THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE KINGS.



Introductory matter



THE ARGVMENT.

This seconde booke conteineth the actes of the Kings of Iudah and Israel: to wit, of Israel, from the death of Ahab vnto the last King Hosea, who was imprisoned by the King of Assyria, and his citie Samaria taken, and the ten tribes by the iust plague of God for their idolatry & disobedience to God led into captiuitie. And also of Iudah, from the reigne of Iehoram sonne of Iehoshaphat unto Zedechia, who for contemning the Lords commandement by his Prophets, and neglecting his sundry admonitions by famine and other meanes, was taken by his enemies, sawe his sonnes most cruelly slaine before his face, and his owne eyes put out, as the Lord had declared to him before by his Prophet Ieremie: and also by the iust vengeance of God for contempt of his word Ierusalem was destroyed, the Temple burnt, and he and all his people were led away captiues into Babylon. In this booke are notable examples of Gods fauour towards those rulers and people which obey his Prophets and imbrace his worde: and contrariwise, of his plagues towardes those common weales which neglect his ministers, and doe not obey his commaundements.



[Page 133]


[Ahaziah sicke. Fire from heauen.]





CHAP. I.


2 Ahaziah by a fall falleth sicke, and consulteth with Baalzebub. 3 He is reprooued by Eliiah. 10 The captaines ouer fiftie were sent to Eliiah, whereof two were burnt with fire from heauen by his prayer. 17 Ahaziah dyeth, & Iehoram his brother succeedeth him.

1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab:

2 And [Note: [a] So that he was punished for his idolatrie after two sortes: for the Moabites, which were wont to pay him tribute, rebelled, and he fell downe at a grate which was vpon his house to giue light beneath. ] Ahaziah fell thorow the lattesse windowe in his vpper chamber which was in Samaria: so he was sicke: then he sent messengers, to whome he saide, Goe, and enquire of [Note: [b] The Philistims which dwelt at Ekron, worshipped this idole, which signifieth the god of flyes, thinking that he could preserue them from the biting of flyes: or els he was so called, because flyes were ingendred in great abundance of the blood of the sacrifices that were offered to that idole. ] Baal-zebub the God of Ekron, if I shall recouer of this my disease.

3 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Eliiah the Tishbite, Arise, and goe vp to meete the messengers of the King of Samaria, and say vnto them, [Note: [c] He sheweth that idolaters haue not the true God, for els they would seeke to none but to him alone. ] Is it not because there is no God in Israel, that ye goe to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?

4 Wherefore thus saith the Lorde, Thou shalt not come downe from the bed on which thou art gone vp, but shalt die the death. So Eliiah departed.

5 And the messengers returned vnto him, to whome he said, Why are ye nowe returned?

6 And they answered him, There came a man and met vs, and saide vnto vs, Goe, and returne vnto the King which sent you, and say vnto him, Thus saith the Lorde, [Note: [d] Ignorance is the mother of error and idolatry. ] Is it not because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baal-zebub the God of Ekron? Therefore thou shalt not come downe from the bed, on which thou art gone vp, but shalt die ye death.

7 And he saide vnto them, What maner of man was he which came and met you, and tolde you these wordes?

8 And they said vnto him, He was an [Note: [e] Some thinke that this is ment of his garments which were tough and made of heare. ] hearie man, and girded with a girdle of lether about his loynes. Then sayde he, It is Eliiah the Tishbite.

9 Therefore the King sent vnto him a captaine ouer fiftie with his fiftie men, who went vp vnto him: for beholde, he sate on the toppe [Note: [f] To wit, Carmel. ] of a mountaine, and he saide vnto him, O man of God, the King hath commanded that thou come downe.

10 But Eliiah answered, and saide to the captaine ouer the fiftie, If that I be a man of God, let fire come downe from the heauen, and deuoure thee and thy fiftie. [Note: [g] He declareth what power Gods worde hath in the mouth of his seruants, when they threaten Gods iudgements against the wicked. ] So fire came downe from the heauen and deuoured him and his fiftie.

11 Againe also he sent vnto him another captaine ouer fiftie, with his fiftie. Who spake, and saide vnto him, [Note: [h] He spake this in mockerie, and therefore prouoked Gods wrath so much the more. ] O man of God, thus the King commandeth, Come downe quickely.

12 But Eliiah answered, and saide vnto them, [Note: [i] Meaning, that God would shewe by effect, whether he was a true Prophet or not. ] If I be a man of God, let fire come downe from the heauen, and deuoure thee and thy fiftie. So fire came downe from the heauen, and deuoured him and his fiftie.

13 ¶ Yet againe he sent the third captaine ouer fiftie with his fiftie. And the thirde captaine ouer fiftie went vp, and came, and fell on his knees before Eliiah, and besought him, and saide vnto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my [Note: [k] Which humble my selfe before God and his seruant. ] life and the life of these thy fiftie seruants be [Note: [l] That is, spare my life and let me not die as the other two. ] precious in thy sight.

14 Beholde, there came fire downe from the heauen and deuoured the two former captaines

[Ahaziah dyeth. Eliiah. Elisha.]



ouer fiftie with their fifties: therefore let my life nowe be precious in thy sight.

15 And the Angel of the Lord said vnto Eliiah, Goe downe with him, be [Note: [m] Thus the Lord giueth boldnesse to his that they feare not the threatnings of tyrants, which otherwise of themselues are afraide to doe Gods message. ] not afraide of his presence. So he arose, and went downe with him vnto the King.

16 And he saide vnto him, Thus saith the Lorde, Because thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, (was it not because there was no God in Israel to inquire of his worde?) therefore thou shalt not come downe off the bed, on which thou art gone vp, but shalt die the death.

17 So he dyed according to the worde of the Lorde which Eliiah had spoken. And [Note: [n] Iehoshaphat going to battell against the Syrians, made his sonne Iehoram king, in the 17.yeere of his reigne: and in the 18.yeere, which was the 2. yeere of his sonne, Iehoram the sonne of Ahab reigned in Israel: and in the 5. yeere of this Iehoram, Iehoshaphat dyed, and the kingdome of Iudah was confirmed to his sonne. ] Iehoram began to reigne in his steade, in the seconde yeere of Iehoram the sonne of Iehoshaphat King of Iudah, because he had no sonne.

18 Concerning the rest of the actes of Ahaziah, that he did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


CHAP. II.


8 Eliiah deuideth the waters with his cloke. 11 He is taken vp into heauen. 13 Elisha taketh his cloke and deuideth Iorden. 20 The bitter and venemous waters are healed. 23 The childre that mocke Elisha, are rent in pieces with beares.

1 And when the Lord would take vp Eliiah into heauen by a whirle winde, Eliiah went with Elisha from [Note: [a] Which was that place where the children of Israel were circumcised after they came ouer Iorden, and had bene fourtie yeres in the wildernesse, as Iosh 5.9. ] Gilgal.

2 Then Eliiah saide to Elisha, Tarie here, I pray thee: for the Lorde hath sent me to Bethel. But Elisha said, As the Lord liueth, and as thy soule liueth, I will not leaue thee. So they came downe to Beth-el.

3 And the [Note: [b] So called because they are begotten as it were anewe by the heauenly doctrine. ] children of the Prophets that were at Beth-el, came out to Elisha, and said vnto him, Knowest thou that the Lorde will take thy master from [Note: [c] That is, from being any more thine head: for to be as the head, is to be the master, as to be at the seete, is to be a scholer. ] thine head this day? And he said, Yea, I [Note: [d] For the Lord had reueiled it vnto him. ] knowe it: holde ye your peace.

4 Againe Eliiah saide vnto him, Elisha, tarie here, I pray thee: for the Lorde hath sent me to Iericho: But he said, As the Lorde liueth, and as thy soule liueth, I will not leaue thee. So they came to Iericho.

5 And the children of the Prophets that were at [Note: [e] Not onely at Beth-el, but at Iericho and other places were there Prophets, which had scholers, whome they instructed and brought vp in the true feare of God. ] Iericho, came to Elisha, and saide vnto him, Knowest thou, that the Lorde will take thy master from thine head this day? And he sayde, Yea, I knowe it: holde ye your peace.

6 Moreouer Eliiah saide vnto him, Tarie, I pray thee, here: for the Lorde hath sent me to Iorden. But he saide, As the Lorde liueth, and as thy soule liueth, I will not leaue thee. So they went both together.

7 And fiftie men of the sonnes of the Prophets went and stoode on the other side a farre off, and they two stoode by Iorden.

8 ¶ Then Eliiah tooke his cloke, and wrapt it together, and smote the [Note: [f] To wit, of Iorden. ] waters, and they were deuided hither and thither, and they twaine went ouer on the dry lande.

9 Nowe when they were passed ouer, Eliiah saide vnto Elisha, Aske what I shall doe for thee before I be taken from thee. And Elisha saide, I pray thee, let thy Spirit [Note: [g] Let thy Spirit haue double force in me, because of these dangerous times: or let me haue twise so much as the rest of the Prophets: or thy spirit being deuided into three partes, let me haue two. ] be double vpon me.

10 And he saide, Thou hast asked an hard thing: yet if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt haue it so: & if not, it shal not be.

11 And as they went walking and talking, beholde, there appeared a charet of fire, and horses [Page]

[Water healed. Iehoram:]



of fire, and did separate them twaine. [Note: Ecclus.48.9. 1.mac.2.58. ] So Eliiah went vp by a whirle winde into [Note: [h] Thus God hath left a testimonie in all ages (both before the Lawe, in the Law, and in the time of the Gospel) of our resurrection. ] heauen.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cryed, My father, my father, the charet of Israel, and the horsemen thereof: and he sawe him no more: and he tooke his owne clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13 ¶ He tooke vp also the cloke of Eliiah that fell from him, and returned, and stoode by the banke of Iorden.

14 After, he tooke the cloke of Eliiah, that fell from him, and smote the waters, and sayde, Where is the Lord God of Eliiah? And so he also, after he had striken the waters, so that they were deuided this way and that way, went ouer, euen Elisha.

15 And when the children of the Prophets, which were at Iericho, saw him on the other side, they sayde, [Note: [i] The Spirite of prophecie is giuen to him, as it was to Eliiah. ] The Spirite of Eliiah doeth rest on Elisha: and they came to meete him, and fell to the grounde before him,

16 And said vnto him, Beholde nowe, there be with thy seruants fiftie strong men: let them go, we pray thee, and seeke thy [Note: [k] Meaning, Eliiah: for they thought his body had bene cast in some mountaine. ] master, if so be the Spirite of the Lord hath taken him vp, and cast him vpon some mountaine, or into some valley. But he said, [Note: [l] Because the fact was extraordinarie, they douted where he was become, but Elisha was assured that he was taken vp to God. ] Ye shall not sende.

17 Yet they were instant vpon him, til he was ashamed: wherefore he saide, Sende. So they sent fiftie men, which sought three dayes, but founde him not.

18 Therefore they returned to him, (for he taryed at Iericho) and he said vnto them, Did not I say vnto you, Goe not?

19 ¶ And the men of the citie saide vnto Elisha, Beholde, we pray thee: the situation of this citie is pleasant, as thou, my lorde, seest, but the water is naught, and the ground [Note: Or, killeth the inhabitants. ] baren.

20 Then he saide, Bring me a newe cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

21 And he went vnto the spring of the waters, and cast there [Note: [m] Thus God gaue him power, euen contrary to nature, to make that water profitable for mans vse, which before was hurtfull. ] the salt, and said, Thus saith the Lorde, I haue healed this water: death shall no more come thereof, neither barennesse to the ground.

22 So the waters were healed vntill this day, according to the worde of Elisha which hee had spoken.

23 ¶ And he went vp from thence vnto Beth-el. And as he was going vp the way, litle children came out of the citie, and mocked him, and saide vnto him, Come vp, thou balde head, come vp, thou balde head.

24 And he turned backe, & looked on them, and [Note: [n] Perceiuing their malicious heart against the lord and his word, he desireth God to take vengeance of that iniurie done vnto him. ] cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two beares came out of the forest, and tare in pieces two and fourtie children of them.

25 So he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.


CHAP. III.


1 The reigne of Iehoram. 6 He and Iehoshaphat goe to warre against Moab, which rebelled. 13 Elisha reprooueth him, 17 and giueth their hoste water. 24 The Moabites are ouercome. 27 Their King sacrificeth his sonne.

1 Nowe Iehoram the sonne of Ahab beganne to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria, the [Note: [a] Reade the annotation in the 1.Chap. & 17.verse. ] eighteenth yeere of Iehoshaphat King of Iudah, and reigned twelue yeeres.

2 And he wrought euill in the sight of the Lorde, but not like his father nor like his mother: for he tooke away the image of Baal that his father

[He and Iehoshaphat ouercome the Moabites.]



had made.

3 Neuerthelesse, he cleaued vnto [Note: [b] He sacrificed to the golden calues, that Ieroboam had made. ] the sinnes of Ieroboam, the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne, and departed not therefrom.

4 ¶ Then [Note: [c] This was done after that Dauid had made the Moabites tributaries to his successors. ] Mesha King of Moab had store of sheepe, and rendred vnto the King of Israel an hundreth thousande lambes, and an hundreth thousande rammes with the wooll.

5 But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the King of Israel.

6 Therefore King Iehoram went out of Samaria the same season, and nombred all Israel,

7 And went, and sent to Iehoshaphat King of Iudah, saying, The King of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou goe with me to battell against Moab? And he answered, I will goe vp: for [Note: [d] Reade 1.Kings.22.4. ] I am, as thou art, my people, as thy people, and mine horses as thine horses.

8 Then said he, What way shall we goe vp? And he answered, The way of the wildernesse of Edom.

9 ¶ So went the King of Israel & the king of Iudah, and the [Note: [e] Meaning, the viceroy or Lieutenant of the King of Iudah, reade 1. King.22.47. ] King of Edom, and when they had compassed the way seuen dayes, they had no water for the hoste, nor for the cattell that [Note: Ebr. that were at their feate. ] followed them.

10 Therefore the King of Israel sayde, Alas, that the Lord hath called these three Kings, to giue them into the hand of Moab.

11 But Iehoshaphat saide, Is there not here a Prophet of the Lorde, that we may inquire of the Lorde by him? And one of the King of Israels seruants answered, and said, Here is Elisha the sonne of Shaphat, which [Note: [f] That is, who was his seruant. ] powred water on the handes of Eliiah.

12 Then Iehoshaphat saide, [Note: [g] He is able to instruct vs what is Gods will in this point. ] The worde of the Lorde is with him. Therefore the King of Israel, and Iehoshaphat, and the King of Edom went downe to him.

13 And Elisha sayde vnto the King of Israel, [Note: [h] He knewe that this wicked King would haue but vsed his counsell to serue his turne, and therefore he disdained to answere him. ] What haue I to doe with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father and to the prophets of thy mother. And the King of Israel saide vnto him, [Note: [i] The wicked esteeme not the seruants of God, but when they are driuen by very necessitie and feare of the present danger. ] Nay: for the Lord hath called these three Kings, to giue them into the hande of Moab.

14 Then Elisha said, As the Lord of hostes liueth, in whose sight I stande, if it were not, that I regarde the presence of Iehoshaphat the King of Iudah, I woulde [Note: [k] God suffreth his worde to be declared to the wicked, because of the godly that are among them. ] not haue looked towarde thee, nor seene thee.

15 But nowe bring me a minstrel. And when the minstrel [Note: [l] He sang songs to Gods glory, and so stirred vp the Prophets heart to prophecie. ] played, the hand of the Lord came vpon him.

16 And he saide, Thus saith the Lorde, Make this valley full of ditches.

17 For thus saith the Lorde, Ye shall neither see winde nor see raine, yet the valley shalbe filled with water, that ye may drinke, both ye and your cattel, and your beastes.

18 But this is a [Note: [m] He will not only miraculously giue you waters, but your enemies also into your hand. ] small thing in the sight of the Lorde: for he will giue Moab into your hande.

19 And ye shal smite euery strong towne and euery chiefe citie, and shall fell euery faire tree, & shall stoppe all the fountaines of water, & [Note: [n] Though God bestowe his benefites for a time vpon his enemies, yet he hath his seasons, when he will take them away, to the intent they might see his vengeance, which is prepared against them. ] marre euery good fielde with stones.

20 And in the morning whe the meat offring was offred, beholde, there came water by the way of Edom: and the countrey was filled with water.

21 And when al the Moabites heard that the

[Page 134]

[He and Iehoshaphat ouercome the Moabites. The oyle encreased.]



Kings were come vp to fight against them, they gathered all that was able [Note: Ebr. to gird himselfe with a girdle. ] to put on harnesse, & vpwarde, and stood in their border.
22 And they rose earely in the morning, when the sunne arose vpon the water, and the Moabites saw the water ouer against them, as red as blood.

23 And they saide, [Note: [o] The sudden ioy of the wicked is but a preparation to their destruction, which is at hand. ] This is blood the Kings are surely slaine, and one hath smitten another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoyle.

24 And when they came to the host of Israel, the Israelites arose vp, and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them, but they [Note: [p] Meaning, they followed them into the townes. ] inuaded them, and smote Moab.

25 And they destroyed the cities: and on all the good field euery man cast his stone, and filled them and they stopt all the fountaines of water, and felled all the good trees: onely in [Note: [q] Which was one of the principall cities of the Moabites, wherein they left nothing but the walles. ] Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof: howebeit they went about it with slings, and smote it.

26 And when the King of Moab saw that the battel was too sore for him, he tooke wt him seuen hudreth men yt drew the sword, to break through vnto the King of Edom: but they could not.

27 Then he tooke his eldest sonne, that should haue reigned in his stead, and [Note: [r] Some referre it to the King of Edoms sonne, whom they say he had taken in that skirmish: but rather it seemed to be his owne sonne, whom he offered to his gods to pacifie them, which barbarous crueltie mooued the Israelites hearts of pitie to depart. ] offered him for a burnt offring vpon the wall: so that Israel was sore grieued, and they departed from him, and returned to their countrey.



CHAP. IIII.


4 God increaseth the oyle to the poore widowe by Elisha. 12 He obtaineth for the Shunammite a sonne at Gods hand. 18 Who dying, 32 he rayseth him vp againe. 40 He maketh sweete the pottage, 42 And multiplieth the loaues.

1 And one of the wiues [Note: [a] Read Chap.2.3. ] of the sonnes of the Prophets cryed vnto Elisha, saying, Thy seruant mine husbande is dead, and thou knowest, that thy seruant did [Note: [b] And therefore fell not into det by vnthriftines or prodigalitie, but by the hand of the Lord. ] feare the Lord: and the creditour is come to take my two sonnes to bee his [Note: [c] Because I am poore and not able to pay. ] bondmen.

2 Then Elisha saide vnto her, What shall I do for thee? tell mee, what hast thou at home? And she sayd, Thine handmayd hath nothing at home, saue a [Note: [d] Thus God suffereth his many times to bee brought to extreme necessitie, before he succor them, that afterward they may the more prayse his mercy. ] pitcher of oyle.

3 And he sayde, Goe, and borowe thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, emptie vessels, and spare not.

4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the doore vpon thee and vpon thy sonnes, and powre out into [Note: [e] The Prophet declareth hereby vnto her, that God neuer fayleth to prouide for his seruants, their wiues and children, if they trust in him. ] all those vessels, & set aside those that are full.

5 So shee departed from him, and shut the doore vpon her, and vpon her sonnes. And they brought to her, and she powred out.

6 And when the vessels were full, shee sayde vnto her sonne, Bring mee yet a vessel. And hee said vnto her, There is no moe vessels. And the oyle [Note: [f] To augment & increase in the vessels. ] ceased.

7 Then shee came and tolde the man of God. And he saide, Goe, and sell the oyle, and pay them that thou art in det vnto, and liue thou and thy children of the [Note: [g] God here did not onely prouide for his seruant, that his dets should be payed, and so kept his doctrine and profession without slander, but also for his wife and children. ] rest.

