Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria. While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds,

Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab worshiped Baal a little; Jehu will worship him with great devotion.

The priests agreed not to collect silver from the people and relieved themselves of personal responsibility for the temple repairs.

At that time King Hazael of Syria attacked Gath and captured it. Hazael then decided to attack Jerusalem.

But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

The king of Assyria marched through the whole land. He attacked Samaria and besieged it for three years.

They set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

So the Lord was furious with Israel and rejected them; only the tribe of Judah was left.

You must never forget the agreement I made with you, and you must not worship other gods.

He was loyal to the Lord and did not abandon him. He obeyed the commandments which the Lord had given to Moses.

This is what the king says: ‘Don’t let Hezekiah mislead you, for he is not able to rescue you from my hand!

The people were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, “Don’t respond to him.”

Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued?

Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for it to go back ten steps.”

At that time the generals of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched to Jerusalem and besieged the city.

But he left behind some of the poor of the land and gave them fields and vineyards.

The sons of Shobal, the father of Kiriath Jearim, were Haroeh, half of the Manahathites,

These were all the sons of David, not counting the sons of his concubines. Tamar was their sister.

The rest of their fellow Levites were assigned to perform the remaining tasks at God’s sanctuary.