2 MALAK'YM   

  𐤁    𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤌

2 KINGS

CHAPTER 1

1  And Mu'ab rebelled against Yashar'AL after the death of Akh'ab.

2 And Akhaz'Yah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Shamar'un (Shamar’oon), and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, "Go, inquire of Ba'al Zabub (Zaboob), the idol of Aq'run (Aq’roon), whether I will recover of this sickness."

3 But the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to AL'Yahu the Tha'shab'ya, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Shamar'un, and tell them, 'Is it because there is no ALUAH in Yashar'AL, that you go to inquire of Ba'al Zabub, the idol of Aq'run?

4 Now therefore thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), "You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die." AL'Yahu departed.

5 And the messengers returned to him, and he said to them, "Why is it that you have returned?"

6 And they said to him, "A man came up to meet us, and said to us, 'Go, return to the king who sent you, and tell him, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'Is it because there is no ALUAH in Yashar'AL, that you send to inquire of Ba'al Zabub, the idol of Aq'run? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.'"

7 And he said to them, "What kind of man was he who came up to meet you, and told you these words?"

8 And they answered him, "He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his loins." And he said, "It is AL'Yahu the Tha'shab'ya."

9 Then he sent a captain of fifty with his fifty to him. And he went up to him and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, "Man of ALUAH, the king has said, 'Come down!'"

10 And AL'Yahu answered to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of ALUAH, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!" And fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. Andhe answered him, "Man of ALUAH, the king has said, 'Come down quickly!'"

12 And AL'Yahu answered them, "If I am a man of ALUAH, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!" And the fire of ALUAH came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.

13 Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before AL'Yahu, and begged him, and said to him, "Man of ALUAH, please let my being, and the being of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight.

14 Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties. But now let my being be precious in your sight."

15 And the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to AL'Yahu, "Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him." And he arose, and went down with him to the king.

16 And he said to him, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Ba'al Zabub, the ALUAH of Aq'run, is it because there is no ALUAH in Yashar'AL to inquire of his word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.'"

17 So he died according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) which AL'Yahu had spoken. And Yahu'ram began to reign in his place in the second year of Yahu'ram son of Yahu'shapat king of Yahudah, because he had no son.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Akhaz'Yahu which he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL?

CHAPTER 2

1 And it came to be, when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) would take up AL'Yahu by a whirlwind into shama'ym, that AL'Yahu went with AL'yasha from Gal'gal.

2 And AL'Yahu said to AL'yasha, "Please wait here, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has sent me as far as Bayath AL." And AL'yasha said, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Abides, and as your being abides, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bayath AL.

3 And the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets) who were at Bayath AL came out to AL'yasha and said to him, "Do you know that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will take away your sovereign from your head today?" And he said, "Yes, I know it, keep silent.”

4 And AL'Yahu said to him, "AL'yasha, please wait here, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has sent me to Yara'yakhu." And he said, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Abides, and as your being abides, I will not leave you." So they came to Yara'yakhu.

5 And the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets)who were at Yara'yakhu came near to AL'yasha and said to him, "Do you know that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will take away your sovereign from your head today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know it, keep silent.”

6 And AL'Yahu said to him, "Please wait here, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has sent me to the Yardan." And he said, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Abides, and as your being abides, I will not leave you." And the two went on.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets) went, and stood opposite them at a distance, and they both stood by the Yardan.

8 And AL'Yahu took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9 And it came to be, when they had gone over, that AL'Yahu said to AL'yasha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And AL'yasha said, "Please let a double portion of your rukh be on me."

10 And he said, "You have made a hard ask. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if not, it shall not be so."

11 And it came to be, as they still went on and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and AL'Yahu went up by a whirlwind into shama'ym.

12 And AL'yasha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of Yashar'AL and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.

13 And he took up also the mantle of AL'Yahu that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Yardan.

14 And he took the mantle of AL'Yahu that fell from him, and struck the waters and said, "Where is 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF AL'Yahu?" When he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there, and AL'yasha went over.

15 And when the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets) who were at Yara'yakhu over against him saw him, they said, "The rukh of AL'Yahu rests on AL'yasha." And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16 And they said to him, "See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your sovereign. Perhaps the rukh of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has taken him up, and put him on some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, "You shall not send them."

17 And when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." And they sent therefore fifty men, and they searched for three days, but did not find him.

18 And they came back to him while he stayed at Yara'yakhu, and he said to them, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not go?'"

19 And the men of the city said to AL'yasha, "Behold please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my sovereign sees, but the water is evil, and the land miscarries."

20 And he said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." And they brought it to him.

21 And he went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it and said, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying.'"

22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of AL'yasha which he spoke.

23 And he went up from there to Bayath AL. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, baldhead! Go up, baldhead!"

24 And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).  And two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths.

25 And he went from there to Mount Karmal, and from there he returned to Shamar'un.

CHAPTER 3

1 Now Yahu'ram son of Akh'ab began to reign over Yashar'AL in Shamar'un in the eighteenth year of Yahu'shapat king of Yahudah, and reigned twelve years.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), but not like his father, and like his mother, for he put away the pillar of Ba'al that his father had made.

3 Nevertheless he held to the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress, he did not depart from it.

4 Now Ma'yasha king of Mu'ab was a sheep breeder, and he rendered to the king of Yashar'AL the wool of one hundred thousand lambs, and of one hundred thousand rams.

5 And it came to be, when Akh'ab was dead, that the king of Mu'ab rebelled against the king of Yashar'AL.

6 And King Yahu'ram went out of Shamar'un at that time, and mustered all Yashar'AL.

7 And he went and sent to Yahu'shapat the king of Yahudah, saying, "The king of Mu'ab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Mu'ab to battle?" And he said, "I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

8 And he said, "Which way shall we go up?" And he answered, "The way of the wilderness of Adum."

9 So the king of Yashar'AL went, and the king of Yahudah, and the king of Adum, and they made a circuit of seven days' journey. And there was no water for the army, nor for the beasts that followed them.

10 And the king of Yashar'AL said, "Alas! For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Mu'ab."

11 But Yahu'shapat said, "Is there not here a nab’ya (prophet) of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), that we may inquire of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) by him?" And one of the king of Yashar'AL's servants answered, "AL'yasha son of Shapat is here, who poured water on the hands of AL'Yahu."

12 And Yahu'shapat said, "The word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) is with him." So the king of Yashar'AL and Yahu'shapat and the king of Adum went down to him.

13 And AL'yasha said to the king of Yashar'AL, "What have I to do with you? Go to the nab’ya’ya (prophets) of your father, and to the nab’ya’ya (prophets) of your mother." And the king of Yashar'AL said to him, "No, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Mu'ab."

14 And AL'yasha said, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) of hosts Abides, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I respect the face of Yahu'shapat the king of Yahudah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.

15 But now bring me a musician.” And it came to be, when the musician played, that the hand of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came on him.

16 And he said, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'Make this valley full of trenches.'

17 For thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, yet that valley shall be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your beasts.

18 This is but light in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH). And He will also give Mu'ab into your hand.

19 And you shall strike every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.'"

20 And it came to be in the rising, about the time of ascending the offering, that behold, water came by the way of Adum, and the land was filled with water.

21 Now when all Mu'ab heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.

22 And they rose up early in the rising, and the sun shone on the water, and Mu'ab saw the water over against them as red as blood.

23 And they said, "This is blood. The kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each other. Now therefore, Mu'ab, to the spoil!"

24 And they came to the camp of Yashar'AL, Yashar'AL rose up and struck Mu'ab, so that they fled before them, and they went forward into the land smiting Mu'ab.

25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone, and filled it, and they stopped all the springs of water, and felled all the good trees, until in Qayar Khar’shath they left its stones, however the men armed with slings went about it, and struck it.

26 And when the king of Mu'ab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew sword, to break through to the king of Adum, but they could not.

27 And then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there was great wrath against Yashar'AL: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

CHAPTER 4

1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets) to AL'yasha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead. And you know that your servant feared 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH). Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves."

2 And AL'yasha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me: what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil."

3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from of all your neighbors, even empty vessels. Donot borrow just a few.

4 And you shall go in, and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour out into all those vessels, and you shall put aside that which is full."

5 So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons, they brought the vessels to her, and she poured out.

6 And it came to be, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." And the oil stood.

7 Then she came and told the man of ALUAH. And he said, "Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and you and your sons abide on the rest."

8 And it came to be on a day, that AL'yasha passed to Shunam, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.

9 And she said to her husband, "See now, I perceive that this is a Made Apart man of ALUAH, that passes by us continually.

10 Please let us make a little room on the wall. Let us place for him there a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp stand. And it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there."

11 And it came to pass one day he came there, and he turned into the room and lay there.

12 And he said to Gakhaz’ya* his servant, "Call to Shunam'yth." And he called her, and she stood before him.

*See Note Below On Verse 14

13 And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Behold, you have cared for us with all this care. What is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army?'" And she answered, "I dwell among my own people."

14 And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gaya'khaz'ya* answered, "Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old."

*Another place where the Masoretic adds an extra yad in his name (Compare To Verse 12 Above)

15 And he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the door.

16 And he said, “To the appointed time, as this time of khaYah (life), you will embrace a son." And she said, "No, my sovereign, you man of ALUAH, do not lie to your handmaid."

17 And the woman conceived, and bore a son to appointed time, as this time of khaYah (life), as AL'yasha had said to her.

18 And the child grew. And it came to be one day that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19 And he said to his father, "My head! My head!" And he said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."

20 When he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until midday, and then died.

21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of ALUAH, and shut the door on him, and went out.

22 And she called to her husband and said, "Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of ALUAH and come again."

23 And he said, "Why would you want go to him today? It is neither new month nor Shabath." And she said, "It is shalum (well).”

24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, "Drive and go forward! Do not slow down for me, unless I ask you to."

25 So she went and came to the man of ALUAH to Mount Karmal. And it came to be, when the man of ALUAH saw her afar off, that he said to Gaya'khaz'ya his servant, "Behold, there is the Shunam'yth.

26 Please run now to meet her, and ask her, 'Is it shalum (well) with you? Is it shalum (well) with your husband? Is it shalum (well) with the child?'" And she answered, "It is shalum (well).”

27 When she came to the man of ALUAH to the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gaya'khaz'ya came near to thrust her away, but the man of ALUAH said, "Leave her alone, for her being is troubled within her, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has hidden it from me, and has not told me."

28 Then she said, "Did I desire a son of my sovereign? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?"

29 Then he said to Gaya'khaz'ya, "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him again. Then lay my staff on the face of the child."

30 And mother of the child said, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Abides, and as your being abides, I will not leave you." And he arose and followed her.

