2 Kings

Book 12        2 Kings

12:001:001 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

12:001:002 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber

           that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and

           said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron

           whether I shall recover of this disease.

12:001:003 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise,

           go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say

           unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel,

           that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

12:001:004 Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down

           from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

           And Elijah departed.

12:001:005 And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto

           them, Why are ye now turned back?

12:001:006 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and

           said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and

           say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is

           not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub

           the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that

           bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

12:001:007 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up

           to meet you, and told you these words?

12:001:008 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a

           girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah

           the Tishbite.

12:001:009 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty.

           And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an

           hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath

           said, Come down.

12:001:010 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be

           a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume

           thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and

           consumed him and his fifty.

12:001:011 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his

           fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus

           hath the king said, Come down quickly.

12:001:012 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God,

           let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy

           fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed

           him and his fifty.

12:001:013 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty.

           And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on

           his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him,

           O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these

           fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

12:001:014 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two

           captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore

           let my life now be precious in thy sight.

12:001:015 And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him:

           be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him

           unto the king.

12:001:016 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou

           hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron,

           is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his

           word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which

           thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

12:001:017 So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had

           spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of

           Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had

           no son.

12:001:018 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not

           written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

12:002:001 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into

           heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from

           Gilgal.

12:002:002 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the

           LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the

           LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So

           they went down to Bethel.

12:002:003 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to

           Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will

           take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I

           know it; hold ye your peace.

12:002:004 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for

           the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD

           liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they

           came to Jericho.

12:002:005 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to

           Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will

           take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered,

           Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

12:002:006 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the

           LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth,

           and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two

           went on.

12:002:007 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to

           view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

12:002:008 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote

           the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that

           they two went over on dry ground.

12:002:009 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah

           said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be

           taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a

           double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

12:002:010 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if

           thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto

           thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

12:002:011 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that,

           behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire,

           and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a

           whirlwind into heaven.

12:002:012 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the

           chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no

           more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in

           two pieces.

12:002:013 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and

           went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

12:002:014 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote

           the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and

           when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and

           thither: and Elisha went over.

12:002:015 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at

           Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on

           Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the

           ground before him.

12:002:016 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants

           fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy

           master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken

           him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley.

           And he said, Ye shall not send.

12:002:017 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send.

           They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but

           found him not.

12:002:018 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,)

           he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

12:002:019 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee,

           the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but

           the water is naught, and the ground barren.

12:002:020 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And

           they brought it to him.

12:002:021 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the

           salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed

           these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or

           barren land.

12:002:022 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the

           saying of Elisha which he spake.

12:002:023 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up

           by the way, there came forth little children out of the city,

           and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go

           up, thou bald head.

12:002:024 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the

           name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of

           the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

12:002:025 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he

           returned to Samaria.

12:003:001 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in

           Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and

           reigned twelve years.

12:003:002 And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his

           father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal

           that his father had made.

12:003:003 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of

           Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

12:003:004 And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto

           the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred

           thousand rams, with the wool.

12:003:005 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab

           rebelled against the king of Israel.

12:003:006 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and

           numbered all Israel.

12:003:007 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying,

           The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with

           me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as

           thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy

           horses.

12:003:008 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The

           way through the wilderness of Edom.

12:003:009 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the

           king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days'

           journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the

           cattle that followed them.

12:003:010 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called

           these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of

           Moab!

12:003:011 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD,

           that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of

           Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of

           Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

12:003:012 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the

           king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down

           to him.

12:003:013 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do

           with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the

           prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him,

           Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to

           deliver them into the hand of Moab.

12:003:014 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I

           stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of

           Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee,

           nor see thee.

12:003:015 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the

           minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

12:003:016 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of

           ditches.

12:003:017 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall

           ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that

           ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

12:003:018 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he

           will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

12:003:019 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city,

           and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water,

           and mar every good piece of land with stones.

12:003:020 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was

           offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom,

           and the country was filled with water.