8 ¶ And on a time Elisha came to Shunem, and there a woman of great estimation constrained him to eate bread: and as he passed by, he turned in thither to eate bread.

9 And she sayde vnto her husband, Beholde, I know now, that this is an holy man of God that passeth by vs continually.

10 Let vs make [Note: [h] Which should he separate from the rest of ye house, yt he might more commodiously giue himselfe to studie & prayers. ] him a litle chamber, I pray thee, with walles, & let vs set him there a bed, and

[The Shunammites sonne dyeth.]



a table, and a stoole, and a candlesticke, that hee may turne in thither when hee commeth to vs.

11 ¶ And on a day, hee came thither and turned into the chamber, and lay therein,

12 And sayd to Gehazi his seruant, Call this Shunammite: and when hee called her, she stood before him.

13 Then he sayd vnto him, Say vnto her now, Beholde, thou hast had all this great care for vs, [Note: [i] Thus the seruants of God are not vnthankful for the benefites they receiue. ] what shall we doe for thee? Is there any thing to bee spoken for thee to the King or to the captaine of the hoste? And shee answered, I [Note: [k] I am content with that yt God hath sent me, and can want nothing that one can do for another. ] dwell among mine owne people.

14 Againe he sayde, What is then to be done for her? Then Gehazi answered, In deede she hath [Note: [l] Which then was a reproche, and therefore he would that his master should pray to God for her that she might be fruitful. ] no sonne, and her husband is olde.

15 Then said he, Cal her. And hee called her, and shee stoode in the doore.

16 And he said, [Note: Gen.18.10. ] At this time appointed, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a sonne. And she sayd, Oh my Lorde, thou man of God, doe not lye vnto thine handmayd.

17 So the woman conceiued, & bare a sonne at that same season, according to the time of life, that Elisha had sayd vnto her.

18 ¶ And when the childe was growen, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father, and to the reapers.

19 And he sayde to his father, [Note: [m] His head aked sore, and therefore he cryed thus. ] Mine head, mine head. Who sayd to his seruant, Beare him to his mother.

20 And hee tooke him & brought him to his mother, and hee sate on her knees till noone, and dyed.

21 Then shee went vp, and layed him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the doore vpon him, and went out.

22 ¶ Then she called to her husband, & sayd, Send with me, I pray thee, one of the yong men and one of the asses: for I will haste to the man of God, and come againe.

23 And he sayd, Wherefore wilt thou goe to him to day? it is neither [Note: [n] For at such times the people were wont to resort to the Prophets for doctrine and consolation. ] newe moone nor Sabbath day. And she answered, [Note: Ebr. peace. ] All shalbe well.

24 Then she sadled an asse, and sayde to her seruant, Driue, and goe forward: staye not for me to get vp, except I bid thee.

25 ¶ So she went, and came vnto the man of God to mount Carmel. And when the man of God sawe her [Note: Or, farre of. ] ouer against him, he sayd to Gehazi his seruant, Beholde, the Shunammite.

26 Runne nowe, I say, to meete her, and say vnto her, Art thou in health? is thine husband in health? and is the child in health? And she answered, We are in health.

27 And when shee came to the man of God vnto the moutaine, she [Note: [o] In token of humilitie and ioy that she had met with him. ] caught him by his feete: and Gehazi went to her, to thrust her away: but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soule is [Note: Ebr. her soule is in bitternesse. ] vexed within her, and the Lorde hath hid it from me, and hath not told it mee.

28 Then she said, Did I desire a sonne of my lord? did I not say, Deceiue me not?

29 Then he sayd to Gehazi, Gird thy loynes, and take my staffe in thine hand, & goe thy way: [Note: [p] Make such speede that nothing may let thee in the way, Luke. 10.4. ] if thou meete any, salute him not: and if any salute thee, answere him not: and laye my staffe vpon the face of the childe.

30 And the mother of the childe sayde, As the Lorde liueth, and as thy soule liueth, I will not [Page]

[Elisha raiseth a childe from death.]



leaue thee. Therefore he arose, and followed her.

31 But Gehazi was gone before them, & had layed the staffe vpon the face of the childe, but he neither spake nor heard: wherefore hee returned to meete him, and told him, saying, The childe is not waken.

32 ¶ Then came Elisha into the house, and beholde, the childe was dead, and layed vpon his bedde.

33 He went in therefore, and shut the doore vpon them twayne, and prayed vnto the Lord.

34 After he went vp, and [Note: [q] The like did Eliiah to the widowes sonne at Sarephta, 1.King. 17.21. & Saint Paul Act.20.10. signifying the care that ought to be in them, that beare the word of God & are distributers of the spirituall life. ] lay vpon the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes vpon his eies, and his hands vpon his handes, and stretched himselfe vpon him, and the flesh of the child waxed warme.

35 And hee went from him, and walked vp & downe in the house, and went vp and spred himselfe vpon him: then the childe neesed [Note: [r] Meaning, oftentimes. ] seuen times, and opened his eyes.

36 Then he called Gehazi, and sayd, Call this Shunammite. So he called her, which came in vnto him. And he said vnto her, Take thy sonne.

37 And she came, and fell at his feete, and bowed her selfe to the ground, and tooke vp her sonne, and went out.

38 Afterward Elisha returned to Gilgal, and a famine was in the [Note: [s] That is, in the land of Israel. ] land, and the children of the Prophets dwelt with him. And hee sayd vnto his seruant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the children of the Prophets.

39 And one went out into the fielde, to gather herbes, and founde, as it were, a wilde vine, & gathered thereof [Note: [t] Which the Apoticaries cal colloquintida, and is most vehement & dangerous in purging. ] wilde gourdes his garment ful, and came & shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew it not.

40 So they powred out for the men to eate: and when they did eate of the pottage, they cryed out, and sayde, O thou man of God, [Note: [u] They feared that they were poysoned, because of the bitternes. ] death is in the pot: and they could not eate thereof.

41 Then he said, Bring meale. And hee cast it into the potte, and sayd, Powre out for the people, that they may eate: and there was none euill in the pot.

42 ¶ Then came a man from Baal-shalisha, & brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, euen twenty loaues of barley, and full eares of corne in the huske. And hee saide, Giue vnto the people, that they may eate.

43 And his seruant answered, How shoulde I set this before an hundreth men? He sayd againe, Giue it vnto the people, that they may eate: for thus sayth the Lorde, They shall eate, and there [Note: [x] It is not the quantitie of bread that satisfieth, but the blessing that God giueth. ] shall remaine.

44 So he set it before them, and they did eate, and left ouer, according to the word of the Lord.


CHAP. V.


1 Naaman the Syrian is healed of his leprosie. 16 Elisha refuseth his giftes. 27 Gehazi is striken with leprosie, because he tooke money and rayment of Naaman.

1 Now was there one Naaman captaine of the hoste of the King of Aram, a great man, and honourable in the sight of his lorde, because that by him the Lorde had [Note: [a] Here appeareth that among the infidels God hath his, and also that the infidels haue them in estimation, which do good to their countrey. ] deliuered the Aramites. He also was a mightie man and valiant, but a leper.

2 And the Aramites had gone out by bands, and had taken a litle mayde of the land of Israel, and shee [Note: Ebr. she was before. ] serued Naamans wife.

3 And she sayd vnto her mistres, Would God

[Naaman the Syrian & Elisha.]



my lord were with the [Note: [b] Meaning, Elisha. ] Prophet that is in Samaria, he would soone deliuer him of his leprosie.

4 And [Note: [c] That is, Naaman tolde it to the King of Syria. ] he went in, and tolde his lorde, saying, Thus and thus saith the mayde that is of the land of Israel.

5 And the King of Aram sayde, Goe thy way thither, and I will send a letter vnto the King of Israel. And he departed, and [Note: [d] To giue this as a present to the Prophet. ] tooke [Note: Ebr. in his hand. ] with him ten talents of siluer, and sixe thousand pieces of golde, and ten change of rayments,

6 And brought the letter to the King of Israel to this effect, Now when this letter is come vnto thee, vnderstand, that I haue sent thee Naaman my seruant, that thou maiest heale him of his leprosie.

7 And when the King of Israel had read the letter, he rent his clothes, and sayde, Am I God, to kil and to giue life, that hee doth send to mee, that I should heale a man from his leprosie? wherfore consider, I pray you, and see howe he seeketh a quarel against me.

8 But when Elisha the man of God had heard that the King of Israel had rent his clothes, hee sent vnto the King, saying, [Note: [e] The Prophet rebuketh the king because he did not consider that God was true in his promes, & therfore would not leaue his Church destitute of a Prophet, whose prayers he would heare, & to whome other should haue recourse for cofort. ] Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall knowe that there is a Prophet in Israel.

9 ¶ Then Naaman came with his horses, and with his charets, and stoode at the doore of the house of Elisha.

10 And Elisha sent a messenger vnto him, saying, Go and wash thee in Iorden seuen times, and thy flesh shall come againe to thee, and thou shalt be clensed.

11 But Naaman was [Note: [f] Mans reason murmureth, when it considereth onely the signes and outward things, & hath not regard to the word of God, which is there conteined. ] wroth and went away, and sayde, Beholde, I thought with my selfe, Hee will surely come out, and stande, and call on the Name of the Lorde his God and put his hand on the place, and heale the leprosie.

12 Are not Abanah and Pharpar, riuers of Damascus, better then all the waters of Israel? may I not washe mee in them, and bee cleansed? so hee turned, and departed in displeasure.

13 But his seruants came, and spake vnto him, and sayd, [Note: [g] This declareth that seruats ought to reuerence and loue their masters as children their fathers, & likewise masters towarde their seruants must be affectioned as toward their children. ] Father, if the Prophet had commaunded thee a great thing, wouldest thou not haue done it? howe much rather then, when hee sayth to thee, Wash and be cleane?

14 Then went he downe, and [Note: Luke 4.27. ] washed him selfe seuen times in Iorden, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came againe, like vnto ye flesh of a litle child, & he was cleane.

15 ¶ And hee turned againe to the man of God, hee, and all his companie, and came and stood before him, and sayd, Behold, now I knowe that there is no God in all the world, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a [Note: Ebr. bleßing. ] reward of thy seruant.

16 But hee sayde, As the Lorde liueth (before whom I stand) I wil not receiue it. And he would haue costrained him to receiue it, [Note: [h] So the Lord commandeth that they that receiue freely should giue also freely. ] but he refused.

17 Moreouer Naaman sayde, Shall there not be giuen to thy seruant two mules loade of this earth? for thy seruant will henceforth offer neither burnt sacrifice nor offring vnto any other god, saue vnto the Lord. [Note: [i] He feeleth his conscience wounded in being present at idoles seruice, & therefore desireth God to forgiue him, least others by his example might fal to idolatrie: for as for his owne part hee confesseth that he wil neuer serue any but the true God. ]

18 Herein the Lorde bee mercifull vnto thy seruant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon, to worship there, and leaneth on mine hand, and I bowe my selfe in the house of Rimmon: when I doe bowe downe, I say, in

[Page 135]

[Gehazi leprous.]



the house of Rimmon, the Lord be mercifull vnto thy seruant in this point.
19 Vnto whome he saide, [Note: [k] The Prophet did not approue his acte, but after the common maner of speach he biddeth him farewell. ] Goe in peace. So he departed from him about halfe a dayes iourney of grounde.

20 And Gehazi the seruant of Elisha the man of God sayde, Beholde, my master hath spared this Aramite Naaman, receiuing not those things at his hand that he brought: as the Lord liueth, I will runne after him, and take somewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed speedily after Naaman. And when Naaman sawe him running after him, [Note: [l] Declaring thereby what honour and affection he bare to the Prophet his master. ] he light downe from the charet to meete him, and said, Is all well?

22 And he answered, All is well: my master hath set me, saying, Behold, there be come to me, euen nowe from mount Ephraim two yong men of the children of the Prophets: giue them, I pray thee, a talent of siluer, & two change of garmets.

23 And Naaman saide, Yea, take two talents: and he compelled him, and bound two talents of siluer in two bagges, with two change of garments, and gaue them vnto two of his seruants, that they might beare them before him.

24 And when he came to [Note: Or, fortresse, or secret place. ] the towre, he tooke them out of their handes, and laide them in the house, & sent away the men: & [Note: [m] Naamans seruants. ] they departed.

25 ¶ Then he went in, and stoode before his master. And Elisha said vnto him, Whence commest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy seruant went no whither.

26 But he saide vnto him, [Note: [n] Was not I present with thee in spirite? ] Went not mine heart with thee when the man turned againe fro his charet to meete thee? Is this a time to take money, and to receiue garments, [Note: [o] That is, money to bye possessions with: meaning, that it is detestable in the seruants of God to haue couetous mindes. ] and oliues, and vineyardes, and sheepe, and oxen, and men seruants, and maide seruants?

27 The leprosie therefore of Naaman shall cleaue vnto thee, and [Note: [p] To be an example to all such, as by whose couetousnesse Gods word might be slandered. ] to thy seede for euer. And he went out from his presence a leper white as snowe.



CHAP. VI.


6 Elisha maketh yron to swimme aboue the water. 8 He discloseth the King of Syrias counsel to the King of Israel. 13 Who sending certaine to take him, were kept fast in Samaria. 24 Samaria is besieged and endureth extreme famine.

1 And the children of the Prophets saide vnto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the place where we dwell with thee, is too litle for vs.

2 Let vs nowe goe to Iorden, that we may take thence euery man a [Note: [a] Or a piece of wood fit to builde with. ] beame, and make vs a place to dwell in. And he answered, Goe.

3 And one said, Vouchsafe, I pray thee, to go with thy seruants, and he answered, I will goe.

4 So he went with them, & when they came to Iorden, they cut downe wood.

5 And as one was felling of a tree, the [Note: Or, the axe head. ] yron fell into the water: then he cryed, and said, Alas master, it was but borowed.

6 And the man of God saide, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. Then he cut downe a piece of wood, and cast in thither, and he caused the yron to [Note: [b] God wrought this miraculously to confirme the autoritie of Elisha, to whome he had giuen such aboundance of his Spirite. ] swimme.

7 Then he saide, Take it vp to thee. And he stretched out his hand, and tooke it.

8 Then the King of Aram warred against Israel, and tooke counsell with his seruants, and said, In [Note: [c] Meaning, that he would lie in ambush and take the Israelites at vnwares. ] such and such a place shalbe my campe.

9 Therefore the man of God sent vnto the

[The Aramites smitten with blindnesse.]



King of Israel, saying, Beware thou goe not ouer to such a place: for there the Aramites are come downe.

10 So the King of Israel sent to the place which the man of God tolde him, and warned him of, and [Note: [d] The wicked conspire nothing so craftily, but God can reueile it to his seruants and cause their counsell to be disclosed. ] saued himselfe from thence, not once, nor twise.

11 And the heart of the King of Aram was troubled for this thing: therefore he called his seruants and saide vnto them, Will ye not shewe me, which of vs bewrayeth our counsel to the king of Israel?

12 Then one of his seruants saide, None, my lorde, O King, but Elisha the Prophet that is in Israel, telleth the King of Israel, euen the wordes that thou speakest in thy [Note: [e] There is nothing so secret that thou canst goe about, but hee knoweth it, and discouereth it vnto his King. ] priuie chamber.

13 And he said, Goe, and espie where he is, that I may sende and fetch him. And one tolde him, saying, Beholde, he is in Dothan.

14 ¶ So he sent thither horses, and charets, and a [Note: [f] Though it had bene nothing in mans iudgement to haue taken Elisha, yet the wicked euer dout and thinke they are neuer able to prepare power ynough, though it be but against one, or a fewe. ] mightie hoste: and they came by night, and compassed the citie.

15 And when the seruant of the man of God arose earely to goe out, beholde, an hoste compassed the citie with horses and charets. Then his seruant sayde vnto him, Alas master, howe shall we doe?

16 And he answered, [Note: [g] For he was assured of Gods helpe, and that millions of Angels camped about the godly to deliuer them. ] Feare not: [Note: 1.Chron.32.7. ] for they that be with vs, are moe then they that be with them.

17 Then Elisha prayed, and saide, Lorde, I beseech thee, open his eyes, [Note: [h] That he may beholde howe thou hast prepared an armie to rescue vs. ] that he may see. And the Lorde opened the eyes of the seruant, and he looked, and beholde, the mountaine was full of horses and charets of fyre round about Elisha.

18 So [Note: [i] Meaning, the Syrians his enemies, which came downe, thinking them selues sure of him. ] they came downe to him, but Elisha prayed vnto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindnesse. And he smote them with blindnes, according to the worde of Elisha.

19 And Elisha said vnto them, This is not the way, neither is this the citie: followe me, and I will leade you to the man whome ye seeke. But he ledde [Note: [k] Thus he did being led by the Spirit of God, and not because he sought his owne reuengeance, but onely to set forth the glory of God. ] them to Samaria.

20 And when they were come to Samaria, Elisha saide, Lorde, open their eyes that they may see. And the Lorde opened their eyes, and they saw, & beholde, they were in the mids of Samaria.

21 And the King of Israel sayde vnto Elisha when he sawe them, [Note: [l] The wicked vse reuerent and graue words towardes the seruants of God, when they thinke to haue any commoditie by them, though in their heart they can not abide them. ] My father, shall I smite them, shall I smite them?

22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: doest thou not smite them that thou hast taken with thy sworde, and with thy bowe? but set bread and water before them, that they may eate and drinke and goe to their master.

23 And he made great preparation for them: & when they had eaten & drunken, he sent them away: and they went to their master. So ye bands of Aram came [Note: [m] For this gentle intreatie and the miracle wrought by the Prophet, did more preuaile for common quietnes, then if they had bene ouercome in battel: for they returned no more at that time to fight against Israel, or in that Kings dayes. ] no more into the land of Israel.

24 But afterward Ben-hadad King of Aram gathered all his hoste, and went vp, and besieged Samaria.

25 So there was a great famine in Samaria: for loe, they besieged it vntill an asses head was at foure score pieces of siluer, and the fourth part of a kab of doues [Note: [n] The Ebrewes write, that they burned it in the siege for lacke of wood. ] doung at fiue pieces of siluer.

26 And as the King of Israel was going vpon the wall, there cryed a woman vnto him, saying, Helpe, my lord, O King.

27 And he said, Seeing the Lord doeth not succour [Page]

[A famine in Israel. Foure Lepers.]



thee, howe shoulde I helpe thee with the [Note: [o] Meaning, any kinde of vitaile, as corne and wine &c. ] barne, or with the wine presse?

28 Also the King said vnto her, What ayleth thee? And she answered, This woman sayde vnto me, Giue thy sonne, that we may eate him to day, and we will eate my sonne to morowe,

29 [Note: Deut.28.53,57. ] So we sod my sonne, and did eate him: & I saide to her the day after, Giue thy sonne, that we may eate him, but she hath hid her sonne.

30 And when the King had heard the wordes of the woman, he rent his clothes, (& as he went vpon the wall, the people looked, and behold, he had sackecloth [Note: Or, vnder his clothes. ] within [Note: [p] Thus hypocrites, when they feele Gods iudgements, thinke to please him with outward ceremonies, whome in prosperitie they will not knowe. ] vpon his flesh)

31 And he saide, God doe so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the sonne of Shaphat shall stande on him this day.

32 (Nowe Elisha sate in his house, and the Elders sate with him.) And the King sent a man before him: but before the messenger came to him, he saide to the Elders, See ye not howe this [Note: [q] Meaning, Iehoram Ahabs sonne who killed the Prophets and caused Naboth to be stoned. ] murtherers sonne hath sent to take away mine head? take heede when the messenger commeth, and shut the doore and handle him roughly at the doore: is not the sounde of his masters feete behinde him?

33 While he yet talked with them, beholde, the messenger came downe vnto him, and saide, Behold, this euill commeth of the Lord: [Note: [r] So the wicked fall into a rage and desperation, if they finde not sudden remedie against their afflictions. ] should I attende on the Lorde any longer?


