9 He sent a captain with his fifty men to get Elijah. He went up to him and said, "O man of God, the king says to come down to him."

COMMENT: He must have approached Elijah in a very disrespectful way.

10 Elijah replied to the captain, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your fifty." And fire came down from heaven and burned up him and his fifty.

11 So the king sent another captain with his fifty men. And he approached Elijah and said, "O man of God, the king says to come down quickly." 12 Elijah replied to them, "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 burned the captain and his fifty men.

13 So then the king sent yet a third captain with his fifty. He came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah and begged him, saying, "O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight." 14 "Behold, the first two captains and their fifties were consumed by fire from heaven. Please let my life be precious in your sight." 15 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him and do not be afraid." So he went down to the king.

16 Elijah said to the king, "Thus says the LORD, because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, rather than inquiring of the God of Israel, you shall not get well. You shall surely die." 17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah. And because he had no son, Jehoram became king of Israel in his place in the second year of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. 18 The rest of the acts of Ahaziah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

2 Kings 2 - RWB Paraphrase (25 V)
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Elijah Is Taken to Heaven
1 Shortly before the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha went to Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD is sending me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

COMMENT: This was the same as saying, as surely as there is a God.

3 The sons of the prophets at Bethel spoke to Elisha, saying, "Do you know that the LORD will take your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know. Say nothing more of it." 4 Once again, Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD is sending me to Jericho." But Elisha answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, and while you are with me, I will not leave you." So they went on to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets at Jericho approached Elisha, saying, "Do you realize that the LORD will take your master from you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know. Say nothing more about it." 6 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD is sending me to the Jordan River." And Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, and you are with me, I will not leave you." So the two of them traveled on.

7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood some distance from them while they stood by the Jordan River. 8 Elijah took his mantle, and after folding it, struck the waters. The river divided so that the two of them crossed over on dry land. 9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what you want me to do for you before a am taken from you." Elisha said to him, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."

COMMENT: This was not a request for twice as much of God's Spirit as Elijah had. Rather, Elisha was requesting the oldest son's portion who would take the place of his father.

10 Elijah said, "You have asked a hard thing. And yet, you will have your request if you see me taken from you."

11 As they were walking and talking, there suddenly appeared a chariot and horses of fire, and Elijah was taken up from Elisha in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 As Elisha saw him going up, he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horseman!" And Elijah was gone. Elisha took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He then picked up Elijah's mantle that had fallen to the ground and returned to the Jordan where he stood by the bank. 14 Taking Elijah's mantle he struck the waters, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" And when he had struck the waters, they were divided and Elisha crossed over. 15 The sons of the prophets from Jericho were standing on the opposite bank of the Jordan and saw this. They said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him bowing to the ground before him. 16 They said to him, "There are fifty of us who ask permission to search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him to some mountain or valley." But Elisha said, "Do not go." 17 But when they kept begging his permission, he said, "Go." Fifty strong men searched for him for three days but found nothing. 18 They returned to Elisha where he was staying in Jericho. He said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go searching for him?"

Elisha Makes the Water in the Spring Sweet
19 At that time the men of the city said to Elisha, "This city is well situated except for one thing. The water is bad and this makes the area unfruitful." 20 Elisha replied, "Bring me a new jar with salt in it." So they did this. 21 He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it, and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'I have purified these waters. They shall not produce death or unfruitfulness any longer.'" 22 And so the waters of that spring have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha.

23 Then Elisha went up from there to Bethel. As he traveled, young boys came out from the city and mocked him, saying, "Go up, you baldhead. Go up, you baldhead!" 24 When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Shortly after that two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty two of them. 25 He went on from there to Mount Carmel and then to Samaria.

2 Kings 3 - RWB Paraphrase (27 V)
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Moab Rebels Against Israel
1 Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He reigned twelve years. 2 And he did evil in the LORD's sight, though not as bad as his father and mother. He put away the sacred pillars of Baal that his father had made. 3 But he continued to cling to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he had made Israel sin. And Jehoram did not depart from these.

4 Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against Israel. 6 King Jehoram went out from Samaria and mustered all Israel. 7 Then he sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" And Jehoshaphat said, "I will go up with you. My people are as your people and my horses as your horses." 8 He asked, "Which way do you want to go up against Moab?" And Jehoram said, "By way of the wilderness of Edom." 9 So the king of Judah went with the king of Israel, who had also invited the king of Edom. They made a seven day circuit. There was no water for the army or the cattle they had brought with them. 10 The king of Israel said, "It seems that the LORD has called us to be given into the hand of the king of Moab." 11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Do we have a prophet of the LORD with us, that he may inquire of the LORD?" One of Jehoram's servants said, "Yes, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on Elijah's hands." 12 Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel, the king of Edom and Jehoshaphat went to Elisha.

13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What do I have to do with you? Inquire of the prophets of your father and mother." But the king of Israel said, "No, for the LORD has called the three of us kings together to give us into the hand of Moab." 14 Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, before Whom I stand, if it were not for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not be talking with you." 15 "Bring me a minstrel." And when the minstrel played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha. 16 Then Elisha said, "Thus says the LORD, 'Make this valley full of trenches.'" 17 "For the LORD says, 'You shall not see wind or rain, yet the valley will be filled with water. You will have all the water you and your cattle need.'." 18 "This is a slight thing for the LORD, and He will give the Moabites into your hand." 19 "Then you shall strike every fortified city, fell every good tree and stop all the springs of water. You shall also mar the good pieces of land with stones."

20 So it was that at about the time of the morning sacrifice, water came from Edom and filled the country with water.

21 All the Moabites heard that the three kings had come against them. Everyone who could put on armor did so, and the older ones were called to stand at the border. 22 The Moabites rose early in the morning and when they saw the sun shining on the water they thought it was blood. 23 They said to each other, "This is surely blood, for the three kings have fought and killed each other. Let us take the spoil." 24 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites arose and struck them, so that they fled before the three kings who followed after slaughtering them. 25 They destroyed their cities, threw stones on every good piece of ground, stopped all the springs and fell the good trees. 26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was to fierce for him, he took seven hundred men with swords and tried to break through to the king of Edom, but could not. 27 Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. There was great indignation against Israel, and they departed from Moab and returned to their own land.

2 Kings 4 - RWB Paraphrase (44 V)
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The Miracle of the Oil
1 There was a woman from among the wives of the prophets. She cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead. You know that he feared the LORD. The creditor has come to take my two sons to be slaves." 2 Elisha said to her, "What can I do for you? What do you have in your house?" She answered him, "Your servant has nothing except a jar of oil." 3 Then Elisha said, "Borrow as many empty vessels as you can. Do not get just a few." 4 "Then shut your door and pour your jar of oil into these vessels, setting them aside when they are full." 5 So she went home and her sons began bringing borrowed empty vessels to her. She filled all of them from her jar of oil. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." But he replied, "There are no more vessels." Then the oil stopped. 7 She came and told the man of God and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the rest."

The Woman of Shunem
8 There was a day when Elisha was passing through Shunem. A prominent woman lived there. She persuaded him to eat some food. After that, whenever he passed that way, he stopped for food. 9 She said to her husband, "I perceive that this is a holy man of God. He passes by quite often." 10 "Please, let us make a small upper room with a bed, a table, a chair and a lampstand. Then when he comes this way he can have a place to stay."

11 One day he came and turned in for a rest in the upper chamber. 12 He told his servant Gehazi to call the Shunammite woman. So she came and stood before him. 13 He told Gehazi to say to her, "You have been so kind to us. Is there anything I can do for you? Would you like for me to speak to the king, or the captain of the army?" And she answered, "I live among my own people." 14 So Elisha said, "What then can be done for her?" And Gehazi said, "She has no son and her husband is old." 15 He said, "Call her." When she came she stood in the doorway. 16 Then Elisha said to her, "At this season next year you will embrace a son." She replied, "No, my lord, O man of God, do not give me false hope."

