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1 Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place.During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years.

Judah’s King Asa

2 Asa did what was good and rightin the sight of theLordhis God.

3 He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.

4 He told the people of Judah to seek theLordGod of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.

5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah,and the kingdom experienced peace under him.

6 Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah.No one made war with him in those days because theLordgave him rest.

7 So he said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars.The land is still ours because we sought theLordour God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side.” So they built and succeeded.

The Cushite Invasion

8 Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears,and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors.

9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.

10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 Then Asa cried out to theLordhis God:“Lord, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us,Lordour God, for we depend on You,and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You.”

12 So theLordrouted the Cushites before Asa and before Judah,and the Cushites fled.

13 Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar.The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.

14 Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of theLordwas on them.They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them.

15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/14-3036d3e01d87c0f9b368d5d7276b510b.mp3?version_id=72—

Revival Under Asa

1 The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.

2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, hear me. TheLordis with youwhen you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you,but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you.

3 For many years Israel has been without the true God,without a teaching priest, and without instruction,

4 but when they turned to theLordGod of Israel in their distress and sought Him, He was found by them.

5 In those times there was no peace for those who went about their daily activities because the residents of the lands had many conflicts.

6 Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every possible distress.

7 But as for you, be strong; don’t be discouraged,for your work has a reward.”

8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim.He renovated the altar of theLordthat was in front of the portico of theLord’s temple.

9 Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, as well as those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for they had defected to him from Israel in great numbers when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him.

10 They were gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

11 At that time they sacrificed to theLord700 cattle and 7,000 sheep from all the plunder they had brought.

12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek theLordGod of their ancestors with all their mind and all their heart.

13 Whoever would not seek theLordGod of Israel would be put to death, young or old,man or woman.

14 They took an oath to theLordin a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with rams’ horns.

15 All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their mind. They had sought Him with all their heart, and He was found by them.So theLordgave them rest on every side.

16 King Asaalso removed Maacah, his grandmother,from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image, then crushed it and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

17 The high places were not taken away from Israel; nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted his entire life.

18 He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into God’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils.

19 There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

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Asa’s Treaty with Aram

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa,Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah. He built Ramah in order to deny access to anyone — going or coming — to Judah’s King Asa.

2 So Asa brought out the silver and gold from the treasuries of theLord’s temple and the royal palace and sent it to Aram’s King Ben-hadad, who lived in Damascus, saying,

3 “There’s a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Go break your treaty with Israel’s King Baasha so that he will withdraw from me.”

4 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies to the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim,and all the storage citiesof Naphtali.

5 When Baasha heard about it, he quit building Ramah and stopped his work.

6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had built it with. Then he built Geba and Mizpah with them.

Hanani’s Rebuke of Asa

7 At that time, Hananithe seer came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on theLordyour God,the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.

8 Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen?When you depended on Yahweh, He handed them over to you.

9 For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout the earthto show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”

10 Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prisonbecause of his anger over this. And Asa mistreated some of the people at that time.

Asa’s Death

11 Note that the eventsof Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his disease he didn’t seek theLordbut only the physicians.

13 Asa died in the forty-first year of his reign and rested with his fathers.

14 He was buried in his own tomb that he had made for himself in the city of David. They laid him out in a coffin that was full of spices and various mixtures of prepared ointments;then they made a great fire in his honor.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/16-9d3ee13179c78c2447ac96de1ff50af7.mp3?version_id=72—

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

1 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his placeand strengthened himself against Israel.

2 He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judahand set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

3 Now theLordwas with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David.He did not seek the Baals

4 but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel.

5 So theLordestablished the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

6 His mind rejoiced in theLord’s ways, and he againremoved the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials — Ben-hail,Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah — to teach in the cities of Judah.

8 The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites.

9 They taught throughout Judah, having the book of theLord’s instruction with them.They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The terror of theLordwas on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah,so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat.

11 Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortressesand storage cities in Judah

13 and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, brave warriors, in Jerusalem.

