Howbeit, the ark of God, had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim, into the place that David had prepared for it, - for he had pitched for it a tent, in Jerusalem.

Also, the altar of bronze that Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur had made, was there before the habitation of Yahweh, - so Solomon and the convocation sought it.

And the horses which Solomon had were, an export, out of Egypt, - and a, company of royal merchants, used to fetch a drove, at a price;

So Solomon numbered all the men that were sojourners, who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering, wherewith David his father had numbered them, - and they were found to be - a hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred.

Then began Solomon, to build the house of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, in Mount Moriah, where he had appeared unto David his father, - -in the place which David had prepared, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And it came to pass, when the priests, came forth, out of the holy place, - for, all the priests who were present, had hallowed themselves, they had no need to observe the courses;

for Solomon had made a platform of bronze, and had set it in the midst of the enclosure, five cubits, the length thereof, and, five cubits, the breadth thereof, and, three cubits, the height thereof,-and he stood thereon, and knelt upon his knees, in the presence of all the convocation of Israel, and spread forth his hands, heavenward;

Now, when Solomon had made an end of praying, Fire, came down out of the heavens, and consumed the ascending-offering and the sacrifices, - and, the glory of Yahweh, filled the house;

while, the priests, over their charges, were standing, the Levites also, with the instruments for the songs of Yahweh, which David the king had made, for giving thanks unto Yahweh, For, age-abiding, is his lovingkindness, when David offered praise by their means, - and, the priests, kept on blowing trumpets over against them, while, all Israel, were standing.

And Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of Yahweh, for he offered there the ascending-sacrifices, and the fat portions of the peace-offerings, - because, the altar of bronze which Solomon had made, was not able to receive the ascending-sacrifice and the meal-offering and the fat portions.

And they made, on the eighth day, a closing feast, - because, the dedication of the altar, they had kept seven days and a festival seven days.

And, on the twenty-third of the seventh month, he sent the people away to their own homes, - rejoicing and glad in heart, over the goodness which Yahweh had performed unto David and unto Solomon, and unto Israel his people.

Thus Solomon finished the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king, - and, all that had come in upon the heart of Solomon, to do in the house of Yahweh and in his own house, he prosperously executed.

And it came to pass, at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of Yahweh, and his own house,

that, the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, - and caused, the sons of Israel, to dwell there.

of their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel had not utterly destroyed, Solomon enrolled them as tributary - unto this day.

These, moreover, were the chiefs of his officers whom King Solomon had, two hundred and fifty, - who wielded dominion over the people.

And, the daughter of Pharaoh, Solomon brought up, out of the city of David, unto the house which he had built for her, - for he said, A wife of mine must not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for holy are those places whereinto the ark of Yahweh hath come.

Then, Solomon offered up ascending-sacrifices, unto Yahweh, - upon the altar of Yahweh, which he had built before the porch:

And, when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house which he had built;

Howbeit I believed not their words, until I had come and mine own eyes had seen, when lo! there had not been told me, the half of the fulness of thy wisdom, - thou dost exceed the report which I heard.

And, King Solomon, gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides a return for that which she had brought unto the king, - so she turned, and went away to her own land, she, and her servants.

And, all the kings of the earth, were seeking the face of Solomon, - to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart;

And Solomon had four thousand stalls of horses, and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, - and he settled them in the chariot cities, and with the king in Jerusalem.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, - for, to Shechem, had all Israel come, to make him king.

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam son of Nebat, who was in Egypt-whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king - heard of it, then returned Jeroboam out of Egypt.

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had been standing before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, - How do, ye, counsel to return answer unto this people?

But he declined the counsel of the old men, which they gave him, - and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who were standing before him.

Then spake with him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou speak unto the people who have spoken unto thee saying, Thy father, made our yoke heavy, Thou, therefore, lighten somewhat our yoke, - Thus, shalt thou say unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father's loins;

So the king hearkened not unto the people, - for there had come to be a turn from God, to the end Yahweh might establish his word which he had spoken by means of Ahijah the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, son of Nebat.

And when Rehoboam had entered Jerusalem, he called together the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, warriors, - to fight against Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam.

and appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the demons - and for the calves which he had made.

And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of Yahweh, - and all Israel with him.

And so it came to pass, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, - because they had dealt treacherously against Yahweh; -

And, Shemaiah the prophet, came unto Rehoboam, and the rulers of Judah, who had gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem because of Shishak, - and said unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye, have left, me, Therefore, I also, have left, you, in the hands of Shishak.

