The origin of the three ethnic groups

1- 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kena, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methusrlah, Lamech, 4 Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

The Japhetites

5 Sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, the Medes, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras.

6 Sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, Togarmah. 7 Sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim, the Dananites.

The Hamites

8 Sons of Ham: Cush, Misraim, Put, Canaan.

9 Sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sebta, Raama, Sabteca. Sons of Raamah: Sheba, Dedan. 10 Cush became father of Nimrod, the first potentate on earth.

11 Misraim became father of the people of Lud, of Anam, of Lehab, of Naphtuh, 12 of Pathros, Casluh and Caphtor, from which the Philistines came. 13 Canaan became father of Sidon, his first-born, then Heth, 14 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites, Hamathites.

The Semites

17 Sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram.

Sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech.

18 Arpachshad became father of Shelah, and Shelah became father of Eber.

19 To Eber were born two sons; the first was called Peleg, because it was in his time the earth was divided, and his brother was called Joktan.

20 Joktan became father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah, Jobab; all these are sons of Joktan.

From Shem to Abraham

24 Arpachshad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27 Abram, that is, Abraham. 28 Sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. 29 These are their descendants:

The Ismaelites

The first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth; the Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.

32 Sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine; she gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. 33 Sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanock, Abida. All these are sons of Keturah.

Isaac and Esau

34 Abraham became father of Isaac. Sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.

35 Sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah. 36 Sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenz, Timma, Amalek. 37 Sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, Mizzah.

Seir

38 Sons of Seir: Lotan, shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, Dishan. 39 Sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Sister of Lotan: Timna. 40 Sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, Onam. Sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. 41 Son of Anah: Dishon. Sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, Cheran. 42 Sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, Jaakan. Sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

The kings of Edom

43 Here are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before an Israelite king ruled: Bela son of Beor; his city was called Dinhabah. 44 Bela died and Jobab son of Zerah, from Bozrah, succeeded. 45 Jobab died and Husham of the land of the Temanites succeeded. 46 Husham died and Hadad son of Bedad succeeded; he defeated the Midianites in the country of Moab, and his city was called Avith. 47 Hadad died and Samlah of Masrekah succeeded. 48 Samlah died and Shaul of Rehoboth-han-nahar succeeded. 49 Shaul died and Baal-hanan son of Achbor succeeded. 50 Baal-hanan died and Hadad succeeeded. His city was called Pal; his wife's name was Mehetabel daugter of Matred, from Mezahab.

The chiefs of Edom

51 Hadad died, and then there were chiefs in Edom: Chief Timna, Chief Aliah, Chief Jetheth, 52 Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, 53 Chief Kenaz, Chief Tenan, Chief Mibzar, 54 Chief Magdiel, Chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.

The sons of Israel

2- 1 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

The descendants of Judah

3 Sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite woman. Er, Judah's first-born, displeased Yahweh who put him to death. 4 Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

5 Sons of Perz: Hezron and Hamul.

6 Sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol and Dara, five in all.

7 Sons of Carmi: Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban.

8 Sons of Ethan: Azariah.

The ancestors of David

9 Sons of Hezron: there were born to him Jerahmeel, Ram, Chelubai.

10 Ram became father of Amminadab father of Nashbon, prince of the sons of Judah, 11 Nashbonbecame father of Salma, Salma father of Boaz. 12 Boaz became father of Obed, Obed father of Jesse. 13 Jesse became father of Eliab, his first-born, of Abinadab second, Shinea third, 14 Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth, 15 Ozem sixth, David seventh. 16 Theur sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab and Asahel: three. 17 Abigail gave birth to Amasa; the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmarlite.

Caleb

18 Caleb son of Hezron became father of Azubah and Jerioth; these are the sons: Jesher, Shobab and Adron. 19 Azubah died, and Caleb took Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 Hur became father of Uri, Uri father of Besalel.

21 Then Hezron married the daughter of Machir, father of Gilead; he took her when he was sixty years old and she bore him Segub. 22 Segub became father of Jair who held twenty-three towns in the land of Gilead. 23 Then from Geshur and Aram he won the Encampments of Jair, Kenath and its outlying villages, sixty towns. All this belonged to the sons of Machir, father of Gilead.

24 After Hezron's death, Caleb married Ephrathah, wife of Hezron his father, who bore him Ashur, father of Tekoa.

Jerahmeel

25 Jerahmeel, Hezron's eldest son had sons: Hezron, his first-borne, Ram, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, Ahjah. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife called Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.

27 Sons of Ram, Jerahmeel's first-born: Maaz, Jamin and Eker.

28 Sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada. Sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. 29 Abishur's wife was called Abihail; she bore him Ahban and Molid. 30 Sons of Nadab: Seled and Ephraim. Seled died leaving no son. 31 Sons of Ephraim: Ishi; sons of Ish: Sheshan; sons of Sheshan: Ahlai. 32 Sons of Jada, Shammai's brother: Jether and Jonathan. Jether died leaving no sons. 33 Sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zara.

These are the sons of Jerahmeel.

34 Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. He had an Egyptian slave Jarha 35 to whom Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage. She bore him Attai. 36 Attai became father of Nathan, Nathan father of Zabad, 37 Zabad father of Ephal, Ephal father of Obed, 38 Obed father of Jehu, Jehu father of Azariah, 39 Azariah father of Helez, Helez father of Eleasah, 40 Eleasah father of Sisnai, Sismai father of Shallum, 41 Shallum father of Jekamiah, Jekamiah father of Elishama.

Caleb

42 Sons of Caleb, Jerahmeel's brother: Mesha, his first-born, who was the father of Ziph. His son was Mareshah, father of Hebron. 43 Sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. 44 Shema became father of Raham, Jorkeam's father. Rekem became father of Shammai. 45 Shammai's son was Maon, and Maon became fathe of Bethzur.

46 Ephah, Caleb's concubine, gave birth to Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran became father of Gazez.

47 Sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jothan, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.

48 Maacah, Caleb's concubine, gae birth to Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 She gave birth to Shaaph, father of Madmannah, and Sheva, father of Machbenah and father of Gibea.

The daughter of Caleb was Achsah.

50 These are the sons of Caleb.

Hur

Sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah: Shobal, father of Kiriath-jearim, 51 Salma, father oh Bethlehem, Hareph, ather of Beth-gader. 52 Shobal, father of Kiriath-jearim had sons: Haroeh, that is, half of the Manahethites, 53 and the clans of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites and Mishraites. Their descendants are the people of Zorah and Estaol.

54 Sons of Salam: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, half of the Manahathites, the Zorathites, 55 the Sophrite clans living at Jabez, the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath; their descendants are the House of Rechab.

The sons of David

3- 1 These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the first-born Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; second, Daniel, by Abigail of Carmel; 2 third, Absalom son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; fourth, Adonijah son of Haggith; 3 fifth, Shephatiah by Abital; 4 sixth, Ithream by his wife Eglah. Six, therefore, were born to him in Hebron, where he reign for three years and six months.

He reigned for thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 5 These are the sons who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, the four of them children of Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel; 6 Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet: nine.

9 These are all the sons of David, not counting the sons of the concubines. Tamar was their sister.

The kings of Judah

10 Sons of Solomon: Rehoboam: Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Amaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 Sons of Josiah: Johanan, the first-born, Jehoiakim second, Zedekiah third, Shallum fourth. 16 The sons of Jehoiahkim: Jecaoniah his son, Zedekiah his son.

The royal line after the exile

17 Sons of Jeconiah the captive: Sheatiel. His sons: 18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, Nedabiah. 19 Sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. 20 Sons of Meshullam: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasaiah, Jushab-hesed; five. 21 Sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah; Jeshaiah his son, Rephaiah his son, Arnan his son, Obadiah his son, Shecaniah his son. 22 Sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah, Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, Shaphat: six. 24 Sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, Azeikam: three. 25 Sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, Anani: seven.

Judah, Shobal

4- 1 Sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, Shobal.

2 Reaiah son of Shobal became father of Jahath, and Jahath father of Ahumai and Lahad. These are the Zorathite clans.

Hur

3 These are Abi-etam, Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash, whose sister was called Hazzelelponi.

4 Penuel became father of Gedor, Ezer father of Hushah.

These are the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah, father of Bethlehem.

Ashhur

5 Ashhur, father of Tekoa, and two wives: Helah and Naarah.

6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, the Timnites, and the Ahashtarites. These are the sons of Naarah.

7 Sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethan.

8 Koz became father od Ahib, Hazzobebah and the clans of Aharhel son of Harum. 9 Jabez won himself more honour than his brothers. His mother gave him the name Jabez, "because," she said, "in distress I gave birth to him." 10 Jabez called on the God of Israel. "If you truly bless me," he said, "you will extend my lands, your hand will be with me, you will keep harm away and my distress will cease." God granted him what he had asked.

Caleb

11 Chelub, Shuhah's brother, became father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12 Eshton became father of Bethrapha, Paseah and Tehinnah father of Irnahash, brother of Eselon the Kenizzite. These are the men of Recah.

13 Sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. Sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai, 14 who became father of Ophrah. Seraiah became father of Joab, father of Geharashim - and they were in fact craftsmen.

15 Sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah and Naam. Sons of Elah: Kenaz.

16 Sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tri-a, Asarel.

17 Sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, Jalon. Then she conceived Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa, 18 whose Judaean wife gave birth to Jered father of Gedor, Heber father of Soco, and Jekuthiel, father of Zanoah. These are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh whom Mered married.

19 The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham father of Keilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the Maacathite.

20 Sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, Tilon.

Sons of Ishi: Zobeth and Ben-zoheth.

Shelah

21 Sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er father of Lecah, Laadah father of Mareshah, and the clans of lineworkers at Beth-ashbea, 22 Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash and Saraph who went to Moab to take wives before returning to Bethlehem. (Events, these, of long ago.) 23 These were potters and lived at Netaim and Gederah; they stayed with the king there, employed in his workshop.

Simeon

24 Sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; 25 Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son. Mishma his son. 26 The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son. 27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brother did not have many children, and the sum of their clans did not multiply as the sons of Judah did.

28 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah and Hazar-shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem and Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah and Ziklag, 31Beth-narcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David. 32 Their outlying villages were: Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen and Ashan, five towns, 33 with all the outlying villages around these towns as far as Baalath. Here they had their settlements and sorted themselves into their various groups.

34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, 36 Elioenei, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, diel, Jesimiel, Be naiah, 37 Ziza, Ben-shiphi, Ben-allon, Ben-shimri, Ben-shemaiah. 38 These men here named came with their clans and families; they grew in number and spread. 39 In search of pasture for their flocks they traveled from the Gerar pass to the eastern end of the valley, 40 where they found good, fat pasture; the land was broad, untroubled, peacefull. Hamites had been living there before them.

41 The Simeonites, registered by name, arrived in the time of Hezekiah king of Judah; they overran their tents and dwellings they found there. They put them under the ban still in force today and settled in their place, since there was pasturage for their flocks.

42 Some of them, belonging to the sons of Simeon, reached Mount Seir: five hundred men led by Pelatiah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 They defeated the surviving fugitives of Amalek and still live there today.

Reuben

5- 1 Sons of Reuben, first-born of Israel. He was indeed the first-born but, when he violated his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel.

The group of Reuben fortified the birthright 2 because Judah proved more powerful than his brothers - a prince having come from him - with Joseph having the birthright.

3 Sons of Reuben, first-born of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi.

Joel

4 Sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, 6 Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried off into exie. He was a prince of the Reubenites.

7 His kinsmen, by clans, grouped according to their kinship: Jeiel, the chief, Zechariah, 8 Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joeel.

Reuben's territory

Reuben, having settled at Aroer, spread as far as Nebo and Bal-meon. 9 to the east his lands stretched to the beginning of the desert that ends at the river Euphrates, for he had many herds in the land of Gilead.

10 During the reign of Saul they waged war on the Hagrites; they suffered defeat at their hands and the Hagrites occupied their tents throughout the region east of Gilead.

Gad

11 The sons of Gad lived next to them, inhabiting the land of Bashan as far as Salecah; 12 Joel, the chief, Shapham second, then Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.

13 Their kinsmen, by families: Michael, Meshulam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, Eber: seven.

14 These are the sons of Abihail: Ben-huri, Ben-jaroah, Ben-michael, Ben-jeshishai, Ben-jahdo, Ben-buz. 15 Ahi son of Absiel, son of Guni, was head of their family.

16 They had settled in Gilead, in Bashan and its dependencies, as well as throughout the pasturages of Sharon to their furthest limit. 17 They sorted themselves into various groups in the days of Jotham king of Judah.

18 The sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, the half tribe of Manasseh, a number of their fighting men, men who carried shield and spear and could handle the bow, men used to warfare, forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty of them fit for service, 19 waged war against the Hagrites, against Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 God came to their help against them, and the Hagrites with all their allies fell into their hands, for they had called on God as they fought, and because they put their trust in him their prayer was heard. 21 They carried off of the Hagrites' livestock, fifty thousand camels, two hundred and fifty thousand sheep, two thousand donkeys and a hundred thousand people, 22 for, God directed the battle, the greater part had been killed. And they settled in what had been Hagrite territory until the exile.

The half tribe of Manasseh

23 The sons of the half tribe of Manasseh settled in the country between Bashan and Baal-hermon, Senir and Mount Hermon.

They were numerous. 24 These are the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, Jahdiel. These were stout fighting men, men of renoun, heads of their families.

25 But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel coused hostility of Pul king of Assyria and of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. He deported Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, taking them off to Halah near Habor and the river Gozan. They are still there today.

The lineage of the high priest

27 Sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari. 28 Sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel, 29 Children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. Sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

30 Eleazar became father of Phinehas, Phinehas father of Abishua. 31 Abishua father of Bukki, Bukki father of Uzzi. 32 Uzzi father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah father of Meraioth, 33 Meraioth father of Amariah, Amariah father of Ahitub, 34 Ahitub father of Zadok, Zadok father of Ahimaaz. 35 Ahimaaz father of Azariah, Azariah father of Johanan, 36 Johanan father of Azariah. It was he who officiated as priest in the Temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem. 37 Azariah became father of Amariah, Amariah father of Ahitub, 38 Ahitub father of Zadok, Zadok of Shallum, 39 Shallum father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah father of Azariah, 40 Azariah father of Seraiah, Seraiah father of Jehozadak, 41 and Jehozadak had to go into exile when, at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, Yahweh exiled Judah and Jerusalem.

The line of Levi

6- 1 Sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari.

2 These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. 3 Sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel. 4 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of Levi grouped according to their fathers.

5 For Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 6 Joah his son Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son.

7 Sons of Koriath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 8 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 9 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, Shaul his son. 10 Sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Abimoth. 11 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 12 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. 13 Sons of Elkanah: Samuel his first-born, the second Abijah.

14 Sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, 15 Shimei his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.

The cantors

16 These are the men David nominated to lead the singing in the Temple of Yahweh when the ark had come to rest there. 17 They were responsible for the singing before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting until Solomon had built the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem, and in accordance with the rules laid down for them they did their office.

18 These are the men who were in office, and their sons:

Of the sons of Kohath: Heman the cantor, the son of Joel, son of Samuel, 19 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 20 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son ofMahath, son of Amasai, 21 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 22 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 23 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel.

24 His brother Asaph stood at his right hand: Asaph son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 25 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, 26 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adajah, 27 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 28 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.

29 At the left hand, the sons of Merari: Ethan son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 30 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 31 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 32 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi.

The other Levites

33 Their brothers the Levites were completely dedicated to the service of the tabernacle of the Temple of Yahweh. 34 Aaron and his sons burned the offerings on the altar of Holocaust and on the altar of incense; they were concerned exclusively with the most holy things and with the ritual of atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had laid down.

35 These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phineas his son, Abishua his son, 36 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 37 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 38 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

Where these lived

a. The Aaronitic priests

39 These are the places they lived in, according to the boundries of their settlements:

The sons of Aaron of the Kohath clan (for to these the lot fell) 40 they gave Hebron in the land oh Judah and the pasture lands adjoining. 41 The fields and villages of this town they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh, 42 but the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, 43 Hilen, Debir, 44 Ashan, Beth-shemesh each with its pasture lands. 45 From the tribe of Benjamin they gave Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, each with its pasture lands. In all, their clans took in thirteen towns.

B. Other Levites

46 The remaining sons of Kohath were allotted ten towns taken from the clans of the tribe, from the half of Manasseh. 47 The sons of Gershom and their clans were allotted thirteen towns taken from the tribe of Issachar, the tribe of Asher, the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 48 he sons of Merari and their clans were allotted twelve towns taken from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Zebulun. 49 The sons of Israel gave these towns with their pasture lands to the Levites.

50 Also from the tribes of the sons of Judah, the sons of Benjamin and the sons of Simeon, they allotted the towns to which they gave their names.

51 Towns from the tribe of Ephraim also were assigned to the territory of some clans of the sons of Kohath. 52 They were given the following cities of refuge: Shechem with its pasture lands in the highlands of Ephraim, together with Gezer and its pasture lands, 53 Jokmeam, Bet-horon, 54 Aijalon and Gath-rimmon, each with its pasture lands, 55 and from the half tribe of Manasseh: Aner and Bleam, each with its pasture lands. This for the clan of the remaining sons of Kohath.

56 The sons of Gershom were given, from the half tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan, and Ashtaroth, each with its pasture lands; 57 from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh, Daberah, 58 Ramoth, Anem, each with its pasture lands: 59 from the tribe of Asher: Mashal, Abdon, 60 Hukok, Rehob, each with its pasture lands; 61 from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, Kiriathaim, each with its pasture lands.

62 To the remainder of the sons of Merari: from the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono, Tabor, each with its pasture lands; 63 beyond the Jordan near Jericho, east of Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah, 64 Kedemoth, Mephaath, each with its pasture lands; 65 from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, 66 Hesbon, Jazer, each with its pasture lands.

Issachar

7- 1 For the sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, Shimron: four.

2 Sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahnai, Ibsam, Shemuel, heads of the families of Tola. In the time of David these numbered twenty-two thousand six hundred stout fighting men, grouped according to their kinship.

3 Sons of Uzzi: Izrahiah. Sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, Isshiah. Five chiefs in all, 4 answerable for a battle force numbering thirty-six thousand men, grouped according to their kinship and families; for there were many women and children. 5 They had kinsmen belonging to all the clans of Issachar, eighty-seven thousand stout fighting men, all belonging to one related group.

Benjamin

6 Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Jediael: three.

7 Sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri: five, heads of families, stout fighting men, forming a related group of twenty-two thousand and thirty-four men.

8 Sons of Becher: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, Alemeth, all these were the sons of Becher; 9 the heads of their families, stout fighting men, form a related group, according to their kinship, of twenty thousand two hundred men.

10 Sons of Jediael: Bihan. Sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehub, Chenaanah, Zethan, tarshish, Ahishahar. 11 All these sons of Jediael became heads of families, stout fighting men, numbering seventeen thousand two hundred men fit for active service.

12 Shuppim and Huppim. Sons of Ir: Hushim; his son: Aher.

Naphtali

13 Sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, Shallum. Hey were the sons of Bilhah.

Manasseh

14 Sons of Manasseh: Asriel, bornof his Aramaean concubine. She gave birth to Machir, father of Gilead. 15 Machir took a wife for Huppim anf Shuppim. His sister's name was Maacah.

The name of the second was Zelophehad. Zelophehad had daughters.

16 Maacah the wife of Machir gave birth to a son whom she called Peresh. His brother was called Sheresh and his osns Ulam and Rakem.

17 Sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir, sons of Manasseh.

18 His sister was Malchath. She gave birh to Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah.

19 Shemida had sons: Ahian, Shechem, Likhi and Aniam.

Ephraim

20 Sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 21 Zahad his son, Shuthelah his son, Ezer and Elead.

The men of Gath killed them because they had come down to raid their cattle. 22 Ephraim their father mourned long for them and his brothers came to comfort him. 23 Then Ephraim went to his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son whom she called Beriah, "because," she said, "in my house one is in misfortune." 24 He had a daughter, Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah.

25 Rephah his son, Shuthelah his son, Tahan his son, 26 Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27 Nun his son, Joshua his son.

28 They had lands and settlements in Bethel and its outlying towns, in Naaran to the east, in Gezer and its outlying towns to the west, Shechem and its outlying towns, as far as Ayyah and its outlying towns. 29 Beth-shean, Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, each with their outlying towns, were in the hands of the sons of Manasseh. There lived the sons of Joseph son of Israel.

Asher

30 Sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah: their sister Serah.

31 Sons of Beriah: Heber and Michael. He was the father of Birzaith. 32 Heber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham and their sister Shua.

33 Sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal and Ashvath. These are the sons of Japhlet.

34 Sons of Shomer his brother: Rohgah, Hubbah and Aram.

35 Sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh and Amal. 36 Sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri and Imrah, 37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran and Beerah. 38 Sons of Ithran: Jephunneh, Pispa, Ara.

39 Sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, Rizia

40 All these were the sons of Asher, heads of families, stout fighting men, when numbered, they formed a related group of twenty-six thousand men for active service.

The line of Benjamin

8- 1 Benjamin became father of Bela, his first-born, Ashbel second, Ahiram third, 2 Nohah fourth, Raphah fifth. 3 Bela had sons: Addar, Gera father of Ehud, 4 Abishua, Naaman and Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan and Huram.

