OET-RV G ESD Chapter 1

1 Yoshiyah (Josiah) held the Passover in Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to his master, and offered the Passover the fourteenth day of the first month,[ref] 2 having set the priests according to their daily courses, being arrayed in their vestments, in the master’s temple. 3 He spoke to the Levites, Yisrael’s (Israel’s) temple servants,[ref] that they should make themselves holy to the master, to set the holy ark of the master in the house that King Shelomoh (Solomon) the son of David had built. 4 He said, “You no longer need to carry it on your shoulders. Now therefore serve the master your god, and minister to his people Yisrael, and prepare yourselves by your fathers’ houses and kindred, 5 according to the writing of King David of Yisrael, and according to the magnificence of Shelomoh his son. Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of your Levite families who minister in the presence of your kindred the descendants of Yisrael. 6 Offer the Passover in order, prepare the sacrifices for your kindred, and keep the Passover according to the master’s commandment, which was given to Mosheh (Moses).

7 To the people which were present, Yoshiyah gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves. These things were given from the king’s possessions, as he promised, to the people and to the priests and Levites. 8 Hilkiyah, Zekaryah (Zechariah), and Yehiel,[fn] the rulers of the temple, gave to the priests for the Passover two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves. 9 Konaniyah, Shemayah, Netanel his brother, Hashavyah, Yeiel, and Yoram (Joram), captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for the Passover five thousand sheep and seven hundred calves.

10 / 10 When these things were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened bread, stood in proper order according to the kindred, 11 and according to the several divisions by fathers’ houses, before the people, to offer to the master as it’s written in the book of Mosheh. They did this in the morning. 12 They roasted the Passover lamb with fire, as required. They boiled the sacrifices in the brazen vessels and cauldrons with a pleasing smell, 13 and set them before all the people. Afterward they prepared for themselves and for their kindred the priests, the sons of Aharon (Aaron). 14 Because the priests offered the fat until night. The Levites prepared for themselves and for their kindred the priests, the sons of Aharon. 15 The holy singers also, the sons of Asaf, were in their order, according to the appointment of David: Asaf, Zekaryah, and Yedutun, who represented the king. 16 Moreover the gatekeepers were at every gate. No one needed to depart from his daily duties, for their kindred the Levites prepared for them.

17 So the things that belonged to the master’s sacrifices were accomplished in that day, in holding the Passover, 18 and offering sacrifices on the altar of the master, according to King Yoshiyah’s commandment. 19 So the Israeli people (Israel) which were present at that time held the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. 20 Such a Passover hadn’t been held in Yisrael since the time of the prophet Shmuel (Samuel). 21 Indeed, none of Yisrael’s kings held such a Passover as Yoshiyah with the priests, the Levites, and the Yehudim (Jews), held with all Yisrael that were present in their dwelling place at Yerushalem (Jerusalem). 22 This Passover was held in the eighteenth year of Yoshiyah’s reign. 23 Yoshiyah’s works were upright before his master with a heart full of godliness. 24 Moreover the things that happened in his days have been written in times past, about those who sinned and did wickedly against the master more than any other people or kingdom, and how they grieved him greatly,[fn] so that the master’s words were confirmed against Yisrael.

25 Now after all these acts of Yoshiyah (Josiah), it happened that Par’oh (Pharaoh) the king of Mitsrayim (Egypt) came to make war at Karkemish on the Perat (Euphrates); and Yoshiyah went out against him.[ref] 26 But the king of Mitsrayim sent to him, saying, “What do I have to do with you, Oh king of Yehudah (Judea)? 27 I wasn’t sent out from the master God against you, for my war is against the Perat. Now the master is with me, yes, the master is with me hastening me forward. Depart from me, and don’t be against the master.”

28 However, Yoshiyah didn’t turn back to his chariot, but tried to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) from the master’s mouth, 29 but joined battle with him in the plain of Megidon, and the commanders came down against King Yoshiyah. 30 Then the king said to his servants, “Carry me away out of the battle, for I’m very weak!” Immediately his servants carried him away out of the army. 31 Then he got into his second chariot. After he was brought back to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) he died, and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors. 32 All Yehudah mourned for Yoshiyah. Yirmiyah the prophet lamented for Yoshiyah, and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him to this day. This was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Yisrael (Israel). 33 These things are written in the book of the histories of Yehudah’s kings, and every one of the acts that Yoshiyah did, and his glory, and his understanding in the master’s law, and the things that he’d done before, and the things now told, are reported in the book of the kings of Yisrael and Yehudah.

34 The people took Yehoahaz[fn] the son of Yoshiyah, and made him king instead of Yoshiyah his father, when he was twenty-three years old.[ref] 35 He reigned in Yehudah and Yerushalem for three months. Then the king of Mitsrayim (Egypt) deposed him from reigning in Yerushalem. 36 He set a tax on the people of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. 37 The king of Mitsrayim also made King Yehoyakim his brother king of Yehudah and Yerushalem. 38 And Yehoyakim imprisoned the leading citizens and apprehended his brother Zarakes, and brought him up out of Mitsrayim.

39 Yehoyakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Yehudah and Yerushalem. He did that which was evil in the sight of the master.[ref] 40 King Nevukadnetsar (Nebuchadnezzar) of Bavel (Babylon) came up against him, bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him to Bavel. 41 Nevukadnetsar also took some of the master’s holy vessels, carried them away, and stored them in his own temple at Bavel. 42 But those things that are reported of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the records of the kings. 43 Then Yehoyakin his son reigned in his place. When he was made king, he was eighteen years old. 44 He reigned three months and ten days in Yerushalem. He did that which was evil before the master.

45 So after a year Nevukadnetsar sent and caused him to be brought to Bavel with the holy vessels of the master, 46 and made Tsidkiyah (Zedekiah) king of Yehudah and Yerushalem when he was twenty-one years old. He reigned eleven years. 47 He also did that which was evil in the sight of the master, and didn’t heed the words that were spoken by Yirmiyah the prophet from the master’s mouth. 48 After King Nevukadnetsar had made him to swear by the master’s name, he broke his oath and rebelled. Hardening his neck and his heart, he transgressed the laws of the master, the god of Yisrael (Israel). 49 Moreover the governors of the people and of the priests did many things wickedly, exceeding all the defilements of all nations, and defiled the master’s temple, which was sanctified in Yerushalem. 50 Their ancestors’ god sent by his messenger to call them back, because he had compassion on them and on his dwelling place. 51 But they mocked his messengers. In the day when the master spoke, they scoffed at his prophets 52 until he, being angry with his people for their great ungodliness, commanded to bring up the kings of the Kasdim (Chaldeans) against them. 53 They killed their young men with the sword around their holy temple, and spared neither young man or young woman, old man or child; but he delivered all of them into their hands. 54 They took all the holy vessels of the master, both great and small, with the treasure chests of the master’s ark and the king’s treasures, and carried them away to Bavel. 55 They burnt the master’s house, broke down Yerushalem’s walls, and burnt its towers with fire. 56 As for her glorious things, they didn’t stop until they’d brought them all to nothing. He carried the people who weren’t slain with the sword to Bavel. 57 They were servants to him and to his children until the Persians reigned, to fulfil the master’s word by Yirmiyah’s mouth: 58 “Until the land has enjoyed its Sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation will she keep Sabbath, to fulfil seventy years.