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May 14 - Straight Thru the Bible
niv
2 Chronicles 35:20-36:23
Chapter 35
20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish(s) on the Euphrates,(t) and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21 But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, "What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told(u) me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."
22 Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised(v) himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God's command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
23 Archers(w) shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, "Take me away; I am badly wounded." 24 So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.
25 Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments.(x) These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.(y)
26 The other events of Josiah's reign and his acts of devotion in accordance with what is written in the Law of the Lord — 27 all the events, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Chapter 36
1 1 And the people(a) of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.
Jehoahaz King of Judah(b)
2 Jehoahaz[a] was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. 3 The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents[b] of silver and a talent[c] of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. But Necho(c) took Eliakim's brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.(d)
Jehoiakim King of Judah(e)
5 Jehoiakim(f) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. 6 Nebuchadnezzar(g) king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.(h) 7 Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon articles from the temple of the Lord and put them in his temple[d] there.(i)
8 The other events of Jehoiakim's reign, the detestable things he did and all that was found against him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoiachin King of Judah(j)
9 Jehoiachin(k) was eighteen[e] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord . 10 In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon,(l) together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord , and he made Jehoiachin's uncle,[f] Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah King of Judah(m)
11 Zedekiah(n) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord (o) his God and did not humble(p) himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord . 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath(q) in God's name. He became stiff-necked(r) and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord , the God of Israel. 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful,(s) following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord , which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
The Fall of Jerusalem(t)(u)
15 The Lord , the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers(v) again and again,(w) because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed(x) at his prophets until the wrath(y) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.(z) 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians,[g](aa) who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men(ab) or young women, the elderly or the infirm.(ac) God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.(ad) 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles(ae) from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord 's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire(af) to God's temple(ag) and broke down the wall(ah) of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed(ai) everything of value there.(aj)
20 He carried into exile(ak) to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants(al) to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests;(am) all the time of its desolation it rested,(an) until the seventy years(ao) were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
22 In the first year of Cyrus(ap) king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
23 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
"‘The Lord , the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed(aq) me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.'"
Ezra 1-3
Chapter 1
Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return(a)
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,(b) the Lord moved the heart(c) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
2 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
"‘The Lord , the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed(d) me to build(e) a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord , the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors(f) may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold,(g) with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings(h) for the temple of God(i) in Jerusalem.'"(j)
5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin,(k) and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved(l)—prepared to go up and build the house(m) of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold,(n) with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
7 Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord , which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.[a](o) 8 Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar(p) the prince of Judah.
9 This was the inventory:
| gold dishes | 30 |
| silver dishes | 1,000 |
| silver pans[b] | 29 |
| 10 gold bowls | 30 |
| matching silver bowls | 410 |
| other articles | 1,000 |
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
The List of the Exiles Who Returned(a)
1 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,(b) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(c) had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,(d) 2 in company with Zerubbabel,(e) Joshua,(f) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(g) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of the people of Israel:
| 3 the descendants of Parosh(h) | 2,172 |
| 4 of Shephatiah | 372 |
| 5 of Arah | 775 |
| 6 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) | 2,812 |
| 7 of Elam | 1,254 |
| 8 of Zattu | 945 |
| 9 of Zakkai | 760 |
| 10 of Bani | 642 |
| 11 of Bebai | 623 |
| 12 of Azgad | 1,222 |
| 13 of Adonikam(i) | 666 |
| 14 of Bigvai | 2,056 |
| 15 of Adin | 454 |
| 16 of Ater (through Hezekiah) | 98 |
| 17 of Bezai | 323 |
| 18 of Jorah | 112 |
| 19 of Hashum | 223 |
| 20 of Gibbar | 95 |
| 21 the men of Bethlehem(j) | 123 |
| 22 of Netophah | 56 |
| 23 of Anathoth | 128 |
| 24 of Azmaveth | 42 |
| 25 of Kiriath Jearim,[a] Kephirah and Beeroth | 743 |
| 26 of Ramah(k) and Geba | 621 |
| 27 of Mikmash | 122 |
| 28 of Bethel and Ai(l) | 223 |
| 29 of Nebo | 52 |
| 30 of Magbish | 156 |
| 31 of the other Elam | 1,254 |
| 32 of Harim | 320 |
| 33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono | 725 |
| 34 of Jericho(m) | 345 |
| 35 of Senaah | 3,630 |
36 The priests:
| the descendants of Jedaiah(n) (through the family of Jeshua) | 973 |
| 37 of Immer(o) | 1,052 |
| 38 of Pashhur(p) | 1,247 |
| 39 of Harim(q) | 1,017 |
40 The Levites:(r)
| the descendants of Jeshua(s) and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah) | 74 |
41 The musicians:(t)
| the descendants of Asaph | 128 |
42 The gatekeepers(u) of the temple:
| the descendants of | |
| Shallum, Ater, Talmon, | |
| Akkub, Hatita and Shobai | 139 |
43 The temple servants:(v)
| the descendants of |
| Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, |
| 44 Keros, Siaha, Padon, |
| 45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, |
| 46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, |
| 47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, |
| 48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, |
| 49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai, |
| 50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim, |
| 51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, |
| 52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, |
| 53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, |
| 54 Neziah and Hatipha |
55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
| the descendants of |
| Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, |
| 56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, |
| 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, |
| Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami |
| 58 The temple servants(w) and the descendants of the servants of Solomon | 392 |
59 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended(x) from Israel:
| 60 The descendants of | |
| Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda | 652 |
61 And from among the priests:
| The descendants of |
| Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite(y) and was called by that name). |
62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood(z) as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food(aa) until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.(ab)
64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.(ac) 66 They had 736 horses,(ad) 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families(ae) gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics[b] of gold, 5,000 minas[c] of silver and 100 priestly garments.
70 The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.(af)
Chapter 3
Rebuilding the Altar
1 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,(a) the people assembled(b) together as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua(c) son of Jozadak(d) and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel(e) and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses(f) the man of God. 3 Despite their fear(g) of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord , both the morning and evening sacrifices.(h) 4 Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles(i) with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. 5 After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon(j) sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord ,(k) as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord . 6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord , though the foundation of the Lord 's temple had not yet been laid.
Rebuilding the Temple
7 Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters,(l) and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs(m) by sea from Lebanon(n) to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus(o) king of Persia.
8 In the second month(p) of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel(q) son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty(r) years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord . 9 Joshua(s) and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah[a]) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.
10 When the builders laid(t) the foundation of the temple of the Lord , the priests in their vestments and with trumpets,(u) and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise(v) the Lord , as prescribed by David(w) king of Israel.(x) 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord :
"He is good;
his love toward Israel endures forever."(y)
And all the people gave a great shout(z) of praise to the Lord , because the foundation(aa) of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple,(ab) wept(ac) aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy(ad) from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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