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8 Now be ye not stiff-necked as your Fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his Sanctuary, which he hath fanctified for ever: and ferve the LORD your GOD, that the Fiercenefs of his Wrath may turn away from you.

9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your Brethren, and your Children fhall find Compaffion before them that lead them Captive, fo that they fhall come again into this Land for the LORD your GOD is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his Face from you, if ye return unto him.

10 So the Pofts paffed from City to City, throughout the Countrey of Ephraim and Manaffeh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to Scorn, and mocked them.

II Neverthelefs, divers of Afher and Manaffeh, and Zebulun, humbled themselves, and came to Jerufalem.

12 Alfo in Judah, the Hand of GOD was to give them one Heart to do the Commandment of the King and of the Princes, by the Word of the LORD.

13 And there affembled at Jerufalem much People to keep the Feast of unleavened Bread in the fecond Month, a very great Congregation.

14 And they arofe, and took away the Altars that were in Jerufalem, and all the Altars for Incenfe took they away, and caft them into the Brook Kidron.

15 Then they killed the Paflover on the fourteenth Day of the fecond Month: and the Priefts and the Levites were ASHAMED, and SANCTIFIED themselves, and brought in the Burnt-offerings into the Houfe of the LORD.

16 And they stood in their Places after their Manner, according to the LAW of MOSES: the Priefts fprinkled the Blood which they received of the Hand of the Levites.

17 For there were many in the Congregation that were not SANCTIFIED: therefore the Levites had the Charge of the killing of the Paffovers for every one that was not CLEAN, to fanctify them unto the LORD.

18 For a multitude of the People, even many of Ephraim, and Manaffeh, Iflachar, and Zebulun, had not CLEANSED themselves, yet did they eat the Paflover, otherwife than it was written but Hezekiah PRAYED for them, faying, The GOOD LORD pardon every one

:

19 That PREPARETH his HEART to SEEK GOD, the C c c c 2 LORD

LORD GOD of his Fathers, though he be not CLEANSED according to the PURIFICATION of the Sanctuary.

20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and HEALED the People.

21 And the Children of Ifrael that were prefent at Jerufalem, kept the Feaft of unleavened Bread feven Days with great Gladnefs and the Levites, and the Priefts praised the LORD Day by Day, finging with loud Inftruments unto the LORD.

22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites, that TAUGHT the good KNOWLEDGE of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the Feast seven Days, offering Peaceofferings, and making CONFESSION to the LORD GOD of their Fathers.

23 And the whole Affembly took Counfel to keep other feven Days: and they kept other feven Days with GLAD

NESS.

24 For Hezekiah did give to the Congregation a thoufand Bullocks, and feven thoufand Sheep; and the Princes gave to the Congregation a thoufand Bullocks, and ten thoufand Sheep and a great Number of Priefts fanctified themfelves.

25 And all the Congregation of Judah, with the Priests and the Levites, and all the Congregation that came out of Ifrael, and the Strangers that came out of the Land of Ifrael, and that dwelt in Judah, REJOYCED.

26 So there was great Joy in Jerufalem: for fince the TIME of SOLOMON there was not the like in Jerufalem.

27 Then the Priests the Levites arofe, and BLESSED the People and their Voice was heard, and their PRAYER came up to his HOLY Dwelling-place, even unto HEAVEN.

CHA P. XXXI.

1 The People is forward in deftroying Idolatry. 2 Hezekiah ordereth the Courfes of the Priests and Levites, and provideth for their Work and Maintenance. 5 The People's Forwardnefs in Offerings and Tithes. 11 Hezekiah appointeth Officers to difpofe of the Tithes. 20 The Sincerity of Hezekiah.

Ver. 1

NOW

TOW when all this was finished, all Ifrael that were prefent, went out to the Cities of Judah, and BRAKE the IMAGES in picces, and cut down the Groves,

and

and threw down the high Places and the ALTARS out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim alfo and Manaffeh, until they had utterly DESTOYED them all. Then all the Children of Ifrael returned every Man to his Poffeflion, into

their own Cities.

2 And Hezekiah appointed the Courfes of the Priests and the Levites after their Courfes, every Man according to his Service, the Priests and Levites for Burnt-offerings, and for Peace-offerings, to minifter and to give Thanks, and to praise in the Gates of the Tents of the LORD.

3 He appointed alfo the King's Portion of his Substance for the Burnt-offering, to wit, for the Morning and Evening Burnt-offerings, and the Burnt-offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the New-moons, and for the fet Feafts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD.

4 Moreover, He commanded the People that dwelt in Jerufalem to give the Portion of the Priefts and the Levites, that they might be ENCOURAGED in the Law of the LORD.

