Study Desk

Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might hand them over to Jehoash , because they sought the gods of Edom.

Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.

As for the other events of Amaziah's reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

He also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.

Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army.

In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skillful men for use on the towers and on the corner defenses to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.

They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD . That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God."

Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for burial that belonged to the kings, for people said, "He had leprosy." And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.

He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast idols for worshiping the Baals.

Now listen to me! Send back your fellow countrymen you have taken as prisoners, for the LORD's fierce anger rests on you."

"You must not bring those prisoners here," they said, "or we will be guilty before the LORD . Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel."

At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help.

The LORD had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD .

He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, "Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me." But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.

My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense."

They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and by the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the LORD . For eight more days they consecrated the temple of the LORD itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.

Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported: "We have purified the entire temple of the LORD , the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table for setting out the consecrated bread, with all its articles.

They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer these on the altar of the LORD .

The goats for the sin offering were brought before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them.