2 Chronicles 29:1-36 Re-Opening the House of the Lord God of Israel

 

Re-Opening the House of the Lord God of Israel

2 Chronicles 29:1-36                    2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Hezekiah began to [rule] when he was 25 years old & he [ruled] 29 years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, [Zechariah’s] daughter. And [Hezekiah] did [what] was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all David, his [forefather] had done.

In the 1st year [of] the 1st month [Hezekiah ruled, he] opened [the shut] doors of the house of the Lord & repaired them. And he brought in the priests & Levites & gathered them together into the East Street.

And [Hezekiah] said to them, You Levites, hear me & sanctify yourselves now & sanctify the house of the Lord God of your [forefathers] & carry the filthiness out of this Holy Place. For our [forefathers] have [sinned] & have done [what] was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God & have [abandoned] Him.

[They] have turned their faces away from [where] the Lord [resides] & turned their backs [on Him.]

[Isaiah 1:4 Ah, sinful nation, a people [weighed down] with [sin.] A seed of evil-doers, children [people who corrupt others.] They have [abandoned] the Lord. They have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger. They [have turned their backs & have gone away.]

Also, they have shut up the doors of the [covered] porch [of the Lord’s house] & have put out the [continual] lamps. [They] haven’t burned incense, nor offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. [For this reason,] the [anger] of the Lord was upon Judah & Jerusalem.

And [God] has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment & to hissing as you see with your eyes.

[2 Chronicles 24:18 And they left the house of the Lord God of their [forefathers] & served groves & idols: and [fury] came upon Judah & Jerusalem for [these sins of theirs.]

For [look,] our fathers have fallen by the sword & our wives & [children] are in captivity for this. Now, it’s in my heart to make a covenant [contract] with the Lord God of Israel, [so] that His fierce [fury] may turn away from us.

My sons, [don’t neglect what needs to be done] now: for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him & that you should minister to Him & burn incense.

Then, the Levites arose: Mahath, [Amasai’s] son; Joel, [Azariah’s] son, [from the descendants] of the Kohathites. And [from the descendants] of Merari, Kish, [Abdi’s] son; Azariah, [Jehalelel’s] son. And [from the descendants] of the Gershonites: Joah, [Zimmah’s] son; & Eden, [Joah’s] son.

And of the [descendants] of Elizaphan: Shimri & Jeiel. And of the [descendants] of Asaph: Zechariah & Mattaniah. And of the [descendants] of Heman: Jehiel & Shimei. And of the [descendants] of Jeduthun: Shemaiah & Uzziel. They gathered their [relatives] & sanctified themselves.

and [they] came, according to the [command] of king [Hezekiah] by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the [Lord’s] house. And the priests went into the inner part of the [Lord’s] house, to cleanse it.

And [they] brought out into the [courtyard of the Lord’s] house [anything unclean] that they found in the temple of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it [outside to] the Brook Kidron.

Now, they began on the 1st day of the 1st month to sanctify & on the 8th day of the month, they came to the [covered] porch of the Lord. So, they sanctified the [Lord’s] house in 8 days. And [on] the 16th day of the 1st month, they [finished.]

Then, they went to king Hezekiah & said, We have cleansed all of the [Lord’s] house & the altar of burnt offering, with all [its] vessels & the shewbread table, with all [its] vessels.

[Also,] we have prepared & sanctified all the vessels king Ahaz, [had] cast away in his transgression [when he ruled.] [Look,] they are [in front of] the altar of the Lord.

[2 Chronicles 28:24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God & cut [into] pieces the vessels of [God’s] house & shut up the doors of the [Lord’s] house & [Ahaz] made [himself] altars in every corner of Jerusalem.]

Then, king Hezekiah rose early & gathered the rulers of the city & went up to the [Lord’s] house. They brought 7 [bulls,] 7 rams, 7 lambs & 7 [male] goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary & for Judah.