31 And Gakhaz'ya passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, saying, "The child has not awakened."

32 When AL'yasha had come into the house, behold, the child was dead and laid on his bed.

33 And he went in and shut the door on them both, and prayed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

34 And he went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And he stretched himself on him, and the flesh of the child grew warm.

35 Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up, and stretched himself on him. Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

36 And he called Gaya'khaz'ya and said, "Call this Shunam'yth!" So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, "Take up your son."

37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and she took up her son, and went out.

38 And AL'yasha came again to Gal'gal. There was a famine in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, “Put on the great pot, and cook stew for the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets).”

39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine, and gathered of it wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of stew, for they did not recognize them.

40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to be, as they were eating of the stew, that they cried out and said, "Man of ALUAH, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat of it.

41 But he said, "Then bring meal." He cast it into the pot, and he said, "Pour out for the people, that they may eat." And there was no harm in the pot.

42 And a man from Ba'al Shalash’ah came and brought the man of ALUAH bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, "Give to the people, that they may eat."

43 And his servant said, "What, should I place this before a hundred men?" But he said, "Give the people, that they may eat, for thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'They will eat and will have some remaining.’”

44 So he placed it before them, and they ate, and left some of it, according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

CHAPTER 5

1 Now Nam'an, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his sovereign, and respected, because by him 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had given rescuing to Aram: he was also a mighty man of valor, a leper.

2 And Aram had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Yashar'AL a little maiden, and she waited on Nam'an's wife.

3 And she said to her mistress, "If only my sovereign were to the face of the nab’ya (prophet) who is in Shamar'un! Then he would heal him of his leprosy."

4 And went in and told his sovereign saying, "The maiden who is from the land of Yashar'AL said this."

5 And the king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Yashar'AL." And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of garments.

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Yashar'AL, saying, "Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Nam'an my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy."

7 And it came to be, when the king of Yashar'AL had read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I ALUAH, to kill and to make living, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me."

8 And it came to be, when AL'yasha the man of ALUAH heard that the king of Yashar'AL had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a nab’ya (prophet) in Yashar'AL."

9 So Nam'an came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of AL'yasha.

10 And AL'yasha sent a messenger to him saying, "Go and wash in the Yardan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean."

11 But Nam'an was angry, and went away and said, "Behold, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) His ALUAH, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.'

12 Are not Abanah and Parpar, the rivers of Damashaq, better than all the waters of Yashar'AL? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near, and spoke to him and said, "My father, if the nab’ya (prophet) had asked you do some great word, would you not have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean?'"

14 Then went he down, and dipped seven times in the Yardan, according to the saying of the man of ALUAH, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15 And he returned to the man of ALUAH, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him, and he said, "See now, I know that there is no ALUAH in all the earth, but in Yashar'AL. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant."

16 But he said, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Abides, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

17 And Nam'an said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth, for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor slaughter to other idols, but to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

18 To this word, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) pardon your servant: when my sovereign goes into the house of Ramun(Ramoon) to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Ramun. When I bow myself in the house of Ramun, please, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) pardon your servant in this word.”

19 And he said to him, "Go in shalum (peace).” So he departed from him a little way.

20 But Gaya'khaz'ya, the servant of AL'yasha the man of ALUAH said, "Behold, my sovereign has spared Nam'an this Aram, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Abides, I will run after him, and take something from him."

21 So Gaya'khaz'ya followed after Nam'an. When Nam'an saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and he said, “The shalum (peace)?”

22 And he said, “Shalum (Peace). My sovereign has sent me, saying: ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets) have come to me from the hill land of Apara’ym. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’”

23 And Nam'an said, "Be pleased to take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants, and they carried them before him.

24 And then he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed.

25 But he went in, and stood before his sovereign. And AL'yasha said to him, "Where did you come from, Gakhaz'ya?" And he said, "Your servant did not go here or there.”

26 And he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive silver, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants?

27 Therefore the leprosy of Nam'an will cling to you and to your seed forever." And he went out from his face a leper, as white as snow.

CHAPTER 6

1 And sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets) said to AL'yasha, "See now, the place where we abide before your face is too small for us.

2 Please let us go to the Yardan, and every man take a beam from there, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell." And he answered, "Go!"

3 And one said, "Please be pleased to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go."

4 So he went with them. When they came to the Yardan, they cut down wood.

5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water. Then he cried and said, "Alas, my sovereign! For it was borrowed."

6 And the man of ALUAH asked, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float.

7 And he said, “Lift it.” So he put out his hand and took it.

8 Now the king of Aram was warring against Yashar'AL, and he took counsel with his servants saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place."

9 And the man of ALUAH sent to the king of Yashar'AL saying, "Beware that you not pass such a place, for Aram are coming down there."

10 And the king of Yashar'AL sent to the place which the man of ALUAH told him and warned him of, and he saved himself there, not one and not two.

11 And the heart of the king of Aram was very troubled about this. And he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Yashar'AL?"

12 And one of his servants said, "No, my sovereign, O king, but AL'yasha, the nab’ya (prophet) who is in Yashar'AL, tells the king of Yashar'AL the words that you speak in your bedroom."

13 And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him saying, "Behold, he is in Dathan."

14 Therefore he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. And they came by night and surrounded the city.

15 And the servant of the man of ALUAH had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my sovereign! What shall we do?"

16 And he answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

17 And AL'yasha prayed and said, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), please open his eyes, that he may see." And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around AL'yasha.

18 When they came down to him, AL'yasha prayed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of AL'yasha.

19 And AL'yasha said to them, "This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Shamar'un.

20 And it came to be, when they were come into Shamar'un that AL'yasha said, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), open the eyes of these men, that they may see." And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Shamar'un.

21 And the king of Yashar'AL said to AL'yasha, when he saw them, "My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?"

22 And he answered, "You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Place bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their sovereign."

23 And he prepared great feast for them. And when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their sovereign. And the bands of Aram stopped raiding the land of Yashar'AL.

24 And it came to be after this, that Ban Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Shamar'un.

25 And there was a great famine in Shamar'un. Behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's excrements for five pieces of silver.

26 And as the king of Yashar'AL was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him saying, "Help, my sovereign, O king!"

27 And he said, "If 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) does not help you, from where could I help you? From of the threshing floor, or from the winepress?"

28 And the king said to her, "What ails you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'

29 So we cooked my son and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him,' and she has hidden her son."

30 And it came to be, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes, now he was passing by on the wall, and the people looked and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his flesh.

31 Then he said, "ALUAH do so to me, and more also, if the head of AL'yasha son of Shapat shall stay on him this day."

32 But AL'yasha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Then the king sent a man from before him, but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, "Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his sovereign's feet behind him?"

33 While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, "Behold, this evil is from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH). Why should I wait for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) any longer?"

CHAPTER 7

1 And AL'yasha said, "Hear the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH). Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), ‘As time tomorrow a measure of fine flour will be in a shaqal, and two measures of barley for a shaqal, in the gate of Shamar'un.'"

2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of ALUAH, and said, "Behold, if 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) made windows in shama'ym, could the word be?" And he said, "Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it."

3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. And they said one to another, "Why do we sit here until we die?

4 If we say, 'We will enter into the city,' then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of Aram. If they save us khaYah (alive), we will khaYah (live), and if they kill us, we will only die."

5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of Aram. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of Aram, behold, there was no man there.

6 For the sovereign had made the army of Aram to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great army: and they said one to another, Behold, the king of Yashar'AL has hired against us the kings of the Khath’ym, and the kings of the Ma’tsara’ym, to come on us.

7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their beings.

8 And when these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried there silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried there also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said one to another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the rising light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household."

10 So they came and called to the porter of the city, and they told them, saying, "We came to the camp of Aram, and behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were."

11 And he called the porters, and they told it to the king's household within.

12 And the king arose in the night, and said to his servants, "I will now show you what Aram have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.'"

13 And one of his servants answered, "Please let some take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Yashar'AL who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Yashar'AL who are consumed. Let us send and see."

14 And they took therefore two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of Aram saying, "Go and see."

15 And they went after them to the Yardan, and behold, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which Aram had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.

16 And the people went out and plundered the camp of Aram. So a measure of fine flour was in a shaqal, and two measures of barley in a shaqal, according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

17 And the king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate: and the people trod on him in the gate, and he died as the man of ALUAH had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

18 And it came to be, as the man of ALUAH had spoken to the king saying, "Two measures of barley in a shaqal, and a measure of fine flour in a shaqal, shall be tomorrow as the time in the gate of Shamar'un,"

19 and that captain answered the man of ALUAH and said, "Now, behold, if 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) should make windows in shama'ym, it it according to this word?” and he said, "Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it."

20 And it came to be like that to him, for the people trod on him in the gate, and he died.

CHAPTER 8

1 Now AL'yasha had spoken to the woman, whose son he had restored to khaYah (life) saying, "Arise, and go, you and your household, and stay for a while wherever you can, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has called for a famine. It shall also come on the land seven years."

2 And the woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of ALUAH. And she went with her household, and abided in the land of the Palash'tha'ym seven years.

3 And it came to be at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Palash'tha'ym. Then she went forth to cry to the king for her house and for her land.

4 Now the king was talking with Gakhaz'ya the servant of the man of ALUAH, saying, "Please tell me all the greats that AL'yasha has done."

5 And it came to be, as he was telling the king how he had restored [to] khaYah (life) him who was dead, that behold, the woman, whose son he had restored [to] khaYah (life), cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gakhaz'ya said, "My sovereign, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom AL'yasha restored [to] khaYah (life).”

6 When the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain officer, saying, "Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now."

7 And AL'yasha came to Damashaq, and Ban Hadad the king of Aram was sick. And it was told him, saying, "The man of ALUAH has come here."

8 And the king said to Khazah'AL, "Take a gift in your hand, and go, meet the man of ALUAH, and inquire of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) by him, saying, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'"

9 So Khazah'AL went to meet him, and took a gift with him, and all good of Damashaq, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him and said, "Your son Ban Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'"

10 And AL'yasha said to him, "Go, tell him, 'You shall surely recover,' however 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has shown me that he shall surely die."

11 And he settled his gaze steadfastly, until he was ashamed. Then the man of ALUAH wept.

12 And Khazah'AL said, "Why do you weep, my sovereign?" And he answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Yashar'AL. You will put their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, and will dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child."

13 And Khazah'AL said, "But what is your servant the dog, that he should do this great word?” And AL'yasha answered, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has shown me that you will be king over Aram."

14 Then he departed from AL'yasha and came to his sovereign, who said to him, "What did AL'yasha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me that you would surely recover."

