He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, for he owned many herds in the lowlands ¹  and on the plain. He had workers in the fields and vineyards in the hills and in Carmel, ²  for he loved agriculture. ³ 

the pure gold trimming shears, basins, pans, and censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the most holy place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

and the pots, shovels, and meat forks. ¹  All the items King Solomon assigned Huram Abi to make for the Lord’s temple ²  were made from polished bronze.

But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’ ¹ 

Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us! We don’t know what we should do; we look to you for help.” ¹ 

The Lord humiliated ¹  Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, ²  for he encouraged Judah to sin and was very ³  unfaithful to the Lord.

In those days ¹  no one could travel safely, ²  for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands. ³ 

He observed the daily requirements for sacrifices that Moses had specified for Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and the three annual celebrations – the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Temporary Shelters. ¹ 

Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your countrymen to do what the Lord commanded through Moses.” ¹ 

The majority of the many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun were ceremonially unclean, yet they ate the Passover in violation of what is prescribed in the law. ¹  For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying: “May the Lord, who is good, forgive ² 

He remained in hiding in God’s temple ¹  for six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.

The people of Judah ¹  assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; ²  they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help. ³ 

All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah. ¹ 

Finally they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they placed their hands on them.

He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the Lord gave him peace.

They confronted ¹  King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed ²  and the Lord God will not honor you!”

Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority, ¹  for ²  the Lord his God was with him and magnified him greatly.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. ¹ 

He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. ¹