Category: 2 Kings

Athaliah Usurps the Throne

1 When Athaliah,Ahaziah’s mother,saw that her son was dead,she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.

2 Jehosheba,who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’ssister, secretly 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. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed.

3 Joash was in hiding with Jehosheba in theLord’s temple six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

Athaliah Overthrown

4 Thenin the seventh year, Jehoiadasent messengers and brought in the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.He had them come to him in theLord’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son

5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: a third of you who come on duty on the Sabbathare to provide protection for the king’s palace.

6 A third are to be at the Sur gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.

7 “Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for theLord’s temple.

8 You must completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. You must be with the king in all his daily tasks.”

9 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 — and went to Jehoiada the priest.

10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shieldsthat were in theLord’s temple.

11 Then the guards stood 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.

12 He brought out the king’s son, put the crownon him, gave him the testimony,and made him king. They anointedhim and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king! ”

13 When Athaliahheard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at theLord’s temple.

14 As she looked, there was the king standing by the pillaraccording to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason! ”

15 Then Jehoiadathe priest ordered the commanders of hundredsin charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in theLord’s temple.”

16 So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entranceto the king’s palace, where she was put to death.

Jehoiada’s Reforms

17 ThenJehoiada made a covenant between theLord, the king, and the people that they would be theLord’s peopleand another covenant between the king and the people.

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

Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for theLord’s temple.

19 He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards,and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from theLord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joashsat on the throne of the kings.

20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.

Judah’s King Joash

21 Joashwas seven years old when he became king.

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1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king and reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, who was from Beer-sheba.

2 Throughout the time Jehoiadathe priest instructedhim, Joash did what was right in theLord’s sight.

3 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Repairing the Temple

4 ThenJoash said to the priests, “All the dedicated money brought to theLord’s temple,census money,money from vows,and all money voluntarily givenfor theLord’s temple,

5 each priest is to take from his assessorand repair whatever damage to the temple is found.”

6 But by the twenty-third yearof the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damageto the temple.

7 So King Joash called Jehoiadathe priest and the other priests and said, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple’s damage? Since you haven’t, don’t take any money from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple.”

8 So the priests agreed they would not take money from the people and they would not repair the temple’s damage.

9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest,bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters theLord’s temple; in it the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into theLord’s temple.

10 Whenever they saw there was a large amount of money in the chest, the king’s secretaryand the high priest would go to theLord’s temple and count the money found there and tie it up in bags.

11 Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those doing the work — those who oversaw theLord’s temple. They in turn would pay it out to those working on theLord’s temple — the carpenters, the builders,

12 the masons, and the stonecutters — and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to theLord’s templeand for all spending for temple repairs.

13 However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silverwere made for theLord’s temple from the money brought into the temple.

14 Instead, it was given to those doing the work, and they repaired theLord’s temple with it.

15 No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity.

16 The money from the restitution offering and the sin offering was not brought to theLord’s temple since it belonged to the priests.

Aramean Invasion of Judah

17 At that time Hazaelking of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.

18 So King Joash of Judah took all the consecrated items that his ancestors — Judah’s kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah — had consecrated, along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of theLord’s temple and in the king’s palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram.Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

Joash Assassinated

19 The rest of the events of Joash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

20 Joash’s servants conspired against him and killed himat Beth-milloon the road that goes down to Silla.

21 His servants Jozabadson of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died.Then they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king in his place.

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Israel’s King Jehoahaz

1 In the twenty-third year of Judah’s King Joashson of Ahaziah, Jehoahazson of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 17 years.

2 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.

3 So theLord’s anger burned against Israel,and He surrendered them to the power of Hazaelking of Aram and his son Ben-hadadduring their reigns.

4 Then Jehoahaz sought theLord’s favor, and theLordheard him, for He saw the oppression the king of Aram inflicted on Israel.

5 Therefore, theLordgave Israel a deliverer,and they escaped from the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel dwelt in their tents as before,

6 but they didn’t turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. Jehoahaz walked in them,and the Asherah pole also remained standing in Samaria.