CHAP. VII.


1 Elisha prophecieth plentie of vitaile and other things to Samaria. 6 The Syrians runne away, and haue no man following them. 17 The prince that would not beleeue the worde of Elisha is troden to death.

1 Then Elisha saide, Heare ye the worde of the Lorde: thus saith the Lorde, [Note: [a] The godly are euer assured of Gods helpe in their necessities, but the times and houres are onely reueiled by Gods Spirit. ] To morowe this time a measure of fine floure shalbe solde for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria.

2 Then a prince, on whose hande the King [Note: [b] To whome the King gaue the charge and ouersight of things, as verse 17. ] leaned, answered the man of God, and saide, Though the Lorde would make [Note: [c] He mocketh at the Prophets wordes, saying, that if God rayned downe corne from heauen, yet this could not come to passe. ] windowes in the heauen, could this thing come to passe? And he said, Beholde, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not [Note: [d] Thy infidelitie shalbe punished herein when thou shalt see this miracle and yet not be partaker thereof. ] eate thereof.

3 Nowe there were foure leprous men at the [Note: [e] For it was commanded in the lawe that they should dwell apart and not among their brethren, Leuit. 13.46. ] entring in of the gate: and they saide one to an other, Why sitte we here vntill we die?

4 If we say, We will enter into the citie, the famine is in the citie, and we shall die there: and if we sit here, we dye also. Nowe therefore come, and let vs fall into the campe of the Aramites: if they saue our liues, we shall liue: and if they kill vs, we are but dead.

5 So they rose vp in the twilight, to goe to the campe of the Aramites: and when they were come to the vtmost part of the campe of the Aramites, loe, there was no man there.

6 For the Lord had caused the campe of the Aramites to heare a [Note: [f] Thus God nedeth no great preparation to destroy the wicked, though they be neuer so many: for he can scatter them with a smal noise or shaking of a leafe. ] noyse of charets & a noise of horses, and a noise of a great armie, so that they sayde one to another, Beholde, the King of Israel hath hired against vs the Kings of the Hittites, and the Kings of the Egyptians to come vpon vs.

7 Wherefore they arose, and fled in the twilight, and left their tentes and their horses, and their asses, euen the campe as it was, and [Note: [g] The wicked need no greater enemie then their owne conscience to pursue the. ] fledde for their liues.

[Foure Lepers. Incredulitie rewarded.]




8 And when these lepers came to the vtmost part of the campe, they entred into one tent, and did eate and drinke, and caryed thence siluer and golde, and raiment, and went and hid it: after they returned, and entred into another tent, and caryed thence also, and went and hid it.

9 Then saide one to another, We doe not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we holde our peace. if we tary till day light, some [Note: Or, we shall be punished for our fault. ] mischiefe will come vpon vs. Nowe therefore, come, let vs goe, and tell the Kings housholde.

10 So they came, and called vnto the porters of the citie, and tolde them, saying, We came to the campe of the Aramites, and loe, there was no man there, neither voyce of man, but horses tyed and asses tyed: and the tents are as they were.

11 And the porters cryed and declared to the Kings house within.

12 Then the King arose in the night, and saide vnto his seruants, [Note: [h] He mistrusted the Prophets wordes, and therefore coulde beleeue nothing, as they which are more politike then godly euer cast more perils then needeth. ] I wil shew you now, what the Aramites haue done vnto vs. They know that we are affamished, therefore they are gone out of the campe to hide them selues in the fielde, saying, When they come out of the citie, we shall catch them aliue, and get into the citie.

13 And one of his seruants answered, and said, Let me take now fiue of the horses that remaine, and are left in the citie, (behold, they are euen as all the [Note: [i] There are no more left, but they, or the rest are consumed with the famine as the rest of the people. ] multitude of Israel that are left therein: beholde, I say, they are as the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed) & we wil send to see.

14 So they tooke [Note: Or, two horses of the charet, which were accustomed to drawe in the charet. ] two charets of horses, and the King sent after the hoste of the Aramites, saying, Goe and see.

15 And they went after them vnto Iorden, and loe, all the way was full of clothes and vessels which the Aramites had cast from them in their hast: & the messengers returned, and told ye King.

16 Then the people went out and spoyled the campe of the Aramites: so a measure of fine floure was at a shekel, and two measures of barley at a shekel [Note: [k] Which he spake by the mouth of Elisha, verse 1. ] according to the word of the Lorde.

17 And the King gaue the prince (on whose hande he leaned) the charge of the gate, and the people [Note: [l] As the people preased out of the gate to runne to the Syrians tents where they had heard was meat, and great spoyle left. ] trode vpon him in the gate, and he dyed, as the man of God had saide, which spake it, when the King came downe to him.

18 And it came to passe, as the man of God had spoken to the King, saying, Two measures of barley at a shekel, and a measure of fine floure shall be at a shekel, to morowe about this time in the gate of Samaria.

19 But the prince had answered the man of God, and saide, Though the Lorde would make windowes in the heauen, coulde it come so to passe? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eate thereof.

20 And so it came vnto him: for the people trode vpon him in the gate, and he dyed.


CHAP. VIII.


1 Elisha prophesieth vnto the Shunammite the dearth of seuen yeere. 12 He prophesieth to Hazael that he shalbe King of Syria. 15 He reigneth after Ben-hadad. 16 Iehoram reigneth ouer Iudah. 20 Edom falleth from Iudah. 25 Ahaziah succeedeth Iehoram.

1 Then spake Elisha vnto the woman, [Note: Chap.4.35. ] whose sonne he had restored to life, saying, Vp, and goe, thou, and thine house, and soiourne where thou [Note: [a] Where thou canst finde a commodious place to dwell, where as is plentie. ] canst soiourne: for the Lorde hath called for a famine, and it commeth also vpon the land seuen yeeres.


[Page 136]

[Hazael. Iehoram.]




2 And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God, and went both shee and her housholde and soiourned in the lande of the Philistims seuen yeeres.

3 ¶ And at the seuen yeeres ende, the woman returned out of the lande of the Philistims, and went out [Note: [b] That is, to complaine on them which had taken her possessions while she was absent. ] to call vpon the King for her house and for her land.

4 And the King talked with Gehazi the seruant of the man of God, saying, Tell mee, I pray thee, all the great actes, that Elisha hath done.

5 And as he told [Note: [c] Gods wonderful prouidence appeareth in this that he caused the King to bee desirous to heare of him, whome before he contemned, and also here by prepared an entrance to the poore widowes sute. ] the King, howe he had restored one dead to life, behold, the woman, whose sonne he had raised to life, called vpon the King for her house and for her land. Then Gehazi sayd, My lorde, O King, this is the woman, and this is her sonne, whom Elisha restored to life.

6 And when the King asked the woman, shee told him: so the King appoynted her an Eunuch, saying, Restore thou all that are hers, and all the [Note: [d] The King caused that to bee iustly restored which was wrongfully holden from her. ] fruites of her landes since the day shee left the land, euen vntill this time.

7 ¶ Then Elisha came to Damascus, and Ben-hadad the King of Aram was sicke, and one told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

8 And the king sayd vnto Hazael, Take a present in thine hande, and goe meete the man of God, that thou mayest inquire of ye Lord by him, saying, Shall I recouer of this disease?

9 ¶ So Hazael went to meete him, and tooke the present in his hand, and of euery [Note: [e] Of all the chiefest and precious things of the countrey. ] good thing of Damascus, euen the burden of fourtie camels, and came and stood before him, and sayde, Thy sonne Ben-hadad King of Aram hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recouer of this disease?

10 And Elisha sayd to him, Goe, and say vnto him, Thou shalt [Note: [f] Meaning, that he should recouer of this disease: but he knew that this messenger Hazael should slay him to obteine the kingdome. ] recouer: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me, that he shall surely dye.

11 And hee looked vpon him stedfastly, till Hazael was ashamed, and the man of God wept.

12 And Hazael sayde, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I knowe the euill that thou shalt do vnto the children of Israel: for their strong cities shalt thou set on fire, and their yong men shalt thou slay with the sworde, and shalt dash their infantes against the stones, and rent in pieces their women with child.

13 Then Hazael said, What? is thy seruant [Note: [g] That I should be without all humanitie and pitie. ] a dog, that I should doe this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lorde hath shewed mee, that thou shalt be King of Aram.

14 ¶ So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, What saide Elisha to thee? And he answered, Hee tolde mee that thou shouldest recouer.

15 And on the morow he tooke a thick cloth and dipt in it water, and [Note: [h] Vnder pretence to refresh or ease him, he stifled him with this cloth. ] spread it on his face, & hee dyed: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

16 ¶ [Note: 2.Chro.21.4. ] Now in the fift yere of Ioram ye sonne of Ahab King of Israel, and of Iehoshaphat King of Iudah, [Note: [i] Read Chap.1.17. ] Iehoram the sonne of Iehoshaphat King of Iudah began [Note: [k] He was confirmed in his kingdome after his fathers death. ] to reigne.

17 He was two and thirtie yere olde, when he began to reigne: and hee reigned eight yeere in Ierusalem.

18 And hee walked in the wayes of the Kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the [Note: [l] The holy Ghost sheweth hereby what danger it is to ioyne with infidels. ] daughter of Ahab was his wife, and hee did euill in the sight of the Lord.

19 Yet the Lord would not destroy Iudah, for

[Ahaziah. Iehu is anoynted king.]



Dauid his seruants sake, [Note: 2.Sam.7.13. ] as he had promised him to giue him a light, and to his children for euer.

20 ¶ In those dayes Edom [Note: [m] Which had bene subiect from Dauids time vntil this time of Iehoram. ] rebelled from vnder the hand of Iudah, and made a King ouer themselues.

21 Therefore Ioram went to Zair, and all his charets with him, and he arose by night, & smote the Edomites which were about him with the captains of the charets, and the people fled into their tents.

22 So Edom rebelled from vnder the hand of Iudah vnto this day. then [Note: [n] This was a citie in Iudah giuen to the Leuites, Iosh.21.13. and after turned from King Iehoram because of his idolatrie. ] Libnah rebelled at that same time.

23 Concerning the rest of the actes of Ioram and all that hee did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

24 And Ioram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid. And [Note: 1.Chro.22.1. ] Ahaziah his sonne reigned in his stead.

25 ¶ In the twelft yere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab King of Israel did Ahaziah the sonne of Iehoram King of Iudah begin to reigne.

26 [Note: [o] Which is to be vnderstand, that hee was made King, when his father reigned, but after his fathers death he was confirmed King, when hee was fourtie two yere olde, as 2.Chro.22.2. ] Two and twentie yeere olde was Ahaziah when he began to reigne, and he reigned one yere in Ierusalem, and his mothers name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri King of Israel.

27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did euill in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab: for hee was the sonne in law of the house of Ahab.

28 And he went with Ioram the sonne of Ahab to warre against Hazael King of Aram in [Note: [p] Which was a citie in the tribe of Gad beyonde Iorden. ] Ramoth Gilead, and the Aramites smote Ioram.

29 And King Ioram returned to bee healed in [Note: [q] This is a citie belonging to the tribe of Issachar. ] Izreel of the wounds which ye Aramites had giuen him at Ramah, whe he fought against Hazael King of Aram. And Ahaziah the sonne of Iehoram King of Iudah went downe to see Ioram the sonne of Ahab in Izreel, because he was sicke.


CHAP. IX.


6 Iehu is made King of Israel, 24 And killeth Iehoram the King thereof, 27 And Ahaziah, otherwise called Ochozias, the King of Iudah, 33 And causeth Iezebel to bee cast downe out of a windowe, and the dogges did eate her.

1 Then Elisha the Prophet called one of ye children of the Prophets, and sayde vnto him, [Note: 1.King. 19.16,17. ] [Note: [a] Prepare thy selfe to goe diligently about thy busines: for in those countries they vsed long garments which they tucked vp, when they went about earnest businesse. ] Gird thy loynes and take this boxe of oyle in thine hand and get thee to Ramoth Gilead.

2 And when thou commest thither, looke where is Iehu ye sonne of Iehoshaphat, the sonne of Nimshi, and go, and make him arise vp from among his brethren, and leade him [Note: Ebr. from chamber to chamber. ] to a secret chamber.

3 Then take the boxe of oyle and powre it on his head, and say, Thus sayth the Lorde, I haue anointed thee for King ouer Israel. then open the doore, and flee without any tarying.

4 So the seruat of ye Prophet gate him to Ramoth Gilead.

5 And when he came in, behold, the captaines of the armie were sitting. And he sayde, I haue a message to thee, O captaine. And Iehu sayd, Vnto which of all vs? And he answered, To thee, O captaine.

6 And he arose, and went into the house, and he powred the oyle on his head and sayde vnto him, Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel, I haue [Note: [b] This anointing was for Kings, Priests and Prophets, which were all figures of Messiah, in whome these three offices were accomplished. ] anointed thee for King ouer the people of the Lord, euen ouer Israel.

7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab [Page]

[Iehu anointed King, goeth to Izreel, and slaieth Iehoram, and Iezebel.]



thy master, that I may auenge the blood of my seruants the Prophets, and the blood of al the seruants of the Lord [Note: 1.King.21.15,25. ] of the hand of Iezebel.

8 For the whole house of Ahab shalbe destroied: and [Note: 1.King.14.10. & 21.21. ] I will cut off from Ahab, him that maketh water against the wall, as well him that is shut vp, as him that is left in Israel.

9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house [Note: 1.King.14.10. and 21.22. ] of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, and like the house [Note: 1.King.16.3,11. ] of Baasha the sonne of Ahiiah.

10 And the dogges shall eate Iezebel in the fielde of Izreel, and there shalbe none to burie her. And he opened the doore, and fled.

11 ¶ Then Iehu came out to the [Note: [c] That is, the rest of the armie, whom he called before, his brethren, verse 2. ] seruants of his lord. And one sayd vnto him, Is all well? wherefore came this [Note: [d] In this estimation the worlde hath the ministers of God: notwithstading forasmuch as the worlde hath euer slaundered ye children of God (yea they called the sonne of God a deceiuer, and said he had the deuil:) therefore they ought not to be discouraged. ] mad fellowe to thee? And hee sayde vnto them, Ye knowe the man, and what his talke was.

12 And they sayde, It is false, tell vs it nowe. Then he sayd, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saieth the Lorde, I haue anointed thee for King ouer Israel.

13 Then they made haste, and tooke euerie man his garment, and put it vnder him on the top of the staires, and blewe the trumpet, saying, Iehu is King.

14 So Iehu ye sonne of Iehoshaphat the sonne of Nimshi conspired against Ioram: (Now Ioram kept Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael King of Aram.

15 And [Note: Chap.8.29. ] King Ioram returned to bee healed in Izreel of the woundes, which the Aramites had giuen him, when hee fought with Hazael King of Aram) and Iehu sayde, If it be your mindes, let no man depart and escape out of the citie, to goe and tell in Izreel.

16 So Iehu gate vp into a charet, and went to Izreel: for Ioram lay there, and [Note: [e] God had thus ordeined, as is red, 2.Chro.22.7. that this wicked and idolatrous King, who was more ready to gratifie wicked Ioram, then to obey the will of God, should perish with him, by whose meanes he thought to haue bene stronger. ] Ahaziah King of Iudah was come downe to see Ioram.

17 And the watchman yt stoode in the towre in Izreel spyed the companie of Iehu as hee came, & sayd, I see a companie. And Iehoram said, Take a horseman and send to meete them, that hee may say, Is it peace?

18 So there went one on horseback to meete him, and sayde, Thus sayth the King, Is it peace? And Iehu sayd, What hast thou to do with peace? [Note: Or, folowe me. ] Turne behinde me. And the watchman tolde, saying, The messenger came to them, but he commeth not againe.

19 Then hee sent out another on horsebacke, which came to them, and sayde, Thus sayth the King, Is it peace? And Iehu answered, What hast thou to doe with peace? turne behinde me.

20 And the watchman tolde, saying, He came to them also, but commeth not againe, and the marching is like the marching of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi: for he marcheth [Note: [f] As one that went earnestly about his enterprise. ] furiously.

21 ¶ Then Iehoram sayd, Make ready: and his charet was made ready. And Iehoram King of Israel and Ahaziah King of Iudah went out eyther of them in his charet against Iehu, and met him in the fielde of Naboth the Izreelite.

22 And when Iehoram sawe Iehu, he sayde, Is it peace, Iehu? And he answered, What [Note: [g] Meaning that forasmuch as God is their enemie because of their sinnes, that hee will euer stirre vp some to reuenge his cause. ] peace? whiles the whoredomes of thy mother Iezebel, and her witchcraftes are yet in great nomber?

23 Then Iehoram turned his hand, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, O Ahaziah, there is treason.

24 But Iehu tooke a bowe in his hande, and

[Iehu anointed King, goeth to Izreel, and slaieth Iehoram, and Iezebel.]



smote Iehoram betweene the shoulders, that the arowe went through his heart: and he fell downe in his charet.

25 Then said Iehu to Bidkar a captaine, Take, and cast him in some place of the fielde of Naboth the Izreelite: for I remember that when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the Lorde [Note: Or, spake this prophecie against him. ] layed this burden vpon him.

26 [Note: 1.King.21.29. ] Surely I haue seene yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his [Note: [h] By this place it is euident, that Iezebel caused both Naboth and his sonnes to be put to death, that Ahab might enioy his vineyard more quietly: for els his childre might haue claymed possessio. ] sonnes, saide the Lord, and I will render it thee in this fielde, saith the Lorde: nowe therefore take and cast him in the fielde, according to the word of the Lord.

27 But when Ahaziah the King of Iudah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house: And Iehu pursued after him, and sayd, Smite him also in the charet: and they smote him in the going vp to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And hee fled to [Note: [i] After yt he was wouded in Samaria, he fled to Megiddo, which was a citie of Iudah. ] Megiddo, and there dyed.

28 And his seruants caried him in a charet to Ierusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the citie of Dauid.

29 ¶ And in the [Note: [k] That is, eleuen whole yeres: for chap.8.25. before, when hee said that he began to reigne the twelft yeere of Ioram, he taketh part of the yeere for the whole. ] eleuenth yere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab, began Ahaziah to reigne ouer Iudah.

30 And when Iehu was come to Izreel, Iezebel heard of it, and paynted her face, and tired her head, and [Note: [l] Beeing of an hautie and cruel nature, she woulde still reteine her princely state and dignitie. ] looked out at a windowe.

31 And as Iehu entred at the gate, shee sayde, Had [Note: [m] As though shee would say, Can any traitor or any that riseth against his superior, haue good successe? read 1. King. 16.10. ] Zimri peace, which slewe his master?

32 And he lift vp his eyes to the windowe, and sayd, Who is on my side, who? Then two or three of her [Note: Or, chief seruants. ] Eunuches looked vnto him.

33 And he sayde, Cast her downe: and they cast her downe, [Note: [n] This hee did by the motion of the Spirit of God, that her blood should be shed, that had shed the blood of innocents, to be a spectacle and example of Gods iudgements to al tyrants. ] and hee sprinkled of her blood vpon the wall, and vpon the horses, and he trode her vnder foote.

34 And when he was come in, he did eate and drinke, and sayde, Visite now yonder cursed woman, and burie her: for she is a [Note: [o] To wit, of the King of Zidon, 1.King.16.31. ] Kings daughter.

35 And they went to burie her, but they foud no more of her, then the skull and the feete, and the palmes of her handes.

36 Wherefore they came agayne and tolde him. And he said, This is the worde of the Lorde, which he spake [Note: Ebr. by the had of. ] by his seruant Eliiah the Tishbite, saying, [Note: 1.King.21.23. ] In the fielde of Izreel shall ye dogs eate the flesh of Iezebel.

37 And ye carkeis of Iezebel shalbe as doung vpon the ground in ye field of Izreel, so that none shall say, [Note: [p] Thus Gods iudgmets appeare euen in this world against them that suppresse his word and persecute his seruants. ] This is Iezebel.


