18Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel.H7969H8141H1954H1121H425H4428H3478H2396H1121H271H4428H3063H4427 2He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.H6242H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H6242H8672H8141H3389H517H8034H21H1323H2148 3He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1732H1H6213 4He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.H5493H1116H7665H4676H3772H842H3807H5178H5175H4872H6213H3117H1121H3478H6999H7121H5180 5Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time.H982H3068H430H3478H310H4428H3063H6440 6He remained faithful to the LORD in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses.H1692H3068H5493H310H8104H4687H3068H6680H4872 7So the LORD was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.H3068H7919H3318H4775H4428H804H5647 8He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city.H5221H6430H5804H1366H4026H5341H4013H5892 9During the fourth year of Hezekiah's reign, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked the city of Samaria and began a siege against it.H7243H8141H4428H2396H7637H8141H1954H1121H425H4428H3478H8022H4428H804H5927H8111H6696 10Three years later, during the sixth year of King Hezekiah's reign and the ninth year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel, Samaria fell.H7097H7969H8141H3920H8337H8141H2396H8672H8141H1954H4428H3478H8111H3920 11At that time the king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and placed them in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.H4428H804H1540H3478H804H5148H2477H2249H5104H1470H5892H4074 12For they refused to listen to the LORD their God and obey him. Instead, they violated his covenant—all the laws that Moses the LORD's servant had commanded them to obey.H8085H6963H3068H430H5674H1285H4872H5650H3068H6680H8085H6213 13In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to attack the fortified towns of Judah and conquered them.H702H6240H8141H4428H2396H5576H4428H804H5927H1219H5892H3063H8610 14King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money you demand if you will only withdraw." The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of more than eleven tons of silver and one ton of gold.H2396H4428H3063H7971H4428H804H3923H559H2398H7725H5414H5375H4428H804H7760H2396H4428H3063H7969H3967H3603H3701H7970H3603H2091 15To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the Temple of the LORD and in the palace treasury.H2396H5414H3701H4672H1004H3068H214H4428H1004 16Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the LORD's Temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the Assyrian king.H6256H2396H7112H1817H1964H3068H547H2396H4428H3063H6823H5414H4428H804 17Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent his commander in chief, his field commander, and his chief of staff from Lachish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians took up a position beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed.H4428H804H7971H8661H7249H7262H3923H4428H2396H3515H2426H3389H5927H935H3389H5927H935H5975H8585H5945H1295H4546H3526H7704 18They summoned King Hezekiah, but the king sent these officials to meet with them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian.H7121H4428H3318H471H1121H2518H1004H7644H5608H3098H1121H623H2142 19Then the Assyrian king's chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: "This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?H7262H559H559H2396H559H1419H4428H4428H804H986H982 20Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?H559H8193H1697H6098H1369H4421H982H4775 21On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!H982H4938H7533H7070H4714H376H5564H935H3709H5344H6547H4428H4714H982 22"But perhaps you will say to me, 'We are trusting in the LORD our God!' But isn't he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn't Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?H559H982H3068H430H1116H4196H2396H5493H559H3063H3389H7812H6440H4196H3389 23"I'll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them!H6148H113H4428H804H5414H505H5483H3201H5414H7392 24With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master's troops, even with the help of Egypt's chariots and charioteers?H7725H6440H259H6346H6996H113H5650H982H4714H7393H6571 25What's more, do you think we have invaded your land without the LORD's direction? The LORD himself told us, 'Attack this land and destroy it!'"H5927H1107H3068H4725H7843H3068H559H5927H776H7843 26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, "Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don't speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear."H559H471H1121H2518H7644H3098H7262H1696H5650H762H8085H1696H3066H241H5971H2346 27But Sennacherib's chief of staff replied, "Do you think my master sent this message only to you and your master? He wants all the people to hear it, for when we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine."H7262H559H113H7971H113H1696H1697H582H3427H2346H398H6675H2755H8354H4325H7272H7890 28Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, "Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria!H7262H5975H7121H1419H6963H3066H1696H559H8085H1697H1419H4428H4428H804 29This is what the king says: Don't let Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you from my power.H559H4428H2396H5377H3201H5337H3027 30Don't let him fool you into trusting in the LORD by saying, 'The LORD will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king!'H2396H982H3068H559H3068H5337H5337H5892H5414H3027H4428H804 31"Don't listen to Hezekiah! These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering: Make peace with me—open the gates and come out. Then each