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Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out 16 of thine hand? And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Have we made thee of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

Amaziah defeated by Israel at Beth-shemesh.

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. And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The 1thistle 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 Io trode down the thistle. Thou

hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory thereof, and abide at home; for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with II thee?

But Amaziah would not hear. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which 12 belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his 13 tent. And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah,

1 Or, thorn

2 Or, provoke calamity

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Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the 18 face. And Joash 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 19 the thistle. Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten Edom; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast abide now at home; why shouldest thou 2meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? 20 But Amaziah would not hear;

for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash king of Israel went up;

and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which 22 belongeth to Judah. And Judah

1 Or, thorn

2 Or, provoke calamity

the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14 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, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 15 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 16 Israel? And Jehoash slept with

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his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.

was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his 23 tent. And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto 'the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and

silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with 2Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

Amaziah murdered at Lachish.

And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king 18 of Israel fifteen years. Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of 19 Judah? And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and 20 slew him there. And they brought him upon horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

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And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 Now from the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and 28 slew him there. And they

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22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

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2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

2 Kings 14. 23.

Jeroboam II. reconquers Moab, Gilead, and part of Syria.

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, 24 and reigned forty and one years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam 25 the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin. He restored the border of Israel from the entering in of Hamath unto the sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, 26 which was of Gath-hepher. For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was none shut up nor left at large, 27 neither was there any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he 28 saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 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 had belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of 29 the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead.

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Uzziah's successful War against the Philistines.

2 Kings 15. 1.

:

In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began 'Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. 2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem and his mother's was Jecoliah of JerusaAnd he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his 4 father Amaziah had done. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still

name

3 lem.

sacrificed and burnt incense in
the high places.

1 In verses 13, 30, &c., Uzziah.

3

2 Chronicles 26. 3.

:

Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem and his mother's name was Jechiliah of Jerusa4 lem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his 5 father Amaziah had done. And V he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who 'had understanding in the vision of God and as long as he sought v ́ the LORD, God made him to 6 prosper. And he went forth

1 Or, gave instruction

2 Heb. the seeing. Many ancient authorities have, the fear.

and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in 7 the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in 8 Gur-baal, and the Meunim. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah : and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he 9 waxed exceeding strong. Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, 10 and fortified them. And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the 'plain: and he had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains II and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry. Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. 12 The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses, even the mighty men 13 of valour, was two thousand and six hundred. And under their hand

was a trained army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king 14 against the enemy. And Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and 15 stones for slinging. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the 'battlements, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

V 16

Uzziah's Leprosy and Death.

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against the LORD his God; for he went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests 18 of the LORD, that were valiant men: and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19 Then Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy "brake forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside 20 the altar of incense. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

1 Or, table land

2 Or, Carmel See 1 Sam. xxv. 2.

3 Or, the power of an army

4 Or, corner towers
5 Or, to his destruction

6 Heb. rose (as the sun).

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And 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.

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And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a 'several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people 22 of the land. Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son 23 of Amoz, write. So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 15. 8.

The last Kings of Israel.

In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 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, 10 wherewith he made Israel to sin. And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, II and reigned in his stead. Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of 12 Israel. This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons to the fourth generation shall sit upon the throne of Israel. And so it came to pass.

13

Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned the space of a month in 14 Samaria. And Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and 15 slew him, and reigned in his stead. Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book 16 of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the borders 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.

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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 18 Samaria. 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, 19 wherewith he made Israel to sin. There came against the land Pul the

1 Or, lazar house

1 Or, lazar house

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