Study Desk

For if yee turne againe vnto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall finde compassion before them that leade them captiue, so that they shall come againe into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and mercifull, and will not turne away his face from you, if ye returne vnto him.

And they arose and tooke away the altars that were in Ierusalem, and all the altars for incense tooke they away, and cast them into the brooke Kidron.

For there were many in the Congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Leuites had the charge of the killing of the Passeouers for euery one that was not cleane, to sanctifie them vnto the Lord.

For a multitude of the people, euen many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselues: yet did they eate the Passeouer otherwise then it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying; The good Lord pardon euery one,

For Hezekiah king of Iudah did giue to the Congregation, a thousand bullockes, and seuen thousand sheep: and the Princes gaue to the Congregation a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheepe, and a great number of Priests sanctified themselues.

So there was great ioy in Ierusalem: for since the time of Solomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel, there was not the like in Ierusalem.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the Priests and the Leuites after their courses, euery man according to his seruice, the Priests and Leuites for burnt offerings, and for peace offerings, to minister and to giue thankes, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord.

He appointed also the kings portion of his substance, for the burnt offrings, to wit, for the morning and euening burnt offrings; and the burnt offrings for the Sabbaths, and for the Newmoones, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord.

And Azariah the chiefe priest of the house of Zadok, answered him & said: Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, wee haue had enough to eate, and haue left plentie: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left, is this great store.

Beside their genealogie of males, from three yeeres old and vpward, euen vnto euery one that entreth into the house of the Lord, his dayly portion for their seruice in their charges, according to their courses:

And to the genealogie of all their litle ones, their wiues, and their sonnes, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselues in holinesse.

After these things and the establishment therof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entred into Iudah, & encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to winne them for himselfe.

Be strong and couragious, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there bee moe with vs, then with him.

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceiue you, nor perswade you on this manner, neither yet beleeue him: for no god of any nation or kingdome was able to deliuer his people out of mine hand, & out of the hand of my fathers: how much lesse shall your God deliuer you out of mine hand?

For this cause Hezekiah the king, and the Prophet Isaiah the sonne of Amoz, prayed and cryed to heauen.

But Hezekiah rendred not againe, according to the benefit done vnto him: for his heart was lifted vp, therefore there was wrath vpon him, and vpon Iudah and Ierusalem.

Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart, (both hee and the inhabitants of Ierusalem) so that the wrath of the Lord came not vpon them in the dayes of Hezekiah.

And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches, and honour: and he made himselfe treasuries for siluer, and for golde, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all maner of pleasant iewels;

Store-houses also for the increase of corne, and wine and oile; and stalles for all maner of beasts, and coates for flocks.

Moreouer, hee prouided him cities, and possessions of flockes & heards in abundance: for God had giuen him substance very much.