12:003:021 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to

           fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on

           armour, and upward, and stood in the border.

12:003:022 And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon

           the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as

           red as blood:

12:003:023 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and

           they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the

           spoil.

12:003:024 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose

           up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but

           they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.

12:003:025 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land

           cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all

           the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in

           Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers

           went about it, and smote it.

12:003:026 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for

           him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to

           break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.

12:003:027 Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his

           stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And

           there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed

           from him, and returned to their own land.

12:004:001 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of

           the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is

           dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and

           the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be

           bondmen.

12:004:002 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me,

           what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath

           not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

12:004:003 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy

           neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

12:004:004 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee

           and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels,

           and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

12:004:005 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her

           sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

12:004:006 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said

           unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her,

           There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

12:004:007 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell

           the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of

           the rest.

12:004:008 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was

           a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it

           was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat

           bread.

12:004:009 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that

           this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

12:004:010 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and

           let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and

           a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he

           shall turn in thither.

12:004:011 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into

           the chamber, and lay there.

12:004:012 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And

           when he had called her, she stood before him.

12:004:013 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been

           careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for

           thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the

           captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own

           people.

12:004:014 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi

           answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

12:004:015 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood

           in the door.

12:004:016 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life,

           thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man

           of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

12:004:017 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that

           Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

12:004:018 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went

           out to his father to the reapers.

12:004:019 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to

           a lad, Carry him to his mother.

12:004:020 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he

           sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

12:004:021 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God,

           and shut the door upon him, and went out.

12:004:022 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray

           thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may

           run to the man of God, and come again.

12:004:023 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is

           neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

12:004:024 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and

           go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

12:004:025 So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And

           it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he

           said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:

12:004:026 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it

           well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with

           the child? And she answered, It is well:

12:004:027 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught

           him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And

           the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed

           within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not

           told me.

12:004:028 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say,

           Do not deceive me?

12:004:029 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff

           in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute

           him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay

           my staff upon the face of the child.

12:004:030 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as

           thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and

           followed her.

12:004:031 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the

           face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing.

           Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The

           child is not awaked.

12:004:032 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was

           dead, and laid upon his bed.

12:004:033 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and

           prayed unto the LORD.

12:004:034 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon

           his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his

           hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of

           the child waxed warm.

12:004:035 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went

           up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed

           seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

12:004:036 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he

           called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take

           up thy son.

12:004:037 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to

           the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

12:004:038 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the

           land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him:

           and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe

           pottage for the sons of the prophets.

12:004:039 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a

           wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and

           came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew

           them not.

12:004:040 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as

           they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and

           said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they

           could not eat thereof.

12:004:041 But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and

           he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there

           was no harm in the pot.

12:004:042 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of

           God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and

           full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto

           the people, that they may eat.

12:004:043 And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an

           hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may

           eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave

           thereof.

12:004:044 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof,

           according to the word of the LORD.

12:005:001 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a

           great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the

           LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty

           man in valour, but he was a leper.

12:005:002 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought

           away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she

           waited on Naaman's wife.

12:005:003 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with

           the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of

           his leprosy.

12:005:004 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said

           the maid that is of the land of Israel.

12:005:005 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a

           letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with

           him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold,

           and ten changes of raiment.

12:005:006 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now

           when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith

           sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him

           of his leprosy.

12:005:007 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the

           letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill

           and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover

           a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see

           how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

12:005:008 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the

           king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king,

           saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now

           to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

12:005:009 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood

           at the door of the house of Elisha.

12:005:010 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in

           Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee,

           and thou shalt be clean.

12:005:011 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I

           thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on

           the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the

           place, and recover the leper.

12:005:012 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all

           the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So

           he turned and went away in a rage.

12:005:013 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My

           father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing,

           wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he

           saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

12:005:014 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan,

           according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came

           again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

12:005:015 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and

           came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know

           that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now

           therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

12:005:016 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will

           receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

12:005:017 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given

           to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant

           will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice

           unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

12:005:018 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master

           goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he

           leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon:

           when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon

           thy servant in this thing.