14 These are their numbers according to their ancestral families. For Judah, the commanders of thousands:

Adnah the commander and 300,000 brave warriors with him;

15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander and 280,000 with him;

16 next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteerof theLord, and 200,000 brave warriors with him;

17 from Benjamin, Eliada, a brave warrior, and 200,000 with him armed with bow and shield;

18 next to him, Jehozabad and 180,000 with him equipped for war.

19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

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Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab

1 Now Jehoshaphathad riches and honor in abundance,and he made an alliance with Ahab through marriage.

2 Then after some years, he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and for the people who were with him. Then he persuaded him to march up to Ramoth-gilead,

3 for Israel’s King Ahab asked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? ”

He replied to him, “I am as you are, my people as your people; we will be with you in the battle.”

4 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what theLord’s will is.”

5 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, 400 men, and asked them, “Should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain? ”

They replied, “March up, and God will hand it over to the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore? Let’s ask him.”

7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king shouldn’t say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.

8 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah! ”

9 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were sitting on the threshing floor at the entrance to Samaria’s gate,and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

10 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’ ”

11 And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “March up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for theLordwill hand it over to the king.”

Micaiah’s Message of Defeat

12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As theLordlives, I will say whatever my God says.”

14 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should Irefrain? ”

Micaiah said, “March up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”

15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh? ”

16 So Micaiah said:

I saw all Israel scattered on the hills

like sheep without a shepherd.

And theLordsaid,

“They have no master;

let each return home in peace.”

17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster? ”

18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of theLord. I saw theLordsitting on His throne, and the whole heavenly host was standing at His right hand and at His left hand.

19 And theLordsaid, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? ’ So one was saying this and another was saying that.

20 “Thena spirit came forward, stood before theLord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

“TheLordasked him, ‘How? ’

21 “So he said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’

“Then He said, ‘You will entice him and also prevail. Go and do that.’

22 “Now, you see, theLordhas put a lying spirit into the mouth ofthese prophets of yours, and theLordhas pronounced disaster against you.”

23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the spirit from theLordleave me to speak to you? ”

24 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”

25 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return himto Amon, the governor of the city,and to Joash, the king’s son,

26 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prisonand feed him only bread and wateruntil I come back safely.’ ”

27 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, theLordhas not spoken through me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you people! ”

Ahab’s Death

28 Then the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.

29 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel! ” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried outand theLordhelped him. God drew them away from him.

32 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

33 But a man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to the charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,for I am badly wounded! ”

34 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/18-4a0370b525cc72cf09cc4cfa88e8033b.mp3?version_id=72—

Jehu’s Rebuke of Jehoshaphat

1 Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace.

2 Then Jehuson of Hanani the seer went out to confront himand said to King Jehoshaphat, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate theLord?Because of this, theLord’s wrath is on you.

3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have decided to seek God.”

Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

5 He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.

6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for theLord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.

7 And now, may the terror of theLordbe on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with theLordour God.”

8 Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and priests and some of the heads of the Israelite families for deciding theLord’s will and for settling disputes of the residents ofJerusalem.

9 He commanded them, saying, “In the fear of theLord, with integrity, and with a whole heart, you are to do the following:

10 for every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities — whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments— you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before theLordand wrath will not come on you and your brothers.Do this, and you will not incur guilt.

11 “Note that Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters related to theLord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters related to the king, and the Levites are officers in your presence. Be strong; may theLordbe with those who do what is good.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/19-20e7e6ea38e538d2f182e7f855db6f4e.mp3?version_id=72—

War against Eastern Enemies

1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites,came to fight against Jehoshaphat.

2 People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edomhas come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar”(that is, En-gedi).

3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolvedto seek theLord. Then he proclaimed a fastfor all Judah,

4 who gathered to seek theLord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in theLord’s temple before the new courtyard.

6 He said:

Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven,and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.

7 Are You not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israeland who gave it forever to the descendants of AbrahamYour friend?