5 And as foon as the Commandment came abroad, the Children of Ifrael brought in abundance the FIRST-FRUITS of Corn, Wine, and Oyl, and Honey, and of all the Increafe of the Field, and the Tithe of all Things brought they in abundantly.

6 And concerning the Children of Ifrael and Judah, they alfo brought in the Tithe of Oxen, and Sheep, and the Tithes of holy Things, which were confecrated unto the LORD their GOD, and laid them by Heaps.

7 In the third Month they began to lay the Foundation of the Heaps, and finished them in the feventh Month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the Princes faw the Heaps, they bleffed the LORD and his People Ifrael.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the Priests and the Levites concerning the Heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief Prieft of the House of Zadok, anfwered him, and faid, Since the People began to bring the Offerings into the Houfe of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left Plenty for the LORD hath BLESSED his People; and that which is left, is this great Store.

II Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare Chambers in the House of the LORD; and they prepared them.

12 And brought in the Offerings, and the Tithes, and

the

the dedicate Things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was Ruler.

13 At the Commandment of Hezekiah the King, and Azariah the Ruler of the Houfe of GOD.

19 Alfo of the Sons of Aaron the Priefts, which were in the Fields of the Suburbs of their Cities, in every feveral City, the Men that were expreffed by Name to give Portions to all the Males among the Priests," and to all that were reckoned by Genealogies, among the Levites.

20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and Truth before the LORD his GOD.

21 And in every Work that he began in the Service of the House of GOD, and in the Law, and in the Commandments to feek his GOD, he did it with all his Heart, and profpered.

2 KINGS XVIII.

13 Now in the fourteenth Year of King Hezekiah, did Sennacherib King of Affyria come up against all the fenced Cities of Judah, and took them.

14 And Hezekiah King of Judah fent to the King of Affyria to Lachifh, faying, I have offended, return from me: that which thou putteft on me, I will bear. And the King of Affyria appointed unto Hezekiah King of Judah, three hundred Talents of Silver, and thirty Talents of Gold.

15 And Hezekiah gave him all the Silver that was found in the House of the LORD, and in the Treasures of the King's House.

16 At that Time did Hezekiah cut off the Gold from the Doors of the Temple of the LORD, and from the Pillars which Hezekiah King of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the King of Affyria.

17 And the King of Affyria fent Tartan, and Rabfaris, and Rab-fhakeh from Lachifh, to King Hezekiah with a great Hoft against Jerufalem, and they came and ftood by the Conduit of the upper Pool, which is in the Highway of the Fuller's Field.

18 And when they had called to the King, there came out to them Eliakim, which was over the Houfhold, and Shebna the Scribe, and Joah the Recorder.

19 And Rab-fhakeh faid unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus faith the great King, the King of Affyria, What Confidence is this wherein thou trufteft?

20 Thou

20 Thou fayeft (but they are but yain Words) I have Counsel and Strength for the War: now on whom doft thou trust, that thou rebelleft against me?

21 Now behold, thou trufteft upon the Staff of this bruifed Reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a Man lean, it will go into his Hand, and pierce it: fo is Pharaoh King of Egypt, unto all that trust on him.

22 But if ye fay unto me, We truft in the LORD our GOD is not that he whofe high Places, and whofe Altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath faid to Judah and Jerufalem, Ye fhall worship before this Altar in Jerufalem?

23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give Pledges to my Lord the King of Affyria, and I will deliver thee two thoufand Horses, if thou be able on thy part to fet Riders upon them.

24 How then wilt thou turn away the Face of one Captain of the leaft of my Mafter's Servants, and put thy Trust on Egypt for Chariots and for Horsemen?

25 Am I now come up without the LORD against this Place to deftroy it? the LORD faid to me, Go up against this Land, and destroy it.

26 Then faid Eliakim, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabfhakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy Servants in the Syrian Language (for we understand it) and talk not with us in the Jews Language, in the Ears of the People that are on the Wall.

27 But Rab-fhakeh faid unto them, Hath my Master fent me to thy Mafter, and to thee, to fpeak thefe Words? hath he not fent me to the Men which fit on the Wall, that they may eat their own Dung, and drink their own Pifs with you?

28 Then Rab-fhakeh ftood and cried with a loud Voice in the Jews Language, and fpake, faying, Hear the Word of the great King, the King of Assyria.

29 Thus faith the King, Let not Hezekiah deceive you, for he fhall not be able to deliver you out of his Hand.

30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, faying, The LORD will furely deliver us, and this City shall not be delivered into the Hand of the King of Affyria.

31 Hearken not unto Hezekiah: for thus faith the King of Affyria, Make an Agreement with me by a Present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every Man of his own Vine, and every one of his Fig-tree, and drink ye every one of the Waters of his Ciftern.

32 Until

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