In Geba

6 These are the sons of Ehud. They were heads of families of the inhabitants of Geba and led them into exile at Manahath. 7 Naaman, Ahijah and Gera. It was he who led them into exile; he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

In Moab

8 He became the father of Shaharaim in the plains of Moab after he had dismissed his wives, Hushim and Baara. 9 By his new wife he had sons: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10 Jeuz, Sachia, Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of Families.

In Ono and Lud

11 By Hushim he had sons: Ahitub and Elpaal. 12 Sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham and Shemed: it was he who built Ono, and Lud with its outlying towns.

In Aijalon

13 Beriah and Shema. They were heads of families of the inhabitants of Aijalon and put the inhabitants of Gath to flight.

14 His brother: Shashak.

In Jerusalem

Jeremoth, 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael,Ishpah, Joha were sons of Beriah.

17 Zebadiah, Meshullum, Hizki, Haber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah, Jobab were sons of Elpaal.

19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20 Elioenai, Zille-thai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, Shimrath were sons of Shimei.

22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon,Zichri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah, Penuel were sons of Shashak.

26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshaiah, Elijah, Zichri were sons of Jeraoham.

28 These were the heads of families, grouped according to their kinship. They lived in Jerusalem.

In Gibeon

29 At Gibeon lived Abi-gibeon, whose wife was called Maacah. 30 His first-born son was Abdon, then Zurm Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher 32 and Mikloth who became father of Shimeah. These also, near their kinsmen, lived with their kinsmen in Jerusalem.

Saul and his family

33 Ner became father of Kish, Kish father of Saul, Saul father of Jonathan, Malchi-Shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. 34 Son of Jonathan: Meribaal. Meribaal became father of Micah. 35 Sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, Ahaz. 36 Ahaz became father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, Zimri became father of Moza, 37 Moza father of Binea.

Raphah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 Azel had six sons, whose names were these: Azrikam, his first-born, then Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, Hanan. All these were sons of Azel.

39 Sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam, his first-born, Jeush second, Eliphelet third. 40 Ulam had sons, stout fighting men and bowmen. They had numerous sons and grandsons, a hundred and fifty of them.

All these were sons of Benjamin.

Jerusalem, the holy city of Israel

9- 1 All the Israelites were classified in related groups, and these were already listed in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah when they were deported to Babylon for their faithlessness. 2 The first to take residence in their towns and their estates were the Israelites, the priests, the Levites and the oblates; 3 In Jerusalem lied Judaeans, Benjaminites, Ephraimites and Manassites.

4 Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, one of the sons of Perez son of Judah. 5 Of the Shilonites: Asaiah, the first-born, and his sons. 6 Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel. Also their kinsmen: six hundred and ninety.

7 Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah; 8 Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri; Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah. 9 They had nine hundred and fifty-six kinsmen, grouped according to their kinship. All these were heads, each of his family.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of ahitub, ruler of the house of God. 12 Adaiah son of Jeroham, son od Pashhur, son of Malchijah, Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer. 13 They had kinsmen, heads of families, one thousand seven hundred and sixty stout fighting men who undertook the duties of the Temple of God.

14 Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah of the sons of Merari, 15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph, 16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah who lived in the villages of the Netophatites.

17 The keepers of the gate: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their kinsmen, Shallum, their head, 18 still keeps station at the royal gate, to the east. These were the gatekeepers of the camps of the Levites. 19 Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, with his brother Korahites, of the same family, were responsible for the liturgical service; they were keepers of the threshold for the Tent, as their fathers, in charge of the camp of Yahweh, had guarded the entrance to it. 20 At one time, Phineas son of Eleazar had ruled them (may Yahweh be with him!) 21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the gate at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 22 All the keepers of the gate at the thresholds were picked men; there were two hundred and twelve of them. They were grouped by relationship in their various villages. These were confirmed in office by David and Samuel the seer because of their loyalty. 23 They and their sons had the guardianship of the gates of the Temple of Yahweh, the house of the Tent. 24 On the four sides stood the keepers of the gate, east, east, north and south. 25 Their kinsmen in their villages would come to join them for a week from time to time, 26 since the four head keepers themselves lived there permanently. They were the Levites responsible for the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. 27 They spent the night in the precincts of the house of God, their duties being to guard it and open it every morning.

28 Some of them were responsible for the furnishings of worship; they counted them whenever they put them away and took them out. 29 Certain others were in charge of the furniture and all the sacred furnishings, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, the spices, 30 while those who prepared the mixture for the spices were priests.

31 One of the Levites, Mattithiah - he was the first-born of Shallum the Korahite - was, because of his loyalty, made responsible for making the offering that were baked on the pan. 32 Some of their kinsmen the Kohathites were responsible for the loaves to be set out in rows sabbath by sabbath.

33 These are the canters, heads of the levitical families. When free from service they lived in the Temple chambers, because they were on duty day and night.

34 These were the heads of the levitical families, grouped according to their kinship. These heads lived in Jerusalem.

The ancestors of Saul

35 At Gibeon lived Abi-gibeon and Jeiel, whose wife was called Maacah. 36 His first-born son was Abdon, the Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth became father of Shimeam. These also, near the kinsmen, lived with their kinsmen in Jerusalem.

39 Ner became father of Kish, Kish father of Saul, Saul father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. 40 Son of Jonathan: Meribaal. Meribaal became father of Micah. 41 Sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea. 42 Ahaz became the father of Jarah, Jarah father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; Zimri became father of Moaz, 43 Moaz father of Binea.

Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44 Azel had six sons; their names were these: Hazrikam, his first-born, then Ishmael, Bocheru, Sheariah, Obadiah, Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

The death of Saul

10- 1 The Philistines made war on Israel, and the Israelites fled from the Philistines and were slaughtered on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines pressed Saul and his sons hard and killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The fighting grew heavy about Saul; the bowmen took him off his guard, so that he fell wounded by the bowmen. 4 Then Saul said to his armour-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through with it. I do not want these uncircumcised men to come and gloat over me." But his armour-bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 His armour-bearer, seeing that Saul was dead, fell on his sword too and died with him. 6 And so Saul died, he and his three sons and all his House together. 7 When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the men of Israel had taken to flight and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled away. The Philistines then came in and occupied them.

8 When the Philistines came on the following day to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him and, taking his head and his armour, had them carried around the land of the Philistines to proclaim the good news to their idols and their people. 10 They placed his armour in the temple of their god, but his head they nailed up in the temple of Dagon.

11 When all the inhabitants of Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the warriors set off; and they took the bodies of Saul and his sons away and, bringing them to Jabesh, they buried their bones under the tamarisk of Jabesh; and they fasted for seven days.

13 Saul died because he had shown himself unfaithful to Yahweh: he had not kept the word of Yahweh; he had even questioned and consulted a necromancer. 14 He had not consulted Yahweh, who therefore put him to death and transferred the monarchy to David son of Jesse.

David is anointed king

11- 1 All the tribes of Israel the rallied to David at Hebron. "Look," they said, "we are your flesh and blood. 2 In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and Yahweh your God said to you, 'You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of my people Israel.'" 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh, and they anointed David king of Israel, in accordance with the word of Yahweh through Samuel.

The capture of Jerusalem

4 David with all Israel marched on Jerusalem (that is to say, Jebus); the inhabitants of the country were Jebusites. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You will not get in here." But David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the Citadel of David. 6 David said, "The first to strike down a Jebusite shall become leader and commander." Joab son of Zeruiah was first to go up, and became leader. 7 David went to live in the fortress, and that his how it came to be called the Citadel of David. 8 He then built a wall around the city, and the Millo as well as the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. 9 David grew greater and greater, and Yahweh Sabaoth was with him.

David's champions

10 These are the principal champions of David, those who in his reign grew in power with him and who, with all Israel, had made him king in accordance with the word of Yahweh concerning Israel. 11 This is the roll of David's champions: Jashobeam the Hachmonite, leader of the Thirty; it was he who wielded his battle-ax against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

12 After him there was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three champions. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammin when the Philistines mustered for the battle there. There was a field full of barley there; the army took flight before the Philistines, 14 but they positioned themselves in the middle of the field, defended it and struck down the Philistines. So Yahweh brought about a great victory.

15 Three out f Thirty went down to David at the rock near the Cave of Adullam while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of the Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold and there was a Philistine garrison in Bethlehem. 17 "Oh," David sighed, "if someone would fetch me a drink of water from the well that stands by the gate of Bethlehem!" 18 At this the three champions, forcing their way through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well that stands by the gate of Bethlehem and, bringing it away, presented it to David. But David would drink none of it and poured it out as a libation to Yahweh. 19 "God keep me," he said, "from doing this! Am I to drink the blood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." And so he would not drink. Such were the deeds of the three champions.

20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, was leader of the Thirty. It was he who wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed, winning himself a name among the Thirty. 21 He was more famous than the Thirty and became their captain, but he was no rival for the Three.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a hero from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits, struck down two champions of Moab and, one snowy day, went down and killed a lion in the cistern. 23 He was also the man who killed an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver's beam, but he went down against him with a staff, tore the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed the man with it. 24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, winning him a name among the thirty champions. 25 He was more famous than the Thirty, but he was no rival for the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.

25 The valiant champions:

Asahel the brother of Joab.

Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem.

27 Shammoth from Harod.

Helez the Pelonite.

28 Ira son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa.

Abiezer from Anathoth.

29 Sibbecai from Hushah.

Ilai from Ahoh.

30 Maharai from Nethophah.

Heled son of Baanah, from Netophah.

31 Ithai son of Ribai, from Gibeah of Benjamin.

Benaiah from Pirathon.

32 Hurai from the wadis of Gaash.

Abiel from Beth-ha-arabah.

33 Azmaveth from Baharum.

Eliahba from Shaalbon.

34 Bene-hashem from Gizon.

Jonathan son of Shagee, from Harar.

35 Ahiam son of Sachar, from Harar.

Eliphelet son of Ur.

36 Hepher from Mecherah.

Ahjah the Pelonite.

37 Hezro from Carmel.

Naari son of Ezbai.

38 Joel the brother of Nathan.

Mibhar son of Hagri.

39 Zelek the Ammonite.

Naharai from Beeroth, armour-bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah.

40 Ira from Jattir.

Gareb from Jattir.

41 Uriah the Hittite.

Zabad son of Ahlai.

42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and over the Thirty.

43 Hanan son of Maacah.

Josaphat the Mithnite.

44 Uzzia from shteroth.

Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham the Aroerite.

45 Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite.

46 Eliel the Mahavite.

Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam.

Ithmah the Maobite.

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel from Zoba.

David's first supporters

12- 1 There are the men who rallied to David at Ziklag when he was still kept from the presence of Saul son of Kish; they were champions, a standby in battle, 2 who could handle the bow with right hand or with left, who could use stones or arrows.

Of the kinsmen of Saul the Benjaminite; 3 Ahiezer the leader, and Joash, sons of Hasshemar from Gibeah, Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a champion among the Thirty, and over the Thirty; 5 Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan and Jozabad from Gederoth, Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah from Hariph, 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, Korahites, 7 Joelah, Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

8 Some Gadites seceded to David in the stronhold in the wilderness. They were stout fighting men and trained, well used to shield and spear. Lions they were in aspect, and, for speed, gazelles on the mountains. 9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These sons of Gad were troop commanders, each in command, the lesser of a hundred, the greater of a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflows its course, and put to fight all who lived on its banks, both east and west.

16 Certain Benjaminites, too, and Judaeans came to David in the stronghold. 17 David went forward to them and addressed them. "If you come to me as friends," he said, "to give me help, then I am ready to join you. But if it is to betray me to my enemies, when I have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors take note and give judgment."

18 Then the spirit took possession of Amasai, leader of the Thirty:

"Go forth, David! Peace be with you, son of Jesse!

Peace to you, peace to him that helps you,

for your help is your God."

David accepted them and added them to his other company commanders.

19 Certain Manassites deserted to David as he was setting out with the Philistines to fight Saul. But he gave them no help because the Philistines chiefs, after consultation, dismissed him. "If he deserted to his master Saul," they said, "it would cost us our heads." 20 He was on his way to Ziklag when these Manassenites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai, commanders of thousands in Manasseh. 21 This was reinforcement for David and his troops, since they were all valiant champions and became officers in the arrmy.

22 Indeed reinforcements reached David every day, so that his camp grew into a camp of prodigious size.

The warriors who assured David's kingship

23 These are the figures from the roll of warriors equipped for battle who joined David at Hebron to transfer Saul's kingship to him in accordance with the order of Yahweh:

24 Sons of Judah carrying shield and spear: six thousand eight hundred warriors equipped for battle;

25 of the sons of Simeon; seven thousand one hundred champions valiant in war;

26 of the sons of Levi: four thousand six hundred, 27 in addition to Jehoiada, in command of the Aaronites, with three thousand seven hundred of these, 28 Zadok, a young and valiant champion, and twenty-two commanders of his family;

29 of the sons of Benjamin: three thousand kinsmen of Saul, most of them Hitherto in the service of the House of Saul;

30 of the sons of Ephraim: twenty thousand eight hundred valiant champions, men famous in their families;

31 of the half tribe of Manasseh: eighteen thousand men assigned by name to go and proclaim David king;

32 Of the sons of Issachar, sound judges of the times when Israel should take action, and the way to do it: two hundred chiefs and all their kinsmen under their command;

33 sons of Zebulun: fifty thousand men fit for service, marshaled for battle, with warlike weapons of every kind, stanch-hearted auxiliaries;

34 of Naphtali: a thousand commanders, and with them thirty-seven thousand men armed with shield and spear;

35 of the Danites: twenty-eight thousand six hundred men marshaled for battle;

36 of Asher: forty thousand men fit for service, marshaled for battle;

37 from Transjordania: a hundred and twenty thousand men of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, with warlike weapons of every kind.

38 All these fighting men, marshaled reinforcements, came to Hebron with the purpose and determination to proclaim David king over Israel; and the rest of Israel, too, were all of one mind in making David king. 39 For three days they stayed there, eating and drinling with David.

Their kinsmen had made preparations for them; 40 furthermore from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali their neighbours brought provisions, by donkey and Camel, mule and ox - flour cakes, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, quantities of oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

The ark brought back from Kiriath-jearim

13- 1 David conferred with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and with all the leaders. 2 To the whole assembly of Israel David said, "If this has your approval, and if Yahweh our God wills it so, we will send messengers to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their towns and adjacent lands, bidding them join us. 3 e will then recover the ark of our God, for in the time of Saul we neglected it."

4 The whole assembly agreed to this, for in the eyes of all the people it was the right thing to do. 5 So David gathered all the people together from the Shihor of Egypt to the Pass of Hamath to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 Then David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God which bears the name of Yahweh who is seated on the cherubs. 7 At Abinadab's house they placed the ark of God on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio were leading the cart. 8 David and all Israel danced before God with all their might, singing to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, trumpets. 9 When they came to the threshing floor of the Javelin, Uzzah stretched his hand out to hold the ark, as the oxen were making it tilt. 10 Then the anger of Yahweh blazed out against Uzzah and he struck him down because he had laid his hand of the ark, and he died there in the presence of God. 11 David was displeased that Yahweh had broken out against Uzzah, and that place was called Perez-uzzah as it still is now.

12 David went in fear of God that day. "However can I bring the ark of God to my home?" he said. 13 So David did not take the ark home to the Citadel of David, but took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom, in his house, for three months, and Yahweh blessed the family of Obed-edom and everything that belonged to him.

David at Jerusalem, is place, his children

14- 1 Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar wood and stonemasons and carpenters to build him a palace. 2 David then knew that Yahweh had confirmed him as king over Israel, and that for the sake of his people Israel his reign was being made glorious.

3 At Jerusalem David took more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, Eliphelet.

Victories over yhe Philistines

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they all marched up to seek him out. On hearing this, David went out to meet them. 9 When the Philistines arrived they deployed in the Valley of the Rephaim. 10 David consulted God; "Shall I attack the Philistines?" he asked. "Will you deliver them into my power?" Yahweh answered him, "Attack! I will deliver them into your power." 11 Accordingly they went up to Baal-perazim and there David defeated them. David said, "Through me God has made a breach in my enemies like a breach the waters make." For this reason that place was called Baal-perazim. 12 They had left their gods behind them there, and David odered them to be burned.

13 Again the Philistines deployed in the valley, 14 David again consulted God, and God answered, "Do not attack them from the front; go around and engage them opposite the balsam trees. 15 When you hear the sound of steps in the tops of the balsam trees, launch your attack, for that will be God going ahead of you to rout the army of the Philistines." 16 David did as God had ordered, and they routed the Philstines army from Gibeon as far as Gezer.

17 The fame of David spread into every region, and Yahweh made him feared by every nation.

Preparations for moving the ark

15- 1 He put up buildings for himself in the Citadel of David and prepared a place for the ark of God, and he pitched a tent for it. 2 Then he said, "The ark of God may be moved only by the Levites, since Yahweh has chosen them to carry the ark of Yahweh and to serve him always."

3 Then David gathered all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of God up to the place he had prepared for it. 4 David called together the sons of Aaron and the sons of Levi: 5 of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief and his hundred and twenty kinsmen; 6 of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief and his two hundred and twenty kinsmen; 7 of the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief and his hundred and thirty kinsmen; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and his two hundred kinsmen; 9 of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief and eighty kinsmen; 10 of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief and his hundred and twelve kinsmen.

11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. 12 To these he said, "You are the heads of the levitical families. Sanctify yourselves, you and your kinsmen, and bring the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, up to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you were not there the first time that Yahweh our God broke out against us, because we did not approach him in the right way." 14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, 15 and the Levites carried the ark of God with the shafts on their shoulders, as Moses had ordered in accordance with the word of Yahweh.

16 David then told the heads of the Levites to assign duties for their kinsmen as cantors, with their various instruments of music, harps and lyres and cymbals, to play joyful tunes. 17 The Levites then appointed Heman son of Joel, Asaph son of Berechiah, one of his brothers, Ethan son of Kushaiah, one of their Merarite kinsmen; 18 and with them, next in rank, their kinsmen: Zechariah son of Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah,Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, keepers of the gate. 19 Heman, Asaph and Ethan, the canters, were to clash the cymbals of bronze; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the keyed harp. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azariah, giving the beat, were to play the octave lyre. 22 Chenaniah, a chief of the Levites and versed in divine oracles, was to expound these, being expert in them. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers to the ark. 24 The priests Shebaniah, Josaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer were to sound the trumpet before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers to the ark.

The ark is brought to Jerusalem

25 So David, with all the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from Obed-edom's house with great rejoicing. 26 And since God was helping the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was wearing a cloak of fine linen, like all the Levites who carried the ark, the cantors and Chenaniah, the officer in charge of its transportation. David also wore the linen ephod. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with acclaim, to the sound of the horn, of trumpets, of cymbals, making harp and lyre resound. 29 Now as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh entered the Citadel of David, Michal the daughter of Saul was watching from the window and saw King David dancing and exultant; and she despised him in her heart.

16- 1 They brought the ark of God in and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered holocausts before God, and communion sacrifices. 2 And when David had finished offering holocausts and communion sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. 3 He then distributed to all the Israelites, men and women, a loaf of bread each, a portion of dates, and a raisin cake.

The service of the Levites before the ark

4 David appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of Yahweh, to commemorate, glorify and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel: 5 first Asaph, second Zechariah, then Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Ober-edom, Jeiel. These were to play the harp and the lyre, Asaph was to clash the cymbals. 6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to keep sounding the trumpet before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. 7 That day, foremost in praising Yahweh, entrusted this song of praise to Asaph and his kinsmen:

8 Give thanks to Yahweh, call his name aloud,

proclaim his deeds to the peoples.

9 Sing to him, play to him,

tell over all his marvels.

10 Glory in his holy name,

let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice!

11 Seek Yahweh and his strength,

seek his face untiringly;

12 remember the marvels he has done,

his wonders, the judgments from his mouth.

13 Stock of Israel his servant,

Sons of Jacob his chosen one,

14 he is Yahweh our God;

his authority is over all the earth.

15 Remember his covenant for ever,

his word of command for a thousand generations,

16 the pact he made with Abraham,

his oath to Isaac.

17 He established it as a statute for Jacob,

an everlasting covenant for Israel.

18 "I gave you a land," he said,

"Canaan, your allotted heritage,

19 "there where you were easily counted,

"Few in number, strangers to the country."

20 They went from nation to nation,

from one kingdom to another people,

21 he let no man oppress them,

he punished Kings on their behalf.

22 "Do not touch my anointed ones," he said,

"Do not harm my prophets."

23 Sing to Yahweh, all the earth.

Proclaim his salvation day after day,

24 tell of his glory among the nations,

tell his marvels to every people.

25 Yahweh is great, loud must be his praise,

he to be feared beyond all gods.

26 Nothingness, all the gods of the nations.

Yahweh himself made the heavens;

27 in his presence are splendour and majesty,

in his sanctuary power and joy.

28 Pay tribute to Yahweh, families of the peoples,

tribute to Yahweh of glory and power,

29 tribute to Yahweh of his name's due glory.

Bring out the offering, bear it before him,

worship Yahweh in his sacred court,

30 tremble before him, all the earth!

Firm has he made the world, and unshakable.

31 Let the heavens be glad, let earth rejoice!

Say among the nations, "Yahweh is king!"

