2Chronicles 28
28Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the LORD, as his ancestor David had done.H271H6242H8141H1121H4427H4427H8337H6240H8141H3389H6213H3477H5869H3068H1732H12Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel. He cast metal images for the worship of Baal.H3212H1870H4428H3478H6213H4541H11683He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.H6999H1516H1121H2011H1197H1121H784H8441H1471H3068H3423H6440H1121H34784He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.H2076H6999H1116H1389H7488H60865Because of all this, the LORD his God allowed the king of Aram to defeat Ahaz and to exile large numbers of his people to Damascus. The armies of the king of Israel also defeated Ahaz and inflicted many casualties on his army.H3068H430H5414H3027H4428H758H5221H7617H1419H7633H935H1834H5414H3027H4428H3478H5221H1419H43476In a single day Pekah son of Remaliah, Israel's king, killed 120,000 of Judah's troops, all of them experienced warriors, because they had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors.H6492H1121H7425H2026H3063H3967H6242H505H259H3117H2428H1121H5800H3068H430H17Then Zicri, a warrior from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah, the king's son; Azrikam, the king's palace commander; and Elkanah, the king's second-in-command.H2147H1368H669H2026H4641H4428H1121H5840H5057H1004H511H4932H44288The armies of Israel captured 200,000 women and children from Judah and seized tremendous amounts of plunder, which they took back to Samaria.H1121H3478H7617H251H3967H505H802H1121H1323H962H7227H7998H935H7998H81119But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there in Samaria when the army of Israel returned home. He went out to meet them and said, "The LORD, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed.H5030H3068H8034H5752H3318H6440H6635H935H8111H559H3068H430H1H2534H3063H5414H3027H2026H2197H5060H806410And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the LORD your God?H559H3533H1121H3063H3389H5650H8198H7535H819H3068H43011Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are your own relatives. Watch out, because now the LORD's fierce anger has been turned against you!"H8085H7725H7633H7617H251H2740H639H306812Then some of the leaders of Israel—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—agreed with this and confronted the men returning from battle.H582H7218H1121H669H5838H1121H3076H1296H1121H4919H3169H1121H7967H6021H1121H2311H6965H935H663513"You must not bring the prisoners here!" they declared. "We cannot afford to add to our sins and guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the LORD's fierce anger is already turned against Israel."H559H935H7633H819H3068H559H3254H2403H819H819H7227H2740H639H347814So the warriors released the prisoners and handed over the plunder in the sight of the leaders and all the people.H2502H5800H7633H961H6440H8269H695115Then the four men just mentioned by name came forward and distributed clothes from the plunder to the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothing and sandals to wear, gave them enough food and drink, and dressed their wounds with olive oil. They put those who were weak on donkeys and took all the prisoners back to their own people in Jericho, the city of palms. Then they returned to Samaria.H582H5344H8034H6965H2388H7633H7998H3847H4636H3847H5274H398H8248H5480H5095H3782H2543H935H3405H5892H8558H5899H681H251H7725H811116At that time King Ahaz of Judah asked the king of Assyria for help.H6256H4428H271H7971H4428H804H582617The armies of Edom had again invaded Judah and taken captives.H130H935H5221H3063H7617H762818And the Philistines had raided towns located in the foothills of Judah and in the Negev of Judah. They had already captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages.H6430H6584H5892H8219H5045H3063H3920H1053H357H1450H7755H1323H8553H1323H1579H1323H342719The LORD was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the LORD.H3068H3665H3063H3665H271H4428H3478H6544H3063H6544H4603H4604H306820So when King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him.H8407H4428H804H935H6696H238821Ahaz took valuable items from the LORD's Temple, the royal palace, and from the homes of his officials and gave them to the king of Assyria as tribute. But this did not help him.H271H2505H1004H3068H1004H4428H8269H5414H4428H804H583322Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the LORD.H6256H6887H4603H3254H3068H4428H27123He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, "Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them." But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.H2076H430H1834H5221H559H430H4428H758H5826H2076H5826H3782H347824The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the LORD's Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem.H271H622H3627H1004H430H7112H3627H1004H430H5462H1817H1004H3068H6213H4196H6438H338925He made pagan shrines in all the towns of Judah for offering sacrifices to other gods. In this way, he aroused the anger of the LORD, the God of his ancestors.H5892H3063H6213H1116H6999H312H430H3707H3068H430H126The rest of the events of Ahaz's reign and everything he did, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.H3499H1697H1870H7223H314H3789H5612H4428H3063H347827When Ahaz died, he was buried in Jerusalem but not in the royal cemetery of the kings of Judah. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king.H271H7901H1H6912H5892H3389H935H6913H4428H3478H3169H1121H4427
