Chapter 11
CHAPTER XXXI. Now, when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and break the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places, and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, and Ephraim also, and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man, to his possession, into their own cities. And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests, and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord. He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feast, as it is written in the law of the Lord.
Moreover, he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem, to give the portion of the priests, and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord. And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field, and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things, which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the princes came, and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah, the chief priest of the house of Zadok, answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty. For the Lord hath blessed his people, and that which is left is this great store. Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them, and brought in the offerings, and the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully,
over which Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shammai his brother was the next. And Jeiel, and Azaiah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jeremoth, and Josabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaniah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah, and Shammai his brother at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. And Kor, the son of Emnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God to distribute the oblations of the Lord and the most holy things. And next were Eden, and Menaamon, and Jeshua, and Shammaiah, and Amariah, and Shekiah,
in the cities of the priests in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses as well to the great as to the small. Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the Lord his daily portion for their service in their charges, according to their courses. Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers,
and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses, and to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives and their sons and their daughters, through all the congregation,
for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness. Also, of the sons of Aaron the priest, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city,
the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right,
and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began, in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments to seek his God,
he did it, with all his heart, and prospered. Chapter 32 After these things,
the establishment thereof, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came, and entered into Judah,
and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men,
to stop the waters of the fountains, which were without the city, they did help him. So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains,
and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? Also he strengthened himself,
and built up all that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Milo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous.
Be not afraid, nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him. For there be more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh,
but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, but he himself laid siege against Lachish.
And all his power with him. Unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria,
whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege of Jerusalem. Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying,
The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem,
saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it. Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands?
Were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed
that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this matter,
neither yet believe him, for no God of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand. And out of the hand of my fathers, how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel and to speak against him, saying,
As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. Then they cried with a loud voice
in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall to affright them and to trouble them, that they might take the city. And they spake against the God of Jerusalem
as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. And for this cause Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed and cried to heaven.
And the Lord sent an angel which cut off all the mighty men of valor and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land.
And when he was come into the house of his God, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
from the hand of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts unto the Lord
to Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah, king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
In those days Hezekiah was sick to death and prayed unto the Lord. And he spake unto him and he gave him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again
according to the benefit done unto him, for his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himself
for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches
and honor, and he made himself treasuries of silver, and for gold and for precious stones, and for spices and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels,
storehouses also for the increase of corn and wine and oil, and stalls for all manner of beasts, and coats for flocks. Moreover, he provided him cities
and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him substance very much. This same Hezekiah also stopped
the upper watercourse of Gion and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works, howbeit in the business of the ambassadors
of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land God left him. to try him,
that he might know all that was in his heart. Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah,
the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him
in the chiefest of sepulchres of the sons of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death.
And Manasseh, his son, reigned in his stead. Chapter 33 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations
of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places
which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars to Balaam, and made groves,
and worshipped all the hosts of heaven, and served them. Also he built altars in the house of the Lord,
whereof the Lord had said in Jerusalem, Shall my name be for ever? And he built altars for all the hosts of heaven
in the two courts of the house of the Lord, and he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son
of Hinnom. Also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit,
and with wizards. He wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger, and he set a carved image,
the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem,
which I have chosen, before all the tribes of Israel will I put my name forever. Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel
from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers, so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them,
according to the whole law and the statutes and ordinances by the hand of Moses. So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the Lord spake to Manasseh
and to his people, but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria,
which took Manasseh among the thorns and bound him with fetters and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction,
he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And he prayed unto him,
and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.
Then Manasseh knew that the Lord, he was God. Now, after this, he built a wall
without the city of David on the west side of Gion in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate,
and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities
of Judah. And he took away the strange gods and the idol out of the house of the Lord,
and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem,
and cast them out of the city. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon
peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
Nevertheless, the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words
of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel.
Behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel,
his prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sins,
and his trespass, and places wherein he built high places, and set up groves
and graven images before he was humbled. Behold, they are written among the sayings
of the seers. So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house.
And Ammon, his son, reigned in his stead. Ammon was two and twenty years old
when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh,
his father. For Ammon sacrificed unto all the carved images
which Manasseh, his father, had made and served them. And humbled
not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh, his father, had humbled himself.
But Ammon trespassed more and more, and his servants conspired
against him and slew him in his own house. But the people of the land
slew all them that had conspired against King Ammon, and the people of the land
made Josiah, his son, king, in his stead.
End of chapter 33