So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the house of the king, the whole, he took, - and he took the bucklers of gold, which Solomon had made.

So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned, - because, forty-one years old, was Rehoboam when he began to reign, and, seventeen years, reigned he in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen, to set his Name there - from among all the tribes of Israel, and, the name of his mother, was Naamah, the Ammonitess.

And there are gathered unto him vain men, sons of the Abandoned One, who emboldened themselves against Rehoboam son of Solomon,-when, Rehoboam, was young and tender of heart, and had not strengthened himself to meet them.

And he built cities of defence, in Judah, - for the land had quiet, nor was there near him any war, in these years, because Yahweh had given him rest.

And it came to pass that, Asa, had a force bearing shield and spear, out of Judah, three hundred thousand, and, out of Benjamin, such as bare a buckler and trode a bow, two hundred and eighty thousand, - all these, were heroes of valour.

Now, many days, had Israel been, - without the faithful God, and without a teaching priest, and without the law;

And, in those times, there had been no prosperity, to him that went out nor to him that came in, - for, great consternations, were upon all the inhabitants of the lands;

And, when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he strengthened himself, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had captured out of the hill country of Ephraim, - and renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh.

And they sacrificed unto Yahweh, on that day, out of the spoil they had brought in, - oxen, seven hundred, and sheep, seven thousand.

And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for, with all their heart, had they sworn, and, with all their good will, had they sought him, and he was found of them, - and Yahweh gave them rest round about.

Moreover also, as touching Maacah mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made, unto the Sacred Stem, a monstrous thing, - so Asa cut down her monstrous thing, and reduced it to dust, and burnt it up, in the Kidron ravine.

And Ben-hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the chieftains of the forces which he had, against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon and Dan, and Abel-maim, - and all the storehouses of the cities of Naphtali.

And, Asa the king, took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timbers thereof, which Baasha had used in building, - and he built therewith, Geba and Mizpah.

and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices - yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer's art, - and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning.

and put forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, - and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had captured.

and, much business, had he, throughout the cities of Judah, - but, the men of war, the heroes of valour, were in Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, when Jehoshaphat had riches and honour, in abundance, that he contracted, by marriage, affinity with Ahab.

So he went down, at the end of some years, unto Ahab, to Samaria, Ahab therefore sacrificed for him, sheep and oxen, in abundance, also for the people whom he had with him,-and then persuaded him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

Now, the king of Syria, had commanded the captains of chariots which he had, saying, Ye shall not fight, with small or with great, - save with the king of Israel, alone.

And, when he had given counsel unto the people, he appointed such as should sing unto Yahweh, and offer praise with holy adorning, - as they should be going forth before the armed men, that they should be saying, O give thanks unto Yahweh, For, age-abiding, is his lovingkindness.

And, when they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh had set liers-in-wait against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who were coming against Judah, and they were smitten.

Then rose up the sons of Ammon and Moab against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, to devote and to destroy, - and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to cut off, every man his neighbour.

Then turned every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with, Jehoshaphat, at their head, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, - for Yahweh had caused them to rejoice over their enemies.

And it came to pass that, the dread of God, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries,-when they heard, that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel.

Howbeit, the high places, were not taken away, - for as yet, the people, had not fixed their heart unto the God of their fathers.

Now, he, had brethren, sons of Jehoshaphat - Azariah and Jehiel and Zechariah and Azariah, and Michael and Shephatiah, - all these, were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel,

But, when Jehoram had arisen over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren, with the sword, - moreover also some of the rulers of Israel.

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab, for, the daughter of Ahab, had he, to wife, - so he wrought wickedness, in the eyes of Yahweh.

Howbeit Yahweh was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant which he had solemnised, unto David, - and as he had promised to give unto him a lamp, and unto his sons, all the days.

So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah - unto this day. Then, must Libnah needs revolt at the same time, from under his hand, - because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.

And it came to pass, in a year beyond a year, even when the end of the days of two years had passed, that his bowels fell out by reason of his disease, so that he died, of, malignant disease, - and his people made him no burning, like the burning of his fathers.

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king, in his stead, for, all the elder sons, had the band of men slain who came in with the Arabians into the camp, - so Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

But, from God, came the downfall of Azariah, through his coming to Joram, - and because, through his coming, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

And he sought Ahaziah, and they captured him, he, having hid himself in Samaria, and they brought him unto Jehu, and he put him to death, and they buried him, because, said they, he is, the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart, - and, no one of the house of Ahaziah, had ability for the kingdom.