And [Hezekiah] commanded the priests, [Aaron’s descendants,] to offer them on the altar of the Lord. So, [when] they killed the [bulls,] the priests received the blood & sprinkled it on the altar. [Also,] when the rams [were] killed, they sprinkled the blood on the altar.

They also killed the lambs & they sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they laid their hands upon [the male] goats that were brought for the sin offering, before the king & the congregation & priests killed them. And with their blood, [the priests] made reconciliation upon the altar, to make atonement for all Israel.

For the king commanded that the burnt offering & the sin offering should be made for all [of] Israel. And [Hezekiah put] the Levites in the [Lord’s] house with cymbals, [lyres] & harps, according to the [command of king] David & [from] Gad, the king’s seer & Nathan the prophet.

[1 Samuel 9:9 (Before [this] time in Israel, when a man went to [inquire] of God, he [said this,] Come & let’s go to the Seer. For he, [who] is now call a Prophet, was [before this time] called a Seer.)]

The Lord [commanded this through] His prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments David [made] & the priests with trumpets. And Hezekiah commanded [them] to offer the burnt offering on the altar.

And when the burnt offering began, the [songs to] the Lord also began with the trumpets & the instruments [appointed] by king David of Israel. And all the congregation worshiped, the singers sang & the trumpeters sounded. And all this continued until the burned offering was finished.

And when they [ended the] offering, king [Hezekiah] & all [who] were present with him, bowed themselves & worshiped. [Also,] king Hezekiah & the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David & Asaph, the seer.

And they sang praises with gladness & bowed their heads & worshiped. Then, Hezekiah said, Now [that] you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near & bring sacrifices & thank offerings to the [Lord’s] house. And the congregation brought in sacrifices & thank offerings.

And [those with a willing heart] brought burnt offerings. And the number of the burnt offerings, [that] the congregation brought [were:] 70 [bulls,] 100 rams, 200 lambs, all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. And [there] were 600 oxen & 3,000 sheep for the consecrated things. [There weren’t enough] priests to [skin & to fillet] all the burnt offerings.

[For this reason,] their brethren, the Levites, [helped] them [until] the work was [done] & until the other priests had sanctified themselves. For the Levites [had been] more [responsible] than the priests, [by sanctifying] themselves.

And [there] were [an] abundance of burnt offerings, with the fat of the Peace Offerings & the drink offering for every burnt offering. So, the service [for the Lord’s] house, was [put] in order. And [king] Hezekiah & all the people rejoiced, that God had prepared the people. For [this] thing was done suddenly.

2 Chronicles 28:1-27 The Wicked Reign of King Ahaz

 

The Wicked Reign of King Ahaz

2 Chronicles 28:1-27                    2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 16 years in Jerusalem. But Ahaz [didn’t] do [what] was right in the sight of the Lord, like David, his [forefather.]

For [Ahaz followed] in the ways of [Israel's] kings & also made [molded] images [idols] for Baalim.  [Jeremiah 21:9 Then, they shall answer, Because they have [abandoned] the Covenant [contract] of the Lord, their God & worshiped other gods & served them.]

[Also, Ahaz] burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom & burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord [God] had cast out before the children [people] of Israel. [Ahaz] also sacrificed in the high places, on the hills & under every green tree.

[2 Kings 21:6-7 And he made his son pass through the fire & observed times, used enchantments, dealt with familiar spirits & wizards He [did] much wickedness in the sight of the Lord to provoke Him to anger.

And he set a [carved] image [in] the grove that he had made [at] the [Lord’s] house, of which the Lord said to David & to Solomon, his son, I will put My name In this house & in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, forever.]

[For this reason,] the Lord his God, delivered [Ahaz] into the hand of [Syria’s] king. They [defeated Ahaz] & carried away & brought a great multitude of them captive to Damascus.

