From: "FamilyNet Direct" 

Bible Reading for September 08

2 Chronicles 26
[1] Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old,
and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. [2] He built Eloth,
and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
[3] Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned
fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of
Jerusalem.
[4] And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to
all that his father Amaziah did.
[5] And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in
the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to
prosper. [6] And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and
brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of
Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. [7] And
God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt
in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims. [8] And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah:
and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he
strengthened himself exceedingly. [9] Moreover Uzziah built towers in
Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of
the wall, and fortified them. [10] Also he built towers in the desert, and
digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in
the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in
Carmel: for he loved husbandry. [11] Moreover Uzziah had an host of
fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of
their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under
the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
[12] The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of
valour were two thousand and six hundred. [13] And under their hand was an
army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made
war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
[14] And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and
spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
[15] And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on
the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal.
And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was
strong.
[16] But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction:
for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of
the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. [17] And Azariah the
priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that
were valiant men: [18] And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto
him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD,
but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense:
go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for
thine honour from the LORD God.
[19] Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense:
and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his
forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the
incense altar.
[20] And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him,
and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from
thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten
him.
[21] And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt
in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the
LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of
the land.
[22] Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the
prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
[23] So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers
in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He
is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 27
[1] Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah,
the daughter of Zadok.
[2] And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to
all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of
the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly. [3] He built the high gate of
the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
[4] Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests
he built castles and towers.
[5] He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against
them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents
of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley.
So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and
the third.
[6] So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
[7] Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo,
they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. [8] He was
five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years
in Jerusalem.
[9] And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of
David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 28
[1] Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the
sight of the LORD, like David his father:
[2] For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten
images for Baalim.
[3] Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt
his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the
LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. [4] He sacrificed also and
burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green
tree.
[5] Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of
Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them
captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the
hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. [6] For
Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in
one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God
of their fathers.
[7] And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and
Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
[8] And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two
hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil
from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. [9] But a prophet of the LORD
was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came
to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your
fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye
have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
[10] And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem
for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with
you, sins against the LORD your God? [11] Now hear me therefore, and
deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren:
for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
[12] Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son
of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of
Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from
the war,
[13] And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for
whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to
our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is
fierce wrath against Israel.
[14] So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes
and all the congregation.
[15] And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the
captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and
arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and
anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought
them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they
returned to Samaria.
[16] At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
[17] For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away
captives.
[18] The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of
the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth,
and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof,
Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. [19] For the
LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah
naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. [20] And Tilgath-pilneser
king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him
not.
[21] For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of
the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of
Assyria: but he helped him not.
[22] And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the
LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
[23] For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he
said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I
sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him,
and of all Israel.
[24] And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in
pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house
of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. [25] And
in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto
other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. [26] Now the
rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are
written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. [27] And Ahaz slept
with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but
they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and
Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 29
[1] Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he
reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was
Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
[2] And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to
all that David his father had done. [3] He in the first year of his reign,
in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired
them. [4] And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them
together into the east street,
[5] And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and
sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the
filthiness out of the holy place.
[6] For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the
eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their
faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. [7] Also
they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have
not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the
God of Israel.
[8] Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he
hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see
with your eyes.
[9] For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our
daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. [10] Now it is in mine
heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath
may turn away from us. [11] My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD
hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should
minister unto him, and burn incense.
[12] Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of
Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the
son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah
the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: [13] And of the sons of
Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and
Mattaniah:
[14] And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of
Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
[15] And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came,
according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to
cleanse the house of the LORD.
[16] And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to
cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the
temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites
took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. [17] Now they began
on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of
the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house
of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they
made an end.
[18] Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all
the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the
vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
[19] Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away
in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they
are before the altar of the LORD.
[20] Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the
city, and went up to the house of the LORD. [21] And they brought seven
bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin
offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he
commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the
LORD.
[22] So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and
sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they
sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they
sprinkled the blood upon the altar. [23] And they brought forth the he
goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they
laid their hands upon them: [24] And the priests killed them, and they made
reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for
all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin
offering should be made for all Israel.
[25] And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with
psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of
Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of
the LORD by his prophets.
[26] And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests
with the trumpets.
[27] And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And
when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the
trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. [28]
And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the
trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was
finished.
[29] And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were
present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. [30] Moreover Hezekiah
the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD
with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with
gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
[31] Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves
unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the
house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank
offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. [32] And
the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was
threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all
these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. [33] And the consecrated
things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
[34] But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the
burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till
the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves:
for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the
priests. [35] And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat
of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering.
So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. [36] And Hezekiah
rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the
thing was done suddenly.

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