Josiah Reads The Book of God's Law
(2 Chronicles 34.29-33)1 King Josiah called together the older leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Then he went to the Lord's temple, together with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, the priests, and the prophets. Finally, when everybody was there, he read aloud The Book of God's Law that had been found in the temple.
3 After Josiah had finished reading, he stood by one of the columns. He asked the people to promise in the Lord's name to faithfully obey the Lord and to follow his commands. The people agreed to do everything written in the book.
Josiah Follows the Teachings of God's Law
(2 Chronicles 34.3-7)4 Josiah told Hilkiah the priest, the assistant priests, and the guards at the temple door to go into the temple and bring out the things used to worship Baal, Asherah, and the stars. Josiah had these things burned in Kidron Valley just outside Jerusalem, and he had the ashes carried away to the town of Bethel.
5 Josiah also got rid of the pagan priests at the local shrines in Judah and around Jerusalem. These were the men that the kings of Judah had appointed to offer sacrifices to Baal and to the sun, moon, and stars. 6 Josiah had the sacred pole for Asherah brought out of the temple and taken to Kidron Valley, where it was burned. He then had its ashes ground into dust and scattered over the public cemetery there. 7 He had the buildings torn down where the male prostitutes lived next to the temple, and where the women wove sacred robes for the idol of Asherah.
8 In almost every town in Judah, priests had been offering sacrifices to the Lord at local shrines. Josiah brought these priests to Jerusalem and had their shrines made unfit for worship—every shrine from Geba just north of Jerusalem to Beersheba in the south. He even tore down the shrine at Beersheba that was just to the left of Joshua Gate, which was named after the highest official of the city. 9 Those local priests could not serve at the Lord's altar in Jerusalem, but they were allowed to eat sacred bread, just like the priests from Jerusalem.
10 Josiah sent some men to Hinnom Valley just outside Jerusalem with orders to make the altar there unfit for worship. That way, people could no longer use it for sacrificing their children to the god Molech. 11 He also got rid of the horses that the kings of Judah used in their ceremonies to worship the sun, and he destroyed the chariots along with them. The horses had been kept near the entrance to the Lord's temple, in a courtyard close to where an official named Nathan-Melech lived.
12 Some of the kings of Judah, especially Manasseh, had built altars in the two courts of the temple and in the room that Ahaz had built on the palace roof. Josiah had these altars torn down and smashed to pieces, and he had the pieces thrown into Kidron Valley, just outside Jerusalem. 13 After that, he closed down the shrines that Solomon had built east of Jerusalem and south of Spoil Hill to honor Astarte the disgusting goddess of Sidon, Chemosh the disgusting god of Moab, and Milcom the disgusting god of Ammon. 14 He tore down the stone images of foreign gods and cut down the sacred pole used in the worship of Asherah. Then he had the whole area covered with human bones.
15 But Josiah was not finished yet. At Bethel he destroyed the shrine and the altar that Jeroboam son of Nebat had built and that had caused the Israelites to sin. Josiah had the shrine and the Asherah pole burned and ground into dust. 16 As he looked around, he saw graves on the hillside. He had the bones in them dug up and burned on the altar, so that it could no longer be used. This happened just as God's prophet had said when Jeroboam was standing at the altar, celebrating a festival.
Then Josiah saw the grave of the prophet who had said this would happen 17 and he asked, “Whose grave is that?”
Some people who lived nearby answered, “It belongs to the prophet from Judah who told what would happen to this altar.”
18 Josiah replied, “Then leave it alone. Don't dig up his bones.” So they did not disturb his bones or the bones of the old prophet from Israel who had also been buried there.
19 Some of the Israelite kings had made the Lord angry by building pagan shrines all over Israel. So Josiah sent troops to destroy these shrines just as he had done to the one in Bethel. 20 He killed the priests who served at them and burned their bones on the altars.
After all that, Josiah went back to Jerusalem.
Josiah and the People of Judah Celebrate Passover
(2 Chronicles 35.1-19)21 Josiah told the people of Judah, “Celebrate Passover in honor of the Lord your God, just as it says in The Book of God's Law.”