And [Ahaz] was also delivered into the hand of [Israel’s] king, who [attacked Ahaz] with a [large] slaughter. For Pekah, [Remeliah’s] son, [killed] 120,000 valiant men in Judah in 1 day; because they had [abandoned] the Lord God of their [forefathers.]

And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, [killed] Maaseiah, the king’s son; Azrikam, governor [a.k.a. The officer in charge] of the house & Elkanah, [who] was next to the king. And the children [people] of Israel carried 200,000 women & [children] captive & also took much [plunder] from them & brought [the plunder] to Samaria.

But the prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded. And he went out [in front of] the [army] that came to Samaria & said to them, [See,] the Lord God of your [forefathers] was [furious] with Judah & He has delivered them into your hand & you have [killed] them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.

And now, you [plan] to keep under [your control] the children [people] of Judah & Jerusalem for [male servants & female servants] for you: but [don’t] you, even you [also also have] sins against the Lord your God?

Therefore, now hear me & [return] the captives again, [whom] you have taken captive of your [fellow Israelites:] for the fierce [fury] of the Lord is upon you.

Then, [some] of the [leaders] of the children [people] of Ephraim: Azariah, [Johanan’s] son; Berechiah, [Meshillemoth’s] son; Jehizkiah, [Shallum’s] son & Amasa, [Hadlai’s] son, stood up against [those who] came from the war.

And said to them, You shall not bring in the captives in [here.] [Since,] we have  already [sinned] against the Lord, you intend to add more to our sins & our trespasses. For our [sin is enormous] & there is fierce [fury] against Israel.

So, the armed men left the captives & the [plunder in front of] the princes, [a.k.a. officials] & all the congregation. The men [who] were [named] rose up & took the captives & with the [plunder,] they clothed all [who] were naked among them & [gave them clothes, shoes & something] to eat & drink.

[The put oil] on them & carried all the feeble [ones] of them upon [mules] & brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their [relatives.] Then, they returned to Samaria. [Luke 6:27 But I say to you, [who] hear, Love your enemies & do good to [those who] hate you.]

At that time, king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. For again, the Edomites had come & [attacked] Judah & carried away captives. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, [a.k.a. foothills] & south of Judah.

[They] had [captured:] BethShemesh; Ajalon, [a.k.a. Aijalen,] Gederoth & Shocho, [a.ka. Soko] with [their] villages & Timnah, with [its] villages & Gimzo & [its] villages. And they [lived] there. For the Lord, [had humbled] Judah, because of Ahaz, [Israel’s] king: for [Ahas had] made [the people of] Judah naked & [sinned terribly] against the Lord.

And Tilgath Pilneser, [Assyria’s] king came & distressed [Ahaz,] but [didn’t strengthen himself.] For Ahaz took away a portion of [treasures] out of the [Lord’s] house & out of the [king’s & prince’s palaces] & gave it to [Assyria’s] king, but he [didn’t] help [Ahaz.]

And [during] the time of his distress, [king Ahaz sinned even] more against the Lord. For [Ahaz] sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, [who defeated] him. And [Ahaz] said, Because the gods of [Syria’s] kings help them, therefore I will sacrifice to them, [so] that they may help me. But they were the ruin of [Ahaz] & all of Israel.

And Ahaz gathered together the [dedicated] vessels [from the God’s] house & shut the doors of the [Lord’s] house & [Ahaz] made altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

[2 Chronicles 29:7-8 Also, they have shut up the doors of the [covered] porch & put out the lamps & haven’t burned incense, nor offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.

[That’s why] the [fury] of the Lord was upon Judah & Jerusalem & He has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment & to hissing, as you see with your eyes.]

And in every [single] city of Judah, [Ahaz] made high places to burn incense to other gods & provoked the Lord God of his [forefathers,] to anger. Now, the rest of [Ahaz’ actions] & all his ways, 1st & last, [look] are written in the Book of [the] Kings of Judah & Israel.