2Chronicles 29
29Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.H3169H4427H2568H6242H8141H1121H4427H8672H6242H8141H3389H517H8034H29H1323H21482He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1732H1H62133In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the LORD and repaired them.H7223H8141H4427H7223H2320H6605H1817H1004H3068H23884He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple.H935H3548H3881H622H4217H73395He said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.H559H8085H3881H6942H6942H1004H3068H430H1H3318H5079H69446Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned the LORD and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him.H1H4603H6213H7451H5869H3068H430H5800H5437H6440H4908H3068H5414H62037They also shut the doors to the Temple's entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.H5462H1817H197H3518H5216H6999H7004H5927H5930H6944H430H34788"That is why the LORD's anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.H7110H3068H3063H3389H5414H2189H2113H8047H8322H7200H58699Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured.H1H5307H2719H1121H1323H802H762810But now I will make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.H3824H3772H1285H3068H430H3478H2740H639H772511My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him."H1121H7952H3068H977H5975H6440H8334H8334H699912Then these Levites got right to work: From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.H3881H6965H4287H1121H6022H3100H1121H5838H1121H6956H1121H4847H7027H1121H5660H5838H1121H3094H1649H3098H1121H2155H5731H1121H309813From the family of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel. From the family of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah.H1121H469H8113H3273H1121H623H2148H498314From the family of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei. From the family of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.H1121H1968H3171H8096H1121H3038H8098H581615These men called together their fellow Levites, and they all purified themselves. Then they began to cleanse the Temple of the LORD, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the LORD's instructions in their work.H622H251H6942H935H4687H4428H1697H3068H2891H1004H306816The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the LORD to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley.H3548H935H6441H1004H3068H2891H3318H2932H4672H1964H3068H2691H1004H3068H3881H6901H3318H2351H5158H693917They began the work in early spring, on the first day of the new year, and in eight days they had reached the entry room of the LORD's Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the LORD itself, which took another eight days. So the entire task was completed in sixteen days.H2490H259H7223H2320H6942H8083H3117H2320H935H197H3068H6942H1004H3068H8083H3117H8337H6240H7223H2320H361518Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: "We have cleansed the entire Temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils.H935H6441H2396H4428H559H2891H1004H3068H4196H5930H3627H4635H7979H362719We have also recovered all the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD, purified and ready for use."H3627H4428H271H4438H2186H4604H3559H6942H6440H4196H306820Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went to the Temple of the LORD.H3169H4428H7925H622H8269H5892H5927H1004H306821They brought seven bulls, seven rams, and seven male lambs as a burnt offering, together with seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Temple, and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, to sacrifice the animals on the altar of the LORD.H935H7651H6499H7651H352H7651H3532H7651H6842H5795H2403H4467H4720H3063H559H3548H1121H175H5927H4196H306822So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the male lambs.H7819H1241H3548H6901H1818H2236H4196H7819H352H2236H1818H4196H7819H3532H2236H1818H419623The male goats for the sin offering were then brought before the king and the assembly of people, who laid their hands on them.H5066H8163H2403H6440H4428H6951H5564H302724The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.H3548H7819H2398H1818H4196H3722H3478H4428H559H5930H2403H347825King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands that the LORD had given to King David through Gad, the king's seer, and the prophet Nathan.H5975H3881H1004H3068H4700H5035H3658H4687H1732H1410H4428H2374H5416H5030H4687H3027H3068H3027H503026The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the instruments of David, and the priests took their positions with the trumpets.H3881H5975H3627H1732H3548H268927Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be placed on the altar. As the burnt offering was presented, songs of praise to the LORD were begun, accompanied by the trumpets and other instruments of David, the former king of Israel.H2396H559H5927H5930H4196H6256H5930H2490H7892H3068H2490H2689H3627H3027H1732H4428H347828The entire assembly worshiped the LORD as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished.H6951H7812H7892H7891H2689H2690H2690H5930H361529Then the king and everyone with him bowed down in worship.H3615H5927H4428H4672H3766H781230King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.H3169H4428H8269H559H3881H1984H3068H1697H1732H623H2374H1984H8057H6915H781231Then Hezekiah declared, "Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the LORD." So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too.H3169H6030H559H4390H3027H3068H5066H935H2077H8426H1004H3068H6951H935H2077H8426H5081H3820H593032The people brought to the LORD 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 male lambs for burnt offerings.H4557H5930H6951H935H7657H1241H3967H352H3967H3532H5930H306833They also brought 600 cattle and 3,000 sheep and goats as sacred offerings.H6944H8337H3967H1241H7969H505H662934But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.H3548H4592H3201H6584H5930H251H3881H2388H4399H3615H3548H6942H3881H3477H3824H6942H354835There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings. So the Temple of the LORD was restored to service.H5930H7230H2459H8002H5262H5930H5656H1004H3068H355936And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.H3169H8055H5971H430H3559H5971H1697H6597
