2 Kings - At A Glance

Theme: The history chronicled in 2 Kings demonstrates the fate awaiting those who refuse to follow God. The record shows Elisha to have more miracles than anyone else in the Old Testament. The purpose of his ministry was to restore respect for God. By faith and prayer he showed God's judgment, mercy and love.

2 Kings 1
At a Glance (18 V)
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1-2_After Ahab's death, Moab rebelled against Israel. Ahaziah, Ahab's son, fell through the lattice of his upper chamber of his house in Samaria. He sent a messenger to Baalzebub, the God of Ekron, to discover if he would recover from his sickness.

__3-4_The angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, get up and go to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria. Say to them, why are you going to inquire of Baalzebub in Ekron? Is it because there is no God in Israel? Thus says the LORD, you shall not come down from your bed. You shall surely die. Then Elijah departed.

__5-6_When Ahaziah's messengers returned to him he asked, why have you come back so quickly? They replied, a man approached us and asked why we were inquiring of Baalzebub in Ekron? Is it because there is no God in Israel? Tell the king that because of this inquiry he shall surely die.

__7-9_The king asked them to describe the man who told them this. They said, he was a hairy man with a leather girdle about his loins. And the king said, it is Elijah the Tishbite. Then he sent a captain with fifty men to Elijah, who said, O man of God, the king says for you to come down to him.

__10-11_Elijah answered the captain with his fifty men, saying, if I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty. Then fire came down and consumed all of them. So the king sent another captain with fifty men. And he also said to Elijah, O man of God, the king says, come down quickly.

__12-13_Elijah answered him, if I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty. Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed them all. So the king sent yet another captain and his fifty, who came to Elijah and bowed down before him.

__14-15_This captain said, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains and their fifties. Please let our lives be precious in your sight. And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, go down with him. Do not be afraid. So Elijah went down to the king.

__16-18_Then Elisha said to the king, thus says the LORD, because you inquired of Baalzebub, the God of Ekron, instead of the God of Israel, you will not get well. You will surely die. So Ahaziah died just as the LORD had said. He had no son so Jehoram became king in his place. The rest of Ahaziah's acts are recorded in the Chronicles.

2 Kings 2
At a Glance (25 V)
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1-2_When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha left Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, the LORD is sending me to Bethel. Why don't you remain here while I go. But Elisha said, the LORD has appointed me to stay with you. So they went to Bethel together.

__3-4_The sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, did you know that the LORD will remove your master from over you today? Elisha answered, I know. Be still. And Elijah said to Elisha, please stay here. The LORD is sending me to Jericho. But Elisha said, I must remain with you. So they went to Jericho.

__5-6_The sons of the prophets at Jericho approached Elisha and said, do you realize that the LORD will take your master from you today? Elisha answered, yes, I know. Be still. Then Elijah said to him, please remain here. The LORD has sent me to the Jordan. Elisha replied, I must remain with you. So the two of them went on.

__7-8_Now fifty of the sons of the prophets watched from a distance as them stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle and folding it up, struck the water. This caused the waters to divide and the two of them walked across on dry ground.

__9-10_When they had crossed over, Elijah turned to Elisha and said, what shall I do for you before I am taken from you? Elisha said, please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. Elijah replied, you have asked a hard thing. However, if you watch me when I am taken from you, it will be as you have asked.

__11-12_As they walked and talked, there appeared a chariot and horses of fire which separated them. And Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha called out, my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen! Elijah was gone. Elisha tore his clothes in two pieces.

__13-15_Elijah's mantle fell from him as he went up. Elisha took up his mantle and returned to the Jordan. He struck the waters with it. The waters divided and he crossed over. The sons of the prophets who had watched from a distance before saw this as well, and said, the spirit of Elijah is on Elisha. And they came and bowed down to him.

__16-18_They said to him, here are fifty strong men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him to some mountain or valley. But Elisha would not let them do this. They kept urging him until he let them go. But after three days they returned without finding Elijah. He said, didn't I tell you not to go?

__19-21_The men of the city came to Elisha and said to him, the city is well situated and pleasant but the water is bad and makes the land unfruitful. Elisha asked for a jar of salt. He went to the spring with it and threw the salt into it, and said, thus says the LORD, I have purified these waters from death and unfruitfulness.

__22-24_So the waters have been purified to this day, according to Elisha's words.

From there he went up to Bethel. On the way some young boys came out of the city and mocked him, saying, go up you baldhead. Looking back at them he cursed them in the name of the LORD and a female bear came out of the woods and mauled forty two of them.

__25_From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and then on to Samaria.

2 Kings 3
At a Glance (27 V)
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1-3_Jehoram, Ahab's son, became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He reigned twelve years. He was an evil king, but not as evil as his father and mother. He put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made. But he still clung to the sins of Jeroboam.

__4-7_Mesha king of Moab bred sheep and had been paying tribute to Ahab: a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But when Ahab died Mesha rebelled against Israel. So Jehoram mustered Israel and sent word to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, asking him to go to war with him against Moab. Jehoshaphat agreed.

__8-10_Jehoram asked, which way shall we go to get there? Jehoshaphat said through the wilderness of Edom. So the two kings made a circuit of seven days journey and then discovered that they were without water for themselves and their cattle. Then Jehoram blamed the LORD for getting him in this fix.

__11-12_Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the LORD that they might inquire of the LORD. One of Jehoram's servants said, Elisha is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. Jehoshaphat said the word of the LORD is with him. So the two kings went to see him.

__13-15_Elisha said to Jehoram, why are you coming to me? Go to the prophets of your fathers. Jehoram replied, we need to know the LORD's word concerning this. Elisha said, if it were not for Jehoshaphat I would not see you.

Bring me someone to play music. After the minstrel played the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha.

__16-19_He said, thus says the LORD, Make this valley full of trenches. Without wind or rain the LORD will fill the valley with water for you and your beasts. He will also give the Moabites into your hand. You are to strike every fortified city, cut down the trees, stop all the springs and mar the good land by throwing stones on it.

__20-22_The next morning at about the time of sacrifice water came from Edom and filled that area. The Moabites heard that the kings of Israel and Judah were coming to fight against them. They had prepared for war and came to the border. In the morning when the sun shone on the water they thought it was blood.

