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1. King Josiah told all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem to come and meet with him.
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1. And the king H4428 sent H7971 , and they gathered H622 unto H413 him all H3605 the elders H2205 of Judah H3063 and of Jerusalem H3389 .
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2. Then the king went up to the Lord's Temple. All the people of Judah and the people who lived in Jerusalem went with him. The priests, the prophets, and all the people�from the least important to the most important� went with him. Then he read the Book of the Agreement. This was the Book of the Law that was found in the Lord's Temple. Josiah read the book so that all the people could hear it.
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2. And the king H4428 went up H5927 into the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , and all H3605 the men H376 of Judah H3063 and all H3605 the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 with H854 him , and the priests H3548 , and the prophets H5030 , and all H3605 the people H5971 , both small H4480 H6996 and great H1419 : and he read H7121 in their ears H241 H853 all H3605 the words H1697 of the book H5612 of the covenant H1285 which was found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 .
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3. The king stood by the column and made an agreement with the Lord. He agreed to follow the Lord and to obey his commands, the agreement, and his rules. He agreed to do this with all his heart and soul. He agreed to obey the agreement written in this book. All the people stood to show they agreed to follow the agreement.
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3. And the king H4428 stood H5975 by H5921 a pillar H5982 , and made H3772 H853 a covenant H1285 before H6440 the LORD H3068 , to walk H1980 after H310 the LORD H3068 , and to keep H8104 his commandments H4687 and his testimonies H5715 and his statutes H2708 with all H3605 their heart H3820 and all H3605 their soul H5315 , to perform H6965 H853 the words H1697 of this H2063 covenant H1285 that were written H3789 in H5921 this H2088 book H5612 . And all H3605 the people H5971 stood H5975 to the covenant H1285 .
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4. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the other priests, and the gatekeepers to bring out of the Lord's Temple all the dishes and things that were made to honor Baal, Asherah, and the stars of heaven. Then Josiah burned those things outside Jerusalem in the fields in Kidron Valley. Then they carried the ashes to Bethel.
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4. And the king H4428 commanded H6680 H853 Hilkiah H2518 the high H1419 priest H3548 , and the priests H3548 of the second order H4932 , and the keepers H8104 of the door H5592 , to bring forth H3318 out of the temple H4480 H1964 of the LORD H3068 H853 all H3605 the vessels H3627 that were made H6213 for Baal H1168 , and for the grove H842 , and for all H3605 the host H6635 of heaven H8064 : and he burned H8313 them without H4480 H2351 Jerusalem H3389 in the fields H7709 of Kidron H6939 , and carried H5375 H853 the ashes H6083 of them unto Bethel H1008 .
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5. The kings of Judah had chosen some ordinary men to serve as priests. These false priests were burning incense at the high places in every city of Judah and all the towns around Jerusalem. They burned incense to honor Baal, the sun, the moon, the constellations, and all the stars in the sky. But Josiah stopped those false priests.
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5. And he put down H7673 H853 the idolatrous priests H3649 , whom H834 the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 had ordained H5414 to burn incense H6999 in the high places H1116 in the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 , and in the places round about H4524 Jerusalem H3389 ; them also that burned incense H6999 unto Baal H1168 , to the sun H8121 , and to the moon H3394 , and to the planets H4208 , and to all H3605 the host H6635 of heaven H8064 .
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6. Josiah removed the Asherah pole from the Lord's Temple. He took the Asherah pole outside the city to the Kidron Valley and burned it there. Then he beat the burned pieces into dust and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people.
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6. And he brought out H3318 H853 the grove H842 from the house H4480 H1004 of the LORD H3068 , without H4480 H2351 Jerusalem H3389 , unto H413 the brook H5158 Kidron H6939 , and burned H8313 it at the brook H5158 Kidron H6939 , and stamped it small H1854 to powder H6083 , and cast H7993 H853 the powder H6083 thereof upon H5921 the graves H6913 of the children H1121 of the people H5971 .