12:005:019 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a

           little way.

12:005:020 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said,

           Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not

           receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD

           liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

12:005:021 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him

           running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet

           him, and said, Is all well?

12:005:022 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying,

           Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two

           young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee,

           a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

12:005:023 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged

           him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two

           changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants;

           and they bare them before him.

12:005:024 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand,

           and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and

           they departed.

12:005:025 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said

           unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant

           went no whither.

12:005:026 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the

           man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time

           to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and

           vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and

           maidservants?

12:005:027 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and

           unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a

           leper as white as snow.

12:006:001 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the

           place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.

12:006:002 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every

           man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may

           dwell. And he answered, Go ye.

12:006:003 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy

           servants. And he answered, I will go.

12:006:004 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut

           down wood.

12:006:005 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the

           water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was

           borrowed.

12:006:006 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the

           place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and

           the iron did swim.

12:006:007 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his

           hand, and took it.

12:006:008 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel

           with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be

           my camp.

12:006:009 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying,

           Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the

           Syrians are come down.

12:006:010 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God

           told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once

           nor twice.

12:006:011 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for

           this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them,

           Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

12:006:012 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but

           Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of

           Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

12:006:013 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch

           him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

12:006:014 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great

           host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

12:006:015 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and

           gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with

           horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my

           master! how shall we do?

12:006:016 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more

           than they that be with them.

12:006:017 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes,

           that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young

           man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses

           and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

12:006:018 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD,

           and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And

           he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

12:006:019 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is

           this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom

           ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

12:006:020 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that

           Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may

           see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and,

           behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

12:006:021 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My

           father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

12:006:022 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou

           smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and

           with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may

           eat and drink, and go to their master.

12:006:023 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had

           eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their

           master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of

           Israel.

12:006:024 And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria

           gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

12:006:025 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they

           besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces

           of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for

           five pieces of silver.

12:006:026 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there

           cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

12:006:027 And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help

           thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

12:006:028 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she

           answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may

           eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

12:006:029 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on

           the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath

           hid her son.

12:006:030 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the

           woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the

           wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth

           within upon his flesh.

12:006:031 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of

           Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

12:006:032 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and

           the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger

           came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a

           murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the

           messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the

           door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?

12:006:033 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came

           down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD;

           what should I wait for the LORD any longer?

12:007:001 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the

           LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour

           be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel,

           in the gate of Samaria.

12:007:002 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of

           God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in

           heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt

           see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

12:007:003 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the

           gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we

           die?

12:007:004 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in

           the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we

           die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of

           the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they

           kill us, we shall but die.

12:007:005 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the

           Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the

           camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

12:007:006 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise

           of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great

           host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel

           hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings

           of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

12:007:007 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their

           tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it

           was, and fled for their life.

12:007:008 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp,

           they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried

           thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and

           came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence

           also, and went and hid it.

12:007:009 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a

           day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till

           the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now

           therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

12:007:010 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they

           told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and,

           behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but

           horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

12:007:011 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's

           house within.

12:007:012 And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I

           will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know

           that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to

           hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of

           the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

12:007:013 And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I

           pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in

           the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel

           that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the

           multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us

           send and see.

12:007:014 They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent

           after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

12:007:015 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was

           full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away

           in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the

           king.

12:007:016 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians.

           So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two

           measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the

           LORD.

12:007:017 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to

           have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in

           the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake

           when the king came down to him.

12:007:018 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king,

           saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of

           fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in

           the gate of Samaria:

12:007:019 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold,

           if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing

           be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes,

           but shalt not eat thereof.

12:007:020 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in

           the gate, and he died.

12:008:001 Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to

           life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and

           sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath

           called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land

           seven years.