__23-24_Moab thought that the kings of Judah and Israel had been fighting against each other. They cried out, on to the spoil. But arriving at the camp of Israel, they were surprised when the Israelites arose and struck them. The Moabites fled before the Israelites who followed after them with a great slaughter.

__25-26_Thus Israel destroyed their cities, threw stones on their good land, stopped their springs and fell their good trees. When the king of Moab saw the battle was too much for him he took seven hundred soldiers and tried to break through to Edom, but he could not get through.

__27_He then took his oldest son, the heir to the throne after him, and offered him as a burnt sacrifice on the wall. Israel departed for their own land without accomplishing their entire goal.

2 Kings 4
At a Glance (44 V)
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1-2_The wife of one of the sons of the prophets came to Elisha and said, your servant, my husband, is dead. You know that he feared the LORD. The creditor has come to settle our debt by taking my two children as slaves. Elisha said, what shall I do for you? What do you have in your house? She said, nothing but a jar of oil.

__3-7_Then Elisha said, borrow as many large vessels as possible. Close your door and you and your two sons pour the oil from your jar into the borrowed vessels. She did this until there were no more vessels to fill. Then the oil stopped. She told the man of God and he said, sell the oil and pay you debt.

__8-10_There came a day when Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman lived there. She persuaded him to stop for a meal. So, whenever he passed that way he would stop to eat. Because he came by fairly often, she asked her husband to build an upper room with a bed, a chair and a lampstand just for Elisha when he came that way.

__11-13_One day after arriving and resting in the upper room, he asked his servant, Gehazi, to call the Shunammite woman. When she had come, he said to her, you have been good to us. What can I do for you? Would you like me to make a request to the king for you, or perhaps to some high official? She answered, I cannot think of anything.

__14-16_After she had left, Elisha said, what can be done for her? Gehazi said, she has no son and her husband is old. So Elisha called for her again. And as she stood in the doorway, he said, at this season next year you shall have a son. She replied, O no, O man of God, please do not get my hopes up unless it is true.

__17-20_The woman did conceive and bore a son at that season next year, just as Elisha had said to her. When the child had grown old enough to work with his father and the reapers, he complained of a bad headache and his father had a servant carry him home to his mother. She held him in her lap until noon and then he died.

__21-23_Then she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. She went out shutting the door behind her. She asked her husband for a servant and a donkey so she could quickly find the man of God and then come back home. He asked, why look for him today? It is neither new moon, or a Sabbath. She said I need to do this.

__24-26_She saddled the donkey and told her servant to go as fast as possible unless she told him to slow down.

She found the man of God on Mount Carmel. Elisha recognized her from a distance and told Gehazi, it's the Shunammite woman. Please run to her and ask, is all well with you and your husband? She replied, we are both well.

__27-28_When she came to the man of God on the hill where he was, she caught a hold of his feet. Gehazi was about to push her away but Elisha said, let her alone. Her soul is troubled and the LORD has not made it known to me. Then she said, did I ask for a son? Did I not say, do not get my hopes up unless I will really have a son?

__29-31_Then Elisha told Gehazi to go quickly with his staff and stop for no reason. Lay the staff on the boy's face. The Shunammite woman would not leave Elisha so he arose and followed her. Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy's face but he gave no response. So Gehazi returned to Elisha, saying, the boy did not wake up.

__32-34_When they came to the house, the boy lay dead on Elisha's bed. Elisha entered the room, shut the door, and prayed to the LORD. He got up and stretched out on the child, placing his mouth on the child's mouth, his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands. The child became warm.

__35-37_Elisha got up and walked about a bit. Then he stretched himself on the child again. The boy sneezes seven times and then opened his eyes. He called Gehazi and said, call the Shunammite woman. When she had come, Elisha said, take you son. She fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.

__38-39_Elisha returned to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land. While the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he told his servant to put a large pot on the fire and boil stew for them. One of them went out into the field to gather herbs. He found a wild vine and took its gourds which he then cut up in the soup.

__40-41_So the soup was served and as they ate one of them cried out, O man of God, the soup is poison. They could not eat it. Elisha called for some meal which he threw into the pot. He told them to serve it and there was no more harm from eating the soup.

__42-43_A man came from Baal-Shalishah and brought the man of God of his First Fruits: barley bread and fresh grain. Elisha instructed that the food be given to the people. The man said, there is not enough here for one hundred men. But Elisha said, give it to them, for the LORD says, they shall eat and have some left over.

__44_So the man set the food before the sons of the prophets and they ate and had some left over, just as the LORD had said.

2 Kings 5
At a Glance (27 V)
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1-4_A man named Naaman, a captain in the Syrian army, was a valiant warrior and highly respected by his king. He was also a leper. On a raid into Israel this captain had taken a little Israelite maid to serve his wife. The little girl said to his wife, I wish my master were with the prophet of Samaria. He would cure his leprosy.

__5-6_When the king of Syria heard of this, he said, I will send a letter to the king of Israel. Naaman took the letter and ten talents of silver, 6,000 shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes. The letter to the king of Israel said, I have sent Naaman my servant to you so that you may cure his leprosy.

__7-8_When the king of Israel saw the letter he tore his clothes. He said, am I God to take life and to give it. The king of Syria is picking a fight with me. Elisha heard of the king's reaction and sent word to him, saying, why be so upset? Send him to me that he may know there is a prophet in Israel.

__9-11_So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood in front of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger out to tell him to wash in the Jordan River seven times. Then the leprosy would leave him. Naaman was furious, saying, I thought that he would at least come out and wave his hand over me to cure the leprosy.

__12-13_He also said, aren't our own rivers in Damascus cleaner than all the waters of Israel? I can just as well wash in one of them. And he went away in a rage. His servants reasoned with him, saying, if the prophet had asked you to do something great, would you have done it? Shouldn't you do as he says and wash and be clean?

__14-15_So Naaman went down to the Jordan and dipped himself seven times, just as the man of God had said. After this his flesh was restored just like a child's skin. He was cured of leprosy. Returning to Elisha he said, now I know that there is no other God on earth except the one in Israel. Please take a present from your servant.

__16-19_Though Naaman urged Elisha to take a gift, he refused. Then Naaman asked for two mule loads of dirt from Israel to worship on. And he said, may the LORD pardon your servant for going with my master into the house if Rimmon when my master goes there to worship. Elisha sent him away in peace.

