorpions.

And when Jeroboam and all Israel were come the third day, as the king bade saying: come again to me the third day. The king answered them cruelly, for king Rehoboam left the counsel of the aged men, and answered them after the advice of the young men saying. If my father made your yoke grievous, I will add thereto, and where my father chastised you with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions. And so the king hearkened not unto the people, for the turning away was of God, that the Lord might make good his saying which he spake by the hand of Ahiah the Silonite to Jeroboam the son of Nabat.

And when all Israel saw that the King would not hear them, the people answered the king saying: what part have we with David or inheritance with the son of Isai ? let every man of Israel go to his tent. And now David see to thine own house. And thereupon all Israel gat them to their tents, so that Rehoboam reigned over no more of the children of Israel than dwelt in the cities of Juda. Then king Rehoboam sent to them Haburam that was over the tribute, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed and gat him up in his chariot to fly to Jerusalem. And so Israel departed from the house of David unto this day.

The 11th Chapter

And when Rehobam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of David and Benjamin to the number of nine score thousand choice men of war to fight with Israel, for to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. But the word of the Lord came to Semeiah the man of God saying: speak unto Rehoboam the son of Salomon king of Juda and to all Israel that are in Juda, and to Benjamin and say: thus saith the Lord. Go not nor fight with your brethren: But return every man to his house, for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built strong cities in Juda: as Bethlehem, Etam and Thekuah: Bethzur, Socho and Odollam: Geth, Maresah and Ziph: Adurahim, Lachis and Asecah: Zarah Aialon and Hebron. Which were the strong cities of Juda and Benjamin. And when he had repaired such strong cities, he put captains in them and store of victuals, and of oil and wine. And he ordained in all cities shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And so Juda and Benjamin were under him.

And the priests and Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him, out of all their coasts. In so much that the Levites left their Suburbs and possessions and came to Juda and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from ministering unto the Lord. And he ordained him priests of hillaltars both to field devils and also to the calves which he had made. And after them there came of all the tribes of Israel ( such as their hearts moved them to seek the Lord God of Israel ) to Jerusalem to offer unto the Lord God of their fathers. And so they strengthed the kingdom of Juda and made Rehoboam the son of Salomon mighty three years long, for three years they walked in the way of David and Salomon.

And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai, which bare him children: Jeus, Samariah and Zaham. And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom which bare him Abiah, Ethai, Ziza and Salumith. But Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines for he took eighteen wives and three score concubines, and begat three score daughters and twenty eight sons. And Rehoboam made Abiah the son of Maacah the chief ruler among his brethren, for to make him king. And he played wisely and scattered of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin in every strong city. And he gave them abundance of victuals, and asked many wives.

The 12th Chapter

And when Rehoboam had stablished the kingdom, and made it strong, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him, wherefore the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Sesak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem because they had transgressed against the Lord with twelve hundred chariots and three score thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, with them of Libia, and the Succhites and the blackmoors. And they took the strong cities that were in Juda and came to Jerusalem.

Then came Semeiah the Prophet to Rehoboam and to the Lords of Juda that were gathered to Jerusalem for fear of Sesak, and said to them: thus saith the Lord, ye have left me, and therefore will I leave you also in the hands of Sesak. Whereupon the Lords of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said: the Lord is righteous. And when the Lord saw that they submitted themselves, the word of the Lord came to Semeiah saying: they meek themselves, and therefore I will not destroy them. But I will deliver them somewhat, and my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem.Neverthelater they shall be his servants, to know what difference is between my service and the service of the kingdoms of other lands.

And Sesak king of Egypt came to Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the kings house, and shortly he took all. And he took also the shields of gold which Salomon made. Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and put them in the keeping of the captains of his guard which waited in the gate of the kings house. And as oft as the king went to the house of the Lord, the guard went and fetched them, and brought them again unto the guard chamber. And so because he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, and destroyed not all together. And thereto there were many good things yet in Juda.

And king Rehoboam waxed mighty in Jerusalem and reigned. And Rehoboam was forty one years old when he was made king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mothers name was Naamah an Ammonite. And he did evil: for he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

The acts of Rehoboam first and last are written in the sayings of Semeiah the Prophet and of Ado the sear of visions, so much as his genealogy and the perpetual war that was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam during their life. And Rehoboam laid him to sleep with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abiah his son reigned in his stead.

The 13th Chapter

The eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abiah to reign over Juda, and he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gabaah. And there was war between Abiah and Jeroboam. And Abiah made a battle with an Host of fighting men of four hundred thousand chosen men. And Jeroboam put in array to fight against him, with eight hundred thousand picked men and strong.

And Abiah stood up upon Zemaraim an hill in mount Ephraim and said: hear me thou Jeroboam and all Israel. Becometh it not you to know how the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons, with a salted covenant. But Jeroboam the son of Nabat the servant of Salomon the son of David, rebelled against the Lord. And there gathered to him lewd men and unthrifties, and prevailed against Rehoboam the son of Salomon: for Rehoboam was young and tender hearted and not strong enough for them.

And now ye think to prevail against the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David, because ye be a great multitude and have with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for Gods. And have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests like the nations of other lands: even whoseover cometh and filleth his hand with an ox and seven rams, the same is made priest to them that are no Gods.

But with us is the Lord our God whom we have not forsaken, and the priests of the sons of Aaron ministering unto the Lord, and the Levites in office, burning unto the Lord every morning and every evening burntofferings and sweet cense: and the shewbread put in order upon a pure table: and the candlestick of gold with the lamps of the same, to be lighted every evening. For we keep the watch of the Lord our God: but ye have forsaken him. Moreover see, God is with us in the forward, and his priests, and the roaring trumpets to cry alarm against you. Ye children of Israel fight not with the Lord God of your fathers: for it will not prosper with you.

But for all that Jeroboam sent men privily above to come behind upon them: and so they were before Juda, and the layers in wait were behind them. And when Juda turned and saw the battle behind and before, they cried unto the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets and the men of Juda gave a shout. And as the men of Juda shouted, God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abiah and Juda. And the children of Israel fled before Juda, and the Lord delivered them into the hands of Juda. And Abiah and his people slew a great slaughter of them: so that there were stricken down dead of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. And so the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Juda prevailed: because they leaned unto the Lord God of their fathers. And Abiah followed after Jeroboam and won certain cities from him: Bethel with the towns belonging thereto, and Jesanah with the towns that longed thereto, and Ephron with her towns. And Jeroboam recovered not strength again in the days of Abiah. And at the last the Lord plagued him, that he died.

And Abiah waxed mighty, and took him fourteen wives, and begat twenty two sons and sixteen daughters. The rest of the acts of Abiah and his ways and his doings are written in the story of the Prophet Ado. And when Abiah was laid to sleep with his fathers, they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In whose days the land was quiet ten years.

The 14th Chapter

And Asa did that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, and took away the altars of strangers and the hillaltars, and brake the Images and cut down the groves, and commanded Juda to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do according to the law and commandment. And he put away out of all the cities of Juda, the hillaltars and the idols: for the kingdom was quiet before him. And he built strong cities in Juda: because the land was in rest, and he had no war in those years. For the Lord had given him rest.

And therefore he said to Juda: let us build these cities and compass them with walls and towers, gates and bars, while we have the land quiet. For we have fought the Lord our God: and because we have fought him, he hath given us rest on every side. And so they built and prospered. And Asa had an Army that bare shield and spear, out of Juda three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin that bare shield and drew bows two hundred and eighty thousand, and were all strong men.

And there came out against them Zarah the Morian with an Host of ten hundred thousand, and three hundred chariots, and came as far of Maresa. And Asa went out to him, and they put in array to battle in the valley of Zephatah beside Maresa. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God and said: Lord, it is all one with thee to help them that have no power, with few or with many: help us O' Lord our God, for we trust to thee, and in thine name be come against this multitude. Thou art the Lord our God. let not man prevail against thee.

And the Lord smote the black Moors before Asa and Juda, that they fled. And Asa and the people that was with him, followed after them as far as Gerar. And the black Moors were overthrown, that there bode none alive of them, but were destroyed of the Lord and of his Host. And they carried away a mighty great prey. And they smote all the cities round about Gerar. For the fear of the Lord came upon them. And they robbed all the cities for there was exceeding much to be robbed in them. And thereto they smote the tents of cattle and carried away plenty of sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

The 15th Chapter

And the spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Obed. And he went out against Asa and said to him: hear me Asa and all Juda and Benjamin. The Lord is with you, while ye be with him, and if ye shall seek him, he will be found of you: but and if ye shall forsake him, he will forsake you. There will come many days in Israel, in which there shall be no true God nor priest that teacheth, nor any law. And in their tribulation they shall turn unto the Lord God of Israel and shall seek him, and he shall be found of them. And in those days there shall be no peace to them that go out and in. But great vexation upon the inhabitors of all lands. For one nation shall destroy another, and one city another: for God will traunce them with all adversity. But pluck you up your hearts and let not your hands faint, for your works shall be rewarded.

When Asa heard those words and the prophecy of Azariah the son of Obed the Prophet, he took courage and put away the abominations out of all the land of Juda and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he won in mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the Lord that was before the porch of the Lord. And he gathered all Juda and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, Manasse and Simeon. For there fell many to him out of Israel, when they saw that God was with him. And they assembled at Jerusalem the third month of the fifteen year of the reign of Asa. And they offered unto the Lord that same time of the spoil which they had brought seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

And they made a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their hearts and all their souls: so that all that sought not the Lord God of Israel, should die for it, whether he were small or great, man or woman. And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice and shouting and with trumpets and horns. And all Juda rejoiced in the oath, for they had sworn with all their hearts, and sought him with all their lust, and he was found of them. And the Lord gave them rest round about.

And thereto king Asa put Maacah his mother out of authority, because she had made an idol in a grove: and brake down her idol and stamped it and burnt it by the brook Cedron. But they put not the hillaltars out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was pure all his life. And he brought into the house of God the dedicate gifts which he and his father had dedicated in gold, silver and other Jewels. And there was no more war unto the thirty fifth year of the reign of Asa.

The 16th Chapter

In the thirty sixth year of the reign of Asa, came Baasa king of Israel against Juda and built Ramah, to the intent that he would let none that pertained to Asa king of Juda, have passage in and out. Whereupon Asa fetched out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the kings house, and sent it to Benhadad king of Siria, that dwelt at Damasco, and said. There is a confederation between me and thee, and so was between my father and thine, wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou go and break thine appointment with Baasa king of Israel, that he may depart from me. And Benhadad granted unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his army against the cities of Israel. And they beat Aion, Dan, Abelmaim and all the store cities of Nephthali. And when Baasa heard that, he left building of Ramah and let his work cease. And then Asa the king took all Juda and carried away and stones and timber of Ramah wherewith Baasa was abuilding: and he built therwith Gabaa and Mazphah.

At that same time Hanani the sear, came to Asa king of Juda and said to him: because thou trustedest in the king of Siria, and trustest not in the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Siria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the black moors and they of Libia a great host with exceeding many chariots and horsemen ? And yet because thou trustedest in the Lord, he delivered them into thine hands. For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, to strength the hearts of them that are whole with him. Herein thou hast done foolishly, and therefore from henceforth thou shalt have war. Whereupon Asa was wroth with the sear and put him in the converting house, for he was displeased with him because of that. Moreover Asa oppressed certain of the people the same season.

The deeds of Asa both first and last, are written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. And the thirty ninth year of his reign Asa fell sick of his feet, and that his disease exceeded. And thereto in his sickness he asked no counsel of the Lord, but of Physicians. And at the last Asa fell on sleep with his fathers and died when he had reigned fifty one years. And they buried him in his own sepulchre which he had made in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which he had filled with sweet odours of diverse kinds, made by the craft of the apothecaries. And they did exceeding great cost about burying of him.

The 17th Chapter

And Jehosaphat his son reigned in his stead and was mightier than Israel. And he put soldiers in all the strong cities of Juda, and set rulers both in the land of Juda and also in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had won. And the Lord was with Jehosaphat, because he walked in the old ways of his father David, and sought not Baals: But sought the Lord God of his father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand and all Juda brought him presents, that he became exceeding rich and glorious. And his heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord, and he put down yet more of the hillaltars and groves out of Juda.

And the third year of his reign he sent of his Lords: Benhail, Abdiah, Zachariah, Nathanael and Michaah to teach in the cities of Juda: and with them Semeiah, Nathaniah, Zabadiah, Asahel, Semiramoth, Jehonathan, Adoniah, Thobiah and Thobodoniah Levites: and with them Elisama and Joram priests. And they taught in Juda, and had the book of the law with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Juda and taught the people.

And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Juda, that they durst not war with Jehosaphat. And the Philistines brought Jehosaphat gifts and tribute silver. And thereto the Arabians brought him of sheep, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. And so Jehosaphat prospered and grew up on high. And he built in Juda, castles and store cities. And he had great substance in the cities of Juda, and fighting men and men of might in Jerusalem.

And this is the order in the houses of their fathers, of the captains over thousands in Juda: Ednah the captain and with him of fighting men three hundred thousand. And next to him Jehohanan a captain and with him two hundred and eighty thousand. And by his side Amaziah the son of Zechri willing unto the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men. And of the children of Benjamin, Eliada was a man of might, and had with him armed with bows and shields two hundred thousand. And by his side Jehosabad with whom were an hundred and eighty thousand trimmed for war. These waited on the king, besides those which the king had put in strong cities throughout all Juda.

The 18th Chapter

And Jehosaphat became very rich and glorious, and joined affinity with Ahab. And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab slew sheep and oxen plenteously for him and for the people that came with him, and entreated him to go up unto Ramoth in Galaad. And Ahab king of Isreal said to Jehosaphat king of Juda: wilt thou go with me to Ramoth in Galaad ? And he answered him, I will be as thou, and my people shall be as thine and we will be with thee in the war.

But Jehosaphat said unto the king of Israel: ask I pray thee the word of the Lord. And the king of Israel gathered together of the Prophets four hundred men, and said unto them: shall we go to Ramoth in Galaad to fight, or shall I cease ? And they said, go: the Lord shall deliver it into the kings hand. And Jehosaphat said, is there yet here never a Prophet more of the Lords, that we might ask of him ? And the king of Israel said to Jehosaphat, there is yet one, to ask the Lord by him: But I hate him, for he never prophesieth me good, but always evil, one Micheah the son of Jemla. And Jehosaphat said: let not the king say so.

Then the king of Israel called one of his chamberlains and said: fetch hither quickly Micheah the son of Jemla. And the king of Israel and Jehosaphat king of Juda sat either of them on his seat in their apparel, in a threshing floor beside the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them. And one Zedekiah the son of Chananah made him horns of iron and said, thus saith the Lord: with these thou shalt winnow Siria until thou hast brought them to nought. And all the Prophets prophesied even so saying: Go up to Ramoth in Galaad and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

And the messenger that went to call Micheah, spake to him saying: behold, the words of the Prophets are pleasant to the king with one assent, let thy words I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak that which is pleasant. And Micheah said: as truly as the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. And when he was come to the king, the king said to him: Micheah, shall we go to Ramoth in Galaad to fight, or shall I be in rest ? And he answered: go ye and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into your hands. But the king said to him: how often times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but truth to me, in the name of the Lord.

Then he said: I see all Israel scattered in the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said: these have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace. Then said the king of Israel to Jehosaphat, did I not tell thee, that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil ?