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7. Then King Josiah broke down the houses of the male prostitutes who were in the Lord's Temple. Women also used these houses and made little tent covers to honor the false goddess Asherah.
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7. And he broke down H5422 H853 the houses H1004 of the sodomites H6945 , that H834 were by the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , where H834 H8033 the women H802 wove H707 hangings H1004 for the grove H842 .
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8. At that time the priests did not bring the sacrifices to Jerusalem and offer them on the altar in the Temple. The priests lived in cities all over Judah. They burned incense and offered sacrifices at the high places in those cities. The high places were everywhere, from Geba to Beersheba. And the priests ate their unleavened bread in those towns with the ordinary people�{not at the special place for priests in the Temple in Jerusalem}. But King Josiah ruined the high places and brought the priests to Jerusalem. Josiah also destroyed the high places that were on the left side of the city gate, by the Gate of Joshua. (Joshua was the ruler of the city.)
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8. And he brought H935 H853 all H3605 the priests H3548 out of the cities H4480 H5892 of Judah H3063 , and defiled H2930 H853 the high places H1116 where H834 H8033 the priests H3548 had burned incense H6999 , from Geba H4480 H1387 to H5704 Beer H884 -sheba , and broke down H5422 H853 the high places H1116 of the gates H8179 that H834 were in the entering in H6607 of the gate H8179 of Joshua H3091 the governor H8269 of the city H5892 , which H834 were on H5921 a man H376 's left hand H8040 at the gate H8179 of the city H5892 .
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9. Nevertheless H389 the priests H3548 of the high places H1116 came not up H5927 H3808 to H413 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 in Jerusalem H3389 , but H3588 H518 they did eat H398 of the unleavened bread H4682 among H8432 their brethren H251 .
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10. Topheth was a place in the Valley of Hinnom's Son where people killed their children and burned them on an altar to honor the false god Molech. Josiah ruined that place so that no one could use it again.
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10. And he defiled H2930 H853 Topheth H8612 , which H834 is in the valley H1516 of the children H1121 of Hinnom H2011 , that no H1115 man H376 might make H853 his son H1121 or his daughter H1323 to pass through H5674 the fire H784 to Molech H4432 .
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11. In the past the kings of Judah had put some horses and a chariot near the entrance to the Lord's Temple. This was near the room of an important official named Nathan Melech. The horses and chariot were to honor the sun god. Josiah removed the horses and burned the chariot.
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11. And he took away H7673 H853 the horses H5483 that H834 the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 had given H5414 to the sun H8121 , at the entering in H4480 H935 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , by H413 the chamber H3957 of Nathan H5419 -melech the chamberlain H5631 , which H834 was in the suburbs H6503 , and burned H8313 the chariots H4818 of the sun H8121 with fire H784 .
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12. In the past the kings of Judah had built altars on the roof of Ahab's building. King Manasseh had also built altars in the two courtyards of the Lord's Temple. Josiah destroyed all the altars and threw the broken pieces into the Kidron Valley.
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12. And the altars H4196 that H834 were on H5921 the top H1406 of the upper chamber H5944 of Ahaz H271 , which H834 the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 had made H6213 , and the altars H4196 which H834 Manasseh H4519 had made H6213 in the two H8147 courts H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , did the king H4428 beat down H5422 , and broke them down H7323 from thence H4480 H8033 , and cast H7993 H853 the dust H6083 of them into H413 the brook H5158 Kidron H6939 .
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13. In the past King Solomon built some high places on Destroyer Hill near Jerusalem. The high places were on the south side of that hill. King Solomon built one of these places of worship to honor Ashtoreth, that horrible thing the people of Sidon worship. He also built one to honor Chemosh, that horrible thing the Moabites worship. And King Solomon built one high place to honor Milcom, that horrible thing the Ammonites worship. But King Josiah ruined all these places of worship.