32 Let the sea thunder and all that it holds,

let the fields exult and all that is in them,

33 let all the woodland trees cry out for joy,

at the presence of Yahweh;

for he comes to judge the earth.

34 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,

his love is everlasting.

35 Say, "God of our salvation, save us,

gather us, rescue us from among the heathen,

to give thanks to your holy name

and to find our happiness in praising you."

36 Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel

from all eternity and for ever!

And let all the people say, "Amen!"

Alleluia!

37 There before the ark of Yahweh David left Asaph and his kinsmen to maintain a permanent ministry before the ark as each day's ritual required, 38 And also Obed-edom, with his sixty-eight kinsmen. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and Hoash were to be keepers of the gate.

39 Zadok the priest and the priests, his kinsmen, he left before the tabernacle of Yahweh on the high place at Gibeon 40 to offer holocausts to Yahweh unfailingly, morning and evening, on the altar of holocaust, and to carry out all that is written in the Law of Yahweh laid down for Israel. 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those who were chosen and assigned by name to give praise to God, "for his love is everlasting." 42 With them were Heman and Jeduthun who were to sound the trumpets, cymbals and musical instruments accompanying the hymns to God. The sons of Jeduthun were given charge of the gate.

43 Then all went away, each to his own house, and David returned to bless his household.

The prophecy of Nathan

17- 1 Once David had settled into his house, he said to the prophet Nathan, "Here am I living in a house of cedar, while the ark of Yahweh's covenant is still beneath the awning of a tent." 2 Nathan said ro David. "Do all that is in your mind, for God is with you."

3 But that very night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan,

4 "Go tell my servant David, Yahweh says this: You are not the man to built me a house to dwell in. 5 I have never stayed in a house from the day I brought Israel out until today, but went from tent to tent, from one shelter to another. 6 In all my journeying with the whole of Israel, did I say to any one of the judges of Israel, whom I had appointed as shepherds of my people; Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 7 This is what you must say to my servant David: Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel. 8 I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. 9 I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall live in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to destroy them, as they did 10 in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will subdue all their enemies. I will make you great: Yahweh will make you a House. 11 And when your days are ended and you must go to your ancestors, I will preserve your offspring after you, a son of your own, and make his sovereignty secure. 12 It is he who shall build a house for me and I will make his throne firm for ever. 13 I will be a father to him and he a son to me. I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. 14 I will preserve him for ever in my house and my kingdom; and his throne shall be established for ever.'"

15 Nathan related all these words to David and this whole revelation.

David's prayer

16 King David then went in and, seated before Yahweh, said:

"Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my House, that you have led me as far as this? 17 Yet in your eyes, O God, this is still not far enough, and you make your promises extend to your servant's House into the distant future. You show me as it were a line of men, and it is Yahweh God, who promises it. 18 What more an David say to you for the honour you have given to your servant? 19 You yourself have singled out your servant. For your servant's sake, this dog of yours, you have done such a great thing by revealing all this greatness to come. 20 There is none like you, no God except you alone, that we have ever heard of. 21 Is there another people on earth like your people Israel, with a God setting out to redeem it and make it is people, giving yourself a name for great and terrible things by driving nations out before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your own people for ever; and you, Yahweh, have become their God. 23 Now, Yahweh, let the promise you have made to your servant and to his House be always kept, and do as you have said. 24 May this promise hold good and your name be exalted for ever; may they say, 'Yahweh Sabaoth is the God of Israel, he is God for Israel.' The House of your servant David will be made secure in your presence, 25 since you yourself, my God, have made the revelation to your servant that you would build him a House; and so your servant has ventured to offer this prayer in your presence. 26 Yes, Yahweh, you are God indeed, and you have made this kind promise to your servant. 27 Be pleased, then, to bless the House of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your presence; for what you, Yahweh, have blessed is blessed for ever."

The wars of David

18- 1 After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. From the hands of the Philistines he took Gath and its outlying villages. 2 He also defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became subject to David, paying him tribute.

3 At Hamath David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah on his way to consolidate his power over the river Euphrates. 4 David captured one thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him; David hamstrung all the chariot teams, keeping only a hundred of them. 5 The Aramaeans of Damascus came to the help of Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Aramaeans. 6 Then David imposed governors on Aram of Damascus, and the Aramaeans became subject to David, paying him tribute. Wherever David went, God gave him victory. 7 David took the golden shields carried by the guards of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tibbath and from Cun, towns belonging to Hadadezer, David took great quantity of bronze; with this Solomon made the bronze Sea and the bronze pillars and furnishings.

9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadadezer, since Hadadezer was the enemy of Tou. He sent articles of every kind in gold, silver and bronze, 11 which King David also consecrated to Yahweh together with the silver and gold he had levied from all the nations: Edom, Moab, Ammonites, Philistines, Amalek.

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand of them. 13 He imposed governors on Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. Wherever David went, God gave him victory.

The exploits of David's commanders

14 David ruled over Israel, administrating law and justice to all his people. 15 Joab son of Zeruiah was in command of the army; Johoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cherethites and Pelethites; David's sons held the first place at the king's side

19- 1 After this, Nahash king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him. 2 David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash since his father was kind to me." And David sent messengers with his condolences on his father's death. But whem David's servants reached Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to present these condolences, 3 the Ammonites leaders said to Hanun, "Do you imagine David means to honour your father when he sends you messengers of sympathy? On the contrary, the reason why his servants have come to you is to explore, overthrow and reconnoiter the country." 4 Whereupon Hanun seized David's servants, shaved them, cut their clothes halfway up to the buttocks, and sent them away. 5 David was soon told what had happened to these men; he sent someone to meet them, for the men were covered with shame. "Stay in Jericho," the king said, until your beards have grown again, and come back then."

6 The Ammonites saw that they had incurred the enmity of David, and accordingly Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from the Aramaeans of Upper Mesopotamia, of Maacah and of Zobah. 7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots; also the king of Maacah with his army. These came and encamped before Medeba, while the Ammonites, having left their towns and mustered, were advancing to the war. 8 When David heard this, he sent Joab with all the common soldiers and the champions. 9 The Ammonites marched out and drew up their line of battle at the approaches to the town, but the king who had come kept their distance in the open country. 10 Joab, seeing that he had to fight on two fronts, to his front and to his rear, chose the best of Israel's picked men and drew them up in line facing the Aramaeans. 11 He entrusted the rest of the army to his brother Abishai, and drew them up in facing the Ammonites. 12 "If the Aramaeans prove to strong for me," he said, "you must come to my help; if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, I will come to yours. 13 Take courage and stand firm for the sake of our people and the towns of our God. And may Yahweh do as he thinks right." 14 Joab and the force with him joined battle with the Aramaeans, who fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites saw that the Aramaeans had taken flight, they too fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and withdrew into their town. Then Joab came back to Jerusalem.

16 Seeing that they had been defeated by Israel, the Aramaeans sent messengers and mobilized the Aramaeans from beyond the river, with Shophach, commander of Hadadezer's army, at their head. 17 Word of this was brought to David, who mustered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, made contact with them and took up positon near them. David drew up his line of battle facing the Aramaeans, who then engaged him. 18 But the Aramaeans gave ground before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their chariot teams and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach their general. 19 When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. The Aramaeans were reluctant to give more help to the Ammonites.

20- 1 At the turn of the year, the time when kings go campigning, Joab led out the troops and ravaged the land of the Ammonites and went to lay siege to Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. Joab reduced Rabbah and dismantled it. 2 David took the crown from the head of Milcom and found that it weighed a talent of gold, in it was set a precious stone which made an ornament for David's head. He carried off a great quantity of spoil from the town. 3 He brought away its population and set them to work with saws, iron picks and axes. David treated all the Ammonite town in the same way. Then David and the whole army returned to Jerusalem.

4 After this, war with the Philistines was resumed at Gezer. This was when Sibbecai of Hushah killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim. The Philistines were subdued.

5 War with the Philistines broke out again, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

6 There was another battle at Gath, where there was a man of huge stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all. He too was a descendant of Rapha. 7Jonathan, son of David's brother Shimea, killed him when he defied Israel.

8 These men were descendants from Rapha of Gath and they fell at the hands of David and his guards.

The census

21- 1 Satan rose against Israel and incited David to take census of the Israelites. 2 David said to Joab and to the senior army officers, "Go, and take a census of Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, then come back and tell me te total." 3 Joab said, "May Yahweh multiply the people a hundred times! My lord king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why should my lord make this inquiry? Why should guilt be brought on Israel?" 4 But the king enforced his order to Joab, and Joab went away, covered the whole of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem. 5 Joab gave David the figures for the census of the people: the whole of Israel numbered one million thousand men capable of drawing sword, and Judah four hundred and seventy thousand capable of drawing sword. 6 Joab had found the king's command so distasteful that he had taken ne census of Levi or of Benjamin.

The pestilence. God's forgiveness

7 God looked with displeasure on these proceedings, and he struck Israel. 8 Then David said to God, "I have committed a grave sin by doing this. But now I beg you to forgive your servant for this fault. I have been very foolish." 9 Then Yahweh spoke to Gad, David's seer, 10 "Go and say to David, "Yahweh says this: I offer you three things; chose one of them for me to do to you.'" 11 So Gad went to David and said, "Yahweh says this, 'Take your choice: 12 with the sword of your enemies thrusting at you, or the sword of Yahweh and three days' pestilence in the country, with the angel of Yahweh ravaging all the territory of Israel.' Now decide how I am to answer him who sends me." 13 "This is a hard choice," David said to Gad. "But let me rather fall into the power of Yahweh, since his mercy is very great; and not into the power of men."

14 So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel, and seventy thousand men of the Israelites died. 15 Then God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, Yahweh looked and thought better of this evil; and he said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Now withdraw your hand." The angel of Yahweh was standing beside the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 David, raising his eyes, saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and heaven, a drawn sword in his hand stretched out toward Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell the their faces. 17 "Was it not I who sinned, who did this most wicked thing? But these, this flock, what have they done? Yahweh my God, let your hand lie heavy on me and on my family; but let your people escape the plague."

The altar is built

18 The angel of Yahweh then said to Gad, "David must go up and erect an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite," 19 So David went up at the word which Gad had spoken in the name of Yahweh. 20 Now Ornan, as he turned, had seen the angel and had hidden, with his four sons. Ornan was threshing wheat 21 when David came to him. Oenan looked down, saw David, came off the threshing floor and with his face to the ground did homage to David. 22 Then David said to Ornan, "Let me have the site of this threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh. Let me have it at its full price. For then the plague will be turned away from the people." 23 "Take it," Ornan said to David, "and let my lord king do as he thinks right. Look, I give you the oxen for the holocausts, the threshing sled for the wood and the wheat for the oblation. I give them all."

24 But King David said to Ornan, "No. I must buy it from you at the full price; I will not take for Yahweh what belongs to you, offering holocausts that cost me nothing." 25 So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the site.

26 David built an altar there to Yahweh and offered holocausts and communion sacrifices. He called on Yahweh, and Yahweh answered him with fire from Heaven of the altar of holocaust 27 and ordered the angel to sheathe his sword. 28 Then it was, seeing that Yahweh had answered him on the threshing floor of 29 Ornan the Jebusite, that David offered sacrifice there. The tabernacle of Yahweh that Moses had made in the wilderness and the altar of holocaust were at that time of the high place at Gibeon, 30 but David had not been able to go into God's presence there to consult him, so fearful was he of the sword of the angel of Yahweh. 22- 1 Then David said, "Here is the house of Yahweh God; and this shall be the altar of holocaust for Israel."

Preparations for the building of the Temple

2 David gave the orders for the gathering of all the strangers living in the land of Israel and set stonecutters preparing dressed stones for building the house of God. 3 David furthermore stored up great quantities of Iron to make nails for the leaves of the doors and for the clamps, and more bronze than could be weighed; 4 Logs of cedar too, beyond the number, the Sidonians and Tyrians having brought cedar los ro David in great quantities.

5 Then David said, "My son Solomon is young, of tender years, and the house to be built for Yahweh must be of great splendour, renowned for its magnificence in every country. I will make the preparations for him." And so, before he died, David made ample preparations. 6 He then summoned his so Solomon and instructed him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. 7 "My son," David said to Solomon, "my heart was set on building a house for the name of Yahweh my God. 8 But the word of Yahweh came to me, 'You have shed much blood and fought great battles; it is not for you to build a house for my name, since you have shed so much blood on the earth in my presence. 9 But now a son is born to you. He shall be a man of peace, and I will give him peace from all the enemies that surround him; for Solomon is his name, and in his days I will give Israel peace and quiet. 10 He shall build a house for my name; he shall be a son to me and I a father to him, and I will make his royal throne secure in Israel for ever.' 11 Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and give you success in building a house for Yahweh your God, as he has said concerning you. 12 Yet may he give you discretion and discernment, may he give you his orders for Israel so that you may observe the Law of Yahweh your God. 13 Success will be yours if you carefully observe the statutes and the ordinances that Yahweh has prescribed to Moses for Israel. Be strong and stand fast, be fearless, be dauntless. 14 Poor as I am, I have set aside for the house of Yahweh one hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver and more bronze and iron than can be weighed; I have stored up wood and stone too, to which you must add more. 15 You will have many workmen, stonecutters, masons, carpenters, skilled artisans of every kind, 16 while your gold and silver, bronze and iron, will be beyond reckoning. Set to work, then, and may Yahweh be with you!"

17 David then ordered all the Israelite leaders to help his son Solomon. 18 "Is not Yahweh your God with you?" He said. "He has given you peace on all sides, since he has put the inhabitants of the country into my power and the land has been subdued for Yahweh and for his people. 19 So now devote heart and soul to the search for Yahweh your God. Set to and build the sanctuary of Yahweh your God, so that you can bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy things of God to the house that is built for the name of Yahweh."

The orders and functions of the Levites

23- 1 David, an old man now with his fill of days, made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 He gathered all the Israelite leaders together, with the priests and Levites.

3 A census was taken of those Levites thirty years old and upward. On a count of heads their number was thirty-eight thousand; 4 twenty-four thousand of these were responsible for the services of the house of Yahweh; six thousand were scribes and judges; 5 four thousand were keepers of the gate; four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments David had made for that purpose.

6 Then David divided the Levites into orders: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7 For the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. 8 Sons of Ladan: Jehiel first, Zetha, Joel; three in all. 9 Sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, Haran; three in all. These are the heads of the families of Ladan. 10 Sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei; four in all. 11 Jahath was the eldest, Zizah the second, then Jeush and Beriah, who had not many children and were reckoned as one family.

12 Sons of Kohath: Amram. Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel; four in all. 13 Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh, to serve him and to bless in his name for ever. 14 Moses was a man of God whose sons were given the name of the tribe of Levi. 15 Gershom and Eliezer. 16 Sons of Gershom: Shebuel, the first. 17 Eliezer had sons: Rehabiah, the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. 18 Sons of Izhar: Shelomith, the first. 19 Sons of Hebro: Jeriah first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, Jekameam fourth. 20 Sons of Uzziel: Micah first, Issiah second.

21 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died leaving no sons but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married these. 23 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jeremoth; three in all.

24 These were the sons of Levi by their families, the heads of families, and those registered by name, individually; whoever was twenty years old or upward had his function in the service of the Temple of Yahweh.

25 For David had said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given peace to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem for ever. 26 The Levites are no longer required to carry the tabernacle or any thing used in its service." 27 For, according to the last words of David, the Levites who had been registered were twenty years and upward. 28 Their duty is to be at the disposal of the sons of Aaron for the service of the Temple of Yahweh, in the courts and chambers, to purify everything consecrated; their duty is to serve the Temple of God. 29 They are also responsible for the loaves set out in rows, and for the flour for the oblation, the wafers of unleavened bread, the cakes baked on the griddle or mixed, and with various measures of volume and of length. 30 They have to be present every morning to give glory and praise to Yahweh, and also in the evening, 31 and at every offering of holocaust to Yahweh on the sabbath. New Moon or solemn feast - a set number of them laid down by rule. This is a perpetual obligation for them in the presence of Yahweh. 32 In serving the Temple of Yahweh they observe the ritual of the Tent of Meeting, the ritual of the sanctuary and the ritual of their kinsmen, the sons of Aaron.

The classification of the priests

24- 1 Orders of the sons of Aaron: Sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar. 2 Nadab and Abihu died in their father's lifetime leaving no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became priests. 3 David divided them into orders with the help of Zadok, one of Eleazar's sons, and Ahimelech, one of the sons of Ithamar, and made a register of them according to their duties. 4 The sons of Eleazar were found to have more leading men than the sons of Ithamar; accordingly, from the heads of families of the sons of Eleazar they made sixteen orders, and from those of the sons of Ithamar, eight. 5 They divided them, both parties, by lot: there were consecrated officials, officials of God, among the sons of Eleazar, as among the sons of Ithamar. 6 One of the Levites, the scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, recorded them in the presence of the king, his officers, Zadok the priest, Ahimalech son of Abiathar and the heads of the priestly and levitical families. They drew lots for each family of the sons of Eleazar and for the sons of Ithamar, turn and turn about.

7 The first fell to Jehoiarib, to Jedaiah the second, 8 Harim the third, Seorim the fourth. 9 Malchijah the fifth, Mijamin the sixth, 10 Hakkoz the seventh, Abijah the eighth, 11Jeshua the ninth, Shecaniah the tenth, 12 Eliashib the eleventh, Jakim the twelfth, 13 Huppah the thirteenth, Isbaal the fourteenth, 14 Bigah the fifteenth, Immer the sixteenth, 15 Hezir the seventeenth, Happizzez the eighteenth, 16 Pethahiah the nineteenth, Jehezkel the twentieth, 17 Jachin the twenty-first, Gamul the twenty-second, 18 Delaiah the twenty-third, Maaziah the twenty-fourth.

19 These were the men as registered by their various duties, to enter the Temple of Yahweh in conformity to their rule handed on by Aaron their father as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had laid it down for him.

20 As regards the rest of the sons of Levi:

For the sons of Amram: Shubael. For the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. 21 For Rehabiah, for the sons of Rehabiah: the eldest, Isshiah. 22 For the Izharites: Shelomoth; for the sons of Shelomoth: Jabath. 23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 Sons of Uzziel: Micah; for the sons of Micah: Shamir; 25 the brother of Micah: Isshiah; for the sons of Micah: Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 Sons of Merari: Mahl and Mushi. Sons of Jaaziah: his son; 27 sons of Merari: for Jaaziah his son: Shoham, Zaccur,Ibri; 28 for Mahli; Eleazar who had no sons; 29 for Kish: the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. 30 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder. Jerimoth.

These were the sons of Levi by their families. 31 Like their kinsmen, the sons of Aaron, these families, senior and junior, drew lots in the presence of king David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the priestly and levitical families.

The cantors

25- 1 For the liturgy, David and the senior army officers set apart the sons of Asaph, of Heman and of Jeduthun, prophets who accompanied themselves with lyre and harp and cymbal, and a list was made of those with these duties to perform.

2 For the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nathaniah, Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph who prophesied at the king's direction.

3 For Jeduthun: sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, Mattithiah; there were six of them under the direction of their father Jeduthun who, to the sound of the lyre, prophesied to the glory and praise of Yahweh.

4 For Heman: sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattiniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joasbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. 5 All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer; these sounded the trumpet to accompany God's words. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters; 6 all of them sang in the Temple of Yahweh under their father's direction to the sound of cymbal, harp and lyre, for the liturgy in the house of Yahweh at the king's direction.

Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman, 7 these who had learned to sing to Yahweh, were registered with their kinsmen; the total of those so trained was two hundred and eighty-eight. 8 Junior and senior, master and pupil alike, they drew lots for their term of duty. 9 The first to whom the lot fell was the Asaphite, Joseph. The second was Gedaliah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 10 The third was Zaccur, twelve with his sons and brothers. 11 The fourth was Izri, twelve with his sons and brothers. 12 The fifth was Netahniah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 13 The sixth was Bukkiah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 14 The seventh was Jesharelah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 15 The eighth was Jeshaiah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 16 The ninth was Mattaniah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 17 The tenth was Shimei, twelve with his sons and brothers. 18 The eleventh was Azarel, twelve with his sons and brothers. 19 The twelfth was Ashabiah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 20 The thirteenth was Shubael, twelve with his sons and brothers. 21 The fourteenth was Mattithiah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 22 The fifteenth was Jeremoth, twelve with his sons and brothers. 23The sixteenth was Hananiah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 24 The seventeenth was Joshbekashah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 25 The eighteenth was Hanani, twelve with his sons and brothers. 26 The nineteenth was Mallothi, twelve with his sons and brothers. 27 The twentieth was Eliathah, twelve with his sons and brothers. 28 The twenty-first was Hothir, twelve with his sons and brothers. 29 The twenty-second was Giddalti, twelve with his sons and brothers. 30 The twenty-third was Mahazioth, twelve with his sons and brothers. 31 The twenty-fourth was Romamti-ezer, twelve with his sons and brothers.

The keepers of the gate

26- 1 As regards the orders of the gatekeepers:

For the Korashites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Ebiasaph. 2 Meshelemiah had sons: Zekariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third. Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fith, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.

