worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his home. And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem. And he brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

And they made a conspiracy against Amaziah in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish. And they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. And they brought him upon horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. And all the people of Judah took Azariah (Jah Helpeth), who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

Sixteen years old was Azariah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah; howbeit the high places were not taken away, the people still sacrificing and burning incense in the high places. He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that Amaziah slept with his fathers. And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines, and God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim. And the Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, that is, Azariah; and his power reached even to

JOTHAM'S GOOD REIGN.

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the entering in of Egypt; for he waxed exceeding strong. And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and upon the corner towers, to shoot arrows and great stones. And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the table-land. And he had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry. And Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that made war with mighty. power, to help the king against the enemy. And Uzziah prepared for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and slings for stones.

And it came to pass, that Jehovah smote the king, and he became a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a lazar-house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, judging the people of the land. And Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David; and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, while his father was yet alive; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah; howbeit the high places were not taken away, the people still sacrificing and burning incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. And he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon, and

prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand cor of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon render unto him, in the second year also, and in the third.

In those days Jehovah began to send against Judah Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah son of Remaliah. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

CHAPTER III.

II. KINGS, XV., xvi. II. CHRONICLES, Xxviii. ISAIAH, ii., iii., v.,

vii.-x.

KING AHAZ.

Idolatry of Ahaz-Isaiah Denounces Idolatry-The Day of JehovahThe Seven Woes-Alliance against Ahaz-Judah Brought LowSiege of Jerusalem-Isaiah Encourages Ahaz-The Sign of Immanuel-Approaching Distress-Prophecy against the Allies-Assyrian Aid-Israel Punished-Future Hope-Unto Us a Child Is Born-Damascus Taken-The Altar of Ahaz-Paying the Assyrians.

TWENTY years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; moreover he made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green

tree.

In those days spake Isaiah son of Amoz, saying: Jehovah hath cast off His people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of the east, and are cloud-diviners like the Philistines, and strike hands with the sons of strangers. His land is full of silver and gold, no end to his treasures; his land is full of horses, no end to his chariots; his land is full of not-gods, his handiwork he

worshippeth, that which his fingers made. The earthborn shall be cast down, and man be humbled; Thou shalt not forgive them. Go into the rock, and hide in the ground, from before the dread of Jehovah, and from His glorious majesty. The eyes of man's haughtiness are cast down, humbled the pride of men ; Jehovah alone is exalted in that day.

For a day of judgment hath Jehovah of Hosts on all the haughty and proud, and on all the lofty, and they shall be humbled; on all cedars of Lebanon, high and lifted up, and on all oaks of Bashan, and on all mighty mountains, and on all high hills, and on every lofty tower, and on every fenced wall, and on all Tarshish ships, and on all sightly structures. Man's haughtiness is cast down, humbled the pride of men; Jehovah alone is exalted in that day.

As for the not-gods-utterly shall they pass away. And men shall go into the holes of the rocks, and the caves of the ground, from before the dread of Jehovah, and from His glorious majesty, when He ariseth to shake the earth.

In that day shall a man cast his not-gods of silver, and his not-gods of gold, which were made for him to worship, to the moles and bats, to go into the rents of the rocks and the clefts of the crags from before the dread of Jehovah, and from His glorious majesty, when He ariseth to shake the earth.

For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, taketh from Jerusalem and from Judah staff and stay; hero and man of war, judge, and prophet, and soothsayer, and elder, captain of fifty and man of rank, and counsellor, and skilled artisan, and cunning wizard. I make lads their princes, and caprice ruleth them; and the people