And he answered: therefore hear ye the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sit upon his seat, and all the company of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord said: who shall deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go and be overthrown at Ramoth in Galaad. And while one said thus and another that, there came out a spirit and stood before the Lord and said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him, how ? And he said: I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets. And the Lord said, thou shalt deceive him and shalt prevail, go out and do even so. And now behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these thy prophets, and yet the Lord hath spoken evil against thee. And Zedekiah the son of Chananah, went to and smote Micheah upon the cheek, and said: by what way went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak in thee ? And Micheah said: thou shalt see the day when thou shalt run from chamber to chamber, for to hide thyself. Then said the king of Israel, take ye Micheah and deliver him to Amon the governor of city, and to Joas the kings son and say, thus saith the king: put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread and water of tribulation, until I come again in peace. And Micheah said: if thou come again in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken in me. And Micheah said moreover, hearken to ye people every one of you. And so the king of Israel and Jehosaphat went up to Ramoth in Galaad. Then said the king of Israel to Jehosaphat: change thee and get thee to battle, but see thou have thine own apparel upon thee. And the king of Israel changed himself, and they went to battle. But the king of Siria commanded the captains of his chariots saying: see that ye fight not against small or great, save against the king of Israel only.

And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosaphat, they had went (thought ?) he had been the king of Israel, and therefore compassed about him, to fight. But Ichosaphat cried out, and the Lord help him, and God *tysed (enticed ?) them away from him. For when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from him. And a certain man drew his bow ignorantly and smote the king of Israel between the Joints of his *habergeon. And he said to the chariot man, turn thine hand and carry me out of the host, for I am hurt. And the battle arose that day. Howbeit the king of Israel continued standing in his chariot against the Sirians until evening. And about the *son going down he died. *habergeon: short sleeveless coat of chain mail armor. *son: sonne exactly as found in the text other places see sun spelled sunne.

The 19th Chapter

And Jehosaphat king of Juda returned to his house safe and sound to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the sear, went out against him and said to king Jehosaphat: oughtest thou to help the wicked, and to love them that hate the Lord. In this verify is the wrath of the Lord upon thee. Neverthelater there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast put away groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God. And as Jehosaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, he went to again and went among the people from Bersabe to mount Ephraim, and brought them again unto the Lord God of their fathers. And he set Judges in the land, throughout all the strong cities of Juda, city by city, and said to the Judges take heed what ye do: for ye be not Judges in the law of man, but of God, which is with you in the words of the law. Wherefore let the fear of the Lord be with you, and take heed and do it. For there is no unrighteousness in the Lord our God nor regarding of persons, nor taking of rewards.

Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehosaphat set of the Levites and of the priests and of the ancient heads of Israel, over the customs of the Lord and causes of strife. And then they returned again to Jerusalem. And he charged them saying: do even so in the fear of the Lord with truth and pure heart. And whatsoever come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, law, commandment, ordinances and customs: see that ye warn them, that they trespass not against the Lord, lest wrath come upon you and on your brethren. Thus do and ye shall not offend. And see here Amariah the priest which is head over you in all matters of the Lord, and Zabadiah the son of Ismael a ruler in the house of Juda, he is over all causes concerning the king, with officers of the Levites before you. Take courage to you and go upon it, and the Lord shall be with the good.

The 20th Chapter

After that came the children of Moab and the children of Ammon and with them the Ammonites against Jehosaphat to battle. And there came that told Jeshosaphat saying: there cometh a great multitude against thee from the other side the sea out of Siria. And see they be in Hasason Thamar which is Engadi. And Jehosaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed fasting throughout all Juda. And Juda gathered themselves together to ask counsel of the Lord. And thereto there came out of all the cities of Juda to seek the Lord. And Jehosaphat stood in the congregation of Juda and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court and said: Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and reignest not thou on all the kingdoms of the heathen ? And in thine hand is power and might, that no man can stand before thee. Art not thou our God which didst cast out the inhabiters of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy lover for ever ? And they dwelt therein and have built thee a temple therein unto thy name, and said: when evil cometh upon us, as the sword of judgement, pestilence or hunger: then if we stand before this house and before thee (for thy name is in this house) and shall cry unto thee in our tribulation, thou shalt hear and help.

And now behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, by which thou wouldest not let Israel go, when they came out of Egypt: but they departed from them and destroyed them not. And see, how they reward us, to come for to cast us out of thy possession which thou hast possessed us with all. O' our God, wilt thou not judge them ? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither know we what to do: but our eyes be unto thee.

And as all Juda stood before the Lord with their young ones, their wives and their children: the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahasiel the son of Zachariah the son of Banaiah the son of Jeiel the son of Mathaniah a Levite of the sons of Asaph, even as he was in the midst of the congregation. And he said: hearken all Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem, and also king Jehosaphat. Thus saith the Lord unto you: be not afeard or faint hearted by reason of this great multitude. For the war is not yours, but Gods. And tomorrow ye shall go down to them: see, they come up at Zis, and ye shall meet them in the flags of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel. Moreover it belongeth not to you for to fight this quarrel: but step forth and stand and behold the help of the Lord which is with you: fear not, nor let your heart fail you, O ye of Juda and of Jerusalem. Tomorrow go out to them: for the Lord is with you.

And Jehosaphat bowed himself with his face to the city, and all Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, to bow themselves unto the Lord. And the Levites and the children of the Cahathites and of the Corahites stood up, to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And so they arose early in the morning and get them out unto the wilderness of Thekua. And as they went out Jehosaphat stood and said: hear me Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and so shall ye continue: and believe his prophets and so shall ye prosper. And he gave the people counsel, and set the singers of the Lord and them that praised in holy apparel, to go out before the army and to say: praise the Lord for his mercy lasteth ever. And what time they began to laud and praise, then the Lord set layers await against the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, to destroy them utterly and to wipe them out. And when they had made an end of the inhabiters of Seir, then they help to destroy each other.