17 The woman conceived and bore a son at that season the next year, just as Elisha had said.

18 When the child was grown, the day came when he went out to the field with his father and the reapers. 19 He complained to his father of a headache and the father had a servant carry him home to his mother. 20 When he was brought home, he sat on his mother's lap until noon and then died. 21 She took him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, saying, "Send me one of the servants and a donkey that I may go to the man of God." 23 He asked her, "Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath." But she said, "It will be good for me to do this." 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, "Go quickly and do not slow down on my account unless I tell you to."

25 She came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. He saw her at a distance and told Gehazi that it was the Shunammite woman. 26 He said, "Please run to meet her and ask her if all is well with her, her husband the child?" And she answered, "It is well."

27 When she came to the hill where the man of God was, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came to push her away, but Elisha said, "Let her alone. Something is very wrong and the LORD has not revealed it to me." 28 Then she said, "Did I ask for a son? Didn't I say, do not deceive me?" 29 Then Elisha said to Gehazi, "Prepare to travel quickly. Take my staff and go. Do not stop to talk with anyone. Go and lay my staff on the lad's face." 30 The mother of the boy said, "As the LORD lives, I will not go home without you." So Elisha arose and followed her. 31 Gehazi got there first and laid the staff on the lad's face. There was no sound or response. So he returned to meet Elisha and said to him, "The lad did not awaken." 32 When Elisha came into the house, the boy was laying on his bed dead. 33 So he entered and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he lay on the child and placed his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then Elisha got up and walked back and forth before stretching himself once more upon the child. The lad sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes. 36 Elisha called Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite woman." And when she had come, he said, "Here is your son. Take him." 37 Then she fell at his feet, bowing to the ground, and took her son and went out.

Poisoned Stew
38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. He was sitting with the sons of the prophets and told his servant to put a large pot on to boil so they could have food to eat. 39 One of them went into the field to gather herbs. He found a wild vine and gathered a lot of wild gourds from it. He sliced them into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 When it had cooked they served it to the men. As they were eating it they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot." 41 Elisha called for some meal which he threw into the pot and told them to serve it. After that no harm came to anyone.

The Miracle of the Loaves
42 A man came from Baalshalisha bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh grain in a sack. Elisha said, "Give them to the people to eat." 43 Elisha's attendant said, "What good will this do for a hundred men?" But Elisha said, "Give them to the people that they may eat, for the LORD says, 'They shall eat and have some left over.'"

COMMENT: This a miracle like the one Jesus performed.

44 So it was set before them and they ate and some was left over, as the LORD had said.

2 Kings 5 - RWB Paraphrase (27 V)
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Naaman's Leprosy Is Cured
1 A man by the name of Naaman was captain of the army of the king of Syria. He was a great and honorable man and a valiant warrior. The LORD had been with him, but he was a leper. 2 The Syrians had brought back captives from Israel and a little maid of Israel waited on Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "I wish that my master could see the prophet in Samaria. He could cure him of his leprosy." 4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the little girl from Israel had said about the prophet in Samaria. 5 Then the king said, "Go and I will send a letter to the king of Israel with you."

Naaman departed for Israel taking ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, "I have sent Naaman my servant to you that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God to kill or make alive? Why is he asking me to cure this man's leprosy? I think he is trying to start a quarrel."

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king had torn his clothes, he sent word to him, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Send him to me that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel."

9 So Naaman came with his chariots and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him saying, "Go wash in the Jordan River seven times and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean." 11 This made Naaman furious. As he went away he said, "I thought he would come out and stand by me while calling on the name of the LORD his God. Then he might wave his hand over the leprosy and cure me of it."

COMMENT: We must never determine in our own minds how God will work His miracles.

12 "Are not Abanah and Pharpar, rivers in Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Why not wash in them and be clean." So he went away in a rage. 13 But his servants approached him, saying, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? Why not do as he asked you to do?" 14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had said. And then his flesh was restored like that of a little child, and he was clean.

15 When he returned to the man of God with all his company, he stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no other God in all the earth but the one in Israel. Please take a present from your servant." 16 Elisha answered, "As the LORD lives, before Whom I stand, I will take nothing." And though Naaman urged him, he refused. 17 Naaman said, "If you will not take a gift, please allow your servant to take two mules loaded with earth, for I will no longer offer sacrifices to other gods, but only to the LORD." 18 "And may the LORD pardon your servant for accompanying my master when he goes into the house of Rimmon to worship. He needs me to lean on. But I will not be worshipping Rimmon in his house." 19 Elisha said, "Go in peace." So he departed and had gone some distance.

20 Then Gehazi, Elisha's servant, said to himself, "Elisha took nothing from the man, but I will run after him and take something." 21 So he ran after Naaman and when the saw him running after him, he got down from his chariot and ask Gehazi, "Is everything all right?" 22 Gehazi said, "All is well. My master sent me to say that two of the young men of the prophets have come from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes." 23 Naaman said, "Take two talents of silver." he urged him and bound the two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to his servants to carry back for him. 24 When he came to the hill near the house, he took the goods, sent the men away and put the things in the house.

Gehazi Contracts Naaman's Leprosy
25 Then he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went no where." 26 Then Elisha said, "My heart followed you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you. Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, or male and female servants?" 27 "Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." So Gehazi went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

2 Kings 6 - RWB Paraphrase (33 V)
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Floating Axe Head
1 The sons of the prophets told Elisha that their living space was not adequate. 2 They asked permission to go to the Jordon and bring back beams to expand their living quarters. And Elisha gave his blessing. 3 Then one of them said, "Please go with us." And he agreed. 4 When they came to the Jordan they cut down trees. 5 As one of them was felling one of the trees, his axe head fell in the water. He cried out, "Master, this axe was borrowed." 6 Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" When he was shown the place, he cut a branch and threw it in the water at that place, and the axe head floated. 7 Then he told the man to take the axe head up out of the water.

The King of Syria Wants to Kill Elisha
8 The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He made strategic plans with his advisors. 9 Afterwards Elisha would send word to the king of Israel telling him what the king of Syria was planning. 10 The king of Israel would send men to the place that God had told him about through Elisha, and thus he would be ready for what the king of Syria had planned. This happened more than once. 11 The king of Syria was angry at what seemed to him to be treason among his counselors. 12 Then one of his servants said, "No, my lord. It is because Elisha the prophet in Israel tells the king of Israel the words you speak in your bedroom." 13 So the king of Syria said, "Find out where he is. I want to capture him." Then he was told, "He is in Dothan." 14 He then sent horses, chariots, and a great army to Dothan. They surrounded the city at night. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up early and went outside, he saw the army with horses and chariots encircling the city. He ran to Elisha and said, "O master, what shall we do?" 16 Elisha answered, "Do not be afraid. Those who are for us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha prayed to the LORD, saying, "I pray, O LORD, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the eyes of his servant and he saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire. 18 As they came down to take Elisha prisoner, he prayed to the LORD, saying, "Please strike this people with blindness." So the LORD struck the Syrian army with blindness. 19 Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the way. Let me lead you to the man you are seeking." And he brought them to Samaria. 20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw that they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 When the king of Israel saw the army of Syria, He said, "My father, Shall I kill them?" 22 Elisha answered, "Do not kill them for they are your captives. Give them bread and water and let them return to their master." 23 So a great feast was prepared. They ate and then went to their master. And the marauding bands of Syrians did not come into the land of Israel any more.

Benhadad King of Syria Came Against Samaria
24 It was sometime after this that Benhadad king of Syria gathered his hosts and besieged Samaria. 25 Samaria was experiencing a great famine. During the siege it got so that a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, And two and a half pints of dove's dung was sold for five shekels of silver. 26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, he heard a woman cry out to him, saying, "Help me, O king!" 27 He said to her, "If the LORD is not helping you, how shall I?" 28 "What is the matter?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Let's eat your son today and tomorrow we will eat my son.'" 29 "So we boiled my son and ate him. Today, I said to her, 'Give up your son that we may eat. ' But she has hidden him." 30 When the king heard this, he tore his clothes. Then he walked on the wall wearing sackcloth. 31 He said, "May God do so to me and more so, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today."