15 And it came to be on the next day, that he took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died. Then Khazah'AL reigned in his place.

16 And in year five of Yahu'ram son of Akh'ab king of Yashar'AL, Yahu'shapat being king of Yahudah then, Yahu'ram son of Yahu'shapat king of Yahudah began to reign.

17 He was thirty and two years old when he began to reign. And he reigned eight years in Yaru'shalam.

18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Yashar'AL, as did the house of Akh'ab, for he had daughter of Akh'ab as wife. And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

19 However 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) would not destroy Yahudah, for Dau'yad his servant's sake, as He promised him to give to him a lamp for his sons always.

20 In his days Adum revolted from under the hand of Yahudah, and made a king over themselves.

21 Then Yahu'ram passed over to Tsa’yarah, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck Adum who surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled to their tents.

22 So Adum revolted from under the hand of Yahudah to this day. Then did Labanah revolt at the same time.

23 And the rest of the acts of Yahu'ram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

24 And Yahu'ram lay down with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of Dau'yad, and Akhaz'Yahu his son reigned in his place.

25 In the twelfth year of Yahu'ram son of Akh'ab king of Yashar'AL did Akhaz'Yah son of Yahu'ram king of Yahudah begin to reign.

26 Twenty and two years old was Akhaz'Yahu when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Yaru'shalam. His mother's name was Athal'Yahu daughter of Amar’ya, king of Yashar'AL.

27 And he walked in the way of the house of Akh'ab, and did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), as did the house of Akh'ab, for he was the son-in-law of the house of Akh'ab.

28 And he went with Yahu'ram son of Akh'ab to war against Khazah'AL king of Aram at Ramath Gal'ad: and Aram wounded Yahu'ram.

29 And King Yahu'ram returned to be healed in Ya'zara'AL of the wounds which Aram had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Khazah'AL king of Aram. And Akhaz'Yahu son of Yahu'ram king of Yahudah went down to see Yahu'ram son of Akh'ab in Ya'zara'AL, for he was sick.

CHAPTER 9

1 And AL'yasha the nab’ya (prophet) called one of the sons of the nab’ya’ym (prophets), and said to him, "Put your belt on your loins, take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramath Gal'ad.

2 And you will arrive there, find Yahu'a son of Yahu'shapat son of Namash'ya, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner room.

3 Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head and say, 'Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), "I have anointed you king over Yashar'AL."' Then open the door, flee, and do not wait."

4 So the young man, even the young man the nab’ya (prophet), went to Ramath Gal'ad.

5 When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, "I have a message for you, captain." And Yahu'a said, "To which of us all?" And he said, "To you, O captain."

6 And he arose and went into the house. Then he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, 'I have anointed you king over the people of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), even over Yashar'AL.

7 And you shall strike the house of Akh'ab your sovereign, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the nab’ya’ym (prophets), and the blood of all the servants of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), at the hand of A'yaza'bal.

8 For the whole house of Akh'ab shall perish. And I will cut off from Akh'ab everyone who urinates against a wall, both him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Yashar'AL.

9 And I will make the house of Akh'ab like the house of Yarab'am son of Nabat, and like the house of Basha son of Akh’Yah.

10 And the dogs will eat A'yaza'bal on the plot of ground of Ya'zara'AL, and there shall be none to bury her.'" And he opened the door and fled.

11 Then Yahu'a came forth to the servants of his sovereign: and he said to him, “The shalum (peace)? Why did this madman come to you?" And he said to them, "You know the man and what his talk was."

12 And they said, "That is a lie. Tell us now." And he said, "He said to me, 'Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), I have anointed you king over Yashar'AL.'"

13 Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the ram’s horn, saying, "Yahu'a is king."

14 So Yahu'a son of Yahu'shapat son of Namash'ya conspired against Yahu'ram. Now Yahu'ram was keeping Ramath Gal'ad, he and all Yashar'AL, because of Khazah'AL king of Aram,

15 but King Yahu'ram had returned to be healed in Ya'zara'AL of the wounds which Aram’ym had given him, when he fought with Khazah'AL king of Aram. And Yahu'a said, "If this is your being, then let no one escape and go out of the city, to go to tell it in Ya'zara'AL."

16 So Yahu'a rode in a chariot, and went to Ya'zara'AL, for Yahu'ram lay there. Akhaz'Yah king of Yahudah had come down to see Yahu'ram.

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Ya'zara'AL, and he spied the company of Yahu'a as he came and said, "I see a company." Yahu'ram said, "Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘The shalum (peace)?’”

18 So there went one on horseback to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, ’The shalum (peace)?’” And Yahu'a said, "What to you, and the shalum (peace)? Turn around to follow me!" And the watchman said, "The messenger came to them, but he is not coming back."

19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them and said, "Thus says the king, ‘Shalum (Peace)?’” And Yahu'a answered, "What to you, and the shalum (peace)? Turn around to follow me!"

20 And the watchman said, "He came to them, and is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Yahu'a son of Namash'ya, for he drives furiously."

21 And Yahu'ram said, “Harness!” And they harnessed his chariot. And Yahu'ram king of Yashar'AL and Akhaz'Yah king of Yahudah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Yahu'a, and found him in the portion of Nab'uth (Nab’ooth) the Ya'zara'AL'ya.

22 And it came to be, when Yahu'ram saw Yahu'a, that he said, “The shalum (peace), Yahu'a?" And he answered, “What the shalum (peace), so long as the whorings of your mother A'yaza'bal and her witchcraft abound?"

23 And Yahu'ram turned his hands and fled, and said to Akhaz'Yah, "Treachery, Akhaz'Yah!"

24 And Yahu'a drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Yahu'ram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

25 Then Yahu'a said to Ba'daqar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Nab'uth the Ya'zara'AL'ya, for remember how, when you and I rode together after Akh'ab his father, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) laid this burden on him:

26 'Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Nab'uth, and the blood of his sons,' says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'and I will repay you in this plot of ground,' says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH). Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)."

27 But when Akhaz'Yah the king of Yahudah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Yahu'a followed after him and said, "Strike him also in the chariot!" And they struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Yaba’am. He fled to Magadu, and died there.

28 And his servants carried him in a chariot to Yaru'shalam, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of Dau'yad.

29 And in the eleventh year of Yahu'ram son of Akh'ab, began Akhaz'Yah to reign over Yahudah.

30 When Yahu'a was come to Ya'zara'AL, A'yaza'bal heard of it, and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window.

31 As Yahu'a entered in at the gate, she said, “The shalum (peace), Zamara’ya, you murderer of your sovereign?"

32 And he lifted up his face to the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" And two, three eunuchs looked out at him.

33 And he said, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down, and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. Then he trampled her under foot.

34 When he was come in, he ate and drink, and he said, "See now to this cursed woman, and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."

35 And they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of hands.

36 Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, "This is the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), which He spoke by His servant AL'Yahu the Tha'shab'ya,saying, 'The dogs will eat the flesh of A'yaza'bal on the portion of Ya'zara'AL,

37 and the body of A'yaza'bal shall be as dung on the face of the field in the portion of Ya'zara'AL, so that they shall not say, "This is A'yaza'bal.”

CHAPTER 10

1 Now Akh'ab had seventy sons in Shamar'un. And Yahu'a wrote letters, and sent to Shamar'un, to the rulers of Ya'zara'AL, even the elders, and to those who brought up Akh'ab saying,

2 "Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your sovereign's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor.

3 Select the best and fittest of your sovereign's sons, put him on his father's throne, and fight for your sovereign's house."

4 But they were exceedingly afraid and said, "Behold, the two kings did not stand before him! How then shall we stand?"

5 And he who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Yahu'a, saying, "We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes."

6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men your sovereign's sons, and come to me to Ya'zara'AL by tomorrow this time." Now the king's sons, being seventy beings, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.

7 And it came to be, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and killed them, even seventy beings, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Ya'zara'AL.

8 And a messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." And he said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the rising."

9 And it came to be in the rising, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my sovereign and killed him, but who struck all these?

10 Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) spoke concerning the house of Akh'ab. For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has done that which He spoke by His servant AL'Yahu."

11 So Yahu'a struck all that remained of the house of Akh'ab in Ya'zara'AL, with all his great men, his acquaintances, and his ka’ahn (priests), until he left to him none remaining.

12 And he arose and departed, and went to Shamar'un. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds on the way,

13 Yahu'a met with the brothers of Akhaz'Yahu king of Yahudah and said, "Who are you?" And they answered, "We are the brothers of Akhaz'Yahu. We are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen."

14 And he said, "Take them alive!" They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty and two men. And he did not leave any of them.

15 When he had departed from there, he met Yahu'nadab son of Rakab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, “Exists your heart upright, as my heart is with your heart?" And Yahu'nadab answered, "It is." “And if it is, give me your hand." And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot.

16 And he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)." So they made him ride in his chariot.

17 And he came to Shamar'un, he struck all who remained to Akh'ab in Shamar'un, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), which He spoke to AL'Yahu.

18 And Yahu'a gathered all the people together and said to them, "Akh'ab served Ba'al a little, but Yahu'a will serve him much.

19 Now therefore call to me all the nab’ya’ya (prophets) of Ba'al, all of his servants, and all of his ka’ahn (priests). Let none be absent, for I have a great slaughter to Ba'al. Whoever is absent, he shall not live." But Yahu'a acted deceptively, intending that he might destroy the servants of Ba'al.

20 And Yahu'a said, “Make apart a solemn assembly for Ba'al!" They proclaimed it.

21 And Yahu'a sent through all Yashar'AL, and all the servants of Ba'al came, so that there was not a man left that did not come. And they came into the house of Ba'al, and the house of Ba'al was filled from one end to another.

22 And he said to him who was over the vestry, "Bring out robes for all the servants of Ba'al!" And he brought robes out to them.

23 And Yahu'a went with Yahu'nadab son of Rakab into the house of Ba'al. Then he said to the servants of Ba'al, "Search and look that there are here with you none of the servants of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), but the servants of Ba'al only."

24 And they went in to offer slaughters and burnt offerings. Now Yahu'a had appointed him eighty men outside and said, "If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, his being shall be for the being of him."

25 And it came to be, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Yahu'a said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in and kill them! Let none escape." And they struck them with the edge of the sword, and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Ba'al.

26 And they brought out the pillars that were in the house of Ba'al and burned them.

27 And they broke down the pillar of Ba'al, and broke down the house of Ba'al, and made it a latrine, to this day.

28 Thus Yahu'a destroyed Ba'al out of Yashar'AL.

29 However, from the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress, Yahu'a did not depart from after them: after the golden calves that were in Bayath AL, and that were in Dan.