__20-24_But Gehazi, Elisha's servant, ran after Naaman and said, my master sent me to ask for garments for two young men who just arrived from the hill country. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes. Naaman gave him two talents of silver and two changes of clothes.

__25-27_Gehazi went in before his master. Elisha asked him, where have you been? Gehazi said, no where. Elisha said, I saw you when you followed Naaman. Is this the time to receive money and clothes? Naaman's leprosy shall be upon you and your descendants forever. So Gehazi left Elisha and became a leper, his skin as white as snow.

2 Kings 6
At a Glance (33 V)
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1-5_The sons of the prophets came to Elisha, saying that their living space was too small. They wanted to go down to the Jordan and cut trees for a larger place to live. They asked Elisha to go with them and he agreed. As one of them was felling a tree with a borrowed axe, the axe head flew off the axe handle into the river.

__6-9_Elisha asked where it had fallen into the river? When shown the place, he then threw a stick into that part of the river and the iron axe head floated and was retrieved.

The king of Syria was warring against Israel again. And no matter what he planned secretly with his counselors, the man of God sent word of it to Israel's king.

__10-12_The king of Israel would then send troops to the place Syria planned to attack. This happened several times and it enraged Syria's king. He thought one of his counselors was sending word to Israel. O no, said one of his servants. Elisha the prophet tells the king of Israel what you say in secret, no matter where you say it.

__13-16_So the king of Syria sent an army to surround the city where Elisha was and take him prisoner. Early the next morning Elisha's servant went outside and saw the Syrian horses and chariots. He came to Elisha and said, what are we going to do? Elisha said, do not be afraid. Those who are for us are more than those who are for them.

__17-19_Then Elisha prayed that his servant's eyes would be opened. It was then that his servant saw that all around them the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire. Elisha prayed for the LORD to strike the enemy with blindness. After the LORD had struck the Syrian army with blindness, Elisha led them to Samaria.

__20-23_Once they were in Samaria, he prayed for the LORD to opened their eyes, and they saw where they were. The king of Israel said, shall I kill them? Elisha said, no. Feed them and let them return to their master. So they had a great feast. Then they went home and the marauding bands of Arameans did not bother Israel any more.

__24-29_Sometime later Benhadad king of Aram (Syria) took his army against Samaria. At this time there was a great famine there. A donkey's head sold for eighty shekels of silver. Even dove's dung was sold for food. The king of Israel was passing on the wall and learned that women were eating each other's children.

__30-33_This made him tear his clothes and put on sackcloth. He blamed Elisha for all their trouble and vowed to kill him that very day. He sent a man to Elisha who was sitting with the elders in his house. Even before the man spoke, Elisha said, the son of a murderer has come to take my head. And the king came in right behind him.

2 Kings 7
At a Glance (20 V)
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1-2_Then Elisha said, about this time tomorrow a measure of fine flour and two measures of barley will each be sold for a shekel in the gate of Samaria. The man with the king said, even if the windows of heaven were to opened, this could not be? Elisha said, you shall see it but you will not eat any of it.

__3-5_There were four lepers at the gate to Samaria. They decided that rather than starve in Samaria, they would go to the camp of the Syrians. They were about to die anyway. Maybe they could get some food there. So they got up at twilight and came to the outskirts of the camp of the Syrians and discovered that everyone had left.

__6-8_The LORD had caused the Syrians to hear the sound of a great army. They thought the Israelites had hired the Hittites and the Egyptians. So they got up and fled for their lives leaving everything behind. The lepers ate their fill and began carrying away gold, silver and clothing.

__9-10_Then they said to each other, we are not doing right. We should be sharing this good news. We may even be punished unless we let the king know about this. So they went to the gatekeepers of the city and told them that the Syrians were all gone and had left everything behind, including their horses and donkeys tied by their tents.

__11-13_The gatekeepers sent word to the king. It was still early morning but the king got up. He thought it was an elaborate ruse by the Syrians to lure them out so they could fall on Israel. One of his servants said, let's at least send some men out to check. Israel is about to perish. We need to investigate this report.

__14-16_They sent two chariots that followed the trail of cast off clothing and equipment all along the Jordan. They returned to the king with their report. When the people heard of this they went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. Then just as the LORD had said, a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel.

__17-20_The king appointed his royal officer on whom he most depended to have charge of the gate. The people trampled on him and he died, just as God had said through Elisha. And in fact, two measured of barley did sell for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel. And the royal officer died and did not eat any of it.

2 Kings 8
At a Glance (29 V)
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1-3_Elisha spoke with the woman whose son he had raise from the dead. He told her that the LORD was bringing a seven year famine and she and her family should find a place to wait it out. So she and her family sojourned in the land of the Philistines. At the end of seven years she appealed to the king for her house and field.

__4-6_The king had been talking with Gehazi asking about all the great things Elisha had done. Gehazi told of the woman whose son Elisha had raised from the dead. Then this woman came asking that her house and land be returned to her. The king asked her to verify what Gehazi had said about her son. Then he restored her house to her.

__7-9_Elisha came to Damascus and Benhadad the king of the land was sick. He was told that Elisha had come. So he told Hazael, take a gift to Elisha and inquire of the LORD if I will recover from this sickness? Hazael took every kind of gift on forty camels and asked him if Benhadad would recover from his sickness?

__10-12_Elisha said, go tell him that he will surely recover, but the LORD has shown me that he will certainly die. Then Elisha began weeping. Hazael asked, why are your weeping? Elisha said, because I know the evil you will do to Israel, and how you will destroy their strongholds and kill all their people, young and old.

__13-15_Then Hazael said, I am nobody. Why would I do this terrible thing? Elisha said, the LORD has shown me that you are to be king of Syria. So Hazael returned to his master who asked him, what did Elisha say to you. He answered, he said, you shall surely recover. But the next day Hazael smothered him and became king in his place.

__16-18_In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab and king of Israel, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. He was thirty two years old and reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He did as the king of Israel had been doing. The daughter of Ahab became his wife and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.

__19-21_However, the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah because He had promised David that He would always give a lamp to him through his sons.

In his days Edom revolted against Judah and made a king for themselves. So Joram took all his chariots by night and struck the Edomites.

__22-24_Edom revolted against Judah to this day. Then the Libnah also revolted. The rest of Joram's acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. So Joram slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. Ahaziah his son became king in his place.

