He (Nebuchadnezzar) carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.  . . . In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to...  Read More

In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your Name lead and guide me.Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.  . . . You have not given me into the hands of t...  Read More

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God's name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, th...  Read More

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD . . . He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing His anger. He took the image he had made and put it i...  Read More

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.   . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.   . . . Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old...  Read More

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.   . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.   . . . Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old...  Read More

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.  . . . And we Be...  Read More

After all that Hezekiah had faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah.  . . . he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there:"This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? When Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God wi...  Read More

So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah.  . . . He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.  . . . Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah ...  Read More

Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful. After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out...  Read More

All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel . . . a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you. 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is ...  Read More

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.  . . . Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him.Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple ...  Read More