of you can continue eating from your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking from your own well.H8085H2396H559H4428H804H6213H1293H3318H398H376H1612H376H8384H8354H376H4325H953 32Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of death! "Don't listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying, 'The LORD will rescue us!'H935H3947H776H776H776H1715H8492H776H3899H3754H776H3323H2132H1706H2421H4191H8085H2396H5496H559H3068H5337 33Have the gods of any other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria?H376H430H1471H5337H5337H776H3027H4428H804 34What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? And what about the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did any god rescue Samaria from my power?H430H2574H774H430H5617H2012H5755H5337H8111H3027 35What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the LORD can rescue Jerusalem from me?"H430H776H5337H776H3027H3068H5337H3389H3027 36But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, "Do not answer him."H5971H2790H6030H1697H4428H4687H559H6030 37Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian chief of staff had said.H935H471H1121H2518H1004H7644H5608H3098H1121H623H2142H2396H899H7167H5046H1697H7262
29Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.H3169H4427H2568H6242H8141H1121H4427H8672H6242H8141H3389H517H8034H29H1323H2148 2He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1732H1H6213 3In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the LORD and repaired them.H7223H8141H4427H7223H2320H6605H1817H1004H3068H2388 4He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple.H935H3548H3881H622H4217H7339 5He said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.H559H8085H3881H6942H6942H1004H3068H430H1H3318H5079H6944 6Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned the LORD and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him.H1H4603H6213H7451H5869H3068H430H5800H5437H6440H4908H3068H5414H6203 7They also shut the doors to the Temple's entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.H5462H1817H197H3518H5216H6999H7004H5927H5930H6944H430H3478 8"That is why the LORD's anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.H7110H3068H3063H3389H5414H2189H2113H8047H8322H7200H5869 9Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured.H1H5307H2719H1121H1323H802H7628 10But now I will make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.H3824H3772H1285H3068H430H3478H2740H639H7725 11My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him."H1121H7952H3068H977H5975H6440H8334H8334H6999 12Then these Levites got right to work: From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.H3881H6965H4287H1121H6022H3100H1121H5838H1121H6956H1121H4847H7027H1121H5660H5838H1121H3094H1649H3098H1121H2155H5731H1121H3098 13From the family of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel. From the family of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah.H1121H469H8113H3273H1121H623H2148H4983 14From the family of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei. From the family of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.H1121H1968H3171H8096H1121H3038H8098H5816 15These men called together their fellow Levites, and they all purified themselves. Then they began to cleanse the Temple of the LORD, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the LORD's instructions in their work.H622H251H6942H935H4687H4428H1697H3068H2891H1004H3068 16The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the LORD to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley.H3548H935H6441H1004H3068H2891H3318H2932H4672H1964H3068H2691H1004H3068H3881H6901H3318H2351H5158H6939 17They began the work in early spring, on the first day of the new year, and in eight days they had reached the entry room of the LORD's Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the LORD itself, which took another eight days. So the entire task was completed in sixteen days.H2490H259H7223H2320H6942H8083H3117H2320H935H197H3068H6942H1004H3068H8083H3117H8337H6240H7223H2320H3615 18Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: "We have cleansed the entire Temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils.H935H6441H2396H4428H559H2891H1004H3068H4196H5930H3627H4635H7979H3627 19We have also recovered all the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD, purified and ready for use."H3627H4428H271H4438H2186H4604H3559H6942H6440H4196H3068 20Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went to the Temple of the LORD.H3169H4428H7925H622H8269H5892H5927H1004H3068 21They brought seven bulls, seven rams, and seven male lambs as a burnt offering, together with seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Temple, and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, to sacrifice the animals on the altar of the LORD.H935H7651H6499H7651H352H7651H3532H7651H6842H5795H2403H4467H4720H3063H559H3548H1121H175H5927H4196H3068 22So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the male lambs.H7819H1241H3548H6901H1818H2236H4196H7819H352H2236H1818H4196H7819H3532H2236H1818H4196 23The male goats for the sin offering were then brought before the king and the assembly of people, who laid their hands on them.H5066H8163H2403H6440H4428H6951H5564H3027 24The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.H3548H7819H2398H1818H4196H3722H3478H4428H559H5930H2403H3478 25King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands that the LORD had given to King David through Gad, the king's seer, and the prophet Nathan.H5975H3881H1004H3068H4700H5035H3658H4687H1732H1410H4428H2374H5416H5030H4687H3027H3068H3027H5030 26The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the