12:008:002 And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of

           God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the

           land of the Philistines seven years.

12:008:003 And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman

           returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went

           forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

12:008:004 And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God,

           saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha

           hath done.

12:008:005 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had

           restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose

           son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house

           and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is

           the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

12:008:006 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king

           appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that

           was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that

           she left the land, even until now.

12:008:007 And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria

           was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come

           hither.

12:008:008 And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand,

           and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him,

           saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

12:008:009 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even

           of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and

           came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of

           Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this

           disease?

12:008:010 And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest

           certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he

           shall surely die.

12:008:011 And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was

           ashamed: and the man of God wept.

12:008:012 And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because

           I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel:

           their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men

           wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children,

           and rip up their women with child.

12:008:013 And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he

           should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath

           shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

12:008:014 So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said

           to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me

           that thou shouldest surely recover.

12:008:015 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth,

           and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he

           died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

12:008:016 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel,

           Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Je

           hoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

12:008:017 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he

           reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

12:008:018 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the

           house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he

           did evil in the sight of the LORD.

12:008:019 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's

           sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his

           children.

12:008:020 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and

           made a king over themselves.

12:008:021 So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and

           he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him

           about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled

           into their tents.

12:008:022 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day.

           Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

12:008:023 And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are

           they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of

           Judah?

12:008:024 And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his

           fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in

           his stead.

12:008:025 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel

           did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.

12:008:026 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign;

           and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name

           was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

12:008:027 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in

           the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was

           the son in law of the house of Ahab.

12:008:028 And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against

           Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded

           Joram.

12:008:029 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds

           which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought

           against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram

           king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in

           Jezreel, because he was sick.

12:009:001 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the

           prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this

           box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:

12:009:002 And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of

           Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise

           up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;

12:009:003 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say,

           Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.

           Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

12:009:004 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to

           Ramothgilead.

12:009:005 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were

           sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And

           Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O

           captain.

12:009:006 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil

           on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of

           Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD,

           even over Israel.

12:009:007 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy 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.

12:009:008 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off

           from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is

           shut up and left in Israel:

12:009:009 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam

           the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of

           Ahijah:

12:009:010 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and

           there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and

           fled.

12:009:011 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said

           unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee?

           And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.

12:009:012 And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and

           thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have

           anointed thee king over Israel.

12:009:013 Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it

           under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets,

           saying, Jehu is king.

12:009:014 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired

           against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all

           Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.

12:009:015 But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the

           wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with

           Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds,

           then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to

           tell it in Jezreel.

12:009:016 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay

           there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.

12:009:017 And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he

           spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a

           company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet

           them, and let him say, Is it peace?

12:009:018 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus

           saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to

           do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told,

           saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.

12:009:019 Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them,

           and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered,

           What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.

12:009:020 And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and

           cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu

           the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

12:009:021 And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready.

           And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out,

           each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met

           him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

12:009:022 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it

           peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the

           whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so

           many?

12:009:023 And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah,

           There is treachery, O Ahaziah.

12:009:024 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram

           between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he

           sunk down in his chariot.

12:009:025 Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in

           the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for

           remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab

           his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;

12:009:026 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the

           blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in

           this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him

           into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

12:009:027 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the

           way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and

           said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the

           going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo,

           and died there.

12:009:028 And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and

           buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of

           David.

12:009:029 And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began

           Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

12:009:030 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and

           she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a

           window.

12:009:031 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace,

           who slew his master?

12:009:032 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on

           my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three

           eunuchs.

12:009:033 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some

           of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and

           he trode her under foot.

12:009:034 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go,

           see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's

           daughter.

12:009:035 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than

           the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

12:009:036 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is

           the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the

           Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the

           flesh of Jezebel:

12:009:037 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of

           the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not

           say, This is Jezebel.

12:010:001 And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters,

           and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the

           elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,

12:010:002 Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's

           sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses,

           a fenced city also, and armour;

12:010:003 Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and

           set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's

           house.

