Category: Scripture

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)

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)

And Sennacherib’s officers further mocked the Lord God and His servant Hezekiah. The king also sent letters scorning the Lord God of Israel. He wrote, “Just as the gods of all the other nations failed to rescue their people from my power, so the God of Hezekiah will also fall.” The Assyrian officials who brought the letters shouted in Hebrew to the people gathered on the walls of the city, trying to terrify them so if would be easier to capture the city. These officers talked about the God of Jerusalem as though He were one of the pagan gods, made by human hands.

Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven. And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.

This is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened the. So there was peace throughout the land. From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the Lord arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too. (vv. 16-23, NLT)

After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns giving orders for his army to break through their walls. When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib. also intended to attack Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow o the springs outside the city. They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come her and find plenty of water.” (vv. 1-4, NLT)

He [Hezekiah] appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying, “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king or of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. (vv. 6-8, NLT)

Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: “We have cleansed the Temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offerings with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils. We have also recovered the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed thge Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the Lord, purified and ready for use.”(vv. 18-19, NLT)

King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the Lord with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commandments that the Lord had given to King David through Gad, the king’s seer, and the prophet Nathan. The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the trumpets.

Then 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. (v. 27, NLT)

So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service. And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly. (vv. 35b-36, NLT)

Hezekiah was twenty-nine years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done

In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repaired them. He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple. He 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. Our 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. They also shut the doors of the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed our the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel. (vv. 1-7, NLT)

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Jadok.

Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways. (vv. 1-2, NLT)

King Jotham became very powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son, Ahaz became the next king. (vv. 6-9, NLT)

All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah as king in place of his father. After his father’s death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. He did was was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah had done. Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success. (vv. 1-3, NLT)

Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows and sling stones. And he built structures in the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled sling stones. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. (v. 11-15, NLT)

Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoidada the priest. Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and he had sons and daughters. As one point Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of the Lord. He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: “Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!” But the Levites did not act immediately. (vv. 1-5 NLT)

Over the years the followers of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the Lord to worship the image of Baal.

So the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to. the Temple of the Lord. Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness. This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it. (vv. 7-10, NLT)

In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army comnanders: …. and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in all the towns to come to Jerusalem. They all gathered at the Temple of God, where they made a solemn pact with Joash, the young king.

Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s son! The time has come for him to reign! The Lord has promised that a descendant of David will be our king. (vv 1-3, NLT)

[Jehoida said] You Levites form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to enter the Temple. Say wiht the king wherever he goes!”(v. 6B, NLT)

Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, “Long live the king!” (vv. 11, NLT)