4 Obed-edom had sons: Shemaniah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him. 6 To his son Shemaiah sons were born who had authority in their families, for they were stout fighting men. 7 Sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad and his brothers Elihu and Semaciah, brave men. 8 All these were sons of Obed-edom. These and their sons and brothers were well fitted for their task. For Obed-edom, sixty-two.

9 Meshelemiah had sons and brothers: eighteen brave men.

10 Hosha, one of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri was the first, for although he was not the first-born his father made him chief. 11 Hilkiah was the second, Tebaliah the third, Zekaraih the fourth. The sons and brothers of Hoash were thirteen in all.

12 These, as keepers of the gate, had their orders, and the leaders of these heroes had duties corresponding to those of their kinsmen in the service of the Temple of Yahweh. 13 They drew lots, junior and senior family alike, for each gate. 14 For the east side the lot fell to Shelemiah, whose son Zechariah was a shrewd counsellor; when they drew lots, the lot for the north side fell to the latter. 15 To Obed-edom went the south, and to his sons the storehouse. 16 To Shuppim and Hoash went the west with the Gate of the Felled Tree-trunk on the upper road. The watch, turn and turn about: 17 on the east, six daily; on the north, four daily; on the south, four daily; at the storehouse, two each side; 18 for the Parbar on the west: four at the road, two at the Parbar. 19 These were the orders of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and Merarites.

Other levitical duties

20 The Levites, their kinsmen, were responsible for those in charge of the treasuries of the Temple of God and in charge of the treasuries of votive offerings:

21 The sons of Ladan, sons, through Ladan, of Geshon, had the Jehielites for heads of families of Ladan the Gerchonite. 22 The Jehirlites, Zethem and Joel his brother, were responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of Yahweh.

23 As reards the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites:

24 Shebuel son of Gershon, son of Moses, was the officer responsible for the treasuries. 25 His kinsmen through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joeam his son, Zichri his son, Shelomoth his son. 26 This Shelomoth and his kinsmen were responsible for all the treasuries of votive offerings dedicated by King David and by the heads of families as officers of thousands, of hundreds, or other senior officers 27 (they had dedicated a part of the spoils of war to make the house of Yahweh more impressive). 28 and also for all that Samuel the seer had dedicated, and Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah.

All that had been dedicated was the responsibility of Shelomoth and his kinsmen.

29 For the Izharites: Chananiah and his sons were assigned to outside duties for Israel as scribes and judges.

30 For the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his kinsmen, one thousand seven hundred fighting men to guard Israel of Jordan in all that had to do with Yahweh and in the service of the king. 31 For the Hebronites: Jerijah the chief. In the fortieth year of David's reign, the pedegrees of the Hebronites families were investigated and stout fighting men were found belonging to them at Jazer in Gilead. 32 King David nominated two thousand seven hundred fighting men, kinsmen to Jerijah and heads of families, as overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh in all the business of God and of the king.

Military and civil organization

27- 1 The sons of Israel; their enumeration.

The heads of families, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, their scribes, these performed their duties among the people. The others played their part in all royal business. There was one on duty for a month, every month of the year. Each order was made up of twenty-four thousand men.

2 The commissioner for the first month was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel. He had charge of an order of twenty-four men. 3 He was a son of Perez and chief of all the officers of the group detailed for the first month.

4 The commissioner for the order of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite. He had the charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

5 The officer of the third group detailed for the third month was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the chief priest. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men. 6 This was the Benaiah who was champion of the Thirty, and who was commissioner for the Thirty and for his order. Ammizabad was his son.

7 The fourth, detailed for the fourth month, was Asahel, the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

8 The fifth, detailed for the fifth month, was the officer Shamhuth the Izrahite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

9 The sixth, detailed for the sixth month, was Ira of Ikkesh pf Tekoa. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

10 The seventh, detailed for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, one of the sons of Ephraim. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

11 The eight, detailed for the eigth month, was Ssibbacai of Hushah, a Zerahite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

12 The ninth, detailed for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

13 The tenth, detailed for the tenth month, was Mahari of Netophah, a Zerahite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

14 The eleventh, detailed for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, a son of Ephraim. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

15 The twelfth, detailed for the twelfth month, was Heldai from Netophah, of Othniel. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

16 Commissioners for the tribes of Israel: Eliazer son of Zichri was chief officer for the Reubenites, Shephatiah son of Maacah for the Simeonites, 17 Hashabiah son of Kemuel for the Levites, Zadok for the Aaronites, 18 Elihu, one of David's brothers, for the Judaeans, Omri son of Michael for the Issacharites, 19 Ishmaiah son of Obadiah for the Zebulunites, Jeremoth son of Azriel for the Naphtalites, 20 Hoshea son of Azaziah for the Ephraimites, Joel son of Pedaiah for the half tribe of Manasseh, 21 Iddo son of Zechariah for the half tribe of Manasseh in Gad, Jaasiel son of Abner for the Benjaminites, 22 Azarel son of Jeroham for the Danites. These were the officials for the tribes of Israel.

23 David took no census of those who were twenty years old and under, since Yahweh had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab son of Zeruiah began a census, thought he did not finished it. That is why the wrath came on Israel, and the figure never reached the figure found in the Annals of King David.

25 Commissioner for the king's store: Amaveth son of Adiel. Commissioner for the stores in provincial towns, villages, castles: Jonathan son of Uzziah. 26 Commissioner for the agricultural workers employed on the land: Uzri son of Chelub. 27 Commissioner for the vineyards: Shimei of Ramah. Commissioner for those vineyards who looked after the wine cellars; Zabdi of Shepham. 28 Commissioner for the olives and sycamores in the lowlands: Baal-hanan of Geder. Commissioner for the stores of oil: Joash. 29 Commissioner for the cattle in pasture at Sharon; Shitrai of Sharon. Commissioner for cattle in the valley: Shaphat son of Adlai. 30 Commissioner for camels: Obil the Ishmaelite. Commissioner for donkeys: Jehdeiah of Meranoth. 31 Commissioner for flocks: Jaziz the Hagrite. All were bailiffs for King David's property.

32 Jonathan, David's uncle, who was a councilor, a shrewd man and a scribe, had charge of the royal children, with Jehiel son of Hachmoni. 33 Ahithophel was the king's councilor. Hushai the Archite was Friend of the King. 34 Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar succeeded Ahitophel. Joab was commander of the king's armies.

David's instructions for the Temple

28- 1 David held a meeting in Jerusalem of all the officials of Israel, the commissioners for the tribes, and the officials of the orders in the royal service, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the bailiffs for all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the eunuchs and champions and all the stout fighting men. 2 The King David rose to his feet and said:

"My brothers and my people, listen to me. I had my heart on building a settled home for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, as a footstool for our God. I have made preparations for building, 3 but God has said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my name, for you have been a man of war and have shed blood.'

4 "Of all my father's House it was I whom Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose to be king of Israel for ever. He chose Judah for leader, my family within the House of Judah, and of my father's sons myself, in his good pleasure, he gave to all Israel as king. 5 Of all my sons - and many sons Yahweh has granted me - he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the sovereign throne of Yahweh over Israel. 6 He said to me, 'Solomon your son is the man to build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me and I will be a father to him. 7 I will make his sovereignty secure for ever if he sturdily maintains my commandments and my ordinances, as they are now.'

8 "So now in the sight of all Israel and the assembly of Yahweh, and in the hearing of our God, observe and make sure you understand all the commandments of Yahweh your God, so that you may possess this prosperous land and leave it to your children after you as an inheritance for ever.

9 "And, you Solomon my son, know the God of your father, serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind; for Yahweh searches every heart, and knows every plan it devises. If you seek him, he will let you find him; once forsake him, and he cast you off for ever. 10 Think at this moment how Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for his sanctuary. Be strong and set to work."

11 David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, the buildings, the treasuries, the upper rooms, the inner apartments and the room for the throne of mercy; 12 he also gave him a description of all he had in mind for the courts of the Temple of Yahweh, all the surrounding apartments, the treasuries of the Temple of God and the treasuries of votive offerings; 13 also of the orders of priests and Levites, the liturgical duties in the Temple of Yahweh, 14 the gold bullion, gold for every article for whatever function, the silver bullion for all the silver articles, for every article for whatever function, 15 the bullion for the golden lampstands and their lamps, the gold bullion for each lampstand and its lamps, the bullion for the silver lampstands, for the lampstand and its lamps according to the requirements for each lampstand, 16 gold bullion for the tables on which the rows of bread were set, for each of these tables, the silver for the silver tables, 17 te sprinkling bowls, basins of pure gold, the gold bullion for the bowls, for each of the bowls, 18 the bullion of refined gold for the altar on incense. He gave him the plans for the chariot, for the golden cherubs with wings outspread covering the ark of the covenant of Yahweh - 19 all this in accordance with what Yahweh with his hand had written in order to make the whole work clear for which he was providing the plans.

20 Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong, stand firm; be fearless, be dauntless and set to work, because Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you before you have finished all the work to be done for the house of Yahweh. 21 Here are the orders of priests and Levites for all the duties of the house of God; every willing man of any aptitude will help you in all this work; the officials and all the people are entirely at your command."

The voluntary offerings

29- 1 Then King David said to the whole assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone Yahweh has chosen, is young, of tender years, and the work is great; this place is not for man but for God. 2 With all the resources I have, I have provided for the house of my God, adding gold to gold, silver to silver, bronze to bronze, iron to iron, wood to wood, onyx, inlaid stones, coloured and striped stones, precious stones of every kind, masses of alabaster. 3 What is more; what gold and silver I have in my owned treasury I give out of love for the house of my God, over and above what I have provided already for the holy Temple - 4 three thousand talents of gold, gold of Ophir, seven thousand talents of refined silver for plating the walls of the buildings. 5 Whatever gold you have, whatever silver, or workmanship of the craftsman's hand, which of you today will undertake to consecrate it to Yahweh?"

6 Then the heads of families, the officials for the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and those who managed the king's affairs, undertook 7 to give for the service of the house of God five thousand talents of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents f bronze, a hundred talents of Iron. 8 All this, with what there were in the way of stones, they paid into the treasury of the house of Yahweh, for Jehiel the Gershonite to administer. 9 The people rejoiced as what these had given so readily, since their generous gift to Yahweh had been made wholeheartedly. King David too was filled with joy. 10 In sight of the whole assembly David blessed Yahweh and said:

"May you be blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our ancestors, for ever and for ever! 11 Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness and the power, splendour, length of days, glory, for all that is in heavens and on earth is yours. Yours is the sovereignty, Yahweh; you are exalted over all, supreme. 12 Riches and honour go before you, you are ruler of all, in your hand lie strength and power; in your hand it is to give greatness and strength to all. 13 At this time, our God, we give you glory, we praise the splendour of your name. 14 For who am I and what is my people to have the means to give so generously? All comes from you; from your own hand we have given them to you. 15 For we are strangers before you, settlers only, as all our ancestors were; our days on earth pass like a shadow, and there is no hope. 16 Yahweh our God, this store we have provided to build a house for your holy name, all comes from your hand, all is yours. 17 O my God, you search the heart, I know, and delight in honesty, and with honesty of heart I have willingly given all this; and now with joy I have seen your people here offer you their gifts willingly. 18 Yahweh, God of our ancestors, of Abraham, of Isaac, of Israel, watch over this for ever, shape the purpose of your people's heart and direct their hearts to you. 19 Give Solomon my son a heart determined to keep your commandments, your decrees, your statutes; may he practice them all, and build this place I have prepared for you."

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, "Bless now Yahweh your God!" And the whole assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and went on their knees to do homage to Yahweh and to the king.

The accession of Solomon and the end of the reign of David

21 On the day following this, the Israelites offered sacrifices and holocausts to Yahweh: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs with their libations as well as many sacrifices for the whole of Israel. 22 They ate and drank that day in Yahweh's presence with great joy. Then having made Solomon son of David their second king, they anointed him leader in the name of Yahweh, and anointed Zadok as priest. 23 Solomon took his seat on the throne of Yahweh, to reign in succession to David his father. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officials, all the champions, and even all the sons of King David, pledged allegiance to King Solomon. 25 Yahweh brought Solomon's greatness to its height in the sight of Israel, and gave him a reign of such splendour as none that had reigned over Israel before him had ever known.

26 David son of Jesse had reigned over the whole of Israel. 27 His reign over Israel had lasted forty years; he had reigned in Hebron for seven years, and in Jerusalem for thirty-three. 28 He died in happy old age, with his fill of days, of riches, of honour. Then his son Solomon succeeded him. 29 The history of King David, from first to last, is not all this recorded in the Annals of Samuel the seer, the Annals of Nathan the prophet, and the Annals of Gad the seer, 30 with his entire reign, his prowess, and the turns of fortune that came to him and to Israel and to all the kingdoms of the other countries?

Solomon's gift of wisdom

1- 1 Solomon son of David made himself secure on the throne. Yahweh his God was with him and brought his greatness to its height. 2 Solomon then spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the princes of all Israel, the heads of families. 3 Then Solomon, and with him the whole assembly, went to the high place of Gibeon, where God's Tent of Meeting was, which Moses, the servant of God, had made in the wilderness; 4 David, however, had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim; to the place he had prepared for it, having pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 The bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made stood there in front of the tabernacle of Yahweh; to this went Solomon, with the assembly. 6 And there Solomon, in Yahweh's presence, ascended the bronze altar that was by the Tent of Meeting, and on it he offered a thousand holocausts.

7 That night, God appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask what you would like me to give you." 8 Solomon replied to God, "You showed great kindness to David my father; and you have made me king in succession to him. 9 Yahweh God, the promise you made to David my father has now been fulfilled, since you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth for number. 10 Therefore now give me wisdom and knowledge to act as leader of this people, for who could govern a people so great as yours?"

11 "Since that is what you want," God said to Solomon, "since you have asked, not for riches, treasure, honour, the lives of your enemies, or even a long life, but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people of whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge are granted you. I give you riches too, and treasure, and honour such as none of the kings had that were before you, nor shall any have that come after you."

13 Solomon left the high place of Gibeon for Jerusalem, away from the Tent of Meeting. He reigned over Israel. 14 Solomon built a force of chariots and horses; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses; these he stationed in the chariot towns and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 In Jerusalem the king made silver common as pebbles, and cedars plentiful as the sycamores of the lowlands. 16 Solomon's horses were imported from Cilicia; the king's agents took delivery of them from Cilicia at a fixed rate. 17 They imported chariots from Egypt at six hundred shekels apiece, and horses at one hundred and fifty shekels. These men acted in a similar capacity for all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

The final preparations. Huram of Tyre

18 Solomon decided to build a house for the name of Yahweh and another for himself and his court.

2- 1 He impressed seventy thousand men for carrying loads, eighty thousand to quarry in the hill country, and three thousand six hundred overseers in charge of them. 2 Solomon then despatched this message to Huram king of Tyre, "Deal with me as you dealt with my father David when you sent him cedars for him to built a house to live in. 3 I am now building a house for the name of Yahweh my God, to acknowledge his holiness, by burning incense of scented spices in his presence, by the loaves that are perpetually set out, by offering holocausts morning and evening, on the sabbath, New Moon, and the solemn festivals of Yahweh our God - and this for ever in Israel. 4 The house I am building will be large, for our God is greater than all gods. 5 Who would have the means to build him a house when the heavens and their own heavens cannot contain him? And I, for what purpose could I build a house other than to burn incense in his presence? 6 So send me a man skilled in the use of gold, silver, bronze, iron, scarlet, crimson, violet, and the art of engraving too; he is to work with my skilled men here in Judah and Jerusalem, men my father David provided. 7 From Lebanon send me cedar wood, juniper and algummim, since I know your servants know the art of felling the trees of Lebanon. My servants will work with yours. 8 They will prepare wood in bulk for me, since the house I wish to build is to be astounding size. 9 For the woodmen who are to fell the trees I assign twenty thousand kors of grain, twenty thousand kors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil - this is for the maintenance of your servants."

10 In a letter sent to King Solomon, Huram king of Tyre replied. "Because Yahweh loves his people he has made you king. 11 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel," Huram went on to say, "He has made the heavens and the earth, and given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and discernment, who is going to build a house for Yahweh and another for himself and his court. 12 And I am also sending you a skilled craftsman, Huram-abi, 13 the son of a Danite woman by a Tyrian father. He is skilled in the use of gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, scarlet, violet, fine linen, crimson, in engraving of all kinds and in the execution of any design suggested to him. Let him be put to work with your craftsmen and those of my lord David, your father. 14 So now let my lord send his servants the wheat, barley, oil and wine, as already suggested.

15 "For our part, we will fell all the wood you need from Lebanon, and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, and it will be your responsibility to transport it to Jerusalem.

The construction

16 Solomon took a count of all the aliens resident in the land of Israel, following the census that David his father had taken; it was found there were a thousand and fifty-three thousand six hundred. 17 He impressed seventy thousand of these for carrying loads, eighty thousand for quarrying in the hill country and three thousand six hundred as overseers to make sure the people worked.

3- 1 Moriah where David his father had a vision. It was the place prepared by David, the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 Solomon began building in the second month of the fourth year of his reign, on the second day. 3 Now the structure of the house of God founded by Solomon was sixty cubits long - cubits of the old standard - and twenty cubits wide. 4 The Ulam in front of the Hekal of the Temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the house, and its height was a hundred and twenty cubits. He plated it on the inside with pure gold. 5 The Great Hall he faced with juniper which he plated with pure gold, and on it set palms and festoons. 6 He adorned the hall with precious stones of great beauty; the gold from Parvaim, 7 and with this he faced the hall, the rafters, threshold, walls and doors; on the walls he carved cherubs.

8 He then built the hall of the Holy of Holies; its length, across the width of the Great Hall, was twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits. He plated it with six hundred talents of fine gold; 9 the gold nails weighed fifty shekels. He also plated the upper rooms with gold. 10 In the hall of the Holy of Holies he made two cherubs of wrought metal work and plated them with gold. 11 The total span of the cherubs' wings was twenty cubits, each being five cubits long, with one wing touching the wall of the hall, while the other touched that of the other cherub. 12 One wing of a cherub, five cubits long, touched the wall of the apartment; the second, five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 13 The spread of these cherubs' wings was twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the Hall.

14 He made the Veil of violet, scarlet, crimson and fine linen; he worked cherubs on it.

15 In front of the hall he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, and on the top of each a capital measuring five cubits. 16 In the Debir he made festoons, setting them at the tops of the pillars, and a hundred pomegranates which he place on the festoons. 17 He set up the pillars in front of the Hekal, one on the right, the other on the left; the one on the right he called Jachin, the one on the left Boaz.

4- 1 He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten high. 2 He made the Sea of cast metal, ten cubits from rim to rim, circular in shape and five cubits high; a cord thirty cubits long gave the measurement of its girth. 3 Under it and completely encircling it were animals shaped like oxen; they went around the Sea over the length of twenty cubits; the oxen were in two rows, of one and the same casting with the rest. 4 It rested on twelve oxen, three acing north, three facing west, three facing south, three facing east; on these, their hindquarters all turned inward stood the Sea. 5 It was a hand's breadth in thickness, and its rim was shaped like the rim of a cup, like a flower. It could hold three thousand baths.

6 He made ten basins, arranging five on the right-hand side, five on the left-hand side, for washing the victim for the holocaust which was purified there; but the Sea was for priests to wash in. 7 He made ten golden lampstands in the way prescribed and placed them in the Hekal, five on the right and five of the left. 8 He made ten tables and placed them in the Hekal, five on the right and five on the left. He made a hundred golden sprinkling bowls.

9 He made the court of the priests and the great court with its gates and plated the gates with bronze. 10 He placed the Sea some distance from the right-hand side, to the southeast.

11 Huram made the ash containers, the scoops and the sprinkling bowls. He finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the Temple of God;

12 the two pillars; the two mouldings of the capitals surrounding the pillars; the two sets of filigree to cover the two mouldings of the capitals surrounding the pillars; 13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of filigree; the pomegranates of each set of filigree were in two rows; 14 the ten stands and the ten basins on the stands; 15 the one Sea and the twelve oxen beneath it; 16 the ash containers, the scoops, the forks, and all their accessories made by Huram-abi of burnished bronze for King Solomon, for the Temple of Yahweh. 17 The king made them by process of sand casting, in the Jordan area between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made all these articles in great quantities, no reckoning being made of weight of bronze.

19 Solomon placed all the furnishings he had made in the Temple of God: the golden altar and the tables for the loaves of offering; 20 the lampstands with their lamps to burn, as prescribed, in front of the Debir, of pure gold; 21 the floral work, the lamps, the extinguishers, of gold (and it was pure gold); 22 the knives, the sprinkling bowls, incense boats, of fine gold; the door of the Temple, the inner doors (for the Holy of Holies) and the Temple doors (for the Hekal), of gold.

5- 1 So all the work that Solomon did for the Temple of Yahweh was completed, and Solomon brought what his father David had consecrated, the silver the gold and the vessels, and put them in the treasury of the Temple of God.

The ark is brought to the Temple

2 Then Solomon called the elders of Israel together in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh up from the Citadel of David, which is Zion. 3 All the men of Israel assembled around the king in the seventh month, at the time of the feast. 4 All the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark 5 and the Tent of Meeting with all the sacred vessels that were in it; the levitical priests brought them up.