8 They have lived in the land and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name and have said,

9 “If disaster comes on us — sword or judgment, pestilence or famine— we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your name is in this temple.We will cry out to You because of our distress, and You will hear and deliver.”

10 Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir.You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.

11 Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of Your possession that You gave us as an inheritance.

12 Our God, will You not judge them?For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.

God’s Answer

13 All Judah was standing before theLordwith their infants, their wives, and their children.

14 In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of theLordcame onJahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants),

15 and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what theLordsays: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number,for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

16 Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel.

17 You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of theLord.He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged.Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you.’ ”

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before theLordto worship Him.

19 Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahitesstood up to praise theLordGod of Israel shouting with a loud voice.

Victory and Plunder

20 In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in Yahweh your God, and you will be established;believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for theLordand some to praise the splendor of His holiness.When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing:

Give thanks to theLord,

for His faithful love endures forever.

22 The moment they began their shouts and praises, theLordset an ambushagainst the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated.

23 The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them.When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.

24 When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the large army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; nobody had escaped.

25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found among theman abundance of goods on the bodiesand valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.

26 They assembled in the Valley of Beracahon the fourth day, for there they praised theLord. Therefore, that place is still called the Valley of Beracah today.

27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem turned back with Jehoshaphat their leader, returning joyfully to Jerusalem, for theLordenabled them to rejoice over their enemies.

28 So they came into Jerusalem to theLord’s temple with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

29 The terror of Godwas on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him rest on every side.

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign

31 Jehoshaphat became king over Judah.He was 35 years old when he became king and reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

32 He walked in the way of Asa his father; he did not turn away from it but did what was right in theLord’s sight.

33 However, the high places were not taken away;the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.

34 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign from beginning to end are written in the Events of Jehuson of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of Israel’s Kings.

Jehoshaphat’s Fleet of Ships

35 After this,Judah’s King Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Israel’s King Ahaziah, who was guilty of wrongdoing.

36 Jehoshaphat formed an alliance with him to make ships to go to Tarshish,and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.

37 Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you formed an alliance with Ahaziah, theLordhas broken up what you have made.” So the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/20-af1881a86d8d9c12b493332c59b8c2ef.mp3?version_id=72—

Jehoram Becomes King Over Judah

1 Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jehorambecame king in his place.

2 He had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

3 Their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, along with fortified citiesin Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

4 When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened his position by killing with the sword all his brothers as well as some of the princes of Israel.

Judah’s King Jehoram

5 Jehoramwas 32 years old when he became king and reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done,for Ahab’s daughter was his wife.He did what was evil in theLord’s sight,

7 but because of the covenant theLordhad made with David, He was unwilling to destroy the house of David since theLordhad promisedto give a lampto David and to his sons forever.

8 During Jehoram’s reign, Edom rebelled against Judah’s domination and appointed their own king.

9 So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his commanders and all his chariots. Then at night he set out to attack the Edomites who had surrounded him and the chariot commanders.

10 And now Edom is still in rebellion against Judah’s domination today. Libnah also rebelled at that time against his domination because he had abandoned Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.

11 Jehoram also built high placesin the hillsof Judah, and he caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves,and he led Judah astray.

Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram

12 Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying:

This is what Yahweh, the God of your ancestor David says: “Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphator in the ways of Asa king of Judah

13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel,have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves like the house of Ahabprostituted itself, and also have killed your brothers,your father’s family, who were better than you,

14 Yahweh is now about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a horrible affliction.

15 You yourself will be struck with many illnesses, including a disease of the intestines, until your intestines come out day after day because of the disease.”

Jehoram’s Last Days

16 TheLordput it into the mind of the Philistines and the Arabswho live near the Cushites to attack Jehoram.

17 So they went to war against Judah and invaded it. They carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace and also his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz,his youngest son.

18 After all these things, theLordafflicted him in his intestines with an incurable disease.

19 This continued day after day until two full years passed. Then his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died from severeillnesses. But his people did not hold a fire in his honor like the fire in honor of his fathers.

