With the timber the king made steps<n id="1" /> for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple and royal palace as well as stringed instruments<n id="2" /> for the musicians. No one had seen anything like them in the land of Judah prior to that.<n id="3" />)

You will report to Amariah the chief priest in all matters pertaining to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s law, and to Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the family of Judah, in all matters pertaining to the king.<n id="1" /> The Levites will serve as officials before you. Confidently carry out your duties!<n id="2" /> May the <sc>Lordsc> be with those who do well!&#8221;p>

They attacked Judah and swept through it.<n id="1" /> They carried off everything they found in the royal palace,<n id="2" /> including his sons and wives. None of his sons was left, except for his youngest, Ahaziah.

He looked for Ahaziah, who was captured while hiding in Samaria.<n id="1" /> They brought him to Jehu and then executed him. They did give him a burial, for they reasoned,<n id="2" /> &#8220;He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the <sc>Lordsc> with his whole heart.&#8221; There was no one in Ahaziah&#8217;s family strong enough to rule in his place.<n id="3" />p>

When they were finished, they brought the rest of the silver to the king and Jehoiada. They used it to make items for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, including items used in the temple service and for burnt sacrifices, pans, and various other gold and silver items. Throughout Jehoiada&#8217;s lifetime, burnt sacrifices were offered regularly in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.p>

<p class="bodytext">Amaziah assembled the people of Judah<n id="1" /> and assigned them by families to the commanders of units of a thousand and the commanders of units of a hundred for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted those twenty years old and up and discovered there were 300,000 young men of fighting age<n id="2" /> equipped with spears and shields.<n id="3" />

Hezekiah said, &#8220;Now you have consecrated yourselves<n id="1" /> to the <sc>Lordsc>. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings<n id="2" /> to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.&#8221; So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and whoever desired to do so<n id="3" /> brought burnt sacrifices.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Hezekiah sent messages throughout Israel and Judah; he even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, summoning them to come to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple in Jerusalem<n id="1" /> and observe a Passover celebration for the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel.

Azariah, the head priest from the family of Zadok, said to him, &#8220;Since the contributions began arriving in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, we have had plenty to eat and have a large quantity left over. For the <sc>Lordsc> has blessed his people, and this large amount remains.&#8221;

Anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner must be helped by his neighbors<n id="1" /> with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.&#8217;&#8221;p>

Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones,<n id="1" /> and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.

Everything that the God of heaven has required should be precisely done for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath<n id="1" /> against the empire of the king and his sons?

I sent them to Iddo, who was the leader in the place called Casiphia. I told them<n id="1" /> what to say to Iddo and his relatives,<n id="2" /> who were the temple servants in<n id="3" /> Casiphia, so they would bring us attendants for the temple of our God.p>

So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out<n id="1" /> by name men who were leaders in their family groups.<n id="2" /> They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month,

and a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king&#8217;s nature preserve,<n id="1" /> so that he will give me timber for beams for the gates of the fortress adjacent to the temple and for the city wall<n id="2" /> and for the house to which I go.&#8221; So the king granted me these requests,<n id="3" /> for the good hand of my God was on me.

and their colleagues<n id="1" /> who were carrying out work for the temple &#8211; 822; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah,

<t /><p class="poetry">I will tell of the faithful acts of the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s praiseworthy deeds.p> <p class="poetry">I will tell about all<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> did for us,p> <p class="poetry">the many good things he did for the family of Israel,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">because of<n id="3" /> his compassion and great faithfulness.p>

<p class="bodytext">The Babylonians broke the two bronze pillars in the temple of the <sc>Lordsc>, as well as the movable stands and the large bronze basin called the &#8220;The Sea.&#8221;<n id="1" /> They took all the bronze to Babylon.

The bronze of the items that King Solomon made for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple (including the two pillars, the large bronze basin called &#8220;The Sea,&#8221; the twelve bronze bulls under &#8220;The Sea,&#8221; and the movable stands<n id="1" />) was too heavy to be weighed.

Then for your part take an iron frying pan<n id="1" /> and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face toward it. It is to be under siege; you are to besiege it. This is a sign<n id="2" /> for the house of Israel.p>