6 King Solomon, and all the community of Israel gathering with him in front of the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, countless, innumerable. 7 The priests brought the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, in the Debir of the Temple, that is the Holy of Holies, under the cherubs' wings. 8 For there where the ark was placed the cherubs spread out their wings and sheltered the ark and its shafts. 9 These were long enough for their ends to be seen from the Holy Place in front of the Debir, but not from outside. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where Yahweh had made a covenant with Israel when they came out of Egypt; they are still there today.

The Lord takes possession of his Temple

11 Now when the priests came out of the assembly, a cloud filled the sanctuary, the Temple of Yahweh.

Now all the priests present, whatever order they belonged to, had sanctified themselves. 12 The entire body of levitical cantors, Asaph, Henan and Jeduthun with their sons and brothers, was stationed to the east of the altar, robed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. A hundred and twenty priests accompanied them on the trumpet. 13 All those who played the trumpet, or who sang, united in giving praise and glory to Yahweh. Lifting their voices to the sound of the trumpet and cymbal and instruments of music, they gave praise to Yahweh, "For he is good, for his love is everlasting."

14 Because of the cloud the priests could no longer perform their duties: the glory of Yahweh filled the Temple of God.

6- 1 Then Solomon said:

"Yahweh has chosen to dwell in the thick cloud.

Yes, I have built you a dwelling,

2 a place for you to live in for ever."

Solomon addresses the people

3 Then the king turned and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while the whole assembly of Israel stood. 4 He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has carried out by his hand what he promised with is mouth to David, my father, when he said, 5 From the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city, in any of the tribes of Israel, to have a house built where my name might make its home, and chose no man to be prince of my people Israel; 6 but I chose Jerusalem for my name to make my name its home there, and I chose David to rule over Israel my people.' 7 My father David had set his heart on building a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, 8 but Yahweh said, 'You have set your heart on building a house for my name, and in this you have done well; 9 and yet, you are not the man to build the house; your son. Born of your own body, shall build the house for my name.' 10 Yahweh has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and am seated on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised; I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, 11 and have placed in it the ark containing the covenant that Yahweh made with the sons of Israel."

Solomon's prayer for himself

12 Then in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh and stretched out his hands. 13 Now Solomon had made a bronze pedestal and had placed it in the middle of the court; it was five cubits long, five cubits wide and five cubits high. Solomon mounted it, and knelt down on it in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel; he stretched out his hands to heaven, 14 and said, "Yahweh, God of Israel, not in heaven nor on earth is there such a God as you, true to your covenant and your graciousness toward your servants when they walk wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept the promise you made to your servant David my father; what you promised with your mouth, today you have carried out by your hand. 16 And now, Yahweh, God of Israel, keep the promise you made your servant David when you said, 'You shall never lack for a man seated before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful how they behave, following my law as you as yourself have done.' 17 So now, God of Israel, let the words come true which you spoke to your servant David my father. 18 Yet will God really live with men on the earth? Why, the heavens and their own heavens cannot contain you! How much less this house that I have built! 19 Listen to the prayer and entreaty of your servant, Yahweh my God; listen to the cry and to the prayer your servant makes to you. 20 Day and night let your eyes watch over this house, over this place in which you have promised to make a home for your name. Listen to the prayer that your servant will offer in this place.

Solomon's prayer for the people

21 "Hear the entreaties of your servant and of Israel your people as they pray in this place. From heaven where your dwelling is, hear; and, as you hear, forgive.

22 "If a man sins against his neighbour, and the neighbour calls down a curse on him and makes him swear an oath before your altar in this Temple, 23 hear from heaven, and act; decide between your servants; punish the wicket one, bringing his conduct down on his head; and vindicate the innocent, rewarding him as his innocence deserves.

24 "If Israel your people are defeated by the enemy because they have sinned against you, if they return to you and praise your name and pray to you and entreat you in this Temple, 25 hear from heaven; forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.

26 "When the heavens are shut and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray in this place and praise your name and, having been humbled by you, repent of their sin, 27 hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servant and of your people Israel; show them the good way they ought to follow; and send rain on your land which you have given your people as an inheritance.

28 "Should there be famine in the land or pestilence, blight of mildew, locust or caterpillar, should this people's enemies lay siege to one of its city gates, if there is any plague or sickness, 29 if any one man, or all Israel your people, should feel remorse and sorrow and pray or make entreaty, stretching out his hands toward this Temple, 30 hear from heaven where your home is; forgive, and deal with each as his conduct deserves, for you know each heart - you alone know the hearts of all mankind - 31 That they may come to revere you and follow your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.

32 "And the foreigner too, not belonging to your people Israel, if he comes from a distant country for the sake of your name and of your mighty hand and outstretched arm, if he comes and prays in this Temple, 33 hear from heaven where your home is, and grant all the foreigner asks, so that all the peoples of the earth may come to know your name and, like your people Israel, revere you, and know that your name is given to the Temple I have built.

34 "If your people go out to war against their enemies on the way you send them, and if they turn toward the city you have chosen and toward the Temple I have built for your name and pray to you, 35 hear from heaven their prayer and their entreaty, and uphold their cause.

36 "If they sin against you - for there is no man who does not sin - and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they are led away captive to a land far or near, 37 if in the land of their exile they come to themselves and repent, and in the country of their captivity they entreat you saying, 'We have sinned, we have acted perversely and wickedly,' 38 and if they turn again to you with all their heart and soul in the country of their captivity to which they have been deported, and pray, turning toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the Temple I have built for your name, 39 hear from heaven where your home is, hear their prayer and their entreaty, uphold their cause, and forgive your people the sins they have committed against you.

Conclusion of the prayer

40 "Now, O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 41 And now

Rise Yahweh God, come to your resting place,

you and the ark of your power.

Your priests, Yahweh God, are vested in salvation,

your faithful rejoice in prosperity.

42 Yahweh God, do not turn away from the face of your anointed;

remember your favours to David your servant."

The dedication

7- 1 When Solomon had finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the holocaust and the sacrifices; and the glory of Yahweh filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the house of Yahweh, because the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh. 3 All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of Yahweh resting on the Temple, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the earth; they worshiped and gave praise to Yahweh, "for he is good, for his love is everlasting." 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before Yahweh. 5 King Solomon offered twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep in sacrifice; and so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of Yahweh. 6 The priests stood in their places, while the Levites gave praise to Yahweh on the instruments that David had made to accompany the canticles of Yahweh, "fore his love is everlasting." These performed the hymns of praise that David had composed. By their side were the priests sounding the trumpet, while all Israel stood.

7 Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that is in front of the Temple of Yahweh; he offered the holocaust there and the fatty parts of the communion sacrifices, since the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the holocaust, the oblation and the fatty parts. 8 Solomon then celebrates the feast for seven days and all the Israelites gathered with him in enormous numbers from the Pass of Hamath to the wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held a propitiation ceremony, for they had been seven days dedicating the altar and seven days celebrating the feast. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month Solomon dismissed the people to their homes, rejoicing and with happy hearts for the goodness Yahweh had shown to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.

Yahweh appears and gives a warning

11 Solomon finished the Temple of Yahweh and the royal palace and successfully concluded all he had set his heart of doing in the house of Yahweh and in his own. 12 Then Yahweh appeared to Solomon in the night and said, "I grant your prayer. I choose this place for myself to be a house of sacrifice. 13 When I close the skies and there is no rain, when I command the locust to devour the land, when I send pestilence among my people, 14 then if my people who bear my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my presence and turn from their wicked ways, I myself will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 Now and for the future my eyes are open and my ears attentive to their prayer that is offered in this place. 16 Now and for the future I have chosen and consecrated this house for my name to be there for ever; my eyes and my heart will be there for ever. 17 For your part, if you walk before me as David your father did, if you do all that I order you and keep my statutes and my ordinances, 18 I will make your royal throne secure, according to the compact I made with David your father when I said: You shall never lack for a man to rule in Israel. 19 But if you turn away from me and forsake the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 Then I will tear the Israelites from the land I have given them, and I will reject from my presence this Temple that I have consecrated for my name and make it a proverb and a byword among all the nations. 21 As for this Temple, now so exalted, all who pass by will be astounded; they will whistle and say, 'Why has Yahweh treated this country and this Temple like this?' 22 And the answer will be, 'Because they forsook Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; that is why he has brought a;; these disasters on them.'"

Conclusion. The completion of the building programme

8- 1 At the end of the twenty years which it took Solomon to build the Temple of Yahweh and his own palace, 2 he rebuilt the towns that Huram had given him and settled Israelites in them. 3 He then went to Hamath of Zobah, which he captured; 4 he rebuilt Tadmor in the wilderness and all the garrison towns he had built in Hamath. 5 He rebuilt Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified towns with walls and gates and bars, 6 Huram sent him ships manned by his own men, and experienced sailors. These went with Solomon's men to Ophir and from there they brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.

9- 1 The fame of Solomon having reached the queen of Sheba, she came to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She came with immense riches, camels laden with spices, great quantities of gold and precious stones. On coming to Solomon, she opened her mind freely to him; 2 and Solomon hd an answer for all her questions, not one was too recondite for Solomon to expound. 3 When the queen saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, 4 the food at his table, the accommodation for his officials, the organization of his staff and the way they were dressed, his cupbearers and the holocausts he offered in the Temple of Yahweh, it left her breathless, 5 and she said to the king, "What I heard in my own country about you and your wisdom was true, then! 6 Until I came and saw it with my own eyes I could not believe what they told me, but evidently what they told me was less than half the real extend of your wisdom; you surpass the report I heard. 7 How happy your wives are! How happy these servants of yours who wait on you always and hear your wisdom! 8 Blessed be Yahweh your God who has granted you his favour, setting you on his throne as king in the name of Yahweh your God. Because your God loves Israel and means to uphold him for ever, he has made you king over them to administer law and justice." 9 And she presented the king with a hundred and twenty talents of gold and a great quantities of spices and precious stones. There never were spices like those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 10 Similarly the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who carried gold from Ophir, brought algummim wood and precious stones. 11 Of algummim wood the king made floor boards for the Temple of Yahweh and for the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the musicians; the like of them had never been seen before in the land of Judah. 12 And King Solomon, in his turn, presented the queen of Sheba with everything she expressed any wish for, besides returning what she had brought to the king. Then she went home, she and her servants, to her own country.

13 The weight of gold coming to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 14 not counting the merchants' dues that the import agents brought in; all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country also brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made two hundred great shields of beaten gold, and plated each with six hundred shekels of gold. 16 Also three hundred small shields of beaten gold, and plated each of these with three hundred shekels of gold; and he put them in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon. 17 The king also made a great ivory throne, and plated it with the purest gold. 18 The throne had six steps, and at the back of it a lamb in gold, and arms at either side of the seat; two lions stood beside the arms, 19 and twelve lions stood on either side of the six steps. No throne like this was ever made in any other kingdom.

20 All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the furnishings in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was thought little of in the time of Solomon. 21 And the king also had ships that went to Tarshish with Huram's men, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would come back laden with gold and silver, ivory, apes and baboons. 22 For riches and for wisdom King Solomon outdid all the kings of the earth. 23 All the kings of the earth sought audience of Solomon to hear the wisdom God had implanted in his heart, 24 and each would bring his own present; gold vessels, silver vessels, robes, armours, spices, horses and mules`and this went on year after year.

25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for his horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses; these he stationed in the chariot towns and near the king in Jerusalem. 26 Solomon extended his power over all the kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines and the Egyptian border. 27 In Jerusalem the king made silver common as pebbles, and cedars plentiful as the sycamores of the Lowlands. 28 Horses were imported for Solomon from Cilicia and all the other countries too.

The death of Solomon

29 The rest of the history of Solomon, from first to last, is not all this recorded in the History of Nathan the prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah of Shiloh, and in the Vision of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem for forty years over Israel. 31 Then Solomon slept with his ancestors and was buried in the Citadel of David his father; his son Rehoboam succeeded him.

The schism

10- 1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for it was to Shechem that all Israel had gone to proclaim him king. 2 As soon as Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news - he was still in Egypt, where he had taken refuge from King Solomon - he returned to Egypt. 3 They sent and summoned him, and he came, with the whole assembly.

And they said this to Rehoboam, 4 "Your father gave us a heavy burden to bear; lighten your father's harsh tyranny now, and the weight of the burden he laid on us, and we will serve you." 5 He said, "Come back to me in three days." And the people went away.

6 King Rehoboam consulted the elders, who had been in the service of his father Solomon while he was alive. "What reply," he asked, "do you advise me to give to this people?" 7 "If you are kind to these people," they said, "if you are pleasant to them and treat them fairly, then they will be your servants for ever." 8 But he rejected the advice given him by the elders and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were in his service. 9 "How do you advise us," he ask, "to answer these people who have said to me, "Lighten the burden your father imposed on us?" 10 The young men who hd grown up with him replied, "Give this answer to these people who have said, 'Your father gave us a heavy burden to bear, you must lighten it for us,' say this to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins! 11 So then, my father made you bear a heavy burden; I will make it heavier still! My father beat you with whips; I am going to beat you with loaded scourges!'"

12 On the third day all the people came to Rehoboam in obedience to the king's command: "Come back to me on the third day." 13 The king gave them a harsh answer. King Rehoboam, rejecting the advice of the elders, 14 spoke to them as the young men had recommended. "My father made you bear a heavy burden," he said, "but I will make it heavier still. My father beat you with whips; I am going to beat you with loaded scourges!" 15 The king in fact took no notice of the people's wishes, and this was brought about by God to carry out the promise Yahweh had spoken through Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king took no notice of their wishes, they gave him this answer:

"What share have we in David?

We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.

To your tents, Israel, each one of you.

Henceforth look after your own House, David!"

And all Israel went off to their tents. 17 Rehoboam however ruled over those sons of Israel who lived in the towns of Judah. 18 King Rehoboam sent Adoram who was in charge of forced labour, but the Israelites stoned him to death; whereupon King Rehoboam was obliged to mount his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 And Israel has remained separated from the House of David until the present day.

The activities of Rehoboam

11- 1 Rehoboam went to Jerusalem and mustered the House of Judah with Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand picked warriors to fight the House of Israel and win back the kingdom of Rehoboam. 2 But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God. 3 "Say this to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin, 4 "Yahweh says this: Do not set out to fight against your brothers; let everyone go home, for what has happened is my doing.'" They obeyed Yahweh's command and went back instead of marching against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built fortified towns in Judah. 6 He rebuilt Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, Hebron; these were fortified towns in Judah and Benjamin. 11 He fortified them strongly and put commanders in them with stores of food, oil and wine. 12 In each of these towns were shields and spears. He made them very strong to keep Judah and Benjamin under control.

Rehoboam's relations with the priests and Levites

13 The priests and the Levites throughout Israel left their districts to take up residence near him. 14 The Levites, indeed, abandoned their pasture lands and their holdings, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, since Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from the priesthood of Yahweh, 15 and had set up for himself a priesthood of the high places, for the satyrs and the calves he had made. 16 Members of all the tribes of Israel, men wholeheartedly devoted to the worship of Yahweh the God of Israel, followed them and came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. 17 These added strength to the kingdom of Judah, and gave their support to Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because during three years he followed the example of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam turns unfaithful

18 Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth son of David, and of Abihail, daughter of Eliab son of Jesse, 19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. 20 After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah, daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had in fact a total of eighteen wives and sixty concubines and had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. 22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah, Maacah's son, as head of the family, to be prince among his brothers, with a view to make him king. 23 He built more and demolished more than any of his descendants throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin and in all the fortified towns, which he equipped with numerous granaries.

But he consulted the many gods of his wives, 12- 1 and no sooner was his royal authority securely consolidated than he, and all Israel with him, abandoned the Law of Yahweh. 2 In the fifth year of Rehoboam, Shishak the king of Egypt marched on Jerusalem, since it had been unfaithful to Yahweh. 3 With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horses and a countless army of Libyans, Sukkiim and Ethiopians who came from Egypt with him, 4 he captured the fortified towns of Judah and reached Jerusalem. 5 Rehoboam and the Judaean captains, at the advance of Shishak, had mustered near Jerusalem; to them came Shemaiah the prophet. "Yahweh says this," he said to them. "'You have abandoned me, now I have abandoned you into the hands of Shishak.'" 6 Then the Israelites captains and the king humbled themselves. "Yahweh is just!" They said. 7 When Yahweh saw they had humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah. "They have humbled themselves," it said, "I will not destroy them. In a little while I will grant them deliverance; my wrath shall not fall on Jerusalem through the power of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless they shall become his slaves, so that they may come to understand the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of foreign countries."

9 Shishak the king of Egypt marched on Jerusalem. He took all the treasures from the Temple of Yahweh and the treasures from the royal palace, he took everything, including the golden shields that Solomon had made; 10 in place of them King Rehoboam had bronze shields made, entrusting them to the care of the officers of the guard who guarded the king's palace gate. 11 Whenever the king went to the Temple of Yahweh, the guards would come out carrying them, and return them to the guardroom afterward.

12 Since he had humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned away from him and did not destroy him altogether. Indeed, things went well in Judah, 13 and King Rehoboam was able to strengthen his position in Jerusalem and to govern. Now Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he came to the throne and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city chosen by Yahweh out of all the tribes of Israel, in which to give his name a home. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess. 14 He did evil, because he had not set his heart on seeking Yahweh.

15 The history of Rehoboam, from first to last, is not all this recorded in the Annals of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer concerning the grouping of the Levites and the incessant warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam? 16 Then Rehoboam slept with his ancestors and was buried in the Citadel of David; his son Abijah succeeded him.

War

13- 1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah and reigned for three years in Jerusalem. 2 His mother's name was Micaiah, daughter of Uriel, from Gibeah. Abijah and Jeroboam were at war. 3 Abijah went into battle with an army of brave fighters, four hundred picked men, while Jeroboam drew up his battle line against him with eight hundred thousand picked men, stout fighters.

Abijah addresses the Israelites

4 Abijah took his stand on Mount Zemaraim in the highlands of Ephraim. "Jeroboam and all Israel," he cried, "listen to me! 5 do you not know that Yahweh the God of Israel has given the sovereignty of Israel to David for ever? It is an inviolable covenant for him and for his sons. 6 Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, has risen in revolt against his lord; 7 worthless men, scoundrels, have rallied to him and forced their will on Rehoboam the son of Solomon, on Rehoboam, then a young man and timid, powerless to resist them. 8 Now you talk of resisting the sovereignty of Yahweh, which belongs to the sons of David, and you stand there in a great horde, with your golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods! 9 Have you not driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, to make priests of your own like the peoples of foreign countries? Anyone who comes with a bull and seven rams to get himself consecrated can become priest of what is no god at all! 10 But for your part, our God is Yahweh, and we have not abandoned him: our priests are sons of Aaron who minister to Yahweh, and those who serve are Levites. 11 Every morning, we burn holocausts to Yahweh our God; we have the incense of sweet spices, the loaves set out in rows on the pure table, the golden lampstand with its lamps that burn each evening; for we observe the ritual of Yahweh our God, but you have abandoned him. 12 See how God is with us, at our head; see his priests with the trumpets, who will sound them to raise the war cry against you. Sons of Israel, do not fight against Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, for you will not succeed."

The battle

13 Jeroboam outflanked the Judaeans by setting an ambush in their rear; the Judaeans were facing the Israelites with the ambush in their rear. 14 The Judaeans, turning about, found themselves attacked in front and rear. They called on Yahweh, the priests sounded the trumpets, 15 and the men of Judah raised the war cry, and as they raised the war cry God scattered Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 The Israelites fled before Judah and God delivered them into the power of the Judaeans. 17 Abijah and his army inflicted a crushing defeat on them: five hundred thousand of Israel's chosen men fell killed. 18 So the sons of Israel were humbled on this occasion, and the sons of Judah reassured since they had relied on Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

The end of the reign of Abijah

19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured certain towns from him: Bethel with its outlying villages, Jeshanah with its outlying villages and Ephron with its outlying villages. 20 So in the lifetime of Abijah, Jeroboam could no longer maintain his power; and Yahweh struck him down, and he died. 21 Bur Abijah grew in strength; he took fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 The rest of the history of Abijah, his conduct and his deeds, is not all this recorded in the Midrash of the prophet Iddo? 23 Then Abijah slept with his fathers and they buried him in the Citadel of David; his son Asa succeeded him.

Peace under Asa

In his time the country was at peace for ten years.

14- 1 Asa did what is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh. 2 He abolished the foreign altars and the high places, broke the pillars, cut down the sacred poles, 3 and urged the Judaeans to look for Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and to observe law and commandment. 4 He abolished the high places and the altars of incense in every town of Judah. The kingdom was at peace under his rule. 5 He rebuilt the fortified towns of Judah, since the country was at peace and free of war during those years, Yahweh having granted him peace.

6 "Let us rebuilt these towns," he told Judah, "Let us surround them with wall and tower, with gate and bar; we shall be left in this land, since we have looked to Yahweh our God; and he has looked to us and given us peace on every side."

They built and prospered. 7 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand Judaeans armed with buckler and spear, and two hundred and eighty thousand Benjaminites bearing shield and wielding the bow, all of them valiant champions.