And Ahaz [died] & slept with his [forefathers] & they buried him in the city, even of Jerusalem, but they [didn’t] bring him into the [tombs] of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah, [Ahaz’] son [ruled] in his [place.]

2 Chronicles 27:1-9 Uzziah’s Son, Jotham, Ruled

 

Uzziah’s Son, Jotham, Ruled

2 Chronicles 27:1-9                   2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Jotham was 25 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 16 years in Jerusalem. Also, his mother’s name was Jerushah, [Zakok’s] daughter. [Jotham] did [what] was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all his father, Uzziah did.

[However] he [didn’t] enter the temple of the Lord & the people [continued to act] corruptly. [Jotham rebuilt] the [Upper] Gate of the [Lord’s] house & he built much of the Wall of Ophel.

Also, [Jotham] built cities in the mountains of Judah & castles, [a.k.a. fortresses] & towers [were] built in the forests. [Jotham] also fought with the [Ammonites’] king & prevailed against them.

The same year, the children [people] of Ammon gave [Jotham] 100 talents of silver & 10,000 measures of wheat & 10,000 [measures] of barley. The [people] of Ammon [paid this amount to Jotham] both the 2nd year & the 3rd.

So, Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God. Now, the rest of [Jotham’s actions,] all his wars & his ways, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel & Judah.

[Jotham] was 25 years old when he began to [rule] & [he ruled] 16 years in Jerusalem. And Jotham [died] & slept with his [forefathers] & they buried him in the city of David. And Ahaz, [Jotham’s] son, [ruled] in his [place.]

2 Chronicles 26:1-23 Uzziah Becomes King After Amaziah Dies

 

Uzziah Becomes King After Amaziah Dies

2 Chronicles 26:1-23                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Then, all the people of Judah took 16 year old Uzziah, [a.k.a. Azariah,] & made him king in [place] of his father, Amaziah. [Uzziah rebuilt] Eloth & [returned] it to Judah after king [Amaziah died] & slept with his [forefathers.] Uzziah began to [rule] at 16 years old & he [ruled] 52 years in Jerusalem.

Also, his mother’s name was Jecoliah [from] Jerusalem. And [Uzziah] did [what] was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all his father, Amaziah, did. And [Uzziah] sought [the Lord] God [during] the days of Zechariah, who [was given] understanding in the visions of God.

And as long as [Uzziah turned to] the Lord, God made him prosper. And Uzziah went [out] & warred against the Philistines & [broke] down the Wall of Gath, the Wall of Jabneh & the Wall of Ashdod. And [he] built cities [near] Ashdod & among the Philistines.

And God helped [Uzziah] against the Philistines, the Mehunims & against the Arabians [who] dwelt in Gur Baal. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah. His name spread [as far as] the [entrance] of Egypt. For [Uzziah] strengthened himself exceedingly.

[Also,] in Jerusalem, Uzziah built towers at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate & the [corner] of the wall in Jerusalem & fortified them. [Uzziah] also built towers in the desert & [dug] many wells, [because] he had [lots of livestock] in both the low country, [a.k.a. foothills] & in the plains.

Also, [he had farmers] & [vineyard workers] in the mountains & in Carmel: for he loved [farming.]

[Also,] Uzziah had an [army of warriors, who] went out to war by [companies,] according to the number [recorded] by the hand of Jeiel, [a.k.a. Jelel,] the scribe & Maaseiah, the ruler, [under the direction] of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.

The [total] number of the [leaders of the forefathers] of the men of valor were 2,600. And [under] their [command] was an army [of] 307,500, [who] made war with mighty power, to help king [Uzziah] against the enemy.

And Uzziah prepared & [provided the whole army with:] shields, spears, helmets, [body armor,] bows & slings to [throw] stones. And [Uzziah had devices] made in Jerusalem, invented by [skillful] men to be on [top of] towers & [the corners of the walls,] to shoot arrows [from it & to catapult large rocks with them.]