30 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Yahu'a, "Because you have done well in executing that which is right in My eyes, have done to the house of Akh'ab according to all that was in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Yashar'AL."

31 But Yahu'a took no heed to walk in the Thur’ath of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, with all his heart. He did not depart from the transgressions of Yarab'am, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress.

32 In those days 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) began to cut off in Yashar'AL, and Khazah'AL struck them in all the borders of Yashar'AL,

33 from the Yardan eastward, all the land of Gal'ad, the Gad’ya, and the Rauban’ya, and the Mana’sha’ya, from Arar, which is by the valley of the Ar’nan, even Gal'ad and Bashan.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Yahu'a, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL?

35 And Yahu'a lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Shamar'un. And Yahu'akhaz his son reigned in his place.

36 And the days that Yahu'a reigned over Yashar'AL in Shamar'un were twenty and eight years.

CHAPTER 11

1 Now when Athal'Yahu mother of Akhaz'Yahu saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

2 But Yahu'shaba, daughter of king Yahu'ram, sister of Akhaz'Yahu*, took Yahu’ash son of Akhaz'Yah*, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, in the bedroom, and they hid him from Athal'Yahu, so that he was not slain,

*This is also one place where the Masoretic removes the oo letter in his name within the same verse

3 And he was with her hidden in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) six years. And Athal'Yahu reigned over the land.

4 And in the seventh year Yahu'yada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Kar'ya and of the guard, and brought them to him into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and he made a Bar'yath (covenant) with them, and took an oath of them in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and showed them the king's son.

5 And he commanded them saying, "This is the word that you shall do: a third part of you, who come in on the Shabath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king's house,

6 And the third part shall be at the gate Sur, and the third part at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.

7 And the two companies of you, even all who go out on the Shabath, shall keep the watch of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) around the king.

8 And you shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand, and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain. And be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in."

9 And the captains over hundreds did according to all that Yahu'yada the ka’ahn (priest) commanded, and they took every man his men, those who were to come in on the Shabath, with those who were to go out on the Shabath, and came to Yahu'yada the ka’ahn (priest).

10 And the ka’ahn (priest) gave to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king Dau'yad's, which were in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

11 And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, around the king.

12 Then he brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and the witness, and they made him king, and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “KhaYah (live) the king!"

13 When Athal'Yahu heard the noise of the guard, the people, she came to the people into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH):

14 and she looked and behold, the king stood by the pillar, according to the ordinance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athal'Yahu tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!"

15 And Yahu'yada the ka’ahn (priest) commanded the captains of hundreds who were placed over the army, and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks, and kill him who follows her with the sword." For the ka’ahn (priest) said, "do not let her be slain in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)."

16 So they made way for her, and she went by the way of the horses' entry to the king's house. And she was slain there.

17 And Yahu'yada made a Bar'yath (covenant) between 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and the king and the people, that they should be 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)'s people, between the king also and the people.

18 And all the people of the land went to the house of Ba'al, and broke it down, his altars and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mathan the ka’ahn (priest) of Ba'al before the altars. And the ka’ahn (priest) appointed officers over the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

19 And he took the captains over hundreds, and the Kar'ya, and the guard, and all the people of the land, and they brought down the king from the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.

20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And Athal'Yahu they had slain with the sword at the king's house.

21 And Yahu'ash was seven years old when he began to reign.

CHAPTER 12

1 In year seven of Yahu'a began Yahu'ash to reign, and he reigned forty years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Tsaba'Yah of Ba'ar Shaba.

2 And Yahu'ash did that which was right in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) all his days in which Yahu'yada the ka’ahn (priest) instructed him.

3 However, the high places were not taken away, the people still slaughtered and burnt incense in the high places.

4 And Yahu'ash said to the ka’ahn (priests), "All the silver of the Made Apart items that is brought into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), in current silver, the silver of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the silver that it comes into any man's heart to bring into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH),

5 let the ka’ahn’ym (priests) take it to them, every man from his acquaintance, and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wherever any breach shall be found."

6 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Yahu'ash, the ka’ahn’ym (priests) had not repaired the breaches of the house.

7 Then king Yahu'ash called for Yahu'yada the ka’ahn (priest), and for the ka’ahn’ym (priests) and said to them, "Why do not you repair the breaches of the house? Now therefore take no more silver from your treasurers, but give it for the breaches of the house."

8 And the ka'ahn'ym (priests) consented that they should take no silver from the people, neither repair the breaches of the house.

9 But Yahu'yada the ka’ahn (priest) took a chest, and bored a hole in its lid, and put it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): and the ka’ahn’ym (priests) who kept the threshold put therein all the silver that was brought into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

10 And it was so, when they saw that there was much silver in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high ka’ahn (priest) came up, and they put up in bags and counted the silver that was found in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

11 And they gave the silver that was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, who worked on the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH),

12 and to the masons and the stone cutters, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the breaches of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and for all that was laid out for the House to repair it.

13 But there were not made for the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the silver that was brought into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH),

14 for they gave that to those who did the work, and repaired therewith the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

15 Moreover they did not demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the silver to give to those who did the work, for they dealt trustworthy.

16 And the silver for the trespass offerings, and the silver for the transgression offerings, was not brought into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): it was the ka’ahn’ym (priests’).

17 Then Khazah'AL king of Aram went up, and fought against Gath, and took it, and Khazah'AL put his face to go up to Yaru'shalam.

18 And Yahu'ash king of Yahudah took all the Made Apart items that Yahu'shapat and Yahu'ram and Akhaz'Yahu, his fathers, kings of Yahudah, had dedicated, and his own Made Apart items, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and of the king's house, and sent it to Khazah'AL king of Aram: and he went away from Yaru'shalam.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Yahu'ash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

20 And his servants arose and made a conspiracy, and struck Yahu'ash at the house of Mala that goes down to Sala.

21 For Yahu'zabad son of Shama’tha, and Yahu’zabad son of Shamar, his servants, struck him, and he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of Dau'yad: and Amatsa'Yah his son reigned in his place.

CHAPTER 13

1 In the three and twentieth year of Yahu'ash son of Akhaz'Yahu, king of Yahudah, Yahu'akhaz son of Yahu'a began to reign over Yashar'AL in Shamar'un: seventeen years.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and followed the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress, he did not depart from it.

3 And the anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was kindled against Yashar'AL, and He gave them into the hand of Khazah'AL king of Aram, and into the hand of Ban Hadad son of Khazah'AL, continually.

4 And Yahu'akhaz begged 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) listened to him, for He saw the oppression of Yashar'AL, how that the king of Aram oppressed them.

5 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) gave Yashar'AL a rescuer, so that they went out from under the hand of Aram, and the children of Yashar'AL abided in their tents as before.

6 Nevertheless they did not depart from the transgressions of the house of Yarab'am, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress, but walked therein: and there remained the asharah also in Shamar'un.

7 For he did not leave to Yahu'akhaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Aram destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.

8 Now the rest of the acts of Yahu'akhaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL?

9 And Yahu'akhaz lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Shamar'un: and Yahu'ash his son reigned in his place.

10 In the thirty and seventh year of Yahu'ash king of Yahudah, began Yahu'ash son of Yahu'akhaz to reign over Yashar'AL in Shamar'un: sixteen years.

11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), he did not depart from all the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress, but he walked therein.

12 Now the rest of the acts of Yahu'ash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amatsa'Yah king of Yahudah, aren't they written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL?

13 And Yahu'ash lay down with his fathers, and Yarab'am sat on his throne: and Yahu'ash was buried in Shamar'un with the kings of Yashar'AL.

14 Now AL'yasha was fallen sick of his sickness of which he died: and Yahu'ash the king of Yashar'AL came down to him, and wept over him and said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Yashar'AL and its horsemen!"

15 And AL'yasha said to him, "Take bow and arrows," and he took to him bow and arrows.

16 And he said to the king of Yashar'AL, "Put your hand on the bow," and he put his hand. And AL'yasha laid his hands on the king's hands.

17 And he said, "Open the window eastward," and he opened it. Then AL'yasha said, "Shoot!" and he shot. And he said, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)'s arrow of saving, even the arrow of saving over Aram, for you shall strike Aram in Apaq, until you have consumed them."

18 And he said, "Take the arrows," and he took them. And he said to the king of Yashar'AL, "Strike the ground," and he struck three times and stopped.

19 And the man of ALUAH was angry with him and said, "You should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Aram until you had consumed it, whereas now you shall strike Aram just three times."

20 And AL'yasha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of Mu'ab invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

21 And it came to be, as they were burying a man, that behold, they spied a band, and they cast the man into the tomb of AL'yasha: and as soon as the man touched the bones of AL'yasha, he revived and stood up on his feet.

22 And Khazah'AL king of Aram oppressed Yashar'AL all the days of Yahu'akhaz.

23 But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was favorful to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of His Bar’yath (covenant) with Abara’ahm, Ya’tsakhaq, and Ya’aqab, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His face as yet.

24 And Khazah'AL king of Aram died, and Ban Hadad his son reigned in his place.

25 And Yahu'ash son of Yahu'akhaz took again out of the hand of Ban Hadad son of Khazah'AL the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Yahu'akhaz his father by war. Three times did Yahu'ash strike him, and recovered the cities of Yashar'AL.

CHAPTER 14

1 In year two of Yahu’ash son of Yahu’akhaz king of Yashar'AL, began Amatsa'Yahu son of Yahu'ash, king of Yahudah, to reign.

2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Yahu’adan of Yaru'shalam.

3 And he did that which was right in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), yet not like Dau'yad his father: he did according to all that Yahu'ash his father had done.

4 However the high places were not taken away: the people still slaughtered and burnt incense in the high places.

5 And it came to be, as soon as the reign was established in his hand, that he smote his servants who had slain the king his father:

6 but the children of the murderers he did not put to death, according to that which is written in the book of the Thur’ath of Mashah, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own transgression."

7 And he killed of Adum in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sala by war, and called its name Yaqath’AL, to this day.

8 Then Amatsa'Yah sent messengers to Yahu'ash, son of Yahu'akhaz son of Yahu'a, king of Yashar'AL, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face."

9 And Yahu'ash the king of Yashar'AL sent to Amatsa'Yahu king of Yahudah, saying, "The thistle that was in Laba'nun (Laba’noon) sent to the cedar that was in Laba'nun, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife. Then a wild beast that was in Laba'nun passed by, and trampled down the thistle.

10 You have indeed struck Adum, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the esteem of it, and stay at home, for why should you meddle to your harm, that you should fall, even you, and Yahudah with you?'"

