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.
Josia ana Mätu Lui Awi rote
(2 Ambâ 34:3-72 29-33)1 'Dooko 'Bädri'ba Josia zo lazo te, ago dri'bai cini Yuda ro ndi Yerusalema robe otoyikalate ndare. 2 Ago 'bädri'ba oyite Yekalu ya troalo lidri cini Yuda ro ndi Yerusalema robe, kohanii ndi nebii be, lidri se ŋga'bai ndi lemeri'bai be be. 'Bädri'ba zi ata se cini buku se tao'ba ro se usube Yekalu ya ana te ànyari. 3 Ago 'bädri'ba edrete läŋgyiri zo'desi miri ro ro lomvo ago 'ba tao'baro te OPI kandra, nda orone, ago ota ndaro ndi tazevoedre ndaro be ätine ya cini ndaro si ago lindri cini ndaro si, ago ata se tao'baro ono ya 'do oyene oso egyibe buku ana ya ronye; ago lidri cini 'ba tao'ba te tao'baro se ana ätine.
4 Ago 'bädri'ba ta Ilekia, kohani fopara te, ndi kohanii se kundueŋga'bai ndaro yibe, ndi dereŋwa gaga'bai be, lakazà se cini Yekalu OPI roya, se edebe Bala, lu tokoro Asera ndi 'bi'bi be mätuza iyi, lofone tesi. Ago 'bädri'ba za ànya te asi si tesi Yerusalema lomvo loto vodelero Kidrona roya, ago äŋgyi torofo na te Betele ya. 5 Nda ana kohanii lu awi ro se 'bädri'bai Yuda ro kodibe to tori ozane voi lui awi mäturo yasi 'bakicii Yuda ro yasi ago gbikyi Yerusalema lomvosi, ànya se ka kpa ŋga tägyi tagyiri oza Bala ri, kitu ri, 'bi'bi ndi imba be ri kai te. 6 Ago nda lofo beti lu tokoro Asera rote tesi ni Yekalu yasi, lofote tesi ni 'bakici Yerusalema yasi le vodelero Kidrona roya, zate asi si lau, ago onjite torofo ro foda, ago larite 'budri lidri awi ro drisi. 7 Nda pere zoi ronyi'ba manoàgoro ro se orivoya Yekalu ya ana te, vose 'ditoko kayibe boŋgo lu tokoro Asera mäturo o'dina kigye ana. 8 Josia ezi kohanii se cini 'bakicii Yuda ro yasi kai te ago nda enji vo tori oloro se kohanii kayibe ŋga tägyi tagyiri ro ozana kigye iyi te etoni Geba ya le Beraseba ya. Nda pere voi tori oloro se ecivo dereŋwa Yosua, wari'ba 'bakici ro ro kobebe lomvo ana te, se orivoya gaṛi dereŋwa 'bakici ro roya ana. 9 Caoko ale kote kohanii lui awi se kwoi ro ri ikyine ruindune Yekalu OPI roya Yerusalema ya, oko ànya niyi ndi ambata loŋgaako se ozobe kohanii azi ànyaro ri 'do onyane.
10 'Bädri'ba Josia pere Tofeta vo lu awi mäturo se orivoya vodelero Inoma roya ana kpate, tana ukyi 'diaza oza ŋgwaagoro kode ŋgutiro ndaro 'da lu Moleka ri. 11 Nda pere farasii se 'bädri'bai Yuda ro kodibe to ta kitu mäturo ta dereŋwa eciro Yekalu ya ya kai te, se orivoya orivo Natana Maleka dri'ba 'desi losi ro roya, se orivoya orooro ro, ago nda za arabia kitu mäturo te asi si. 12 Ago nda pere voi tori oloro se 'bädri'bai Yuda ro kobebe zo ya kurusi zo'desi miri ro Aza roya ana te, ndi voi tori oloro se Manase kobebe goko ritu Yekalu roya ana be; nda pere ànya te ago onji ànya te foda ago date vodelero Kidrona roya. 13 Ago 'Bädri'ba Josia enji voi lu awi mäturo se ogone 'buzele Yerusalema ro yasi ana te, ndi le ogone ŋgäṛiŋwadri 'bereŋwa ice ido ro roya, se Solomo 'bädri'ba Yisaraele ro kobebe Asetarete lu tokoro undiro Sidona'bai ro, ago Kemosa lu Moaba ro ndi Milekoma lu Amona'bai ro mätuza ana. 14 'Bädri'ba Josia toga vo caricari se abebe kuni si ana te jinyijinyi ago ga beti lu tokoro Asera rote vuru, ago nda tisi vose ànya kedreyibe kkigye ana te kowa lidri rosi.
15 Ndrani 'do risi Josia pere vo tori oloro Betele ya, se Yeroboama ŋgwa Nebata ro kobebe lu awi mätuza, se koloci Yisaraele be takozi oyene ana te vuru ago tufu kuniŋwà ànyaro te jinyijinyi, 'bi ànya te foda ago nda za lu tokoro Asera kpate. 16 Ondro Josia kozamite oko, nda ndre 'budrii te 'bereŋwa dri, nda zo lazo te ago ewe kowa teni 'budrii kai yasi ago za ànya te vo tori oloro dri, ago enji vo tori oloro te, oso ata OPI ro se nebi kayobe, ṛo kyeno ana ronye.