7 Jehoahaz did not have an army left, except for 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them,making them like dust at threshing.

8 The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and his might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

9 Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoashbecame king in his place.

Israel’s King Jehoash

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Judah’s King Joash, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 16 years.

11 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.

12 The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and the power he had to wage war against Judah’s King Amaziah,are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

13 Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboamsat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha’s Death

14 When Elisha became sick with the illness that he died from, Jehoash king of Israel went down and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel! ”

15 Elisha responded, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he got a bow and arrows.

16 Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So the king put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

17 Elisha said, “Open the east window.” So he opened it. Elisha said, “Shoot! ” So he shot.Then Elisha said, “TheLord’s arrow of victory, yes, the arrow of victory over Aram. You are to strike down the Arameans in Aphekuntil you have put an end to them.”

18 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows! ” So he took them. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground! ” So he struck the ground three times and stopped.

19 The man of Godwas angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to them, but now you will only strike down Aram three times.”

20 Then Elisha died and was buried.

Now Moabite raidersused to come into the land in the spring of the year.

21 Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When he touched Elisha’s bones, the man revived and stood up!

God’s Mercy on Israel

22 Hazaelking of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz,

23 but theLordwas gracious to them, had compassion on them,and turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.He was not willing to destroy them. Even now He has not banished them from His presence.

24 King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadadbecame king in his place.

25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in war from Jehoash’s father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times and recovered the cities of Israel.

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Judah’s King Amaziah

1 Inthe second year of Israel’s King Jehoashson of Jehoahaz,Amaziahson of Joash became king of Judah.

2 He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddanand was from Jerusalem.

3 He did what was right in theLord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.

4 Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

5 As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah killed his servants who had murdered his father the king.

6 However, he did not put the children of the murderers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where theLordcommanded, “Fathers must not be put to death because of children, and children must not be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin.”

7 Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.He took Selain battle and called it Joktheel,which is its name to this very day.

8 Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us meet face to face.”

9 King Jehoash of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedarthat was in Lebanon,saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and you have become overconfident.Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you stir up such trouble that you fall — you and Judah with you? ”

11 But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced off at Beth-shemeshthat belongs to Judah.

12 Judah was routed before Israel, and everyone fled to his own tent.

13 King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash,son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down 200 yardsof Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gateto the Corner Gate.

14 He took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in theLord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and some hostages.Then he returned to Samaria.

Jehoash’s Death

15 The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

16 Jehoash rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.

Amaziah’s Death

17 Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash lived 15 years after the death of Israel’s King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.

18 The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

19 A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,and he fled to Lachish.However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there.

20 They carried him backon horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,who was 16 years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.

22 He rebuilt Elathand restored it to Judah after Amaziah the king rested with his fathers.

Israel’s King Jeroboam

23 In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboamson of Jehoashbecame king of Israel in Samaria and reigned 41 years.

24 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

25 He restored Israel’s borderfrom Lebo-hamathas far as the Sea of the Arabah,according to the word theLord, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant, the prophet Jonahson of Amittai from Gath-hepher.

26 For theLordsaw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter.There was no one to help Israel, neither bond nor free.

27 However, theLordhad not said He would blot out the name of Israel under heaven,so He deliveredthem by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

28 The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign — along with all his accomplishments, the power he had to wage war, and how he recovered for Israel Damascusand Hamath,which had belonged to Judah— are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

29 Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.

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Judah’s King Azariah

1 In the twenty-seventh year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Azariahson of Amaziah became king of Judah.

2 He was 16 years old when he became king and reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah, who was from Jerusalem.

3 Azariah did what was right in theLord’s sightjust as his father Amaziah had done.

4 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

5 TheLordafflicted the king, and he had a serious skin disease until the day of his death.He lived in a separate house,while Jotham,the king’s son, was over the household governing the people of the land.

6 The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

7 Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.

Israel’s King Zechariah

8 In the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Zechariahson of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months.

9 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight as his fathers had done.He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He struck him down publicly,killed him, and became king in his place.

