Azariah Becomes King of Judah

1Amaziah’s son Azariah began reigning during the twenty-seventh year of the reign ofa Jeroboam, king of Israel. 2He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she wasb from Jerusalem. 3He did what the LORD considered to be right, just as his father Amaziah had done in everything, 4except that the high places were never removed, and the people kept on sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

5The LORD struck the king so that he was afflicted with leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house while his son Jotham managed the household and ruledc the people who lived in the land. 6Now the rest of Azariah’s activities, including everything he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 7Later, Azariah died, as hadd his ancestors, and they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jotham then reigned in his place.

Zachariah’s Reign over Israel

8During the thirty-eighth year of the reign ofe Azariah, king of Judah, Jeroboam’s son Zachariah began a six-month reign in Samaria. 9He did what the LORD considered to be evil, just as his ancestors had done. He never abandoned the sins of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin. 10So Jabesh’s son Shallum conspired against him and attacked him in full view of the people, killed him, and reigned in his place. 11The rest of Zachariah’s activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Shallum’s Reign over Israel

12This is what the LORD told Jehu: “Your children will sit on Israel’s throne for the next four generations.”f And that is what happened:g 13Jabesh’s son Shallum began his reign in the thirty-ninth year of the reign of Uzziah,h king of Judah. He reigned a full monthi in Samaria, 14then Gadi’s son Menahem approached Samaria from Tirzah and attacked Jabesh’s son Shallum, executed him, and reigned in his place. 15The rest of Shallum’s activities, including the conspiracy that he carried out, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?

Menahem’s Reign over Israel

16At another time, Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all of its inhabitants, including its coastlands from Tirzah, because they would not open the city gate for him. After defeating them, he ripped open all of their pregnant women. 17In the thirty-ninth year of the reign ofj Azariah, king of Judah, Gadi’s son Menahem began a ten-year reign over Israel from Samaria. 18He did what the LORD considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, as long as he lived.

19Later on, King Pul of Aram attacked the land, and Menahem paid Pul 1,000 silver talentsk so Pull would join forces with Menahemm to secure his hold on the kingdom. 20Menahem exacted the money from all of Israel’s powerful and wealthy men, 50 shekelsn from each, to pay the king of Aram. As a result, the king of Aram retreated and did not remain there in the land. 21The rest of Menahem’s activities, including everything that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 22Then Menahem died, as dido his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.

Pekahiah’s Reign over Israel

23Menahem’s son Pekahiah became king over Israel for two years during the fiftieth year of the reign ofp King Azariah of Judah. 24He did what the LORD considered to be evil. Just as Nebat’s son Jeroboam had led Israel into sin, so also Pekahiah did not stop doing the same thing. 25Then Remaliah’s son Pekah, Pekahiah’sq officer, conspired against him with Argob and Arieh. Accompanied by 50 Gileadite men, Pekah attacked Pekahiah inside the palace of the king’s compoundr in Samaria, executed him, and reigned as king in his place. 26The rest of Pekahiah’s activities, including everything he did, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Pekah’s Reign over Israel

27Remaliah’s son Pekah began a 20-year reign as Israel’s king during the fifty-second year of King Azariah of Judah. 28He did what the LORD considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, by which he caused Israel to sin. 29During the lifetime of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked. He captured the cities of Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also captured Gilead, Galilee, and the entire territory of Naphtali, and carried its people off to Assyria. 30So during the twentieth year of the reign ofs Uzziah’s son Jotham, Elah’s son Hoshea conspired against Remaliah’s son Pekah, attacked him, executed him, and became king in his place. 31The rest of Pekah’s activities, including everything that he accomplished, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Jotham’s Reign over Judah

32Uzziah’s son Jotham became king over Judah during the second year of the reign oft Remaliah’s son Pekah, king of Israel. 33He was 25 years old when he became king. He reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. Zadok’s daughter Jerusha was his mother. 34He did what the LORD considered to be right, following everything his father Uzziah had done, 35except the high places were not torn down, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. But he rebuilt the upper gate of the LORD’s Temple. 36The rest of Jotham’s activities, including everything that he accomplished, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not?

37Right about that time, the LORD began to send King Rezin of Aram and Remaliah’s son Pekah against Judah. 38Meanwhile, Jotham died, as didu his ancestors, and was buried with themv in the City of David, his ancestor. Then Jotham’s son Ahaz reigned in his place.