2 Kings 23:21-37 ▼

21 The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”

22 No such Passover had been observed from the days of the judges who had governed Israel (he wrestles with God) through all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah (praised).

23 But in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s (whom YHWH heals) reign, this Passover was observed to the LORD {YHWH} in Jerusalem (city of peace).

24 Furthermore, Josiah (whom YHWH heals) removed the mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah (praised) and in Jerusalem (city of peace). He did this to carry out the words of the law written in the book that Hilkiah (my portion is YHWH) the priest had found in the house of the LORD {YHWH}.

25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there any king like him, who turned to the LORD {YHWH} with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses (drawn out).

26 Nevertheless, the LORD {YHWH} did not turn away from the fury of His burning anger, which was kindled against Judah (praised) because of all that Manasseh (causing to forget) had done to provoke Him to anger.

27 For the LORD {YHWH} had said, “I will remove Judah (praised) from My sight, just as I removed Israel (he wrestles with God). I will reject this city Jerusalem (city of peace), which I chose, and the temple of which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’”

28 As for the rest of the acts of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) and all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (praised)?

29 During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh (great house) Neco (lame) king of Egypt (land of bondage) marched up to help the king of Assyria (a step) at the Euphrates (fruitfulness) River. King Josiah (whom YHWH heals) went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo (place of crowds).

30 From Megiddo (place of crowds) his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem (city of peace), and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) son of Josiah (whom YHWH heals), anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

31 Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal (father-in-law is protection) daughter of Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed); she was from Libnah (pavement).

32 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, just as his fathers had done.

33 And Pharaoh (great house) Neco (lame) imprisoned Jehoahaz at Riblah (fertility) in the land of Hamath (fortress) so that he could not reign in Jerusalem (city of peace), and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver <3.77 t / 3.42 mt> and a talent of gold <75.4 lb / 34.2 kg>.

34 Then Pharaoh (great house) Neco (lame) made Eliakim (GGod sets up) son of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) king in place of his father Josiah, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up). But Neco took Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) and carried him off to Egypt (land of bondage), where he died.

35 So Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco (great house), but to meet Pharaoh’s demand he taxed the land and exacted the silver and the gold from the people, each according to his wealth. (lame)

36 Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah (given) daughter of Pedaiah (YHWH has ransomed); she was from Rumah (height).

37 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, just as his fathers had done.