And all the people of the land rejoiced, and, the city, was quiet, - when, Athaliah, they had slain with the sword.

And all the rulers and all the people rejoiced, - and brought in and cast into the chest, until they had finished.

And it came to pass, what time the chest was brought into the office of the king by the hand of the Levites, and when they had seen that abundant was the silver, that the scribe of the king came in, and the officer of the chief priest, and they emptied the chest, and bare it, and put it back in its place, - thus, they did, day by day, and collected silver, in abundance;

And, when they had finished, they brought in before the king and Jehoiada the rest of the silver, and he made it into utensils for the house of Yahweh, utensils of attendance, and bowls and spoons, even utensils of gold and silver. Then were they offering ascending-sacrifices in the house of Yahweh, continually, all the days of Jehoiada.

And they buried him in the city of David, with the kings, - because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and his house.

Thus Joash the king, remembered not, the lovingkindness which Jehoiada his father had done for him, but slew his son, - and, as he died, he said, Yahweh see and require!

And it came to pass, when the year had gone round, that the force of Syria came up against him, and they entered Judah, and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the rulers of the people, from among the people, - and, all the spoil of them, sent they unto the king of Damascus.

Although, with a comparatively few men, came the force of Syria, yet, Yahweh, delivered into their hand an exceeding large force, - because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers, - and, upon Joash, executed they judgments.

And, when they had departed from him, for they left him with sore diseases, his own servants conspired against him, for the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him upon his bed, and he died, - and, though they buried him in the city of David, yet did they not bury him in the sepulchres of the kings.

And it came to pass, when the kingdom was confirmed unto him, that he slew his servants who had smitten the king his father;

So Amaziah separated them, appointing unto the company which had come unto him out of Ephraim, to depart unto their own place, - wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, so they returned to their own place, in a heat of anger.

But Amaziah hearkened not, because, from God, it was, to the end he might deliver them up into their enemies' hand, - because they had sought the gods of Edom.

And he did that which was right, in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that Amaziah his father had done.

And he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells, for, much cattle, had he, both in the lowland, and in the plain, - husbandmen and vinedressers, in the mountains and in the fruitful field, for, a lover of the soil, was he.

And it came to pass that Uzziah had a force ready to make war, to go forth as a host in company, by the number of their reckoning, under the direction of Jeiel the scribe, and Maaseiah the officer, - under the direction of Hananiah, from among the captains of the king.

When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned towards him, lo! he, was leprous, in his forehead, so they hastened him from thence, - yea, even he himself, hurried to go out, because Yahweh had smitten him.

And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that Uzziah his father had done, only he entered not into the temple of Yahweh, - though still were the people acting corruptly.

And Pekah son of Remaliah slew, in Judah, a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all, sons of valour,-because they had forsaken Yahweh, God of their fathers.

For again had, the Edomites, come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives;

and, the Philistines, had spread themselves out against the cities of the lowland and of the south, pertaining to Judah, and had captured Beth-shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, and Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo, with its villages, - and dwelt there.

For Yahweh had brought Judah low, because of Ahaz king of Israel, - for he had given the rein in Judah, and, been grievously unfaithful, with Yahweh.

For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus who had smitten him, and said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria are helping them, unto them, will I sacrifice, that they may help me. But, they, served to seduce him and all Israel.

And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that, David his father, had done.

Only, the priests, were too few, and were unable to flay all the ascending-sacrifices, - so their brethren the Levites strengthened them, until the work was complete and until the priests had hallowed themselves, for, the Levites, were more upright in heart to hallow themselves, than the priests.

And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because God had established it for the people, - for, suddenly, had the thing come about.

Yea, the king and his rulers and all the convocation in Jerusalem, had taken counsel, - to keep the passover in the second month.

For they were unable to keep it at that time, - because, the priests, had not hallowed themselves in sufficient numbers, and, the people, had not gathered themselves unto Jerusalem.

So they established a decree, to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even unto Dan, that they should come in to keep a passover unto Yahweh the God of Israel, in Jerusalem, - for, not for a long time, had they kept it as written.

For there were many in the convocation, who had not hallowed themselves, - but, the Levites, were over the slaughtering of the passover-lambs, for every one who was, not pure, to hallow him unto Yahweh.

For, the multitude of the people, many out of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, for they did eat the passover, otherwise than as was written, - for Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, May Yahweh the Good, put a propitiatory-covering about

Thus was there great rejoicing, in Jerusalem, - for, since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel, there had not been the like of this, in Jerusalem.