CHAP. X.


6 Iehu causeth the seuentie sonnes of Ahab to bee slaine, 14 And after that fourtie and two of Ahaziahs brethren. 25 Hee killeth also all the Priests of Baal. 35 After his death his sonne reigneth in his steade.

1 Ahab had nowe seuentie [Note: [a] The Scripture vseth to call them sonnes, which are either children or nephewes. ] sonnes in Samaria. And Iehu wrote letters, & sent to Samaria vnto the rulers of Izreel, and to the Elders, and to ye bringers vp of Ahabs children, to this effect,

2 Nowe when this letter commeth to you, (for ye haue wt you your masters sonnes, yee haue with you both charets and horses, and a defenced citie, and armour)

3 Consider therefore which of your masters sonnes is best and most meete, and [Note: [b] He wrote this, to prooue them whether they would take his part or no. ] set him on his fathers throne, and fight for your masters house.

4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and saide, Behold two Kings coulde not stande before him, how shall we then stand?


[Page 137]

[Ahabs sonnes slayne.]




5 And he yt was gouernour of Ahabs house, and he that ruled the citie, and the Elders, & the bringers vp of the children sent to Iehu, saying, We are thy seruants, and will doe all that thou shalt bid vs: we will make no King: do what seemeth good to thee.

6 ¶ Then he wrote another letter to them, saying, If ye be mine, & wil obey my voyce, [Note: [c] God as a iust iudge punisheth the wicked childre of wicked parents vnto the third and fourth generation. ] take the heads of ye men that are your masters sonnes, & come to me to Izreel by to morowe this time. (Nowe the Kings sonnes, euen seuentie persons were with the great men of the citie, which brought them vp)

7 And when the letter came to them, they tooke the Kings sonnes, and slewe the seuentie persons, and layde their heads in baskets, and sent them vnto him to Izreel.

8 ¶ Then there came a messenger and tolde him, saying, They haue brought the heads of the Kings sonnes. And he sayd, Let them lay them on two heapes at the entring in of the gate vntil the morning.

9 And when it was day, he went out, & stood and sayd to all the people, Ye be [Note: [d] Ye can not iustly condemne me for ye Kings death, seeing ye haue done the like to his posteritie: for the Lord commanded me, & moued you to execute this his iudgemet. ] righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, & slew him: but who slew all these?

10 Knowe nowe that there shal fall vnto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the Lorde hath brought to passe the things that hee spake [Note: Ebr. by the hand of. ] by his seruant [Note: 1.King 21.29. ] Eliiah.

11 So Iehu slew al that remained of the house of Ahab in Izreel, & all that were great with him, and his familiars and his [Note: [e] Meaning, which were the idolatrous priests. ] priestes, so that he let none of his remaine.

12 ¶ And he arose, and departed and came to Samaria. And as Iehu was in the way by an house where the shepheards did shere,

13 He met with the brethre of Ahaziah king of Iudah, and sayd, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah, and goe downe to salute the children of the King and the children of the Queene.

14 And he sayde, Take them aliue. And they tooke them aliue, & slew them at the well beside the house where the sheepe are shorne, euen two and fourtie men, and he [Note: [f] Thus Gods vengeance is vpon them that haue any part or familiaritie with the wicked. ] left not one of them.

15 ¶ And when he was departed thence, hee met with Iehonadab the sonne of Rechab comming to meete him, and he [Note: [g] For he feared God & lamented the wickednes of those times: therefore Iehu was glad to ioyne with him: of Rechab reade Ieremie 35.2. ] [Note: Or, praised God for him. ] blessed him, and sayde to him, Is thine heart vpright, as mine heart is towarde thine? And Iehonadab answered, Yea, doubtlesse. Then giue me thine hande. And when he had giuen him his hande, he tooke him vp to him into the charet.

16 And he sayde, Come with me, and see the zeale that I haue for the Lord: so they made him ride in his charet.

17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained vnto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the worde of the Lord, which he spake to Eliiah.

18 Then Iehu assembled all the people, and sayd vnto them, Ahab serued [Note: [h] Here Baal is taken for Ashtaroth the idole of the Zidonians, which Iezebel caused to be worshipped, as it is also so vsed, 1.King.16.32. & 22.53. ] Baal a litle, but Iehu shal serue him much more.

19 Now therefore call vnto me all ye prophets of Baal, all his seruants, & all his priests, & let not a man be lacking: for I haue a great sacrifice for Baal: whosoeuer is lacking, he shal not liue. But Iehu did it by a subtiltie to destroy ye seruats of Baal.

[Baals priests are slaine.]




20 And Iehu sayd, [Note: Ebr. sanctifie. ] Proclaime a solemne assemblie for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

21 So Iehu sent vnto all Israel, and all the seruants of Baal came, and there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was full from ende to ende.

22 Then he said vnto him that had the charge of the vestrie, Bring forth vestments for al the seruants of Baal. And he brought the out vestments.

23 And when Iehu went, and Iehonadab the sonne of Rechab into the house of Baal, he sayde vnto the seruants of Baal, Searche diligently, and looke, lest there be here with you any of the [Note: [i] Thus God would haue his seruants preserued, and idolaters destroyed: as in his law he giueth expresse commandement, Deut. 13. ] seruants of the Lord, but the seruants of Baal only.

24 And when they went in to make sacrifice and burnt offering, Iehu appoynted foure score men without, and sayd, If any of the men whome I haue brought into your hands, escape, [Note: Or, he shall die for him. ] his soule shalbe for his soule.

25 And when hee had made an ende of the burnt offring, Iehu sayde to the garde, and to the captaines, Goe in, slay them, let not a man come out. And they smote them with the edge of the sworde. And the garde, & the captaines cast them out, & went vnto the [Note: [k] Which citie was neere to Samaria. ] citie, where was the temple of Baal.

26 And they brought out the images of the temple of Baal, and burnt them.

27 And they destroyed the image of Baal, and threwe downe the house of Baal, & made a iakes of it vnto this day.

28 So Iehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

29 But fro the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat which made Israel to sinne, Iehu departed not fro them, neither from the golden calues that were in Beth-el and that were in Dan.

30 ¶ And the Lorde sayde vnto Iehu, Because thou hast diligently executed that which was right in mine eyes, & hast done vnto the house of Ahab according to all things that were in mine heart, therefore shall thy [Note: [l] Thus God approueth & rewardeth his zeale, in executing Gods iudgement, albeit his wickednes was afterward punished. ] sonnes vnto the fourth generation sit on the throne of Israel.

31 But Iehu regarded not to walke in the law of the Lorde God of Israel with all his heart: for hee departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam, which made Israel to sinne.

32 In those dayes the Lorde began to [Note: Or, to cut them off. ] lothe Israel, and Hazael smote them in all the coastes of Israel,

33 From Iorden Eastward, euen all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, & them that were of Manasseh, from Aroer (which is by the riuer Arnon) and Gilead and Bashan.

34 Concerning the rest of the actes of Iehu, and all that he did, and all his valiant deedes, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

35 And Iehu slept with his fathers, and they buryed him in Samaria, and Iehoahaz his sonne reigned in his stead.

36 And the time that Iehu reigned ouer Israel in Samaria is eight and twentie yeeres.


CHAP. XI.


1 Athaliah putteth to death all the Kings sonnes, except Ioash the sonne of Ahaziah. 4 Ioash is appointed King. 15 Iehoiada causeth Athaliah to be slaine. 17 He maketh a couenant betweene God and the people. 18 Baal and his priestes are destroyed.

1 Then [Note: 2.Chro.22.10. ] Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah when she saw that her sonne was dead, she arose, & [Page]

[Athaliah. Ioash made King.]



destroyed all the [Note: [a] Meaning all the posteritie of Iehoshaphat, to whome the kingdome appertained: thus God vsed the crueltie of this woman to destroy the whole familie of Ahab. ] Kings seede.

2 But Iehosheba the daughter of King Ioram, & sister to Ahaziah [Note: [b] The Lord promised to mainteine the familie of Dauid, and not to quench the light thereof: therefore he moued ye heart of Iehosheba to preserue him. ] tooke Ioash the sonne of Ahaziah, and stale him from among the Kings sonnes that shoulde be slaine, both him and his nource, keeping them in the [Note: [c] Where the Priests did lye. ] bed chaber, & they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slaine.

3 And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord sixe yeere: and Athaliah did reigne ouer the land.

4 ¶ [Note: 2.Chro.23.13. ] And the seuenth yeere [Note: [d] The chiefe Priest Iehoshebas husband. ] Iehoiada sent & tooke the captaines ouer hundreths, with other captaines and them of the garde, & caused them to come vnto him into the house of the Lord, & made a couenant with them, and tooke an othe of them in the house of the Lorde, and shewed them the Kings sonne.

5 And he commanded them, saying, This is it that ye must doe, The third part of [Note: [e] Of the Leuites, which had charge of the keeping of the Temple and kept watch by course. ] you, that commeth on the Sabbath, shall [Note: [f] That none should come vpon them, while they were crowning the King. ] warde towarde the Kings house:

6 And another third part in the gate of [Note: [g] Called the East gate of the Temple, 2.Chro.23.5. ] Sur: and another thirde part in the gate behinde them of the garde: and ye shall keepe watche [Note: Or, that none breake his order. ] in the house of Massah.

7 And two parts of you, that is, all that [Note: [h] Whose charge is ended. ] goe out on the Sabbath day, shal keepe the watch of the house of the Lord about the King.

8 And ye shal compasse the King rounde about, euery man with his weapon in his hande, and whosoeuer commeth within the ranges, let him be slayne: be you with the King, as he goeth out and in.

9 ¶ And the captaines of the hundreths did according to all that Iehoiada the Priest commaded, and they tooke euery man his men that entred in to their charge on the [Note: [i] Reade vers.5. and 7. ] Sabbath with them that went out of it on the Sabbath, and came to Iehoiada the Priest.

10 [Note: [k] To wit, Iehoiada. ] And the Priest gaue to the captaines of hundreths the speares and the shieldes that were King Dauids, & were in the house of the Lord.

11 And the garde stoode, euery man with his weapon in his hande, from the right side of the house to the left side, about the altar and about the house, round about the King.

12 Then he brought out [Note: [l] That is, Ioash, which had bene kept secret sixe yeeres. ] the Kings sonne, & put the crowne vpon him and gaue him [Note: [m] Meaning, the Lawe of God, which is his chiefe charge, & whereby only his throne is established, ] the Testimonie, and they made him King: also they anoynted him, and clapt their handes, and sayde, God saue the King.

13 ¶ And when Athaliah heard the noyse of the running of the people, shee came in to the people in the house of the Lord.

14 And when shee looked, beholde, the King stoode by a [Note: [n] Where the kings place was in the Temple. ] pillar, as the maner was, & the princes & the trumpetters by the King, & al the people of the land reioyced, and blew with trumpets. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cryed, Treason, treason.

15 But Iehoiada the Priest commaunded the captaines of the hundreths that had the rule of the hoste, & sayde vnto them, Haue her [Note: Or, out of the Temple. ] forth of the ranges, & he that [Note: [o] To take her part. ] followeth her, let him die by the sworde: for the Priest had sayd, Let her not be slaine in the house of the Lord.

16 Then they laid hands on her, and she went by the way, by the which the horses goe to the house of the King, and there was she slaine.

17 And Iehoiada made a couenant betweene

[Prouision for repairing the Temple.]



the Lord, and [Note: [p] That both the King & the people should mainteine the true worship of God, & destroy all idolatrie. ] the King & the people, that they should be the Lordes people: likewise betweene the [Note: [q] That he should gouerne and they obey in the feare of God. ] King and the people.

18 Then all the people of the lande went into the house of Baal, and destroyed it with his altars, and his images brake they downe courageously, and slewe Mattan the Priest of Baal before the [Note: [r] Euen in ye place where he had blasphemed God and thought to haue bene holpen by his idole, there God powred his vengeance vpon him. ] altars: and the [Note: [s] To wit, Iehoiada. ] Priest set a garde ouer the house of the Lord.

19 Then he tooke the captaines of hudreths, and the other captaines, and the garde, and all the people of the lande: and they brought the King from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the garde to the Kings house: and he sate him downe on the throne of the Kings.

20 And all the people of the land reioyced, & the citie was in quiet: [Note: [t] Which by her crueltie & persecution had vexed the whole land before. ] for they had slaine Athaliah with the sworde beside the Kings house.

21 Seuen yeere olde was Iehoash when he began to reigne.


CHAP. XII.


6 Iehoash maketh prouision for the repairing of the Temple. 16 He stayeth the King of Syria by a present from comming against Ierusalem. 20 He is killed by two of his seruants.

1 In [Note: 2.Chro.24.1. ] the seuenth yere of Iehu Iehoash began to reigne, & reigned fourty yeres in Ierusalem, and his mothers name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 And Iehoash did that which was good in the sight of the Lord all his time that [Note: [a] So long as rulers giue eare to the true ministers of God, they prosper. ] Iehoiada the Priest taught him.

3 But [Note: [b] So hard a thing it is for them, that are in authoritie, to be brought to the perfite obedience of God. ] the hie places were not taken away: for the people offred yet and burnt incense in the hie places.

4 ¶ And Iehoash sayde to the Priestes, All the siluer of dedicate things that bee brought to the house of the Lord, that is, the money of them that are vnder the [Note: [c] That is, the money of redemptio, Exo.30.12: also the money which the Priest valued the vowes at, Leuit. 27.2. and their free liberalitie. ] count, the money that euery man is set at, and all the money that one offereth willingly, & bringeth into the house of the Lord,

5 Let the Priestes take it to them, euery man of his acquaintance: and they shall repaire the [Note: [d] For the Temple which was buylt an hundreth fiftie & fiue yeeres before, had many things decayed in it, both by the negligence of the kings his predecessors & also by the wickednes of the idolaters. ] broken places of the house, wheresoeuer any decay is founde.

6 ¶ Yet in the three and twentieth yeere of King Iehoash the Priestes had not mended that which was decayed in the Temple.

7 Then King Iehoash called for Iehoiada the Priest, and the other Priestes, and sayd vnto them, Why repaire yee not the ruines of the Temple? nowe therefore [Note: [e] He taketh from them the ordering of the money, because of their negligence. ] receiue no more money of your acquaintance, except yee deliuer it to repaire the ruines of the Temple.

8 So the Priestes consented to receiue no more money of the people, neither to repaire the decayed places of the Temple.

9 Then Iehoiada the Priest tooke a chest & bored an hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the [Note: [f] That is, on the Southside. ] right side, as euery man commeth into the Temple of the Lorde. And the Priestes that kept the [Note: Or, vessel. ] doore, put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.

10 And when they sawe there was much money in the chest, the Kinges Secretarie came vp and the hie Priest, and put it vp after that they had tolde the money that was found in the house of the Lord,

11 And they gaue the money made readie into the handes of them, [Note: [g] For the King had appoynted other which were meete for that purpose, Cha.22.5. ] that vndertooke the worke, and that had the ouersight of the house of the Lord; and they payed it out to the carpenters

[Page 138]

[Ioash slayne. Iehoahaz.]



and builders that wrought vpon the house of the Lord,
12 And to the masons and hewers of stone, and to bye timber and hewed stone, to repayre that was decayed in the house of the Lorde, and for all that which was layed out for the reparation of the Temple.

13 Howbeit there was [Note: [h] For these men had onely the charge of the reparation of the Temple, and the rest of the money was brought to the King, who caused these afterwarde to be made, 2.Chron. 24.14. ] not made for the house of the Lorde bowles of siluer, instruments of musicke, basons, trumpets, nor any vessels of golde, or vessels of siluer of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.

14 But they gaue it to the workemen, which repayred therewith the house of the Lord.

15 Moreouer, they reckoned not with the men, into whose handes they deliuered that money to be bestowed on workemen: for they dealt faithfully.

16 The money of the trespasse offring and the money of ye sinne offrings was not brought into the house of the Lord: for it was the Priests.

17 ¶ Then came vp Hazael King of Aram, & fought against Gath and tooke it, and Hazael set his face to goe vp to Ierusalem.

18 And Iehoash King of Iudah tooke all the [Note: [i] After the death of Iehoiada Ioash fell to idolatrie: therefore God reiecteth him, and stirreth vp his enemy against him, whom he pacified with the treasures of the Temple: for God would not be serued with those gifts, seeing the Kings heart was wicked. ] halowed thinges that Iehoshaphat, and Iehoram, and Ahaziah his fathers Kings of Iudah had dedicated, and that he himselfe had dedicated, and all the golde that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord and in the Kings house, and sent it to Hazael King of Aram, and he departed from Ierusalem.

19 Concerning the rest of the acts of Ioash & all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

20 ¶ And his seruants arose & wrought treason, and [Note: [k] Because he had put Zacharie the sonne of Iehoiada to death, 2. Chro.24.25. ] slewe Ioash in the house of [Note: [l] Reade 2. Sam. 5.9. ] Millo, when he came downe to Silla:

21 Euen [Note: Or, Iozabar. ] Iozachar the sonne of Shimeath, and Iehozabad the sonne of Shomer his seruants smote him, and he dyed: & they buried him with his fathers in the citie of Dauid. And Amaziah his sonne reigned in his stead.



CHAP. XIII.


3 Iehoahaz the sonne of Iehu is deliuered into the handes of the Syrians. 4 He prayeth vnto God and is deliuered. 9 Ioash his sonne reigneth in his steade. 20 Elisha dyeth. 24 Hazael dyeth.

1 In the three and twentieth yeere of Ioash the sonne of Ahaziah King of Iudah, Iehoahaz the sonne of Iehu began to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seuenteene yeere.

2 And he did euil in the sight of the Lorde, and followed the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to [Note: [a] By worshipping the calues, which Ieroboam did erect in Israel. ] sinne, and departed not therefrom.

3 And the Lorde was angry with Israel, and deliuered them into the hand of Hazael King of Aram, & into the hand of Ben-hadad the sonne of Hazael, all [Note: [b] While Iehoahaz liued. ] his dayes.

4 And Iehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord heard him: for he saw the trouble of Israel, wherewith the King of Aram troubled them.

5 (And the Lord gaue Israel a [Note: [c] To wit, Ioash the sonne of Iehoahaz. ] deliuerer, so that they came out from vnder the subiection of the Aramites. And the children of Israel [Note: [d] Safely & without danger. ] dwelt in their tents as [Note: Ebr. as yesterday and before yesterday. ] before time.

6 Neuerthelesse they departed not from the sinnes of the house of Ieroboam which made Israel sinne, but walked in them. euen the [Note: [e] Wherein they did commit their idolatrie, and which the Lord had commanded to be destroyed, Deut.16.21. ] groue

[Iehoash. Elisha dyeth.]



also remayned still in Samaria)

7 For he had left of the people to Iehoahaz but fiftie horsemen, and tenne charets, and tenne thousand footemen, because the King [Note: [f] That is, Hazael and Ben-hadad his sonne, as vers. 3. Reade of Hazael, Chap.8.12. ] of Aram had destroyed them, & made them like dust beaten to pouder.

8 Concerning the rest of the actes of Iehoahaz and all that he did, and his valiant deedes, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

9 And Iehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Ioash his sonne reigned in his steade.

10 ¶ In the seuen and thirtieth yere of Ioash King [Note: [g] His chiefe purpose is to describe the kingdome of Iudah and how God performed his promes made to the house of Dauid: but by the way he sheweth how Israel was afflicted and punished for their great idolatrie, who though they had now degenerate, yet God both by sending them sundry Prophets & diuers punishments did call them vnto him againe. ] of Iudah began Iehoash the sonne of Iehoahaz to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria, & reigned sixteene yeere,

11 And did euil in the sight of the Lorde: for he departed not from all the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat that made Israel to sinne, but he walked therein.

12 Concerning the rest of the actes of Ioash and all that he did, and his valiant deedes, and how he fought against Amaziah King of Iudah, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

13 And Ioash slept with his fathers, and Ieroboam sate vpon his seate: and Ioash was buryed in Samaria among the Kings of Israel.