32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders. The king sent a man to kill Elisha. But before he got there, Elisha said, "Do you see how the son of a murderer has sent someone to take away my head? When the messenger comes, his master's steps will not be far behind."

33 While he was still talking with them, the messenger came to him, and said, "This evil is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer."

2 Kings 7 - RWB Paraphrase (20 V)
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The Lord Saves Israel
1 Then Elisha said, "Here is what the LORD says: 'At this time tomorrow, in the gate of Samaria, you will be able to buy a measure of flour for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel.'." 2 The royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning said to Elisha, "If the LORD should open the windows of heaven, this could not happen." And Elisha answered him, "You will see this happen but you will not eat any of it."

3 There were four lepers at the entrance of the gate. They said to each other, "Why should we sit here until we die?" 4 "If we go into the city the famine is there and we will die. If we stay here we will die of the famine. Let us go over to the Syrian camp. Maybe they will have pity on us and give us food. And if they kill us, we will be no worse off that we are here." 5 They got up at twilight and went to the Syrian camp. As they entered the camp, they saw that no one was there. 6 The LORD had caused the Syrian army to hear the sound of chariots and horses, as of a great army. They said to each other, "The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and the Egyptians to come against us." 7 So they arose and fled in the twilight, leaving their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything in the camp just as it was as they fled for their lives. 8 When the lepers entered the outskirts of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank. Then they carried away the silver, gold and clothing and went away to hide them. Then they came to another tent and did the same. 9 Then they said to each other, "We are not doing the right thing. We should not keep silent about this. If we do not let those in the city know about this, we will be punished. Let's go and tell the king's household." 10 So they came to the city gatekeepers, and told them, saying, "We have been in the Syrian camp and the army is gone. The horses and donkeys and the tents are just the way they were before the army left." 11 Their message was relayed to the king. 12 The king arose and said to his servants, "I know what the Syrians are doing. They know we are hungry and they are hiding somewhere away from the camp until they see all of us come out. They plan to capture us alive and then come into the city." 13 One of his servants said, "Please, let some men take five of the remaining horses and go to see. We are all going to die if we remain here." 14 So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them to follow after the Syrians. 15 They followed as far as the Jordan. All along the way there was clothing and equipment the Syrians had thrown away in their haste to get away. The messengers returned and told the king. 16 So the people went out of the city and plundered the camp of the Syrians. Then it was that a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel, just as the LORD had said.

17 The king appointed the royal officer on whose hand he had leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled on him in their hurry to go out of the city, and he died just as the man of God had said when the king came to him the previous day. 18 It all happened just as Elisha had said it would. Two measures of barley were sold for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel at the gate of Samaria. 19 The royal officer had answered the man of God, saying, "Even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven, that could not happen." And Elisha had said, "You will see it with your own eyes but not eat any of it." 20 And so it happened to him, for in their hurry to get to the food, the people trampled him to death at the gate.

2 Kings 8 - RWB Paraphrase (29 V)
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The Shunammite Woman Returns to Her Land
1 Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise, you and your household, and find a place to sojourn, for the LORD has called for a famine that will last seven years." 2 So the woman took his advice and went to live for a while in the land of the Philistines. 3 After seven years the family came back to Israel and she appealed to the king to have her house and field restored to her. 4 The king had been talking with Gehazi about all the great things Elisha had done. 5 As he was telling the king how Elisha had restored to life the son of this particular woman, she showed up to make her appeal to the king. Then Gehazi said, "O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life." 6 The king asked the woman to verify everything Gehazi had said. Then he appointed an officer to restore her house and land, and even the produce from the land since she had left to sojourn with the Philistines.

Benhadad Gets Sick
7 Elisha went to Damascus. Benhadad the king of Syria was sick and was told that the man of God was in the area. 8 So the king told his servant Hazael to take a present to the man of God and have him ask the LORD if he was going to recover from his sickness. 9 Hazael went to see Elisha, taking a present of every good thing in Damascus. There was so much it took forty camels loads. Then he said to him, "Your son Benhadad king of Syria sent me to ask you, "Will I recover from this sickness? 10 Elisha said, "Go tell him that he will surely recover from his sickness but he will surely die." 11 Hazael kept looking at him until the man of God wept. 12 Hazael said, "Why are you weeping?" Elisha answered, "Because I know the evil you will do to the children of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire and kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open the pregnant women." 13 Then Hazael said, "Who am I? I have no authority to do the things you describe." And Elisha answered, "The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Syria."

Hazael Becomes King in Place of Benhadad
14 So Hazael returned to his master who wanted to know what Elisha had said. Hazael said, "He told me that you will surely recover." 15 On the following day Hazael took a thick cloth and dipped it in water. Spreading it over Benhadad's face, he smothered him. Then Hazael became king in place of Benhadad.

16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. 17 He was thirty two years old when he became king and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel doing as Ahab had done, for he made Ahab's daughter his wife. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. 19 But the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah for the sake of David His servant, because He had promised him to always keep a lamp through his sons. 20 In his days Edom made a king for themselves and revolted from having Judah rule over them. 21 Then Joram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. Rising at night he struck the Edomites which were all around him, and they fled into their tents. 22 But Edom has revolted against Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

23 The rest of the acts of Joram are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 24 And Joram slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. And Ahaziah his son became king in his place.

Ahaziah Becomes King of Judah
25 Ahaziah the son of Jehoram began his reign in Judah in the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel. 26 Ahaziah was twenty one years old when he became king of Judah and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah. She was the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 Ahaziah walked as Ahab had walked, doing evil in the sight of the LORD. 28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead. And the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 So he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds inflicted by the Syrians. While he was sick Ahaziah the son of Jehoram came to visit him.

2 Kings 9 - RWB Paraphrase (37 V)
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Jehu Is Anointed King of Israel
1 Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets and said, "Gird up your loins and take this flask of oil to Ramothgilead." 2 "When you get there look for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi. Call him from among his brothers and bring him to an inner room." 3 "Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say, 'Thus says the LORD, I have anointed you king over Israel.' Then do not wait around. Run for your life." 4 So Elisha's servant, went to Ramothgilead, 5 where he saw the captains of the army sitting together. He said to them, "I have a word for you, O captain." Jehu said, "Which one of us?" And he said, "For you, O captain." 6 Jehu got up and went into the house, and the young man poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anoint you king over the people of Israel.'." 7 "You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD at the hand of Jezebel." 8 "For the entire house of Ahab shall perish and I will cut off every male from Ahab whether bond or free." 9 "I will make his house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah." 10 "No one will bury Jezebel. The dogs shall eat her in Jezreel." Then the man opened the door and fled.

11 Jehu came out to the servants of his master. One of them said, "Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want?" And Jehu said, "You know who he was and what he wanted." 12 "No we don't, " they said. And Jehu said, "Among other things, he told me that the LORD has anointed me king over Israel." 13 Then they hurried to place their garments on the steps where he should walk and they blew the trumpet, saying, "Jehu is king!"

14 So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram, who was with all Israel defending Ramothgilead against Hazael king of Syria. 15 King Jehoram had returned to Jezreel waiting for his wounds inflicted by the Syrians to heal. Jehu said, "Let no one go to Jezreel to warn king Joram." 16 Then Jehu rode in a chariot for Jezreel where Joram was. Ahaziah was visiting Joram. 17 The watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel reported that he saw a company approaching Jezreel. Joram said, "Send a horsemen to see if they are coming in peace." 18 So a horseman went out to meet him. He called out, "Are you coming in peace?" And Jehu said, "What do you know about peace. Get behind and follow me." The watchman reported that the messenger had not returned. 19 So another messenger was sent out to say that the king wanted to know if they were coming in peace. Jehu said, "What do you know of peace? Turn in behind me." 20 The watchman reported that he too had joined the group coming to Jezreel. He also said that the one driving the chariot drove furiously like Jehu the son of Nimshi.