12:010:004 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings

           stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

12:010:005 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city,

           the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to

           Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou

           shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is

           good in thine eyes.

12:010:006 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye

           be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the

           heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel

           by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy

           persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought

           them up.

12:010:007 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they

           took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their

           heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.

12:010:008 And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have

           brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them

           in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.

12:010:009 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and

           stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I

           conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all

           these?

12:010:010 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the

           word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of

           Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his

           servant Elijah.

12:010:011 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in

           Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his

           priests, until he left him none remaining.

12:010:012 And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was

           at the shearing house in the way,

12:010:013 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said,

           Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah;

           and we go down to salute the children of the king and the

           children of the queen.

12:010:014 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and

           slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty

           men; neither left he any of them.

12:010:015 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the

           son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said

           to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?

           And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand.

           And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the

           chariot.

12:010:016 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So

           they made him ride in his chariot.

12:010:017 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto

           Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the

           saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.

12:010:018 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them,

           Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.

12:010:019 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his

           servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have

           a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting,

           he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent

           that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

12:010:020 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they

           proclaimed it.

12:010:021 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of

           Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And

           they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was

           full from one end to another.

12:010:022 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth

           vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them

           forth vestments.

12:010:023 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house

           of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and

           look that there be here with you none of the servants of the

           LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.

12:010:024 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings,

           Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the

           men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that

           letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.

12:010:025 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering

           the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the

           captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they

           smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the

           captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of

           Baal.

12:010:026 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal,

           and burned them.

12:010:027 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the

           house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

12:010:028 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

12:010:029 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made

           Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the

           golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

12:010:030 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in

           executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto

           the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy

           children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of

           Israel.

12:010:031 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of

           Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins

           of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

12:010:032 In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael

           smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

12:010:033 From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and

           the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by

           the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.

12:010:034 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all

           his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles

           of the kings of Israel?

12:010:035 And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in

           Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

12:010:036 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was

           twenty and eight years.

12:011:001 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was

           dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

12:011:002 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah,

           took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the

           king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and

           his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not

           slain.

12:011:003 And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years.

           And Athaliah did reign over the land.

12:011:004 And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over

           hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to

           him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them,

           and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed

           them the king's son.

12:011:005 And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall

           do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall

           even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;

12:011:006 And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part

           at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of

           the house, that it be not broken down.

12:011:007 And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even

           they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the

           king.

12:011:008 And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his

           weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let

           him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as

           he cometh in.

12:011:009 And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things

           that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man

           his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that

           should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

12:011:010 And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king

           David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the

           LORD.

12:011:011 And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand,

           round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to

           the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the

           temple.

12:011:012 And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon

           him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and

           anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save

           the king.

12:011:013 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the

           people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.

12:011:014 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as

           the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the

           king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with

           trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason,

           Treason.

12:011:015 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the

           hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have

           her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill

           with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain

           in the house of the LORD.

12:011:016 And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the

           which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she

           slain.

12:011:017 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and

           the people, that they should be the LORD's people; between the

           king also and the people.

12:011:018 And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal,

           and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in

           pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before

           the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house

           of the LORD.

12:011:019 And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and

           the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought

           down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way

           of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on

           the throne of the kings.

12:011:020 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in

           quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's

           house.

12:011:021 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.

12:012:001 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty

           years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was

           Zibiah of Beersheba.

12:012:002 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD

           all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

12:012:003 But the high places were not taken away: the people still

           sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

12:012:004 And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the

           dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD,

           even the money of every one that passeth the account, the

           money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh

           into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

12:012:005 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his

           acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house,

           wheresoever any breach shall be found.

12:012:006 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king

           Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the

           house.

12:012:007 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the

           other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the

           breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of

           your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the

           house.

12:012:008 And the priests consented to receive no more money of the

           people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

12:012:009 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the

           lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as

           one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that

           kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into

           the house of the LORD.

