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 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 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.

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.

But he slew not their children as it is written in the law, even in the book of Moses to whom the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not die for the children's causes, nor the children for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin."

And Amaziah gathered Judah together and made captains over thousands and over hundreds in the houses of their fathers throughout all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years and above, and found them three hundred thousand lusty men able to go to battle, and that could handle spear and shield.

But there came a man of God to him and said, "King, let not the army of Israel go with thee: for the LORD is not with Israel neither with any of the house of Ephraim.

Or else if thou needs wilt, then go and do it, and make thyself strong to battle: and thou shalt see, that God shall make thee fall before thine enemies. For God hath power to help or to cast down."

And Amaziah said again to the man of God, "What shall we do then, for the hundred talents which I have given unto the host of Israel?" And the man of God said, "The LORD is able to give thee much more than that."

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 Amaziah took heart and carried out his host and went to Saltdale, where he slew of the children of Seir ten thousand.

And other ten thousand the children of Judah took alive, and carried them unto the top of a rock and cast them down from the top of the rock that they all to burst:

but the men of the army which Amaziah had turned back and would not let go with his people to battle, ran upon the cities of Judah from Samaria unto Bethhoron and slew three thousand of them and won much spoil.

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 as the prophet spake to him, he said to the prophet, "Have men made thee of the king's counsel? Cease, lest thou be beaten." And the prophet ceased, and said, "I am sure that God hath taken counsel to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and obeyest not my counsel."

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.

Thou thinkest, 'See, I have beaten the Edomites,' therefore thine heart ariseth to glorify thyself. Now bide at home: what needeth thee to provoke to evil, that thou perish and Judah with thee?"

But Amaziah rested not: for it came of God, even to deliver them into the hands of their enemies - and that because they had sought the gods of the Edomites.

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

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 he took all the gold and silver and all the Jewels that were found in the house of God, with Obededom and the treasure of the king's house and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

And after that time that Amaziah did turn away from the LORD, they conspired treason against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish, whither they sent after him and slew him there,

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 he went to battle against the Philistines and brake down the walls of Gath, and the walls of Jabneh and the walls of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod and among the Philistines.

And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah, and his name spread abroad even to Egypt: for he played the man and exceeded.

And Uzziah had a host of fighting men that went out to war in the army and were told and numbered by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah an officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's lords.

And the whole number of the ancient heads of the men of might were two thousand and six hundred,

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 they stepped to Uzziah the king and said to him, "It pertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, to burn cense unto the LORD; but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrated for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the LORD God."

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.

And he did that pleased the LORD in all points as did his father Uzziah: save, that he came not to the temple of the LORD, and that the people did yet corrupt themselves.

And he fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand quarters of wheat and as much barley. So much also did the children of Ammon give him the second year and the third too.

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:

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.

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 now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem and to make them bondmen and bondwomen. What other thing do ye - ye unhappy - than offend the LORD your God?

and said unto them, "Ye shall not bring in the captives hither. For where we have offended the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and trespass. For our trespass is great already, and there is fierce wrath upon Israel."

And there arose certain, appointed thereto by name, and took the prisoners and clothed all that were naked among them, of the spoil, and arrayed them and shoed them and gave them to eat and to drink and anointed them, and carried all that were feeble of them upon asses and brought them to Jericho the city of Palm trees fast by their brethren: and then returned to Samaria again.

And at that same time, king Ahaz sent unto the kings of Assyria to have help.

For he offered unto the gods of them of Damascus which beat him, and said, "Because the gods of the Syrians help them, therefore will I offer to them, that they may help me also." But they were his destruction and the destruction of all Israel.

And in all the cities of Judah, city by city, he made hill altars to burn incense unto other gods, and angered the LORD God of his fathers.

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.

For our fathers have trespassed and done evil favouredly in the eyes of the LORD our God: and have forsaken him, and turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned to their backs.

Now have I in my heart to strike a covenant with the LORD God of Israel: that his wrath may cease.

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."

