From: "FamilyNet Direct"
Bible Reading for September 09
2 Chronicles 30
[1] And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to
Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at
Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. [2] For the king
had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to
keep the passover in the second month. [3] For they could not keep it at that
time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither
had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
[4] And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. [5] So they
established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from
Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the
LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in
such sort as it was written.
[6] So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes
throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king,
saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of
the hand of the kings of Assyria. [7] And be not ye like your fathers, and
like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers,
who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
[8] Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto
the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and
serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from
you.
[9] For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall
find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come
again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will
not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. [10] So the posts
passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto
Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
[11] Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled
themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
[12] Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the
commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. [13] And
there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread
in the second month, a very great congregation. [14] And they arose and took
away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took
they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. [15] Then they killed the
passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the
Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt
offerings into the house of the LORD. [16] And they stood in their place after
their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests
sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. [17] For
there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the
Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was
not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. [18] For a multitude of the people,
even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed
themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But
Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one [19] That
prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not
cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. [20] And the LORD
hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. [21] And the children of Israel
that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days
with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by
day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.
[22] And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good
knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days,
offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their
fathers.
[23] And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they
kept other seven days with gladness. [24] For Hezekiah king of Judah did give
to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the
princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep:
and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
[25] And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and
all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out
of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. [26] So there was
great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of
Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. [27] Then the priests the Levites
arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came
up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.
2 Chronicles 31
[1] Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to
the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves,
and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin,
in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then
all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their
own cities.
[2] And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after
their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for
burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and
to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. [3] He appointed also the
king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the
morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths,
and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of
the LORD. [4] Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give
the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in
the law of the LORD.
[5] And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought
in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the
increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
[6] And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities
of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of
holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by
heaps.
[7] In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and
finished them in the seventh month. [8] And when Hezekiah and the princes came
and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
[9] Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the
heaps.
[10] And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and
said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the
LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath
blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. [11] Then
Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they
prepared them,
[12] And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things
faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother
was the next.
[13] And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and
Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers
under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of
Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. [14] And Kore
the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill
offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy
things.
[15] And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah,
and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to
their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: [16] Beside
their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one
that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service
in their charges according to their courses; [17] Both to the genealogy of the
priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old
and upward, in their charges by their courses;
[18] And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their
sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set
office they sanctified themselves in holiness: [19] Also of the sons of Aaron
the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every
several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the
males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among
the Levites. [20] And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that
which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. [21] And in every
work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in
the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
2 Chronicles 32
[1] After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of
Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities,
and thought to win them for himself. [2] And when Hezekiah saw that
Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, [3]
He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the
fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. [4] So there was
gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook
that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of
Assyria come, and find much water? [5] Also he strengthened himself, and built
up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another
wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and
shields in abundance. [6] And he set captains of war over the people, and
gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake
comfortably to them, saying,
[7] Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of
Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us
than with him:
[8] With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us,
and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of
Hezekiah king of Judah.
[9] After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem,
(but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto
Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
[10] Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye
abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
[11] Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine
and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of
the king of Assyria?
[12] Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and
commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and
burn incense upon it?
[13] Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other
lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver
their lands out of mine hand? [14] Who was there among all the gods of those
nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out
of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
[15] Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this
manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able
to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how
much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? [16] And his servants
spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
[17] He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak
against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not
delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah
deliver his people out of mine hand. [18] Then they cried with a loud voice in
the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to
affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
[19] And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the
people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. [20] And for
this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed
and cried to heaven.
[21] And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour,
and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he
returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the
house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with
the sword.
[22] Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the
hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and
guided them on every side.
[23] And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to
Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations
from thenceforth.
[24] In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD:
and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. [25] But Hezekiah rendered not
again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up:
therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
[26] Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both
he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not
upon them in the days of Hezekiah. [27] And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches
and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for
precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of
pleasant jewels; [28] Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and
oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. [29] Moreover
he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for
God had given him substance very much. [30] This same Hezekiah also stopped
the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side
of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
[31] Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who
sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left
him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. [32] Now the
rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in
the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the
kings of Judah and Israel. [33] And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And
Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
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