21 Joram had them make his chariot ready. He and Ahaziah went in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came to him on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is there peace, Jehu?" And Jehu answered, "What peace can there be as long as long as the harlotries and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel continues?"

Joram King of Israel Dies
23 Joram turned his horses and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, O Ahaziah!" 24 Jehu drew his bow to its full extent and shot Joram dead center, and the arrow went through his heart and he sank down in his chariot. 25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, "Throw him out into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, for I remember when the LORD laid this oracle against Ahab." 26 "Surely I have seen the blood of Naboth and his sons, " says the LORD, "I will repay you on this property."

Ahaziah King of Judah Dies
27 When Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled for the garden house."Shoot him in his chariot, " said Jehu." So they shot him at the ascent of Gur at Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo where he died." 28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his fathers in the city of David. 29 In the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Judah.

30 Jezebel heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel. She painted her eyes, adorned her head and then looked out the window.

Jezebel Dies
31 As Jehu entered the gate, she called down, "Is all well, Zimri, your master's murderer?" 32 Then he lifted his face toward the window and said, "Who is on my side?" And two or three officials looked down at him. 33 Jehu said, "Throw her down. Some of her blood splattered on the wall and the horses, and Jehu trampled her under foot." 34 When he had come in, eaten and drank, he said, "See that this cursed woman is buried, for she is a king's daughter." 35 They went out to bury her, but fond nothing more than her skull, feet and the palms of her hands. 36 Returning to him they told him what had happened to her. He said, "This is what the LORD spoke by his prophet Elijah the Tishbite, when he said, 'Dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel in Jezreel.'." 37 "And her corpse will be dung on the field there so that they shall no longer say, 'This is Jezreel.'"

2 Kings 10 - RWB Paraphrase (36 V)
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Jehu Cleans House
1 Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders and guardians of Ahab's children. He said, 2 "When this letter comes to you, since you are in charge of your master's sons, as well as his chariots and horses in a fortified city with its weapons," 3 "select the best of his sons and set him on his father's throne, to defend your master's house." 4 But they were afraid for they had heard that the two kings had not been able to withstand him. 5 Those in charge sent word to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants. Whatever you say we will do. Just tell us what we shall do." 6 So he wrote a second letter saying, "If you are on my side, bring the heads of your master's sons to me at Jezreel." All seventy sons were with the leaders of the city. 7 When they received the letter they slaughtered all seventy of the king's sons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. 8 When a messenger told Jehu that the heads of the king's sons had been brought, he said, "Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning." 9 In the morning he went out and said to all the people, "You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all of these?" 10 "Know for sure that nothing the LORD has said concerning the house of Ahab, which He spoke through Elijah, shall fail to come to pass."

11 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, including his great men, his acquaintances and his priests, until there were no survivors. 12 Then Jehu left for Samaria. On the way as he passed the shearing house, 13 he met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, "Who are you?" They answered, "We are relatives of Ahaziah. We have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother." 14 He said, "Take them alive." So they took them alive, and brought them to the shearing house where they killed them and threw them into the pit there. There were forty two men and none were left alive. 15 After leaving that place he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him and said, "Is your heart right with my heart?" Jehonadab said, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." And he brought him up into his chariot. 16 He said, "Come with me and I will show you my zeal for the LORD." So he made him ride with him. 17 When he arrived in Samaria, he killed any remaining men belonging to Ahab. He did all this according to the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah.

18 Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little. Jehu will serve him much." 19 Summon all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let no one be missing. 20 And Jehu said, "Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal." And they proclaimed it. 21 Jehu sent throughout Israel for all the worshipers of Baal so that not a man was missing. When all had gone into the house of Baal, 22 he said to those in charge of the wardrobe, "Bring out the garments for the worshipers of Baal." So the garments were brought out for them. 23 Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and said to the worshipers of Baal, "Look everywhere to be sure there are no servants of the LORD. Let there be only worshipers of Baal." 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jehu had appointed eighty men outside, having told them, "Anyone allowing any of the men worshiping Baal to escape shall loose his own life." 25 As soon as they had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the royal guard, "Go in and kill every one of them. Let none get away." And they went through out the house of Baal killing and throwing out every one of them. 26 They brought out the sacred pillars from the house and burned them. 27 They also broke down the sacred pillar of Baal and made the place into a latrine as it is to this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 29 However, Jehu did not get rid of Jeroboam's golden calves in Bethel and Dan. 30 But the LORD said to him, "Because you have done what is right in My sight, doing to Ahab's house according to all that I instructed, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel."

31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, with all his heart. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam in which he had led Israel to sin.

32 In those days Hazael began to cut off portions of the territory of Israel: 33 from the Jordon eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites and the Manassites, from Arnon even to Gilead and Bashan.

34 The rest of the acts of Jehu are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 35 And he slept with his fathers and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son became king in his place. 36 Jehu had reigned over Samaria twenty eight years.

2 Kings 11 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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Athaliah Tried to Kill All the Royal Children But Jehoash Survives
1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose up and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2 But Joram's daughter and sister of Ahaziah had a son named Joash, whom she hid from the queen mother, so he was not put to death. 3 He remained hidden in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land. 4 In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for all the captains of the guard and the Carites, and brought them to the house of the LORD. He put them under oath and made a covenant with them before showing them the king's son. 5 He commanded them thus: "One third of you shall come in on Sabbath to keep watch over the king's house." 6 "One third of you shall guard the gate of Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guard. You must insure that the house is not broken into." 7 "There shall always be two thirds of you keeping watch over the house of the LORD for the king." 8 "You shall each have your weapons as you surround the king. And anyone coming into your ranks shall be put to death. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in."

Joash Is Made King at the Age of Seven
9 So the captains of hundreds did all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Those scheduled to go out on the Sabbath were replaced by those scheduled to come in and guard the king. 10 The priests gave them King David's shields and spears that had been kept in the LORD's house. 11 Each guard stood with his weapons from one side of the house to the other side, by the altar and around the king. 12 Then the priest brought the king out and placed the crown on his head and gave him the testimony. He was made king and anointed. And clapping their hands, they said, "Long live the king!" 13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and the people, she came to the house of the LORD. 14 She saw the king standing by the pillar, as the custom was, with the captains and the trumpeters beside him, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah torn her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!" 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundred to bring her between the ranks. She was to be put to death along with any who followed her. But she must not be put to death in the house of the LORD. 16 So they seized her and put her to death at the horses' entrance to the king's house. 17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king and the people, that they would belong to the LORD, and also between the king and the people. 18 All the people of the land went and tore down the house of Baal and its altars. They broke his images into small pieces and killed Mattan the priest to Baal before the altar to Baal. Then Jehoiada appointed officers over the house of the LORD. 19 He and the captains of the guard, and all the people of the land brought the king from the house of the LORD and came by way of the gate to the king's house. There he sat on the throne. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king's house. 21 Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

2 Kings 12 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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Jehoash Arranges for the House of the Lord to Be Repaired
1 Jehoash became king in Jehu's seventh year. He reigned forty years in Jerusalem and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD in all the days Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the high places were not taken away and the people still sacrificed and burned incense in these places. 4 Then Jehoash said to the priests, "All of the money brought into the LORD's house, whether from his assessment, or as a freewill offering," 5 "shall be used for your own upkeep and then for the repair of damages to the house of the LORD." 6 But no repairs had been made by the twenty third year of the reign of Jehoash. 7 Then Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, "Why haven't you repaired the house of the LORD? Take no more of the money for yourselves, but pay for the repair of the LORD's house." 8 So the priests agreed that they would take no more money. Neither would they repair the damages to the house at this time. 9 Jehoiada the priest placed a chest by the altar with a hole in its lid. All the money brought in to the LORD's house was placed by the priests in the box. 10 When there was much money in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest counted it and tied it up in bags. 11 Then they gave the money to those who had oversight of the work who then paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the LORD, 12 and for the masons, stone cutters and those buying timber, to repair damages to the LORD's house. 13 None of the money was used for silver cups, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, vessels of gold or silver from the money brought for the repair of the house. 14 It was all given to those who did the repair work. 15 They did not require an accounting from those in charge or those doing the work, because they were faithful in their dealings. 16 However, the money from the guilt and trespass offerings was for the priests and not for the repair of the house of the LORD.

