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But the souldiers of the army which Amaziah sent backe, that they should not goe with him to battell, fell vpon the cities of Iudah, from Samaria euen vnto Beth-horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoile.

But Amaziah would not heare: for it came of God, that he might deliuer them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.

Now after the time that Amaziah did turne away from following the Lord, they made a conspiracie against him in Ierusalem, and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted vp to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord, to burne incense vpon the altar of incense.

And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said vnto him, It perteineth not vnto thee, Uzziah, to burne incense vnto the Lord, but to the priestes the sonnes of Aaron, that are consecrated to burne incense. Goe out of the Sanctuarie; for thou hast trespassed, neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God.

Ahaz was twentie yeeres olde when hee beganne to reigne, and he reigned sixteene yeres in Ierusalem: but hee did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like Dauid his father.

But a Prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and hee went out before the hoste that came to Samaria, and said vnto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Iudah, he hath deliuered them into your hand, and yee haue slaine them in a rage that reacheth vp vnto heauen.

And now ye purpose to keepe vnder the children of Iudah and Ierusalem for bondmen, and bondwomen vnto you: But are there not with you, euen with you, sinnes against the Lord your God?

And Tilgath-Pilneser king of Assyria came vnto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

For Ahaz tooke away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the King, and of the Princes, and gaue it vnto the King of Assyria: but he helped him not.

For he sacrificed vnto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helpe them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may helpe me: but they were the ruine of him, and of all Israel.

And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the citie, euen in Ierusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his sonne reigned in his stead.

But the Priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Leuites did helpe them, till the worke was ended, and vntill the other Priestes had sanctified themselues: for the Leuites were more vpright in heart, to sanctifie themselues, then the Priests.

Now be yee not stiffe-necked as your fathers were, but yeeld your selues vnto the Lord, and enter into his Sanctuarie, which he hath sanctified for euer: and serue the Lord your God, that the fiercenesse of his wrath may turne away from you.

So the Posts passed from citie to citie, through the countrey of Ephraim and Manasseh, euen vnto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorne, and mocked them.

For a multitude of the people, euen many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselues: yet did they eate the Passeouer otherwise then it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying; The good Lord pardon euery one,

With him is an arme of flesh, but with vs is the Lord our God to helpe vs, and to fight our battels. And the people rested themselues vpon the words of Hezekiah king of Iudah.

After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his seruants to Ierusalem (but he himselfe laide siege against Lachish, and all his power with him) vnto Hezekiah king of Iudah, and vnto all Iudah that were at Ierusalem, saying;

But Hezekiah rendred not againe, according to the benefit done vnto him: for his heart was lifted vp, therefore there was wrath vpon him, and vpon Iudah and Ierusalem.

But did that which was euil in the sight of the Lord, like vnto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.