14 ¶ When Elisha fell sicke of his sickenesse whereof he dyed, Ioash the King of Israel came downe vnto him, and wept vpon his face, and sayd, [Note: [h] Thus they vsed to call the Prophets and seruants of God by whom God blessed his people, as Chap. 2.12. meaning that by their prayers they did more prosper their coutrey, then by force of armes. ] O my father, my father, the charet of Israel, and the horsemen of the same.

15 Then Elisha sayde vnto him, Take a bowe and arrowes. And he tooke vnto him bowe and arrowes.

16 And he sayde to the King of Israel, Put thine hand vpon the bowe. And he put his hand vpon it. And Elisha put his hands vpon the Kings hands,

17 And saide, Open the windowe [Note: [i] That is, toward Syria, so that he did not onely prophesie with wordes, but also confirmed him by these signes that he shoulde haue ye victory. ] Eastward. And when he had opened it, Elisha said, Shoote. And he shot. And he sayd, Beholde the arrowe of the Lordes deliuerance and the arrowe of deliuerance against Aram: for thou shalt smite the Aramites in Aphek, till thou hast consumed them.

18 Againe he said, Take the arrowes. And he tooke them. And he sayde vnto the King of Israel, Smite the ground. And he smote thrise, and ceased.

19 Then the man of God was [Note: [k] Because he seemed content to haue victorie against the enemies of God for twise or thrise, & had not a zeale to ouercome them continually and to destroy them vtterly. ] angry with him, and sayde, Thou shouldest haue smitten fiue or sixe times, so thou shouldest haue smitten Aram, till thou haddest consumed it, where nowe thou shalt smite Aram but thrise.

20 ¶ So Elisha dyed, and they buryed him. And certaine bandes of the Moabites came into the land that yeere.

21 And as they were burying a man, behold, they saw the souldiers: therfore they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha. And when the man was downe, and touched the bones of Elisha, [Note: Ecclus.48.14. ] he [Note: [l] By this miracle God confirmed the authoritie of Elisha whose doctrine in his life they contemned, that at this sight they might returne and imbrace the same doctrine. ] reuiued and stoode vpon his feete.

22 ¶ But Hazael King of Aram vexed Israel all the dayes of Iehoahaz.

23 Therefore the Lorde had mercy on them & pitied them, & had respect vnto them because of his couenant with Abraham, Izhak, and Iaakob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he [Page]

[Amaziah. Iehoash.]



them from him as [Note: [m] That is, vntill their sinnes were come to a full measure, & there was no more hope of amendment. ] yet.

24 So Hazael the King of Aram dyed: and Ben-hadad his sonne reigned in his stead.

25 Therefore Iehoash the sonne of Iehoahaz returned, and tooke out of the hand of Ben-hadad the sonne of Hazael the cities which he had taken away by warre out of the hand of Iehoahaz his father: for three times did Ioash beate him, and restored the cities vnto Israel.


CHAP. XIIII.


1 Amaziah the King of Iudah putteth to death them that slewe his father, 7 And after smiteth Edom. 15 Ioash dyeth, and Ieroboam his sonne succeedeth him. 29 And after him reigneth Zachariah.

1 The second yeere of Ioash sonne of Iehoahaz King of Israel reigned [Note: 2.Chro.25.1. ] Amaziah the sonne of Ioash King of Iudah.

2 He was fiue and twentie yeere olde when he began to reigne, and reigned nine and twentie yeere in Ierusalem, and his mothers name was Iehoadan of Ierusalem.

3 And he did [Note: [a] In the beginning of his reigne he seemed to haue an outward shew of godlinesse, but afterward he became an idolater and worshipped the idoles of the Idumeans. ] vprightly in the sight of the Lord, yet not like Dauid his father, but did according to all that Ioash his father had done.

4 Notwithstanding the hie places were not taken away: for as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense in the hie places.

5 ¶ And when the kingdome was confirmed in his hand, he slewe his seruants which had [Note: Chap. 12.20. ] killed the King his father.

6 But the children of those that did slay him, he [Note: [b] Because they neither consented nor were partakers with their fathers in that acte. ] slewe not, according vnto that that is written in the booke of the Lawe of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, [Note: Deut.24.16. ezek.18.20. ] The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children put to death for the fathers: but euery man shall be put to death for his owne sinne.

7 He slew also of [Note: [c] For the Idumeans, whom Dauid had brought to subiection, did rebel in the time of Iehoram sonne of Iehoshaphat. ] Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and tooke [Note: Or, the towre, or, rocke, 2.Chr.25.12. ] the citie of Sela by warre, and called the name thereof Ioktheel vnto this day.

8 ¶ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Iehoash the sonne of Iehoahaz, sonne of Iehu King of Israel, saying, Come, [Note: [d] Let vs fight hand to hand & trie it by battel, and not destroy one anothers cities. ] let vs see one another in the face.

9 Then Iehoash the King of Israel sent to Amaziah King of Iudah, saying, The thistle that is in Lebanon, sent to the [Note: [e] By this parable Iehoash compareth him selfe to a cedar tree because of his great kingdome ouer ten tribes, and Amaziah to a thistle, because he ruled but ouer two tribes, and the wilde beasts are Iehoashs souldiers that spoyled the cities of Iudah. ] cedar that is in Lebanon, saying, Giue thy daughter to my sonne to wife: and the wilde beast that was in Lebanon, went and trode downe the thistle.

10 Because thou hast smitten Edom, thine heart hath made thee proud: [Note: [f] Bragge of thy victorie, so that thou tary at home and anoy me not. ] bragge of glory, & tary at home. why doest thou prouoke to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, & Iudah with thee?

11 But Amaziah would not heare: therefore Iehoash King of Israel went vp: and he and Amaziah King of Iudah sawe one another in the face at Beth-shemesh which is in Iudah.

12 And Iudah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fledde euery man to their tents.

13 But Iehoash King of Israel tooke Amaziah King of Iudah, the sonne of Iehoash the sonne of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and [Note: Or, brought him. ] came to Ierusalem, and brake downe the wall of Ierusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, foure hundreth cubites.

14 And he tooke all the gold and siluer, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the Kings house, and

[Ieroboam. Azariah.]



the children that were in [Note: [g] That is, which the Israelites had giuen to them of Iudah for an assurance of peace. ] hostage, and returned to Samaria.

15 Concerning the rest of the acts of Iehoash which he did and his valiant deedes, and how he fought with Amaziah King of Iudah, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

16 And Iehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried at Samaria among the Kings of Israel: and Ieroboam his sonne reigned in his stead.

17 ¶ And Amaziah the sonne of Ioash King of Iudah, liued after the death of Iehoash sonne of Iehoahaz King of Israel fifteene yeere.

18 Concerning the rest of the actes of Amaziah, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

19 But they [Note: 2.Chron.25.27. ] wrought treason against him in Ierusalem, and he fled to [Note: [h] Which citie Roboam built in Iudah for a fortresse, 2.Chro. 11.9. ] Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish, and slewe him there.

20 And they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Ierusalem with his fathers in the citie of Dauid.

21 Then all the people of Iudah tooke [Note: [i] Who is also called Vzziah, 2.Chr. 26.1. ] Azariah which was sixteene yeere olde, and made him King for his father Amaziah.

22 He built [Note: [k] Which is also called Elanon or Eloth. ] Elath, and restored it to Iudah, after that the King slept with his fathers.

23 ¶ In the fifteenth yeere of Amaziah the sonne of Ioash King of Iudah, was Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash made King ouer Israel in Samaria, and reigned one and fourtie yeere.

24 And he did euill in the sight of the Lord: for he departed not from all the [Note: [l] Because this idolatrie was so vile and almost incredible, that men should forsake the liuing God to worship calues, the worke of mans hands, therefore ye Scripture doeth oft times repeate it in the reproche of all idolaters. ] sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne.

25 He restored the coast of Israel, from the entring of Hamath, vnto the Sea of the wildernesse, according to the worde of the Lorde God of Israel, which he spake [Note: Ebr. by the hand of. ] by his seruant Ionah the sonne of Amittai the Prophet, which was of Gath Hepher.

26 For the Lord saw the exceeding bitter affliction of Israel, so that there was none [Note: [m] Reade 1.King. 14.10. ] shutte vp, nor any left, neyther yet any that could helpe Israel.

27 Yet the Lord [Note: Ebr. had not spoken. ] had not decreed to put out the name of Israel from vnder the heauen: therefore he preserued them by the hand of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash.

28 Concerning the rest of the actes of Ieroboam, and all that he did, and his valiant deedes, and how he fought, and how he restored Damascus, and [Note: [n] Which was also called Antiochia of Syria, or Riblah. ] Hamath to Iudah in Israel, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

29 So Ieroboam slept with his fathers, euen with the Kings of Israel, and Zachariah his sonne reigned in his steade.


CHAP. XV.


1 Azariah the King of Iudah becommeth a leper. 5 Of Iotham, 10 Shallum, 14 Menahem, 23 Pekahiah, 30 Vzziah, 32 Iotham, 38 and Ahaz.

1 In the [Note: Ebr. in the twentieth yere and seuenth yeere. ] seuen and twentieth yeere of Ieroboam King of Israel, began Azariah, sonne of Amaziah King of Iudah to reigne.

2 Sixteene yeere olde was he, when he was made King, and he reigned two and fiftie yeere in Ierusalem: and his mothers name was Iecholiah of Ierusalem.

3 And he did [Note: [a] So long as he gaue eare to Zachariah the Prophet. ] vprightly in the sight of the

[Page 139]

[Zachariah. Shallum. Menahem.]



Lord, according to all yt his father Amaziah did.
4 But the hie places were not put away: for the people yet offered, and burned incense in the hie places.

5 And the Lord [Note: [b] His father and grandfather were slaine by their subiects & seruants, & he, because he would vsurpe the Priests office contrary to Gods ordinance, was smitten immediatly by the hand of God with the leprosie, 2.Chro.26.21. ] smote the King: & he was a leper vnto the day of his death, and dwelt in an house apart, & Iotham the kings sonne gouerned the house, & [Note: [c] As viceroy, or deputie to his father. ] iudged the people of the land.

6 Concerning the rest of the actes of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

7 So Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buryed him with his fathers in the citie of Dauid, and Iotham his sonne reigned in his stead.

8 ¶ In the eyght and thirtieth yeere of Azariah King of Iudah did Zachariah the sonne of Ieroboam reigne ouer Israel in Samaria sixe [Note: [d] He was the fourth in descent from Iehu, who reigned according to Gods promise, but in him God began to execute his wrath against the house of Iehu. ] moneths,

9 And did euill in the sight of the Lorde, as did his fathers: for he departed not fro the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne.

10 And Shallum the sonne of Iabesh cospired against him, & smote him in the sight of the people, and [Note: [e] Zacharias was the last in Israel, that had the kingdome by successio, saue onely Pekahiah the sonne of Menahem, who reigned but two yeeres. ] killed him, and reigned in his stead.

11 Concerning the rest of the actes of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

12 This was the [Note: Chap.10.30. ] word of the Lord, which he spake vnto Iehu, saying, Thy sonnes shall sit on the throne of Israel vnto the fourth generation after thee. And it came so to passe.

13 ¶ Shallum the sonne of Iabesh began to reigne in the nine and thirtieth yeere of Vzziah King of Iudah: and he reigned the space of a moneth in Samaria.

14 For Menahem the sonne of Gadi went vp from Tirzah, & came to Samaria, & smote Shallum the sonne of Iabesh in Samaria, & slew him, and reigned in his stead.

15 Cocerning the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the treason which he wrought, beholde, they are written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

16 ¶ Then Menahem destroyed [Note: [f] Which was a citie of Israel that would not receiue him to be King. ] Tiphsah, & all that were therein, & the coastes thereof from Tirzah, because they opened not to him, and he smote it, & ript vp all their women with childe.

17 The nine and thirtieth yeere of Azariah King of Iudah, beganne Menahem the sonne of Gadi to reigne ouer Israel, and reigned ten yeeres in Samaria.

18 And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde, and departed not all his dayes from the sinne of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne.

19 ¶ Then Pul the king of Asshur came against the [Note: [g] That is, of Israel. ] land: & Menahem gaue Pul a thousand [Note: [h] In steade of seeking helpe of God, he went about by money to purchase ye fauour of this King being an infidel, & therefore God forsooke him, & Pul soone afterward brake promes, destroyed his countrey and led his people away captiue. ] talents of siluer, that his hande might bee with him, & establish the kingdome in his hand.

20 And Menahem exacted the money in Israel, that all men of substance shoulde giue the King of Asshur fiftie shekels of siluer a piece: so the king of Asshur returned and taried not there in the land.

21 Concerning the rest of the actes of Menahem, & all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his sonne did reigne in his steade.

[Pekahiah. Pekah. Iotham.]




23 ¶ In ye fiftieth yere of Azariah king of Iudah, began Pekahiah the sonne of Menahem to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria, & reigned two yere.

24 And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde: for he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne.

25 And Pekah the sonne of Remaliah, his captaine conspired against him, & smote him in Samaria in the place of the Kings palace with [Note: [i] Which were of the same conspiracie. ] Argob & Arieh, & with him fiftie men of the Gileadites: so he killed him, & reigned in his steade.

26 Concerning the rest of the actes of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

27 ¶ In the two and fiftieth yere of Azariah King of Iudah began Pekah the sonne of Remaliah to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria, and reigned twentie yeere.

28 And he did euil in the sight of the Lord: for he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, that made Israel to sinne.

29 In the dayes of Pekah king of Israel [Note: [k] For God stirred vp Pul & Tiglath Pileser against Israel for their sinnes, 1.Chro.5.26. ] came Tiglath Pileser king of Asshur, & tooke Iion, and Abel, Beth-maachah, & Ianoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilah, & all the land of Naphtali, and caryed them away to Asshur.

30 And Hoshea the sonne of Elah wrought treason against Pekah the sonne of Remaliah, and smote him, and slewe him, and reigned in his stead in the twentieth yeere of Iotham the sonne of Vzziah.

31 Concerning the rest of the actes of Pekah, & all that he did, behold, they are written in the booke of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32 ¶ [Note: 2.Chro.27.1. ] In the second yere of Pekah the sonne of Remaliah King of Israel, began Iotham sonne of [Note: Or, Azariah. ] Vzziah King of Iudah to reigne.

33 Fiue and twentie yeere olde was he, when he began to reigne, and he reigned sixteene yeere in Ierusalem: and his mothers name was Ierusha the daughter of Zadok.

34 And hee did vprightly in the sight of the Lorde: he did according [Note: [l] He sheweth that his vprightnes was not such, but that he had many and great faultes. ] to all that his father Vzziah had done.

35 But the hie places were not put away: for the people yet offered and burnt incense in the hie places: he buylt the hyest gate of the house of the Lord.

36 Concerning the rest of the acts of Iotham, and all that hee did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the kings of Iudah?

37 In [Note: [m] After the death of Iotham. ] those dayes the Lord began to send against Iudah Rezin the king of Aram, & [Note: [n] Which slewe of Iudah in one day sixe score thousand fighting men, 2. Chro.28.6. because they had forsaken the true God. ] Pekah the sonne of Remaliah.

38 And Iotham slept with his fathers, & was buryed with his fathers in the citie of Dauid his father, & Ahaz his sonne reigned in his steade.



CHAP. XVI.


3 Ahaz King of Iudah consecrateth his sonne in fire. 5 Ierusalem is besieged. 9 Damascus is taken & Rezin slaine. 11 Idolatrie. 19 The death of Ahaz. 20 Hezekiah succeedeth him.

1 The seuenteenth yeere of Pekah the sonne of Remaliah, [Note: [a] This was a wicked sonne of a godly father, as of him againe came godly Ezekiah, & of him wicked Manasseh, saue that God in the ende shewed him mercie. Thus we see howe vncertaine it is to depend on the dignitie of our fathers. ] Ahaz the sonne of Iotham King of Iudah began to reigne.

2 Twentie yeere olde was Ahaz, when hee began to reigne, and he reigned sixteene yeere in Ierusalem, and did not vprightly in the sight of the Lord his God, like Dauid his father:

3 But walked in the way of ye kings of Israel, [Page]

[Ahaz: his idolatrie.]



yea, and made his sonne to [Note: [b] That is, offred him to Molech, or made him to passe betweene two fires, as the maner of the Gentiles was, Leuit.18.21. deut 18.10. ] go through the fire, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

4 Also he offred and burnt incense in the hie places & on the hilles, & vnder euery greene tree.

5 [Note: Isa.7.1. ] Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah sonne of Remaliah King of Israel came vp to Ierusalem to fight: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not ouercome [Note: [c] For the Lord preserued the citie & his people for his promes sake made to Dauid. ] him.

6 At the same time Rezin king of Aram restored [Note: [d] Which citie Azariah had taken fro the Aramites and fortified it, Chap.14.22. ] Elath to Aram, & droue the Iewes from Elath: so the Aramites came to Elath, and dwelt there vnto this day.

7 Then Ahaz sent [Note: [e] Contrary to the admonition of the Prophet Isai, Isa.7.4. ] messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Asshur, saying, I am thy seruant & thy sonne: come vp, & deliuer me out of the hand of the king of Aram, and out of the hand of the King of Israel which rise vp against me.

8 And Ahaz tooke the siluer and the golde that was found in the [Note: [f] Thus he spared not to spoyle the Temple of God to haue succour of men, & would not once lift his heart toward God to desire his helpe, nor yet heare his Prophets counsell. ] house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the Kings house, and sent a present vnto the King of Asshur.

9 And the King of Asshur consented vnto him: and the King of Asshur went vp against Damascus. and when he had taken it, he caryed the people away to Kir, and slew Rezin.

10 And King Ahaz went vnto Damascus to meete Tiglath Pileser King of Asshur: and when King Ahaz sawe the altar that was at Damascus, he sent to Vriiah the Priest the paterne of the altar, and the facion of it, and all the workemanship thereof.

11 And Vriiah the Priest made an altar [Note: [g] We see that there is no prince so wicked, but he shal finde flatterers & false ministers to serue his turne. ] in al poyntes like to that which King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Vriiah the Priest against King Ahaz came from Damascus.

12 So when the King was come from Damascus, the King sawe the altar: and the King drewe neere to the altar and offered [Note: [h] Either offrings for peace or prosperitie, or of thaks giuing, as Leui.3.1. or els meaning the morning and euening offring, Exod. 29.38. nom.28.31 & thus he cotemned the meanes & the altar which God had commanded by Salomon, to serue God after his owne fantasie. ] thereon.

13 And hee burnt his burnt offering, and his meate offring, and powred his drinke offring, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offrings besides the altar,

14 And set it by the brasen altar which was before the Lord, and brought it in farther before the house betweene the altar & the house of the Lord, and set it on the [Note: [i] That is, at the right hand as men went into the Temple. ] North side of the altar.

15 And King Ahaz commanded Vriiah the Priest, and sayde, Vpon the great altar set on fire in the morning the burnt offring, and in the euen the meate offring, and the Kings burnt offring & his meate offering, with the burnt offring of all the people of the lande, and their meate offring, and their drinke offrings: and powre thereby all the blood of the burnt offring, & all the blood of the sacrifice, and the [Note: [k] Here he establisheth by commandement his owne wicked proceedings, and doeth abolish the commandement & ordinance of God. ] brasen altar shalbe for me to inquire of God.

16 And Vriiah the Priest did according to all that King Ahaz had commanded.

17 And King Ahaz brake the borders of the bases, and tooke the caldrons from off them, and tooke downe the sea from the brasen oxen that were vnder it, and put it vpon a pauement of stones.