17 Hazael king of Syria fought against Gath and capture it. Then he decided to head for Jerusalem. 18 Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, had dedicated, as well as his own things found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD, and sent them to Hazael. So he left Jerusalem alone.

19 The rest of the acts of Joash are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.

20 The servants of Joash conspired against him and struck him down at the house of Millo as he was going to Silla. 21 It was Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer that struck him. He died and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah his son became king in his place.

2 Kings 13 - RWB Paraphrase (25 V)
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Jehoahaz the Son of Jehu Becomes King in Israel
1 In the twenty third year of Joash the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king of Israel at Samaria. He reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, following in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and he did not turn from these sins. 3 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. He let them suffer continually at the hand of Hazael king of Syria and Benhadad his son. 4 Then Jehoahaz entreated the LORD's favor and the LORD listened to him because he saw how the king of Syria oppressed Israel. 5 The LORD gave Israel a deliverer so they could escaped Syria's oppression, and Israel had rest. 6 But they did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, and the Asherah remained standing in Samaria. 7 Jehoahaz was left with an army of fifty horseman, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed the rest of his army. 8 The rest of the acts of Jehoahaz are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Jehoash his son became king in his place.

Jehoash the Son of Jehoahaz Became King Over Israel
10 In the twenty seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the LORD's sight, because he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 12 The rest of the acts of Joash, including his fight against Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 13 So Joash slept with his fathers in Samaria and Jeroboam sat on his throne.

14 When Elisha became sick with the illness with which he would die, Joash the king of Israel came to him and wept, saying, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" 15 Elisha said, "Take a bow and some arrows." So Joash took a bow and some arrows. 16 Then Elisha said to the king, "Put your hand on the bow." When he had done this, Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. 17 He said, "Open the east window, " and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot!" And he shot. Then Elisha said, "The LORD's arrow of victory over Syria. You will defeat the Syrians at Aphek and destroy them." 18 Then Elisha said, "Take the arrows, " and he took them. And he said, "Strike the ground with them!" And he struck it three times. 19 So the man of God was angry with him and said, "Your should have struck five or six times. Then you would have destroyed Syria. Now you will strike Syria only three times."

Elisha Dies
20 Elisha died and was buried. Bands of Moabites were invading the land in the spring of the year. 21 A man was being buried at the same time and when those burying him saw the marauding band, they hastily cast the dead man into the grave where Elisha had been buried. When the dead man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up.

22 Hazael the king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and would not allow them to be cast out from His presence. 24 Hazael died and Benhadad his son became king in his place. 25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took back from Benhadad the cities that had been taken from Jehoahaz his father. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

2 Kings 14 - RWB Paraphrase (29 V)
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Amaziah Reigns in Judah
1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash reigned in Judah. 2 He was twenty five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 3 He did right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father. But he did as Joash his father had done. 4 The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 5 As soon as the kingdom was firmly established in his hand, he killed his servants who had killed the king his father. 6 But he did not put their sons to death, according to the Law of Moses that said the sons should not be punished for their father's sins. 7 He killed 10,000 men of Edom in the valley of salt. He took Sela by war and named it Joktheel. 8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, saying, "Come, let us meet face to face." 9 Jehoash king of Israel sent a message back to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thorn bush in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter in marriage to my son. ' But a wild beast came along and trampled the thorn bush." 10 "You are proud, " he said, "Because you have defeated Edom. Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you bring trouble on yourself and Judah?" 11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel met up with Ahaziah king of Judah at Bethshemesh which belonged to Judah. 12 Judah was defeated by Israel and they each fled to their tent. 13 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, and came to Jerusalem and tore down its wall from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits.

COMMENT: About 600 feet.

14 He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils found in the house of the LORD as well as the treasuries of the king's house, and returned to Samaria. 15 The rest of the acts of Jehoash, his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 16 So Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son became king in his place.

17 Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash king of Israel. 18 The rest of his acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 19 His servants conspired against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they followed his there and killed him. 20 They brought him back on horses and buried him at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21 All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath restoring it to Judah.

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, became king in Samaria. He reigned forty one years. 24 He did evil in the LORD's sight because he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 25 He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of Arabah, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the prophet of Amittai.

COMMENT: This was the same man that God sent to Nineveh.

Jonah 1:1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,

26 The LORD saw the bitter affliction of Israel, for there was no one to deliver them. 27 The LORD was not willing for Israel to be blotted out, so He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 28 The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and recovered Israel, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.

2 Kings 15 - RWB Paraphrase (38 V)
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More Kings of Israel and Judah
1 In the twenty seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah (Uzziah) son of Amaziah, became king of Judah. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king and he reigned fifty two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3 He did right in the LORD's sight, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4 But the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 5 The LORD struck him with leprosy and he lived in a separate house to the day of his death. Jotham his son was over the household and judged the people of the land. 6 The rest of Azariah's acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 7 And Azariah slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of David. And Jotham his son became king in his place.

8 In the thirty eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months. 9 Like his fathers he did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. 10 Then Shallum the son of Jebesh conspired against him, killing him before the people, and reigning in his place. 11 The rest of the acts of Zechariah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 12 The LORD had said to Jehu, "Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." And that prophecy was fulfilled.

13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah. He reigned one month in Samaria. 14 Then Menahem came up from Gadi to Samaria and struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh, and became king in his place. 15 The rest of the acts of Shallum are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

16 Then Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who were in it as well as its borders from Tirzah, because they did not open to him. He even ripped up all its pregnant women. 17 In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, following after the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 19 Pul, king of Assyria came against the land. Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver to help him. 20 Then Menahem exacted money from the rich men of Israel, each paying him fifty shekels of silver. So the king of Assyria left him alone. 21 The rest of Menahem's acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son became king in his place.

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria. And he reigned two years. 24 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 25 Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, his officer with the help of Argob and Arieh, conspired against him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house with fifty men of Gilead who killed him. And Pekah became king in place of Pekahiah. 26 The rest of the acts of Pekahiah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

27 In the fifty second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned twenty years. 28 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglathpileser king of Assyria captured Ijon, Abelbethmaachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee and all the land of Naphtali, carrying them away captive to Assyria. 30 Hoshea the son of Elah conspired against Pekah the son of Remaliah, striking him down and becoming king of Israel in his place. This happened during the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah became king. 33 He was twenty five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34 He did what was right in the LORD's sight, according to what his father Uzziah had done. 35 But the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. 36 The rest of Jotham's acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.

37 In those days the LORD began to send Razin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 And 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 - RWB Paraphrase (20 V)
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Ahaz Becomes King of Judah
1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham became king in Judah. 2 He was twenty years old and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his father David had done. 3 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and even made his son pass through the fire, like the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had removed before the children of Israel. 4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places and under every tree. 5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came to make war against Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him. 6 It was at that time Rezin the king of Syria recovered Elath and cleared the Judeans out of it. And they have lived there to this day. 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come and deliver me from the king of Syria and the king of Israel, who have risen together against me." 8 He took the silver from the house of the LORD and the treasuries of his own house, and sent them as a present to the king of Assyria. 9 So the king of Assyria listened to him and captured Damascus. He put Rezin to death and carried its people into exile at Kir.