11 As for the rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

12 The word of theLordthat He spoke to Jehu was, “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel,”and it was so.

Israel’s King Shallum

13 In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king; he reigned in Samariaa full month.

14 Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzahto Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and became king in his place.

15 As for the rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Menahem

16 At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah,all who were in it, and its territory. Because they wouldn’t surrender,he attacked it and ripped open all the pregnant women.

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel and reigned 10 years in Samaria.

18 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

19 Pulking of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul 75,000 poundsof silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grip on the kingdom.

20 Then Menahem exacted 20 ouncesof silver from each of the wealthy men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.

21 The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

22 Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.

Israel’s King Pekahiah

23 In the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned two years.

24 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

25 Then his officer, Pekahson of Remaliah, conspired against himand struck him down in Samaria at the citadel of the king’s palace— as well as Argob and Arieh.There were 50 Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.

26 As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Pekah

27 In the fifty-second year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 20 years.

28 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileserking of Assyria came and captured Ijon,Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee — all the land of Naphtali— and deported the people to Assyria.

30 Then Hosheason of Elah organized a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him, killed him,and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

31 As for the rest of the events of Pekah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Judah’s King Jotham

32 In the second year of Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah, Jothamson of Uzziah became king of Judah.

33 He was 25 years old when he became kingand reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.

34 He did what was right in theLord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done.

35 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Jotham built the Upper Gate of theLord’s temple.

36 The restof the events of Jotham’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

37 In those days theLordbegan sending Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.

38 Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his ancestor David.His son Ahaz became king in his place.

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Judah’s King Ahaz

1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah,Ahazson of Jotham became king of Judah.

2 Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king and reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of theLordhis God like his ancestor David

3 but walked in the way of the kings of Israel.He even made his son pass through the fire,imitating the detestable practices of the nations theLordhad dispossessed before the Israelites.

4 He sacrificed and burned incenseon the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 ThenAram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah came to wage war against Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but were not able to conquer him.

6 At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram and expelled the Judahites from Elath.Then the Arameans came to Elath, and they live there until today.

7 So Ahaz sent messengersto Tiglath-pileserking of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. March up and save me from the power of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.”

8 Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in theLord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace and sent them to the king of Assyria as a gift.

9 So the king of Assyria listened to himand marched up to Damascus and captured it.He deported its people to Kirbut put Rezin to death.

Ahaz’s Idolatry

10 King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileserking of Assyria. When he saw the altar that was in Damascus, King Ahaz sent a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction to Uriah the priest.

11 Uriah built the altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz sent from Damascus. Therefore, by the time King Ahaz came back from Damascus, Uriah the priest had completed it.

12 When the king came back from Damascus, he saw the altar. Then he approached the altarand ascended it.

13 He offered his burnt offeringand his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offeringson the altar.

14 He took the bronze altarthat was before theLordin front of the temple between his altar and theLord’s temple, and put it on the north side of his altar.

15 Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering. Also offer the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offerings. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of sacrifice. The bronze altar will be for me to seek guidance.”

16 Uriah the priest did everything King Ahaz commanded.

17 Then King Ahaz cut off the frames of the water cartsand removed the bronze basin from each of them. He took the reservoirfrom the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone pavement.

18 To satisfy the king of Assyria, he removed from theLord’s temple the Sabbath canopy they had built in the palace, and he closed the outer entrance for the king.

Ahaz’s Death

19 The restof the events of Ahaz’s reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

20 Ahaz rested with his fathersand was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Hezekiah became king in his place.

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Israel’s King Hoshea

1 In the twelfth year of Judah’s King Ahaz, Hosheason of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned nine years.

2 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

3 Shalmaneserking of Assyria attacked him,and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute money.

4 But the king of Assyria discovered Hoshea’s conspiracy. He had sent envoys to So king of Egyptand had not paid tribute money to the king of Assyria as in previous years.Therefore the king of Assyria arrested him and put him in prison.

5 Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.

The Fall of Samaria

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea,the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He deportedthe Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah and by the Habor, Gozan’s river, and in the cities of the Medes.