__25-27_In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty two years old when he became king. He reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. He followed all of Ahab's ways doing evil in God's sight.

__28-29_He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war with Hazael king of Syria. Joram was wounded and returned to Jezreel to wait for his wounds to heal. Ahaziah went to visit him.

2 Kings 9
At a Glance (37 V)
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1-6_Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets and handed him a flask of oil telling him to go to Ramoth-Gilead and find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat. He was to take Jehu to a private room and there anoint his head with the oil and tell him, the LORD has anointed you as king over Israel.

__7-10_God says, you shall strike the house of Ahab to avenge the blood of my prophets and the blood of all my servants at the hand of Jezebel. The whole house of Ahab will perish. And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in Jezreel. No one will bury her. Then he opened the door and fled.

__11-12_Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master and one of them asked him, is everything alright? What did this mad fellow want with you? Jehu said, you know the kinds of things they say. The men replied, they speak lies. Tell us what he said. Jehu answered, he told me that the LORD has said that I am to be King over Israel.

__13-15_Then each man hurried to placed his garment where Jehu would walk. They blew the trumpet saying, Jehu is king!

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat conspired against Joram. At the time Joram was convalescing in Jezreel from his wound from fighting against Hazael king of Syria. Jehu said let no one go to warn Joram.

__16-18_Then Jehu rode in a chariot to Jezreel where Joram was recuperating. Ahaziah king of Judah had come to see Joram. The watchman in the tower of Jezreel saw the company riding toward them and sent a horseman to ask if they were coming with good news. When the horseman came to Jehu all he would say was, get in behind me.

__19-21_The watchman sent a second rider to ask if they were coming with good news. He was also told to get in behind and follow. The watchman reported, he is not coming back either. The lead man is driving furiously the way Jehu drives. Then Joram said to get his chariot ready and he rode out to meet Jehu on the property of Naboth.

__22-24_When he came to Jehu he asked, is everything alright? Jehu said, what can be right as long as the harlotries and witchcraft of Jezebel continue to multiply? Then Joram called out to Ahaziah as he fled, there is treachery! And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram through his heart and he died.

__25-27_Jehu gave orders that his body be cast onto the field of Naboth that he may be repaid just as the LORD spoke against him. When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled. Jehu pursued him and told his men to shoot him too. They shot him on the ascent to Gur but he fled to Megiddo and died there.

__28-30_Ahaziah's servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his fathers in the city of David. Ahaziah had become king in the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab.

When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it and painted her eyes and adorned her head. She then looked out her window.

__31-33_As Jehu entered the gate she called down to him, is it well with my master's murdered? Looking up to the window, Jehu called out, who is on my side? Two or three officials looked down at him. And he said, throw her down. So they threw her down and some of her blood sprinkled on the wall and the horses that trampled on her.

__34-37_Jehu went inside and ate and drank. Then he gave orders for Jezebel's body to be buried. But they found nothing left of her except her skull, her feet and part of her hands. When they told Jehu he said, this fulfills the word of the LORD by Elijah saying that dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel and her corpse shall be as dung.

2 Kings 10
At a Glance (36 V)
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1-5_Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters to the rulers of Jezreel. He instructed them to prepare to organize their best defense of their master's sons. But these rulers were afraid for they had seen what Jehu did to the two kings. They said we are your servants. Tell us what you want us to do.

__6-11_Jehu sent another letter saying, if you are on my side bring the heads of your master's sons to me tomorrow about this time. So they slaughtered Ahab's sons and sent them to Jezreel. Jehu had them put in two piles by the gate until morning. Then he told the people that what he had done was according to the LORD's word.

__12-17_Then Jehu arose and headed for Samaria. On the way he met relatives of Ahaziah who were coming to greet the king's sons and the queen mother. There were forty two of them. He had them all killed. On arriving in Samaria he killed all who remained to Ahab, just as the LORD had spoken through Elijah.

__18-25_Then Jehu gathered all the people who worshiped Baal. He said he wanted to worship Baal even more than Ahab had worshiped him. He called all the priests together along with all the people who were Baal worshipers. After he got them all in the house of Baal he had them killed.

__26-31_They then brought all the sacred pillars out of the house of Baal and burned them. They made a latrine out of the house of Baal. Jehu did much good and God promised him that he and his sons for four generations would rule Israel. But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD. He did not depart from Jeroboam's sins.

__32-36_In those days the LORD began to remove portions of Israel from Jehu. The rest of Jehu's acts are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Jehu reigned twenty eight years in Samaria and slept with his fathers. And Jehoahaz his son became king over Israel in his place.

2 Kings 11
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1-3_When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that he was dead she had all the royal offspring destroyed. But Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister took Joash, also called Jehoash, Ahaziah's son, and hid him in her house for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

__4-8_Then in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the captains of hundreds from among the Carites who were the guard and brought them to the house of the LORD. He made a covenant with them before showing them the king's son. Then he divided them into thirds to guard the temple and the gates to it as well as the young king.

__9-12_The captains of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. This was on a Sabbath. Jehoiada gave them spears and shields that had been King David's and had been stored in the house of the LORD. With the guards stationed all around he brought the king's son out and put a crown on him, saying, long live the king.

__13-14_When Athaliah heard the noise she came to the LORD's house and saw the young king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside him, and all the people of the land rejoicing, she tore her clothes and cried, Treason! Treason!

__15-17_Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds to bring her in their midst and take whoever follows her and kill them, too. But do not put her to death in the LORD's house. So they seized her and put her to death at the horse's entrance to the king's house.

__18_Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They broke up his alters and images. And they killed Mattan the priest of Baal. And Jehoiada once again appointed officers over the house of the LORD.

__19-21_Then Jehoiada took the captain of the guard and all the people of the land, and they brought the king to the house of the LORD. They came to the king's house where he sat on the throne of the kings. All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. Jehoash, also known as Joash, was seven years old when he became king.

2 Kings 12
At a Glance (21 V)
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1-3_In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king. He reigned forty years in Jerusalem and did right in the sight of the LORD all of his days because of Jehoiada the priest's instruction. But the high places were not taken away. The people continued to sacrifice and burn incense in these high places.

__4-6_Then Jehoash told the priests that all the money brought into the house of the LORD which they had been appropriating to themselves should be used to repair the damages to the house. But it came to pass that in the twenty third year of King Jehoash that the priests had not repaired the damages to the LORD's house.