10 Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser the king of Assyria, and while he was there he saw the altar at Damascus. He then sent Urijah the priest a pattern of the altar so that it could be reproduced for him. 11 So Urijah the priest had an altar built according to the plan King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, and had it ready by the time he returned. 12 When Ahaz saw the alter, he went up to it, 13 and burned his burnt offering and his meal offering on it. He poured his drink offering on it and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on this altar. 14 He moved the bronze altar which was before the LORD, and placed it on the north side of His altar. 15 Then King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, "Burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, on this new altar. He was also to use it for the burnt offerings of all the people, their meat offering, their drink offering, and to sprinkle it all with the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifices. And the brasen altar was to be for me to enquire by." 16 So Urijah the priest did everything King Ahaz had commanded. 17 Then king Ahaz cut off the base of the stands, removing the laver from them. He also took down the sea from the bronze oxen and placed it on the stone pavement. 18 The covered way for the Sabbath which was built in the house, and the king's entry, he removed from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria. 19 The rest of his acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

2 Kings 17 - RWB Paraphrase (41 V)
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The Lord Gave Israel Over to Assyria
1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began his nine year reign in Samaria. 2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, though not as bad as the kings before him. 3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came against him and Hoshea became his servant and gave him presents. 4 But sometime later when Hoshea offered the king of Assyria no tribute as he had been doing year by year, and had sent messengers to Egypt, the king of Assyria put him in prison. 5 Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land besieged Samaria for three years. 6 In Hoshea's ninth year Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel into exile settling them in Halah and Habor, on the Gozan River in the cities of the Medes.

7 All this came about because Israel sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them from the land of Egypt, and they had chosen other gods. 8 They had walked in the ways of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the children of Israel, and they had followed their customs. 9 The children of Israel secretly built high places for themselves in all their towns and fortified cities. 10 They set up sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 They provoked the LORD by burning incense in these high places just like the nations the LORD had removed from before them. 12 They served idols after the LORD specifically forbade it. 13 All along the LORD had warned Israel and Judah through His prophets, telling them to turn from their evil ways and keep His commandments and statutes according to all the law which He had commanded their fathers. 14 But they did not listen. Instead they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. 15 They rejected His statutes and the covenant He made with their fathers. They did not listen to His warnings, but became vain, following the ways of the nations around them, doing those things the LORD had commanded them not to do. 16 They forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God, making molten images, even two calves. They made Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17 They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire, practiced divination and enchantments, and provoked the LORD by selling themselves to evil practices. 18 So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight leaving only Judah. 19 But Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God. They walked in the customs which Israel introduced. 20 The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them, giving them into the hands of those who plundered them. 21 At the time He torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. He drove Israel away from following the LORD and they committed a great sin. 22 The children of Israel had continued to walk in all the sins of Jeroboam, 23 until the LORD removed them from His sight. He warned them through all His prophets until they were finally carried away into exile in the land of Assyria.

24 The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim, placing them in the cities of Samaria in place of the children of Israel. 25 When these people from other lands first came to live there they did not fear the LORD. So the LORD sent lions among them and some were killed. 26 They appealed to the king of Assyria, saying, "We do not know the customs of the people who used to live here. The god of this land has sent lions among us to kill some of us. It must be because we do not know the custom of the god of this land." 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded that one of the priests carried away into exile be brought back to live there and teach them the custom of the god of the land. 28 So one of the priests exiled from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them to fear the LORD. 29 But people living in and around Samaria still worshiped their own gods. 30 The men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 They also feared the LORD and appointed priests from among themselves, serving them in the houses of the high places. 33 They feared the LORD while serving their own gods according to the custom of the nations from where they came.

COMMENT: We too can serve our own gods while assuming that we can appease the LORD God by going through the motions of worship on Sabbath.

34 To this day they do according to their own customs and they do not fear the LORD, or follow His statutes, ordinances and law, which God gave to Israel.

35 God had made a covenant with Israel, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, or bow down and serve them, nor sacrifice to them." 36 "But you shall fear the LORD, Who brought you out from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. Him you shall fear and to Him you shall bow down and sacrifice." 37 "You shall observe forever His statutes, ordinances and commandments which He wrote for you. You shall not fear other gods." 38 "You shall not forget the covenant I made with you. Neither shall you fear other gods." 39 "But the LORD your God you shall fear, and He shall deliver you from all of your enemies."

COMMENT: Man has such a need to worship. But the devil has mixed worship with practices that appeal to man's lower nature so that once he has been ensnared by those perversions, he has great difficulty turning from them. Judah had the most success when a strong leader had the images and high places destroyed. But few kings got rid of everything God did not like.

40 "But they did not listen. Instead they did according to their former customs." 41 So while these nations transplanted Assyria to the region of Samaria feared the LORD, they also served their idols, as did their children and grandchildren, to this day.

2 Kings 18 - RWB Paraphrase (37 V)
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Hezekiah Becomes King of Judah
1 In the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king. 2 He was twenty five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He broke up the bronze serpent Moses had made, because the children of Israel were burning incense to it, calling it Nehushtan.

COMMENT:

Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it up on a pole. Then those bitten by a serpent were healed when they looked up at the bronze serpent.

5 He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that among all the kings of Judah there were none like him before or after.

COMMENT: What a great recommendation, and yet ..

6 Hezekiah clung to the LORD and did not depart from following Him. He kept the commandments which the LORD had commanded through Moses. 7 And the LORD was with him. Wherever he went he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from its watchtower to the fortified city.

9 In Hezekiah's fourth year as king of Judah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria besieged Samaria. 10 After three years Samaria was captured. This was during Hezekiah's sixth year, and Hoshea's ninth year. 11 Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away into exile, putting them in Halah and Habor on the Gozen River in the cities of the Medes. 12 This happened because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant, including all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.

Sennacherib King of Assyria Taunts Hezekiah
13 In the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria seized all the fortified cities of Judah. 14 Then Hezekiah sent a message to the king of Assyria at Lachish saying, "I have done wrong. Withdraw from me and I will give you whatever you say." So the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver in the house of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king's house. 16 He cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the doorposts which he had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

17 Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish with a great host against king Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool which is on the highway of the fuller's field. 18 They called to the king and Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was over the household, to Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder. 19 Rabshakeh said to them, "Tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king of Assyria, where does your great confidence come from?'" 20 "You are saying that you have strategy and the strength for war. On who are you relying that you should rebell against me?" 21 "You are leaning on the staff of a crushed reed when you rely on Egypt. Your dependance on Pharaoh will come to nothing." 22 "And if you say you are trusting in the LORD your God, is it not His high places that Hezekiah has taken away? Hezekiah has insisted that you all worship before the altar in Jerusalem." 23 "Come make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses if you can provide that many riders." 24 "How can you turn away from one of the least of my master's servants, and rely on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?" 25 "Have I come up against you without the LORD's approval? The LORD told me to go up against this land to destroy it."

26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, 'Speak to us in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And do not speak in the Judean language in the hearing of the people on the wall. 27 But Rabshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to speak only to your master? Everyone needs to hear the truth, of how they will become so hungry they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine."

28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice, saying in Judean, "Hear the word of the great king of Assyria." 29 "Thus says the king, 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you from my hand.'" 30 "Don't let Hezekiah talk you into trusting in the LORD. You may think that He will deliver you and keep Jerusalem from falling to the king of Assyria." 31 "Do not listen to Hezekiah. Make your peace with me, and each one may eat of his own vine and fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern," 32 "until I come and take you away to a land like your own, a land of grain, new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live and not die. Do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying the LORD will deliver you." 33 "Have the gods of any of the other nation's delivered them from the hand of the Assyrians?" 34 "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivah? Was Samaria delivered from my hand?" 35 "Who among all the gods of the nations has delivered them out of my hand. What makes you think the LORD your God will be able to do any different for Jerusalem?"

36 But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for Hezekiah's command had been, "Do not answer him."

37 Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him what Rabshakeh had said.