And [Uzziah’s] name spread far [around;] for he was marvelously helped, [until] he was strong. But when [Uzziah] was strong, his [prideful] heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he [sinned] against the Lord his God, & went into the [Lord’s] temple to burn incense of the incense altar.

And Azariah, the priest, went in after [Uzziah,] with 80 of the [Lord’s] priests, [who] were valiant men. And they [stopped] king Uzziah & said to him, [Burning] incense to the Lord [doesn’t] pertain to you, Uzziah, but [only] to the priests, the [descendants] of Aaron, [who] are consecrated to burn incense.

Go out of the sanctuary; for you have [sinned.] Neither will you be [honored by] the Lord God. Then, Uzziah was [angry] & had a censer in his hand to burn incense.

And while he was [furious] with the priests, leprosy [broke out] in [Uzziah’s] forehead, [in front of] the priests, in the [Lord’s] house, from beside the incense altar. And Azariah, the chief priest, & all the priests, looked [at Uzziah & saw he had leprosy] in his forehead & they [threw Uzziah] out from [there.]

[Yes, Uzziah,] himself also [hurried] to go out, because the Lord had [struck] him. And Uzziah, the king, was a leper [until] the day of his death & [he lived in an isolated] house, [because he was] a leper: for he was cut off from the [Lord’s] house.

And Jotham, [Uzziah’s] son, was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land. Now the rest of [Uzziah’s actions,] 1st & last, Isaiah, the prophet, [Amoz’] son, [wrote.]

So, Uzziah [died] & slept with his [forefathers] in the burial field, which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper. And Jotham, his son, [ruled] in his [place.]

2 Chronicles 25:1-27 Amaziah Rules After Joash, His Father, is Killed

Amaziah Rules After Joash, His Father, is Killed

2 Chronicles 25:1-27                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Amaziah, [Joash’s son,] was 25 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 29 years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan, [from] Jerusalem. He did [what] was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a [loyal] heart.

Now it [happened,] when the kingdom [had been] established to him, that [Amaziah had] his servants [killed who] had for killed his father, the king.

But [Amaziah didn’t kill] their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers’s shouldn’t die for the [sins] of the children & neither shall the children die for their father’s [sins.] But every man shall die for his own sin.

[Also,] Amaziah gathered Judah together & made captains over 1,000’s & captains over 100’s, according to their [families] of their fathers, throughout all Judah & Benjamin. [Amaziah counted those] 20 years & older, able to go to war.

[He] found 300,000 choice men [who] could handle [a] spear & shield. [Amaziah] also hired 100,000 mighty men of valor [from] Israel for 100 talents of silver. A man of God came to [Amaziah & said,] O King, [don’t] let the army of Israel go with you; for the Lord isn’t with Israel [for war, that is] with all the children of Ephraim.

But if you will go, do it & be strong for the battle, [for] God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help & to cast down. And Amaziah said to the man of God, What about the 100 talents [of silver] which I have given to [Israel’s] army?

And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give you much more than this. Then, Amaziah separated them. [That is, he sent back those] out of [Ephraim’s army] to go home again. Their anger [grew] against Judah & they returned home [very angry.]

And Amaziah strengthened himself & led his people [forward] & went into the Valley of Salt & [killed] 10,000 of the children [people] of Seir. And the other 10,000, [Amaziah] left alive & the [people] of Judah [carried them] away captive & brought them [onto] the top of the rock & [threw] them down from the top of the rock & they were all [dashed to pieces.]

[Those] soldiers [from] the army [that Amaziah had] sent back, [so] that they [shouldn’t] go with him to battle, [struck down] the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth Horon. [They killed] 3,000 of them & took much [plunder.]

Now it [happened,] after Amaziah [returned] from the slaughter of the Edomites, that [Amaziah] brought the gods of the children [people] of Seir & set them up to be his gods. [Amaziah] bowed himself down before them & burned incense to them.

[2 Chronicles 28:23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which [defeated] him & he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore I will sacrifice to them, [so] that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him & of all of Israel.]

