From: "FamilyNet" 

Bible Reading for September 09

2 Chronicles 30
[1] And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to
Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at
Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. [2] For the
king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in
Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. [3] For they could not
keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves
sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to
Jerusalem.
[4] And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. [5] So they
established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from
Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the
LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in
such sort as it was written.
[6] So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes
throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the
king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that
are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. [7] And be not ye like
your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God
of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
[8] Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves
unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for
ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may
turn away from you.
[9] For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children
shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they
shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and
merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
[10] So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim
and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked
them.
[11] Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled
themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
[12] Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the
commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. [13]
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of
unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. [14] And
they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the
altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.
[15] Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second
month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified
themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.
[16] And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law
of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they
received of the hand of the Levites. [17] For there were many in the
congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge
of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to
sanctify them unto the LORD. [18] For a multitude of the people, even many
of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed
themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written.
But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one [19]
That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though
he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. [20] And
the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. [21] And the
children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of
unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the
priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the
LORD.
[22] And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the
good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven
days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of
their fathers.
[23] And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they
kept other seven days with gladness. [24] For Hezekiah king of Judah did
give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and
the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand
sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
[25] And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites,
and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that
came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. [26] So
there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of
David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. [27] Then the
priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was
heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto
heaven.

2 Chronicles 31
[1] Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out
to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the
groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and
Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed
them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his
possession, into their own cities.
[2] And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after
their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites
for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give
thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. [3] He
appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings,
to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt
offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts,
as it is written in the law of the LORD. [4] Moreover he commanded the
people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the
Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
[5] And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel
brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and
of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things brought they
in abundantly.
[6] And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the
cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the
tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and
laid them by heaps.
[7] In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and
finished them in the seventh month. [8] And when Hezekiah and the princes
came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
[9] Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
[10] And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and
said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the
LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath
blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. [11] Then
Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they
prepared them,
[12] And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things
faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his
brother was the next.
[13] And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and
Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers
under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of
Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. [14] And Kore
the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the
freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the
most holy things.
[15] And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah,
Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office,
to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:
[16] Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even
unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion
for their service in their charges according to their courses; [17] Both to
the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites
from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;
[18] And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their
sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set
office they sanctified themselves in holiness: [19] Also of the sons of
Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities,
in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give
portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned
by genealogies among the Levites. [20] And thus did Hezekiah throughout all
Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD
his God. [21] And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it
with all his heart, and prospered.

2 Chronicles 32
[1] After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of
Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced
cities, and thought to win them for himself. [2] And when Hezekiah saw that
Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
[3] He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters
of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. [4] So
there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and
the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the
kings of Assyria come, and find much water? [5] Also he strengthened
himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the
towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David,
and made darts and shields in abundance. [6] And he set captains of war
over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the
gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
[7] Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of
Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with
us than with him:
[8] With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help
us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the
words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
[9] After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to
Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power
with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at
Jerusalem, saying,
[10] Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye
abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
[11] Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by
famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the
hand of the king of Assyria?
[12] Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars,
and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one
altar, and burn incense upon it?
[13] Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of
other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to
deliver their lands out of mine hand? [14] Who was there among all the gods
of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his
people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of
mine hand? [15] Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade
you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or
kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the
hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine
hand? [16] And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and
against his servant Hezekiah.
[17] He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak
against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not
delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah
deliver his people out of mine hand. [18] Then they cried with a loud voice
in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to
affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
[19] And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of
the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. [20] And
for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz,
prayed and cried to heaven.
[21] And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of
valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So
he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into
the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there
with the sword.
[22] Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the
hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other,
and guided them on every side.
[23] And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to
Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all
nations from thenceforth.
[24] In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the
LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. [25] But Hezekiah
rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart
was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and
Jerusalem.
[26] Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart,
both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD
came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. [27] And Hezekiah had exceeding
much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for
gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all
manner of pleasant jewels; [28] Storehouses also for the increase of corn,
and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for
flocks. [29] Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and
herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. [30] This
same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it
straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered
in all his works.
[31] Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon,
who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God
left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. [32]
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are
written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the
book of the kings of Judah and Israel. [33] And Hezekiah slept with his
fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons
of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at
his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

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