Zerah's invasion

8 Zerah the Cushite and an army one million strong with three hundred chariots made an incursion, and penetrated to Mareshah. 9 Asa marched out to intercept him and drew up his battle line in the Valley of Zephathah, at Mareshah. 10 He called on Yahweh, his God. "Yahweh," he said, "No one but you can stand up for the powerless against the powerful. Come to our help, Yahweh our God! We rely on you, and confront this horde in your name. Yahweh, you are our God. Let man leave everything to you!"

11 Yahweh defeated the Cushites before Asa pursued them with his army as far as Gerr. So many of the Cushites fell that recovery was impossible, for they had been scattered before Yahweh and his army. They collected great quantities of booty, 12 they conquered all the towns in the area of Gerar, for the terror of Yahweh had fallen on these; they plundered them all since they were full of loot. 13 They also set on the enclosures of livestock and carried off great numbers of sheep and camels; then they returned to Jerusalem.

The prophecy of Azariah and the oath of fidelity

15- 1 The spirit of God came on Akariah don of Obed: 2 he went out to meet Asa and he said, "Listen to me, Asa, and all you of Judah and of benjamin. Yahweh is with you so long as you are with him. When you seek him, he lets you find him; when you desert him, he deserts you. 3 Many a day Israel will spend without a faithful God, without priest to teach, without law; 4 but in their distress they will turn to Yahweh, the God of Israel; they will seek him, and he will let them find him. 5 When that time comes no grown man will know peace, for many troubles will afflict all the inhabitants of the country. 6 Nation will be shattered by nation, city shattered by city, since God will afflict them with every kind of distress. 7 But for your part, take courage, do not let your hands weaken, for your deeds will be rewarded."

8 When Asa heard these words and this prophecy, he was emboldened to remove all the abominable idols throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin, and in the towns he had captured in the highlands of Ephraim; he then repaired the altar of Yahweh that stood in front of the Porch of Yahweh. 9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin together, and also the Ephraimites, Manassites and Simeonites who had settled with them, since great numbers of Israelites had gone over to Asa when they saw that Yahweh was with him. 10 In the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa they assembled in Jerusalem; 11 and they sacrificed to Yahweh that day seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep out of the spoil they had brought back. 12 They made a compact to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul; 13 anyone who would not seek Yahweh the God of Israel was to be put to death, whether of high or low degree, man or woman. 14 They pledged their oath to Yahweh with shouts to the sound of trumpet and horn; 15 all Judah rejoiced at the oath they had wholeheartedly taken. They sought Yahweh so earnestly that he let them find him, and granted them peace on every side.

Further activities of Asa

16 Maacah herself, the mother of King Asa, was deprived by him of the dignity of queen mother for making an obscenity for Asherah; Asa cut down her obscenity and burned it in the wadi Kidron. 17 Though the high places were not abolished in Israel, the heart of Asa was blameless all his life. 18 He deposited the offerings dedicated by his father and his own offerings too, in the Temple of God, silver and gold and furnishings.

19 Up to the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign there was no war. 16- 1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel marched on Judah and fortified Ramah to blockade Asa king of Judah. 2 Asa then took the silver and the gold from the treasuries of the Temple of Yahweh and the royal palace, and sent this with the following message to Ben-hadad king of Aram who lived in Damascus, 3 "An alliance between myself and you, as between my father and your father! With this I send you silver and gold. Come, break off your alliance with Baasha king of Israel, and he will have to retire from my territory." 4 Ben-hadad agreed, and sent his generals against the towns of Israel; he conquered Ijon, Dan, Abelmaim and all the garrison towns of Naphtali. 5 When Baasha heard this he gave up fortifying Ramah, abandoning this work. 6 King Asa then brought all Judah; they took away the stones and timber with which Baasha had been fortifying Ramah, and the king used them to fortify Geba and Mizpah.

7 It was then that Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said, "Since you have relied on the king of Aram and not on Yahweh your God, the army of the king of Aram will slip through your fingers. 8 Did not the Cushites and Libyans form a vast army with great numbers of Chariots and horses? And were they not delivered into your power because you relied on Yahweh? 9 Since the eyes of Yahweh rove to and fro across the whole world to display his might on behalf of those whose hearts are wholly his, you have acted on this occasion like a fool; and from now on you will have war." 10 Enrage with the seer, Asahad him put in the stock in prison, hee was so angry with him for this; at the same time Asa began treating part of the population harshly too.

The end of the reign of Asa

11 The history of Asa, from first to last, is recorded in the Book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 A disease attacked Asa from head to foot in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, what is more, he turned in his sickness, not to Yahweh, but to doctors. 13 Then Asa slept with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 The buried him in the tomb he had ordered to be dug for himself in the Citadel of David. They laid him on a couch entirely covered with spices and varied ointments, products of the perfumer's skill, and lit a huge fire for him.

His power

17- 1 His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him and consolidated his power over Israel. 2 He put troops in all the fortified towns in Judah, and appointed governors in the land of Judah and in all the towns of Ephraim captured by his father Asa.

His observance of the Law

3 Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's earlier days and did not have recourse to the Baals; 4 he sought the God of his father, following his commandments and not following the example of Israel. 5 Yahweh made the kingship secure in his hands; all Judah paid tribute to Jehoshaphat, and ample riches and honour were his. 6 His heart advanced in the ways of Yahweh, and once again he did away with high places and sacred poles in Judah.

7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officers: Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to give instruction in the towns of Judah. 8 With them went the Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Asabel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah and Tobijah, the Levites, together with priests, Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They gave instruction in Judah, having with them the book of the Law of Yahweh, and went around all the towns of Judah instructing the people. 10 The terror of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the land surrounding Judah; they did not make war on Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver in tribute; the Arabs themselves brought him, in small stock, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats. 12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and garrison towns in Judah.

The army

13 He had strong formations in the towns of Judah and a garrison of valiant champions in Jerusalem. 14 This was their disposition by families: for Judah, commander of thousands: Adnah, the commanding officer, with three hundred thousand valiant champions; 15 under his command, Jehohanan with two hundred and eighty thousand; 16 under his command, Amasiah son of Zichri, who had volunteered for Yahweh's service, with two hundred thousand valiant champions.

17 From Benjamin: the valiant champion Eliada with two hundred thousand, armed with bow and shield; 18 under his command, Jehozabad with a hundred and eighty thousand equipped for war.

19 These were the men who served the king, not counting those the king had put in the fortified towns throughout Judah.

The alliance with Ahab; the prophets' attitude

18- 1 Jehoshaphat, then, enjoyed great wealth and honour, and allied himself by marriage to Ahab. 2 After some years he went to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered for him and for his retinue great numbers of sheep and oxen to induce him to attack Ramoth-gilead. 3 "Will you came wit me to Ramoth-gilead?" Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, "I am as ready for the battle as you, my men as your men."

The spurious prophets predict success

4 Jehoshaphat, however, said to the king of Israel, "First, please consult the word of Yahweh." 5 So the king of Israel called the prophets together, four hundred of them. "Should we march to attack Ramoth-gilead," he asked, "or should I refrain?" "March," they replied, "Yahweh will deliver it into the power of the king." 6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no other prophet of Yahweh here for us to consult?" 7 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is one more man through whom we can consult Yahweh, but I hate him because he never has a favourable prophecy for me, always unfavourable ones; he is Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king should not say such things," Jehoshaphat said. 8 Accordingly the king of Israel summoned one of the eunuchs and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah immediately."

9 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were both on their thrones in full regalia; they sat at the threshing floor outside the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets raving in front of them. 10 Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made himself iron horns. "Yahweh says this. "'With these you will gore the Aramaeans till you make an end of them.'" 11 And all the prophets prophesied the same. "March to Ramoth-gilead," they said, "and conquer. Yahweh will deliver it into the power of the king."

12 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said, "Here are all the prophets as one man in speaking favourably to the king. Try to speak like one of them and foretell success." 13 But Micaiah answered, "As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that I will utter!" 14 When he came to the king, the king said,"Micaiah, should we march to attack Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?" He answered, "March and conquer. They will be delivered into your power." 15 But the king said, "How often must I put you on oath to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?" 16 Then Micaiah spoke:

"I have seen all Israel scattered on the mountains

like sheep without a shepherd.

And Yahweh said, 'These have no master,

let each one go home unmolested.'"

17 At this the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he never gives me favourable prophecies, but only unfavourable ones?" 18 Micaiah went on, "Listen rather to the word of Yahweh. I have seen Yahweh seated on his throne; all the array of heaven stood to his right and to his left. 19 Yahweh said, 'Who will trick Ahab king of Israel into marching to his death at Ramoth-gilead?" At which some answered one way, and some another. 20 Then the spirit came forward and stood before Yahweh. 'I,' he said, 'I will trick him.' 'How?' Yahweh asked. 21 'I will become a lying sprit in the mouth of all his prophets.' 'You shall trick him,' Yahweh said, 'you shall succeed. Go and do it.' 22 Now see how Yahweh has put a lying spirit into the mouths of your prophets here. But Yahweh has pronounced disaster on you."

23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up and struck Micaiah on the jaw. 24 "This is what you will find out," Micaiah retorted, "the day you flee to an inner room to hide." 25 The king of Israel said, "Seize Micaiah and hand him over to Amon, governor of the city, and to Prince Joash, 26 and say, 'This is the king's order: Put this man in prison and feed him on nothing but bread and water until I come back safe and sound.'" 27 Micaiah said, "If you come back safe and sound Yahweh has not spoken to me."

28 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself to go into battle, but I want you to wear your royal uniform." The king of Israel disguised himself, and they went to battle. 30 The king of Aram had given his chariot commanders the following order: "Do not attack anyone of whatever rank, except the king of Israel." 31 When the chariot commanders caught sight of Jehoshaphat, they said, "That is the king of Israel." And they wheeled to the attack. But Jehoshaphat gave a shout and Yahweh came to is help, God drew them away from him, 32 for the chariot commanders, realized that it was not the king of Israel, called off their pursuit.

33 Now one of the men, drawing his bow at random, hit the king of Israel between the corselet and the scale armour of his breastplate. "Turn about," the king said to his charioteer, "get me out of the battle; I have been hurt." 34 But the battle grew fierce as the day went on; until evening the king held himself upright in his chariot facing the Aramaeans, and at sunset he died.

19- 1 Jehoshaphat came back safe and sound to Jerusalem. 2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer, went to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should a man give help to the wicked? Should you love those who hate Yahweh and so bring his wrath on you? 3 There is some good in you, however, since you have removed the sacred poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God."

Measures taken to spread the true religion of Yahweh

4 After a stay in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat made another progress through his people, from Beersheba to the highlands of Ephraim, to bring them back to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges in the country in every one of all the fortified towns of Judah. 6 He said to these judges, "Give due thought to your duties, since you are not judging in the name of men but in the name of Yahweh, who is with you whenever you pronounce sentence. 7 May the fear of Yahweh now be on you. Keep the Law, apply it, for Yahweh our God has no part in fraud or partiality or taking bribes."

8 In addition, Jehoshaphat appointed priests, Levites and heads of Israelite families in Jerusalem to pronounce the verdicts of Yahweh and to judge disputed cases. They lived in Jerusalem 9 and Jehoshaphat gave them the following instructions, "You are to perform these duties in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully and with all your heart. 10 Whatever dispute comes before you from your brothers living in their towns: a question of blood vengeance, of the Law, of some commandment, of statute, or of ordinance, you are to clarify these matters for them so that they do not incur guilt before Yahweh, whose wrath will otherwise come on you and your brothers. Do this and you will incur no guilt.

11 "Amariah, the chief priest, will preside over you in all religious matters, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, controller of the House of Judah, in all matters affecting the king. The Levite will serve as your scribes. Be resolute, carry out these instructions, and Yahweh will be there to bring success."

An act of faith and song of praise in the war against Edom

20- 1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, with some of the Meunites started to make war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Jehoshaphat receied the following intelligence, "A vast hord is advancing against you from Edom, from the other side of the sea; they are already at Hazazon-tamar, that is, En-gedi."

3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and resolved to have recourse to Yahweh; he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 Judah assembled to seek help from Yahweh; they came seeking Yahweh from every single town in Judah.

5 At this assembly of the people of Judah and Jerusalem in the Temple of Yahweh, Jehoshaphat stood before the new court 6 and said, "Yahweh God of our ancestors, are you not the God who dwells in the heavens? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Such power and might are in your hands that no one can resist you. 7 Are you not our God, you who have dispossessed the inhabitants of this land for Israel your people, and given it to the descendants of Abraham whom you will love for ever? 8 They have settled in it and built a sanctuary there for your name, 9 saying, 'Should calamity befall us, or war, punishment, petilence, or famine, then we shall stand before this Temple and before you, for your name is in this Temple. From the depths of our distress we shall cry to you, and you will hear and save us.'

10 "Here now are the Ammonites and Moab and the mountain folk of Seir; when Israel came out of the land of Egypt you would not let Israel invade them; instead, Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them; 11 and this is how they reward us, by coming to drive us out of the possessions you have given us as our inheritance. 12 Will you our God not execute judgment on them, since we are helpless against this vast horde attacking us? We ourselves do not know what to do; we look to you."

13 All the men of Judah, even down to their youngest children and their wives, stood in the presence of Yahweh. 14 In the middle of the assembly the spirit of Yahweh came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah the Levite, one of the sons of Asaph. 15"Listen all you men of Judah," he cried, "and you who live in Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat! Yahweh says this to you, 'Do not be daunted by this vast horde; this battle is not yours but God's. 16 March out against them tomorrow; they are coming up by the Slope of Ziz and you will come on them in the Valley of Soph, near the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight here. Take up your position, stand firm, and see what salvation Yahweh has in store for you. Judah and Jerusalem, be fearless, be dauntless; march out against them tomorrow and Yahweh will be with you.'"

18 Jehoshaphat bent his head, his face to the ground, and all Judah with those who lived in Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshipping him. 19 Then the Levites - Kohathites and Korahites - began praising Yahweh the God of Israel at the tops of their voices.

20 They rose early in the morning and left for the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were setting out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me Judah and all who live in Jerusalem! Have faith in Yahweh your God and you will be secure; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful," 21 Then having held a conference with the people, he set the cantors of Yahweh in sacred vestments at the head of the army, to sing praises to him. "Give praise to Yahweh," they sang, "for his love is everlasting." 22 As they began to sing their joy and their praise, Yahweh laid an ambush for the Ammonites and Moab and the mountain folk of Seir who had come to attack Judah, and routed them. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites turned on the mountain folk of Seir to inflict the ban on them and destroy them altogether, but they only helped each other to their own undoing.

24 When the men of Judah reached the spot that looks out on the wilderness and turned to face the horde, they found only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 Jehoshaphat came with his troops to plunder them, and found quantities of cattle, goods, clothing and valuables; they collected more than they could take away; the booty was so plentiful they were three days gathering it. 26 On the fourth day they mustered in the Valley of Beracah; and there they did indeed bless Yahweh, hence the name of the Valley of Beracah by which the place is still called today. 27 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin, with Jehoshaphat at their head, went back joyfully to Jerusalem, for Yahweh had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 To the music of harp and lyre and trumpet they came and to the Temple of Yahweh, 29 and the Terror of God came on all the kingdoms of foreign countries when they came to hear how Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was calm, his God granting him peace on all his frontiers.

The end of the reign of Jehoshaphat

31 Jehoshaphat reign over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 32 He followed the example of his father Asa undeviatingly, doing what is right in the eyes of Yahweh. 33 The high places however, were not abolished; the people had still not turned their hearts to the God of their ancestors. 34 The rest of the history of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, is recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani which have been transcribed into the Book of the Kings of Israel.

35 After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who led him into evil ways. 36 He combined with him to build ships that would sail to Tarshish, they built them at Azion-geber. 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah then made a prophecy against Jehoshaphat. "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah," he said, "Yahweh has broken your work." The ships broke up and were never fit to sail to Tarshish.

21- 1 Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors and was buried in the Citadel of David; his son Jehoram succeeded him.

The accession and crime of Jehoram

2 Jehoram had six brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah; these are all the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3 Their father had made them gifts of silver, gold and jewels, and of fortified towns in Judah, but he bequeathed the throne to Jehoram since he was the first-borne. 4 Jehoram, having maintained his hold over his father's kingdom and secured his own position, put all his brothers to the sword and some officials of Israel too.

5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. 6 He followed the example of the kings of Israel as the family of Ahab had done, having married one of Ahab's daughters; and he did what is displeasing to Yahweh. 7 Yahweh however did not intend to destroy the House of David, because of the covenant he had made to leave a lamp for him and his sons for ever.

The punishment

8 In his time Edom threw off the domination of Judah and set up a king for itself. 9 Jehoram crossed the frontier with is commanders and all his chariots. He rose during the night and broke through the Edomites encircling him and his chariot commanders. 10 Thus Edom threw off the domination of Judah, and has remained free to the present day. Libnah threw off Jehoram's domination at the same time.

He had indeed deserted Yahweh, the God of his ancestors. 11 He also set up high places in the highlands of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, and Judah to go astray. 12 Then something written by the prophet Elijah came into his hands. It ran, "This is the word of Yahweh, the God of David your ancestor. "Since you have not followed the example of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah, 13 but the example of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the House of Ahab did, and since you have also murdered your brothers, your own family, better men than yourself, 14 Yahweh will strike you with great calamity, your people, your descendants, your wives and all your property. 15 You yourself shall suffer dire diseases, and a disease of your bowels so severe that within two years it will make your bowels drop out.'"

16 Yahweh roused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines, and of the Arabs bordering on the Cushites. 17 They attacked Judah, invading it and carrying off all the property they found belonging to the king's household, including his sons and his wives; the only son left him was Ahaziah, the youngest of them. 18 And after all this, Yahweh struck him down with an incurable disease of the bowels; 19 it lasted for more than one year, and when two years were over and his last hour had come, his bowels dropped out with the disease in great pain. The people did not light a fire for him as they had for his father.

20 He was thirty-two years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. He passed away with no one to regret him, and they buried him in the Citadel of David, though not in the tombs of the kings.

Ahaziah and his policy

22- 1 The population of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king in succession to him, since the armed band that had broken into the camp with the Arabs had killed all the elder sons. That was why Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. 2 Ahaziah was twenty years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, daughter of Omri. 3 He too followed the example of Ahab's family, since his mother gave him wicked advice. 4 He did what is displeasing to Yahweh as Ahab's family had done, for these were his advisers after his father's death, to his undoing. 5 He also put their policy into practice and went with Jehoram son of Ahab, king of Israel, to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Aramaeans wounded Jehoram, 6 who returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that he had received at Ramoth, fighting against Hazael king of Aram. Ahaziah of Judah, went down to Jezreel to visit Jehoram son of Ahab because he was ill. 7 Through this visit to Jehoram Yahweh brought ruin to Ahaziah. On his arrival he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi whom Yahweh had anointed to make an end of the House of Ahab. 8 While Jehu was busy executing justice on the House of Ahab, he came across the officials of Judah and the nephews of Ahaziah who were in the king's service; he killed them, 9 and then went in search of Ahaziah. The latter was captured while trying to hide in Samaria, and taken to Jehu who put him to death. But they gave him burial. "This was a son of Jehoshaphat," they said, "Who sought Yahweh with all his heart."

The crime of Athaliah

There was no one let in the House of Ahaziah strong enough to reign. 10 As soon as Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah learned that her son was dead, she promptly did away with all the royal stock of the House of Judah. 11 But Jehosheba, daughter of the king, secretly took away Joash, her brother's son, from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and put him with his nurse in the sleeping quarters; in this way Jehosheba the daughter of King Joram and wife of Jehoiada the priest (a sister, too, of Ahaziah) hid him from Athaliah, and prevented her from killing him. 12 He stayed with them for six years, hidden in the temple of God, while Athaliah governed the country.

The ministers of the Temple oppose Athaliah

23- 1 In the seventh yer Jehoiada took strong measures. He sent for the commanders of hundreds. Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah and Elishaphat son of Zichri, and made a pact with them. 2 They went through Judah, gathering the Levites from the towns of Judah, and the heads of the Israelite families. They came to Jerusalem, 3 and this whole assembly made a pact with the king in the Temple of God. "Here is the son of the king," Jehoiada told them. "Let him reign, as Yahweh, has promised of the sons of David! 4 This is what you must do: one third of you, priests, Levites and keepers of the gate, must come in for the sabbath, 5 one third must be at the royal palace, one third at the Gate of Foundation, and all the people will be in the court of the Temple of Yahweh. 6 Let no one enter the Temple of Yahweh except the priests and the Levites on duty, since they are consecrated and may enter. The people must all observe the injunctions of Yahweh. 7 The Levites must surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; anyone who tries to enter the Temple is to be put to death. Wherever the king comes and goes, you must escort him."

8 The Levites and all Judah carried out all the orders of Jehoiada the priest. Each brought his men, those coming off duty on the sabbath together with those mounting guard on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest had exempted none of the orders. 9 Then Jehoiada the priest issued the commanders of hundreds with King David's spears and large and small shields, which were in the Temple of God. 10 He drew all the people up, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the south corner to the north corner of the Temple, surrounding the altar and the Temple, to form a circle around the king. 11 Then Jehoiada brought out the king's son, crowned him, and imposed the Law on him; and they proclaimed him king, Jehoiada and his sons then anointed him and shouted, "Long live the king!"