18 And the [Note: [l] Or tent, whereiu they lay on the Sabbath which had serued their weeke in the Temple, and so departed home. ] vaile for the Sabbath (that they had made in the house) & the Kings entrie without turned he to the house of the Lord, [Note: [m] Either to flatter ye king of Assyria, when he shoulde thus see him chage the ordinance of God, or els that ye Temple might be a refuge for him if the king should suddenly assayle his house. ] because of the King of Asshur.

19 Concerning the rest of the actes of Ahaz, which he did, are they not written in the booke

[Hoshea. Israels captiuitie, & the cause.]



of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buryed with his fathers in the citie of Dauid, and Hezekiah his sonne reigned in his steade.


CHAP. XVII.


3 Hoshea King of Israel is taken, 4 And he & all his realme brought to the Assyrians, 18 For their idolatrie. 25 Lions destroy the Assyrians that dwelt in Samaria. 29 Euery one worshippeth the god of his nation, 35 Contrary to the commandement of God.

1 In the twelft yeere of Ahaz King of Iudah began Hoshea the sonne of Elah to reigne in Samaria ouer Israel, and reigned nine yeeres.

2 And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde, [Note: [a] Though he inuented no newe idolatrie or impietie as others did, yet he sought for helpe at the Egyptians which God had forbidden. ] but not as the Kinges of Israel, that were before him.

3 And Shalmaneser king of Asshur came vp against him, and Hoshea became his seruant, and gaue him presents.

4 And the King of Asshur founde treason in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So King of Egypt, and brought no present vnto the King of Asshur, [Note: [b] For he had payde tribute for the space of eight yeere. ] as he had done yeerely: therfore the king of Asshur shut him vp, and put him in prison.

5 Then the king of Asshur came vp throughout all the lande, and went against Samaria, and besieged it three yeere.

6 ¶ [Note: Chap.18.10. ] In the ninth yeere of Hoshea, the King of Asshur tooke Samaria, and caryed Israel away vnto Asshur, and put them in Halah, and in Habor by the riuer of Gozan, & in the cities of the [Note: [c] For at this time the Medes & Persians were subiect to the Assyrians. ] Medes.

7 For when the children of Israel [Note: [d] He setteth forth at length the cause of this great plague and perpetual captiuitie, to admonish all people and nations to cleaue to ye Lord God, & only worship him for feare of like iudgement. ] sinned against the Lorde their God, which had brought them out of the land of Egypt, fro vnder ye hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, & feared other gods,

8 And walked according to the facions of the Heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel, and after the maners of the Kings of Israel, which they vsed,

9 And the children of Israel had done secretly things that were not vpright before the Lorde their God, & throughout all their cities had built hie places, both from the tower [Note: [e] Meaning, throughout all their borders. ] of the watch, to the defensed citie,

10 And had made them images and groues vpon euery hie hill, and vnder euery greene tree,

11 And there burnt incense in all the hie places, as did the heathen, whom the Lord had taken away before them, and wrought wicked things to anger the Lord,

12 And serued idoles: whereof the Lorde had sayd vnto them, [Note: Deut.4.19. ] Ye shal do no such thing,

13 Notwithstanding the Lord testified to Israel, and to Iudah [Note: Ebr.by the had of. ] by all the Prophets, & by all the Seers, saying, [Note: Iere.18.11. & 25. 5. & 35.15. ] Turne from your euill wayes, and keepe my commandements & my statutes, according to all the Lawe, which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my seruants the Prophets.

14 Neuerthelesse they would not obey, [Note: Deut.31.27. ] but hardened their neckes, like to the neckes of their [Note: [f] So that to alledge the authoritie of our fathers or great antiquitie, except we can proue that they were godly, is but to declare that we are the children of the wicked. ] fathers, that did not beleeue in the Lorde their God.

15 And they refused his statutes and his couenant, that he made with their fathers, & his testimonies (wherewith he witnessed vnto them) and they followed vanitie, and became vaine, and followed the heathen that were round about them: concerning whome the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.


[Page 140]

[Israels captiuitie, & the cause. Lions in Samaria.]




16 Finally they left all the commaundements of the Lorde their God, and made them molten images, [Note: Exod.32.8. 1.king.12.28. ] euen two calues, and made a groue, and worshipped all the [Note: [g] That is, the sunne, the moone and starres, Deut. 4.19. ] hoste of heauen, and serued Baal.

17 And they made their sonnes and their daughters [Note: [h] Reade Chap. 16.3. ] passe thorowe the fire, and vsed witchcraft and inchantments, yea, [Note: [i] Reade of this phrase, 1.King. 21.20. and 25. ] solde them selues to doe euill in the sight of the Lord, to anger him.

18 Therefore the Lord was exceeding wroth with Israel, and put them out of his sight, and none was left but the tribe of Iudah [Note: [k] No whole tribe was left but Iudah: and they of Beniamin and Leui, which remained were counted with Iudah. ] onely.

19 Yet Iudah kept not the commandements of the Lord their God, but walked according to the facion of Israel, which they vsed.

20 Therefore the Lorde cast off all the seede of Israel, and afflicted them, and deliuered them into the handes of spoylers, vntill he had cast them out of his [Note: [l] Out of the land where he shewed the greatest tokens of his presence & fauour. ] sight.

21 [Note: [m] That is, God cut off the ten tribes, 1 King. 12. 16,20. ] For he cut off Israel from the house of Dauid, and they made Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat King: and Ieroboam drewe Israel away from following the Lorde, and made them sinne a great sinne.

22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sinnes of Ieroboam, which he did, and departed not therefrom,

23 Vntill the Lord put Israel away out of his sight, as he had said [Note: Ebr. by the hand of. ] by all his seruants the [Note: Iere.25.9. ] Prophets, and caryed Israel away out of their land to Asshur vnto this day.

24 And the King of Asshur brought folke from Babel, and from [Note: [n] Of these peoples came the Samaritans, whereof mention is so much made in the Gospel, and with whom the Iewes would haue nothing to doe, Iohn 4.9. ] Cuthah, and from Aua, and from Hamath, and from Sepharuaim, & placed them in the cities of Samaria in steade of the children of Israel: so they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

25 ¶ And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they [Note: [o] That is, they serued him not: therefore, lest they should blaspheme him, as though there were no God, because he chastised the Israelites, he sheweth his mightie power among them by this strange punishment. ] feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slewe them.

26 Wherefore they spake to the King of Asshur, saying, The nations which thou hast remoued, and placed in the cities of Samaria, knowe not the maner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and behold, they slay them, because they knowe not the maner of the God of the land.

27 Then the King of Asshur commaunded, saying, Carie thither one of the Priestes whome ye brought thence, and let him goe and dwell there, and teache them the maner of the God [Note: [p] That is, howe to worship him: thus the wicked rather then to lose their commodities, will change to all religions. ] of the countrey.

28 So one of the Priestes, which they had caryed from Samaria, came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they shoulde feare the Lorde.

29 Howbeit euery nation made their gods, & put them in the houses of the hie places, which the Samaritanes had made, euery nation in their cities, wherein they dwelt.

30 For the men of Babel made [Note: [q] Meaning, that euery countrey serued that idole, which was most esteemed in that place whence they came. ] Succoth-Benoth: and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31 And the Auims made Nibhaz, and Tartak: and the Sepharuims burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech, and Anammelech the gods of Sepharuaim.

32 Thus they feared the Lorde, and appoynted out Priestes out of them selues for the hie

[The brasen serpent broken.]



places, who prepared for them sacrifices in the houses of the hie places.

33 [Note: Ezek.20.39. zepha.1.5. ] They [Note: [r] That is, they had a certaine knowledge of God and feared him, because of the punishment, but they continued still idolaters, as doe the Papisis, which worship both God and idols: but this is not to feare God, as appeareth vers. 34. ] feared the Lord, but serued their gods after the maner of the nations whome they caryed thence.

34 Vnto this day they doe after the olde maner: they neyther feare God, neyther doe after [Note: [s] He meaneth this by the Israelites, to whome God had giuen his commandements. ] their ordinances, nor after their customes, nor after the Lawe, nor after the commaundement, which the Lord commanded the children of Iaakob, [Note: Gen.32.28. 1.king.18 31. ] whom he named Israel,

35 And with whom the Lord had made a couenant, and charged them, saying, [Note: Iudg.6.10. iere.10.2. ] Feare none other gods, nor bowe your selues to them, nor serue them, nor sacrifice to them:

36 But feare the Lorde which brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power, and a stretched out arme: him feare ye, and worshippe him, and sacrifice to him.

37 Also keepe ye diligently the statutes and the ordinances, and the Lawe, and the commandement, which he wrote for you, that ye do them continually, and feare not other gods.

38 And forget not the couenant that I haue made with you, neither feare ye other gods,

39 But feare the Lord your God, and he will deliuer you out of the handes of all your enemies.

40 Howbeit they obeyed not, but did after their olde custome.

41 So these [Note: [t] That is, these strangers which were sent into Samaria by the Assyrians. ] nations feared the Lord, and serued their images also: so did their children, and their childrens children: as did their fathers, so do they vnto this day.


CHAP. XVIII.


4 Hezekiah king of Iudah putteth downe the brasen serpent, and destroyeth the idoles, 7 and prospereth. 11 Israel is caried away captiue. 30 The blasphemie of Saneherib.

1 Now in the third yeere of Hoshea, sonne of Elah King of Israel, [Note: 2.Chron.28.27. and 29.1. ] Hezekiah the sonne of Ahaz king of Iudah began to reigne.

2 He was fiue and twentie yeere olde when he began to reigne, and reigned nine and twenty yeere in Ierusalem. His mothers name also was Abi the daughter of Zachariah,

3 And he did [Note: [a] Although they of Iudah were giuen to idolatrie and impietie, as they of Israel were, yet God for his promes sake was mercifull vnto the throne of Dauid: and yet by his iudgement toward the other, prouoked them to repentance. ] vprightly in the sight of the Lorde, according to all that Dauid his father had done.

4 He tooke away the hie places, and brake the images, and cut downe the groues, and brake in pieces the [Note: Nom.21.8,9. ] brasen serpent that Moses had made: for vnto those dayes the children of Israel did burne incense to it, and hee called it [Note: [b] That is, a piece of brasse: thus he calleth the serpent by contempt, which notwithstanding was set vp by the word of God, & miracles were wrought by it: yet when it was abused to idolatrie, this good King destroyed it, not thinking it worthie to be called a serpent, but a piece of brasse. ] Nehushtan.

5 He trusted in the Lorde God of Israel: so that after him was none like him among all the Kings of Iudah, neither were there any such before him.

6 For he claue to the Lord, and departed not from him, but kept his commaundements, which the Lord had commaunded Moses.

7 So the Lord was with him, and he prospered in all thinges, which he tooke in hande: also he rebelled against the King of Asshur, and serued him not.

8 He smote the Philistims vnto Azzah, and the coastes thereof, [Note: [c] Reade chap. 17.9. ] from the watch towre vnto the defensed citie.

9 ¶ [Note: Chap.17.3. ] And in the fourth yere of King Hezekiah, (which was the seuenth yeere of Hoshea

[Hezekiahs feare.]



sonne of Elah King of Israel) Shalmaneser King of Asshur came vp against Samaria, and besieged it.

10 And after three yeeres they tooke it, euen in the sixt yeere of Hezekiah: that is, [Note: Chap.17.6. ] the ninth yeere of Hoshea King of Israel was Samaria taken.

11 Then the King of Asshur did carry away Israel vnto Asshur, and put them in Halah and in Habor, by the riuer of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

12 Because they woulde not obey the voyce of the Lord their God, but transgressed his couenant: that is, all that Moses the seruant of the Lord had commanded, and would neyther obey nor doe them.

13 ¶ [Note: 2.Chron.32.1. isa.36.1. ecclus.48.18,19. ] Moreouer, in the fourteenth yeere of King Hezekiah, Saneherib King of Asshur came vp against all the strong cities of Iudah, and tooke them.

14 Then Hezekiah King of Iudah sent vnto the King of Asshur to Lachish, saying, [Note: [d] As his zeale was before praysed, so his weakenesse is here set forth, that none should glorie in himselfe. ] I haue offended: depart from me, & what thou layest vpon me, I wil beare it. And the King of Asshur appoynted vnto Hezekiah King of Iudah three hudreth talents of siluer, & thirty talets of golde.

15 Therefore Hezekiah gaue all the siluer that was found in the house of the Lorde, and in the treasures of the Kings house.

16 At the same season did Hezekiah pul off the plates of the doores of the Temple of the Lord, and the pillars (which the sayd Hezekiah King of Iudah had couered ouer) and gaue them to the King of Asshur.

17 ¶ And the King of Asshur sent [Note: [e] After certaine yeres when Hezekiah ceased to sende the tribute appointed by the King of the Assyrians, he sent his captaines and armie against him. ] Tartan, and Rab-saris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a great hoste against Ierusalem. And they went vp, and came to Ierusalem, and when they were come vp, they stood by the conduite of the vpper poole, which is by the path of the fullers fielde,

18 And called to the King. Then came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, which was steward of the house, and Shebnah the chanceller, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the [Note: Or, writer of Chronicles, or, secretarie. ] recorder.

19 And Rabshakeh sayde vnto them, Tell ye Hezekiah, I pray you, Thus saith the great King, euen the great King of Asshur, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

20 Thou thinkest, Surely I haue [Note: Ebr. talke of the lippes. ] eloquence, [Note: [f] Thou thinkest that wordes will serue to persuade thy people or to moue my master. ] but counsell and strength are for the warre. On whom then doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

21 Lo, thou trustest now in this broken staffe of reede, to wit, on [Note: [g] Egypt shall not onely be able not to succour thee, but shalbe an hurt vnto thee. ] Egypt, on which if a man leane, it will goe into his hand, & pearce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt vnto all yt trust on him.

22 But if ye say vnto me, We trust in the Lord our God, is not that he whose hie places, and whose altars Hezekiah hath [Note: [h] Thus the idolaters thinke that Gods religion is destroyed, when superstition and idolatrie are reformed. ] taken away, and hath sayd to Iudah and Ierusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Ierusalem?

23 Now therefore giue [Note: [i] Meaning, that it was best for him to yeeld to the King of Assyria, because his power was so small that he had not men to furnish two thousande horses. ] hostages to my lord the King of Asshur, & I will giue thee two thousand horses, if thou be able to set riders vpon them.

24 For how canst thou despise any captaine of the least of my masters seruants, and put thy trust on Egypt for charets and horsemen?

25 Am I now come vp without the [Note: [k] The wicked alwayes in their prosperitie flatter them selues, that God doeth fauour them. Thus he speaketh to feare Hezekiah, that by resisting him, he should resist God. ] Lorde to

[Rabshakehs blasphemie.]



this place, to destroy it? the Lord sayd to me, Goe vp against this land, and destroy it.

26 Then Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Ioah said vnto Rabshakeh, Speake I pray thee, to thy seruants in the [Note: Or, Syrians. ] Aramites language, for we vnderstand it, and talke not with vs in the Iewes tongue, in the audience of the people that are on the wall.

27 But Rabshakeh saide vnto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master & to thee to speake these words, and not to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eate their owne doung, and drinke [Note: Ebr. the water of their feete. ] their owne pisse with you?

28 So Rabshakeh stoode and cryed with a loude voyce in the Iewes language, and spake, saying, Heare the wordes of the great King, of the king of Asshur.

29 Thus sayth the King, Let not Hezekiah deceiue you: for he shall not be able to deliuer you [Note: Or, by his hand. ] out of mine hand.

30 Neither let Hezekiah make you to trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliuer vs, and this citie shall not be giuen ouer into the hand of the king of Asshur.

31 Hearken not vnto Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Asshur, Make [Note: Ebr. blessing: meaning the conditions of peace. ] appointment with me, and come out to me, that euery man may eate of his owne vine, & euery man of his owne figge tree, and drinke euery man of the water of his owne well,

32 Till [Note: [l] He maketh himselfe so sure, that he wil not graunt them truce, except they render them selues to him to be led away captiues. ] I come, and bring you to a land like your owne land, euen a land of wheate and wine, a land of bread and vineyardes, a lande of oliues oyle, and hony, that ye may liue and not die: and obey not Hezekiah, for he deceiueth you, saying, The Lord will deliuer vs.

33 Hath any of the gods of the nations deliuered his lande out of the hand of the King of Asshur?

34 Where is the god of Hamah, and of Arpad? where is the god of Sepharuaim, Hena and Iuah? how haue they deliuered Samaria out of mine hand?

35 Who are they among all the gods of the nations, that haue deliuered their lande out of mine hand, that the [Note: [m] This is an execrable blasphemie against the true God, to make him equall with the idoles of other nations: therefore God did most sharpely punish it. ] Lorde should deliuer Ierusalem out of mine hand?

36 But the people helde their peace, and answered not him a worde: for the Kings commandement was, saying, Answere ye him not.

37 Then Eliakim, the sonne of Hilkiah which was steward of the house, and Shebnah the chanceller, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and tolde him the wordes of Rabshakeh.


CHAP. XIX.


6 God promiseth by Isaiah victorie to Hezekiah. 35 The Angell of the Lorde killeth an hundreth and fourescore and fiue thousand men of the Assyrians. 37 Saneherib is killed of his owne sonnes.

1 And [Note: Isa.37.1. ] when King Hezekiah heard it, he rent his clothes and put on sackecloth, and came into the house of the Lord,

2 And sent Eliakim which was the stewarde of the house, and Shebnah the chanceller, & the Elders of the Priestes clothed in sackecloth [Note: [a] To heare some newe prophesie, and to haue comfort of him. ] to Isaiah the Prophet the sonne of Amoz.

3 And they said vnto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of tribulation and of rebuke, & blasphemie: for the childre are come to

[Page 141]

[Hezekiahs prayer.]



[Note: [b] The dangers are so great that we can neither auenge this blasphemie, nor helpe our selues, no more then a woman in her trauell. ] the birth, and there is no strength to bring foorth.
4 If so be the Lorde thy God hath heard all the wordes of Rabshakeh, whome the King of Asshur his master hath sent to raile on the liuing God, and to reproch him with wordes which the Lorde thy God hath heard, then lift thou vp thy prayer for the [Note: [c] Meaning, for Ierusalem, which onely remained of all the cities of Iudah. ] remnant that are left.

5 ¶ So the seruants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

6 And Isaiah said vnto them, So shall ye say to your master, Thus sayeth the Lorde, Be not afraide of the words which thou hast heard, wherewith the seruants of the king of Asshur haue blasphemed me.

7 Beholde, I will sende a blast [Note: [d] The Lord can with one blast blowe away all the strength of man and turne it into dust. ] vpon him, and he shall heare a noyse, and returne to his owne lande: and I will cause him to fall by the sworde in his owne lande.

8 ¶ So Rabshakeh returned, and founde the King of Asshur fighting against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

9 [Note: [e] That is, Saneherib. ] He heard also men say of Tirhakah King of [Note: Or, blacke Mores. ] Ethiopia, [Note: [f] For the Kings of Ethiopia and Egypt ioyned together against the King of Assyria because of his oppression of other countries. ] Beholde, he is come out to fight against thee: he therefore departed and sent other messengers vnto Hezekiah, saying,

10 Thus shall ye speake to Hezekiah King of Iudah, and say, Let not thy [Note: [g] The more neere that the wicked are to their destruction, the more they blaspheme. ] God deceiue thee in whome thou trustest, saying, Ierusalem shall not be deliuered into the hande of the King of Asshur.

11 Beholde, thou hast heard what the Kings of Asshur haue done to all landes, how they haue destroyed them: and shalt thou be deliuered?

12 Haue the gods of the heathen deliuered them which my fathers haue destroyed? as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden, which were in Thelasar?

13 Where is the King of Hamath, & the King of Arpad, and the King of the citie of Shepharuaim, Hena and Iuah?

14 ¶ So Hezekiah receiued the letter of the hande of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went vp into the house of the Lorde, and Hezekiah spread it before the [Note: [h] Before the Arke of the couenant, ] Lord.