__7-9_Then King Jehoash called Jehoiada and the other priests and asked why the temple was in disrepair? They were no longer to use the money for themselves. The priests agreed and Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid and put it by the alter. The priests guarded all the money brought into the house of the LORD.

__10-16_When a great deal of money had been collected they counted it and placed it in the hands of those who would pay carpenters, builders, masons and stone cutters to repair the damages to the house of the LORD. The workers were faithful and no accounting was required of them. The sin and guilt offerings still went to the priests.

__17-19_Hazael king of Aram captured Gath and then prepared to take Jerusalem. Jehoash took all the sacred things his fathers had dedicated to the house of the LORD and sent them to Hazael so that he did not bother Jerusalem. The rest of the acts of Jehoash are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah.

__20-21_His servants conspired to strike him down. He died and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. Amaziah his son became king in his place.

2 Kings 13
At a Glance (25 V)
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1-3_In the twenty third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel at Samaria. He reigned seventeen years. He did evil in God's sight following in the footsteps of Jeroboam. Because of this the LORD gave Israel into the hand of Hazael king of Aram.

__4-7_Jehoahaz entreated the favor of the LORD because of Aram's oppression of Israel. The LORD gave Israel a deliverer from the Arameans. And yet they did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam. The Asherah remained standing in Samaria. Jehoahaz had only fifty horseman, ten chariots and 10,000 horseman for Aram had destroyed their army.

__8-9_The rest of the acts of Jehoahaz are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Jehoahaz slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And Joash his son became king.

__10-12_In the thirty seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned sixteen years. He did evil in God's sight because he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. The rest of his acts, including his fight against Amaziah king of Judah are recorded in Chronicles.

__13-14_So Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

When Elisha became sick with the illness that would lead to his death, Joash the king of Israel came to him and wept over him, no doubt concerned for the future of Israel. He said, my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horseman!

__15-17_Elisha told him to take up his bow and arrows, open the window toward the east. Then as he drew his bow and arrow, Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. Then Elisha said shoot. And he shot the arrow. Then Elisha said, that was the LORD's arrow of victory over Aram. You shall defeat and destroy them.

__18-19_Then Elisha said, take the arrows and he took them. Elisha then said, strike the ground and he struck the ground only three times. So the man of God was angry with him. He said, you should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have completely destroyed him. But now you will strike him only three times.

__20-21_Elisha died and was buried.

Bands of Moabites invaded the land in the spring of the year. As an Israelite was being buried, those burying him saw one of these Moabite bands and threw the dead man into Elisha's grave and ran away. When the man touched Elisha's bones he revived and stood up on his feet.

__22-25_Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But the LORD was gracious to them on account of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He would not let them be destroyed or cast from His presence. Hazael died and his son Benhadad became king of Aram. Jehoash defeated him three times and took back the cities taken by Hazael.

2 Kings 14
At a Glance (29 V)
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1-3_In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah became king. He was twenty five years old and reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of God, though not like his father David. He did everything his father Joash had done.

__4-6_However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at those places. When the kingdom was firmly in his hand he killed those who had slain his father. He did not kill the sons of these men because the law of Moses said the sons should not die for the father's sin or visa versa.

__7-10_He killed 10,000 in the Valley of Salt in Edom and renamed it Joktheel. Then Amaziah challenged Jehu, king of Israel, to a face off. Jehoash, king of Israel, said, you have defeated Edom and it has made you proud. Enjoy your glory and stay home, for why should you be the cause of Judah falling?

__11-13_Amaziah would not listen so the two countries faced each other at Bethshemesh of Judah and Judah was defeated. Jehoash captured Amaziah king of Judah and took him to Jerusalem where he proceeded to tear down about six hundred feet of the wall from the gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate.

__14-16_He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils from the house of the LORD. He also took the king's treasuries and some hostages back to Samaria. The rest of the acts of Jehoash are written in the Chronicles of the Book of the Kings. So Jehoash died and was buried in Samaria and Jeroboam his son became king in his place.

__17-22_Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after Jehoash died. The rest of his acts are also written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. He was conspired against in Jerusalem and was killed and buried there. His son Azariah was sixteen when he was made king. He built Elath and restored it to Judah.

__23-25_In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria and reigned forty one years. He was an evil king in God's sight. He did restore the border as far as the Sea of the Arabah, just as Jonah had foretold.

__26_The LORD saw Israel's bitter affliction. He had promised not to blot out Israel and used Jeroboam son of Joash to save them. The rest of his acts are written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And he slept with his fathers. Zechariah his son became king in his place.

2 Kings 15
At a Glance (38 V)
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1-4_In the second year of Jeroboam King of Israel Azariah the son of Amaziah became king of Judah. He was sixteen when he became king and he reigned fifty two years. He did right in God's sight. But the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

__5-7_The LORD struck Azariah with leprosy so he lived alone. The rest of his acts are recorded in The Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah. He was buried with his fathers in the city of David and Jotham his son became king.

__8-10_In the thirty eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria for six months. He did evil in God's sight by not departing from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. He encouraged Israel to sin. Then Shallum the son of Jabesh killed him and reigned in his place.

__11-13_The rest of the acts of Zechariah are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Israel. This is what the LORD said to Jehu: four generations of your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel. And that is what happened. Shallum became king in the thirty ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah. He reigned for one month.

__14-18_Then Menahem son of Gadi came up to Samaria from Tirzah and killed Shallum and became king in his place. The rest of Shallum's acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Israel. Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, even ripping open its pregnant women. He reigned ten years in Samaria and did evil in God's sight.

__19-20_Pul, king of Assyria, came against Israel and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver so that he would leave Israel alone. Then Menahem exacted tribute from the wealthy men of Israel. Every man had to come up with fifty shekels of silver to pay the king of Assyria. This was required for Assyria to leave Israel alone.

__21-22_The rest of the things Menahem did are recorded in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Israel. Menahem slept with his fathers and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.

__23-26_In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah became king of Israel and reigned two years. He did evil in the LORD's sight. Then Pekah, the son of one of his officers, killed him in Samaria. Pekah became king in his place. The rest of Pekahiah's acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Israel.