And when Juda came to Mazphah in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude. And behold, they were dead carcases fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And Jehosaphat and his people went to rob away the spoil of them and found among them abundance of goods and raiment and of pleasant Jewels, and caught from them more than they could carry away: so that they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. And the fourth day they assembled in the valley of blessing, for there they blessed the Lord. And therefore they called the name of the said place the valley of blessing unto this day. And so all the men of Juda and Jerusalem returned and Jehosaphat among the thickest of them, for to go again to Jerusalem with gladness: for the Lord had made them to rejoice of their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets, even unto the house of the Lord. And the fear of God fell in the kingdoms of all lands, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. And so the realm of Jehosaphat was in tranquillity: for his God had given him rest on every side.

And Jehosaphat reigned upon Juda, and was thirty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mothers name was Asuba the daughter of Silhi. And he walked in the way of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom, to do that was pleasant in the sight of the Lord. How be it they put not down the hillaltars, neither did the people yet prepare their hearts unto the God of their fathers. The rest of the acts of Jehosaphat first and last are written in the works of Jehu the son of Hanani, which noted them in the book of the kings of Israel.

After this Jehosaphat king of Juda joined himself with Ohoziah king of Israel, which was a wicked doer. And he coupled himself with him, to make ships to go to Tharsis. And they made the ships in Azion Gaber. And Elieser the son of Dodanah of Maresa prophesied against Jehosaphat: saying: because thou hast joined thyself with Ohoziah the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tharsis.

The 21st Chapter

Jehosaphat laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David and Jehoram his son reigned in his room: which Jehoram had other brethren, sons ofJehosaphat, Asariah, Jehiel, Zachariah, Asariah, Michael and Sephatia. All these were the sons of Jehosapaht king of Juda. And their father gave them many great gifts in silver, gold and other precious things with strong cities in Juda: but the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the eldest. And when Jehoram was up upon the kingdom of his father and settled, he slew all his other brethren with the sword, and diverse of the Lords of Israel thereto. Jehoram was thirty two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab (for a daughter of Ahab was his wife) and he wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord. How be it the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.

In his days the Edomites departed from under the hand of Juda and made them a king. And Jehoram went forth with his lords and all his chariots with him and rose by night and laid on the Edomites. Which compassed him in and the captains of his chariots. And so Edom departed from under the hand of Juda unto this day. That same time also did lobnah depart from under his power, because he left the Lord God of his fathers. Moreover he made hillaltars in the mountains of Juda, and cause the inhabiters of Jerusalem to commit adultery, and he thrust Juda out of the way.

And there came a writing to him from Eliah the prophet of this tenor. Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father: because thou walkedst not in the ways of Jehosaphat thy father and in the ways of Asa king of Juda, but walkedst in the ways of Asa king of Israel and hast made Juda and the dwellers of Jerusalem go awhoring, like to the whoring of the house of Ahab, and hast thereto slain thy brethren that were thy fathers house, which were better than thou: Therefore behold the Lord will smite thee with a mighty plague in thy folk, in thy children, in thy wives and in thy goods. And thou shalt have much disease through infirmity in thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of thy sickness, day by day.

And the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians that border on the black moors. Which came against Juda and all to tare the land, and carried away all the substance that was found in the kings house, and thereto his sons and his wives: so that there was never a son left him save Jehoahaz his youngest son. And after all that, the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. And in process of time, even about the end of two years, his guts fell out by reason of his sickness: and so he died of evil diseases. But they made him no bonfire, like the bonfires of his fathers. When he began to reign, he was twenty seven years old, and reigned in Jerusalem eight years. And he walked not pleasantly and they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchre of the kings.

The 22nd Chapter

And the inhabiters of Jerusalem made Ohoziah his youngest son king in his stead. For the men of war that came with the Arabians in the host, had slain all his elder sons. And so Ohoziah the son of Jehoram king of Juda, was made king. Two and forty years old was he when he began to reign, and reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Athaliah the daughter of Amri. And he walked also in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counseller for to do evil. Wherefore he did that displeased the Lord like to the house of Ahab, for they were his counsellers after the death of his father, to his destruction. And he also walked after their counsel. And Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel went to fight with Hazael king of Siria at Ramoth in Galaad: and they of Ramoth wounded him. Wherefore he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which were given him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hazael king of Siria. And Ohoziah the son of Jeroam king of Juda went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was diseased. For it was thrust into Ohoziah of God to go to Jehoram, and that when he was come, he should go out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Namsi whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

And as Jehu was executing justice upon the house of Ahab. He found the Lords of Juda and the sons of the brethren of Ohoziah that waited on Ohoziah, and he slew them. And he sought Ohoziah, and they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu. And when they had slain him they buried him: because (said they) he was the son of Jehosaphat which sought the Lord with all his heart. And there was none of the house of Ohoziah that could obtain to be king.

For Athaliah the mother of Ohoziah, when she saw her son was dead, arose and spake with all the seed of the kingdom of the house of Juda. But Jehosabeath the daughter of the king took Jehoas the son of Ohoziah and stole him from among the kings sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a sleeping chamber. And so Jehosabeath the daughter of king Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest (because she was the sister of Ohoziah) hid him from Athaliah that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.

