And have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests like the nations of other lands? Even whosoever cometh and filleth his hand with an ox and seven rams, the same is made priest to them that are no Gods.

But with us is the LORD our God whom we have not forsaken, and the priests of the sons of Aaron ministering unto the LORD, and the Levites in office:

And Abijah waxed mighty, and took him fourteen wives, and begat twenty two sons and sixteen daughters.

And when Abijah was laid to sleep with his fathers, they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In whose days the land was quiet ten years.

And the spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Obed.

When Asa heard those words and the prophecy of Azariah the son of Obed the Prophet, he took courage and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he won in mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD that was before the porch of the LORD.

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead and was mightier than Israel.

And by his side, Amasiah the son of Zichri, willing unto the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one, to ask the LORD by him: But I hate him, for he never prophesieth me good, but always evil, one Micaiah the son of Imlah." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

Then the king of Israel called one of his chamberlains and said, "Fetch hither quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah."

And one Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron and said, "Thus sayeth the LORD: with these thou shalt winnow Syria until thou hast brought them to naught."

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah, went to and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, "By what way went the spirit of the LORD from me, to speak in thee?"

Then said the king of Israel, take ye Micaiah and deliver him to Amon the governor of city, and to Joash the king's son,

And Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer, went out against him and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Oughtest thou to help the wicked, and to love them that hate the LORD? In this verily is the wrath of the LORD upon thee.

And see here, Amariah the priest which is head over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, a ruler in the house of Judah, he is over all causes concerning the king, with officers of the Levites before you. Take courage to you and go upon it, and the LORD shall be with the good."

the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah the son of Benaiah the son of Jeiel the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, even as he was in the midst of the congregation.

The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, are written in the works of Jehu the son of Hanani, which noted them in the book of the kings of Israel.

And Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works." And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

Jehoshaphat laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his room:

which Jehoram had other brethren, sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.

Howbeit, the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever.

Which came against Judah and all to tare the land, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and thereto his sons and his wives: so that there was never a son left him save Jehoahaz his youngest son.

And the inhabiters of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: For the men of war that came with the Arabians in the host had slain all his elder sons. And so Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah, was made king.

And he also walked after their counsel. And Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel went to fight with Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth in Gilead: and they of Ramoth wounded him.

Wherefore he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which were given him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was diseased.

For it was thrust into Ahaziah of God to go to Joram, and that when he was come, he should go out with Joram against Jehu the son of Nimshi whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

And as Jehu was executing justice upon the house of Ahab. He found the lords of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah that waited on Ahaziah, and he slew them.

And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu. And when they had slain him they buried him: "Because," said they, "he was the son of Jehoshaphat which sought the LORD with all his heart." And there was none of the house of Ahaziah that could obtain to be king.

For Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah, when she saw her son was dead, arose and destroyed all the seed of the kingdom of the house of Judah.

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a sleeping chamber. And so Jehoshabeath the daughter of king Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest - because she was the sister of Ahaziah - hid him from Athaliah that she slew him not.

And in the seventh year Jehoiada took heart, and made a bond with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jehoram, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah and Elishaphat the son of Zichri.

And all the congregation made a bond with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, "Behold, the king's son must reign over the children of David, as the LORD hath said.

And they brought out the king's son and put upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "God save the king."

And Jehoiada gave him two wives, and he begat sons and daughters.

And the spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stepped up above the people and said to them, "Thus sayeth God: 'Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD? Ye shall therefore not prosper, but as ye have forsaken him, so shall he forsake you.'"

And so Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, "The LORD see, and require a reckoning!"

And these are they that conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonite and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabite.

And his sons, and the sum of the tax that came to him, and the foundation of the house of God, are written in the story of the book of kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu king of Israel and said, "Come, and let us see each other."

And Joash king of Israel sent again to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "A thistle in Lebanon sent to a Cedar tree of Lebanon saying, 'Give thy daughter to my son to wife.' But there came the wild beasts of Lebanon and trod down the thistle.

And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah at Bethshemesh: and brought him to Jerusalem, and tare the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits long.

And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen years.

And Uzziah the king continued a leper unto the day of his death and dwelt in a house at liberty: howbeit, he was cast out of the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son had the governance of the king's house and judged the people of the land.

The rest of the acts of Uzziah, both first and last, did Isaiah the prophet the son of Amos write.

And when Uzziah was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial of the kings. For they said, "He is a leper." And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

And when Jotham was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, and all fighting men: and that because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

And Zichri a mighty man in mount Ephraim slew Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the lord steward of household, and Elkanah that was next to the king.

And the children of Israel took prisoners of their brethren two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters, and thereto carried away much spoil of them, and brought it to Samaria.

And certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, as Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum and Amasa the son of Hadlai stood up against them that came from war,

And when Ahaz was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in the city of Jerusalem: but brought him not unto the sepulchers of the kings of Judah. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

For see, our fathers were overthrown with the sword and our sons, our daughters and our wives were carried away captive for the same cause.

Now therefore, my sons, be not negligent: for the LORD had chosen you to stand before him, and for to minister and burn offerings to him."

Then the Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah being of the children of the Kohathites; and the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;

and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

And there were brought seven oxen, seven rams, seven lambs and seven kids to be a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.

And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began, and the trumpets with the instruments of David king of Israel.

and there was great joy in Jerusalem. For since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel it happened not so in Jerusalem.

And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, porter of the East door, had the oversight of the freewill offerings of God, to give heave offerings unto the LORD, and was over things most holy.

And to them that were reckoned throughout all their babes, wives, sons and daughters throughout all the congregation.

But Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed concerning the thing and cried up to heaven.

The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and his goodness are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

And then Hezekiah laid him to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the highest sepulchre of the sons of David: and Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem did him worship at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

And he burnt his children in fire in the valley of the sons of Hinnom. And he observed dismal days and occupied witchcraft and sorcery, and maintained workers with spirits and seers of fortunes: and wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to anger him withal.

And he put the carved Image of an Idol which he had made, in the house of God - Of which house, God said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house here in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes, I will put my name forever,

And when Manasseh was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his room.

And the people of the land slew all that had conspired against king Amon. And thereto the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his room.

And in the eighteenth year of his reign when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

and commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and the said Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah, a servant of the king's, saying,

And Hilkiah, with them that pertained to the king, went to Huldah, a prophetess, wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe - which prophetess dwelt in Jerusalem in the second ward - and they communed so with her.

And he said to the Levites that taught throughout all Israel and were sanctified unto the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; ye need not to bear it upon your shoulders. Wherefore now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.

And prepare yourselves by your ancient households and companies, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and the writing of Solomon his son.

And afterward they made ready for themselves and for the priests and for the children of Aaron, which were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night. And therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests the sons of Aaron.

And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king for his father in Jerusalem.

The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his Abominations, and that was laid to his charge, are written in the book of the kings of Israel: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

And there stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.

In the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem: and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and above, to see that the work of the house of the LORD went forward.

And Jeshua stood with his sons and his brethren, and Kadmiel with his sons and the children of Judah, to further the workmen of the house of God; namely, the children of Henadad with their children and their brethren the Levites.

The Prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel.

Then gat up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem, and with them the Prophets of God which strengthened them.

And the Elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo: and they builded, and laid up the foundation, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and after the commandment of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.

After these acts in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up from Babylon, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.

Of the children of Pahathmoab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred men.

Of the children of Shecaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred men.

Of the children also of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty men.

Of the children of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy men.

Of the children of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore men.

Of the children of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen men.

Of the children of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and three men.

Of the children of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him eight and twenty men.

Of the children of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten men.

And through the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a wise man from among the children of Mahli the son of Levi the son of Israel, even Sherebiah, with his sons and brethren, eighteen;

And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the children of Merari, with his brethren and their sons, twenty;

But on the fourth day was the silver and gold and vessels weighed in the house of our God under the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites,

For they have taken the daughters of the same, and their sons, and have mixed the holy seed with the nations in the lands: and the hand of the rulers and lords of council hath been principal in this trespass."