__27-29_In the fifty second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah became king of Israel. He reigned in Samaria twenty years. He did evil in the LORD's sight. In Pekah's days as king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and captured much of Israel's northern territory, and carried captives back to Assyria.

__30-33_Then Hoshea and Elah killed Pekah in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. The rest of Pekah's acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Israel. In the second year of Pekah, Jotham the son of Uzziah became king of Judah. He was twenty five years old and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

__34-36_Jotham did what was right in the LORD's sight. Yet the high places were not destroyed and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on these high places. Jotham built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. The rest of Jotham's acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah.

__37-38_In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah king of Israel against Judah. Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. And Ahaz his son became king in his place.

2 Kings 16
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1-3_In the seventeenth year of Pekah, Ahaz son of Jotham, became king of Judah. He was twenty years old and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the LORD's eyes as his father David had done. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, even making his son pass through the fire.

__4-6_He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places under every green tree. Then Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel, came to Jerusalem and waged war against Ahaz. But they could not overcome him. Rezin did recover Elath for Aram and removed the Judeans for the place. The Arameans came and they lived there to this day.

__7-9_Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, asking for help against Aram. He took the silver and gold found in the LORD's house and the king's treasury. He sent these as a present to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria listened to him and went up against Damascus and killed Rezin.

__10-16_So King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser. He saw an alter there and had Urijah the priest make a copy of it. The alter was ready for Ahaz when he came home. He told Urijah to use this alter for morning and evening sacrifices. He planned to use the bronze alter to make inquiry of the LORD. Urijah did as commanded.

__17-20_Then Ahaz cut up the laver and used pieces of it as part of the pavement. He even removed the things such as the way for the Sabbath. The rest of his acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah. He slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David and his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

2 Kings 17
At a Glance (41 V)
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1-3_In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria and reigned nine years. He did evil in the LORD's sight but not as much as the kings before him. Shalmaneser king of Assyria came against him and Israel became his servant and paid him tribute.

__4-6_But Shalmaneser discovered that Hoshea had tried to make an alliance with Egypt so he put him in prison. He then invaded the whole land besieged Samaria for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away in exile to Halah and Habor on the river Gozan in the cities of the Medes.

__7-12_This had come about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them up out of Egypt. They had worshipped other gods and walked in the customs of the nations the LORD had driven out before them. They set up pillars and Asherim on every high hill and burned incense there. This provoked the LORD.

__13-15_The LORD had warned Israel and Judah through his prophets, saying, turn from your evil ways. Keep my commandments and statutes which I commanded your fathers and sent to you through my servants the prophets. But they did not listen or believe. They rejected His covenants and warnings and they became vain.

__16-18_Forsaking all the LORD's commandments, they made two molten calves and an Asherah. They worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire and they practiced divinations and enchantments. So the LORD was angry with Israel and removed them from the land except for Judah.

__19-23_But Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD either. They walked in the customs introduced by Israel. When Israel left the house of David, Jeroboam the son of Nebat drove Israel away from the LORD and they continued to walk in his sins until their exile by Assyria. So the LORD rejected Israel and cast them from His sight.

__24-26_Assyria brought men from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim to settle in Samaria. From the first they did not fear the LORD so He sent lions among them and killed some. They told the king of Assyria what was happening to them and that they did not know the customs of the God of the land.

__27-29_Then the king of Assyria had one of the priests carried into exile sent to live with them and teach them the custom of the God of the land. He lived in Bethel and taught them how to fear the LORD. But they continued to make their own gods and worshiped in the high places according to their own customs.

__30-33_The men of Babylon made Succoth-Benoth. The men of Cuth made Nergal. The men of Hamath made Ashima. The men of Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. And the Sepharvites burned their children as an offering to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharaim. They tried to fear the LORD while continuing to serve their own gods.

__34-36_To this day they follow their own customs and do not fear the LORD, follow His statutes or His commandments which He gave to Israel. The LORD had made a covenant with them saying, you shall not serve other gods. You shall serve only the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt and to Him you shall sacrifice.

__37-39_You shall observe the statutes, ordinances, the law and the commandments which I wrote for you. You shall observe these forever and you shall not fear other gods. You shall fear the LORD your God and He shall deliver you from your enemies.

__40-41_Although a priest was brought to teach them, they did not listen but did according to their earlier custom. While they tried to serve the LORD, they also served their idols. So did their children and grandchildren. So they do to this day.

2 Kings 18
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1-4_In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz became king of Judah. He was twenty five years old and reigned twenty nine years. He did right in the LORD's sight. He removed the high places, broke down the sacred pillars and broke up the bronze serpent Moses had made. Some were burning incense to it.

__5-9_Hezekiah trusted in the LORD more than any king following him. He clung to the LORD and followed His commandments given through Moses. Whatever he did the LORD prospered. He rebelled against Assyria. He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza. So it was that in his fourth year that Shalmaneser king of Assyria besieged Samaria.

__10-12_At the end of three years they captured it. Assyria carried Israel away into exile to Halah and Habor on the river Gozan and in the cities of the Medes. This happened because they did not obey the LORD and keep His covenant to do all that He had commanded through Moses. They would neither listen or do it.

__13-14_In Hezekiah's fourteenth year Sennacherib king of Assyria came against all the fortified cities of Judah. Hezekiah sent word to the king of Assyria asking what was the reason for this invasion. What tribute should he pay? So the king of Assyria required three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

__16-20_Hezekiah then cut the gold off of the doors and the door posts of the temple of the LORD, which he himself had overlaid. He gave these to the king of Assyria. Then the king of Assyria sent a large army to Jerusalem and the leaders of the army goaded Hezekiah, asking him why he was rebelling and who he had put his confidence in?

__21-24_They asked, are you relying on Egypt? This will not work. If you say, we trust the LORD our God, this will not work either. Come now and make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses if you have riders to put on them. You dare not repulse me and rely on Egypt for chariots and horses.

__25-27_The LORD Himself is the one who told me to come up and destroy this place. Then Eliakim who was over the household said, speak in Aramaic and not in Judean for all the people on the wall to hear. But the Assyrian official said he had come to speak with Hezekiah and no one else. Your people are doomed to starvation.

__28-31_Then Rabshakeh, the Assyrian official, said with a loud voice, the great king of Assyria says that Hezekiah will not be able to save you. Do not let him make you trust in the LORD, saying, He will surely deliver you from Assyria. Make your peace with the great king of Assyria so that each of you may live in peace in his own home,

__32-36_Until I come and take you away to another land like your own. But do not listen to Hezekiah when he says the LORD will deliver you. Have any of the gods of the other nations been able to deliver them from Assyria? Even Samaria has fallen. And neither shall the LORD deliver Jerusalem. But the people said not a word in response.

__37_Then Eliakim who was over the household and those with him came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported all the words of the Assyrian official.

2 Kings 19
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1-4_When Hezekiah heard the report he tore his cloths, put on sackcloth and went to the house of the LORD. He sent Eliakim and other leaders to Isaiah the prophet. They told him that Hezekiah says this is a day of distress, rebuke and rejection. Perhaps the LORD has heard all the words of the king of Assyria and will rebuke him.

__5-8_The servants of Hezekiah came to Isaiah and told him everything. Isaiah said, thus says the LORD, do not be afraid of the blasphemous words of the king of Assyria. I will cause him to hear a rumor and return to his own land. And there he will fall by the sword. Then Rabshakeh returned and found Assyria fighting Lachish.

__9-13_He then sent messengers to Hezekiah saying, do not be fooled. Jerusalem will be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Assyria has been destroying every land. Do you think you will be spared? Look at Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, Telassar, Hamath, Arpad, Hena and Ivvah. The gods of these nations were not able to spare any of them.

__14-16_Then Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and after reading it, went up to the house of the LORD and spread the letter out before the LORD and prayed. Thou alone art the God who made heaven and earth. Listen to the words of Sennacherib and how he has reproached the living God.

__17-20_Assyria has devastated the nations and burned their gods. And now, O Lord, I pray that You deliver us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art God. Isaiah sent word to Hezekiah saying, God has said that because you prayed to the God of Israel about Sennacherib, He has heard you.

__21-28_God said, Assyria has despised and mocked you. In mocking you they have mocked the Holy One of Israel! Assyria, you have boasted of your accomplishments and what you will yet accomplish. I know when you sit down and when you come in and go out. Because of your arrogance I will put my hook in your nose and turn you back.

__29-31_Judah, this shall be a sign to you. This year you will eat what grows of itself. The second year will be the same but the third year you will sow, reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. The surviving remnant of Judah shall again take root and bear fruit. The zeal of the LORD shall make this come to pass.

__32-34_Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria. He shall not come to this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not throw up a mound against it or attack it. He will return the way he came. For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and the sake of My servant David.

__35-37_And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 Assyrians. So Sennacherib went home to live in Nineveh. And while he worshiped Nisroch his God, two of his sons killed him with the sword. They escaped to the land of Ararat and another of his sons became king in his place.

2 Kings 20
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1-4_In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. Isaiah came to say that the LORD has said, to put his house in order for you was going die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD saying, I have walked before you with my whole heart. And he wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court the LORD spoke to him.

__5-6_He said, go back to Hezekiah and tell him that I have heard his prayer. I will heal him and on the third day he shall go to the house of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to his life and deliver him from Assyria. I will defend this city for My own sake and the sake of My servant David.

__7-9_Then Isaiah told Hezekiah's servants to lay a cake of figs on his boil and he recovered.

Now Hezekiah asked Isaiah for a sign from the LORD that he would be healed. Isaiah said, you will know the LORD has spoken when you see the shadow go forward or backward ten steps.

__10-13_Hezekiah said let the shadow goes backwards ten steps. And Isaiah cried to the LORD and He brought the shadow backwards ten steps.

At this time Berodach-Balandan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah because he had heard Hezekiah was sick. And Hezekiah showed his messengers all his wealth.

__14-17_Then Isaiah the prophet came to Hezekiah and asked about the men who had come to visit. He asked what they had seen in his house. Hezekiah said, I showed them all of my wealth. Isaiah said, hear the word of the LORD. The day will come when all your treasure and the treasure of your fathers will be carried away to Babylon.

__18-21_And some of your sons will be taken there to serve in the palace of the king of Babylon. Hezekiah thought this was alright along as it did not happen in his day. The rest of Hezekiah's acts are recorded in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah. So Hezekiah slept with his fathers and Manasseh his son became king in his place.

2 Kings 21
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1-3_Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king and he reigned fifty five years. He did all the evil things other nations did which the LORD had dispossessed them from the land. He rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah had destroyed. He erected alters to Baal, he made an Asherah and worshiped the host of heaven.

__4-9_He build alters for all the host of heaven in the LORD's house. He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He set the carved image of Asherah in the house of the LORD. Manasseh seduced the people to do more evil than all the nations whom the LORD destroyed before Israel.

__10-15_The LORD spoke through his servants the prophets, saying, because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, the LORD God of Israel says, I am bringing calamity on Jerusalem and Judah. I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish and turns it upside down. I will give them to their enemies because they have done much evil.

__16-20_Manasseh shed much innocent blood and made Judah sin. The rest of his acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah and he slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his own house. Amon his son became king in his place. He was twenty two years old when he became king and he reigned two year in Jerusalem.

__21-24_Amon walked in all the ways of his father by worshiping his idols. He forsook the LORD and did not walk in His ways. The servants of Amon conspired against him and killed him in his own house. Then the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon and made Josiah his son king in his place.

__25-26_The rest of the acts of Amon are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah.

2 Kings 22
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1-6_Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He reigned thirty one years in Jerusalem and did what was right in the LORD's sight. In his eighteenth year he sent a message to Hilkiah the priest to count the money brought into the house of the LORD and to then deliver it to the workmen for repairs to the house of the LORD.

__7-9_He said that no accounting should be required of them. They would deal faithfully. Then Hilkiah the priest told Shaphan, the messenger, that he had found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. Shaphan took the book to Josiah and told him that the money had been given to the workman who had oversight of the house.

__10-13_Shaphan showed Josiah the book of the law Hilkiah had sent with him and read it to the king. When Josiah heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. He sent word to Hilkiah the priest to inquire of the LORD concerning the wrath of the LORD against us because our fathers did not listen to the words of the book.

__14-16_So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan and Asish went to Hulda the prophetess and spoke to her. She said, thus says the LORD God of Israel, tell the man who sent you to Me, Behold I bring evil on this place and its inhabitants, according to all the words of the book which have been read to you,

__17-19_Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods and provoked Me to anger with the work of their hands. For this reason my anger shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah who sent you say this: because your heart is tender and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, wept and torn your clothes, I have heard you.