Why Israel Fell

7 This disaster happened because the people of Israel had sinned against theLordtheir God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egyptand because they had worshipedother gods.

8 They had lived according to the customs of the nations that theLordhad dispossessed before the Israelitesand the customs the kings of Israel had introduced.

9 The Israelites secretly did what was not rightagainst theLordtheir God. They built high places in all their towns from watchtowerto fortified city.

10 They set up for themselves sacred pillarsand Asherah poleson every high hill and under every green tree.

11 They burned incense on all the high places just like those nations that theLordhad driven out before them. They did evil things, provoking theLord.

12 They served idols, although theLordhad told them, “You must not do this.”

13 Still, theLordwarnedIsrael and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commands and statutes according to all the law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through My servants the prophets.”

14 But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate liketheir ancestors who did not believe theLordtheir God.

15 They rejected His statutes and His covenant He had made with their ancestorsand the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves,following the surrounding nations theLordhad commanded them not to imitate.

16 They abandoned all the commands of theLordtheir God. They made cast imagesfor themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole.They worshiped the whole heavenly hostand served Baal.

17 They made their sons and daughters pass through the fireand practiced divination and interpreted omens.They devoted themselves to do what was evil in theLord’s sight and provoked Him.

18 Therefore, theLordwas very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence.Only the tribe of Judah remained.

19 Even Judah did not keep the commands of theLordtheir Godbut lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.

20 So theLordrejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and handed them over to plunderers until He had banished them from His presence.

Summary of Israel’s History

21 When theLordtoreIsrael from the house of David, Israel made Jeroboam son of Nebat king.Then Jeroboam led Israel away from following theLordand caused them to commit great sin.

22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam committed and did not turn away from them.

23 Finally, theLordremoved Israel from His presence just as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland until today.

Foreign Refugees in Israel

24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.

25 When they first lived there, they did not fear Yahweh. So theLordsent lions among them, which killed some of them.

26 The settlers spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations that you have deported and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Therefore He has sent lions among them that are killing them because the people don’t know the requirements of the God of the land.”

27 Then the king of Assyria issued a command: “Send back one of the priests you deported.Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the God of the land.”

28 So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel,and he began to teach them how they should fear Yahweh.

29 But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made.

30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fireto Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of the Sepharvaim.

32 They feared theLord, but they also appointed from their number priests to serve them in the shrines of the high places.

33 They feared theLord, but they also worshiped their own godsaccording to the custom of the nations where they had been deported from.

34 They are still practicing the former customs to this day. None of them fear theLordor observe their statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments theLordcommanded the descendants of Jacob. He had renamed him Israel.

35 TheLordmade a covenant with them and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow down to them;do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them.

36 Instead fear theLord, who brought you from the land of Egypt with great powerand an outstretched arm.You are to bow down to Him, and you are to sacrifice to Him.

37 You are to be careful alwaysto observe the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandments He wrote for you; do not fear other gods.

38 Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you.Do not fear other gods,

39 but fear theLordyour God, and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40 However, they would not listen but continued practicing their former customs.

41 These nations feared theLordbut also served their idols. Their children and grandchildren continue doing as their fathers did until today.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/17-0e9f0f0aac5e70677528922dbff7323a.mp3?version_id=72—

Judah’s King Hezekiah

1 In the third year of Israel’s King Hosheason of Elah, Hezekiahson of Ahaz became king of Judah.

2 He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abidaughter of Zechariah.

3 He did what was right in theLord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done.

4 He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made,for the Israelites burned incense to it up to that time. He called it Nehushtan.

5 Hezekiah trusted in theLordGod of Israel;not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.

6 He remained faithful to Yahwehand did not turn from following Him but kept the commands theLordhad commanded Moses.

7 TheLordwas with him, and wherever he went he prospered.He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

8 He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders,from watchtowerto fortified city.

Review of Israel’s Fall

9 In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Israel’s King Hoshea son of Elah, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.

10 The Assyrians captured it at the end of three years. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Israel’s King Hoshea, Samaria was captured.