11 But Amatsa'Yahu would not listen. So Yahu'ash king of Yashar'AL went up, and he and Amatsa'Yahu king of Yahudah looked one another in the face at Bayath Shamash, which belongs to Yahudah.

12 And Yahudah was defeated to the face of Yashar'AL, and they fled every man to his tent.

13 And Yahu'ash king of Yashar'AL took Amatsa'Yahu king of Yahudah, son of Yahu'ash son of Akhaz'Yahu, at Bayath Shamash, and came to Yaru'shalam, and broke down the wall of Yaru'shalam from the gate of Apara’ym to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and in the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Shamar'un.

15 Now the rest of the acts of Yahu'ash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amatsa'Yahu king of Yahudah, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL?

16 And Yahu'ash lay down with his fathers, and was buried in Shamar'un with the kings of Yashar'AL, and Yarab'am his son reigned in his place.

17 And Amatsa'Yahu son of Yahu'ash king of Yahudah abided after the death of Yahu'ash son of Yahu'akhaz king of Yashar'AL fifteen years.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Amatsa'Yahu, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

19 And they made a conspiracy against him in Yaru'shalam, and he fled to Lak'yash’ah: but they sent after him to Lak'yash’ah, and killed him there.

20 And they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Yaru'shalam with his fathers in the city of Dau'yad.

21 And all the people of Yahudah took Azar'Yah, and he was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amatsa'Yahu.

22 And he built Ayal'tha, and restored it to Yahudah, after that the king lay down with his fathers.

23 In the fifteenth year of Amatsa'Yahu son of Yahu’ash, king of Yahudah, Yarab'am son of Yahu’ash, king of Yashar'AL, began to reign in Shamar'un: forty and one years.

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): he did not depart from all the sins of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress.

25 And he restored the border of Yashar'AL from the entrance of Khamath to the sea of the Plains, according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, which He spoke by His servant Yunah son of Amath’ya, the nab’ya (prophet), who was of Gath Ha’Khapar.

26 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) saw the affliction of Yashar'AL, that it was very bitter, for there was none shut up nor left at large, neither was there any helper for Yashar'AL.

27 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) did not say that He would blot out the name of Yashar'AL from under the sky, but He saved them by the hand of Yarab'am son of Yahu'ash.

28 Now the rest of the acts of Yarab'am, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damashaq, and Khamath for Yahudah, for Yashar'AL, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL?

29 And Yarab'am lay down with his fathers, even with the kings of Yashar'AL, and Zakara'Yah his son reigned in his place.

CHAPTER 15

1 In year twenty and seven of Yarab'am king of Yashar'AL, began Azar'Yah son of Amatsa'Yah king of Yahudah to reign.

2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Yakal’Yahu from Yaru'shalam.

3 And he did that which was right in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), according to all that his father Amatsa'Yahu had done.

4 However the high places were not taken away: the people still slaughtered and burnt incense in the high places.

5 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and abided in a separate house. And Yahu'tham the king's son was over the household, judging the people of the land.

6 Now the rest of the acts of Azar'Yahu, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

7 And Azar'Yah* lay down with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of Dau'yad: and Yahu'tham his son reigned in his place.

*See Verse 8 Below

8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azar'Yahu* king of Yahudah did Zakara'Yahu** son of Yarab'am reign over Yashar'AL in Shamar'un six months.

*Here is another place (verse 7) in the Masoretic where they take out the oo in some parts for his name

**However, for this name, this is the only place in the Book where the oo is included within the Masoretic

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), as his fathers had done: he did not depart from the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress.

10 And Shalam son of Yabash* conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place.

*Note the Masoretic difference in verses 13 and 14 below

11 Now the rest of the acts of Zakara'Yah, behold, they are written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL.

12 This was the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) which he spoke to Yahu'a, saying, "Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Yashar'AL." So it came to pass.

13 And Shalum son of Yaba’yash* began to reign in the thirty and ninth year of Aza'Yah king of Yahudah, and he reigned for a moon of days in Shamar'un.

*See Verse 10 Above

14 And Ma'nakham son of Gad'ya went up from Thar'tsah, and came to Shamar'un, and struck Shalum son of Yaba’yash* in Shamar'un, and killed him, and reigned in his place.

*See Verse 10 Above

15 Now the rest of the acts of Shalum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL.

16 Then Ma'nakham struck Thapa’sakh, and all who were therein, and its borders, from Thar'tsah: because they did not open to him, therefore he struck it, and all the women therein who were with child he ripped up.

17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azar'Yah king of Yahudah, began Ma'nakham son of Gad'ya, to reign over Yashar'AL: ten years in Shamar'un.

18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): he did not depart all his days from the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress.

19 There came against the land, Pul the king of Ashur, and Ma'nakham gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the reign in his hand.

20 And Ma'nakham exacted the silver of Yashar'AL, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shaqals of silver, to give to the king of Ashur. So the king of Ashur turned back, and did not stay there in the land.

21 Now the rest of the acts of Ma'nakham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL?

22 And Ma'nakham lay down with his fathers, and Paqakh'Yah his son reigned in his place.

23 In the fiftieth year of Azar'Yah king of Yahudah, Paqakh'Yah son of Ma'nakham, began to reign over Yashar'AL in Shamar'un: two years.

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): he did not depart from the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress.

25 And Paqakh son of Ramal'Yahu, his captain, conspired against him, and struck him in Shamar'un, in the castle of the king's house, with Ar’gab and Ar’Yah, and with him were fifty men of the Gal'ad’ym: and he killed him, and reigned in his place.

26 Now the rest of the acts of Paqakh'Yah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL.

27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azar'Yah king of Yahudah, Paqakh son of Ramal'Yahu, began to reign over Yashar'AL in Shamar'un: twenty years.

28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): he did not depart from the transgressions of Yarab'am son of Nabat, with which he made Yashar'AL transgress.

29 In the days of Paqakh king of Yashar'AL came Thagal'tha Pal'asar king of Ashur, and took Ayun (Uh’yoon), and Abal Bayath Makah, and Yanukh, and Qadash, and Kha’tsur, and Gal'ad, and Gal’yal’ah, all the land of Nap’thal’ya, and he carried them captive to Ashur.

30 And Husha son of AL'ah made a conspiracy against Paqakh son of Ramal'Yahu, and struck him, and killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Yahu'tham son of Aza'Yah.

31 And the rest of the acts of Paqakh, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yashar'AL.

32 In year two of Paqakh son of Ramal'Yahu, king of Yashar'AL, began Yahu'tham son of Aza'Yahu, king of Yahudah, to reign.

33 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Yaru’sha daughter of Tsaduq.

34 And he did that which was right in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), he did according to all that his father Aza'Yahu had done.

35 However the high places were not taken away: the people still slaughtered and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

36 Now the rest of the acts of Yahu'tham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

37 In those days 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) began to send against Yahudah, Ratsa'yan, king of Aram, and Paqakh son of Ramal'Yahu.

38 And Yahu'tham lay down with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of Dau'yad his father: and Akhaz his son reigned in his place.

CHAPTER 16

1 In year seventeen, year of Paqakh son of Ramal'Yahu, Akhaz son of Yahu'tham, king of Yahudah, began to reign.

2 Twenty years old was Akhaz when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Yaru'shalam: and he did not do that which was right in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) His ALUAH, like Dau'yad his father.

3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Yashar'AL, and indeed, made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) cast out from before the children of Yashar'AL.

4 And he slaughtered and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 Then Ratsa'yan king of Aram and Paqakh son of Ramal'Yahu king of Yashar'AL came up to Yaru'shalam to war: and they besieged Akhaz, but could not overcome him.

6 At that time Ratsa'yan king of Aram recovered Ayal'tha to Aram, and drove the Yahud'ym from Ayal'tha, and Aram came to Ayal'tha, and dwelled there to this day.

7 So Akhaz sent messengers to Thagal'tha Pal'asar king of Ashur saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram, and out of the hand of the king of Yashar'AL, who rise up against me."

8 And Akhaz took the silver and gold that was found in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a gift to the king of Ashur.

9 And the king of Ashur listened to him, and the king of Ashur went up against Damashaq, and took it, and carried it captive to Qayar’ah, and killed Ratsa'yan.

10 And King Akhaz went to Damashaq to meet Thagal'tha Pal'asar king of Ashur, and saw the altar that was at Damashaq, and king Akhaz sent to Aura'Yah the ka’ahn (priest) the fashion of the altar, and its pattern, according to all its workmanship.

11 And Aura'Yah the ka’ahn (priest) built an altar: according to all that king Akhaz had sent from Damashaq, so did Aura'Yah the priest make it against the coming of king Akhaz from Damashaq.

12 When the king was come from Damashaq, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near to the altar, and offered thereon.

13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meal offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his shalam’ym (peace) offerings, on the altar.

14 And the bronze altar, which was before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and put it on the north side of his altar.

15 And King Akhaz commanded Aura'Yah the ka’ahn (priest), saying, "On the great altar burn the rising burnt offering, and the evening meal offering, and the king's burnt offering, and his meal offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meal offering, and their drink offerings, and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the slaughter, but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by."

16 And Aura'Yah the priest did so, according to all that king Akhaz commanded.

17 And King Akhaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stone.

18 And the covered way for the Shabath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry outside, turned he to the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), because of the king of Ashur.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Akhaz which he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

20 And Akhaz lay down with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of Dau'yad: and Khazaqa'Yahu his son reigned in his place.

CHAPTER 17

1 In year twelve of Akhaz king of Yahudah, began Husha son of AL'ah to reign in Shamar'un over Yashar'AL: nine years.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), yet not as the kings of Yashar'AL who were before him.

3 Against him came up Shal'mana'sar king of Ashur, and Husha became his servant, and brought him tribute.

4 And the king of Ashur found conspiracy in Husha, for he had sent messengers to Su’a king of Ma’tsara’ym, and offered no tribute to the king of Ashur, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Ashur shut him up, and bound him in prison.

5 Then the king of Ashur came up throughout all the land, and went up to Shamar'un, and besieged it three years.

6 In the ninth year of Husha, the king of Ashur captured Shamar'un and carried Yashar'AL away to Ashur, and placed them in Khalakh, and on the Khabur, the river of Guzan, and in the cities of the Mada'ya.

7 And it was so, because the children of Yashar'AL had transgressed against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Their ALUAH, who brought them up out of the land of Ma’tsara’ym from under the hand of Para'ah king of Ma’tsara’ym, and had feared other idols,

8 and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) cast out from before the children of Yashar'AL, and of the kings of Yashar'AL, which they made.