2 Kings 19 - RWB Paraphrase (37 V)
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The Lord Humbles Sennacherib King of Assyria
1 When King Hezekiah heard their words, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the LORD. 2 Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, "Hezekiah says this is a day of distress, rebuke and rejection, for it is the time of birth, but there is no strength to deliver." 4 "Perhaps the LORD your God had heard everything Rabshakeh has said for the king of Assyria. He has reproached the living God. Please offer a prayer for the remnant that is left." 5 When the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master. The LORD says, 'Do not be afraid of the words you have heard from the servants of the king of Assyria who has blasphemed Me.'." 7 "Behold, I will cause him to hear a rumor and return to his own land. And there I will make him fall by the sword."

8 Then Rabshakeh returned to find the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish. 9 He had heard them say that Tirhakah, the king of Cush, had come out to fight against him. So he sent a message to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Do not be deceived by the God in whom you trust, thinking He will save you from the king of Assyria." 11 "You have heard how the kings of Assyria have destroyed the people of all the lands. Do you think you will be spared?" 12 "Did the gods of those other nations which my fathers destroyed deliver them? Nations such as Gozan, Haran and Rezeph, and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?" 13 "Where is the king of Hamath, or the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and Hena, and Ivvah?"

14 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and after reading it, went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 He prayed to the LORD, saying, "O LORD, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim. You alone in all the earth are God. You made heaven and earth." 16 "Incline Your ear, O LORD, hear and open Your eyes and see. Listen to the words of this letter from Sennacherib, a reproach to the living God." 17 "It is true, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations," 18 "casting their gods into the fire, for they are not gods, but the work of men's hands, made of wood and stone. So they have been destroyed." 19 "Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the nations of the earth may know that You alone are God." 20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah, saying, "The LORD God of Israel says that because you have prayed to Him about Sennacherib king of Assyria, He has heard your request." 21 "This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'He has despised and mocked you, the virgin daughter of Zion. The daughter of Jerusalem mocks you as you flee.'." 22 "In doing this you have blasphemed against the Holy One of Israel!" 23 "Though your messengers have reproached the LORD, while trusting in Assyria's many chariots, cutting down the tall cedars of Lebanon, and having come into the forests of Carmel," 24 saying, 'I have dug wells and drunk foreign water, I have dried up the rivers of Egypt. '. 25 "Have you not heard? From ancient times I have planned what will be, and that you should turn fortified cities in to heaps of ruins." 26 "This is why you were able to destroy them and their land." 27 "I know everything about you. And I know of your raging against Me." 28 "And because of your arrogance, I will put a hook in your nose and a bridle in your mouth, and I will turn you back from the way you have come."

29 "This shall be a sign to you Hezekiah. You will eat this year of what grows by itself. In the second year you will eat what springs up volunteer, and the third year you shall sow, eat and reap, plant vineyards and eat its fruit." 30 "The surviving remnant of Judah will again take root and bear fruit." 31 "A remnant will go out of Jerusalem, and survivors out of Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD will perform this." 32 "And thus says the LORD concerning Assyria, 'He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow here. Neither will he bring a shield or throw up a siege ramp against its wall.'." 33 "He shall leave by the way he came and not return to this city, " declares the LORD. 34 "For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for the sake of my servant David."

COMMENT: David's steadfast loyalty to God had far reaching consequences.

35 That night the angel of the LORD struck 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. Those still alive in the morning got up and saw dead men everywhere.

36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria returned to Nineveh. 37 It came about that as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his God, Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.

2 Kings 20 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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Hezekiah Becomes Ill and the Lord Heals Him
1 Hezekiah became mortally ill. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, "Thus says the LORD, set your house in order, for you are going to die." 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3 As he wept bitterly, "I beseech you O LORD, remember how I have walked with you in truth with my whole heart." 4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5 "Return and say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.'." 6 "I will add fifteen years to your life and deliver you and this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake."

COMMENT: Imagine knowing how much longer you have to live.

7 Then Isaiah said, "Make a poltice of figs." And they took the poltice and laid it on the boil, and Hezekiah recovered. 8 Then Hezekiah asked for a sign to show that the LORD would heal him. 9 Isaiah said, "This shall be a sign for you that the LORD has spoken: shall the sun's shadow shall go forward ten degrees or back ten degrees?" 10 Hezekiah answered, "It is harder for the shadow to go back ten degrees." 11 Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD and He brought the shadow back ten degrees on the stairway of Ahaz.

Hezekiah Shows Off His Wealth
12 At about that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard how Hezekiah had been sick. 13 Hezekiah received them and showed them all the treasures of his house, such as the silver and gold, the spices and precious oil, and the armor. He showed them everything there was to show. 14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to the king and said, "Where did these men come from and what did they say to you?" And Hezekiah answered, "They have come from Babylon, a far country." 15 Isaiah asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah said, "I showed them everything." 16 Then Isaiah said to him, "Hear the word of the LORD." 17 "Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up until this day will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD." 18 "And some of your sons will be taken away to become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon."

19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD is good." And he thought in his heart, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days."

20 The rest of the acts of Hezekiah, the account of the pool and the conduit he made to bring water into the city, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 21 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son became king in his place.

2 Kings 21 - RWB Paraphrase (26 V)
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Manasseh Becomes King of Judah
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil in the LORD's sight, following after the abominations of the nations the LORD dispossessed before the children of Israel. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah destroyed. He erected altars for Baal and made Asherah, as king Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped all the host of heaven. 4 He built altars in the house of the LORD, where the LORD had said He would put His name. 5 He placed these altars for the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft, used divination and dealt with mediums of evil spirits. All of this provoked the LORD to anger. 7 Then he set his carved image of Asherah in the house which God had told David and Solomon, "I will put My name forever in this house in Jerusalem which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel." 8 "And I will not make the feet of Israel to wander any more from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe My commandments, according to the law My servant Moses commanded them." 9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh seduced them to even more evil than that of the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before Israel. 10 So the LORD spoke through His servants the prophets, saying, 11 "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, being more wicked than the Amorites before him, and has made Judah to sin with his idols," 12 "therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am bringing such a calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, it will make the ears tingle of all who hear of it.'" 13 "I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plumbob of the house of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish before turning it upside down." 14 "I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hands of their enemies of whom they will become plunder and spoil." 15 "This is because they have done evil in my sight, and provoked Me to anger from the day they came out of Egypt until this day." 16 "Besides this, Manasseh has shed much innocent blood, filling Jerusalem from one end to the other, and making Judah sin in the sight of the LORD."

17 The rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all the sin he committed, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of Uzza in his own house, and Amon his son became king in his place.

Amon Becomes King of Judah
19 Amon was twenty two years old when he became king. He reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 He did evil in the LORD's sight, just as Manasseh his father had done. 21 He walked in all the ways of his father, serving the idols his father had served. 22 He forsook the God of his fathers and did not walk in the way of the LORD. 23 The servants of Amon conspired against him and killed him in his own house. 24 Then the people of the land killed those who had conspired against King Amon, and made Josiah his son king in his place. 25 The rest of the acts of Amon are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 26 He was buried in the garden of Uzza and his son Josiah became king in his place.

2 Kings 22 - RWB Paraphrase (20 V)
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Josiah Becomes King of Judah When He Is Eight Years Old
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah. He reigned thirty one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah. She was the daughter of Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the LORD's sight, walking in all the ways of his father David, turning neither to the right or the left.

3 In Josiah's eighteenth year as king, he sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the LORD. 4 He said, "Ask Hilkiah the high priest to count the money the door keepers have gathered that the people have brought in for the LORD's house." 5 "Use it to pay the workman who repair the LORD's house," 6 "to the carpenters, builders and masons, and for buying timbers and stone." 7 "No accounting will be needed from them, for they will deal faithfully."