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13. And the high places H1116 that H834 were before H5921 H6440 Jerusalem H3389 , which H834 were on the right hand H4480 H3225 of the mount H2022 of corruption H4889 , which H834 Solomon H8010 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 had built H1129 for Ashtoreth H6253 the abomination H8251 of the Zidonians H6722 , and for Chemosh H3645 the abomination H8251 of the Moabites H4124 , and for Milcom H4445 the abomination H8441 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 , did the king H4428 defile H2930 .
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14. He broke all the memorial stones and Asherah poles. Then he scattered dead men's bones over that place.
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14. And he broke in pieces H7665 H853 the images H4676 , and cut down H3772 H853 the groves H842 , and filled H4390 H853 their places H4725 with the bones H6106 of men H120 .
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15. Josiah also broke down the altar and high place at Bethel. Jeroboam son of Nebat had made this altar. Jeroboam caused Israel to sin. Josiah broke down both that altar and the high place. He broke the stones of the altar to pieces. Then he beat it into dust and he burned the Asherah pole.
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15. Moreover H1571 H853 the altar H4196 that H834 was at Bethel H1008 , and the high place H1116 which H834 Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat H5028 , who H834 made H853 Israel H3478 to sin H2398 , had made H6213 , both H1571 H853 that H1931 altar H4196 and the high place H1116 he broke down H5422 , and burned H8313 H853 the high place H1116 , and stamped it small H1854 to powder H6083 , and burned H8313 the grove H842 .
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16. Josiah looked around and saw graves on the mountain. He sent men, and they took the bones from the graves. Then he burned the bones on the altar. In this way Josiah ruined the altar. This happened according to the message from the Lord that the man of God announced. The man of God announced these things when Jeroboam stood beside the altar at the feast. Then Josiah looked around and saw the grave of the man of God.
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16. And as Josiah H2977 turned H6437 himself , he spied H7200 H853 the sepulchers H6913 that H834 were there H8033 in the mount H2022 , and sent H7971 , and took H3947 H853 the bones H6106 out of H4480 the sepulchers H6913 , and burned H8313 them upon H5921 the altar H4196 , and polluted H2930 it , according to the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 which H834 the man H376 of God H430 proclaimed H7121 , who H834 proclaimed H7121 H853 these H428 words H1697 .
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17. Josiah said, "What is that monument I see?" The people of the city told him, "It is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah. This man of God told about the things you have done to the altar at Bethel. He said them a long time ago."
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17. Then he said H559 , What H4100 title H6725 is that H1975 that H834 I H589 see H7200 ? And the men H376 of the city H5892 told H559 H413 him, It is the sepulcher H6913 of the man H376 of God H430 , which H834 came H935 from Judah H4480 H3063 , and proclaimed H7121 H853 these H428 things H1697 that H834 thou hast done H6213 against H5921 the altar H4196 of Bethel H1008 .
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18. Josiah said, "Leave the man of God alone. Don't move his bones." So they left his bones and the bones of the man of God from Samaria.
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18. And he said H559 , Let him alone H5117 ; let no H408 man H376 move H5128 his bones H6106 . So they let his bones alone H4422 H6106 , with H854 the bones H6106 of the prophet H5030 that H834 came H935 out of Samaria H4480 H8111 .
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19. Josiah also destroyed all the temples at the high places in the cities of Samaria. The kings of Israel had built those temples, which had made the Lord very angry. Josiah destroyed them, just as he had destroyed the place of worship at Bethel.
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19. And H853 all H3605 the houses H1004 also H1571 of the high places H1116 that H834 were in the cities H5892 of Samaria H8111 , which H834 the kings H4428 of Israel H3478 had made H6213 to provoke the LORD to anger H3707 , Josiah H2977 took away H5493 , and did H6213 to them according to all H3605 the acts H4639 that H834 he had done H6213 in Bethel H1008 .