12:012:010 And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the

           chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and

           they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the

           house of the LORD.

12:012:011 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them

           that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the

           LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders,

           that wrought upon the house of the LORD,

12:012:012 And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and

           hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD,

           and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

12:012:013 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of

           silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or

           vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the

           house of the LORD:

12:012:014 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the

           house of the LORD.

12:012:015 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they

           delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt

           faithfully.

12:012:016 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the

           house of the LORD: it was the priests'.

12:012:017 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath,

           and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

12:012:018 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that

           Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of

           Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the

           gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD,

           and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria:

           and he went away from Jerusalem.

12:012:019 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are

           they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of

           Judah?

12:012:020 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash

           in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

12:012:021 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of

           Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried

           him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son

           reigned in his stead.

12:013:001 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah

           king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over

           Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.

12:013:002 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and

           followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made

           Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

12:013:003 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he

           delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into

           the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.

12:013:004 And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto

           him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of

           Syria oppressed them.

12:013:005 (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out

           from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel

           dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

12:013:006 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of

           Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there

           remained the grove also in Samaria.)

12:013:007 Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty

           horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the

           king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the

           dust by threshing.

12:013:008 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and

           his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles

           of the kings of Israel?

12:013:009 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in

           Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

12:013:010 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began

           Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria,

           and reigned sixteen years.

12:013:011 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he

           departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,

           who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.

12:013:012 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and

           his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah,

           are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the

           kings of Israel?

12:013:013 And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his

           throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of

           Israel.

12:013:014 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died.

           And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over

           his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of

           Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

12:013:015 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took

           unto him bow and arrows.

12:013:016 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the

           bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands

           upon the king's hands.

12:013:017 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then

           Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the

           LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria:

           for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have

           consumed them.

12:013:018 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said

           unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote

           thrice, and stayed.

12:013:019 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou

           shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou

           smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou

           shalt smite Syria but thrice.

12:013:020 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the

           Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

12:013:021 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold,

           they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the

           sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and

           touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his

           feet.

12:013:022 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of

           Jehoahaz.

12:013:023 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on

           them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with

           Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither

           cast he them from his presence as yet.

12:013:024 So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in

           his stead.

12:013:025 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of

           Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out

           of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did

           Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

12:014:001 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel

           reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.

12:014:002 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and

           reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's

           name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

12:014:003 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet

           not like David his father: he did according to all things as

           Joash his father did.

12:014:004 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people

           did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

12:014:005 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in

           his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king

           his father.

12:014:006 But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto

           that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein

           the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to

           death for the children, nor the children be put to death for

           the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own

           sin.

12:014:007 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took

           Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this

           day.

12:014:008 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz

           son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one

           another in the face.

12:014:009 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah,

           saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that

           was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife:

           and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and

           trode down the thistle.

12:014:010 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted

           thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest

           thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou,

           and Judah with thee?

12:014:011 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel

           went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another

           in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.

12:014:012 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled

           every man to their tents.

12:014:013 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son

           of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to

           Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate

           of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

12:014:014 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that

           were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of

           the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

12:014:015 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his

           might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they

           not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of

           Israel?

12:014:016 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria

           with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his

           stead.

12:014:017 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the

           death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

12:014:018 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in

           the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

12:014:019 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he

           fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew

           him there.

12:014:020 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem

           with his fathers in the city of David.

12:014:021 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen

           years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

12:014:022 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king

           slept with his fathers.

12:014:023 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of

           Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign

           in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.

12:014:024 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he

           departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,

           who made Israel to sin.

12:014:025 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath

           unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD

           God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant

           Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of

           Gathhepher.

12:014:026 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very

           bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any

           helper for Israel.

12:014:027 And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of

           Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of

           Jeroboam the son of Joash.

12:014:028 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and

           his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and

           Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not

           written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

12:014:029 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of

           Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

12:015:001 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel

           began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

12:015:002 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he

           reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's

           name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

12:015:003 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD,

           according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

12:015:004 Save that the high places were not removed: the people

           sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

12:015:005 And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the

           day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the

           king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

12:015:006 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are

           they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of

           Judah?