9 And the children of Yashar'AL did secret matters that were not right against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Their ALUAH: and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city,

10 and they placed them up pillars and ashar'ym on every high hill, and under every green tree,

11 and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) carried away before them, and they worked wicked matters to provoke 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) to anger,

12 and they served idols, of which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had said to them, "You shall not do this matter.”

13 Yet 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) witnessed to Yashar'AL, and to Yahudah, by every nab’ya (prophet), and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the Thurah which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the nab’ya’ym (prophets).”

14 And they would not listen, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who did not trust in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Their ALUAH.

15 And they rejected His statutes, and His Bar'yath (covenant) that he made with their fathers, and his witnesses which he witnessed to them, and they followed vanity, and became vain, and after the nations that were around them, concerning whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had commanded them that they should not do like them.

16 And they forsook all the commandments of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Their ALUAH, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an asharah, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served Ba'al.

17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), to provoke Him to anger.

18 Therefore 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was very angry with Yashar'AL, and removed them out of His sight: there was none left but the tribe of Yahudah only.

19 Also Yahudah did not keep the commandments of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Their ALUAH, but walked in the statutes of Yashar'AL which they made.

20 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) rejected all the seed of Yashar'AL, and afflicted them, and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight.

21 For He tore Yashar'AL from the house of Dau'yad, and they made Yarab'am son of Nabat king: and Yarab'am drove Yashar'AL from following 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and made them transgress a great transgression.

22 And the children of Yashar'AL walked in all the transgressions of Yarab'am which he did, they did not depart from them,

23 until 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) removed Yashar'AL out of His sight, as He spoke by all His servants the nab’ya’ym (prophets). So Yashar'AL was carried away out of their own land to Ashur to this day.

24 And the king of Ashur brought men from Babal, and from Kuthah, and from A’ua (Uh’oo’au), and from Khamath and Saparu'ym, and placed them in the cities of Shamar'un instead of the children of Yashar'AL, and they possessed Shamar'un, and dwelled in the cities of it.

25 So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): therefore 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) sent the lions among them, which killed some of them.

26 Therefore they spoke to the king of Ashur saying, "The nations which you have carried away, and placed in the cities of Shamar'un, do not know the right ruling of ALUAH of the land. Therefore He has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them, because they do not know the right ruling of ALUAH of the land."

27 Then the king of Ashur commanded saying, "Carry there one of the ka’ahn’ym (priests) whom you brought from there, and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the right ruling of ALUAH of the land."

28 So one of the ka’ahn’ym (priests) whom they had carried away from Shamar'un came and abided in Bayath AL, and taught them how they should fear 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

29 However every nation made idols of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Shamaran’ym had made, every nation in their cities in which they abided.

30 And the men of Babal made Sak’uth Ban’uth, and the men of Kuth (Kooth) made Nar’gal, and the men of Khamath made Ash’yama,

31 and the A’u’ym (Uh’oo’ym) made Naba’khaz and Thar’thaq, and the Saparu’ym burnt their children in the fire to Adar’malak and Ana’malak, the idols of Saparu'ym.

32 So they feared 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and made to them from among themselves ka’ahn’ym (priests) of the high places, who slaughtered for them in the houses of the high places.

33 They feared 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and served their own idols, after the ways of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

34 To this day they do what they did formerly: they do not fear 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), neither do they follow their statutes, or their ordinances, or the Thurah or the commandment which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) commanded the children of Ya'aqab, whom he named Yashar'AL,

35 with whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had made a Bar'yath (covenant), and commanded them, saying, "You shall not fear other idols, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor slaughter to them,

36 but you shall fear 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), who brought you up out of the land of Ma’tsara’ym with great power and with an outstretched arm, and you shall bow yourselves to him, and you shall slaughter to Him.

37 And the statutes and the ordinances, and the Thurah and the commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forevermore. And you shall not fear other idols.

38 And you shall not forget the Bar'yath (covenant) that I have made with you, neither shall you fear other idols.

39 But you shall fear 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Your ALUAH, and He will rescue you out of the hand of all your enemies."

40 And they did not obey, but they did what they did formerly.

41 So these nations feared 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and served their engraved images. Their children also, and their children's children, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

CHAPTER 18

1 And it came to be in year three of Husha son of AL'ah king of Yashar'AL, that Khazaqa'Yah, son of Akhaz, king of Yahudah, began to reign.

2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Ab’ya daughter of Zakara'Yah.

3 And he did that which was right in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), according to all that Dau'yad his father had done.

4 He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the asharah: and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Mashah had made, for to those days the children of Yashar'AL did burn incense to it, and he called to him, Nakhash’tan.

5 He trusted in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Yahudah, nor that were before him.

6 For he joined with 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) commanded Mashah.

7 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was with him, wherever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Ashur, and did not serve him.

8 He struck the Palash'tha'ym to Azah and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.

9 And it came to be in the fourth year of king Khazaqa'Yahu,* which was the seventh year of Husha son of AL'ah king of Yashar'AL, that Shal'mana'sar king of Ashur came up against Shamar'un and besieged it.

*See Note On Verse 10

10 At the end of three years they took it: in year six of Khazaqa'Yah,* which was year nine of Husha king of Yashar'AL, Shamar'un was taken.

*Sometimes the Masoretic also omits the oo in his name in several places

11 And the king of Ashur carried Yashar'AL away to Ashur, and put them in Khalakh, and on the Khabur, the river of Guzan, and in the cities of the Mada'ya,

12 because they did not obey the voice of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Their ALUAH, but transgressed his Bar'yath (covenant), even all that Mashah the servant of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.

13 Now in year fourteen of king Khazaqa'Yah did San’khara’yab king of Ashur come up against all the fortified cities of Yahudah, and took them.

14 And Khazaqa'Yah king of Yahudah sent to the king of Ashur to Lak'yash’ah saying, "I have offended, return from me. That which you put on me, I will bear." And the king of Ashur appointed to Khazaqa'Yah king of Yahudah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

15 And Khazaqa'Yah gave all the silver that was found in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and in the treasures of the king's house.

16 At that time did Khazaqa'Yah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the Hayakal of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and the pillars which Khazaqa'Yah king of Yahudah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Ashur.

17 And the king of Ashur sent Thar’than and Rab’saryas and Rab’shaqah from Lak'yash to king Khazaqa'Yahu with a great army to Yaru'shalam. And they went up and came to Yaru'shalam. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

18 And they called to the king, there came out to them AL'yaq'yam son of Khalaqa’Yahu, who was over the household, and Shabanah the scribe, and Yahu'akh son of Asap the recorder.

19 And Rab'shaqah said to them, "Say now to Khazaqa'Yahu, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Ashur, "What confidence is this in which you trust?

20 You say, but they are but words of the lips, 'There is counsel and strength for war.' Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

21 Now behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Ma’tsara’ym. If a man leans on it, it will go into his hand, and pierce it. So is Para'ah king of Ma’tsara’ym to all who trust on him.

22 But if you tell me, 'We trust in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Our ALUAH,' is it not He whose high places and whose altars Khazaqa'Yahu has taken away, and has said to Yahudah and to Yaru'shalam, 'You shall worship before this altar in Yaru'shalam?'

23 Now therefore, please give pledges to my sovereign the king of Ashur, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to put riders on them.

24 And how can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my sovereign's servants, and put your trust on Ma’tsara’ym for chariots and for horsemen?

25 Have I now come up without 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) against this place to destroy it? 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to me, 'Go up against this land, and destroy it.'“

26 Then AL'yaq'yam son of Khalaqa’Yahu, and Shabanah, and Yahu'akh, said to Rab'shaqah, "Please speak to your servants [in] Aram’yath,* for we understand it. Do not speak with us [in] Yahud’yath,* in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."

*Aram’yath = Language of Aram

*Yahud’yath = Language of Yahudah

27 But Rab'shaqah said to them, "Has my sovereign sent me to your sovereign, and to you, to speak these words? Has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water* with you?"

*Some translations use the word urine

28 Then Rab'shaqah stood, and cried with a loud voice [in] Yahud’yath and spoke saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Ashur.

29 Thus says the king, ‘Do not let Khazaqa'Yahu deceive you, for he will not be able to rescue you out of his hand.

30 Neither let Khazaqa'Yahu make you trust in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) saying, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will surely rescue us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Ashur."

31 Do not listen to Khazaqa'Yahu.’ For thus says the king of Ashur, 'Make with me, and come out to me, and everyone of you eat of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and everyone drink the waters of his own cistern,

32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and of honey, that you may dwell and not die. But do not listen to Khazaqa'Yahu when he persuades you saying, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will rescue us."

33 Has any of the idols of the nations ever rescued his land out of the hand of the king of Ashur?

34 Where are the idols of Khamath, and of Arpad? Where are the idols of Saparu'ym, Hana, and A’u’ah (Uh’oo’ah)? Have they rescued Shamar'un out of my hand?

35 Who are they among all the idols of the lands, that have rescued their land out of my hand, that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) should rescue Yaru'shalam out of my hand?'"

36 But the people kept silent, and answered him not a word, for the king's commandment was: “Do not answer him."

37 Then AL'yaq'yam son of Khalaqa’Yahu, who was over the household, came with Sha'bana the scribe, and Yahu'akh son of Asap the recorder, to Khazaqa'Yahu with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rab'shaqah.

CHAPTER 19

1 And it came to be, when king Khazaqa'Yahu heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

2 And he sent AL'yaq'yam, who was over the household, and Sha'bana the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Yasha'Yahu the nab’ya (prophet) son of A'muts.

3 And they said to him, "Thus says Khazaqa'Yahu: ‘This day is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of rejection, for the children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to rescue them.

4 Suppose 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Your ALUAH will hear all the words of Rab'shaqah, whom the king of Ashur his sovereign has sent to defy the living ALUAH, and will rebuke the words which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Your ALUAH has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'"

5 So the servants of king Khazaqa'Yahu came to Yasha'Yahu.

6 And Yasha'Yahu said to them, "Thus you shall tell your sovereign, 'Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), "do not be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Ashur have blasphemed Me.

7 Behold, I will put a rukh in him, and he will hear a report, and will return to his own land. And I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”

8 So Rab'shaqah returned, and found the king of Ashur warring against Labanah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lak'yash.

9 And when he heard it said of Tharah’qah king of Kush (Koosh), "Behold, he has come out to fight against you, he sent messengers again to Khazaqa'Yahu, saying,

10' Thus you shall speak to Khazaqa'Yahu king of Yahudah, saying, "do not let your ALUAH in whom you trust deceive you saying, Yaru'shalam will not be given into the hand of the king of Ashur.

11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Ashur have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Will you be rescued?