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20. Josiah killed all the priests of the high places that were in Samaria. He killed the priests on those altars and burned men's bones on the altars so that they could never be used again. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
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20. And he slew H2076 H853 all H3605 the priests H3548 of the high places H1116 that H834 were there H8033 upon H5921 the altars H4196 , and burned H8313 H853 men H120 's bones H6106 upon H5921 them , and returned H7725 to Jerusalem H3389 .
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21. Then King Josiah gave a command to all the people. He said, "Celebrate Passover for the Lord your God. Do this just as it is written in the Book of the Agreement."
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21. And the king H4428 commanded H6680 H853 all H3605 the people H5971 , saying H559 , Keep H6213 the passover H6453 unto the LORD H3068 your God H430 , as it is written H3789 in H5921 the book H5612 of this H2088 covenant H1285 .
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22. The people had not celebrated a Passover like this since the days when the judges ruled Israel. None of the kings of Israel or the kings of Judah ever had such a big celebration for Passover.
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22. Surely H3588 there was not H3808 holden H6213 such H2088 a passover H6453 from the days H4480 H3117 of the judges H8199 that H834 judged H8199 H853 Israel H3478 , nor in all H3605 the days H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel H3478 , nor of the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 ;
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23. They celebrated this Passover for the Lord in Jerusalem during Josiah's 18 year as king.
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23. But H3588 H518 in the eighteenth H8083 H6240 year H8141 of king H4428 Josiah H2977 , wherein this H2088 passover H6453 was holden H6213 to the LORD H3068 in Jerusalem H3389 .
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24. Josiah destroyed the mediums, wizards, the house gods, the idols, and all the horrible things people worshiped in Judah and Jerusalem. He did this to obey the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the Lord's Temple.
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24. Moreover H1571 H853 the workers with familiar spirits H178 , and the wizards H3049 , and the images H8655 , and the idols H1544 , and all H3605 the abominations H8251 that H834 were spied H7200 in the land H776 of Judah H3063 and in Jerusalem H3389 , did Josiah H2977 put away H1197 , that H4616 he might perform H6965 H853 the words H1697 of the law H8451 which were written H3789 in H5921 the book H5612 that H834 Hilkiah H2518 the priest H3548 found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 .
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25. There had never been a king like Josiah before. Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength. No king had followed all the Law of Moses like Josiah. And there has never been another king like Josiah since that time.
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25. And like unto him H3644 was H1961 there no H3808 king H4428 before H6440 him, that H834 turned H7725 to H413 the LORD H3068 with all H3605 his heart H3824 , and with all H3605 his soul H5315 , and with all H3605 his might H3966 , according to all H3605 the law H8451 of Moses H4872 ; neither H3808 after H310 him arose H6965 there any like him H3644 .
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26. But the Lord did not stop being angry with the people of Judah. He was still angry with them for everything that Manasseh had done.
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26. Notwithstanding H389 the LORD H3068 turned H7725 not H3808 from the fierceness H4480 H2740 of his great H1419 wrath H639 , wherewith H834 his anger H639 was kindled H2734 against Judah H3063 , because H5921 of all H3605 the provocations H3708 that H834 Manasseh H4519 had provoked H3707 him withal.
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27. The Lord said, "I forced the Israelites to leave their land. I will do the same to Judah. I will take Judah out of my sight. I will not accept Jerusalem. Yes, I chose that city. I was talking about Jerusalem when I said, 'My name will be there.' But I will destroy the Temple that is in that place."
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27. And the LORD H3068 said H559 , I will remove H5493 H853 Judah H3063 also H1571 out of H4480 H5921 my sight H6440 , as H834 I have removed H5493 H853 Israel H3478 , and will cast off H3988 H853 this H2063 city H5892 H853 Jerusalem H3389 which H834 I have chosen H977 , and the house H1004 of which H834 I said H559 , My name H8034 shall be H1961 there H8033 .
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28. All the other things that Josiah did are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah.
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28. Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Josiah H2977 , and all H3605 that H834 he did H6213 , are they H1992 not H3808 written H3789 in H5921 the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 ?