2Chronicles 30
30King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters of invitation to the people of Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.H3169H7971H3478H3063H3789H107H669H4519H935H1004H3068H3389H6213H6453H3068H430H34782The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual.H4428H3289H8269H6951H3389H6213H6453H8145H23203They were unable to celebrate it at the prescribed time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.H3201H6213H6256H3548H6942H4078H1767H5971H622H33894This plan for keeping the Passover seemed right to the king and all the people.H1697H3474H5869H4428H69515So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law.H5975H1697H5674H6963H3478H884H1835H935H6213H6453H3068H430H3478H3389H6213H7230H37896At the king's command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: "O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.H7323H3212H107H3027H4428H8269H3478H3063H4687H4428H559H1121H3478H7725H3068H430H85H3327H3478H7725H7604H6413H3709H4428H8047Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see.H1H251H4603H3068H430H1H5414H8047H72008Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the LORD. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the LORD your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.H7185H6203H1H5414H3027H3068H935H4720H6942H5769H5647H3068H430H2740H639H77259"For if you return to the LORD, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you."H7725H3068H251H1121H7356H6440H7617H7725H776H3068H430H2587H7349H5493H6440H772510The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.H7323H5674H5892H5892H776H669H4519H2074H7832H393211However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.H582H836H4519H2074H3665H935H338912At the same time, God's hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the LORD.H3063H3027H430H5414H259H3820H6213H4687H4428H8269H1697H306813So a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.H622H3389H7227H5971H6213H2282H4682H8145H2320H3966H7230H695114They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.H6965H5493H4196H3389H6999H5493H7993H5158H693915On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the LORD.H7819H6453H702H6240H8145H2320H3548H3881H3637H6942H935H5930H1004H306816Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.H5975H5977H4941H8451H4872H376H430H3548H2236H1818H3027H388117Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the LORD.H7227H6951H6942H3881H7821H6453H2889H6942H306818Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon thoseH4768H5971H7227H669H4519H3485H2074H3808H2891H398H6453H3789H3169H6419H559H2896H3068H372219who decide to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony."H3559H3824H1875H430H3068H430H1H2893H694420And the LORD listened to Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people.H3068H8085H3169H7495H597121So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the LORD, accompanied by loud instruments.H1121H3478H4672H3389H6213H2282H4682H7651H3117H1419H8057H3881H3548H1984H3068H3117H3117H5797H3627H306822Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the LORD. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.H3169H1696H3820H3881H7919H2896H7922H3068H398H4150H7651H3117H2076H8002H2077H3034H3068H430H123The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week.H6951H3289H6213H312H7651H3117H6213H7651H3117H805724King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.H2396H4428H3063H7311H6951H505H6499H7651H505H6629H8269H7311H6951H505H6499H6235H505H6629H7230H3548H694225The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.H6951H3063H3548H3881H6951H935H3478H1616H935H776H3478H3427H3063H805526There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David's son.H1419H8057H3389H3117H8010H1121H1732H4428H3478H338927Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven.H3548H3881H6965H1288H5971H6963H8085H8605H935H6944H4583H8064
2Chronicles 31