11 The king of Assyria deported the Israelites to Assyria and put them in Halah and by the Habor, Gozan’s river, and in the cities of the Medes,

12 because they did not listen to the voice of theLordtheir God but violated His covenant — all He had commanded Moses the servant of theLord. They did not listen, and they did not obey.

Sennacherib’s Invasion

13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.

14 So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish,saying, “I have done wrong;withdraw from me. Whatever you demand from me, I will pay.” The king of Assyria demanded 11 tonsof silver and one tonof gold from King Hezekiah of Judah.

15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver found in theLord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace.

16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of theLord’s sanctuary and from the doorposts he had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.

17 Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan,the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a massive army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.They advanced and came to Jerusalem, andthey took their position by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is by the highway to the Fuller’s Field.

18 Then they called for the king, but Eliakimson of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnahthe court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to them.

The Rabshakeh’s Speech

19 Thenthe Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?

20 You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. What are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?

21 Look, you are now trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staffthat will enter and pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it.This is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who trust in him.

22 Suppose you say to me: We trust in theLordour God. Isn’t He the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed,saying to Judah and to Jerusalem: You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem? ’

23 “So now make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I’ll give you 2,000 horses if you’re able to supply riders for them!

24 How then can you drive back a single officeramong the least of my master’s servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

25 Have I attacked this place to destroy it without theLord’s approval?TheLordsaid to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.’ ”

26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic,since we understand it. Don’t speak with us in Hebrewwithin earshot of the people on the wall.”

27 But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words? Hasn’t he also sent me to the men who sit on the wall, destined with you to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine? ”

28 The Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew.Then he spoke: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

29 This is what the king says: ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceiveyou; he can’t deliver you from my hand.

30 Don’t let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in theLordby saying: Certainly theLordwill deliver us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.’

31 “Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Make peacewith me and surrender to me. Then every one of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree,and every one may drink water from his own cistern

32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land — a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey— so that you may liveand not die. But don’t listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying: TheLordwill deliver us.

33 Has any of the gods of the nations ever deliveredhis land from the power of the king of Assyria?

34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?

35 Who among all the gods of the lands has delivered his land from my power? So will theLorddeliver Jerusalem? ’ ”

36 But the people kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”

37 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian,came to Hezekiah with their clothes tornand reported to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/18-41f0909fea2c7caa26469e51ee443318.mp3?version_id=72—

Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah’s Counsel

1 When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth,and went into theLord’s temple.

2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary,and the leading priests, who were wearing sackcloth,to the prophet Isaiahson of Amoz.

3 They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth,but there is no strength to deliver them.

4 Perhaps Yahweh your Godwill hearall the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebukehim for the words that Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’ ”

5 So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah,

6 who said to them, “Tell your master this, ‘TheLordsays: Don’t be afraidbecause of the words you have heard, that the king of Assyria’s attendantshave blasphemedMe with.

7 I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own landwhere I will cause him to fall by the sword.’ ”

Sennacherib’s Departing Threat

8 Whenthe Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish,he returned and found him fighting against Libnah.

9 The king had heard this about Tirhakah king of Cush: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

10 “Say this to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Don’t let your God, whom you trust,deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.

11 Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: they completely destroyed them. Will you be rescued?

12 Did the gods of the nationsthat my predecessors destroyed rescue them — nations such as Gozan,Haran,Rezeph, and the Edenitesin Telassar?

13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah? ’ ”

Hezekiah’s Prayer

14 Hezekiah tookthe letterfrom the hand of the messengers, read it, then went up to theLord’s temple, and spread it out before theLord.

15 Then Hezekiah prayed before theLord:

LordGod of Israel who is enthroned above the cherubim,You are God — You alone — of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

16 Listen closely,Lord, and hear; open Your eyes,Lord, and see.Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.

17 Lord, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands.

18 They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands — wood and stone.So they have destroyed them.

19 Now,Lordour God, please save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are theLordGod — You alone.

God’s Answer through Isaiah

20 ThenIsaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “TheLord, the God of Israel says: ‘I have heard your prayerto Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.’