15 And Hezekiah [Note: [i] He sheweth what is the true refuge and succour in all dangers, to wit, to flee to the Lorde by earnest prayer. ] prayed before the Lorde, and saide, O Lorde God of Israel, which dwellest betweene the Cherubims, thou art very God alone ouer all the kingdomes of the earth: thou hast made the heauen and the earth.

16 Lord, [Note: [k] Shewe by effect that thou wilt not suffer thy name to be blasphemed. ] bow downe thine eare, and heare: Lorde open thine eyes and behold, and heare the wordes of Saneherib, who hath sent to blaspheme the [Note: [l] By this title he discerneth God from all idoles and false gods. ] liuing God.

17 Trueth it is, Lord, that the Kings of Asshur haue destroyed the nations and their landes,

18 And haue set fire on their gods: for they were no gods, but the worke of mans hands, euen wood and stone: therefore they destroyed them.

19 Nowe therefore, O Lorde our God, I beseech thee, saue thou vs out of his hande, that all the [Note: [m] He sheweth for what ende the faithfull desire of God to be deliuered: to wit, that he may be glorified by their deliuerance. ] kingdomes of the earth may knowe, that thou, O Lord, art onely God.

20 ¶ Then Isaiah the sonne of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I haue heard that which thou hast prayed me, concerning Saneherib King of Asshur.

21 This is the worde that the Lord hath spoken against him, O [Note: [n] Because as yet Ierusalem had not bene taken by the enemie, therefore he calleth her virgine. ] Virgine, daughter of Zion, he hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorne:

[Saneheribs hoste destroyed.]



O daughter of Ierusalem, he hath shaken his head at thee.

22 Whome hast thou railed on? and whome hast thou blasphemed? and against whome hast thou exalted thy voyce, and lifted vp thine eyes on hie? euen [Note: [o] God counteth that iniurie done to him, and will reuenge it, which is done to any of his Saintes. ] against the Holie one of Israel.

23 By thy messengers thou hast rayled on the Lorde, and said, By the multitude of my charets I am come vp to the toppe of the mountaines, by the sides of Lebanon, and will cut downe the hie cedars thereof, and the faire firre trees thereof, and I will goe into the [Note: [p] Meaning, Ierusalem, which Isaiah calleth the height of his borders, to wit, of Iudah, Isa. 37.24. ] lodging of his borders, and into the forest of [Note: Or, pleasant countrey. ] his Carmel.

24 I haue digged, and drunke the waters of others, and with the plant of my feete haue I dried all the [Note: Or, the waters of cities besieged. ] floods closed in.

25 Hast thou not heard, howe I haue of olde time made it, and haue formed it long ago? [Note: [q] He declareth that forasmuch as he is the author and beginning of his Church, he will neuer suffer it vtterly to be destroyed, as other cities, and kingdomes. ] & should I nowe bring it, that it should be destroyed, & laid on ruinous heapes, as cities defensed?

26 Whose [Note: [r] Thus he describeth the wicked, which for a time florish, and afterwarde fade and decay like flowers. ] inhabitants haue small power, and are afraid, & confounded: they are like the grasse of the field, and greene herbe, or grasse on ye house toppes, or as corne blasted before it be growen.

27 I knowe thy dwelling, yea, thy going out, and thy comming in, and thy furie against me.

28 And because thou ragest against me, and thy tumult is come vp to mine eares, I will put mine [Note: [s] I will bridle thy rage and turne thee to and fro as pleaseth me. ] hooke in thy nostrels, and my bridle in thy lippes, and will bring thee backe againe the same way thou camest.

29 And this shalbe a [Note: [t] God did not onely promes him the victorie, but giueth him a signe to confirme his faith. ] signe vnto thee, O Hezekiah, Thou shalt eate this yeere such things as growe of them selues, and the next yeere such as growe without sowing, and the third yeere sowe ye and reape, and plant vineyardes, and eate the fruites thereof.

30 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Iudah, shall againe take [Note: [u] The Lord will multiplie in great nomber that small remnant of Iudah that is escaped. ] roote downewarde, and beare fruite vpwarde.

31 For out of Ierusalem shall goe a remnant, and some that shall escape out of mount Zion: the [Note: [x] The loue that God beareth towarde his Church shal ouercome the counsels and enterprises of men. ] zeale of the Lorde of hostes shall doe this.

32 Wherefore thus saith the Lorde, concerning the King of Asshur, He shall not enter into this citie, nor shoote an arrowe there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a mount against it:

33 But he shall returne the way he came, and shall not come into this citie, saith the Lorde.

34 For I will defende this citie to saue it for mine owne sake, and for Dauid my seruants sake.

35 ¶ [Note: Isa 37.36. tob.1.21. ecclus.48.24. 1.mac.7.41. 2.mac.8.19. ] And the same night the Angell of the Lorde went out and smote in the campe of Asshur an hundreth foure score and fiue thousande: so when they rose earely in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

36 So Saneherib King of Asshur departed, & went his way, and returned, & dwelt in Nineueh.

37 And as he was in the Temple worshipping Nisroch his god, Adramelech and Sharezer his sonnes [Note: [y] This was the iust iudgement of God for his blasphemie, that he should be slaine before the idole, whome he preferred to the liuing God, and by them, by whome he ought by nature to haue bene defended. ] slewe him with the sworde: and they escaped into the land of Ararat, and Esarhaddon his sonne reigned in his steade.



CHAP. XX.


1 Hezekiah is sicke, and receiueth the signe of his health. 12 He receiueth rewardes of Berodach, 13 Sheweth his treasures, and is reprehended of Isaiah. 22 He dyeth, and Manasseh his sonne reigneth in his steade.

1 About that time [Note: 2.Chron.32.24. isa 38.1. ] was Hezekiah sicke vnto death: and the Prophet Isaiah the sonne of [Page]

[Hezekiah restored to health.]



Amoz came to him, and said vnto him, Thus saith the Lorde, Put thine house in an order: for thou shalt die, and not liue.

2 Then he turned his face to the [Note: [a] That his mind might not be troubled. ] wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,

3 I beseech thee, O Lorde, remember nowe, howe I haue walked before thee in trueth and with a [Note: [b] Meaning, without all hypocrisie. ] perfite heart, and haue done that which is good in thy sight: and Hezekiah [Note: [c] Not so much for his owne death, as for feare that idolatrie should be restored, which he had destroyed, and so Gods Name be dishonoured. ] wept sore.

4 ¶ And afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle of the court, the worde of the Lord came to him, saying,

5 Turne againe, and tell Hezekiah the captaine of my people, Thus saith the Lorde God of Dauid thy father, I haue heard thy [Note: [d] Because of his vnfained repentance and prayer God turned away his wrath. ] prayer, and seene thy teares: behold, I haue healed thee, and ye third day thou shalt go vp to ye [Note: [e] To giue thanks for thy deliuerance. ] house of ye Lord,

6 And I wil adde vnto thy dayes fiftene yere, and wil deliuer thee & this citie out of the hand of the King of Asshur, and will defende this citie for mine owne sake, & for Dauid my seruats sake.

7 Then Isaiah sayde, Take a [Note: [f] He declareth that albeit God can heale without other medicines, yet he sheweth that he will not haue these inferior meanes contemned. ] lumpe of dry figges. And they tooke it, and layed it on the boyle, and he recouered.

8 ¶ For Hezekiah had saide vnto Isaiah, What shalbe the signe that the Lorde will heale me, and that I shall goe vp into the house of the Lorde the thirde day?

9 And Isaiah answered, This signe shalt thou haue of the Lorde, that the Lorde will doe that he hath spoken, Wilt thou that the shadowe goe forwarde ten degrees, or [Note: Ecclus.48 24. ] go backe ten degrees?

10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadowe to passe forward ten degrees: not so then, but let ye shadow [Note: [g] Let the sunne go so many degrees backe that the houres may be so many the fewer in the Kings diall. ] go backe ten degrees.

11 And Isaiah the Prophet called vnto the Lorde, and he brought againe the shadowe ten degrees backe by the degrees whereby it had gone downe in the [Note: [h] Which diall was set in the top of the staires that Ahaz had made. ] diall of Ahaz.

12 ¶ [Note: Isa.39.1. ] The same season Berodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan King of Babel, sent letters and a [Note: [i] Mooued with the fauour that God shewed to Hezekiah, and also because he had declared him selfe enemie to Saneherib his enemie which was nowe destroyed. ] present to Hezekiah: for he had heard howe that Hezekiah was sicke.

13 And Hezekiah heard them, and shewed them all his treasure house, to wit, the siluer, and the golde, and the spices, and the precious oyntment, and all the house of his armour, and al that was founde in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, and in all his [Note: [k] Being moued with ambition and vaine glorie, and also because he seemed to reioice in the friendship of him that was Gods enemie and an infidel. ] realme, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

14 Then Isaiah the Prophet came vnto King Hezekiah, and saide vnto him, What saide these men? and from whence came they to thee? And Hezekiah said, They be come from a farre countrey, euen from Babel.

15 Then saide he, What haue they seene in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house haue they seene: there is nothing among my treasures, that I haue not shewed the.

16 And Isaiah said vnto Hezekiah, Heare the worde of the Lorde.

17 Beholde, the dayes come, that all that is in thine house, and what so euer thy fathers haue layed vp in store vnto this day, [Note: Chap.24.13. and 25.13. ierem.27.19. ] shall be caryed into Babel: Nothing shall be left, saith the Lorde.

18 And of thy sonnes, that shall proceede out of thee, and which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shalbe eunuches in the palace of the King of Babel.

[Manasseh: His idolatrie.]




19 Then Hezekiah said vnto Isaiah, The word of the Lord which thou hast [Note: [l] He acknowledgeth Isaiah to be the true Prophet of God, and therefore humbleth him selfe to his worde. ] spoken, is good: for saide he, Shall it not be good, if [Note: [m] Seeing that God hath shewed me this fauour to graunt me quietnesse during my life: for he was afraide least the enemies should haue had occasion to reioyce, if the Church had decayed in his time, because he had restored religion. ] peace and trueth be in my dayes?

20 Concerning the rest of the actes of Hezekiah, and all his valiant deedes, and howe he made a poole and a cundite, and brought water into the citie, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his sonne reigned in his steade.


CHAP. XXI.


3 King Manasseh restoreth idolatrie, 16 And vseth great crueltie. 18 He dieth, & Amon his sonne succeedeth, 23 Who is killed of his owne seruants. 26 After him reigneth Iosiah.

1 Manasseh [Note: 2.Chron.33.1. ] was twelue yeere olde when he began to reigne, and reigned fiftie and fiue yeere in Ierusalem: his mothers name also was Hephzi-bah.

2 And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde after the abomination of the heathen, whom the [Note: Deut.18.1. ] Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he went backe and built the hie places, [Note: Chap.18 9. ] which Hezekiah his father had destroyed: and he erected vp altars for Baal, and made a groue, as did Ahab King of Israel, and worshipped all the hoste of heauen and serued them.

4 Also he [Note: Ierem.32.34. ] built altars in the house of the Lorde, of the which the Lorde saide, [Note: 2.Sam.7.13. ] In Ierusalem will I put my Name.

5 And he built altars for al the hoste of ye heauen in the two courtes of the house of the Lord.

6 And he caused his sonnes [Note: [a] Reade Chap. 16.3. ] to passe through the fire, and gaue him selfe to witchcraft and sorcerie, and he vsed them that had familiar spirits and were soothsayers, and did much euill in the sight of the Lorde to anger him.

7 And he set the image of the groue, that he had made, in the house, whereof ye Lord had saide to Dauid & to Salomon his sonne, [Note: 1.King.8.29. and 9.3. chap.23.27. ] In this house and in Ierusalem, which I haue chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my Name for euer.

8 Neither will I make the feete of Israel, mooue any more out of the lande, which I gaue their fathers: so that they will [Note: [b] Therefore seeing they obeyed not the commandement of God, they were iustly cast foorth of that land which they had but on condition. ] obserue and doe all that I haue commanded them, and according to all the Lawe that my seruant Moses commanded them.

9 Yet they obeyed not, but Manasseh ledde them out of the way, to doe more wickedly then did the heathen people, whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.

10 Therefore the Lorde spake by his seruants the Prophets, saying,

11 [Note: Ierem.15.4. ] Because that Manasseh King of Iudah hath done such abominations, and hath wrought more wickedly then al that the Amorites (which were before him) did, and hath made Iudah sinne also with his idoles,

12 Therefore thus saith the Lorde God of Israel, Beholde, I will bring an euill vpon Ierusalem and Iudah, that who so heareth of it, both his [Note: 1.Sam.3.11. ] eares shal [Note: [c] Meaning, that whosoeuer shall heare of this great plague, shalbe astonished. ] tingle.

13 And I will stretch ouer Ierusalem the line [Note: [d] As I haue destroyed Samaria and the house of Ahab, so will I destroy Iudah. ] of Samaria, and the plommet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Ierusalem, as a man wipeth a dish, which he wipeth, and turneth it vpside downe.


[Page 142]

[Amon. Iosiah.]




14 And I will forsake the [Note: [e] Meaning, Iudah and Beniamin, which were onely left of the rest of the tribes. ] remnant of mine inheritance, and deliuer them into the hande of their enemies, and they shalbe robbed and spoyled of all their aduersaries,

15 Because they haue done euil in my sight, and haue prouoked mee to anger, since the time their fathers came out of Egypt vntill this day.

16 Moreouer Manasseh shed [Note: [f] The Ebrewes write that he slew Isaiah the Prophet, who was his father in Lawe. ] innocent blood exceeding much, till hee replenished Ierusalem from corner to corner, beside his sinne wherwith he made Iudah to sinne, and to doe euill in the sight of the Lord.

17 Concerning the rest of the actes of Manasseh, and all that hee did, and his sinne that he sinned, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, & was buried in the garden of his own house, euen in the garden of Vzza: and Amon his sonne reigned in his steade.

19 ¶ [Note: 2.Chro.33.20,21. ] Amon was two and twentie yere olde, when he began to reigne, and hee reygned two yeere in Ierusalem: his mothers name also was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Iotbah.

20 And he did euill in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh did.

21 For hee walked in all the way that his father walked in, and serued the idoles that his father serued, and worshipped them.

22 And he forsooke the Lorde God of his fathers, and walked not in the [Note: [g] That is, according to his commandements. ] way of the Lorde.

23 And the seruantes of Amon conspired against him, and slewe the King in his owne house.

24 And the people of the land slewe all them that had conspired against King Amon, and the people made Iosiah his sonne King in his steade.

25 Concerning the rest of the actes of Amon, which he did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?

26 And [Note: Or, he buried him to wit, Iosiah his sonne. ] they buried him in his sepulchre in the garden of Vzza: and Iosiah his sonne reigned in his steade.


CHAP. XXII.


4 Iosiah repaireth the Temple. 8 Hilkiah findeth the booke of the Law, and causeth it to bee presented to Iosiah, 12 Who sendeth to Huldah the prophetesse to inquire the Lords will.

1 Iosiah was [Note: 2.Chron.34 1. ] eight yeere olde when he beganne to reigne, and hee reigned one and thirtie yeere in Ierusalem. His mothers name also was Iedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozcath.

2 And hee did vprightly in the sight of the Lord, and [Note: [a] His zeale was prophecied of, and his name mencioned by Iaddo the Prophet, more then three hundreth yeeres before, 1.King.13.2. and being but eight yeere olde, he sought the God of his father Dauid, 2.chro 34.3. ] walked in all the wayes of Dauid his father, and bowed neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

3 ¶ And in the eighteenth yeere of King Iosiah, the King sent Shaphan the sonne of Azaliah the sonne of Meshullam the chanceller to ye house of the Lord, saying,

4 Goe vp to Hilkiah the high Priest, that hee may [Note: Or, coyne, as verse 9. ] summe the siluer which is brought into the house of the Lorde, which the keepers of the [Note: Or, vessell. ] [Note: [b] Certaine of the Priests were appointed to this office, as Chap. 12.9. ] doore haue gathered of the people.

5 And let them [Note: [c] From the time of Ioash for the space of 224. yeres ye teple remained without reparatio through the negligence of the priests. this declareth, that they that haue a charge, and execute it not, ought to haue it taken from them. ] deliuer it into the hande of them that doe the worke, and haue the ouersight of the house of the Lord: let them giue it to them that worke in the house of the Lorde, to repaire the decayed places of the house:

6 To wit, vnto the artificers and carpenters & masons, and to bye timber, and hewed stone to repaire the house.

[The Law is found.]




7 Howebeit, let no rekoning bee made with them of the money, that is deliuered into their hand: for they deale [Note: [d] So God prouided him of faithful seruants, seeing he went about so zealously to set foorth the worke of God. ] faithfully.

8 And Hilkiah the high Priest sayde vnto Shaphan the chanceller, I haue found the [Note: [e] This was the copy that Moses left them, as appeareth, 2.Chro. 34.14: which either by the negligence of ye Priests had bene lost, or els by the wickednes of idolatrous kings had bene abolished. ] booke of the Lawe in the house of the Lorde: and Hilkiah gaue the booke to Shaphan, and hee reade it.

9 So Shaphan the chanceller came to ye King, and brought him word againe, and saide, Thy seruants haue [Note: Ebr. melted. ] gathered the money, that was found in the house, and haue deliuered it vnto the hands of them that doe the worke, and haue the ouersight of the house of the Lord.

10 Also Shaphan the chanceller shewed the King saying, Hilkiah the Priest hath deliuered me a booke. And Shaphan read it before the King.

11 And when the King had heard the wordes of the booke of the Law, he rent his clothes.

12 Therefore the King commaunded Hilkiah the Priest, & Ahikam the sonne of Shaphan, and Achbor the sonne of Michaiah, and Shaphan the chanceller, and Asahiah the Kings seruant, saying,

13 Go ye and [Note: [f] Meaning, to some Prophet whom God reueyleth the knowledge of things vnto, as Ier.21.1, though at other times they inquired the Lord by Vrim and Thummim. ] inquire of the Lord for me, & for the people, and for all Iudah concerning the wordes of this booke that is founde: for great is the wrath of the Lorde that is kindled against vs, because our fathers haue not obeyed the wordes of this booke, to doe according vnto all that which is written therein for vs.

14 ¶ So Hilkiah the Priest and Ahikam, and Achbor & Shaphan, and Asahiah went vnto Huldah the Prophetesse the wife of Shallum, ye sonne of Tikuah, the sonne of Harhas keeper of the wardrobe: (and she dwelt in Ierusalem in the [Note: [g] Or, the house of doctrine which was neere to the Temple, & where the learned assembled to entreat the Scriptures, and the doctrine of the Prophets. ] colledge) and they communed with her.

15 And shee answered them, Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel, Tel the man that sent you to mee,

16 Thus sayth the Lorde, Behold, I wil bring euill vpon this place, & on the inhabitants thereof, euen al the words of the booke which ye King of Iudah hath read,

17 Because they haue forsaken mee, and haue burnt incense vnto other gods, to anger me with all ye [Note: [h] The workes of mans hand here signifie all that man inuenteth beside the word of God, which are abominable in Gods seruice. ] works of their hands: my wrath also shalbe kindled against this place & shal not be queched:

18 But to the King of Iudah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shal ye say vnto him, Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel, The wordes that thou hast heard, shal come to passe.

19 But because thine heart did [Note: [i] Meaning, that he did repent, as they that do not repet, are said to harden their heart, Psa 95. 8. ] melt, & thou hast humbled thy selfe before the Lorde, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants of the same, to wit, that it should be destroyed and accursed, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me, I hane also heard it, saith the Lord.

20 Beholde therefore, I wil gather thee to thy fathers, & thou shalt be put in thy graue in [Note: [k] Whereupon we may gather that ye anger of God is readie against the wicked, when God taketh his seruants out of this world. ] peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the euil, which I will bring vpon this place. Thus they brought the King worde againe.


CHAP. XXIII.