31When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes.H3615H3478H4672H3318H5892H3063H7665H4676H7665H1438H842H5422H1116H4196H3063H1144H669H4519H3615H1121H3478H7725H376H272H58922Hezekiah then organized the priests and Levites into divisions to offer the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to worship and give thanks and praise to the LORD at the gates of the Temple.H3169H5975H4256H3548H3881H4256H376H6310H5656H3548H3881H5930H8002H8334H3034H1984H8179H4264H30683The king also made a personal contribution of animals for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings, the weekly Sabbath festivals, the monthly new moon festivals, and the annual festivals as prescribed in the Law of the LORD.H4428H4521H7399H5930H1242H6153H5930H5930H7676H2320H4150H3789H8451H30684In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the LORD.H559H5971H3427H3389H5414H4521H3548H3881H2388H8451H30685When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced.H1697H6555H1121H3478H935H7235H7225H1715H8492H3323H1706H8393H7704H4643H935H72306The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them up in great heaps.H1121H3478H3063H3427H5892H3063H935H4643H1241H6629H4643H6944H6942H3068H430H5414H6194H61947They began piling them up in late spring, and the heaps continued to grow until early autumn.H7992H2320H2490H3245H6194H3615H7637H23208When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the LORD and his people Israel!H3169H8269H935H7200H6194H1288H3068H5971H34789"Where did all this come from?" Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites.H3169H1875H3548H3881H619410And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, "Since the people began bringing their gifts to the LORD's Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The LORD has blessed his people, and all this is left over."H5838H7218H3548H1004H6659H559H559H2490H935H8641H1004H3068H7646H398H3498H7230H3068H1288H5971H3498H199511Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Temple of the LORD. When this was done,H3169H559H3559H3957H1004H3068H355912the people faithfully brought all the tithes and gifts to the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.H935H8641H4643H6944H530H3562H3881H5057H8096H251H493213The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.H3171H5812H5184H6214H3406H3107H447H3253H4287H1141H6496H3027H3562H8096H251H4662H3169H4428H5838H5057H1004H43014Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge of distributing the voluntary offerings given to God, the gifts, and the things that had been dedicated to the LORD.H6981H1121H3232H3881H7778H4217H5071H430H5414H8641H3068H6944H694415His faithful assistants were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts among the families of priests in their towns by their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among old and young alike.H5731H4509H3442H8098H568H7935H5892H3548H530H5414H251H3027H4256H1419H699616They distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records. The distribution went to all who would come to the LORD's Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions.H3187H2145H7969H8141H1121H4605H935H1004H3068H3117H3117H1697H5656H4931H425617They distributed gifts to the priests who were listed by their families in the genealogical records, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions.H3187H3548H1004H1H3881H6242H8141H1121H4605H4931H425618Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons, and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves.H3187H2945H802H1121H1323H6951H530H6942H694419As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were living in the open villages around the towns, men were appointed by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical records.H1121H175H3548H7704H4054H5892H5892H582H5344H8034H5414H4490H2145H3548H3187H388120In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God.H6213H3169H3063H6213H2896H3477H571H6440H3068H43021In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God's laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.H4639H2490H5656H1004H430H8451H4687H1875H430H6213H3824H6743
Psalms 78
78[A psalm of Asaph.] O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying,H4905H623H238H5971H8451H5186H241H561H63102for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—H6605H6310H4912H5042H2420H69243stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.H8085H3045H1H56084We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.H3582H1121H5608H1755H314H8416H3068H5807H6381H62135For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,H6965H5715H3290H7760H8451H3478H6680H1H3045H11216so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children.H1755H314H3045H1121H3205H6965H5608H11217So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.H7760H3689H430H7911H4611H410H5341H46878Then they will not be like their ancestors—stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.H1H5637H4784H1755H1755H3559H3820H3559H7307H539H4109The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.H1121H669H5401H7411H7198H2015H3117H712810They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions.H8104H1285H430H3985H3212H845111They forgot what he had done—the great wonders he had shown them,H7911H5949H6381H720012the miracles he did for their ancestors on the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt.H6382H6213H5048H1H776H4714H7704H681413For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls!H1234H3220H5674H4325H5324H506714In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire.H3119H5148H6051H3915H216H78415He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring.H1234H6697H4057H8248H7227H841516He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river!H3318H5140H5553H4325H3381H510417Yet they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.H2398H3254H4784H5945H672318They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved.H5254H410H3824H7592H400H531519They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness.H1696H430H559H3201H410H6186H7979H405720Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”H5221H6697H4325H2100H5158H7857H3201H5414H3899H3201H3559H7607H597121When the Lord heard them, he was furious. The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob. Yes, his