[For. This reason,] the anger of the Lord [grew] against Amaziah. [God] sent a prophet to [Amaziah, who] said, Why have you sought after the gods of the people, [gods that] couldn’t deliver their own people out of your hand.

And it [happened,] as [the prophet] talked with him, king [Amaziah] said, [Have] you [been] made the king’s [counselor? Refrain from doing this.] Why should you be [killed?] The prophet [stopped] & said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this & [haven’t paid attention to my advice.]

[1 Samuel 2:25 If one man [sins] against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man [sins] against the Lord, who shall [pray & plead on his behalf?] [Still] they didn’t [pay attention] to the voice of their father, because the Lord would [kill] them.]

Then, Amaziah, [Judah’s] king, took [the] advice & sent [for] Joash, [Jehoahaz’] son, [who was] the son of Jehu, [Israel’s] king, saying, Come. [Let’s] see one another [face to] face. And Joash, [Israel’s] king, sent to Amaziah, [Judah’s] king, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon, sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to [marry.]

A wild [animal] in Lebanon passed by there & [trampled] down the thistle. You say, [Look,] you have [killed] the Edomites & your heart lifts you up to boast. Now, [stay] at home. Why should you [interfere] to your [own & Judah’s] downfall] with you?

But Amaziah wouldn’t [listen;] for it came of God, [so] that [God] might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they [went] after the gods of Edom. So, Joash, [Israel’s] king, went up & they saw one another face [to face,] both he & Amaziah, [Judah’s] king, at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

And Judah was [defeated by] Israel & every man fled to his tent. And Joash, [Israel’s] king, took Amaziah, [Judah’s] king, [from] Beth Shemesh & brought [Amaziah] to Jerusalem & [broke] down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim, 400 cubits to the corner gate.

And [Joash] took all the gold & silver & all the vessels found in the house of God with Obed Edom. And [took] the treasures of the king’s house & also the hostages & returned to Samaria. And Amaziah, [Joash’s] son, [Judah’s] king, lived 15 years after the death of Joash [Jehoahaz’] son, [Israel’s] king.

Now, [aren’t] the rest of [Amaziah’s actions,] 1st & last, written in the Book of [the] Kings of Judah & Israel? Now, after [that] time, Amaziah [turned ] away from following the Lord & they made a conspiracy against [Amaziah] in Jerusalem & he fled to Lachish.

But they went to Lachish after [Amaziah] & [killed] him there. And they brought [Amaziah back] upon horses & buried him with his [forefathers] in the city of Judah.

 

2 Chronicles 24:1-27 Joash Repairs the House of the Lord God

 

Joash Repairs the House of the Lord God

2 Chronicles 24:1-27                    2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Joash was 7 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 40 years in Jerusalem. Also, his mother’s name was Zibiah of BeerSheba. And Joash did [what] was right in the sight of the Lord, all the [years] of Jehoiada, the priest.

And Jehoiada [chose] 2 wives [for Joash.] And [Joash fathered] sons & daughters. And it [happened] after this, that Joash was [determined] to repair the house of the Lord [God.] And [Joash] gathered together the priests & Levites & said to them, Go into the cities of Judah & all Israel & gather money to repair the house of your God, from year to year.

See that you [rush this] matter, [since] the Levites [haven’t moved with speed to do it.]

Anf king [Joash] called for Jehoiada, chief [priest] & said to him, Why haven't you required the Levites to bring out the collection [of money from] Judah, Jerusalem & the congregation of Israel for the Tabernacle of Witness, according to [Moses’ command,] the servant of the Lord?

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God & also [took] all the dedicated things [from] the [Lord’s] house & [presented them for] Baalim.

[Exodus 20:4-6 You shall not make [for yourselves] any [carved] image, or any likeness of anything, that is in heaven above, in the earth [below,] or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them.