22 This festival had not been celebrated in this way since the time that tribal leaders ruled Israel or the kings ruled Israel and Judah. 23 But in Josiah's eighteenth year as king of Judah, everyone came to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.
The Lord Is Still Angry with the People of Judah
24 Josiah got rid of every disgusting person and thing in Judah and Jerusalem—including magicians, fortunetellers, and idols. He did his best to obey every law written in the book that the priest Hilkiah found in the Lord's temple. 25 No other king before or after Josiah tried as hard as he did to obey the Law of Moses.
26 But the Lord was still furious with the people of Judah because Manasseh had done so many things to make him angry. 27 The Lord said, “I will desert the people of Judah, just as I deserted the people of Israel. I will reject Jerusalem, even though I chose it to be mine. And I will abandon this temple built to honor me.”
Josiah Dies in Battle
(2 Chronicles 35.20—36.1)28 Everything else Josiah did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah. 29 During Josiah's rule, King Neco of Egypt led his army north to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. Josiah led his troops north to fight Neco, but when they met in battle at Megiddo, Josiah was killed. 30 A few of Josiah's servants put his body in a chariot and took it back to Jerusalem, where they buried it in his own tomb. Then the people of Judah found his son Jehoahaz and poured olive oil on his head to show that he was their new king.
King Jehoahaz of Judah
(2 Chronicles 36.2-4)31 Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem only 3 months. His mother Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. 32 Jehoahaz disobeyed the Lord, just as some of his ancestors had done.
33 King Neco of Egypt had Jehoahaz arrested and put in prison at Riblah near Hamath. Then he forced the people of Judah to pay him 3.4 tons of silver and 34 kilograms of gold as taxes. 34 Neco appointed Josiah's son Eliakim king of Judah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. He took Jehoahaz as a prisoner to Egypt, where he died.
35 Jehoiakim forced the people of Judah to pay higher taxes, so he could give Neco the silver and gold he demanded.
King Jehoiakim of Judah
(2 Chronicles 36.5-8)36 Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he was appointed king, and he ruled 11 years from Jerusalem. His mother Zebidah was the daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah. 37 Jehoiakim disobeyed the Lord by following the example of his ancestors.
Omhango tai leshelwa ovanhu ovo va ongala
1 Opo nee ohamba ya ifana ndele va ongaleka ovakulunhu aveshe vaJuda novaJerusalem kuyo. 2 Nohamba ya ya mongulu yOmwene novalumenhu aveshe vaJuda noonakukalamo aveshe vomuJerusalem va ya pamwe nayo, nosho yo ovapristeli novaxunganeki novanhu aveshe, ounona novakulunhu. Ndele yo oya lesha eendjovo adishe domembo lehangano, lo la monika mongulu yOmwene, yo oye li leshela momatwi avo. 3 Nohamba ya kala ofika pongudi ndele tai ningi ehangano nOmwene koshipala shOmwene, nokutya vo ve nokudiinina nomutima aushe nomwenyo aushe oipango yaye neendobwedi daye neenghedimhango daye, opo va diinine eendjovo odo da shangelwa membo olo. Novanhu aveshe ve uya mehangano olo.
Josia ta hanauna po oihongwafano yomotembeli
4 Opo nee ohamba tai lombwele omupristeli omukulunhu Hilkia novapristeli ve mu shikula novanangeli vopoivelo, va kufe mo motembeli oinima aishe ya ningilwa Baal naAsera neengudu adishe dokeulu. Ndele ve i xwika po pondje yaJerusalem kepumbu laKidron ndele omute wayo ve u twala kuBetel. 5 Ndele yo oya lekela yo ovapristeli voikalunga ava va tulwa moshilonga keehamba daJuda, ava va twimina koikulundu nomoushiinda waJerusalem, nosho yo venya va twiminina Baal netango nohani neengudu deenyofi nongudu aishe yokeulu. 6 Ndele ya kufa mo mongulu yOmwene Asera ndele ye shi twala pondje yaJerusalem, ndele ye shi xwika po pokamulonga kaKidron ndele ye shi twa ondwi, nondwi ye i ekelashi komaendo ovafyoona. 7 Ndele yo oya hanauna po eengulu domashenge odo da li mongulu yOmwene, mudo ovakainhu va tungila Asera omalapi oulenga.
