10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

m

11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, " The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12 "Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?

14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

15 Now therefore, let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? 16 And his servants spake yet more

The Assyrians are cut off.

against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, "As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

8

t

18 Then they cried with a loud voice, in the Jews' speech, unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were "the work of the hands of man.

21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.

23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD in Jerusalem, and 10 presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

c

24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he "1 gave him a sign.

e

d

25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there

u 2 Kings 19. 18. x 2 Kings 19. 15. Heb. made him fall.

19. 35, &c. b ch. 1. 1.

d Ps. 116. 12.

e 2 Kings 20. 1. Is. 38. 1. e ch. 26. 16. Hab. 2. 4

10

y 2 Kings 19. 2, 4. Heb. precious things.

z 2 Kings a ch. 17. 5

11 Or, wrought a miracle for him. f ch. 24. 18.

Hezekiah's wealth and works.

was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

g

26 Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himself for 12 the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that

the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 ¶ And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself

treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of 13 pleasant jewels;

28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.

29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance for God had given him substance very much.

i

30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all

his works.

Manasseh's wicked reign.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Manasseh's wicked reign. 3 He restoreth idolatry. 11 He i carried captive to Babylon. 12 Upon repentance he is restored to his kingdom. 15 IIe putteth down idolatry. 18 His cete. 20 Amon succeedeth him. 21 He reigneth wickedly, and is elain by his servants. 25 Josiah succeedeth him. [v. c. 713.]

MANASSEH was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

2 But did that which was evil in the sight

b

of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out

before the children of Israel.

4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, 'In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

5 And he built altars for all the host of

heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of

Hinnom also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solo

m

mon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for

His captivity and return.

X

15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.

17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.

x ver. 3, 5, 7.

Heb. which were the king's. * Or. chains.

1 Pet. 5. 6. r 1 Chr. 5. 20. Ezra 8. 23.

t1 Kings 1. 33.

z ch. 32. 12.

P Job s Ps. u ch. 27. 3. Or, the tower. a 1 Sam. 9. 9.

• Or,

y Lev. 7. 12.

Josiah's good reign.

high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.

5

20 ¶ So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

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

22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;

23 And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and

more.

e

24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

25 ¶ But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Josiah's good reign. 3 Ile destroyeth idolatry. 8 He provideth

for the repair of the temple. 14 Hilkiah findeth the book of the law in the temple. 20 Josiah sendeth to Huldah to inquire of the Lord. 23 Huldah foretelleth the destruction of Jerusalem, to take place after the death of Josiah. 29 Josiah causeth the book to be read in a solemn assembly, and reneweth the covenant with God. [B. c. 634.]

The temple to be repaired.

e

4 And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

2

h

7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, 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.

9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.

10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:

11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and

The book of the law

other of the Levites, all that could sh instruments of music.

13 Also they were over the bear burdens, and were overseers of all wrought the work in any manner vice: 'and of the Levites there were s and officers, and porters.

14 And when they brought ou money that was brought into the ho the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found of the law of the LORD given by Mo

m

15 And Hilkiah answered and s Shaphan the scribe, I have found th of the law in the house of the LORD. Hilkiah delivered the book to Shapha

16 And Shaphan carried the book king, and brought the king word back saying, All that was committed to t vants, they do it.

17 And they have gathered toget money that was found in the house LORD, and have delivered it into the of the overseers, and to the hand workmen.

18 Then Shaphan the scribe to king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath me a book. And Shaphan read it the king.

19 And it came to pass, when th had heard the words of the law, t rent his clothes.

20 And the king commanded I and Ahikam the son of Shapha 10 Abdon the son of Micah, and S the scribe, and Asaiah a servant king's, saying,

21 Go, inquire of the LORD for n for them that are left in Israel Judah, concerning the words of tl that is found; for great is the wratl. LORD that is poured out upon us, our fathers have not kept the word LORD, to do after all that is written book.

22 And Hilkiah, and they that th had appointed, went to Huldah t phetess, the wife of Shallum the

vath, the son of "Hasrah, keeper of wardrobe; now she dwelt in Jeru"in the college; and they spake to o that effect.

And she answered them, Thus saith ORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that you to me,

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will evil upon this place, and upon the itants thereof, even all the curses that written in the book which they have before the king of Judah:

Because they have forsaken me, and burned incense unto other gods, that might provoke me to anger with all Forks of their hands; therefore my shall be poured out upon this place, hall not be quenched.

And as for the king of Judah, who ou to inquire of the LORD, so shall ye nto him, Thus saith the LORD God of oncerning the words which thou hast

Because thine heart was tender, and fidst humble thyself before God, when

heardest his words against this place,

gainst the inhabitants thereof, and lest thyself before me, and didst rend othes, and weep before me; I have heard thee also, saith the LORD. Behold, I will gather thee to thy and thou shalt be gathered to thy in peace, neither shall thine eyes see evil that I will bring upon this place, pon the inhabitants of the same. So Drought the king word again.

Then the king sent and gathered er all the elders of Judah and Jeru

He reneweth the covenant.

31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

32 And he caused all that were 15 present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

3 And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,

4 And prepare yourselves by the 'houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the 'writing of Solomon his son:

23, & 24, & 25, & 26. fathers.

1 ch. 8. 14.

m Ps. 134. 1.