Rezin. And King Ahaz went to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria at Damascus. And King Ahaz saw the altar at Damascus, and he sent to Urijah (Light is Jah) the priest the fashion of the altar, and its pattern, in all its construction. And Urijah the priest built the altar according to all that King Ahaz sent from Damascus. So did Urijah the priest against King Ahaz came from Damascus. And the king came from Damascus, and the king saw the altar; and the king approached the altar, and sacrificed thereon. And he burnt his burnt-offering and his offering of fruits, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings, upon the altar. And the brazen altar, which was before Jehovah, he brought from before the house, from between his altar and the house of Jehovah, and put it on the north side of his altar. And King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying: Burn the sacrifices upon the great altar; and the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. And Urijah the priest did according to all that King Ahaz commanded.

And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a foundation of stones. And the sabbath canopy that they had built in the temple, and the king's entrance, the outer one, he changed in the house of Jehovah. These things did he because of the king of Assyria, for he paid tribute unto him.

And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

CHAPTER IV.

II. KINGS, xviii., xx. II. CHRONICLES, xxix.-xxxi. ISAIAH, X., xi., xx., xxii., xxviii., xxxviii. MICAH, iv, v.

HEZEKIAH THE GOOD.

Centralization of Worship-High Places Destroyed-NehushtanThe Temple Restored-The Passover-Support of the Temple— Samaria Deported-A Sermon against Drunkenness-The Scourge of Jehovah-Hezekiah's Sickness-The Sign of the Shadow-A Babylonian Embassy-Isaiah Denounces the Alliance—Capture of Ashdod-Symbolic Acts-Egyptian Alliance Denounced-A Word of Encouragement-The Assyrian Advance-Jehovah Will SaveThe Shoot of Jesse-The Reign of Peace-Restoration of the Captives-Micah Prophesies-A Ruler from Bethlehem-Shebna the Prime-Minister-Isaiah Denounces Him.

HEZEKIAH reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.

And Hezekiah did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places, and brake the pillars of Baal, and cut down the Ashtoreth image. And he brake. in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel burned incense to it and it was called Nehushtan (Brazen). In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of Jehovah, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and said to them: Sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of Jehovah,

the God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the sanctuary. And the priests went in unto the inner part of the house of Jehovah, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Jehovah into the court of the house of Jehovah. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron. So they sanctified the house of Jehovah. Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said: We have cleansed all the house of Jehovah. And Hezekiah the king arose early, and gathered the princes of the city, and went up to the house of Jehovah. And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of Jehovah began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David king of Israel. So the service of the

house of Jehovah was set in order.

Then Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel. And the king took counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. For they could not keep it in the first month, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. And they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

SUPPORT OF THE TEMPLE.

463

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise. He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, as it is written in the law of Jehovah. Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give their portion to the priests and Levites. And Hezekiah trusted in Jehovah, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, neither before him. For he clave to Jehovah, he departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses.

And it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years Samaria was taken, in the sixth year of Hezekiah. And the king of Assyria carried Israel away unto Assyria, and put them in Halah, and in Habor, on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes; because they obeyed not the voice of Jehovah their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.

And in those days spake Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, saying: Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of his glittering bravery! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one; like a hail-storm, a destroying tempest; like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he casteth it to the earth with violence. The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim is trodden under foot; and the fading flower of his glittering bravery is become like the first-ripe fig before the summer; which, when one seeth it, while it is scarce in his hand, he eateth. In that day shall Jeho

vah of Hosts be a glittering crown, and a brave diadem, unto the remnant of His people; and a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and might to him that driveth back war at the gate.

But these also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; priest and prophet reel with strong drink; they are swallowed up of wine, they stagger through strong drink. The prophet reeleth in vision, the priest staggereth in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, no place is left.

Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scornful men, rulers of this people which is in Jerusalem: Because ye have said, We have struck a covenant with death, and with hell have we made a league; when the overflowing Scourge passeth through, it shall not reach us; for we have lies for our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah : Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a cornerstone, choice, firmly laid. And I make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet. And hail sweepeth away the refuge of lies, and the hiding-place of falsehood waters overflow. And your covenant with death is disannulled, and your league with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge passeth through, ye shall be trodden under it. For Jehovah ariseth as on Mount Perazim, He is wroth as in the vale of Gibeon; that He may do His work, His strange work, and fulfil His task, His strange task.

And it came to pass, that Hezekiah was sick unto death. And Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, came unto him, and said to him: Thus saith Jehovah : Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto