And the lords and all the people rejoiced and brought in and cast into the coffer until it was full.

And when the time came that the chest should be brought in by the hands of the Levites at the appointment of the king, when they saw that there was much money: then came the king's scribe and one appointed by the high priest, and poured out that was in the coffer, and then took it and carried it to his place again, and thus they did day by day, and gathered much money.

And Jehoiada waxed old and full of years and died. An hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

And when the year was out, the host of the Syrians came against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the lords of the people from among the people and sent all the spoil of them unto the king to Damascus.

And as soon as they were departed from him, though they left him in great diseases: yet his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the children of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed. And when he was dead, they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchers of the kings.

Amaziah was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.

And as soon as he was settled in the kingdom, he slew them that killed the king his father.

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

And it chanced, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, and had brought the gods of the children of Seir, he set them up to be his gods, and bowed himself before them and burned cense unto them.

Wherefore the LORD was wroth with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, and said to him, "Why seekest thou the gods of the people which were not able to deliver their own people out of thine hands?"

And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and fled every man to his tent.

Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah which was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

And he built Eloth and brought it again to Judah after the king was laid to rest with his fathers.

Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

and under the hands of them was the army of the host, three hundred and seven thousand, and five hundred that made war with might and strength, to help the king against his enemies.

And he made engines in Jerusalem by the craft of artificers to be on the towers and corners, to shoot arrows and great stones with all. And his name spread far abroad, for he was wonderfully helped, until he was become mighty.

And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the LORD his God. For he went into the temple of the LORD to burn cense upon the altar of incense.

And Uzziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar.

And Azariah the chief priest with all the other priests looked upon him: and behold he was a leper in his forehead, and they vexed him thence. And thereto he was fain to go out, because the LORD had plagued him.

And 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.

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.

Jotham was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

He was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

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.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not that pleased the LORD, as did his father David:

Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of the Syrians: which beat him and carried away a great multitude of his captive into Damascus. And thereto he was delivered into the hand of the king of Israel which slew of his a mighty slaughter.

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.

But there was a prophet of the LORD's named Obed which went out to the host which came to Samaria and said to them, "See, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he delivered them into your hands. And ye have slain them with cruelness that reacheth up to heaven.

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.

Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty five years old, and reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

And he did that was right in the sight of the LORD in all points as did David his father.

And they set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, psalteries and harps according to the commandments of David and of Gad the king's seer of visions and of Nathan the prophet. For so was the commandment of the LORD through the hand, of his prophets.

And all the congregation bowed themselves, and the singers sang, and the trumpets blew, and continued until the burnt offering was finished.

And the number of the burnt offerings which the congregation brought in was seventy oxen and a hundred rams and two hundred lambs: and all for burnt offerings to the LORD.

But the priests were too few, and were not able to slay all the burnt offerings. Wherefore their brethren the Levites helped them till the work was ended, and until the priests were sanctified. For the Levites were purer-hearted to sanctify themselves then the priests.

And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had made the folk so ready: for the thing was suddenly done.

For they could not keep it at that time: for there were not priests enough sanctified, neither was the people gathered together to Jerusalem.

And thereto the hand of God was in Judah, to make them of one accord to do the commandment of the king and the captains, which was according to the word of the LORD.

There was very much people out of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun that were not clean, and therefore did eat Passover otherwise than writing specifieth. But Hezekiah prayed for them, and said,

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 the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer went up unto his holy dwelling place heaven.

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 of this manner did Hezekiah, throughout all Judah; and did that was good, right and truth, before the LORD his God.

And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

And he went to lustily and built up the wall where it was broken, and made towers above upon, and yet another wall without, and repaired Millo the city of David, and made many darts and shields.

Which of all the gods was it, of those nations that my fathers destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

Wherefore now let not Hezekiah deceive you, either persuade you of this fashion, nor yet believe him. For as no god among so many nations and kingdoms, was able to rid his people out of mine hand and the hands of my fathers: even so much less shall your God keep you out of mine hand!"

And the LORD sent an angel and destroyed all the men of war and the lords and captains of the host of the king of Assyria, that he turned his face, with shame, towards his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, he was there overthrown with the sword - even by them that issued out of his bowels.

Insomuch that many brought presents unto the LORD to Jerusalem and precious gifts to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

In those days Hezekiah was sick unto the death and besought the LORD; which answered him and showed him a wonderful miracle.

But when the ambassadors of the lords of Babylon were sent to him to enquire of the wonder that chanced in the land, God left him: to tempt him, that all that was in his heart might be known.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he was made king, and reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem.