20 Jehoramwas 32 years old when he became king; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He died to no one’s regretand was buried in the city of David but not in the tombs of the kings.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/21-6dc62bd771c9dccf70d79f7007aa34b4.mp3?version_id=72—

Judah’s King Ahaziah

1 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because the troops that had come with the Arabsto the camp had killed all the older sons.So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.

2 Ahaziahwas 22years old when he became king and reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, granddaughterof Omri.

3 He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother gave him evil advice.

4 So he did what was evil in theLord’s sight like the house of Ahab, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, to his destruction.

5 He also followed their advice and went with Joramson of Israel’s King Ahab to fight against Hazael, king of Aram, in Ramoth-gilead. The Arameanswounded Joram,

6 so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they inflicted on him in Ramoth-gileadwhen he fought against Aram’s King Hazael. Then Judah’s King Ahaziahson of Jehoram went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab since Joram was ill.

7 Ahaziah’s downfall came from God when he went to Joram.When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi,whom theLordhad anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

8 So when Jehu executed judgment on the house of Ahab,he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.

9 Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah,and Jehu’s soldiers captured him (he was hiding in Samaria). So they brought Ahaziah to Jehu, and they killed him. The soldiers buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat who sought theLordwith all his heart.”So no one from the house of Ahaziah had the strength to rule the kingdom.

Athaliah Usurps the Throne

10 WhenAthaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirsof the house of Judah.

11 Jehoshabeath,the king’s daughter, rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. Now Jehoshabeath was the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest. Since she was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she did not kill him.

12 While Athaliah ruled over the land, he was hiding with them in God’s temple six years.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/22-2aa7a4394c9556e137004bfa04380375.mp3?version_id=72—

Athaliah Overthrown

1 Then, in the seventh year,Jehoiada summoned his courage and took the commanders of hundreds into a covenant with him: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.

2 They made a circuit throughout Judah. They gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the heads of the families of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3 Then the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in God’s temple. Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s son! He must reign, just as theLordpromisedconcerning David’s sons.

4 This is what you are to do: a third of you, priests and Levites who are coming on duty on the Sabbath,are to be gatekeepers.

5 A third are to be at the king’s palace, and a third are to be at the Foundation Gate, and all the troops will be in the courtyards of theLord’s temple.

6 No one is to enter theLord’s temple but the priests and those Levites who serve;they may enter because they are holy, but all the people are to obey the requirement of theLord.

7 You must completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. You must be with the king in all his daily tasks.”

8 So the commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. They each brought their men — those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty on the Sabbath — for Jehoiada the priest did not release the divisions.

9 Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears, shields, and quiversthat were in God’s temple.

10 Then he stationed all the troops with their weapons in hand surrounding the king — from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.

11 They brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the testimony,and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and cried, “Long live the king! ”

12 When Athaliah heard the noise from the troops, the guards, and those praising the king, she went to the troops in theLord’s temple.

13 As she looked, there was the king standing by his pillarat the entrance. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpetswhile the singers with musical instruments were leading the praise. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason! ”

14 Then Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds, those in charge of the army, saying, “Take her out between the ranks, and put anyone who follows her to death by the sword,” for the priest had said, “Don’t put her to death in theLord’s temple.”

15 So they arrested her, and she went by the entrance of the Horses’ Gateto the king’s palace, where they put her to death.

Jehoiada’s Reforms

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the king, and the people that they would be theLord’s people.

17 So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images into pieces and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars.

18 Then Jehoiada put the oversight of theLord’s temple into the hands of the Levitical priests,whom David had appointedover theLord’s temple, to offer burnt offerings to theLordas it is written in the law of Moses,with rejoicing and song ordained byDavid.

19 He stationed gatekeepersat the gates of theLord’s temple so that nothing unclean could enter for any reason.

20 Then he took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land and brought the king down from theLord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the throne of the kingdom.

21 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/23-1a9db3cfa44813ea04ef00a6093509b2.mp3?version_id=72—