12:015:007 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with

           his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned

           in his stead.

12:015:008 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did

           Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six

           months.

12:015:009 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as

           his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of

           Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

12:015:010 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote

           him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

12:015:011 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are

           written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12:015:012 This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu,

           saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the

           fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

12:015:013 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and

           thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full

           month in Samaria.

12:015:014 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to

           Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and

           slew him, and reigned in his stead.

12:015:015 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which

           he made, behold, they are written in the book of the

           chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12:015:016 Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the

           coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him,

           therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were

           with child he ripped up.

12:015:017 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began

           Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten

           years in Samaria.

12:015:018 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he

           departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of

           Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

12:015:019 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem

           gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be

           with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

12:015:020 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the

           mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to

           give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned

           back, and stayed not there in the land.

12:015:021 And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are

           they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of

           Israel?

12:015:022 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son

           reigned in his stead.

12:015:023 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son

           of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned

           two years.

12:015:024 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he

           departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who

           made Israel to sin.

12:015:025 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired

           against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the

           king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of

           the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

12:015:026 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did,

           behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the

           kings of Israel.

12:015:027 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah

           the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and

           reigned twenty years.

12:015:028 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he

           departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who

           made Israel to sin.

12:015:029 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king

           of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah,

           and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land

           of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

12:015:030 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the

           son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in

           his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

12:015:031 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did,

           behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the

           kings of Israel.

12:015:032 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel

           began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

12:015:033 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and

           he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name

           was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

12:015:034 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he

           did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

12:015:035 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people

           sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He

           built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.

12:015:036 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are

           they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of

           Judah?

12:015:037 In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the

           king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

12:015:038 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his

           fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son

           reigned in his stead.

12:016:001 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the

           son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

12:016:002 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned

           sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right

           in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.

12:016:003 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made

           his son to pass through the fire, according to the

           abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from

           before the children of Israel.

12:016:004 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on

           the hills, and under every green tree.

12:016:005 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of

           Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz,

           but could not overcome him.

12:016:006 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and

           drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and

           dwelt there unto this day.

12:016:007 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria,

           saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out

           of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the

           king of Israel, which rise up against me.

12:016:008 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house

           of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and

           sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

12:016:009 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of

           Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the

           people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

12:016:010 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of

           Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz

           sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the

           pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

12:016:011 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that

           king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it

           against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

12:016:012 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the

           altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered

           thereon.

12:016:013 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and

           poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his

           peace offerings, upon the altar.

12:016:014 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the

           LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar

           and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the

           altar.

12:016:015 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the

           great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening

           meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat

           offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the

           land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and

           sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all

           the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for

           me to enquire by.

12:016:016 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz

           commanded.

12:016:017 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed

           the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the

           brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon the pavement

           of stones.

12:016:018 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the

           house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house

           of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

12:016:019 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not

           written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

12:016:020 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his

           fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in

           his stead.

12:017:001 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son

           of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.

12:017:002 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but

           not as the kings of Israel that were before him.

12:017:003 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea

           became his servant, and gave him presents.

12:017:004 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had

           sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to

           the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore

           the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

12:017:005 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and

           went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.

12:017:006 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria,

           and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah

           and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the

           Medes.

12:017:007 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against

           the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land

           of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and

           had feared other gods,

12:017:008 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast

           out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of

           Israel, which they had made.

12:017:009 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were

           not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high

           places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to

           the fenced city.

12:017:010 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and

           under every green tree:

12:017:011 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did

           the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and

           wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:

12:017:012 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye

           shall not do this thing.

12:017:013 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by

           all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from

           your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes,

           according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and

           which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

12:017:014 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks,

           like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the

           LORD their God.

12:017:015 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made

           with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified

           against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and

           went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning

           whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like

           them.

