The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  (2 Kin. 12:19–21)

  23So it happened in the spring of the year that vthe army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their 3spoil to the king of Damascus.

  24For the army of the Syrians wcame with a small company of men; but the LORD xdelivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they yexecuted judgment against Joash.

  25And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), zhis own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the 4sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

  26These are the ones who conspired against him: 5Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of 6Shimrith the Moabitess.

  27Now concerning his sons, and athe many oracles about him, and the repairing of the house of God, indeed they are written in the 7annals of the book of the kings. bThen Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

  2 Chronicles 25

  Amaziah Reigns in Judah

  (2 Kin. 14:1–6)

  1Amaziah awas twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

  2And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, bbut not with a loyal heart.

  3cNow it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.

  4However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, d“The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin.”

  The War Against Edom

  (2 Kin. 14:7)

  5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers’ houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them efrom twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield.

  6He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.

  7But a fman of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim.

  8“But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has gpower to help and to overthrow.”

  9Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, h“The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”

  10So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

  11Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his people, he went to ithe Valley of Salt and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir.

  12Also the children of Judah took captive ten thousand alive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were dashed in pieces.

  13But as for the soldiers of the army which Amaziah had discharged, so that they would not go with him to battle, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed three thousand in them, and took much 1spoil.

  14Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that jhe brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be khis gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them.

  15Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought lthe gods of the people, which mcould not rescue their own people from your hand?”

  16So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?” Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know that God has ndetermined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

  Israel Defeats Judah

  (2 Kin. 14:8–14)

  17Now oAmaziah king of Judah asked advice and sent to 2Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face one another in battle.”

  18And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife’; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

  19“Indeed you say that you have defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to pboast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?”

  20But Amaziah would not heed, for qit came from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they rsought the gods of Edom.

  21So Joash king of Israel went out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at sBeth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

  22And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.

  23Then Joash the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of tJehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—four hundred cubits.

  24And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of God with uObed-Edom, the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

  Death of Amaziah

  (2 Kin. 14:17–20)

  25vAmaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.

  26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, indeed are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

  27After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.

  28Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in 3the City of Judah.

  2 Chronicles 26

  Uzziah Reigns in Judah

  (2 Kin. 14:21, 22; 15:1–3)

  1Now all the people of Judah took 1Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

  2He built 2Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.

  3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

  4And he did what was aright in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

  5bHe sought God in the days of Zechariah, who chad understanding in the 3visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him dprosper.

  6Now he went out and emade war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines.

  7God helped him against fthe Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites.

  8Also the Ammonites gbrought tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong.

  9And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the hCorner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the wall; then he fortified them.

  10Also he built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains; he also had farmers and vinedressers in the mountains and in 4Carmel, for he loved the soil.

  11Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by comp
anies, according to the number on their roll as prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.

  12The total number of 5chief officers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred.

  13And under their authority was an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

  14Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones.

  15And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by iskillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

  The Penalty for Uzziah’s Pride

  (2 Kin. 15:4–7)

  16But jwhen he was strong his heart was klifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God lby entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

  17So mAzariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the LORD—valiant men.

  18And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It nis not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the opriests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God.”

  19Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, pleprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar.

  20And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also qhurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him.

  21rKing Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an sisolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

  22Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet tIsaiah the son of Amoz wrote.

  23uSo Uzziah 6rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

  2 Chronicles 27

  Jotham Reigns in Judah

  (2 Kin. 15:32–38)

  1Jotham awas twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was 1Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

  2And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still bthe people acted corruptly.

  3He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively on the wall of cOphel.

  4Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.

  5He also fought with the king of the dAmmonites and defeated them. And the people of Ammon gave him in that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. The people of Ammon paid this to him in the second and third years also.

  6So Jotham became mighty, ebecause he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.

  7Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

  8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

  9fSo Jotham 2rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then gAhaz his son reigned in his place.

  2 Chronicles 28

  Ahaz Reigns in Judah

  (2 Kin. 16:1–4)

  1Ahaz awas twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his father David had done.

  2For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made bmolded images for cthe Baals.

  3He burned incense in dthe Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned ehis children in the ffire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had gcast out before the children of Israel.

  4And he sacrificed and burned incense on the 1high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

  Syria and Israel Defeat Judah

  (2 Kin. 16:5, 6; Is. 7:1)

  5Therefore hthe LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They idefeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.

  6For jPekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, kbecause they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

  7Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah who was second to the king.

  8And the children of Israel carried away captive of their lbrethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much 2spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

  Israel Returns the Captives

  9But a mprophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: “Look, nbecause the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that oreaches up to heaven.

  10“And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your pmale and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God?

  11“Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, qfor the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.”

  12Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,

  13and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the LORD. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”

  14So the armed men left the captives and the 3spoil before the leaders and all the assembly.

  15Then the men rwho were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the 4spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, sgave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, tthe city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

  Assyria Refuses to Help Judah

  (2 Kin. 16:7–9)

  16uAt the same time King Ahaz sent to the 5kings of Assyria to help him.

  17For again the vEdomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives.

  18wThe Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt there.

  19For the LORD 6brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of xIsrael, for he had yencouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the LORD.

  20Also zTiglath-Pileser7 king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him.

  21For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of the LORD, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him.

  Apostasy and Death of Ahaz

  (2 Kin. 16:12–20)

  22Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the LORD. This is that King Ahaz.

  23For ahe sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, “Because the gods of the k
ings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them bthat they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

  24So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, cshut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

  25And in every single city of Judah he made 8high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.

  26dNow the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

  27So Ahaz 9rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they edid not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

  2 Chronicles 29

  Hezekiah Reigns in Judah

  (2 Kin. 18:1–3)

  1Hezekiah abecame king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was 1Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.

  2And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

  Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple

  3In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he bopened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.

  4Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square,

  5and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now 2sanctify yourselves, csanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place.

  6“For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God; they have forsaken Him, have dturned their faces away from the 3dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him.

  7e“They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

  8“Therefore the fwrath of the LORD fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has ggiven them up to trouble, to desolation, and to hjeering, as you see with your ieyes.