21 This is the word theLordhas spoken against him:

Virgin Daughter Zion

despises you and scorns you:

Daughter Jerusalem

shakes her head behind your back.

22 Who is it you mocked and blasphemed?

Against whom have you raised your voice

and lifted your eyes in pride?

Against the Holy One of Israel!

23 You have mocked the Lordthroughyour messengers.

You have said:

With my many chariots

I have gone up to the heights of the mountains,

to the far recesses of Lebanon.

I cut down its tallest cedars,

its choice cypress trees.

I came to its farthest outpost,

its densest forest.

24 I dug wells,

and I drank foreign waters.

I dried up all the streams of Egypt

with the soles of my feet.

25 Have you not heard?

I designed it long ago;

I planned it in days gone by.

I have now brought it to pass,

and you have crushed fortified cities

into piles of rubble.

26 Their inhabitants have become powerless,

dismayed, and ashamed.

They are plants of the field,

tender grass,

grass on the rooftops,

blasted by the east wind.

27 But I know your sitting down,

your going out and your coming in,

and your raging against Me.

28 Because your raging against Me

and your arrogance have reached My ears,

I will put My hook in your nose

and My bit in your mouth;

I will make you go back

the way you came.

29 “This will be the signfor you: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what grows from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

30 The surviving remnantof the house of Israel will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

31 For a remnant will go out from Jerusalem and survivors, from Mount Zion.The zeal of theLordof Hosts will accomplish this.

32 Therefore, this is what theLordsays about the king of Assyria:

He will not enter this city

or shoot an arrow there

or come before it with a shield

or build up an assault ramp against it.

33 He will go back

on the road that he came

and he will not enter this city.

This is theLord’s declaration.

34 I will defend this city and rescue it

for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.”

Defeat and Death of Sennacherib

35 That night the angel of theLordwent out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies!

36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh.

37 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelechand Sharezer struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat.Then his son Esar-haddonbecame king in his place.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/19-8b65e74baf626df69783c82cdb4c32af.mp3?version_id=72—

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery

1 In those daysHezekiah became terminally ill.The prophet Isaiahson of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Put your affairs in order,for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”

2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the walland prayed to theLord,

3 “PleaseLord, rememberhow I have walked before You faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases You.”And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of theLordcame to him:

5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leaderof My people, ‘This is what theLordGod of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer;I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to theLord’s temple.

6 I will add 15 years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.’ ”

7 Then Isaiah said, “Bring a lump of pressed figs.” So they brought it and applied it to his infected skin, and he recovered.

8 Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What is the signthat theLordwill heal me and that I will go up to theLord’s temple on the third day? ”

9 Isaiah said, “This is the signto you from theLordthat He will do what He has promised: Should the shadow go ahead 10 steps or go back 10 steps? ”

10 Then Hezekiah answered, “It’s easy for the shadow to lengthen 10 steps. No, let the shadow go back 10 steps.”

11 So Isaiah the prophet called out to theLord, and He brought the shadowback the 10 steps it had descended on Ahaz’s stairway.

Hezekiah’s Folly

12 At that timeMerodach-baladanson of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah since he heard that he had been sick.

13 Hezekiah gave them a hearing and showed them his whole treasure house — the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil — and his armory, and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his palace and in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.

14 Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked him, “Where did these men come from and what did they say to you? ”

Hezekiah replied, “They came from a distant country, from Babylon.”

15 Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your palace? ”

Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything in my palace. There isn’t anything in my treasuries that I didn’t show them.”

16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of theLord:

17 ‘The time will certainly come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left,’says theLord.

18 ‘Some of your descendants who come from you will be taken away,and they will become eunuchsin the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”

19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of theLordthat you have spoken is good,”for he thought: Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime?

Hezekiah’s Death

20 The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign, along with all his might and how he made the pooland the tunnel and brought water into the city,are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

21 Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and his son Manasseh became king in his place.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/20-5d67e6c05abd1fc4b387e68671b322df.mp3?version_id=72—