8 Ndele oya ifana ovapristeli aveshe vomoilando yaJuda, ndele ya nyatekifa oikulundu yeealtari, oko ovapristeli va twimina, okudja kuGeba fiyo okuBerseba. Ndele yo oya hanauna po oikulundu yeealtari da li poivelo, naasho yo sha kala poshivelo shaJosua, omukulunhu woshilando, kolumosho omunhu ngeenge ta i mo moshivelo shoshilando. 9 Ovapristeli voikulundu yeealtari inava itavelwa okulonda koaltari yOmwene muJerusalem. Vo ova itavelwa okulya omungome uhe nonhafi pamwe navakwao. 10 Yo oya nyatekifa yo Tofet, sho sha li mefilu lovana vaHinnom, paha kale nande umwe ta endifile Molek ovana vaye ovamati ile oukadona momundilo. 11 Ndele yo ya kufa po eenghambe, eehamba daJuda de di yandjela okufimaneka etango, poshivelo shongulu yOmwene, pokandjuwo kelenga Natan-Melek lo la kala moushiinda woshilando, nomatemba etango yo ye a xwika po nomundilo. 12 Navali ohamba ya ngumauna po eealtari da li konduda yokangulu kopombada kaAhas, odo da ningwa keehamba daJuda, neealtari odo Manasse a tungila moihale ivali yomongulu yOmwene, ndele ya twa, nondwi yomuyo ye i ekelashi mokamulonga Kidron. 13 Nohamba ya nyatekifa oikulundu yokoushilo wokuJerusalem, koumbuwanhu wOmhunda yEnyonauko, oyo ya tungwa kuSalomo, ohamba yaIsrael, okufimanekifa Astarte, oixuna yOvasidoni, naKemosh, oixuna yOvamoab, naMilkom, oixuna yovana vaAmmoni. 14 Ndele yo oya teyaula eengudi domamanya ndele tai ke omiti domalupwelele daAsera neenhele dao yo ye di yadifa nomakipa ovanhu.
15 Nosho yo ya ngumauna po oaltari ya li muBetel, oshikulundu sha tungwa kuJerobeam yaNebat, ou a hongaulila Israel mokunyona, oaltari osho yo oshikulundu e shi hanauna po, ndele e shi ndongola nolupwelele laAsera e li xwika po. 16 Josia eshi a pilamena ko, okwa mona eembila da li komhunda. Okwa tuma ko, va ka kufe omakipa omeembila, nokwe a xwika po koaltari nokwe shi nyatekifa pandjovo yOmwene, omulumenhu waKalunga kwe di udaneka, ou a xunganeka oinima ei. 17 Opo nee ye ta ti: “Oshidimbulukifomanya eshi shokombila, ndi shi wete, oshilipipo?” Novalumenhu vomoshilando ve mu nyamukula: “Oyo ombila yomulumenhu waKalunga, a dile kuJuda nokwa xunganeka oinima ei, ove we i ningila oaltari yomuBetel.” 18 Opo nee ye ta ti: “Na kale nombili, nande umwe a kufe omakipa aye.” Ndele va efa omakipa aye a kale pamwe nomakipa omuxunganeki wokuSamaria, a kale nombili. 19 Neetembeli yo adishe domoikulundu yo ya li moilando yaSamaria, odo da tungwa keehamba daIsrael, opo va handukife Omwene, Josia e di ngumauna po nokwa ninga nado ngaashi a ninga muBetel. 20 Novapristeli aveshe voikulundu va li ko okwe va toma keealtari nokwa xwika po kuyo omakipa ovanhu ndele ta shuna kuJerusalem.