12 Have the idols of the nations rescued them, which my fathers have destroyed, Guzan, and Kharan, and Ratsap, and sons of Adan that were in Thal’ashar?

13 Where is the king of Khamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Saparu'ym, of Hana, and A’u’ah (Uh’oo’ah)?”

14 And Khazaqa'Yahu received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it. Then Khazaqa'Yahu went up to the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and spread it before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

15 And Khazaqa'Yahu prayed before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and said, " O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, who inhabits the karub’ym, You are the ALUAH, even You alone, of all the reigns of the earth. You have made shama'ym and earth.

16 Incline your ear, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and hear. Open your eyes,O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and see. Hear the words of San’khara’yab, with which he has sent to defy the living ALUAH.

17 Truly, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the kings of Ashur have laid waste the nations and their lands,

18 and have cast their idols into the fire, for they were no idols, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them.

19 Now therefore, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Our ALUAH, save us, I pray, out of his hand, that all the reigns of the earth may know that You, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), Are ALUAH Alone."

20 Then Yasha'Yahu son of A'muts sent to Khazaqa'Yahu, saying, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, 'Whereas you have prayed to me against San'kharab* king of Ashur, I have heard you.

*The only place in this Book where the yad is not included for this name in the Masoretic

21 This is the Word that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has spoken concerning him: "The virgin daughter of Tsa'yun (Tsa’yoon) has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Yaru'shalam has shaken her head at you.

22 Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Made Apart One of Yashar'AL.

23 By your messengers you have defied the sovereign and have said, 'With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Laba'nun, and I will cut down its tall cedars, and its choice fir trees, and I will enter into his farthest lodging place, the forest of his fruitful field.

24 I have dug and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Ma’tsara’ym.'

25 Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? Now have I brought it to pass, that it should be yours to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

26 Therefore their inhabitants were of short hand.* They were dismayed and confounded. They were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like grain blasted before it has grown up.

*This can also be translated to small power

27 But I know your sitting down, and your going out, and your coming in, and your raging against Me.

28 Because of your raging against Me, and because your arrogance has come up into My ears, therefore will I put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came."

29 "'This shall be the sign to you: You shall eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs of the same, and in the third year sow, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat its fruit.

30 And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Yahudah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

31 For out of Yaru'shalam a remnant will go out, and out of Mount Tsa'yun those who shall escape. The zeal of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will perform this.'

32 "Therefore thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) concerning the king of Ashur, 'He shall not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.

33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come to this city,' says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

34 'For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for My servant Dau'yad's sake.'"

35 And it came to be that night, that the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) went out, and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Ashur. And when men arose early in the rising, behold, these were all dead bodies.

36 So San’khara’yab king of Ashur departed, and went and returned, and abided in Nayan’uah.

37 And it came to be, as he was bowing in the house of nasarak his idol, that Adar’malak and Shar’atsar struck him with the sword, and they escaped [to] Ararat. And Asar Khadan his son reigned in his place.

CHAPTER 20

1 In those days was Khazaqa'Yahu sick to death. And Yasha'Yahu the nab’ya (prophet) son of A'muts came to him, and said to him, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), ‘Put your house in order, for you shall die, and not abide.'"

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) saying,

3 "Remember now, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), I beg You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a complete heart, and have done that which is good in Your sight." And Khazaqa'Yahu wept bitterly.

4 And it came to be, before Yasha'Yahu had gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came to him, saying,

5 "Turn back and tell Khazaqa'Yahu the prince of My people, 'Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Dau'yad your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day, you shall go up to the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

6 And I will add to your days fifteen years, and I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Ashur. And I will defend this city for My own sake, and for My servant Dau'yad's sake.”

7 And Yasha'Yahu said, "Take a cake of figs." And they took and laid it on the cook, and he recovered.

8 And Khazaqa'Yahu said to Yasha'Yahu, "What shall be the sign that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will heal me, and that I shall go up to the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) the third day?"

9 And Yasha'Yahu said, "This shall be the sign to you from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will do the word that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?"

10 And Khazaqa'Yahu answered, "It is easy for the shadow to go forward ten steps. Nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps."

11 And Yasha'Yahu the nab’ya (prophet) cried to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and He brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Akhaz.

12 At that time Bara’dak Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babal, sent letters and a gift to Khazaqa'Yahu, for he had heard that Khazaqa'Yahu had been sick.

13 And Khazaqa'Yahu listened to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his rule, that Khazaqa'Yahu did not show them.

14 Then Yasha'Yahu the nab’ya (prophet) came to king Khazaqa'Yahu and said to him, "What did these men say? From where did they come to you?" And Khazaqa'Yahu said, "They are come from a far land, even from Babal."

15 And he said, "What have they seen in your house?" And Khazaqa'Yahu answered, "They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them."

16 And Yasha'Yahu said to Khazaqa'Yahu, "Hear the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

17 'Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, shall be carried to Babal. Nothing shall be left,' says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

18 'Of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you shall father, shall they take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babal.'"

19 Then Khazaqa'Yahu said to Yasha'Yahu, "The word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) which you have spoken is good." He said moreover, "Is it not so, if shalum (peace) and truth shall be in my days?"

20 Now the rest of the acts of Khazaqa'Yahu, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

21 And Khazaqa'Yahu lay down with his fathers, and Mana'shah his son reigned in his place.

CHAPTER 21

1 Mana'shah was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Kha’pats Yabah.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), after the abominations of the nations whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) cast out before the children of Yashar'AL.

3 For he built again the high places which Khazaqa'Yahu his father had destroyed, and he reared up altars for Ba'al, and made an asharah, as did Akh'ab king of Yashar'AL, and bowed down all the army of the sky and served them.

4 And he built altars in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), of which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said, "I will put My Name in Yaru'shalam."

5 And he built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

6 And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had mediums, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), to provoke Him to anger.

7 And he put the engraved image of asharah that he had made in the House of which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Dau'yad and to Shalamah his son, "In this house, and in Yaru'shalam, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Yashar'AL, will I put My Name forever,

8 neither will I cause the feet of Yashar'AL to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Thurah that my servant Mashah commanded them."

9 But they did not listen: and Mana'shah seduced them to do that which is evil more than did the nations whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) destroyed before the children of Yashar'AL.

10 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) spoke by his servants the nab’ya’ym (prophets) saying,

11"Because Mana'shah king of Yahudah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amar’ya did, who were before him, and has made Yahudah also transgress with his idols,

12 therefore thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, 'Behold, I bring such evil on Yaru'shalam and Yahudah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.

13 And I will stretch over Yaru'shalam the line of Shamar'un, and the plummet of the house of Akh'ab, and I will wipe Yaru'shalam as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

14 And I will cast off the remnant of My inheritance, and give them into the hand of their enemies. And they will become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies,

15 because they have done that which is evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Ma’tsara’ym, even to this day.'"

16 Moreover Mana'shah shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Yaru'shalam from one end to another, besides his transgression with which he made Yahudah transgress, in doing that which was evil in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

17 Now the rest of the acts of Mana'shah, and all that he did, and his transgression that he transgressed, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

18 And Mana'shah lay down with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Aza (Uh'za): and Amun his son reigned in his place.

19 Amun was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Ma’shalam’tha daughter of Kha’ruts (Kha’roots) of Ya’tabah.

20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), as did Mana'shah his father.

21 And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them:

22 and he forsook 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

23 And the servants of Amun conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.

24 But the people of the land smote all those who had conspired against king Amun, and the people of the land made Ya’asha’Yahu his son king in his place.

25 Now the rest of the acts of Amun which he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

26 And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Aza (Uh'za): and Ya’asha’Yahu his son reigned in his place.

CHAPTER 22

1 Ya’asha’Yahu was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Yad’yadah daughter of Ada’Yah from Bats’qath.

2 And he did that which was right in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and walked in all the way of Dau'yad his father, and did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

3 And it came to be in year eighteen of King Ya’asha’Yahu, that the king sent Shapan, son of Atsal’Yahu son of Ma’shalam, the scribe, to the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) saying,

4 "Go up to Khalaqa’Yahu the high ka’ahn (priest), that he may complete the silver which is brought into the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people.

5 Let them give it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and let them give it to the workmen who are in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), to repair the breaches of the house,

6 to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house.

7 However there was no accounting made with them of the silver that was given into their hand, for they dealt in trust.”

8 And Khalaqa’Yahu the high ka’ahn (priest) said to Shapan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Thurah in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)." And Khalaqa’Yahu gave the book to Shapan, and he read it.

9 And Shapan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again and said, "Your servants have emptied out the silver that was found in the house, and have given it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)."

10 And Shapan the scribe told the king saying, "Khalaqa’Yahu the ka’ahn (priest) has given a book to me." And Shapan read it before the king.

11 And it came to be, when the king had heard the words of the Book of the Thurah, that he tore his clothes.

12 And the king commanded Khalaqa’Yahu the ka’ahn (priest), and Akh'yaqam son of Shapan, and Akabur(Aka'boor) son of Mayaka’Yah, and Shapan the scribe, and Ash’Yah the king's servant, saying,

13 "Go inquire of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) for me, and for the people, and for all Yahudah, concerning the words of this Book that is found, for great is the wrath of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this Book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us."

14 So Khalaqa’Yahu the ka’ahn (priest) and Akh'yaqam and Akabur(Aka'boor) and Shapan and Ash’Yah, went to Khal'dah the nab’ya’ah (prophetess), the wife of Shalam son of Thaquah, son of Khar’khas, keeper of the wardrobe: now she abided in Yaru'shalam in the second, and they talked with her.

15 And she said to them, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,

16 "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 'Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the Book which the king of Yahudah has read.

17 Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other idols, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.'"

18 But to the king of Yahudah, who sent you to inquire of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), thus you shall tell him, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL: 'Concerning the words which you have heard,

19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before Me, I also have heard you,' says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

20 'Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in shalum (peace), neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place.'" And they brought back this message to the king.

CHAPTER 23

1 And the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Yahudah and of Yaru'shalam.

2 And the king went up to the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and all the men of Yahudah and all the inhabitants of Yaru'shalam with him, and the ka’ahn’ym (priests), and the nab’ya’ym (prophets), and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Bar'yath (covenant) which was found in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

3 And the king stood by the column and made a Bar'yath (covenant) before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), to walk after 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and to keep His commandments, and His witnesses, and his statutes, with all heart, and all being, to confirm the words of this Bar'yath (covenant) that were written in this Book: and all the people stood to the Bar'yath (covenant).

4 And the king commanded Khalaqa’Yahu the high ka’ahn (priest), and the ka’ahn’ym (priests) of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring forth out of the Hayakal of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) all the vessels that were made for Ba'al, and for the asharah, and for all the army of the sky, and he burned them outside of Yaru'shalam in the fields of the Qadar'un (Qadar’oon), and carried the ashes of them to Bayath AL.