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29. While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco, the king of Egypt, went to fight against the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. Josiah went out to meet Neco at Megiddo. Pharaoh saw Josiah and killed him.
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29. In his days H3117 Pharaoh Necho H6549 king H4428 of Egypt H4714 went up H5927 against H5921 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 to H5921 the river H5104 Euphrates H6578 : and king H4428 Josiah H2977 went H1980 against H7122 him ; and he slew H4191 him at Megiddo H4023 , when he had seen H7200 him.
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30. Josiah's officers put his body in a chariot and carried him from Megiddo to Jerusalem. They buried Josiah in his own grave. Then the common people took Josiah's son Jehoahaz and anointed him. They made Jehoahaz the new king.
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30. And his servants H5650 carried H7392 him in a chariot dead H4191 from Megiddo H4480 H4023 , and brought H935 him to Jerusalem H3389 , and buried H6912 him in his own sepulcher H6900 . And the people H5971 of the land H776 took H3947 H853 Jehoahaz H3059 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 , and anointed H4886 him , and made him king H4427 H853 in his father's stead H8478 H1 .
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31. Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king. He ruled three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.
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31. Jehoahaz H3059 was twenty H6242 and three H7969 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign H4427 ; and he reigned H4427 three H7969 months H2320 in Jerusalem H3389 . And his mother H517 's name H8034 was Hamutal H2537 , the daughter H1323 of Jeremiah H3414 of Libnah H4480 H3841 .
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32. Jehoahaz did what the Lord said was wrong. He did all the same things that his ancestors had done.
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32. And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068 , according to all H3605 that H834 his fathers H1 had done H6213 .
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33. Pharaoh Neco put Jehoahaz in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Jehoahaz could not rule in Jerusalem. Pharaoh Neco forced Judah to pay 7500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold.
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33. And Pharaoh Necho H6549 put him in bands H631 at Riblah H7247 in the land H776 of Hamath H2574 , that he might not reign H4480 H4427 in Jerusalem H3389 ; and put H5414 H5921 the land H776 to a tribute H6066 of a hundred H3967 talents H3603 of silver H3701 , and a talent H3603 of gold H2091 .
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34. Pharaoh Neco made Josiah's son Eliakim the new king. Eliakim took the place of Josiah his father. Pharaoh Neco changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh Neco took Jehoahaz away to Egypt where he died.
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34. And Pharaoh Necho H6549 made H4427 H853 Eliakim H471 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4427 in the room H8478 of Josiah H2977 his father H1 , and turned H5437 H853 his name H8034 to Jehoiakim H3079 , and took H3947 Jehoahaz H3059 away : and he came H935 to Egypt H4714 , and died H4191 there H8033 .
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35. Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh. But Jehoiakim made the common people pay taxes and used that money to give to Pharaoh Neco. So everyone paid their share of silver and gold, and King Jehoiakim gave the money to Pharaoh Neco.
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35. And Jehoiakim H3079 gave H5414 the silver H3701 and the gold H2091 to Pharaoh H6547 ; but H389 he taxed H6186 H853 the land H776 to give H5414 H853 the money H3701 according H5921 to the commandment H6310 of Pharaoh H6547 : he exacted H5065 H853 the silver H3701 and the gold H2091 of H853 the people H5971 of the land H776 , of every one H376 according to his taxation H6187 , to give H5414 it unto Pharaoh Necho H6549 .
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36. Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah.
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36. Jehoiakim H3079 was twenty H6242 and five H2568 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign H4427 ; and he reigned H4427 eleven H259 H6240 years H8141 in Jerusalem H3389 . And his mother H517 's name H8034 was Zebudah H2080 , the daughter H1323 of Pedaiah H6305 of H4480 Rumah H7316 .
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37. Jehoiakim did what the Lord said was wrong. He did all the same things his ancestors had done.
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37. And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068 , according to all H3605 that H834 his fathers H1 had done H6213 .
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