Jehoshaphat's care for justice. II. CHRONICLES. B. C. 896. 5 T And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city;, 6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for fye judge not for man, but for the LORD, 8who is with you † in the judg-De. 1.17. 7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you: take heed and do it: for hthere is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor irespect of persons, nor taking of gifts. ment. 8 Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do lin the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. EPs.82. 1. i B. C. 896. De.4.39. fP8.47. 2. 8. Da. 4. the mat. 1 Pe.1.17. 10m And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren & that dwell in their cities, be- 12Sa.23.3. tween blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes 8, &c. and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so "wrath come upon you, and +6. upon your brethren: this do, and 18. ch.17. De. 17. "Nu. 16. Ez.3.18. ye shall not trespass. 11 And behold, Amariah the His prayer in distress, the LORD; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6. And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and frulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 1Ch.29. 12. Ps.62.7. Art not thou hour God, who 11.Mat.6. ididst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham kthy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 91If, when evil cometh upon Before this house, and in thy preus, as the sword, judgment or pestilence, or famine, we stand sence, (for thy name is in this affliction, then thou wilt hear house,) and cry unto thee in our and help. kIs.41.8. 11K1.8.33. Ja. 2. 23. 37. ch. 6. 28,29,30 "De.2. 4, 9, 19. chief priest is over you Pin all PICh. 26. 21. of the house of Judah, for all the CHAPTER XX. Tuke courage PPs. 83. 12. 8. Jehoshaphat in his fear proclaimeth a IT came to pass after this also 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is bEn-gedi. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab, and mount Seir, whom thou "wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, Pto come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not 9 judge them? for we have no 41 Sa. 3. might against this great com13. pany that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Nu. 11. Asaph, came the Spirit of the 25, 26. & LORD in the midst of the congre24. 2. ch. gation; 15.1.&24.15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jeho shaphat. Thus saith the LORD unto you, 'Be not afraid nor dis mayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. CHAPTER XXI. The people return in triumph. Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites,and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. B. C. Nu. 14. ZIs. 7. 9. B. C. 896. fch.17.10. ch. 15. 15.Job34. 29. hi Ki. 22. 41, &c. 20 And they rose early in the eth for ever. 22 And when they began tto sing and to praise, d the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped t to destroy another. 24 And when Judah came toward the watch-tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, t and none escaped. 1Ch. 16. 29. Heh. 136. 1. iSee ch. ch. 12. 34. Ps. 11Ki.16.1, 13. & 7.3, † Heb. 7. was Ki. 22. 48, 49. 896. At first Jeho shaphat they, &c. "Or, they one an other. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches destrucwith the dead bodies, and pre- tion. cious jewels, which they strip-† Heb. ped off for themselves,more than there they could carry away: and they was not were three days in gathering of an escathe spoil, it was so much. ping. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day. was "1 Ki. 22. Jehoshaphat's reign and death. 28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. 29 And fthe fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about. 31 T And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. 33 Howbeit, the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not kprepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the tbook of Jehu the son of Hanani, Iwho † is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. 35 T And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: 36 | And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Be cause 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. CHAPTER XXI. ch. 9. 21. Jehoram, succeeding Jehoshaphat, slayeth his brethren, 1. 5 His wicked reign. 8 Edom and Libnah revolt. 12 The prophecy of Elijah against him in writing. 16 Philistines and Arabians oppress him. 18 His inenrable disease, infamous death, and burial. 892. Jehoram 2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. made Jehoram's wicked reign. II. CHRONICLES. up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. 5 Tb Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had B. C. 892. b In con- B. C. cir. 887. ch. 24.7. 887. Ahaziah's wicked reign. was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save | Jehoahaz the youngest of his sons. Or, 18 And after all this the Ahaziah, LORD smote him in his bowels Or. Aza.with an incurable disease. riah, ch. 19 And it came to pass, that in 22. 6. process of time, after the end of 885. two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died the daughter of Ahab to wife: ch. 22. 2. His son of sore diseases. And his people and he wrought that which was 9 Then Jehoram went forth Ahaziah over. 15. 14. † Heb. without desire, 885. 2 Ki. & a2 Ki. 8. 20, &c. 24, &C. † Heb. 11 Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to fcommit fornication, f Le. 17.7. and compelled Judah thereto. & 20. 5. death, See ch. CHAPTER XXII. Ahaziah succeeding reigneth wickedly, 1. 5 In his confederacy with Joram the son of Ahab, he is slain by Jehu, 10 Athaliab, destroying all the seed royal,saveJoash, whom Jehoshabeath his aunt hid, usurpeth the kingdom. AND the inhabitants of Jerusalem made a Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the beldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram See2Ki. king of Judah reigned. b ch. 21. 8. 26. dch.21. 6. 884. his 12 T And there came a writing ver. 13. to him from Elijah the prophet, Which saying, Thus saith the LORD God was writ of Davidthy father, Becausethou before hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabit-g ver. 11. ants of Jerusalem to h go a whor- h Ex. 34. ing, like to the i whoredoms of 15.De.31. the house of Ahab, and also hast 16. kslain thy brethren of thy fail Ki. 16. ther's house, which were better 31-33. than thyself: 28, &c. f2 KL. † Heb. ah, ver. 9. 1.and Je 7. 16 Moreover, the LORD stir- cir. 887. red up against Jehoram the spi-miKi. 11. rit of the Philistines, and of the 14, 23. Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: 17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and † carried away all the substance that 12Ki. 9.6, 2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was dAthaliah the daughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: forthey were his counsellors, after the death of his father, to his destruction. 5 He walked also after their counsel, and "went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Is rael to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram. 6And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Abab at Jezreel because he was sick. 7 And the f destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he h went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nishi, iwhom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab, 8 And it came to pass, that Athaliah's usurpation. CHAPTER XXIII. when Jehu was kexecuting judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. B. C. 884. keKi. 10. 10, 11. 12 Ki. 10. 13, 14. Samaria. "ch.17.4. 9 And he sought Ahaziah: m2Ki. 9. and they caught him, (for he was 27, at Mehid in Samaria,) and brought giddo in him to Jehu: and when they had the kingslain him, they buried him: Be-dom of cause, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who "sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom. 10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose, and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. 11 But P 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 bed-chamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehorain, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. 12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land. CHAPTER XXIII. Jehoiada, having set things in order, maketh Joash king, 1. 12 Athaliah is slain. 16 Jehoiada restoreth the worship of God. 884. 2Ki.11.1 &c. P2Ki. 11. 2, Jeho sheba. 878. AND in the seventh year Jehoiadastrengthened himself, 2Ki.11.4 and took the captains of hun- &c. dreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. 2 And they went aboutin Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath hsaid of the sons of David. b2Sa.7.12 4 This is the thing that ye shall 1K1.2.4& do; A third part of you enter- 9. 5. ch.6. ing on the sabbath, of the priests 16.&7.18. and of the Levites, shall be porters of the fdoors; & 21. 7. C1Ch.9.25 Heb. 5 And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part threshat the gate of the foundation: olds. and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. 6 But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and dthey that minister d1Ch.23. of the Levites; they shall go in, 28, 29. B. C. 878. See 1Ch 24, & 25. † Heb. shoulder † Heb. house. Joash is made king. for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. 7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out. 8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded,and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses. 9 Moreover, Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right fside of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. fDe 17.18 11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, tGod save the king. † Heb. Let the king live 12 T Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD: 13 And she looked, and behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers withinstruments 81Ch.25. of music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah † Heb. rent her clothes, and said, TreaConspir- son, treason! acy. 8. hNe.3.28 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set overthe host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD. 15 So they laid hands on her: and when she was come to the entering bof the horse-gate by the king's house, they slew her there. 16 T And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and be tween all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people. 17 Then all the people went to B. C. 878. the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and islew iDe.13.9. Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had kdis-k 1Ch.23. tributed in the house of the LORD, 6,30,31 & to offer the burnt-offerings of the 21. LORD, as it is written in the law INu.28.2. of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained fby David. |m1Ch.26. 2 Ki.11. † Heb. by the 19 And he set the "porters at hands of the gates of the house of the David, LORD, that none which was un- 1Ch.25.2, clean in any thing should enter 6. in. 20 "And he took the captains 1, &c. of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom. 21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword. CHAPTER XXIV. Joash reigneth well all the days of Jehoiada, 1. 4 He giveth order for the repair of the temple. 15 Jehoiada's death and honourable burial. 17 Joash, falling to idolatry, slayeth Zechariah the son of Jehoiada. 23 Joash is spoiled by the Syrians, and slain by Zabad and Jehozabad. 27 Amaziah succeedeth him. 19. JOASH was seven years old cir. 878. when he began to reign, and 2Ki. 11. he reigned forty years in Jerusa-21.&12.1, lem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. &c. 26.5. 2 And Joash hdid that which b See ch. was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters. 4 T And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to t Heb. repair the house of the LORD. to renew 856. 5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Is- C2Ki.12.4 rael money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not. 6 dAnd the king called for Je-d2Ki.12.7 hoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant Ex30.12 B. C. The temple is repaired. gation of Israel, for the ftaberna856. cle of witness? fNu.1.50. 7 For the sons of Athaliah, Ac. 7. 44. that wicked woman, had broken Sch.21.17 up the house of God; and also all the bdedicated things of the h2Ki.12.4 house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim. 12Ki.12.9 † Heb. k ver. 16. 12Ki. 12. 10. + Heb. the heal ing went up upon the work. 8 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 And they made fa proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. 11 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officercame and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD,and hired masons and carpentersto repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD. 13 So the workmen wrought, and fthe work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the before the king and Jehoi m See 2 ada, whereof were made ves Ki. 12.13. sels' for the house of the LORD, | Or, even vessels to minister, and to pestils. offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada. of the LORD, and of the congre- 13, 14, 16. 8.&32.25. Jerusalem for this their trespass. |