Study Desk

Other activities of Achaz and his ways [of doing things], from beginning to end, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah and Isra'el.

Achaz slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city, in Yerushalayim; because they did not bring him to the tombs of the kings of Isra'el. Then Hizkiyahu his son took his place as king.

Hizkiyahu was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Aviyah the daughter of Z'kharyah.

He did what was right from Adonai 's perspective, following the example of everything David his ancestor had done.

In the first month of the first year of his reign, he reopened the doors of the house of Adonai and repaired them.

"Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Adonai the God of Isra'el, so that his furious anger will turn away from us.

My sons, now is not a time for being negligent; for you are the ones Adonai chose to stand before him and serve him as his ministers, offering him incense."

Moreover, we have reconditioned and consecrated all the articles that King Achaz threw out during his reign, when he was sinning; and they are there, in front of the altar of Adonai ."

He stationed the L'vi'im in the house of Adonai with cymbals, lyres and lutes, in keeping with the order of David, Gad the king's seer and Natan the prophet; for the mitzvah had come from Adonai through his prophets.

For the king, his officials and the entire Yerushalayim community had agreed to keep the Pesach in the second month.

So runners went with the letters from the king and his officers throughout all Isra'el and Y'hudah. They conveyed the king's order: "People of Isra'el! Turn back to Adonai , the God of Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya‘akov! Then he will return to those of you who remain, who escaped capture by the kings of Ashur.

Don't be stiffnecked now, as your ancestors were. Instead, yield yourselves to Adonai ; enter his sanctuary, which he has made holy forever; and serve Adonai your God; so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.

For if you turn back to Adonai , your kinsmen and children will find that those who took them captive will have compassion on them, and they will come back to this land. Adonai your God is compassionate and merciful; he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him."

everyone who sets his heart on seeking God, Adonai , the God of his ancestors, even if he hasn't undergone the purification prescribed in connection with holy things."

After all this was over, all Isra'el who were there went out to the cities of Y'hudah and smashed the standing-stones, chopped down the sacred poles, and broke down the high places and altars throughout Y'hudah, Binyamin, Efrayim and M'nasheh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Isra'el returned to their own cities, each to his own possession.

Hizkiyahu re-established the divisions of the cohanim and L'vi'im in accordance with the way the divisions had been before, with each man assigned his task, both the cohanim and the L'vi'im, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks and to praise at the gates of Adonai 's camp.

When Hizkiyahu and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed Adonai and his people Isra'el.

‘Azaryahu the chief cohen, from the house of Tzadok, answered him, "Ever since the people began bringing offerings into the house of Adonai , we have had enough to eat and plenty left over; for Adonai has blessed his people, and what is left over is this massive supply."

they faithfully brought in the offerings, the required tenths and the consecrated things. Konanyahu the Levi was put in charge of them, with Shim‘i his brother as his assistant.

Hizkiyahu the king and ‘Azaryahu the ruler of the house of God appointed Yechi'el, ‘Azazyahu, Nachat, ‘Asah'el, Yerimot, Yozavad, Eli'el, Yismachyah, Machat and B'nayahu as supervisors to serve under Konanyah and Shim‘i his brother.