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Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return, Ezra Chapter 1

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophesy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writng an to send it through out the his kingdom:

“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build Him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are His people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuilt this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute towards their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.

Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. And all their neighbors assisted by giving the articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.

King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken fro the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah. (vv 1-8, NLT)

Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 36

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophesy He had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing ant to sent it through out his kindom:

“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build Him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is Judah. Any of you who are the Lord’s people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!” (vv. 22-23, NLT)

The Fall of Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles Chapter 36

The Lord brought the king of Babylon against them. The Babylonians killed Judah’s young men, even chasing them in to the Temple. They had no pity on the people, killing both young men and women, the old and the infirm. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. The king took home to Babylon all the articles, large and small, used in the the Lord’s Temple and from the palace of the king and his officials. Then his army burned the Temple of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, burned al the palaces and completely destroyed everything of value. The few who survived were taken as servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came into power. So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said. (vv. 17-21, NLT)

Josiah Dies in Battle, 2 Chronicles Chapter 24

After Josiah had finished restoring the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led his army up from Egypt to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah and his army marched out to fight him. But King Neo sent this message:

“What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my to fight another nation, and God has told me not to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or He will destroy you.”

But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to who God had indeed spoken, and he would not turn back. Instead, he disguised himself and led his army into battle on the plain of Megiddo. But the enemy archers hit Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, “Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

So they lifted Josiah out of his chariot and placed him in another chariot. Then they brought him back to Jerusalem where he died. He was buried there in there in the royal cemetery. And Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. The prophet Jeremiah composed funeral songs for Josiah, and to this day choirs sing these sad songs about his death. The songs of sorrow have become a tradition and are recorded in the Book of Laments.

The rest of the events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion (carried out according to what was written in the Law of the Lord), from beginning to end-all are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. (vv. 20-27, NLT)

Josiah Celebrates Passover, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 35

Then Josiah announced that the Passover of the Lord should be celebrated in Jerusalem, and so the Passover Lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. Josiah also assigned priests to their duties and encouraged them in their work at the Temple of the Lord. He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had be set apart to serve the Lord. “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and His people Israel. Report or duty according to the family divisions of King David of Israel and his directions of his son Solomon.” (vv. 1-4, NLT)

The entire for the Lord’sPassover was completed that day. All the burnt offerings were sacrificed on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had commanded. All the Israelites present in Jerusalem celebrated Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover. None of the kings of Israel had ever kept Passover as Josiah did, involving all the priests and Levites, all the people of Jerusalem, and all the people from all over Judah and Israel. This passover celebration took place in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign. (vv. 16-19, NLT)

Josiah’s Religious Reforms, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 34

Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites-all the people from greatest to least. There the king read to the the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple. The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledge to obey the Lord by keeping all His commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.

So Josiah removed all the detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the Lord, the God of their ancestors. (vv. 29-33, NLT)

Hilkiah Discovers God’s Law, Part 2, 2 Chronicles Chapter 34

She [the prophet Huldah]said to them, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the mane who sent you. This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the curses written in the scroll that was read to the king of Judah will come true. For My people have abandoned Me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.”

“But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, concerning the message you have just heard: You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against the city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before Me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You yourself will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city and its people.'”

So they took her message back to the king. (vv. 23-28, NLT)

Hilkiah Discovers God’s Law, Part 1, 2 Chronicles Chapter 34

While they were bringing out the money collected at the Lord’s Temple, Hilkiah, the priest found the Book of Law of the Lord that was written by Moses. Hilkiah said to Shapan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.

Shaphan took the scroll to the king and reported, “Your officials are doing everything they were assigned to do. The money that was collected at the Temple of the Lord has been turned over to the supervisors and workmen.” Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has give me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.

When the king heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in dispair. Then he gave these order to HIlkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphgan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary and Asiah the king’s personal adviser: “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the Lord. We have not been doing everything this scrolls says we must do.”

So Hilkiah and the other men went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tivah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe. (vv. 14-22, NLT)

Josiah Rules Judah, 2 Chronicles Chapter 34

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. Hd did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor, David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.

During the eight year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and shattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, after Josiah had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed Shapan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, the royal historian, to repair the Temple of the Lord his God. They give Hilkiah the high priest the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the Temple of God. The gifts were brought by all people from Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all Judah, Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem. (vv. 1-9, NLT)

Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 32

About that time, Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown hm, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.

Hezekiah was very wealthy and highly honored. He built special treasury buildings for his silver, gold, precious stones, and spices, and for his shields and other valuable items. He also constructed many storehouses for his grain, new wine, and olive oil; and he made many stalls for his cattle and pens for his flocks of sheep and goats. He built many towns and required vast flocks and herds, for God had given him great wealth. He blocked up the spring of Gihon and brought water down through a tunnel to the west side of the City of David. And he succeeded in everything he did.

However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and see what was really in his heart. (vv. 24-31, NLT)