The 23rd Chapter

And in the seventh year Jehoiada took heart, and made a bond with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jehoram, Ismael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaciah the son of Adaiah and Elisaphat the son of Zechri. And they went about in Juda and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Juda and the ancient heads of Israel: and they came to Jerusalem. And all the congregation made a bond with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them: behold, the kings son must reign over the children of David, as the Lord hath said.

This it is therefore that ye shall do. The third part of you priests and Levites which come in the Sabbath day, shall keep the doors and another third part shall be in the kings house and another third part shall be in the gate of the foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. And there shall none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests and the Levites that minister. They shall go in, for they are holy: and all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. And the Levites shall compass the king round about, and every man his weapon in his hand: and whatsoever other man come into the house of the Lord, he shall die for it, and they shall be with the king, as he cometh in and as he goeth out.

And the Levites and all Juda did in all things as Jehoiada the priest commanded, and took every man his men: both them that came in and them that went out the sabbath day: for Jehoiada the priest did let none of the companies depart. And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears and shields and bucklers that pertained to king David and were in the house of God. And he set all the people and every man his weapon in his hand, from the right corner of the house to the left corner of the house, along by the altar and the house round about the king. And they brought out the kings son and put upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said: God save the king.

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went among the people into the house of the Lord. And when she saw the king stand at his pillar in the entering, and the Lords and trumpets about the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing with trumpets, and the singers with instruments of music teaching to praise. Then she rent her clothes and cried: treason, treason. And Jehoiada the priest went out with the captains of hundreds that were appointed to govern the host and said to them: have her out without the arrays and whoseover followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said: slay her not in the house of the Lord. And they laid hands on her, and when she was come out to the entering of the horsegate in the kings house, they slew her there.

And Jehoiada made a bond between him and all the people and the king, to be the Lords people. And all the people went to the house of Baal and destroyed it, and brake his altars and his images, and slew Mathan the priest of Baal before the altars. And Jehoiada put the offices of the house of the Lord in the hands of the priests the Levites, which David had divided in companies for the house of the Lord, to offer burntofferings unto the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as it was ordained by David. And he set porters unto the gates of the house of the Lord, that none that was unclean in any point should enter in.

And he took the captains of hundreds and the nobles, and the governors of the people and all the folk of the land, and brought the king down out of the house of the Lord, and they went through the high gate in the kings house, and set the king upon the seat of the kingdom. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in tranquillity: but they slew Athaliah with the sword.

The 24th Chapter

Jehoas was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Zebiah of Bersabe. And Jehoas did that pleased the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And Jehoiada gave him two wives, and he begat sons and daughters.

It chanced after that, that Jehoas was minded to mend the house of the Lord. And upon that he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them: go out through the cities of Juda and gather of all Israel silver, to strength the house of your God, year by year, and see that ye haste the thing: howbeit the Levites were slack. Then the king called Jehoiada that was the chiefest, and said to him: Why requirest thou not of the Levites to bring in, out of Juda and Jerusalem the sum appointed by Moses the servant of the Lord, and by the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness. For wicked Athaliah and her children had broken the house of God, and had thereto bestowed all the dedicate gifts of the house of the Lord, about Baals.

Wherefore at the kings commandment, they made a coffer, and set it at the gate of the house of the Lord: and made proclamation through Juda and Jerusalem to bring in to the Lord the taxation of Moses the servant of God, which he set upon Israel in the wilderness. And the Lords and all the people rejoiced and brought in and cast into the coffer until it was full. And when the time came that the chest should be brought in by the hands of the Levites at the appointment of the king, when they saw that there was much money: then came the kings scribe and one appointed by the high priest, and poured out that was in the coffer, and then took it and carried it to his place again, and thus they did day by day, and gathered much money.

And the king and Jehoiada gave it to workmen that wrought upon the house of the Lord, and hired Masons and carpenters to redress the house of the Lord, and so did they artificers in iron and brass, to repair the house of the Lord. And the workmen wrought and the work mended through their hands: and they made the house of God as it ought to be, and strengthed it. And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and therewith were made vessels for the house of the Lord: even vessels to minister withal and to serve for burntofferings as ladies and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burntofferings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada. And Jehoiada waxed old and full of years and died. And hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings because he had done good in Israel, and on God and on his house. And after the death of Jehoiada, came the Lords of Juda and made obeisance to the king. And then he hearkened unto them. And so they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and Images. And then came there wrath upon Juda and Jerusalem, for this their trespasses sake. Notwithstanding yet God sent Prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord. And they testified unto them. But they would not hear.

And the spirit of God came upon Zachariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stepped up above the people and said to them. Thus saith God: why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord ? ye shall therefore not prosper, but as ye have forsaken him, so shall he forsake you. Whereupon they conspired against him and stoned him with stones, at the commandment of the king: even in the court of the house of the Lord. And so Jehoas the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said: the Lord see and require a reckoning.

And when the year was out, the host of the Sirians came against him: and they came to Juda and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the Lords of the people from among the people and sent all the spoil of them unto the king to Damasco. And though the army of Siria came with a small company of men, yet the Lord delivered a very great host into their hands, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. And thereto they served Jehoas according.

