2 Kings

Continues the story of the divided kingdoms, their decline, and eventual exile.

Chapter 15

1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

In the 27th year of Jeroboam's rule in Israel, Azariah, son of Amaziah, started his reign as king of Judah.

2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

At 16, he started ruling and ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mom's name was Jecholiah from Jerusalem.

3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

He did what was pleasing to God, just like his father Amaziah had done.

4 Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

Despite the removal of the tall altars, people continued to offer sacrifices and burn fragrances at those same spots.

5 And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

And God struck the king with a skin disease until he died, living in a separate house. Then Jotham, the king's son, led the people and made decisions for the land.

6 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Isn't what Azariah did, including everything else, written in the book about the kings of Judah?

7 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

Azariah died and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son, Jotham, then took over as king.

8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

In the 38th year of King Azariah of Judah, Zachariah, son of Jeroboam, ruled over Israel in Samaria for six months.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

He did bad things that displeased God, just like his ancestors. He didn't stop committing the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who led Israel to do wrong.

10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

Shallum, son of Jabesh, planned to betray him. He attacked him in front of everyone, killed him, and then took over as ruler.

11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

The rest of Zachariah's actions are recorded in the book of Israel's king records.

12 This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

This is what God told Jehu: Your descendants will sit on Israel's throne for four generations. This happened just as promised.

13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.

Shallum, son of Jabesh, started ruling during Uzziah's 39th year as king in Judah. He ruled for one month in Samaria.

14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

Menahem, son of Gadi, left Tirzah and went to Samaria. There, he defeated Shallum, son of Jabesh, killed him, and became the new ruler.

15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

And the other things Shallum did, along with his secret plans, can be found in the book recording the history of Israel's kings.

16 Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.

Then Menahem attacked Tiphsa and everyone in it, as well as its surrounding areas. This happened because they didn't let him in. So, he destroyed it. He also hurt all the pregnant women in the city.

17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.

In the 30th year of King Azariah of Judah, Menahem, son of Gadi, started ruling over Israel. He ruled for 10 years in Samaria.

18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

He did bad things that displeased God. He never stopped doing the wrong things that Jeroboam, son of Nebat, did which caused Israel to sin.

19 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

King Pul of Assyria attacked the land. Menahem paid Pul 1,000 pounds of silver so he would help strengthen his rule.

20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

Menahem took money from wealthy people in Israel, 50 silver coins from each person, to give to the king of Assyria. After receiving the money, the king of Assyria left and didn't stay in their land.

21 And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Isn't everything Menahem did, including his other actions, recorded in the book of the records for the kings of Israel?

22 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

Menahem passed away and joined his ancestors; his son, Pekahiah, then took over as the new ruler.

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.

In the 50th year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekahiah, son of Menahem, became the ruler of Israel in Samaria and ruled for two years.

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

He did bad things that displeased God. He didn't stop committing the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who led Israel to sin.

25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

But Pekah, son of Remaliah, a leader, secretly planned against his boss. He attacked him in Samaria at the king's palace. Alongside him were Argob, Arieh, and 50 men from Gilead. They killed the ruler and Pekah took over his job.

26 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

The rest of Pekahiah's actions and everything he did are recorded in the book of the chronicles for the kings of Israel.

27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

In the 25th year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekah, son of Remaliah, started ruling over Israel in Samaria and ruled for 20 years.

28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

He did bad things that displeased God. He didn't stop doing the wrong things that Jeroboam, son of Nebat, did, which caused Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

During Pekah's reign as king of Israel, Tiglathpileser, the king of Assyria, attacked and captured Ijon, Abelbethmaachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all Naphtali land. He took these places and their people as captives to Assyria.

30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

Hoshea, son of Elah, plotted against Pekah, son of Remaliah, and killed him. Then Hoshea took over as king, ruling during the 20th year of Jotham, son of Uzziah.

31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

The rest of Pekah's actions and everything he did are recorded in the book of the chronicles for the kings of Israel.

32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

In the second year of Pekah, king of Israel, Jotham, son of Uzziah, started ruling as king of Judah.

33 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

At age 25, he started ruling and ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. His mom was named Jerusha, daughter of Zadok.

34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

He did what was pleasing to God, just like his father Uzziah had done.

35 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.

However, the high places were not taken away; people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at these high places. He constructed the main entrance for the Lord's house.

36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Doesn't the book of Judah's king records include everything else Jotham did?

37 In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

In that time, God let Rezin, the ruler of Syria, and Pekah, son of Remaliah, attack Judah.

38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

Jotham passed away and was laid to rest with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Ahaz took over the kingdom after him.

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