And they gathered their brethren and purified themselves, and then went at the commandment of the king by the word of the LORD, for to cleanse the house of the LORD.

And the priests went into the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD, and in the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out into the brook Kidron.

They began the first day of the first month to purify, and came the eighth day to the porch of the LORD: so that they had purged the house of the LORD in eight days; in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.

And Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the lords of the city and went up to the house of the LORD.

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 the priests slew them and offered the blood of them upon the altar, to make satisfaction for all Israel, for the king said that the burnt offering and the sin offering should serve for all Israel.

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 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 Hezekiah the king and the lords bade the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer of visions. And the Levites praised that they rejoiced again, and the other stooped and bowed themselves.

And Hezekiah answered, and said, "Now that ye have filled your hands to the LORD, go to and bring in the sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD." And the congregation brought in the sacrifices and thank offerings, and all that were willing brought burnt offerings.

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 thereto the burnt offerings were many with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings that belonged to the burnt offerings. And so the service pertaining to the house of the LORD went forward.

And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and thereto wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to offer Passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

And the king held a counsel with his lords and all the congregation at Jerusalem to keep the feast of Passover in the second month.

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 they decreed that it should be proclaimed throughout all Israel from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come and hold the feast of the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not often done it, as it is written how they should.

And the messengers went with letters of the hand of the king and of his lords throughout all Israel and Judah, at the commandment of the king; which said, "Children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and so will he turn to the remnant of you that are escaped out of the hands of the king of Assyria.

Wherefore, be not stiff-necked like unto your fathers, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and come to his holy place which he hath sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his wrath may turn from you.

For if ye turn unto the LORD, then your brethren and your children shall find compassion in the presence of them that hold them captive, that they may come again unto this land: for the LORD your God is full of mercy and compassion, and will not turn his face from you, if ye turn again to him."

And the posts went from city to city throughout the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and even unto Zebulun. But they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.

Nevertheless, yet divers of Asher, Manasseh and of Zebulun meekened themselves and came 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.

And so there assembled to Jerusalem much people and a mighty great congregation, to hold the feast of sweet bread in the second month.

And they slew Passover the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and Levites sanctified themselves for shame, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.

And they stood in their standing after their manner according to the law of Moses, the man of God. And the priests sprinkled the blood, receiving it of the hands of the Levites.

And because there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: and therefore did the Levites slay Passover for all that were not clean to sanctify them to the LORD.

"The good LORD be merciful to all that set their hearts to seek the God that is the LORD God of their fathers, though they do it not according to the cleanness of the holy place."

And so the children of Israel that were found at Jerusalem, held the feast of sweet bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day with loud instruments.

And the whole assembly took counsel to keep seven days more: and they held those seven days with gladness.

For Hezekiah king of Judah gave for heave offerings to the congregation a thousand oxen and seven thousand sheep. And the lords gave to the congregation for heave offerings a thousand oxen and ten thousand sheep. And the priests sanctified themselves, that they were enough.

And when they had finished all this, then all Israel that were found in cities of Judah went out and brake the Images and cut down the groves, and all to break the hill altars and the other altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end of them. And afterward all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession in their own cities.

And Hezekiah set the priests and the Levites in their order to wait by course, every man according to his office whether priest or Levite, for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to minister and to thank and to pray in the gates of the lodge of the LORD.

And he bade the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the part of the priests and Levites, that they might be maintained in the law of the LORD.

And the children of Israel and Judah that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithes of oxen and sheep, and tithes of dedicated things which were dedicated to the LORD their God, and put them on heaps.

In the third month they began to lay the heaps and finished them the seventh.

And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, "Since they began to bring the heave offerings into the house of the LORD, we have eaten and had enough, and yet left abundance, for the LORD hath blessed his people and thereof is this heap left."

and carried in the heave offerings and the tithes and the dedicated gifts; even of fidelity. Over which Conaniah the Levite had the rule with Shimei his brother next to him.

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 under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests of their fidelity, to give to their brethren their portions, as well to the small as to the great.