Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 12

^1 1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king and reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah, who was from Beer-sheba.^{(a) 2} Throughout the time Jehoiada^(b) the priest instructed^(c) him, Joash did what was right in the Lord 's sight.^{(d) 3} Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(e)

Repairing the Temple

⁴ Then^(f) Joash said to the priests, "All the dedicated money brought to the Lord 's temple,^(g) census money,^(h) money from vows,⁽ⁱ⁾ and all money voluntarily given^(j) for the Lord 's temple, ⁵ each priest is to take from his assessor^[a] and repair whatever damage to the temple is found."^[b](k)

⁶ But by the twenty-third year^(l) of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damage^[c] to the temple.^{(m) 7} So King Joash called Jehoiada⁽ⁿ⁾ the priest and the other priests and said, "Why haven't you repaired the temple's damage? Since you haven't, don't take any money from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple." ⁸ So the priests agreed they would not take money from the people and they would not repair the temple's damage.

⁹ Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest,^(o) bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the Lord 's temple; in it the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the Lord 's temple.^{(p) 10} Whenever they saw there was a large amount of money in the chest, the king's secretary^(q) and the high priest would go to the Lord 's temple and count the money found there and tie it up in bags.^{(r) 11} Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those doing the work—those who oversaw the Lord 's temple. They in turn would pay it out to those working on the Lord 's temple—the carpenters, the builders, ¹² the masons, and the stonecutters—and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the Lord 's temple^(s) and for all spending for temple repairs.

¹³ However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver^(t) were made for the Lord 's temple from the money brought into the temple. ¹⁴ Instead, it was given to those doing the work, and they repaired the Lord 's temple with it. ¹⁵ No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity.^{(u) 16} The money from the restitution offering and the sin offering was not brought to the Lord 's temple since it belonged to the priests.^(v)

Aramean Invasion of Judah

¹⁷ At that time Hazael^(w) king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.^{(x) 18} So King Joash of Judah took all the consecrated items that his ancestors—Judah's kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah—had consecrated, along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the Lord 's temple and in the king's palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram.^(y) Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

Joash Assassinated

¹⁹ The rest of the events of Joash's reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah's Kings.^{(z) 20} Joash's servants conspired against him and killed him^(aa) at Beth-millo^(ab) on the road that goes down to Silla. ²¹ His servants Jozabad^[d] son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died.^(ac) Then they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king in his place.^(ad)

Chapter 13

Israel's King Jehoahaz

¹ In the twenty-third year of Judah's King Joash^(a) son of Ahaziah, Jehoahaz^(b) son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 17 years. ² He did what was evil in the Lord 's sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.^{(c) 3} So the Lord 's anger burned against Israel,^(d) and He surrendered them to the power of Hazael^(e) king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad^(f) during their reigns.

⁴ Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord 's favor, and the Lord heard him, for He saw the oppression the king of Aram inflicted on Israel.^{(g) 5} Therefore, the Lord gave Israel a deliverer,^(h) and they escaped from the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel dwelt in their tents as before, ⁶ but they didn't turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. Jehoahaz walked in them,⁽ⁱ⁾ and the Asherah pole also remained standing in Samaria. ⁷ Jehoahaz did not have an army left, except for 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them,^(j) making them like dust at threshing.^(k)

⁸ The rest of the events of Jehoahaz's reign, along with all his accomplishments and his might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.^{(l) 9} Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash^[a] became king in his place.

Israel's King Jehoash

¹⁰ In the thirty-seventh year of Judah's King Joash, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 16 years. ¹¹ He did what was evil in the Lord 's sight. He did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.^(m)

¹² The rest of the events of Jehoash's reign, along with all his accomplishments and the power he had to wage war against Judah's King Amaziah,⁽ⁿ⁾ are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings. ¹³ Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam^(o) sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha's Death

¹⁴ When Elisha became sick with the illness that he died from, Jehoash king of Israel went down and wept over him and said, "My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!"^(p)

¹⁵ Elisha responded, "Take a bow and arrows." So he got a bow and arrows.^{(q) 16} Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So the king put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. ¹⁷ Elisha said, "Open the east window." So he opened it. Elisha said, "Shoot!" So he shot.^(r) Then Elisha said, "The Lord 's arrow of victory, yes, the arrow of victory over Aram. You are to strike down the Arameans in Aphek^(s) until you have put an end to them."

¹⁸ Then Elisha said, "Take the arrows!" So he took them. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground!" So he struck the ground three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The man of God^(t) was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to them, but now you will only strike down Aram three times." ²⁰ Then Elisha died and was buried.^(u)

Now Moabite raiders^(v) used to come into the land in the spring of the year. ²¹ Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha's tomb. When he touched Elisha's bones, the man revived and stood up!^(w)

God's Mercy on Israel

²² Hazael^(x) king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz, ²³ but the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them,^(y) and turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.^(z) He was not willing to destroy them. Even now He has not banished them from His presence.^(aa)

²⁴ King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad^(ab) became king in his place. ²⁵ Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in war from Jehoash's father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times and recovered the cities of Israel.^(ac)

Chapter 14

Judah's King Amaziah

¹ In^(a) the second year of Israel's King Jehoash^[a](b) son of Jehoahaz,^[b] Amaziah^(c) son of Joash became king of Judah. ² He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan^[c] and was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the Lord 's sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.^{(d) 4} Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(e)

⁵ As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah killed his servants who had murdered his father the king.^{(f) 6} However, he did not put the children of the murderers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where the Lord commanded, "Fathers must not be put to death because of children, and children must not be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin."^(g)

⁷ Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^(h) He took Sela⁽ⁱ⁾ in battle and called it Joktheel,^(j) which is its name to this very day. ⁸ Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us meet face to face."^(k)

⁹ King Jehoash of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar^(l) that was in Lebanon,^(m) saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.' Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom, and you have become overconfident.⁽ⁿ⁾ Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you stir up such trouble that you fall—you and Judah with you?"

¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced off at Beth-shemesh^(o) that belongs to Judah. ¹² Judah was routed before Israel, and everyone fled to his own tent.^{(p) 13} King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's King Amaziah son of Joash,^[d] son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down 200 yards^[e] of Jerusalem's wall from the Ephraim Gate^(q) to the Corner Gate.^{(r) 14} He took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in the Lord 's temple and in the treasuries of the king's palace, and some hostages.^(s) Then he returned to Samaria.

Jehoash's Death

¹⁵ The rest of the events of Jehoash's reign, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.^{(t) 16} Jehoash rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.

Amaziah's Death

¹⁷ Judah's King Amaziah son of Joash lived 15 years after the death of Israel's King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.^{(u) 18} The rest of the events of Amaziah's reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah's Kings.^{(v) 19} A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,^(w) and he fled to Lachish.^(x) However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there. ²⁰ They carried him back^(y) on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.^(z)

²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[f](aa) who was 16 years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² He rebuilt Elath^[g](ab) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah the king rested with his fathers.

Israel's King Jeroboam

²³ In the fifteenth year of Judah's King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam^(ac) son of Jehoash^[h] became king of Israel in Samaria and reigned 41 years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord 's sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(ad)

²⁵ He restored Israel's border^(ae) from Lebo-hamath^(af) as far as the Sea of the Arabah,^(ag) according to the word the Lord , the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant, the prophet Jonah^(ah) son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.^{(ai) 26} For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter.^(aj) There was no one to help Israel, neither bond nor free. ²⁷ However, the Lord had not said He would blot out the name of Israel under heaven,^(ak) so He delivered^(al) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.^[i]

²⁸ The rest of the events of Jeroboam's reign—along with all his accomplishments, the power he had to wage war, and how he recovered for Israel Damascus^(am) and Hamath,^(an) which had belonged to Judah^[j] —are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.^{(ao) 29} Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.^(ap)

Chapter 15

Judah's King Azariah

¹ In the twenty-seventh year of Israel's King Jeroboam, Azariah^[a](a) son of Amaziah became king of Judah.^{(b) 2} He was 16 years old when he became king and reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah, who was from Jerusalem. ³ Azariah did what was right in the Lord 's sight^(c) just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁴ Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(d)

⁵ The Lord afflicted the king, and he had a serious skin disease until the day of his death.^(e) He lived in a separate house,^[b](f) while Jotham,^(g) the king's son, was over the household governing the people of the land.^(h)

⁶ The rest of the events of Azariah's reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah's Kings.^{(i) 7} Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.^(j)

Israel's King Zechariah

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of Judah's King Azariah, Zechariah^(k) son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months. ⁹ He did what was evil in the Lord 's sight as his fathers had done.^(l) He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(m)

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He struck him down publicly,^[c] killed him, and became king in his place.^{(n) 11} As for the rest of the events of Zechariah's reign, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.^{(o) 12} The word of the Lord that He spoke to Jehu was, "Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel,"^(p) and it was so.

Israel's King Shallum

¹³ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah's King Uzziah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king; he reigned in Samaria^(q) a full month. ¹⁴ Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah^(r) to Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and became king in his place. ¹⁵ As for the rest of the events of Shallum's reign, along with the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.

Israel's King Menahem

¹⁶ At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah,^(s) all who were in it, and its territory. Because they wouldn't surrender,^(t) he attacked it and ripped open all the pregnant women.^(u)

¹⁷ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah's King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel and reigned 10 years in Samaria. ¹⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord 's sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(v)

¹⁹ Pul^[d](w) king of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds^[e] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grip on the kingdom.^{(x) 20} Then Menahem exacted 20 ounces^[f] of silver from each of the wealthy men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.^(y)

²¹ The rest of the events of Menahem's reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings. ²² Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.^(z)

Israel's King Pekahiah

²³ In the fiftieth year of Judah's King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned two years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord 's sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(aa)

²⁵ Then his officer, Pekah^(ab) son of Remaliah, conspired against him^(ac) and struck him down in Samaria at the citadel of the king's palace^(ad) —as well as Argob and Arieh.^[g] There were 50 Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.

²⁶ As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah's reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.

Israel's King Pekah

²⁷ In the fifty-second year of Judah's King Azariah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 20 years. ²⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord 's sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

²⁹ In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser^(ae) king of Assyria came and captured Ijon,^(af) Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali^(ag)—and deported the people to Assyria.^(ah)

³⁰ Then Hoshea^(ai) son of Elah organized a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him, killed him,^(aj) and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

³¹ As for the rest of the events of Pekah's reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.

Judah's King Jotham

³² In the second year of Israel's King Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham^(ak) son of Uzziah became king of Judah. ³³ He was 25 years old when he became king^(al) and reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. ³⁴ He did what was right in the Lord 's sight just as his father Uzziah had done.^{(am) 35} Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord 's temple.^{(an) 36} The rest^(ao) of the events of Jotham's reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Judah's Kings.^{(ap) 37} In those days the Lord began sending Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.^{(aq) 38} Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his ancestor David.^(ar) His son Ahaz became king in his place.