12 Athaliah, on hearing the shouts of the people rushing to the king and acclaiming him, made for the Temple of Yahweh where the people were. 13 When she saw the king standing there at the entrance beside the pillar, with the captains and the trumpeters at the king's side, and all the country people rejoicing and sounding trumpets, and the cantors with their musical instruments leading the hymns, Athaliah tore her garments and shouted, "Treason, treason!" 14 Then Jehoiada the priest called out the military officers. "Take her outside the precincts," he ordered, "and put anyone to the sword who follows her." For the priest had said, "You must not put her to death in the Temple of Yahweh." 15 They seized her, and when she had reached the palace at the entry to the Gate of the Horses, they put her to death there.

The reforms by Jehoiada

16 Jehoiada made a covenant between the king and all the people, by which they undertook to be the people of Yahweh. 17 All the people then went to the temple of Baal and demolished it; they smashed his altars and his images and killed Mattan, priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

18 Jehoiada posted sentries to guard the Temple of Yahweh under the authority of the levitical priests. David had given the Temple of Yahweh to these as their portion, so that they could offer holocausts of Yahweh as is laid down in the Law of Moses, with joy and song, in accordance with the orders of David. 19 He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Temple of Yahweh so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter. 20 Then taking the commanders of hundred, the notables, those holding public positions, and all the country people, he escorted the king down from the Temple of Yahweh. They entered the royal palace through the middle of the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. 21 All the country people were delighted, and the city made no move. Athaliah was put to death.

Joash repairs the Temple

24- 1 Joash was seven years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was pleasing to Yahweh throughout the life time of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada found him two wives and he had sons and daughters. 4 Subsequently, Joash made up his mind to repair the Temple of Yahweh.

5 Calling the priest and the Levites together, he said, "Go out to the towns of Judah, and collect enough money from all the Israelites to make possible annual repairs to the Temple of Yahweh. Do this quickly." But the Levites were in no hurry, 6 so the king summoned Jehoiada their leader, and said, "Why have you not insisted on the Levites collecting from Judah and Jerusalem what Moses the servant of Yahweh levied from the community of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony? 7 Athaliah and her sons, whom she perverted, not only damaged the Temple of God but even assigned revenues of the Temple of Yahweh to the Baals." 8 The king ordered them to make a chest and to place it outside the gate of the Temple of Yahweh. 9 Proclamation was then made in Judah and in Jerusalem that what Moses the servant of God had levied from Israel in the wilderness should be brought to Yahweh. 10 All the officials and all the people came joyfully with their contribution, dropping it into the chest until all was paid.

11 When the chest was taken to the royal office of control, run by the Levites, these would check the amount of money in it; then the king's secretary would come with a representative of the chief priest; they would take up the chest, carry it away, and later return it to its place. They did this every day, and collected a large sum of money. 12 The king and Jehoiada handed it over to the master of works attached to the Temple of Yahweh. The hired men, masons and carpenters, set about restoring the Temple of Yahweh; craftsmen in iron and bronze also worked on the repairing of it. 13 The masters of works having once made a start, the repairs went ahead under their supervision; they rebuilt the Temple of God to its former state and strengthened the fabric. 14 When they had finished, they brought the balance of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with this furnishings were made for the Temple of Yahweh, vessels for the liturgy and for the holocausts, incense boats and object of gold and silver.

So, for as long as Jehoiada lived they offered perpetual holocaust in the Temple of Yahweh. 15 Then Jehoiada , growing old, had his fill of days and died. He died at the age of a hundred and thirty years, 16 and they buried him with the kings in the Citadel of David because he had served God and his Temple well in Israel.

Joash falls away and is punished

17 After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came to pay court to the king, and the king now turned to them for advice. 18 The Judaeans abandoned the Temple of Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, for the worship of sacred poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. 19 He sent them prophets to bring them back to Yahweh, but when these gave their message, they would not listen. 20 The spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, "God says this, 'Why do you transgress the commandments of Yahweh to no good purpose? You have deserted Yahweh, now he deserts you.'" 21 They then plotted against him and by the order of the king stoned him in the court of the Temple of Yahweh. 22 King Joash, forgetful of the kindness that Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, had shown him, killed Jehoiada's son who cried out as he died, "Yahweh sees and he will avenge!"

23 When a year had gone by, the Aramaeans army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem, and executed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king at Damascus all that they plundered from them. 24 Though the Aramaean army had by no means come in force. Yahweh delivered into its power an army of great size for having deserted him, the God of their ancestors.

The Aramaeans treated Joash as he had deserved, 25 and when they retired they left him a very sick man; and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the Citadel of David, though not in the tombs of the kings. 26 These were the conspirators: Zabad son Shimeath the Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Maobitess. 27 As regards his sons, the heavy tribute imposed on him, and the restoration of the Temple of God, this is all recorded in the Midrash on the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him.

The religious policy of Amaziah

25- 1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 He did what is pleasing to Yahweh, though not wholeheartedly. 3 Once the kingdom was firmly under his control, he killed those of his officers who had murdered the king his father. 4 But he did not put their sons to death, in obedience to what is written in the Law, in the book of Moses, where Yahweh has ordered, "Fathers must not be put to death for sons, nor sons for fathers; each one must be put to death for his own sin."

5 Amaziah called the men of Judah together and organized them in families with commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He took census of these who were twenty years old and upward, and found there were three hundred thousand of them, eligible and fit for military service, with spear and shield to hand. 6 Next, he controlled one hundred thousand valiant champions from Israel as mercenaries, for a hundred talents of silver. 7 A man of God then came to him. "O king," he said, "the troops of Israel must not march with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel, nor with anyone from Ephraim. 8 For if they come, no matter how brave your conduct in the fight, God will still bring you down before your enemies, for God's is the power to uphold or to throw down." 9 Amaziah answered the man of God, "And what about the hundred talents I have given the Israelite contingent?" Yahweh can give you far more than that," the man of God replied. 10 At this, Amaziah dismissed from the army the troops that had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home; these men were furious with Judah and went home in a great rage.

His infidelity after the Edomite campaign

11 Amaziah decided to lead his troops and, having reached the Valley of Salt, defeated ten thousand of the sons of Seir. 12 The men of Judah took ten thousand captives alive and, taking them to the summit of the Rock, threw them off the top; they were all dashed to pieces. 13 Then the contingent which Amaziah had dismissed and not allowed to fight with him raided the towns of Judah, from Samaria as far as Beth-horon, beating a force of three thousand strong capturing great quantities of plunder.

14 On returning from his defeat of the Edomites, Amaziah brought the gods of the sons of Seir with him; set these up as gods for himself, bowing down before them and burning incense to them. 15 The anger of Yahweh blazed out against Amaziah; he sent him a prophet, who said, "Why do you resort to this people's gods, to gods who could not save their people from your hands?" 16 He was still speaking when Amaziah interrupted him. "Have we appointed you a royal counsellor? If you do not want to be hurt, be quiet!" The prophet paused; then he said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, since you have behaved like this and have refused to listen to my advice."

The disaster at Beth-shemesh

17 After consulting his advisers, Amaziah king of Judah sent a message to Joash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come and make a trial of strength!" 18 Joash king of Israel sent back word to Amaziah king of Judah, "The thistle of Lebanon sent a message to the Cedar of Lebanon, saying, "Give my son your daughter in marriage; but the wild animals of Lebanon trampled the thistle down as they passed. 19 'Look at me, the conqueror of Edom,' you say, and now hold your head in the air; boast on, but stay at home. Why challenge disaster, to your own ruin and the ruin of Judah?"

20 But Amaziah would not listen, and this was God's doing: he intended to hand them over to their enemies for resorting to the gods of Edom. 21 And at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah, they made their trial of strength, Joash and Amaziah king of Judah. 22 Judah was defeated by Israel, and everyone fled to his tent. 23 The king of Judah, Amaziah son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, was taken prisoner at Bet-shemesh by Joash king of Israel who led him off to Jerusalem, where Joash demolished the city wall from the Gate of Ephraim to the Gate of the Corner for a distance of four hundred cubits. 24 He took all the gold and silver, and all the furnishings to be found with Obed-edom in the Temple of God, the treasures of the royal palace, and hostages besides, and then returned to Samaria.

He end of the reign of Amaziah

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

26 The rest of the history of Amaziah, from first to last, is not all this recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27 After the time when Amaziah rejected Yahweh, plot was hatched against him in Jerusalem; he fled to Lachish; but he was followed to Lachish and was put to death there. 28 He was brought back by horse, and buried with his ancestors in the Citadel of David.

The beginning of the reign of Uzziah

26- 1 All the people of Judah chose Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in succession to his father Amaziah. 2 It was he who rebuilt Elath and recovered it for Judah, after the king was sleeping with his ancestors. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah, of Jerusalem. 4 He did what is pleasing to Yahweh, just as his father Amaziah had done; 5 he sought God devotedly throughout the life time of Zechariah, who had advanced so far in the fear of God. And for as long as he sought Yahweh, God gave him prosperity.

His military strength

6 He went out to fight the Philistines, demolished the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashbod, the rebuilt the towns in the area of Ashbod and in the Philistine territory. 7 God helped him against the Philistines, the Arabs, the inhabitants of Gur-bal and the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the approaches of Egypt, since ha had become very powerful indeed.

9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Gate of the Corner, at the Gate of the Valley and at the Angle; and he fortified these. 10 He built towers in the wilderness too, and dug a great many cistern, for he had large herds in the lowlands and on the tableland; and he had farmers and vine dressers in the hills and on the fertile lands; he was fond of agriculture.

11 Uzziah had a professional army ready to go on campaign, divided into contingents manned as detailed by the scribe Jeiel and the registrar Maaseiah, and commanded by Hananiah, one of the king's officers. 12 The total number of heads of families of these valiant champions was two thousand six hundred. 13 Under their command was a trained army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred fighting men, a powerful force to support the king against the enemy. 14 Uzziah provided them with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows and sling stones, for each campaign. 15 In Jerusalem he constructed engines, invented by experts, which were mounted on the towers and at the corners to fire arrows and great stones. His fame spread far and wide; he owed his strength to a help nothing short of miraculous.

Pride and its punishment

16 But, as his power increased, his heart grew proud, and this was his ruin: he broke faith with Yahweh his God. He entered the great hall of the Temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest followed King Uzziah in, with eighty brave priests of Yahweh, 18 to resist him. "Uzziah," they said, "it is not for you to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, consecrated for the purpose. Leave the sanctuary; you have broken faith; the glory from Yahweh God, is no longer yours." 19 Uzziah, censer in hand for the burning of incense, flew into rage. But while he was raging at the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests, in the Temple of Yahweh, there by the altar of incense. 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests turned toward him and saw the leprosy on his forehead. They quickly hurried him out, and he himself was anxious to go, since Yahweh had struck him.

21 King Uzziah was a leper till his dying day. He lived confined to his room, a leper, excluded from the Temple of Yahweh. Jotham, his son, was master of the palace, and ruled the people of the country.

22 The rest of the history of Uzziah, from first to last, has been written by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 Then Uzziah slept with his ancestors and they buried him with his fathers in the burial ground of the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." His son Jotham succeeded him.

The reign of Jotham

27- 1 Jotham was twenty-five years hold when he came to the throne and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok. 2 He did what is pleasing to Yahweh, just as his father Uzziah had done. But he did not enter the sanctuary of Yahweh. As for the people, they were still corrupt.

3 It was he who built the Upper Gate of the Temple of Yahweh and carried out considerable work on the wall of the Ophel. 4 He built towns in the highlands of Judah, and fortified places and towers in the arable lands.

5 He fought against the king of the Ammonites. He defeated these, and that year the Ammonites had to give a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. This was the amount that the Ammonites had to pay him, and the same for the second and third years. 6 Jotham became powerful because he kept an even course in the presence of Yahweh his God.

7 The rest of the history of Jotham, all his wars and his policy, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 Then Jotham slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the Citadel of David; his son Ahaz succedded him.

Summary of the reign

28- 1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what is pleasing to Yahweh, and his ancestor David had done. 2 He followed the example of he kings of Israel, even having idols cast of Baals; 3 He offered incense in the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom and caused his sons to pass through fire, copying the shameful practices of the nations which Yahweh had dispossessed for the sons of Israel. 4 He offered sacrifices and incense on the high places, on the hills and under every spreading tree.

The invasion

5 Yahweh his God delivered him into the power of the king of the Aramaeans who defeated him and took great numbers of his people captive, carrying them off to Damascus. He was also delivered into the power of the king of Israel, who inflicted a crushing defeat on him. 6 In a single day, Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand in Judah, all stout fighting men; this was because they had deserted Yahweh the God of their ancestors. 7 Zichri, an Ephraimite champion, killed Maaseiah, son of the king, Azrikam the controller of the palace, and Elkanah the king's second-in-command. 8 The Israelites took two hundred thousand of their brothers captive, with wives, sons, daughters; they also took quantities of booty, carrying everything off to Samaria.

The Israelites obey the prophet Oded

9 A prophet of Yahweh was there named Oded, who went out to meet the troops returning to Samaria and said, "Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and s he delivered them into your power, but you have slaughtered with such fury as reaches heaven. 10 And now you propose to reduce these children of Judah and Jerusalem to being your serving men and women! And are you not all the while the ones who are guilty before Yahweh your God? 11 Now listen to me: release the prisoners you have taken of your brothers, for the fierce anger of Yahweh hangs over you."

12 Some of the Ephraimite chieftains then protested to those who were returning from the expedition: Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum and Amasa son of Hadlai. 13 "You must not bring the captives in here," they said, "or we should be guilty before Yahweh. You are proposing to add to our guilt, but our guilt is already heavy and the fierce anger of Yahweh is hanging over Israel." 14 So in the presence of the officials and of the whole assembly the army gave up the captives and the booty. 15 Men expressly nominated for the purpose saw to the relief of the prisoners. From the booty they clothed all those of them who were naked; they gave them clothing and sandals and provided them with food, drink and shelter. They mounted all those who were infirm on donkeys and took them back to their kinsmen at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

The sins of Ahaz

16 It was then that King Ahaz sent asking the kings of Assyria to come to his assistance.

17 The Edomites once again invaded and defeated Judah, and carried off prisoners. 18 The Philistines encroached on the tows in the lowlands and in the Negeb of Judah. They took Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its outlying villages. Timnah with its outlying villages, and they settled in them. 19 For Yahweh humbled Judah on account of Ahaz king of Israel, since he neglected Judah and was unfaithful to Yahweh.

20 Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria attacked and besieged him but could not overcome him. 21 Ahaz however had to take part of the goods in the Temple of Yahweh and in the palace of the king and princes, to hand over to the king of Assyria, yet he received no help from him. 22 During the time he was under siege he made faithlessness graver still, this King Ahaz, 23 by offering sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him. "Since the gods of the kings of Aram," he said, "have been of help to them, I will sacrifice to them in the hope that they may be of help to me." But they proved his downfall and that of Israel.

24 Ahaz collected a number of the furnishings of the Temple of God, anddismantled others; he closed the doors of the Temple of Yahweh and put up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem; 25 he set up high places in every towns of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and so provoked the anger of Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.

26 The rest of his history, his whole policy, from first to last, is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Then Ahaz slept with his ancestor, and they buried him in the Citadel, in Jerusalem, though he was not taken into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him.

Summary of the reign

29- 1 Hezekiah came to the throne when he was twenty-five years old and reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what is pleasing to Yahweh, just as his ancestor David had done.

The Temple is purified

3 It was he who, in the first month of the first year of his reign, threw open the doors of the Temple of Yahweh and repaired them. 4 Then he brought the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the eastern square, 5 and said to them: "Listen to me, Levites! Sanctify yourselves now and consecrate the Temple of Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, and eject what is impure from the sanctuary. 6 Your ancestors have been unfaithful and done what is displeasing to Yahweh our God. They have deserted him; they have turned their faces away from the place Yahweh has made his home, they have turned their back on him. 7 They have even closed the doors of the Vestibule, they have put out the lamps and offered no incense, no holocausts, to the God of Israel in the holy place. 8 So the anger of Yahweh has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of terror, astonishment and derisive whistling, as you can see for yourselves. 9 This is why our ancestors have fallen by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, our wives, been taken captive. 10 I am now determined to make a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger may be turned away from us. 11 My sons, be negligent no longer, for Yahweh has chosen you to stand in his presence and serve him, to conduct his worship, and offer him incense."

12 The Levites set to work; Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah, of the sons of Kohath; of the Merarites; Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel; of the Gershonites: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son od Joah; 13 of the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeuel; of the sons of Asaph: Zekariah Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 of the sons of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 they sanctified themselves, and in obedience to the king's order, in accordance with the words of Yahweh, they began purifying the Temple of Yahweh.

16 The priests went inside the Temple of Yahweh to purify it. They brought out everything unclean they found in the sanctuary of Yahweh, out into the court of the Temple of Yahweh, and the Levites collected it and carried it outside, into the wadi Kidron. 17 They began this consecration on the first day of the first month, and were able to enter the Vestibule of Yahweh on the eighth of the month; they then took eight days to consecrate the Temple of Yahweh, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.

The sacrifice of Atonement

18 They then waited on King Hezekiah and said. "We have purified the whole Temple of Yahweh, the altar of holocaust with all its furnishings, and the tables on which the rows of bread are set with all the furnishings. 19 All the furnishings King Ahaz cast aside during his sacrilegious reign we have put back and consecrated; they are now in front of the altar of Yahweh."

20 King Hezekiah lost no time but called the officials of the city together and went up to the Temple of Yahweh. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams and seven lambs, with seven he-goats as a sacrifice for sin on behalf of the royal house, of the sanctuary, and of Judah. The king then told the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer the holocaust on the altar of Yahweh. 22 They slaughtered the bulls and the priests took up the blood and poured it on the altar. They then slaughtered the rams and poured their blood on the altar; and they slaughtered the lambs and poured their blood on the altar. 23 Then they brought the he-goats, the sacrifice for sin, before the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. 24 The priests slaughtered them, and with their blood on the altar offered a sacrifice for sin, to perform the ritual of atonement for all Israel - since the king had ordered the holocaust and the sacrifice for sin on behalf of all Israel.

25 He then positioned the Levites in the Temple of Yahweh with cymbals, harps and lyres, in accordance with the ordinances of David, of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet; the order had in fact come from Yahweh through his prophets. 26 When the Levites had taken their places with David's musical instruments, and the priests with their trumpets, 27 Hezekiah ordered the holocaust to be offered on the altar. And as the holocaust began, the hymns of Yahweh began too, and the trumpets sounded, to the accompaniment of the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, cantors singing, trumpet sounding, until the holocaust was over.

29 The offering at an end, the king and all there with him fell to their knees and worshiped. 30 Then King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to sing praise to Yahweh in the words of David and of Asaph the seer; they sang most fervently and then fell down and worshiped. 31 Hezekiah spoke again, "Now you are dedicated to the service of Yahweh. Come forward, bring the sacrifices of communion and praise into the Temple of Yahweh." The assembly brought sacrifices of communion and praise, and every kind of holocaust as votive offerings. 32 The number of victims for these holocausts was seventy bulls, a hundred rams and two hundred lambs, all as holocausts for Yahweh; 33 six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep were consecrated. 34 The priests were too few, however, and could not dismember all the holocausts, so the Levites helped them until the work was done and the priests were sanctified; for the Levites had been more conscientious about sanctifying themselves than the priests had. 35 There was, in addition, an abundant holocaust of fatty parts of the communion sacrifices, and numerous libations in association with the holocaust. And so the liturgy of Yahweh's Temple was restored. 36 Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had disposed the people to act so promptly.

The Passover assembly

30- 1 Hezekiah sent messengers to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, bidding them come to the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem to celebrate a Passover in honour of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 2 The king and the officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to celebrate it in the second month, 3 being unable to celebrate it at the proper time, since the priests had not purified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4 This arrangement seemed fitting to the king and to all the assembly. 5 It was resolved to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, calling on the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate a Passover in honour of Yahweh, the God of Israel, for few had observed the prescribed regulations. 6 Couriers set out with letters from the hands of the king and his officials for every part of Israel and Judah. They had orders from the king to say, "Sons of Israel, come back to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Israel, and he will come back to those of you who are left and have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and whom he handed over to destruction, as you can see. 8 Do not be stubborn now as your ancestors were. Yield to Yahweh, come to his sanctuary which he has consecrated for ever, serve Yahweh your God and he will turn his fierce anger from you. 9 If you come back sincerely to Yahweh, yours brothers and your sons will win favour with their conquerors and return to his land, for Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful. If you come back to him, he will not turn his face from you."

10 The couriers went from town to town through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, but the people laughed and scoffed at them, 11 though a few men from Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun were humble enough to come to Jerusalem. 12 It was in Judah, rather, that the hand of God worked to inspire them with a united will to obey the order of the king and the officials as contained in the word of Yahweh. 13 A great number of people gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 A very great assembly set to work removing the altars that were in Jerusalem and all the altars for burning incense, and throwing them into the wadi Kidron.