5 And he put down the idolatrous ka’ahn’ym (priests), whom the kings of Yahudah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Yahudah, and in the places around Yaru'shalam, those also who burned incense to Ba'al, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the army of the sky.

6 And he brought out the asharah from the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), outside of Yaru'shalam, to the brook Qadar'un, and burned it at the brook Qadar'un, and beat it to dust, and cast its dust on the graves of the common people.

7 And he broke down the houses of the cult prostitutes that were in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), where the women wove hangings for the asharah.

8 And he brought all the ka’ahn’ym (priests) out of the cities of Yahudah and defiled the high places where the ka’ahn’ym (priests) had burned incense, from Gaba to Ba'ar Shaba, and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Yahusha the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand in the gate of the city.

9 Nevertheless the ka’ahn’ym (priests) of the high places did not come up to the altar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) in Yaru'shalam, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.

10 And he defiled the Thapath, which is in the valley of the children of Hanam, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to malak.

11 And he took away the horses that the kings of Yahudah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), by the room of Nathan-Malak the officer, who was in the court, and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.

12 And the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Akhaz, which the kings of Yahudah had made, and the altars which Mana'shah had made in the two courts of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), did the king break down, and beat down from there, and cast the dust of them into the brook Qadar'un.

13 And the high places that were before Yaru'shalam, which were on the right hand of the mountain of corruption, which Shalamah the king of Yashar'AL had built for ash’tharath the abomination of the Tsa’yadan’ym, and for kamush the abomination of Mu'ab, and for malkam the abomination of the children of Amun, did the king defile.

14 And he broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the ashar'ym, and filled their places with the bones of men.

15 Moreover the altar that was at Bayath AL, and the high place which Yarab'am son of Nabat, who made Yashar'AL transgress, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down, and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the asharah.

16 As Ya’asha’Yahu turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain, and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) which the man of ALUAH proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

17 Then he said, "What monument is that which I see?" And the men of the city told him, "It is the tomb of the man of ALUAH, who came from Yahudah, and proclaimed the words that you have done against the altar of Bayath AL."

18 And he said, "Let him be! Let no man move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the nab’ya (prophet) who came out of Shamar'un.

19 And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Shamar'un, which the kings of Yashar'AL had made to provoke to anger, Ya’asha’Yahu took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bayath AL.

20 And he slaughtered all the ka’ahn’ym (priests) of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men's bones on them, and he returned to Yaru'shalam.

21 And the king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Pasakh to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Your ALUAH, as it is written in this Book of the Bar'yath (covenant)."

22 Surely there was not kept such a Pasakh from the days of the judges who judged Yashar'AL, nor in all the days of the kings of Yashar'AL, nor of the kings of Yahudah,

23 but in the eighteenth year of king Ya’asha’Yahu was this Pasakh kept to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) in Yaru'shalam.

24 Moreover those who had mediums, and the wizards, and the household idols, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Yahudah and in Yaru'shalam, did Ya’asha’Yahu put away, that he might confirm the Words of the Thurah which were written in the Book that Khalaqa’Yahu the ka’ahn (priest) found in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).

25 And like him was there no king before him, who turned to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) with all his heart, and with all his being, and with all his might, according to all the Thur’ath of Mashah, neither after him arose there any like him.

26 However, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was kindled against Yahudah, because of all the provocations that Mana'shah had provoked Him.

27 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said, "I will remove Yahudah also out of My sight, as I have removed Yashar'AL, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Yaru'shalam, and the house of which I said, 'My Name shall be there.'"

28 Now the rest of the acts of Ya’asha’Yahu, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

29 In his days Para'ah Nakah king of Ma’tsara’ym went up against the king of Ashur to the river Parath: and king Ya’asha’Yahu went against him, and killed him at Magadu, when he had seen him.

30 And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Magadu, and brought him to Yaru'shalam, and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Yahu'akhaz son of Ya’asha’Yahu, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.

31 Yahu'akhaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Khamutal daughter of Yaram’Yahu of Labanah.  

32 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), according to all that his fathers had done.

33 And Para'ah Nakah put him in bonds in Rabalah in the land of Khamath, that he might not reign in Yaru'shalam, and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

34 And Para'ah Nakah made AL'yaq'yam son of Ya’asha’Yahu king in the place of Ya’asha’Yahu his father, and changed his name to Yahu'yaq'yam: but he took Yahu'akhaz away, and he came to Ma’tsara’ym, and died there.

35 And Yahu'yaq'yam gave the silver and the gold to Para'ah, but he taxed the land to give the silver according to the commandment of Para'ah: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of everyone according to his taxation, to give it to Para'ah Nakah.

36 Yahu'yaq'yam was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was Zabudah daughter of Pada’Yah of Rumah.

37 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), according to all that his fathers had done.

CHAPTER 24

1 In his days Nab'khad'natsar* king of Babal came up, and Yahu'yaq'yam became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

*This Book also omits the oo from his name in the Masoretic

2 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) sent against him bands of the Kashad'ym, and bands of Aram, and bands of Mu'ab, and bands of the children of Amun, and sent them against Yahudah to destroy it, according to the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), which he spoke by his servants the nab’ya’ym (prophets).

3 Surely at the commandment of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came this on Yahudah, to remove them out of his sight, for the transgressions of Mana'shah, according to all that he did,

4 and also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Yaru'shalam with innocent blood: and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) would not pardon.

5 Now the rest of the acts of Yahu'yaq'yam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of words of the days of the kings of Yahudah?

6 So Yahu'yaq'yam lay down with his fathers, and Yahu'yak'yan his son reigned in his place.

7 And the king of Ma’tsara’ym did not come again out of his land any more, for the king of Babal had taken, from the brook of Ma’tsara’ym to the river Parath, all that pertained to the king of Ma’tsara’ym.

8 Yahu'yak'yan was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Yaru'shalam three months: and his mother's name was Nakashath’a daughter of AL’nathan of Yaru'shalam.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), according to all that his father had done.

10 At that time the servants of Nab'khad'natsar king of Babal came up to Yaru'shalam, and the city was besieged.

11 And Nabu'khad'natsar king of Babal came to the city, while his servants were besieging it,

12 and Yahu'yak'yan the king of Yahudah went out to the king of Babal, he and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babal took him in the eighth year of his reign.

13 And he carried out there all the treasures of the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Shalamah king of Yashar'AL had made in the Hayakal of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had said.

14 And he carried away all Yaru'shalam, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths, none remained, except the poorest people of the land.

15 And he carried away Yahu'yak'yan to Babal, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Yaru'shalam to Babal.

16 And all the men of might, seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babal brought captive to Babal.

17 And the king of Babal made Mathan’Yah, uncle, king is his place, and changed his name to Tsadaqa'Yahu.

18 Tsadaqa'Yahu was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Yaru'shalam: and his mother's name was KKhamutal daughter of Yaram’Yahu from Labanah.

19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), according to all that Yahu'yaq'yam had done.

20 For through the anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) did it happen in Yaru'shalam and Yahudah, until he had cast them out from his face. And Tsadaqa'Yahu rebelled against the king of Babal.

CHAPTER 25

1 And it came to be in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in ten of the month, that Nab'khad'natsar king of Babal came, he and all his army, against Yaru'shalam, and encamped against it, and they built forts against it around it.

2 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Tsadaqa'Yahu.

3 In nine of the month the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

4 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden, now the Kashad'ym were against the city around, and went by the way of the plains.

5 But the army of the Kashad'ym pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Yara'yakhu, and all his army was scattered from him.

6 Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babal to Rabal’tha’ah, and they gave judgment on him.

7 And they smote the sons of Tsadaqa'Yahu before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Tsadaqa'Yahu, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babal.

8 Now in the fifth month, in seventh of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nab'khad'natsar, king of Babal, came Nabu'zara'dan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babal, to Yaru'shalam.

9 And he burnt the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and the king's house, and all the houses of Yaru'shalam, even every great house, burnt he with fire.

10 And all the army of the Kashad'ym, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Yaru'shalam.

11 And the remnant of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babal, and the remnant of the multitude, did Nabu'zara'dan the captain of the guard carry away captive.

12 But the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

13 And the pillars of bronze that were in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and the bases and the bronze sea that were in the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), did the Kashad'ym break in pieces, and carried the bronze of them to Babal.

14 And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with which they served, took they away.

15 And the fire pans, and the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.

16 The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Shalamah had made for the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the bronze of all these vessels was without weight.

17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it, and the height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital around it, all of bronze: and like to these had the second pillar with network.

18 And the captain of the guard took Shara’Yah the chief ka’ahn (priest), and Tsapana’Yahu the second ka’ahn (priest), and the three keepers of the threshold:

19 and out of the city he took an officer who was put over the men of war, and five men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city, and the scribe, the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city.

20 And Nabu'zara'dan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babal to Rabal’tha’ah.

21 And the king of Babal struck them, and put them to death in Rabalah in the land of Khamath. So Yahudah was carried away captive out of his land.

22 And as for the people who were left in the land of Yahudah, whom Nabu'khad'natsar king of Babal had left, even over them he made Gadal'Yahu son of Akh'yaqam, son of Shapan, governor.

23 Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babal had made Gadal'Yahu governor, they came to Gadal'Yahu to the Ma'tsapah, even Ya'shama'AL son of Nathan'Yah, and Yahu’khanan son of Qarakh, and Shara’Yah son of Tha’nakham’tha the Natap'tha'ya, and Ya’azan’Yahu son of the Makath’ya, they and their men.

24 And Gadal'Yahu swore to them and to their men, and said to them, “Do not be afraid because of the servants of the Kashad'ym. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babal, and it shall be well with you."

25 And it came to be in the seventh month, that Ya'shama'AL son of Nathan'Yah, son of AL'yashama, of the royal seed came, and ten men with him, and struck Gadal'Yahu, so that he died, and the Yahud'ym and the Kashad'ym that were with him at Ma'tsapah.

26 And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Ma’tsara’ym, for they were afraid of the Kashad'ym.

27 And it came to be in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Yahu'yak'yan king of Yahudah, in the twelfth month, in seven and twentieth of the month, that A’u’yal (Au’oo’yal) Ma’darak king of Babal, in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Yahu'yak'yan king of Yahudah out of prison,

28 and he spoke kindly to him, and put his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babal,

29 and changed his prison garments. And he ate bread before him continually all the days of his khaYah (life):

30 and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him of the king, a portion a day, in his day, all the days of his khaYah (life).