2 Chronicles 22-23
Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah
aThen the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men who came with bthe Arabs to the camp had slain all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. 2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. 4 He did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to ahis destruction.
Ahaziah Allies with Jehoram of Israel
5 He also walked according to their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the aArameans wounded Joram. 6 So he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
7 Now athe destruction of Ahaziah was from God, in that he went to Joram. For when he came, bhe went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, cwhom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
Jehu Murders Princes of Judah
8 aIt came about when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers ministering to Ahaziah, and slew them. 9 aHe also sought Ahaziah, and they caught him while he was hiding in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu, put him to death band buried him. For they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, cwho sought the Lord with all his heart.” So there was no one of the house of Ahaziah to retain the power of the kingdom.
10 aNow when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath the king’s daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death. 12 He was hidden with them in the house of God six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah
aNow in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him. 2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of aIsrael, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, aas the Lord has spoken concerning the sons of David. 4 This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites awho come in on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers, 5 and one third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. 6 But let no one enter the house of the Lord except the priests and athe ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the Lord. 7 The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be killed. Thus be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of athe divisions. 9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10 He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him athe testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “bLong live the king!”
Athaliah Murdered
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came into the house of the Lord to the people. 13 She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!” 14 Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 15 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of athe Horse Gate of the king’s house, they bput her to death there.
Reforms Carried Out
16 Then aJehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and akilled Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the Lord under the authority of athe Levitical priests, bwhom David had assigned over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses—cwith rejoicing and singing according to the order of David. 19 He stationed athe gatekeepers of the house of the Lord, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20 aHe took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they placed the king upon the royal throne. 21 So aall of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.
2 Kings 11
Athaliah Queen of Judah
aWhen Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, atook Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. 3 So he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.
4 aNow in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of bthe Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him in the house of the Lord. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son. 5 He commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: aone third of you, who come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6 (one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense. 7 Two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king. 8 Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And abe with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”
9 So the captains of hundreds adid according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 aThe priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 The guards stood each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 12 Then he brought the king’s son out and aput the crown on him and gave him bthe testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “cLong live the king!”
13 aWhen Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord. 14 She looked and behold, the king was standing aby the pillar, according to the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king; and ball the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah ctore her clothes and cried, “dTreason! Treason!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was aput to death there.
17 Then aJehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord’s people, also bbetween the king and the people. 18 All the people of the land went to athe house of Baal, and tore it down; bhis altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and ckilled Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. 19 He took the captains of hundreds and the aCarites and the guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of bthe gate of the guards to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20 So aall the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.
21 aJehoash was seven years old when he became king.
Psalm 131
Childlike Trust in the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
O Lord, my heart is not aproud, nor my eyes bhaughty;
Nor do I involve myself in cgreat matters,
Or in things dtoo difficult for me.
2 Surely I have acomposed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned bchild rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
3 O Israel, ahope in the Lord
bFrom this time forth and forever.
Matthew 8
Jesus Cleanses a Leper; The Centurion’s Faith
When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And aa leper came to Him and bbowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his aleprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus *said to him, “aSee that you tell no one; but bgo, cshow yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
5 And awhen Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying aparalyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7 Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under aauthority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11 I say to you that many awill come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but athe sons of the kingdom will be cast out into bthe outer darkness; in that place cthere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you aas you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.
Peter’s Mother‑in‑law and Many Others Healed
14 aWhen Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. 16 When evening came, they brought to Him many awho were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and bhealed all who were ill. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “aHe Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.”
Discipleship Tested
18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, aHe gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19 aThen a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 Jesus *said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but athe Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus *said to him, “aFollow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
23 aWhen He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “aSave us, Lord; we are perishing!” 26 He *said to them, “Why are you afraid, ayou men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Jesus Casts Out Demons
28 aWhen He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were bdemon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. 29 And they cried out, saying, “aWhat business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. 31 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. 33 The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the ademoniacs. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, athey implored Him to leave their region.
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