The Passover and feast of Unleavened Bread

15 They slaughtered the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed; they sanctified themselves and so were able to bring holocausts into the Temple of Yahweh. 16 The they took up their positions as ordained for them according to the Law of Moses, the man of God. The priests poured out the blood handed to them by the Levites, 17 since there were many people in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; the Levites were given the task of slaughtering the Passover victims on behalf of those who lacked the requisite purity to consecrate their victims to Yahweh. 18 In point of fact, mot of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves; they had eaten Passover without observing the prescribed regulations. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, "May Yahweh in his goodness cover up the fault of 19 anyone who sets his heart to seeking God, Yahweh the God of his ancestors, even if he lacks the purity requisite for holy things." 20 Yahweh heard Hezekiah and left the people unharmed.

21 For seven days and with great rejoicing the Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the feast of Unleavened Bread, while each day the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh with all their might. 22 The words of Hezekiah encouraged the Levites who all showed how versed they were in the things of Yahweh, and for seven days they ate their portion in the feast, offering communion sacrifices with praise to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. 23 Then all the assembly agreed to continue the celebrations for a further seven days and made of them seven days of rejoicing, 24 since Hezekiah king of Judah had provided a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials another thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. The priests sanctified themselves in great numbers, 25 and the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced, the priests too, and the Levites, and all who had come from Israel, the refugees who came from Israel and those who lived in Judah. 26 There was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, nothing comparable had ever occurred in Jerusalem. 27 The levitical priests began to bless the people. Their voices were heard and their prayer received in heaven, his holy dwelling place.

Idolatrous worship abolished

31- 1 When all this was over, all the Israelites who were there set off for the towns of Judah to smash the pillars, cut down the sacred poles, wreck the high places and the altars, and so do away with them altogether throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then all the Israelites returned to their towns, each man to his holding.

The reorganization of the priests and Levites

2 Hezekiah re-established the priestly and levitical orders, each man in his proper order according to his duties, whether priest or Levite, whether for holocaust, communion sacrifice, liturgical service, thanksgiving or praise, within the gates of the camp of Yahweh. 3 The king set aside a portion of his own possessions for the morning and evening holocausts, and the holocausts of sabbath, New Moon, and solemn feast, as laid down in the Law of Yahweh. 4 He then told the people, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to give the priests and the Levites their share so that they might devote themselves to the Law of Yahweh. 5 As soon as the order had been promulgated, the Israelites amassed the first fruits of corn, wine, oil, honey, and all agricultural produce, and brought in a generous tithe of everything. 6 The Israelites and Judaeans living in the towns of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the holy things dedicated to Yahweh their God, piling them up, heap after heap. 7 They began making these heaps in the third month and finished them in the seventh. 8 Hezekiah and his officials came to inspect the heaps and blessed Yahweh and his people Israel. 9 Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps, 10 and Azariah, the chief priest, of the family of Zadok, answered him. "Since the contributions were first brought to the Temple of Yahweh," he said, "we have had enough to eat and still have plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people; this huge pile is what left."

11 Hezekiah then ordered them to have rooms prepared in the Temple of Yahweh. They did this, 12 and then brought in the contributions, tithes and consecrated things, to keep them in a safe place. Conaniah the Levite was officer in charge of them, with Shimei his brother as his second. 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were appointed overseers under the command of Cananiah and his brother Shimei, by the order of King Hezekiah and of Azariah, ruler of the house of God. 14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the eastern gate, was made responsible for the voluntary offerings to God; he provided the portion set aside for Yahweh and the most holy offerings. 15 Under his command he had Eden, Minjamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, who resided permanently in the towns of the priests to carry out the distributions to their kinsmen according to their orders whether more or less important.

16 Further to this, there was the organization by related groups of all those men thirty years old and upward who went to the Temple of Yahweh, by daily rotation, to perform the ritual duties appropriate to their orders. 17 There was also organization of priests by families; as also that of Levites twenty years old and upward, by duties and orders. 18 There was also organization of all their families, wives, sons and daughters for the whole assembly, since they had an obligation to sanctify themselves faithfully by means of the holy things. 19 A regards to the priests, the sons of Aaron, who lived in the pasture lands belonging to their towns, or in the towns themselves, there were men expressly named for the purpose of distributing portions to every male among the priests. Each group was organized by the Levites.

20 Hezekiah enforced these arrangements throughout Judah. He did what is good and right and loyal before Yahweh his God. 21 All he undertook in the service of the Temple of God as concerning law and commandments, he performed while seeking God with all his heart, and he prospered.

Sennacherib's invasion

32- 1 After these loyal acts of service came the invasion of Sennacherib king of Assyria. He invaded Judah, pitched camp before the fortified towns and gave orders for them to be taken by storm. 2 Realizing that Sennacherib' advance was the preliminary to an attack on Jerusalem, Hezekiah, 3 and his officers and champions decided to cut off the water supply from the springs situated outside the city. His military staff supported this plan 4 and numbers of people banded together to block all the springs and cut off the watercourse flowing through the fields. "Why," they said, "should the kings of Assyria find plenty of water when they arrive?" 5 Hezekiah strengthened his defences: he had broken parts of the wall repaired, built towers on it, constructed a second wall on the outer side, strengthened the Millo of the Citadel of David and made quantities of missiles and shields. 6 He then appointed generals to command the people, summoned them to him in the square b the city gate and spoke as follows to encourage them. 7 "Be strong and stand firm; be fearless, be undaunted when you face the king of Assyria and the whole horde he brings with him, since he that is with us is stronger than he that is with him. 8 He has only an arm of flesh, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and fight our battles." The people took heart at the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

The blasphemies of Sennacherib

9 Next, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was then outside Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem, to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all the Judaeans who were in Jerusalem. They said, 10 "Hear the message from Sennacherib king of Assyria, 'What gives you the confidence to stay in Jerusalem under siege? 11 Is not Hezekiah deluding you? Is he not condemning you to die of hunger and thirst when he says: Yahweh our God will save us from the king of Assyria? 12 Is not Hezekiah the very man who was suppressed his high places and his altars, and given the order to Judah and to Jerusalem: Before one altar only are you to worship, and on that alone offer incense? 13 Do you not know what I have done, I and my ancestors, to all the peoples of other countries? Have the gods of any single nation in those countries ever been able to save them from me? 14 Of all the gods of those nations devoted to the ban by my father, name a single one who has been able to save his people from me! So how could your god save you? 15 Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. Do not let him delude you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from me or from my ancestors. No more will your god be able to save you from me.'" 16 The envoys were still maligning Yahweh God, and his servant Hezekiah, 17 when Sennacherib wrote a letter insulting Yahweh the God of Israel. This is what he said about him, "Just as the gods of the nations in other countries have failed to save their peoples from me, so will the god of Hezekiah fail to save his people." 18 They shouted this out in the language of Judah, to the people of Jerusalem on the ramparts, to confuse and frighten them, and so that they might capture the city; 19 they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as one of the gods of the peoples of the world, the work of men's hands.

The prayer of Hezekiah is heard

20 Faced with this situation, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed and cried out to heaven. 21 Yahweh sent an angel who massacred all the mighty warriors, commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. Covered with disgrace he retired to his own country. He went into the temple of his god, and there some of his own children struck him down with the sword. 22 So Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the power of Sennacherib king of Assyria and of everyone else, and he gave them peace on every side. 23 Many people brought oblations to Yahweh in Jerusalem and gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah; after what had happened, he stood high in the esteem of all the nations.

24 In those days, Hezekiah fell ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to Yahweh, who heard him and granted him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah made no return for the benefit he received; his heart grew proud and the wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Hezekiah did however humble the pride of his heart, and so did the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem; hence the wrath of Yahweh did not come on them in the life time of Hezekiah. 27 Hezekiah enjoyed immense riches and honour. He built himself treasuries for gold, silver, precious stones, spices, gems and every sort of valuable. 28 He had storehouses for his returns of corn, wine and oil, buildings for his different sorts of cattle, and sheep runs for his sheep, 29 and, further, acquired donkeys and enormous herds and flocks. God had indeed given him immense possessions.

Summary of the reign; its end

30 It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the Citadel of David. Hezekiah succeeded in all he undertook. 31 Even in the affair of the messengers from the authorities in Babylon, sent to him to inquire about the extraordinary thing that had taken place in the country, God only deserted him to test him, and to discover the secrets of his heart.

32 The rest of the history of Hezekiah, and his deeds of piety, are recorded in the Vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, in the Book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Then Hezekiah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him on the slope going up to the tombs of the sons of David. At his death, all of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour. His son Manasseh succeeded him.

Manasseh undoes the work of Hezekiah

33- 1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what is displeasing to Yahweh, copying the shameful practices of the nations whom Yahweh had dispossessed for the sons of Israel. 3 He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had demolished, he set up altars to the Baals and made sacred poles, he worshiped the whole array of heaven and served it. 4 He built altars in the Temple of Yahweh of which Yahweh had said, "In Jerusalem my name shall be for ever."

5 He built altars to the whole array of heaven in the two courts of the Temple of Yahweh. 6 He caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced soothsaying, magic nd witchcraft, and introduced necromancers and wizards. He did very many more things displeasing to Yahweh, thus provoking his anger. 7 He laced the image of the idol he had made in the Temple of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this Temple and in Jerusalem, the city I chose out of all the tribes of Israel, I will give my name a home for ever. 8 I will no longer turn Israel's footsteps away from the land I assigned to their fathers, provided they observe all II have ordered them in accordance with the whole Law, the statutes and the ordinances, given through Moses." 9 Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than those nations Yahweh had destroyed before the sons of Israel. 10 Yahweh spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

The conversion of Manasseh

11 Then Yahweh sent the generals of the king of Assyria against them, who captured Manasseh with hooks, put him in chains and led him away to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought to appease Yahweh his God, humbling himself deeply before the God of his ancestors; 13 he prayed to him, and God relented at his prayer, hearing his plea and bringing him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Manasseh realizing then that Yahweh is God. 14 After this he rebuilt the outer wall of the Citadel of David, west of Gihon in the wadi, as far as the Fish Gate; it encircled the Ophel, and he increased its height very considerably. He stationed military governors in all fortified towns of Judah.

15 Next he removed the alien gods and the idol from the Temple of Yahweh, and all the altars he had built on the mountain of the Temple of Yahweh and in Jerusalem, and threw them out of the city. 16 He rebuilt the altar of Yahweh and offered sacrifices of communion and of praise on it, and ordered Judah to offer worship to Yahweh the God of Israel; 17 however, the people continued to sacrifice on the high places, although only to Yahweh their God.

18 The rest of the history of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh the God of Israel, can be found in the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 19 His prayer and how God relented at his prayer, all his sins, his unfaithfulness, the sites where he built high places and set up sacred poles and idols before he humbled himself, are recorded in the Annals of Hozai. 20 Then Manasseh slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in his palace. His son Amon succeeded him.

The obduracy of Amon

21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. 22 He did what is displeasing to Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon offered sacrifice and worship to all the idols Manasseh his father had made. 23 He did not humble himself before Yahweh like Manasseh his father; it was this very Amon who made the guilt of Judah so grave. 24 His officers plotted against him and killed him in his palace. 25 But the country people struck down all those who had plotted against King Amon and proclaimed his son Josiah as his successor.

Summary of the reign

34- 1 Josiah was eight years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what is pleasing to Yahweh, and followed the example of his ancestor David, not deviating from it to right or left.

The first reforms

3 In the eighth year of his reign, when he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, sacred poles and carved or cast idols. 4 He looked on as the altars of the Baals were demolished; he tore down the altars of incense standing on them, he smashed the sacred poles and the carved and cast idols; he reduced them to dust, scattering it over the graves of those who had offered them sacrifices. 5 He burned the bones of their priests on their altars, and so purified Judah and Jerusalem; 6 he did the same in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and even Naphtali, and in the ravaged districts around them. 7 He demolished the altars and sacred poles, smashed the idols and ground them to powder, and tore down the altars of incense throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Work on the Temple

8 In the eighteenth year of his reign, with the object of purifying land and Temple, he sent Ahaphan son of Azaliah, Maaeiah governor of the city and the herald Joah son of Joahaz, to repair the Temple of Yahweh his God. 9 These went to the high priest Hilkiah and handed over the money that had been brought to the Temple of God and that the Levites, the guardians of the threshold, had collected; the money had come from Manasseh, Ephraim and all the rest of Israel, and from all the Judaeans and Benjaminites who lived in Jerusalem. 10 They handed it over to the masters of works attached to the Temple of Yahweh, and these used it for repair and restoration of the Temple. 11 They gave it to the carpenters and builders for buying dressed stone, and wood for the coupling and the rafters of the buildings which the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.

12 The men were conscientious in doing their work; to supervise them they had Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari; Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of Kohath, who were masters of works; Levites who were all skilled liturgical musicians; 13 others who were in charge of the carriers; other who gave instructions to the masters of works of the various undertakings; and lastly a number of Levites who were scribes, clerks and gatekeepers.

The Book of the Law discovered

14 When they took out the money that had been brought to the Temple of Yahweh, Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the Law given through Moses. 15 At once Hilkiah told Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the Temple of Yahweh." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16 Shaphan took the book to the king, and reported to him: "Your servants," he said, "are carrying out the commissions you gave them: 17 they have melted down the silver which was in the Temple of Yahweh and have handed it over to the overseers and masters of works," 18 after which Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book"; and Shaphan read from it in the king's presence.

19 On hearing the contents of the Law, the king tore his garments, 20 and gave the following order to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's minister, 21 Go and consult Yahweh, on behalf of me and those left in Israel and Judah, about the contents of the book that has been found. Great indeed must be the anger of Yahweh pouring down on us because our ancestors did not observe the word of Yahweh by practising everything written in this book."

Huldah the prophetess is consulted

22 Hilkiah and the king's men went to Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe; she lived in Jerusalem in the new town. They spoke to her about this, 23 and she replied, "Yahweh, the God of Israel says this, 'To the men who sent you to me say this: 24 Yahweh says this: I am bringing disaster on this place and those who live in it, carrying out all the curses written in the book that as been read in the presence of the king of Judah, 25 because they have deserted me and sacrificed to other gods, to provoke my anger by everything they did. My anger blazes out against this place; it will not be extinguished. 26 And you will say to the king of Judah who sent you to consult Yahweh, Yahweh, the God of Israel says this: The words you have heard . . . 27 But since your heart have been touched and you have humbled yourself before God on hearing what he has threatened against this place and those who live in it, since you have humbled yourself before me and torn your garments and wept before me, I for my part have heard - it is Yahweh who speaks. 28 I will gather you to your ancestors, you shall be gathered into your grave in peace; your eyes will not see all the disasters that I mean to bring on this place and on those who live in it.'" They took this answer to the king.

The covenant renewed

29 The king then had all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem summoned, 30 and the king went up to the Temple of Yahweh, with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, priests, Levites and all the people, of high or low degree. In their hearing he read out everything that was said in the book o the covenant found in the Temple of Yahweh. 31 The king stood beside the pillar, and in the presence of Yahweh he made a covenant to follow Yahweh and to enforce the terms of the covenant as written in that book with all his heart and soul. 32 He allotted a station to everyone there in Jerusalem or in Benjamin; and the inhabitants of Jerusalem complied with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors, 33 Josiah removed all the abominations throughout the territories belonging to the sons of Israel. His whole life long he made sure that every member of Israel served their God. They did not fail to follow Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

The preparation for the Passover

35- 1 Josiah then celebrated a Passover in honour of Yahweh in Jerusalem and they slaughtered the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 He re-established the priests in their functions and made it possible for them to discharge the duties of the Temple of Yahweh. 3 Then he said to the Levites, whose understanding was at the disposal of all Israel and who were consecrated to Yahweh, "Place the holy ark in the Temple built by Solomon son of David, king of Israel. It is no longer a burden for your shoulders. Now serve Yahweh your God and Israel his people. 4 Take your places by families according to your orders, in compliance with the written decree of David king of Israel and his son Solomon. 5 Stand in the sanctuary at the disposal of the family groupings, at the disposal of your brothers the laity; the Levites are to have a portion in the family. 6 Slaughter the passover, sanctify yourselves, and be at the disposal of your brothers in acting in accordance with the word of Yahweh which was spoken through Moses."

The celebration of the Passover

7 Josiah then provided for the laity lambs and kids from the flocks to the number of thirty thousand, all as Passover victims for all who were present, and three thousand bulls as well; all these animals came from the king's possessions. 8 His officials, for their part, made provision for the voluntary offerings on behalf of the people, the priests and the Levites. The senior officials gave the priests of the Temple of God, Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel, two thousand six hundred lambs and kids and three hundred bulls as Passover victims. 9 The heads of the Levites, Conaniah, Shemaiah and his brother Nathanel, Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad, provided five thousand lambs and kids and five hundred bulls as Passover victims for the Levites. 10 The order of the service was arranged, the priests at their places and the Levites in their orders, in compliance with the king's order. 11 They slaughtered the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood as they received it from the Levites, and the Levites dismembered the victims. 12 They put the holocaust on one side to give it to the family groupings among the laity as each made its offering to Yahweh, as is written in the Book of Moses; they did the same with the bulls. 13 They roasted the passover, as ordained, and the sacred foods in pots, dishes, pans, carrying the speedily to the laity. 14 Afterward they prepared the passover for themselves and for the priests - the priests, the sons of Aaron, having been busy till nightfall offering the holocaust and the fatty parts; that was why the Levites prepared the passover for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. 15 The cantors, the sons of Asaph, were at their places,, im accordance with the ordinances of David, neither Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun the king's seer, nor the keepers of each gate had to leave their duties, since their brothers the Levites made all the preparations for them.

16 So the whole Levitical service of Yahweh was arranged that day to celebrate the Passover and to offer holocausts on the altar of Yahweh, in accordance with the ordinances of King Josiah. 17 And so it was that the Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover and, for seven days, the feast of Unleavened Bread. 18 No Passover like this one had ever been celebrated in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; no king of Israel had ever celebrated a Passover like the one celebrated by Josiah with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and of Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

The tragic end of the reign

19 This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah. 20 After everything had been done by Josiah to set the Temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates. When Josiah marched out to intercept him, 21 Neco sent him messengers to say, "What quarrel is there between me and you, king of Judah? I have not come today to attack you; my quarrel is with another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. Do not oppose God who is with me an more, or else he may destroy you." 22 But Josiah continued to challenge him; he was in fact determined to fight him, and would not listen to the words of Neco from God's own mouth. He gave battle in the plain of Megiddo; 23 the bowmen fired on King Josiah, and the king said to his followers "Take me away; I am badly wounded." 24 His servants lifted him out of his own chariot, transferred him to another one and took him back to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah composed a lament for Josiah which all the singing men and singing women still recite today when they lament for Josiah; this has become a custom in Israel; the dirges are recorded in the Lamentations.

26 The rest of the history of Josiah, his deeds of piety conforming to everything written in the Law of Yahweh, 27 his history from first to last, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Jehoahaz

36- 1 The country people took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in succession to his father. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for three month in Jerusalem. 3 The king of Egypt carried him off from Jerusalem and imposed a levy of a hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold on the country. 4 The king of Egypt then made Eliakim, brother of Jehoahaz, king of Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, Neco took his brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.

Jehoiakim

5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what is displeasing to Yahweh his God. 6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him, loaded him with chains and carried him off to Babylon. 7 To Babylon Nebuchadnezzar also carried off part of the furnishings of the Temple of Yahweh and put them in his palace at Babylon. 8 The rest of the history of Jehoiakim, the shameful thingx he did and those discovered to his discredit, these are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah, His son Jehoiachin succeeded him.

Jehoiachin

9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for three month and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what is displeasing to Yahweh. 10 At the turn of the year, Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and had him taken to Babylon, with the precious furnishings of the Temple of Yahweh, ans made Zedekiah his brother king of Judah and Jerusalem in his palace.

Zedekiah

11 Zedekiah was twenty-five years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what is displeasing to Yahweh his God. He did not listen to the prophet Jeremiah, accredited by Yahweh himself. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar to whom he had sworn allegiance by God. He became stubborn, and obstinately refused to return to Yahweh the God of Israel.

The nation as a whole

14 Furthermore, all the heads of the priesthood, and the people too, added infidelity to infidelity, copying all the shameful practices of the nations and defiling the Temple that Yahweh had consecrated for himself in Jerusalem. 15 Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, tirelessly sent them messenger after messengers, since he wished to spare his people and his house. 16 But they ridiculed the messengers of God, they despised his words, they laughed at his prophets, until at last the wrath of Yahweh rose so high against his people that there was no further remedy.

The end

17 He summoned against them the king of the Chaldaeans who put their young warriors to the sword within their sanctuary; he spared neither youth nor virgin, neither old man nor aged cripple; God handed them all over to him. 18 All the furnishings of the Temple of God, large and small, the treasures of the Temple of Yahweh, the treasures of the king and his officials, he carried everything off to Babylon. 19 They burned down the Temple of God, demolished the walls of Jerusalem, set fire to all its palaces, and destroyed everything of value in it. 20 The survivors were deported by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon; they were to serve him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 This is how the word of Yahweh was fulfilled that he spoke through Jeremiah, "Until this land has enjoyed its sabbath rest, until seventy years have gone by, it will keep sabbath throughout the days of its desolation."

Looking to the future

22 And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of Yahweh that was spoken through Jeremiah, Yahweh roused the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom: 23 "Thus speaks Cyrus king of Persia, 'Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; he has ordered me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him! Let him go up.'"