The Book of the Law Is Found in the house of the Lord
8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah let Shaphan read it. 9 Shaphan then came to the king, saying, "Your servants have emptied out the money found in the house of the LORD, and delivered it to the workman who have oversight for its repairs." 10 Then Shaphan added, "Hilkiah the priest gave me this book." And Shaphan read it to the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. 12 He commanded Hilkiah the priest, Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe and his son Ahikam and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 13 "Inquire of the LORD for me and for all the people of Judah, concerning the words of this book. The wrath of the LORD that burns against us must be great, for our fathers have not followed the words of this book." 14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to speak to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. 15 She said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel," 16 "behold, I am bringing evil on this place and it inhabitants, according to the words of the book which the king of Judah read," 17 "because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, provoking Me to anger. Therefore My wrath burns against them, and it shall not be quenched." 18 "But say this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD: 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, regarding the words you have heard,'." 19 "Because you have humbled yourself before the LORD, tearing your clothes and weeping before me, I have heard you, " declares the LORD. 20 "Therefore you will be gathered to your fathers and go to your grave in peace. You will not see the evil I will bring on this place." So they told the king everything the LORD had said.

2 Kings 23 - RWB Paraphrase (37 V)
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Josiah Reads the Book of the Law to the People
1 Then the king gathered all the elders of Judah, 2 and went up to the house of the LORD with them, and with the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read the entire book in their hearing, including all the words of the covenant.

3 Then the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after Him, keeping His commandments, His testimonies and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into this covenant. 4 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the second order of priests, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah and all the host of heaven. He had them burned outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and then carried their ashes to Bethel. 5 He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings to burn incense in the high places in Judah and around Jerusalem. They had also burned incense to Baal, to the moon and the constellations and all the host of heaven.

6 He brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD to the brook outside Jerusalem and burned it. Then he ground it to dust and threw the dust on the graves of the common people. 7 He also broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in the house of the LORD where the women were weaving hangings for the Asherah. 8 He brought all the priests of the high places from the cities of Judah, defiling the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and braking down those high places of the gates which were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on one's left at the city gate. 9 Though the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, they did eat unleavened bread with their brothers.

10 He also defiled Topheth in the valley of the son of Hinnom, so that no one would take his son or daughter to pass through the fire for Molech. 11 He did away with the horses which the kings of Judah had given to the sun. These were at the entrance to the house of the LORD, and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 12 He broke down the altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz made by the kings of Judah, and the altars Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD. He smashed them and threw their dust into the Kidron brook. 13 He broke down the high places leading to Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon. 14 He broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones. 15 Besides all this, he broke down the altar at Bethel and other high places that Jeroboam the son of Nebat had used to make Israel sin. He demolished its stones to powder and burned the grove.

16 When Josiah turned and saw the graves that were on the mountain, he had their bones burned on the altar according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God. 17 Then he said, "What is this monument that I see?" And the men of the city said, "It is the grave of the man of God who proclaimed the things you have done against this altar at Bethel." 18 Then the king said, "Let him alone. No one is to disturb the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria."

19 Josiah removed all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made provoking the LORD. He did to them just as he had done in Bethel. 20 Before returning to Jerusalem, he slaughtered all the priests of the high places and burned their bones on the altars.

21 Then the king commanded all the people to celebrate the Passover of the LORD, just as it is written in the book of the covenant. 22 Such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges, or in all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah. 23 It was in the eighteenth year of king Josiah that this Passover was observed to the LORD in Jerusalem.

24 Josiah had removed the mediums, the spiritists, the wizards and the idols and all of the abominations in the land of Judah, in order to confirm the words of the law written in the book Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 25 There was no king before him who turned to the LORD with his whole heart, soul and might, according to all the law of Moses. Neither did any like him arise after him. 26 However, this did not turn the LORD from His fierce wrath which burned against Judah, brought on by all the provocations of Manasseh. 27 The LORD said, "I will remove Judah from My sight, just as I have removed Israel. I will cast off Jerusalem, the city I chose, and the temple of which I said, My name shall be there."

28 The rest of the acts of Josiah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. Pharaoh Neco Killed Josiah King of Judah
29 In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria at the Euphrates river. King Josiah went to meet him, and when Pharaoh Neco saw him, he killed him at Megiddo. 30 His servants brought him in his chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem where he was buried in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz his son and made him king in his father's place.

Jehoahaz Becomes King of Judah
31 Jehoahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign. He reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 Pharaoh Neco imprisoned him at Riblah to keep him from reigning in Jerusalem. And he imposed a tribute on the land of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

Pharaoh Neco Makes Jehoiakim King In Judah
34 Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim, another son of Josiah to be king in place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz to Egypt where he died. 35 So Jehoiakim taxed the people of the land in order to be able to give the tribute to Pharaoh. 36 Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah. She was the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37 Jehoiakim did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all his fathers had done.

2 Kings 24 - RWB Paraphrase (20 V)
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Nebuchadnezzar King Of Babylon Makes Jehoiakim His Servant
1 In the days of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and made Jehoiakim his servant for three years. Then he rebelled against Babylon. 2 The LORD sent bands of Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites and Ammonites, to destroy Judah, according to the word of the LORD spoken of by His prophets. 3 This command of the LORD came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done. 4 Manasseh had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood and the LORD would not forgive this. 5 The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.

Jehoiachin Becomes King
6 And Jehoiakim slept with his fathers. Then Jehoiachin his son became king in his place. 7 The king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, for the king of Babylon had taken everything from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River. 8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. 10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and put the city under siege. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the city while his servants besieged it. 12 Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon along with his mother, his captains and officials. So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. 13 He carried away all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house. He cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD, just as the LORD had said. 14 And he led away into exile all of Jerusalem, the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. Only the poorest of the land were left. 15 So Jehoiachin was led away into exile in Babylon, with his mother and his wives, his officials and leading men of the land. 16 Seven thousand men of valor, the craftsmen, the smiths, and another thousand strong and fit for war, all were brought into exile in Babylon.

Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's Uncle, Becomes King
17 Then Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, king in his place. 18 Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all Jehoiakim had done. 20 The anger of the LORD had brought all this about on Jerusalem so that He cast then out of His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 25 - RWB Paraphrase (30 V)
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Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon Comes Against Jerusalem
1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army and camped against Jerusalem, and built siege works around it. 2 And the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was severe in the city. There was no food for the people. 4 Then the city was broken into, and while the Chaldeans were all around the city, all the Judean men of war fled by night through the gate between the two walls beside the king's garden. They fled toward the plain. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook the king in the plains of Jericho with his army scattered from him. 6 They captured him and brought him to the king of Babylon, who passed sentence on him. 7 They slaughtered his sons while he watched. Then they put out his eyes, bound him in bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon.

Babylon Destroys Jerusalem
8 On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard and servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 He burned the house of the LORD, the king's house and every great house of Jerusalem. 10 The Chaldean army broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile any who were still in the city. 12 But he left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowman.

13 The bronze pillars which were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea which were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried to Babylon. 14 They took away the pots and the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the vessels used in the temple service. 15 They also took away the firepans and basins of fine gold and silver. 16 The bronze of the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands that Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, was beyond weighing. 17 The height of each bronze pillar was eighteen cubits with a bronze capital of three more cubits, with its network of pomegranates around it, all of bronze. 18 Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest with Zephaniah the second priest, along with three officers of the temple. 19 From the city he took one official who oversaw the men of war, and five of the king's advisors, the scribe of the captain of the army and sixty men found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 There the king of Babylon put them to death in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away in exile.

22 As for the people whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left in Judah, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan over them. 23 When all the captains of the army heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came to him at Mizpah. There was Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 24 Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, "Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land serve the king of Babylon, and all will be well with you." 25 But it came about in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and killed Gedaliah along with the Jews and the Chaldeans with him at Mizpah. 26 Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the army arose and went to Egypt because they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

Jehoiachin Is Released From Prison
27 In the thirty seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, on the twenty seventh day of the twelfth month, Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year he began to reign, took Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison, 28 and spoke kindly to him, setting his throne above the throne of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes and regularly had his meals in the king's presence all the days of his life. 30 He received a daily allowance from the king as long as he lived.

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