And as soon as they were departed from him, though they left him in great diseases: yet his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the children of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed. And when he was dead, they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchres of the kings. And these are they that conspired against him: Zabad the son of Samaath an Ammonite and Jehosabad the son of Simrith a Moabite. And his sons and the sum of the tax that came to him, and the foundation of the house of God, are written in the story of the book of kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

The 25th Chapter

Amaziah was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Jehoiadan of Jerusalem. And he did that pleased the Lord: but not with the whole heart. And as soon as he was settled in the kingdom, he slew them that killed the king his father. But he slew not their children as it is written in the law, even in the book of Moses to whom the Lord commanded saying: the fathers shall not die for the childrens causes, nor the children for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin. And Amaziah gathered Juda together and made captains over thousands and over hundreds in the houses of their fathers throughout all Juda and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years and above, and found them three hundred thousand lusty men able to go to battle, and that could handle spear and shield. And he hired thereto an hundred thousand fighting men out of Israel, for an hundred talents of silver.

But there came a man of God to him and said: king, let not the army of Israel go with thee: for the Lord is not with Israel neither with any of the house of Ephraim. Or else if thou needs wilt, then go and do it, and make thyself strong to battle: and thou shalt see, that God shall make thee fall before thine enemies. For God hath power to help or to cast down. And Amaziah said again to the man of God, what shall we do then, for the hundred talents which I have given unto the host of Israel ? And the man of God said: the Lord is able to give thee much more than that.

And then Amaziah severed that army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Wherefore they were exceeding wroth with Juda, and returned to their own home in great anger.

And Amaziah took heart and carried out his host and went to Saltdale. Where he slew of the children of Seir ten thousand. And other ten thousand the children of Juda took alive, and carried them unto the top of a rock and cast them down from the top of the rock that they all to burst: but the men of the army which Amaziah had turned back and would not let go with his people to battle, ran upon the cities of Juda from Samaria unto Bethhoron and slew three thousand of them and won much spoil.

And it chanced, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, and had brought the Gods of the children of Seir, he set them up to be his Gods, and bowed himself before them and burned cense unto them. Wherefore the Lord was wroth with Amaziah and and sent to him a prophet, and said to him: why seekest thou the Gods of the people which were not able to deliver their own people out of thine hands ? And as the prophet spake to him, he said to the prophet: have men made thee of the kings counsel ? cease, lest thou be beaten. And the prophet ceased and said: I am sure that God hath taken counsel to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and obeyest not my counsel.

Then Amaziah king of Juda took advice and sent to Joas the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu king of Israel and said: come, and let us see each other. And Joas king of Israel sent again to Amaziah king of Juda saying: a thistle in Libanon sent to a Cedar tree of Libanon saying: give thy daughter to my son to wife. But there came the wild beasts of Libanon and trod down the thistle. Thou thinkest: see, I have beaten the Edomites, therefore thine heart ariseth to glorify thyself. Now bide at home: what needeth thee to provoke to evil, that thou perish and Juda with thee.

But Amaziah rested not: for it came of God, even to deliver them into the hands of their enemies: and that because they had sought the Gods of the Edomites. And Joas king of Israel came up: and they saw either other, both he and Amaziah king of Juda at Bethsames in Juda. And Juda was put to the worse before Israel, and fled every man to his tent. And Joas king of Israel took Amaziah king of Juda the son of Jehoas the son of Ohoziah at Bethsames: and brought him to Jerusalem, and tare the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits long. And he took all the gold and silver and all the Jewels that were found in the house of God with Obed Edom and the treasure of the kings house and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

And Amaziah the son of Jehoas king of Juda lived after the death of Joas son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. The rest of the acts of Amaziah first and last are written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. And after that time that Amaziah did turn away from the Lord, they conspired treason against him in Jersulem: and he fled to Lachis. Whither they sent after him and slew him there, and brought him up with horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Juda.

The 26th Chapter

Then all the people of Juda took Oziah which was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. And he built Eloth and brought it again to Juda after the king was laid to rest with his fathers. Sixteen years old was Oziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty two years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Jecaliah of Jerusalem. And he did that pleased the Lord, in all points as did his father Amaziah. And he sought God while Zachariah the teacher to see God lived: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

And he went to battle against the Philistines and brake down the walls of Geth, and the walls of Jabneh and the walls of Asdod, and built cities about Asdod and among the Philistines. And God help him against the Philistines and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and against the Meunites. And the Ammonites gave tribute to Oziah, and his name spread abroad even to Egypt: for he played the man and exceeded. Moreover Oziah built towers in Jerusalem over the corner gate, and over the valley gate, and over other corners, and made them strong. And he built towers in the wilderness and digged many wells. For he had much cattle, both in the valley and also in the plain: and plowmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved husbandry.

And Oziah had an host of fighting men that went out to war in the army and were told and numbered by Jeiel the scribe and Maasiah an officer, under the hand of Hananiah one of the kings Lords. And the whole number of the ancient heads of the men of might were two thousand and six hundred and under the hands of them was the army of the host, three hundred and seven thousand, and five hundred that made war with might and strength, to help the king against his enemies. And Oziah provided them throughout all the host, shields, spears, helmets, habergeons, bows and slings for stones. And he made engines in Jerusalem by the craft of artificers to be on the towers and corners, to shoot arrows and great stones with all. And his name spread far abroad, for he was wonderfully help, until he was become mighty.

And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the Lord his God. For he went into the temple of the Lord to burn cense upon the altar of incense. But Asariah the priest went in after him with four score priests of the Lord that were bold men. And they stepped to Oziah the king and said to him: it pertaineth not to thee Oziah to burn cense unto the Lord, but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrate for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the Lord God.

And Oziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, even beside the incense altar. And Asariah the chief priest with all the other priests looked upon him: and behold he was a leper in his forehead, and they vexed him thence. And thereto he was fain to go out, because the Lord had plagued him. And Oziah the king continued a leper unto the day of his death and dwelt in an house at liberty: how be it, he was cast out of the house of the Lord. And Joatham his son had the governance of the kings house and judged the people of the land.The rest of the acts of Oziah both first and last, did Isaiah the prophet the son of Amos write. And when Oziah was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial of the kings. For they said: he is a leper. And Joatham his son reigned in his stead.

The 27th Chapter

Joatham was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Jerusah the daughter of Zadoc. And he did that pleased the Lord in all points as did his father Oziah: save, that he came not to the temple of the Lord, and that the people did yet corrupt themselves. He built the high gate of the temple of the Lord, and on the wall Ophel he built much. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Juda, and in the wood country he built castles and towers.

And he fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand quarters of wheat and as much barley. So much also did the children of Ammon give him the second year and the third too. And Joatham became mighty, because he directed his way before the Lord his God.

The rest of the acts of Joatham and all his wars and his ways are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Juda. He was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And when Joatham was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

The 28th Chapter

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not that pleased the Lord, as did his father David: but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made thereto Baals of metal. And he offered cense in the valley of the children of Hennon, and burnt his children in fire after the abomination of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. And he offered burnt cense in hillaltars and on mountains and under every green tree.

Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of the Sirians: which beat him and carried away a great multitude of his captive into Damasco. And thereto he was delivered into the hand of the king of Israel which slew of his a mighty slaughter. For Phakeh the son of Romeliah slew in Juda an hundred and twenty thousand in one da.y, and all fighting men: and that because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. And Zechri a mighty man in mount Ephraim slew Maasiah the kings son and Asrican the Lord steward of household, and Elcanah that was next to the king. And the children of Israel took prisoners of their brethren two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters, and thereto carried away much spoil of them, and brought it to Samaria.

But there was a prophet of the Lords named Obed which went out to the host which came to Samaria and said to them: see, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Juda, he delivered them into your hands. And ye have slain them with cruelness that reacheth up to heaven. And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Juda and Jerusalem and to make them bondmen and bondwomen. What other thing do ye (ye unhappy) then offend the Lord your God. But now hear me, and deliver the captives again which ye have taken of your brethren: for the great wrath of the Lord is upon you ?

And certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, as Asariah the son of Johanan, Barachiah the son of Mesimeloth, Jehezekiah the son of Selum and Amasa the son of Hadalai stood up against them that came from war, and said unto them: ye shall not bring in the captives hither. For where we have offended the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and trespass. For our trespass is great already, and there is fierce wrath upon Israel: And upon that the men of arms left the captives and the spoil before the Lords and all the congregation.

And there arose certain appointed thereto by name, and took the prisoners and clothed all that were naked among them, of the spoil, and arrayed them and shoed them and gave them to eat and to drink and anointed them, and carried all that were feeble of them upon asses and brought them to Jericho the city of *Paulme trees fast by their brethren: and then returned to Samaria again. Paulme trees:is the exact spelling, refers palme trees

And at that same time king Ahaz sent unto the kings of Assur to have help. And the Edomites came yet again and slew of Juda and carried away some captives. And the Philistines invaded the cities in the low country and the south of Juda: and took Bethsames, Aialon, Gaderoth and Socoh with the towns longing thereto, and Thimna with the towns of the same, and Gimso with her towns, and dwelt therein. For the Lord brought Juda low, because of Ahaz king of Juda which made Juda naked and transgressed against the Lord. And Thiglah Palneser king of Assur came upon him and besieged him, but prevailed not against him. For Ahaz took away out of the house of the Lord and out of the kings house and out of the Lords houses, and gave unto the king of Assur, though it help him not. And thereto in the very time of his tribulation did king Ahaz trespass yet more against the Lord. For he offered unto the Gods of them of Damasco which beat him and said, because the Gods of the Sirians help them, therefore will I offer to them, that they may help me also. But they were his destruction and the destruction of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and brake them, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made him altars in all corners of Jerusalem. And in all the cities of Juda city by city he made hillaltars to burn incense unto other Gods, and angered the Lord God of his fathers. The rest of his acts and all his ways both first and last are written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. And when Ahaz was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in the city of Jerusalem: but brought him not unto the sepulchres of the kings of Juda. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

The 29th Chapter

Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty five years old, and reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mothers name was Abiah the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that was right in the sight of the Lord in all points as did David his father. He opened the doors of the house of the Lord in the first year and first month of his reign, and he repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them together into the east street: and said unto them.

Hear me ye Levites: purify yourselves and hallow the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and bring out the filthiness out of the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed and done evil favouredly in the eyes of the Lord our God: and have forsaken him, and turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned to their backs. And beside that they have shut up the doors of the porch and quenched the lamps and have neither burned cense nor offered burntofferings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.

Wherefore the wrath of the Lord fell on Juda and Jerusalem: and he scattered them and made them so thin that men hiss at it, even as ye see with your eyes. For see, our fathers were overthrown with the sword and our sons, our daughters and our wives were carried away captive for the same cause. Now have I in my heart to stike a covenant with the Lord