For I, the Lord your God, am a Jealous God, visiting the [sin] of the fathers upon the children to the 3rd & 4th generation, of [those who] hated Me. And [show] mercy to 1,000’s of [those who] love Me & keep My commandments.]

And at king [Joash’s command,] they made a chest & set it [outside] at the gate of the [Lord’s] house. They made a proclamation through Judah & Jerusalem to bring the collection [money] to the Lord, that Moses, the servant of God, [had imposed] upon Israel in the wilderness.

And all the princes, [a.k.a. officials] & people rejoiced & brought in [the money & dropped] it into the chest, until [the chest was full.] Now it [happened] at that time, that the Levites brought the chest to the king’s office.

When they saw there was [lots of] money, the king’s scribe & the high priest’s officer came & emptied the chest & [returned it to its] place again. They did [this] day by day & gathered [an] abundance [of] money.

And king [Joash] & Jehoiada gave it to [those who supervised] the work & [provided] the service of the [Lord’s] house. [They] hired masons & carpenters to repair the [Lord’s] house. Also, [they hired those who] work with iron & brass to [fix] the [Lord’s] house.

So, the workmen did the work & [it] was [repaired by] them. They [got] the house of God [in its original condition] & strengthened it. And when they had finished it, they brought [& put] the rest of the money [in front of] king [Joash] & Jehoiada.

[It was used to make] vessels for the [Lord’s] house. Vessels to minister, to [make offerings,] spoons, vessels of gold & silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the [Lord’s] house continually all the days of [the life of Jehoiada, the high priest.]

But Jehoiada [grew] old & was full of [years] when he died [at] 130 years old. And they buried [Jehoiada] in the city of David among the kings, because he [did] good in Israel, both toward God & toward [the Lord’s] house.

Now, after [Jehoiada’s] death, the [officials] of Judah [bowed] to the king & the king [listened[ to them. And they [abandoned] the house of the Lord God of their [forefathers] & served groves & idols & [fury] came upon Judah & Jerusalem for this [sin of theirs.]

Yet, [God] sent prophets to them, to bring them [back] to the Lord again. And they testified against [the prophets;] but they  wouldn’t [listen to them.] And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, [Jehoiada’s] son, the priest.

[Zechariah] stood above the people & said to them, God [says this,] Why [do you sin against] the commandments of the Lord, [so] that you can’t prosper? Because you have [abandoned] the Lord, He has also [abandoned] you.

And they conspired again [Zechariah] & stoned him [to death] at the [command] of king [Joash,] in the [courtyard] of the [Lord’s] house. [King] Joash [didn’t remember] the kindness which Jehoiada, [Zechariah’s] father, had done to [Joash,] but [killed Jehoiada’s] son, [Zechariah.]

And when [Zechariah] died, he said, [May] the Lord look upon [this & call you to account for it.] And it [happened] at the end of the year, that [Syria’s] army came up against [Joash,] to Judah & Jerusalem & destroyed all the princes among the people & sent all [their plunder] to the king of Damascus.

For the [Syrian] army came with a small company of men, [but] the Lord delivered the very [large army of Judah & Jerusalem] into the [hands of the Syrians,] because [the Israelites abandoned] the Lord God of their [forefathers.] So, they executed judgment against Joash.

[Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of My covenant [contract:] and when you are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you & you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.]

And when they [had] departed from him (for they left [Joash, who was very diseased,]) his own servants conspired against [Joash,] for the [bloodshed] of the [son] of Jehoiada, the priest. [They killed Joash] on his bed & he died.

But they buried [Joash] in the city of David, but not in the [tombs] of the kings. [Those who] conspired against [Joash] are: Zabad, [Shimeath’s] son, an Ammonitess & Jehozabad, [Shimrith’s] son, a Moabitess.

Now, [about Joash’s] sons & the [large] burdens [Joash had] laid upon him & repairing the house of God, [look] they are written in the [account] of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah, his son [ruled] in his [place.]