anger rose against Israel,H3068H8085H5674H784H5400H3290H639H5927H347822for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them.H539H430H982H344423But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven.H6680H7834H4605H6605H1817H806424He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven.H4305H4478H398H5414H1715H806425They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold.H376H398H47H3899H7971H6720H764826He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power.H6921H5265H8064H5797H5090H848627He rained down meat as thick as dust—birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!H4305H7607H6083H3671H5775H2344H322028He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents.H5307H7130H4264H5439H490829The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved.H398H3966H7646H935H837830But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths,H2114H8378H400H631031the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men.H639H430H5927H2026H4924H3766H970H347832But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him.H2398H539H638133So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror.H3117H3615H1892H8141H92834When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously.H2026H1875H7725H7836H41035Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer.H2142H430H6697H5945H410H135036But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues.H6601H6310H3576H395637Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant.H3820H3559H539H128538Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all. Many times he held back his anger and did not unleash his fury!H7349H3722H5771H7843H7235H7725H639H7725H5782H253439For he remembered that they were merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns.H2142H1320H7307H1980H772540Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland.H4100H4784H4057H6087H345241Again and again they tested God’s patience and provoked the Holy One of Israel.H7725H5254H410H8428H6918H347842They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies.H2142H3027H3117H6299H686243They did not remember his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan.H7760H226H4714H4159H7704H681444For he turned their rivers into blood, so no one could drink from the streams.H2015H2975H1818H5140H835445He sent vast swarms of flies to consume them and hordes of frogs to ruin them.H7971H6157H398H6854H784346He gave their crops to caterpillars; their harvest was consumed by locusts.H5414H2981H2625H3018H69747He destroyed their grapevines with hail and shattered their sycamore-figs with sleet.H2026H1612H1259H8256H260248He abandoned their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning.H5462H1165H1259H4735H756549He loosed on them his fierce anger—all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels.H7971H2740H639H5678H2195H6869H4917H7451H439750He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague.H6424H5410H639H2820H5315H4194H5462H2416H5462H169851He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt.H5221H1060H4714H7225H202H168H252652But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.H5971H5265H6629H5090H4057H573953He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.H5148H983H6342H3220H3680H34154He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this land of hills he had won for them.H935H1366H6944H2022H3225H706955He drove out the nations before them; he gave them their inheritance by lot. He settled the tribes of Israel into their homes.H1644H1471H6440H5307H5159H2256H7626H3478H7931H16856But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws.H5254H4784H5945H430H8104H571357They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow.H5472H898H1H2015H7423H719858They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made him jealous with their idols.H3707H1116H7065H645659When God heard them, he was very angry, and he completely rejected Israel.H430H8085H5674H3966H3988H347860Then he abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where he had lived among the people.H5203H4908H7887H168H7931H12061He allowed the Ark of his might to be captured; he surrendered his glory into enemy hands.H5414H5797H7628H8597H6862H302762He gave his people over to be butchered by the sword, because he was so angry with his own people—his special possession.H5462H5971H5462H2719H5674H515963Their young men were killed by fire; their young women died before singing their wedding songs.H784H398H970H1330H198464Their priests were slaughtered, and their widows could not mourn their deaths.H3548H5307H2719H490H105865Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor.H136H3364H3463H1368H7442H319666He routed his enemies and sent them to eternal shame.H5221H6862H268H5414H5769H278167But he rejected Joseph’s descendants; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.H3988H168H3130H977H7626H66968He chose instead the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loved.H977H7626H3063H2022H6726H15769There he built his sanctuary as high as the heavens, as solid and enduring as the earth.H1129H4720H7311H776H3245H576970He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens.H977H1732H5650H3947H4356H662971He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants—God’s own people, Israel.H310H5763H935H7462H3290H5971H3478H515972He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.H7462H8537H3824H5148H8394H3709
Dublin, OH
. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.H6999
