But the <sc>Lordsc> was unwilling to destroy Judah. He preserved Judah for the sake of<n id="1" /> his servant David to whom he had promised a perpetual dynasty.<n id="2" />p>

The watchman reported, &#8220;He reached them, but hasn&#8217;t started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi;<n id="1" /> he drives recklessly.&#8221;

He said, &#8220;Capture them alive!&#8221; So they captured them alive and then executed all forty-two of them in the cistern at Beth Eked. He left no survivors.p>

They did not audit the treasurers who disbursed<n id="1" /> the funds to the foremen, for they were honest.<n id="2" />

But Amaziah would not heed the warning,<n id="1" /> so King Jehoash of Israel attacked.<n id="2" /> He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face<n id="3" /> in Beth Shemesh of Judah.

The <sc>Lordsc> had not decreed that he would blot out Israel&#8217;s memory<n id="1" /> from under heaven,<n id="2" /> so he delivered them through Jeroboam son of Joash.p>

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.<n id="1" /> He did not do what pleased the <sc>Lordsc> his God, in contrast to his ancestor David.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">At that time King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem.<n id="1" /> They besieged Ahaz,<n id="2" /> but were unable to conquer him.<n id="3" />

You must carefully obey at all times the rules, regulations, law, and commandments he wrote down for you. You must not worship other gods.

Don&#8217;t let Hezekiah talk you into trusting in the <sc>Lordsc> when he says, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> will certainly rescue us; this city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.&#8221;

The people were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, &#8220;Don&#8217;t respond to him.&#8221;p>

But they did not obey,<n id="1" /> and Manasseh misled them so that they sinned more than the nations whom the <sc>Lordsc> had destroyed from before the Israelites.p>

He did what the <sc>Lordsc> approved<n id="1" /> and followed in his ancestor David&#8217;s footsteps;<n id="2" /> he did not deviate to the right or the left.p>

This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices<n id="1" /> to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made.<n id="2" /> My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!&#8217;&#8221;

Because he killed innocent people and stained Jerusalem with their blood, the <sc>Lordsc> was unwilling to forgive them.<n id="1" />p>

When the king of Moab realized he was losing the battle,<n id="1" /> he and 700 swordsmen tried to break through and attack<n id="2" /> the king of Edom, but they failed.

But when she reached the prophet on the mountain, she grabbed hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to push her away, but the prophet said, &#8220;Leave her alone, for she is very upset.<n id="1" /> The <sc>Lordsc> has kept the matter hidden from me; he didn&#8217;t tell me about it.&#8221;

Naaman said, &#8220;If not, then please give your servant a load of dirt, enough for a pair of mules to carry,<n id="1" /> for your servant will never again offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to a god other than the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" />

Then Elisha said to them, &#8220;This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you&#8217;re looking for.&#8221; He led them to Samaria.<n id="1" />p>

Take the container of olive oil, pour it over his head, and say, &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says, &#8220;I have designated<n id="1" /> you as king over Israel.&#8221;&#8217; Then open the door and run away quickly!&#8221;<n id="2" />p>