2 Iosiah readeth the Lawe before the people. 3 He maketh a couenant with the Lorde. 4 He putteth downe the idols, after hee had killed their Priests. 22 He keepeth Passeouer. 24 Hee destroyeth the coniurers. 29 He was killed in Megiddo, 30 And his sonne Iehoahaz reigneth in his stead. 33 After hee was taken, his sonne Iehoiakim was made King.
[Page]

[Iosiahs zeale and reformation.]




1 Then [Note: 2.Chron.34.30. ] the King [Note: [a] Because he sawe the great plagues of God that were threatned, he knew no more speedie way to auoide them, the to turne to God by repentance, which can not come but of faith, and faith by hearing of the word of God. ] sent, and there gathered vnto him all the Elders of Iudah and of Ierusalem.

2 And the King went vp into the house of the Lord, with all the men of Iudah and all the inhabitants of Ierusalem with him, and the Priests & Prophets, and all the people both smal and great: and he reade in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenant, which was found in the house of the Lord.

3 And the King stood by [Note: [b] Where the King had his place, Chap. 11.14. ] the pillar, & made a [Note: [c] As Ioshua did, Iosh.24.22,25. ] couenant before the Lorde, that they shoulde walke after the Lord, and keepe his commandements, and his testimonies, and his statutes with all their heart, and with all their soule, that they might accomplish the wordes of this couenant written in this booke. And all the people stood to the couenant.

4 Then the King commanded Hilkiah the hie Priest and the [Note: [d] Meaning, them which were next in dignitie to the hie Priest. ] priests of the second order, and the keepers of the doore, to bring out of ye Temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the groue, and for all the hoste of heauen, and he burnt them without Ierusalem in the fieldes of Kedron, and caryed [Note: [e] In contempt of that altar, which Ieroboa had there built to sacrifice to his calues. ] the pouder of them into Beth-el.

5 And he put downe the [Note: [f] Meaning, the Priests of Baal, which were called Chemarims, either because they ware black garments, or els were smoked with burning incense to idoles. ] Chemarims, whom the Kings of Iudah had founded to burne incense in the hie places, and in the cities of Iudah, and about Ierusalem, and also them that burnt incense vnto Baal, to the sunne and to the moone, and to the planets, & to all the hoste of heauen.

6 And he brought out the [Note: [g] He remoued the groue which idolaters for deuotion had plated neere vnto ye Temple, cotrarie to the commandement of the Lord, Deut. 16.21. or as some read, the similitude of a groue which was hanged in the Temple. ] groue from the Temple of the Lord without Ierusalem vnto the valley of Kedron, and burnt it in the valley Kedron, and stampt it to pouder, and cast the dust thereof vpon the [Note: [h] Both in contept of the idoles, & reproch of them which had worshipped them in their liues. ] graues of the children of the people.

7 And hee brake downe the houses of the Sodomites, that were in the house of the Lord, where the women woue hangings for the groue.

8 Also he brought all the priests out of the cities of Iudah, and defiled the hie places where the Priests had burnt incense, euen from Geba to Beer-sheba, and destroyed the hie places of the gates, that were in the entring in of the gate of Ioshua the gouernour of the citie, which was at the left hand of the gate of the citie.

9 Neuerthelesse the Priests of the hie places [Note: [i] Because yt those that had forsaken the Lord to serue idoles, were not meete to minister in ye seruice of the Lord for ye instruction of others. ] came not vp to the altar of the Lorde in Ierusalem, saue onely they did eate of the vnleauened bread among their brethren.

10 He defiled also [Note: [k] Which was a valley neere to Ierusalem, & signifieth a tabret, because they smote on ye tabret while their children were burning, that their cry shoulde not be heard, Leuit 18.21. where after Iosiah comanded carions to be cast in contept therof. ] Topheth, which was in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man shoulde make his sonne or his daughter passe through the fire to Molech.

11 He put downe also the [Note: [l] The idolatrous Kings had dedicate horses & charets to ye sunne, either to carie the Image therof about as the heathen did, or els to sacrifice them, as a sacrifice most agreeable. ] horses that the Kings of Iudah had giuen to the sunne at the entring in of the house of the Lorde, by the chamber of Nethan-melech the eunuche, which was ruler of the suburbes, and burnt the charets of the sunne with fire.

12 And the altars that were on the top of the chamber of Ahaz, which the Kings of Iudah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord did the King breake downe, and hasted thence, & cast the dust of them in the [Note: Or, valley. ] brooke Kedron.

13 Moreouer the King defiled the hie places that were before Ierusalem and on the right

[The Passeouer.]



hand of the [Note: [m] That was the mount of oliues, so called because it was full of idoles. ] mount of corruption (which [Note: 1.King.11.7. ] Salomon the King of Israel had buylt for Ashtoreth the idole of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the idole of the Moabites, and for Milchom the abomination of the children of Ammon)

14 And he brake the images in pieces, & cut downe the groues and filled their places with the bones of men.

15 Furthermore [Note: [n] Which Ieroboam had built in Israel, 1.king.12. 28,29. ] the altar that was at Beth-el, and the hie place made by Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne, both this altar and also the hie place, brake he downe, & burnt the hie place, and stampt it to powder & burnt the groue.

16 And as Iosiah turned himselfe, he spied the graues, that were in the mount, & sent and tooke the bones out of the graues, and burnt them vpon the altar and polluted it, according to the word of the Lord, that the [Note: [o] According to the prophecie of Iaddo, 1.King.13.2 ] man of God proclaimed, which cryed the same wordes.

17 Then he sayde, What title is that which I see? And the men of the citie sayd vnto him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Iudah, and tolde these things that thou hast done to the altar of Beth-el.

18 Then sayde he, Let him alone: let none remooue his bones. So his bones were saued wt the bones of the [Note: [p] Meaning, the Prophet which came after him, and caused him to eate contrary to the commaundement of the Lord, which were both two buried in one graue, 1.king.13. 31. ] Prophet that came from Samaria.

19 Iosiah also tooke away all the houses of the hie places, which were in the cities of Samaria, which the Kings of Israel had made to anger the Lord, and did to them according to all the factes that he had done in Beth-el.

20 And he sacrificed all the Priests of the hie places, that were there vpon the altars, and burnt mens bones vpon them, & returned to Ierusalem.

21 ¶ Then the king commanded all the people, saying, [Note: 2.Chro.35. 1.esd.1.1. ] Keepe the passeouer vnto the Lorde your God, [Note: Exod.12.3. deut.16.2. ] as it is written in the booke of this couenant.

22 And there was no Passeouer holden [Note: [q] For the multitude and zeale of the people with the great preparation. ] like that from the dayes of the Iudges that iudged Israel, nor in all the dayes of the Kinges of Israel, and of the Kings of Iudah.

23 And in the eightenth yere of King Iosiah was this Passeouer celebrated to the Lord in Ierusalem.

24 Iosiah also tooke away them that had familiar spirits, and the soothsayers, and the images, and the idoles, and al the abominations that were espied in the lande of Iudah and in Ierusalem, to performe the wordes of the [Note: Leuit.20.27. deut.18.11. ] Lawe, which were written in the booke that Hilkiah the Priest found in the house of the Lord.

25 Like vnto him was there no King before him, that turned to the Lord with al his heart, and with all his soule, and with all his might according to all the Lawe of Moses, neither after him arose there anie like him.

26 Notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the [Note: [r] Because of the wicked heart of the people, which would not turne vnto him by repentance. ] fiercenesse of his great wrath wherewith he was angrie against Iudah, because of all the prouocatios wherwith Manasseh had prouoked him.

27 Therefore the Lorde saide, I will put Iudah also out of my sight, as I haue put away Israel, and will cast off this citie Ierusalem, which I haue chosen, and the house whereof I said, [Note: 1.King.8.29. and 9.3. chap.2.7. ] My name shalbe there.

28 Concerning the rest of the actes of Iosiah, and all that hee did, are they not written in the

[Page 143]

[Iosiahs death. Ichoahaz.]



booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah?
29 ¶ [Note: 2.Chron.35.20. ] In his dayes Pharaoh Nechoh King of Egypt went vp against the King of Asshur to the riuer Perath. And King Iosiah [Note: [s] Because he passed through his countrey, he feared least he would haue done him harme, and therefore woulde haue stayed him, yet hee consulted not with the Lorde, and therefore was slaine. ] went against him, whome when Pharaoh sawe, he slewe him at Megiddo.

30 Then his seruants caryed him dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Ierusalem, and buried him in his owne sepulchre. And the people of the lande tooke Iehoahaz the sonne of Iosiah, and anointed him, and made him King in his fathers steade.

31 [Note: 2.Chron.36.1,2. ] Iehoahaz was three and twentie yeere olde when he beganne to reigne, and reigned three moneths in Ierusalem. His mothers name also was Hamutal the daughter of Ieremiah of Libnah.

32 And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde, according to all that his [Note: [t] Meaning, the wicked Kings before. ] fathers had done.

33 And Pharaoh Nechoh put him in bondes [Note: [u] Which was Antiochia in Syria, called also Hamath. ] at Riblah in the lande of Hamath, [Note: Or, that he should not reigne. ] while he reigned in Ierusalem, and put the lande to a tribute of an hundreth talents of siluer, and a talent of golde.

34 ¶ And Pharaoh Nechoh made Eliakim the sonne of Iosiah King in steade of Iosiah his father, and turned his name to Iehoiakim, and tooke Iehoahaz away, which when he came to Egypt, dyed there.

35 And Iehoiakim gaue the siluer and the golde to Pharaoh, and taxed the land to giue the money, according to the commadement of Pharaoh: he leuyed of euery man of the people of the lande, according to his value, siluer and golde to giue vnto Pharaoh Nechoh.

36 Iehoiakim was fiue and twentie yere olde, when he began to reigne, and he reigned eleuen yeeres in Ierusalem. His mothers name also was Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

37 And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde, according to all that his fathers had done.



CHAP. XXIIII.


1 Iehoiakim made subiect to Nebuchad-nezzar rebelleth. 3 The cause of his ruine and all Iudahs. 6 Iehoiachin reigneth. 15 He and his people are caryed vnto Babylon. 17 Zedekiah is made King.

1 In his [Note: [a] In the ende of the thirde yeere of his reigne, and in the beginning of the fourth, Dan.1.1. ] dayes came Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babel vp, and Iehoiakim became his seruant three yeere: afterwarde he turned, and rebelled against him.

2 And the Lorde sent against him bandes of the Caldees, and bands of the Aramites, & bands of the Moabites, and bandes of the Ammonites, and he sent them against Iudah to destroy it, [Note: Chap.20.17. and 23.27. ] according to the worde of the Lord, which he spake by his seruants the Prophets.

3 Surely by the [Note: [b] Though God vsed these wicked tyrants to execute his iust iudgements, yet they are not to be excused, because they proceeded of ambition and malice. ] commaundement of the Lorde came this vpon Iudah, that he might put them out of his sight for the sinnes of Manasseh, according to all that he did,

4 And for the innocent blood that he shed, (for he filled Ierusalem with innocent blood) therefore the Lord would not pardon it.

5 Concerning the rest of the actes of Iehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kinges of Iudah?

6 So Iehoiakim [Note: [c] Not that he was buryed with his fathers, but he dyed in the way, as they led him prisoner towarde Babylon: reade Iere.22.19. ] slept with his fathers, and Iehoiachin his sonne reigned in his steade.

7 ¶ And the King of Egypt came no more

[Ierusalem besieged. Zedekiah.]



out of his lande: for the King of Babel had taken from the riuer of Egypt, vnto the riuer [Note: Or, Euphrates. ] Perath, all that pertained to the King of Egypt.

8 ¶ Iehoiachin was eighteene yere old, when he beganne to reigne, and reigned in Ierusalem three moneths. His mothers name also was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Ierusalem.

9 And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde, according to all that his father had done.

10 [Note: Dan.1.1. ] In that time came the seruants of Nebuchad-nezzar king of Babel vp against Ierusalem: so the citie was besieged.

11 And Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babel came against the citie, and his seruants did besiege it.

12 Then Iehoiachin the king of Iudah [Note: [d] That is, yelded himselfe vnto him by the counsell of Ieremie. ] came out against the King of Babel, he, and his mother and his seruants, and his princes, & his eunuches: and the King of Babel tooke him in the eyght yeere [Note: [e] In the reigne of the King of Babylon. ] of his reigne.

13 [Note: Chap.20.17. isa.39.6. ] And he caryed out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lorde, & the treasures of the Kings house, and brake all the vessels of gold, which Salomon King of Israel had made in the Temple of the Lorde, as the Lord had saide.

14 And he caryed away all Ierusalem, and all the princes, and all the strong men of warre, euen ten thousande into captiuitie, and all the workemen, and cunning men: so none remained sauing the poore people of the lande.

15 [Note: 2.Chron.36.10. esther.2.6. ] And he caryed away Iehoiachin into Babel, and the Kings mother, and the Kinges wiues, and his eunuches, and the mightie of the lande caryed he away into captiuitie from Ierusalem to Babel,

16 And al the men of warre, euen seuen thousand, and carpenters, & lockesmithes a thousande: all that were strong and apt for warre, did the King of Babel bring to Babel captiues.

17 ¶ [Note: Ierem.37.1. and 52.1. ] And the King of Babel made Mattaniah his vncle King in his steade, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

18 Zedekiah was one and twentie yeere olde, when he began to reigne, and he reigned eleuen yeeres in Ierusalem. His mothers name also was Hamutal the daughter of Ieremiah of Libnah.

19 And he did euill in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Iehoiakim had done.

20 Therefore certainly the wrath of the Lord was against Ierusalem and Iudah vntill he cast them out of his [Note: [f] Out of Ierusalem and Iudah into Babylon. ] sight. And Zedekiah rebelled against the King of Babel.


CHAP. XXV.


1 Ierusalem is besieged of Nebuchad-nezzar, and taken. 7 The sonnes of Zedekiah are slaine before his eyes, and after are his owne eyes put out. 21 Iudah is brought to Babylon. 25 Gedaliah is slaine. 27 Iehoiachin is exalted.

1 And [Note: Ierem.39.1. and 52.4. ] in the [Note: [a] That is, of Zedekiah. ] ninth yeere of his reigne, the [Note: [b] Which the Ebrewes call Tebet, and it conteineth part of December and part of Ianuarie. ] tenth moneth and tenth day of the moneth Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babel came, he, and all his hoste against Ierusalem, & pitched against it, and they built [Note: Or, a mount. ] fortes against it round about it.

2 So the citie was besieged vnto the eleueth yeere of King Zedekiah.

3 And the ninth day of the moneth the famine was [Note: [c] In so much that the mothers did eate their children, Lamen. 4.10. ] sore in the citie, so that there was no bread for the people of the lande.

4 Then the citie was broken vp, and all the men of warre fled by night, by the way of the [Note: [d] Which was a posterne doore or some secret gate to issue out at. ] gate, which is betweene two walles that was [Page]

[Ierusalem is destroyed.]



by the Kings garden: nowe the Caldees were by the citie round about: and the King went by the way of the wildernesse.

5 But the armie of the Caldees pursued after the King, and tooke him in the desertes of Iericho, and all his hoste was scattered from him.

6 Then they tooke the King, and caried him vp to the King of Babel to Riblah, where they [Note: [e] Or condemned him for his periurie and treason, 2.Chron.36.13. ] gaue iudgement vpon him.

7 And they slew the sonnes of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bounde him in chaines, and caried him to Babel.

8 ¶ And in the fift moneth, & [Note: [f] Ieremie writeth Chap.52.12. the tenth day, because the fire continued from the seuenth day, to the tenth. ] seuenth day of the moneth, which was the nineteenth yere of King Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babel, came Nebuzar-adan [Note: Or, Captaine of the garde. ] chiefe stewarde and seruaunt of the King of Babel, to Ierusalem,

9 And burnt the house of the Lord, and the Kings house, and all the houses of Ierusalem, and all the great houses burnt he with fire.

10 And all the armie of the Caldees yt were with the chiefe stewarde, brake downe the walles of Ierusalem round about.

11 And the rest of the people that were left in the citie, and those that were fled and [Note: [g] While the siege endured. ] fallen to the King of Babel, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar-adan chiefe steward carie away captiue.

12 But the chiefe steward left of the poore of the land to dresse the vines, and to till the land.

13 [Note: Chap.20.17. ierem.27.19,20. ] Also the pillars of brasse that were in the house of the Lorde, and the bases, and the brasen Sea that was in the house of the Lorde, did the Caldees breake, and caried the brasse of them to Babel.

14 The pots [Note: [h] Of these reade Exod.27.3. ] also and the besomes, and the instruments of musike, and the incense dishes, and al the vessels of brasse that they ministred in, tooke they away.

15 And the asshe pannes, and the basens, and all that was of gold, and that was of siluer, tooke the chiefe steward away,

16 With the two pillers, one Sea and the bases, which Salomon had made for the house of the Lorde: the brasse of all these vessels was without weight.

17 [Note: 1.King.7.15. ierem.52.21. 2.chron.3.15. ] The height of the one piller was eighteene cubits, and the chapiter thereon was brasse, & the height of the chapiter was with networke three cubites, and pomegranates vpon the chapiter rounde about, all of brasse: and likewise was the second piller with the networke.

18 And the chiefe steward tooke Seraiah the

[Iudah caryed into captiuitie. Gedaliah.]



chiefe Priest, and Zephaniah the [Note: [i] That is, one appointed to succeede in the hie priestes roome, if he were sicke or else otherwise letted. ] second Priest, and the three keepers of the doore.

19 And out of the citie hee tooke an Eunuch that had the ouersight of the men of warre, and [Note: [k] Ieremie maketh mention of seuen, but here he speaketh of them that were the chiefest. ] fiue men of them that were in the Kinges presence, which were founde in the citie, and Sopher captaine of the hoste, who mustred the people of the lande, and threescore men of the people of the lande, that were founde in the citie.

20 And Nebuzar-adan the chiefe stewarde tooke them, and brought them to the King of Babel to Riblah.

21 And the King of Babel smote them, & slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Iudah was caried away captiue out of his owne land.

22 [Note: Ierem.40.5,9. ] Howbeit there remained people in the land of Iudah, whom Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babel left, and made Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam the sonne of Shaphan ruler ouer them.

23 Then when all the captaines of the host & their men heard, that the king of Babel had made Gedaliah gouernour, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, to wit, Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah, and Iohanan the sonne of Kareah, & Seraiah the sonne of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, & Iaazaniah the sonne of Maachathi, they and their men.

24 And Gedaliah [Note: [l] That is, he did exhort them in the Name of the Lord according to Ieremies counsel, to submit them selues to Nebuchad-nezzar, seeing it was the reueiled will of the Lorde. ] sware to them, & to their men, and sayd vnto them, Feare not to be the seruants of the Caldees: dwell in the land, & serue the King of Babel, and ye shalbe well.

25 [Note: Ierem.41.1. ] But in the seuenth moneth Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah the sonne of Elishama of the Kings seede, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, & he died, & so did he the Iewes, and the Caldees that were with him at Mizpah.

26 Then all ye people both small and great, & the captaines of the armie arose, and came to [Note: [m] Contrary to Ieremies counsel, Ierem.40.41. and 42.43. Chapters. ] Egypt: for they were afraide of the Caldees.

27 Notwithstanding in the seuen and thirtieth yeere after [Note: [n] Thus long was he, his wife, and his children in Babylon, whome Nebuchad-nezzars sonne, after his fathers death preferred to honour: thus by Gods prouidence the seede of Dauid was reserued euen vnto Christ. ] Iehoiachin King of Iudah was caried away, in the twelft moneth and the seuen and twentieth day of the moneth, Euil-merodach King of Babel in the yeere that hee began to reigne, did lift vp the head of Iehoiachin King of Iudah out of the prison,

28 And spake kindly to him, & set his throne aboue the throne of the Kings that were with him in Babel,

29 And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eate bread before him, all the dayes of his life.

30 And his [Note: [o] Meaning, that he had an ordinarie in the court. ] portion was a continual portion giuen him by the King, euery day a certaine, all the dayes of his life.