__20_Therefore, I will gather you to your fathers and you will go to your grave in peace. You will not witness all the evil I will bring on this place. So they brought these words back to the king.

2 Kings 23
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1-2_King Josiah called for all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem and went with them up to the house of the LORD. The priests and prophets and all the people, great and small, listened as he read all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.

__3-4_The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow Him and keep His commandments and statutes with all his heart and soul. And all the people entered into the covenant with him. Then the king commanded Hilkiah and the temple officials to bring out the vessels made for Baal and Asherah and burn them.

__5-7_He did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places to Baal and to the host of heaven. And he had the Asherah brought out from the house of the LORD and burned at the brook Kidron. He destroyed the male cult prostitute's tents in the house of the LORD.

__8-10_He defiled and destroyed the high places where the priests had burned incense. He brought those priests back to Jerusalem. These did not go up to the altar of the LORD but did eat unleavened bread with their brothers. He destroyed the Topheth in the valley of Hinnom where men had burned their children to Molech.

__11-13_He did away with the horses which the kings of Judah had given to the sun. He also burned the chariots of the sun. He smashed the altars on the roof put there by Ahaz and Manasseh and put the dust of them in the brook Kidron. There were things Solomon had built for Ashtoreth. These he also defiled.

__14-20_He broke up the sacred pillars and Jeroboam's altar at Bethel. They ground its stones to dust and burned the Asherah. Josiah also removed all the high places in Samaria. He slaughtered all the priests of the high places and burned them on their altars. After this he returned to Jerusalem.

__21-23_Then the king commanded the people to celebrate the Passover to the LORD as it is written in the book of the covenant. Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated since the days of the judges, not even in all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah. In the eighteenth year of king Josiah this Passover was observed.

__24-25_Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists, the teraphim and the idols from the land of Judah, confirming the words of the law written in the book found in the house of the LORD by Hilkiah the priest. Before Josiah there was no king who followed all the law of Moses and neither was there a king like him after him.

__26-27_However, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath against Judah, because of what Manasseh had done to provoke Him. The LORD said I will remove Judah from My sight, just as I have removed Israel. I will cast off Jerusalem, My chosen city and the temple where I said My name shall be.

__28-30_The rest of Josiah's acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah. Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to Assyria and King Josiah went to meet him. Pharaoh Neco killed him at Megiddo. His servants brought his body back to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people anointed Jehoahaz his son as king.

__31-33_Jehoaphaz was twenty three years old when he became king and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. He did evil in the LORD's sight. Pharaoh Neco imprisoned him in the land of Hamath and imposed a fine on the land of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

__34-37_Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king. He changed his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz died in Egypt. So Jehoiakim taxed the land in order to give Pharaoh the silver and gold he had demanded. He was twenty five years old when he became king and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem and he did evil in the LORD's sight.

2 Kings 24
At a Glance (20 V)
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1-2_In the days of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon made him his servant. After three years Jehoiakim rebelled. The LORD sent bands of Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites and Ammonites. They came to destroy Judah according to the word of the LORD spoken through His prophets.

__3-6_The LORD had commanded that Judah be removed from His sight because of Mannasseh's sins, for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. This the LORD would not forgive. The rest of Jehoiakim's acts are written in the Chronicles Of The Kings Of Judah. He slept with his fathers and Jehoiachin his son became king in his place.

__7-9_The king of Egypt did not come out of his land because the king of Babylon had taken so much of Egypt's territory from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. He did evil in the LORD's sight just as his father had done.

__10-12_At that time Nebuchadnezzar's servants came up against Jerusalem. Then Nebuchadnezzar came to the city while it was under siege. Jehoiachin went out to the king of Babylon with his mother and his servants. So Nebuchadnezzar took them captive in the eighth year of his reign over Babylon.

__13-14_He carried away all the treasure from the house of the LORD and the king's house. He cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon had made for the temple of the LORD. He led into exile all Jerusalem including the captains and mighty men. He took ten thousand people, including craftsmen and left the poorest of the people.

__15-17_So Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon with his wife, his mother and his officials. There were also seven thousand men of valor and craftsmen and smiths. Then Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin's uncle, Mattaniah, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

__18-20_Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he became king. He reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the LORD's sight just as Jehoiakim had done. It was because of the LORD's anger that all this had happened to Jerusalem. And Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon.

2 Kings 25
At a Glance (30 V)
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1-4_In the ninth years of Zedekiah's reign Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem with his army from Babylon. He built a siege wall around the city and it was under siege until the eleventh year of Zedekiah. There was a severe famine in the city. Then the city was broken into and all the king and the men of war fled by way of Arabah.

__5-7_The Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. His army scattered from him. He was brought before Nebuchadnezzar who passed judgment on him. His sons were slaughtered while he watched. Then they put his eyes out and took him to Babylon bound with bronze fetters.

__8-11_In the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he sent the captain of the guard to Jerusalem with an army. He burned the house of the LORD, the king's house and every great house in the city. They broke down the walls around Jerusalem. And any people still around Jerusalem he carried away into exile.

__12-14_He did leave some of the poorest to be vine dressers and plowman.

The bronze pillars in the house of the LORD, the bronze sea and the bronze stand it rested on he broke up and carried to Babylon. They took away all the pots, shovels, spoons and bronze vessels used in the temple service.

__15-17_The captain of the guard took the firepans and basins and whatever was of fine gold or silver. The things they took of bronze, silver and gold, were beyond weight. The height of just one pillar was eighteen cubits and its capital was three cubits high. Each capital had been cast with a network of pomegranates.

__18-23_Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took some of the chief priests, temple officials, advisors and other men he found in the city and brought them in exile to the king of Babylon and he killed them. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah over the few people left in Jerusalem and any men of note in the land came to him.

__24-26_Gedaliah swore to them that if they would follow him it would be well with them. But sometime later Ishmael who was of the royal family came with others and struck Gedaliah down. Then everyone picked up and left for Egypt. They were afraid of the Chaldeans.

__27-30_After Jehoiachin had been in exile thirty seven years the king of Babylon released him from prison, spoke kindly to him and gave him respect above other kings he had conquered. Jehoiachin had his meals with the king and had a regular allowance the rest of the days of his life.

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