instruments of David, and the priests took their positions with the trumpets.H3881H5975H3627H1732H3548H2689 27Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be placed on the altar. As the burnt offering was presented, songs of praise to the LORD were begun, accompanied by the trumpets and other instruments of David, the former king of Israel.H2396H559H5927H5930H4196H6256H5930H2490H7892H3068H2490H2689H3627H3027H1732H4428H3478 28The entire assembly worshiped the LORD as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished.H6951H7812H7892H7891H2689H2690H2690H5930H3615 29Then the king and everyone with him bowed down in worship.H3615H5927H4428H4672H3766H7812 30King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.H3169H4428H8269H559H3881H1984H3068H1697H1732H623H2374H1984H8057H6915H7812 31Then Hezekiah declared, "Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the LORD." So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too.H3169H6030H559H4390H3027H3068H5066H935H2077H8426H1004H3068H6951H935H2077H8426H5081H3820H5930 32The people brought to the LORD 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 male lambs for burnt offerings.H4557H5930H6951H935H7657H1241H3967H352H3967H3532H5930H3068 33They also brought 600 cattle and 3,000 sheep and goats as sacred offerings.H6944H8337H3967H1241H7969H505H6629 34But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.H3548H4592H3201H6584H5930H251H3881H2388H4399H3615H3548H6942H3881H3477H3824H6942H3548 35There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings. So the Temple of the LORD was restored to service.H5930H7230H2459H8002H5262H5930H5656H1004H3068H3559 36And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.H3169H8055H5971H430H3559H5971H1697H6597
30King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters of invitation to the people of Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.H3169H7971H3478H3063H3789H107H669H4519H935H1004H3068H3389H6213H6453H3068H430H3478 2The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual.H4428H3289H8269H6951H3389H6213H6453H8145H2320 3They were unable to celebrate it at the prescribed time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.H3201H6213H6256H3548H6942H4078H1767H5971H622H3389 4This plan for keeping the Passover seemed right to the king and all the people.H1697H3474H5869H4428H6951 5So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law.H5975H1697H5674H6963H3478H884H1835H935H6213H6453H3068H430H3478H3389H6213H7230H3789 6At the king's command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: "O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.H7323H3212H107H3027H4428H8269H3478H3063H4687H4428H559H1121H3478H7725H3068H430H85H3327H3478H7725H7604H6413H3709H4428H804 7Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see.H1H251H4603H3068H430H1H5414H8047H7200 8Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the LORD. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the LORD your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.H7185H6203H1H5414H3027H3068H935H4720H6942H5769H5647H3068H430H2740H639H7725 9"For if you return to the LORD, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you."H7725H3068H251H1121H7356H6440H7617H7725H776H3068H430H2587H7349H5493H6440H7725 10The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.H7323H5674H5892H5892H776H669H4519H2074H7832H3932 11However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.H582H836H4519H2074H3665H935H3389 12At the same time, God's hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the LORD.H3063H3027H430H5414H259H3820H6213H4687H4428H8269H1697H3068 13So a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.H622H3389H7227H5971H6213H2282H4682H8145H2320H3966H7230H6951 14They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.H6965H5493H4196H3389H6999H5493H7993H5158H6939 15On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the LORD.H7819H6453H702H6240H8145H2320H3548H3881H3637H6942H935H5930H1004H3068 16Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.H5975H5977H4941H8451H4872H376H430H3548H2236H1818H3027H3881 17Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the LORD.H7227H6951H6942H3881H7821H6453H2889H6942H3068 18Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon thoseH4768H5971H7227H669H4519H3485H2074H3808H2891H398H6453H3789H3169H6419H559H2896H3068H3722 19who decide to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony."H3559H3824H1875H430H3068H430H1H2893H6944 20And the LORD listened to Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people.H3068H8085H3169H7495H5971 21So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the LORD, accompanied by loud instruments.H1121H3478H4672H3389H6213H2282H4682H7651H3117H1419H8057H3881H3548H1984H3068H3117H3117H5797H3627H3068 22Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the LORD. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.H3169H1696H3820H3881H7919H2896H7922H3068H398H4150H7651H3117H2076H8002H2077H3034H3068H430H1 23The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week.H6951H3289H6213H312H7651H3117H6213H7651H3117H8057 24King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.H2396H4428H3063H7311H6951H505H6499H7651H505H6629H8269H7311H6951H505H6499H6235H505H6629H7230H3548H6942 25The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.H6951H3063H3548H3881H6951H935H3478H1616H935H776H3478H3427H3063H8055 26There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David's son.H1419H8057H3389H3117H8010H1121H1732H4428H3478H3389 27Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven.H3548H3881H6965H1288H5971H6963H8085H8605H935H6944H4583H8064