12:017:016 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and

           made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove,

           and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

12:017:017 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through

           the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold

           themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him

           to anger.

12:017:018 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed

           them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of

           Judah only.

12:017:019 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God,

           but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

12:017:020 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted

           them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he

           had cast them out of his sight.

12:017:021 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made

           Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from

           following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.

12:017:022 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam

           which he did; they departed not from them;

12:017:023 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said

           by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away

           out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

12:017:024 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from

           Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim,

           and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the

           children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in

           the cities thereof.

12:017:025 And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that

           they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among

           them, which slew some of them.

12:017:026 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The

           nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of

           Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore

           he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them,

           because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

12:017:027 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one

           of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go

           and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God

           of the land.

12:017:028 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from

           Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they

           should fear the LORD.

12:017:029 Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in

           the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made,

           every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

12:017:030 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth

           made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

12:017:031 And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites

           burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech,

           the gods of Sepharvaim.

12:017:032 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the

           lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed

           for them in the houses of the high places.

12:017:033 They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the

           manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

12:017:034 Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not

           the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their

           ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD

           commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

12:017:035 With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them,

           saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to

           them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

12:017:036 But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with

           great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and

           him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.

12:017:037 And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the

           commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do

           for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.

12:017:038 And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not

           forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.

12:017:039 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you

           out of the hand of all your enemies.

12:017:040 Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former

           manner.

12:017:041 So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven

           images, both their children, and their children's children: as

           did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

12:018:001 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah

           king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah

           began to reign.

12:018:002 Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and

           he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's

           name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

12:018:003 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD,

           according to all that David his father did.

12:018:004 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down

           the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses

           had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn

           incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

12:018:005 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was

           none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were

           before him.

12:018:006 For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him,

           but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

12:018:007 And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he

           went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and

           served him not.

12:018:008 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders

           thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

12:018:009 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which

           was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel,

           that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and

           besieged it.

12:018:010 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth

           year of Hezekiah, that is in the ninth year of Hoshea king of

           Israel, Samaria was taken.

12:018:011 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria,

           and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and

           in the cities of the Medes:

12:018:012 Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but

           transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of

           the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

12:018:013 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib

           king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of

           Judah, and took them.

12:018:014 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to

           Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which

           thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria

           appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of

           silver and thirty talents of gold.

12:018:015 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the

           house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.

12:018:016 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of

           the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah

           king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of

           Assyria.

12:018:017 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh

           from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against

           Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when

           they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the

           upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

12:018:018 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them

           Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and

           Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

12:018:019 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus

           saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is

           this wherein thou trustest?

12:018:020 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and

           strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou

           rebellest against me?

12:018:021 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised

           reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into

           his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all

           that trust on him.

12:018:022 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not

           that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath

           taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall

           worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

12:018:023 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king

           of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if

           thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

12:018:024 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the

           least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for

           chariots and for horsemen?

12:018:025 Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to

           destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and

           destroy it.

12:018:026 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah,

           unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the

           Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in

           the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the

           wall.

12:018:027 But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy

           master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me

           to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own

           dung, and drink their own piss with you?

12:018:028 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews'

           language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king,

           the king of Assyria:

12:018:029 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he

           shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

12:018:030 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The

           LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be

           delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

12:018:031 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria,

           Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me,

           and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of

           his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his

           cistern:

12:018:032 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a

           land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land

           of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and

           hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The

           LORD will deliver us.

12:018:033 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land

           out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12:018:034 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods

           of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out

           of mine hand?

12:018:035 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have

           delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should

           deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

12:018:036 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word:

           for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

12:018:037 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the

           household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph

           the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told

           him the words of Rabshakeh.

12:019:001 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent

           his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into

           the house of the LORD.

12:019:002 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna

           the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with

           sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

12:019:003 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day

           of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children are

           come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

12:019:004 It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of

           Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to

           reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the

           LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the

       &n