And when he was in tribulation he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself exceedingly before the God of his fathers,

and made intercession to him: and he was entreated of him and heard his prayer and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. And then Manasseh knew how that the LORD was very God.

And his prayer and how he was heard, and all his sin and trespass, and the places where he made hill altars and set up groves and carved Images before he was meekened, are written among the deeds of the seers of visions.

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.

Amon was twenty two years old, when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.

Josiah was made king when he was eight years old, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty one years.

Insomuch that the eighth year of his reign, when he was yet a lad, he began to seek after the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of hill altars, groves, carved Images, and Images of metal:

And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, men delivered them the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the entries had gathered of the hands of Manasseh and Ephraim and of all that yet remained in Israel and of all Judah and Benjamin and of the inhabiters of Jerusalem.

And as they brought out the money that was brought into the house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.

And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word again, saying, "All that was committed to thy servants, that do they:

And they have poured out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have delivered into the hands of the overseers of the workmen."

And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem and the Priests and Levites and all the people great and small: and read all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

And he made to come forth all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin, and the inhabiters of Jerusalem promised to keep the covenant of the God which was the God of their fathers.

And they dressed the Passover with fire as the manner was. But the other hallowed, dedicated beasts they sod in pots, cauldrons and pans and divided them quickly among all the common people.

And there was no Passover like to that kept in Israel, from the time of Samuel the prophet: neither did any of the kings of Israel hold such a Passover feast as did Josiah and the priests and Levites and all Judah, and as much of Israel as could be had, and the inhabiters of Jerusalem.

And this Passover was holden in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.

Nevertheless, Josiah turned not his face from him, but made him ready to fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Neco out of the mouth of God. And when he was come to fight in the valley of Megiddo,

And his servants had him out of the chariot and put him in another, and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

And Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

And Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that displeased the LORD his God.

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.

Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and did that displeased the LORD.

And when the year was out, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and fetched him to Babylon with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

And Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.

And thereto he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar which had received an oath of him by God, and was too stiff necked and too hard hearted to turn unto the LORD God of Israel.

But they mocked the messengers of God and despised their words and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD so arose against his people that it was past remedy.

And of the children of the priests: The children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was counted among the same names:

The whole congregation as one man, was two and forty thousand, three hundred and threescore;

And the altar set they upon his sockets - for there was a fearfulness among them because of the nations and the lands - and offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, in the morning and at evening.

Upon the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt sacrifices unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.

And they sang together, giving praise and thanks unto the LORD; because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth forever upon Israel. And all the people shouted loud in praising the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Many also of the old priests and Levites and ancient fathers which had seen the first house - when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes - wept with a loud voice. And many shouted with joy,

so that the noise gave a great sound, insomuch that the people could not know the joyful sound for the noise of the weeping among the people: for the people shouted with a loud cry, so that the noise was heard afar off.

But when Ahasuerus was king, even in the beginning of his reign, they wrote unto him a complaint against the inhabiters of Judah and Jerusalem.

And in the time of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the others of their counsel wrote unto Artaxerxes the king of Persia. But the scripture of the letter was written in the Syrians speech, and was interpreted in the language of the Syrians.

That it may be sought in the Chronicles of thy progenitors, and so shalt thou find in the same Chronicles, and perceive, that this city is seditious and noisome unto kings and lands, and that they cause others also to rebel of the old, and for the same cause was this city destroyed.

There have been mighty kings also at Jerusalem which have reigned over all that is beyond the water, and toll, tribute and a yearly custom was given unto them.

Now when king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe and their counsel, they went up in all the haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and forbade them with violence and power.

At the same time came to them Tattenai, which was the captain on this side the water, and Shetharbozenai, and their counselors, and said thus unto them, "Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up the walls thereof?"

But the eye of their God came upon the Elders of the Jews, that they were not inhibited, till the matter was brought before Darius, and till there came a writing thereof again.

But they answered us with these words, and said, 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

So at Ecbatana, in a castle that lieth in the land of the Medes, there was found a book, and in it was there an act written after this manner:

And the house was finished the third day of the month Adar, even in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius.

This Ezra was a perfect scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel did give. And the king gave him all that he required, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

And this is the copy of the letter, that king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, which was a teacher in the words of the LORD and of his statutes over Israel:

and hath inclined his mercy unto me in the presence of the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's high estates. And I was comforted, according to the hand of the LORD my God over me, and so gathered I the heads of Israel together, that they might go up with me.

For I was ashamed to require of the king, soldiers and horsemen, to help us against the enemy in the way. For we had said unto the king, "The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him in goodness, and his violence and wrath is upon all them that forsake him."

So we brake up, from the water of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemies and of such as laid wait for us by the way.