31When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes.H3615H3478H4672H3318H5892H3063H7665H4676H7665H1438H842H5422H1116H4196H3063H1144H669H4519H3615H1121H3478H7725H376H272H5892 2Hezekiah then organized the priests and Levites into divisions to offer the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to worship and give thanks and praise to the LORD at the gates of the Temple.H3169H5975H4256H3548H3881H4256H376H6310H5656H3548H3881H5930H8002H8334H3034H1984H8179H4264H3068 3The king also made a personal contribution of animals for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings, the weekly Sabbath festivals, the monthly new moon festivals, and the annual festivals as prescribed in the Law of the LORD.H4428H4521H7399H5930H1242H6153H5930H5930H7676H2320H4150H3789H8451H3068 4In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the LORD.H559H5971H3427H3389H5414H4521H3548H3881H2388H8451H3068 5When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced.H1697H6555H1121H3478H935H7235H7225H1715H8492H3323H1706H8393H7704H4643H935H7230 6The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them up in great heaps.H1121H3478H3063H3427H5892H3063H935H4643H1241H6629H4643H6944H6942H3068H430H5414H6194H6194 7They began piling them up in late spring, and the heaps continued to grow until early autumn.H7992H2320H2490H3245H6194H3615H7637H2320 8When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the LORD and his people Israel!H3169H8269H935H7200H6194H1288H3068H5971H3478 9"Where did all this come from?" Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites.H3169H1875H3548H3881H6194 10And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, "Since the people began bringing their gifts to the LORD's Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The LORD has blessed his people, and all this is left over."H5838H7218H3548H1004H6659H559H559H2490H935H8641H1004H3068H7646H398H3498H7230H3068H1288H5971H3498H1995 11Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Temple of the LORD. When this was done,H3169H559H3559H3957H1004H3068H3559 12the people faithfully brought all the tithes and gifts to the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.H935H8641H4643H6944H530H3562H3881H5057H8096H251H4932 13The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.H3171H5812H5184H6214H3406H3107H447H3253H4287H1141H6496H3027H3562H8096H251H4662H3169H4428H5838H5057H1004H430 14Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge of distributing the voluntary offerings given to God, the gifts, and the things that had been dedicated to the LORD.H6981H1121H3232H3881H7778H4217H5071H430H5414H8641H3068H6944H6944 15His faithful assistants were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts among the families of priests in their towns by their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among old and young alike.H5731H4509H3442H8098H568H7935H5892H3548H530H5414H251H3027H4256H1419H6996 16They distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records. The distribution went to all who would come to the LORD's Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions.H3187H2145H7969H8141H1121H4605H935H1004H3068H3117H3117H1697H5656H4931H4256 17They distributed gifts to the priests who were listed by their families in the genealogical records, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions.H3187H3548H1004H1H3881H6242H8141H1121H4605H4931H4256 18Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons, and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves.H3187H2945H802H1121H1323H6951H530H6942H6944 19As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were living in the open villages around the towns, men were appointed by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical records.H1121H175H3548H7704H4054H5892H5892H582H5344H8034H5414H4490H2145H3548H3187H3881 20In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God.H6213H3169H3063H6213H2896H3477H571H6440H3068H430 21In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God's laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.H4639H2490H5656H1004H430H8451H4687H1875H430H6213H3824H6743
48[A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah.] How great is the LORD, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain!H7892H4210H1121H7141H1419H3068H3966H1984H5892H430H2022H6944 2It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King!H3303H5131H4885H776H2022H6726H3411H6828H7151H7227H4428 3God himself is in Jerusalem's towers, revealing himself as its defender.H430H3045H759H4869 4The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city.H4428H3259H5674H3162 5But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away.H7200H8539H926H2648 6They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.H7461H270H2427H3205 7You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.H7665H591H8659H6921H7307 8We had heard of the city's glory, but now we have seen it ourselves—the city of the LORD of Heaven's Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. InterludeH8085H7200H5892H3068H6635H5892H430H430H3559H5704H5769H5542 9O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.H1819H2617H430H7130H1964 10As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory.H8034H430H8416H7099H776H3225H4390H6664 11Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let all the towns of Judah be glad because of your justice.H2022H6726H8055H1323H3063H1523H4941 12Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers.H5437H6726H5362H5608H4026 13Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations.H7896H3820H2430H6448H759H5608H1755H314 14For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.H430H430H5769H5703H5090H4192
Dublin, OH
, the daughter of Zechariah.H6242