21 Opo nee ohamba ya lombwela oshiwana ashishe, tai ti: “Daneni Opaasa yOmwene Kalunga keni, ngaashi pa shangelwa membo lehangano.” 22 Osheshi Opaasa oyo inai danwa nghee omafiku ovatokolipangeli vaIsrael va pangela nomomafiku aeshe aa eehamba daIsrael nodaJuda. 23 Ndelenee momudo omutimulongo nomutihetatu wohamba Josia, Opaasa ei yOmwene ya danenwa muJerusalem. 24 Josia okwa komba po ovaifani veemhepo dovafi novamonikokule noihongwakalunga yomeumbo noikalunga noififahoni aishe oyo ya li moshilongo shaJuda nomuJerusalem, opo a pameke eendjovo domhango, odo da shangelwa membo, omupristeli Hilkia e li mona mongulu yOmwene. 25 Ndele kakwa li nande ohamba imwe komesho yaye ngaashi ye, ou e lidilulula e liyandja kOmwene nomutima waye aushe nomwenyo waye aushe neenghono daye adishe pamhango aishe yaMoses, ndele konima yaye inapa holoka nande imwe ngaashi ye. 26 Ndelenee Omwene ina handukuluka nande koupyuhandu waye munene nao ehandu laye la xwamena Juda omolwomahandukifo aeshe Manasse e mu handukifa. 27 NOmwene okwa tile: “Ame ohandi ka ekelashi Juda ngaashi nda ekelashi Israel koshipala shange. Naame ohandi ka ekelashi oshilando eshi Jerusalem nde shi hoolola, nongulu oyo nde i popya: Edina lange tali ka kala muyo.”
28 Noinima imwe tai hepaulula Josia naaishe e i ninga, inai shangelwa mbela membo lomafimbo eehamba daJuda? 29 Pomafiku aye Farao Neko, ohamba yaEgipiti, ya homona ohamba yaAsiria komulonga waEufrat. Ohamba Josia oye ke mu shakeneka ko, Ndelenee Farao okwe mu dipaa muMegido divadiva, eshi ye mu mona. 30 Novapiya vaye ve mu twala a fya metemba, va dja kuMegido, ve mu eta kuJerusalem, ndele ve mu paka mombila yaye. Novanhu vomoshilongo va kufa Joahas yaJosia, nove mu vaeka ndele ve mu ninga ohamba ponhele yaxe.
Ohamba Joahas
31 Omido daJoahas da li omilongo mbali nanhatu, ye eshi a ninga ohamba. Nokwa pangela eehani nhatu muJerusalem. Nedina laina la li Hamutal, omona omukainhu waJeremia womuLibna. 32 Ndele ye okwa ninga osho inashi yuka momesho Omwene ngaashi ooxe va ninga. 33 Ndelenee Farao Neko okwe mu kwata onghwate muRibla, medu laHamat, opo ye aha pangele muJerusalem, nokwa futifa oshilongo ofuto yeekilograma omayovi atatu nomafele ane doshisiliveli neekilograma omilongo nhatu nanhee doshingoldo.
Ohamba Jehoiakim
34 Ndele Farao Neko okwa ninga Eliakim yaJosia ohamba ponhele yaxe Josia, nokwa lundulula edina laye Jehoiakim, ndelenee okwa twala Joahas pamwe naye kuEgipiti, ndele oko a fila. 35 Noisiliveli noingoldo yo, Jehoiakim okwa tumina Farao. Ndelenee okwa yeleka omapya, opo a dule okufuta oimaliwa palombwelo laFarao. Pafendelo lakeshe, okwa tambula oshisiliveli noshingoldo shoonakukalamo moshilongo nokwe shi tumina Farao Neko.
36 Omido daJehoiakim da li omilongo mbali nanhano, ye eshi a ninga ohamba. Nokwa pangela omido omulongo nomudo umwe muJerusalem. Nedina laina la li Sebida, omona waPedaja womuRuma. 37 Ndele ye okwa ninga osho inashi yuka momesho Omwene, ngaashi ooxe va ninga.
