Study Desk

The people of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in a tenth part of the cattle and sheep. And they brought a tenth part of the holy things which were set apart for the Lord their God. They laid them one on top of the other.

Azariah the head religious leader of the family of Zadok said to him, "Since the gifts began to be brought into the Lord's house, we have had much more than enough to eat. For the Lord has brought good to His people, and we have all this much left."

Kore, the son of Imnah the Levite, who watched over the east gate, was captain of the free-will gifts to God. He divided the gifts for the Lord and the most holy things.

Also they gave to those whose names were written down by families, from three years old and older. They gave to everyone who went into the Lord's house for each day's duty, for the work each of their groups was to do.

Also written down were the names of their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, for all the people. For they were faithful to set themselves apart to be holy.

All the work he began in the house of God, obeying the Laws and looking to his God, he did with all his heart and all went well for him.

After these faithful acts, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to fight against Judah. His army gathered around the strong cities. He thought he would take them for himself.

"Be strong and have strength of heart. Do not be afraid or troubled because of the king of Assyria and all those who are with him. For the One with us is greater than the one with him.

So now do not let Hezekiah lie to you or lead you in the wrong way like this. Do not believe him. For no god of any nation was able to save his people from me or from my fathers. How much less will your God save you from me!'"

But Hezekiah did not do anything in return for the good he received, because his heart was proud. So the Lord's anger came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

Now Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He made for himself store-houses for silver, gold, stones of much worth, spices, battle-coverings, and all kinds of things of much worth.

He made store-houses for the grain that was gathered, wine, and oil. He made places for all kinds of herds, and places for the flocks.

He made cities for himself, and gathered very many flocks and cattle. For God had given him very many riches.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. And he ruled for fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

For he built again the high places which his father Hezekiah had broken down. He built altars for the false gods of Baal and made objects of worship for the false goddess Asherah. He worshiped all the stars of heaven and served them.

He built altars for all the stars of heaven in the two open spaces of the house of the Lord.

And I will never again take Israel out of the land which I have chosen for your fathers, if only they will obey all that I have told them in the Laws given through Moses."

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words the men who spoke for God spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, are among the writings of the kings of Israel.

His prayer and how God heard his prayer, and of all his sin and how he was not faithful, are found in the writings of the men who spoke for God. Also it is written where he built the high places, and made the objects of the false goddess Asherah, and made objects to look like gods, before he put away his pride.

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and ruled for two years in Jerusalem.