17 'Dooko nda atate ekye: “Kuni mandrebe lau ana e'diyi ya?”
Ago lidri 'bakici ro zatadri ndaro te ekye: “Ana orivoya 'budri nebi se kikyibe ni Yuda yasi ago kiti tase cini miyebe vo tori oloro Betele ro ri ono tana be ṛo kyeno ana ro.”
18 Josia atate ekye: “Nyè'be kori inye, 'diaza kona kowa ndaro ko.”
Ta'dota ànya e'beyi kowa ndaro te, ndi tro kowa nebi se kikyibe ni Samaria yasi ana robe.
19 Voi lu awi mäturo se cini 'bakicii Samaria ro yasi se 'bädri'bai Yisaraele ro kolobeyibe, se kekoyi ya OPI robe oŋgane kyilaro sina kai nda pere te, nda ye vo cini tori oloro kai te oso se nda koyebe se Betele ya ri kai ronye. 20 Ago nda tufu kohanii cini lui awi ro se orivoya lau kai te, voi tori oloro drisi, ago za kowa lidri rote ànya drisi. 'Dooko nda gote Yerusalema ya.
Josia ye Karama Lävu Odra ro rote
(2 Ambâ 35:1-19)21 'Bädri'ba Josia ta lidri cini te ekye: “Mìye karama Lävu Odra ro ro OPI Lu amiro ri, oso se egyi tana te buku tao'baro ono ya ono ronye.” 22 Aye karama Lävu Odra ro ro aza kote oso nonye eto ṛoni tui vureope'bai se kimiriyi Yisaraele'bai be rosi; kode tui 'bädri'bai Yisaraele ro ndi Yuda robe rosi; 23 oko ndroa 'butealo fonjidriena miri 'Bädri'ba Josia ro rosi oko aye karama Lävu Odra ro ro ono te Yerusalema ya.
Ŋgatoza Azaka se Josia yebe
24 'Bädri'ba Josia ana ta ata'ba tori avo robe ndi kwozoi be ndi lui zo robe ndi lui edeedero be ndi ŋgase cini undiro andrebe wari Yuda ro ndi Yerusalema robe ya te, tana nda ko'ba aye ota se egyite buku se kohani Ilekia kusube Yekalu ya ana ro robe. 25 'Bädri'ba käti aza a'do kote oso nda ronye, se indurute OPI ri ya cini ndaro si, tauni cini ndaro si ago mbara cini ndaro si, ota Musa ro orooro ro; 'bädri'ba aza go a'do kpa kote oso nda ronye nda vosi.
26 Caoko kyila ndra OPI ro Yuda lomvo kye kote ta tase 'Bädri'ba Manase koyebe ya OPI ro ekoza ana rota. 27 OPI atate ekye: “Manana Yuda kpa 'da ni mi maro yasi, oso mana Yisaraele be ronye, ago mavona 'bakici Yerusalema se manjibe ono ndi zwi cowa, ndi Yekalu se makye ma mätuzana kigye ana be.”
Ädu 'Dimiri Josia ro
(2 Ambâ 35:20–36:1)28 Taoye cini azaka se Josia koyebe egyi tana te Buku Ambâ ro 'Bädri'bai Yuda ro roya. 29 Tu 'Bädri'ba Josia rosi, Neko 'bädri'ba Ezipeto ro oyite 'bädri'ba Asaria ro opane Golo Eferata ya. 'Bädri'ba Josia oyite kyila oyene 'bädri'ba Ezipeto ro be Megido ya ago 'bädri'ba Neko fu ndate lau. 30 Ago dri'bai losi ro ndaro ŋgyiyi avo ndaro te arabia si ni Megido yasi eziyi nda te Yerusalema ya ago seyi nda te 'budri modo ndaro ya. 'Dooko lidri Yuda ro njiyi ŋgwa Josia ro Joaza te ago äṛuyi ndate a'done 'bädri'ba ro vo täpi ndaro roya.
Joaza 'Bädri'ba Yuda ro
(2 Ambâ 36:2-4)31 Joaza ka eto 'dimiri oko ndroa ndaro te orivoya 'buteritu fonätu, nda mirivote imba nätu Yerusalema ya. Ävuru endre ndaro ro ni Amutala ŋguti Yeremaya ro ni 'bakici Libena yasi. 32 Ago nda yete tase undiro ayani OPI mile, oso se cini zutui ndaro koloyeyibe ronye. 33 Neko 'bädri'ba Ezipeto ro 'ba Joaza te kamba'ba ro Ribela ya wari Amata roya, ukyi nda mirivo 'da Yerusalema ya ago 'batate lidri Yuda ro ri talentaro kama alo (100) mo'di ro ndi talentaro alo logo läguläguro robe ozone. 34 Neko 'bädri'ba Ezipeto ro 'ba Eliakima ŋgwa Josia rote 'bädri'ba ro vo täpi ndaro Josia roya, ago toza ävuru ndaro te Jehoiakima. Oko nda ru Joaza te ago ezi nda te Ezipeto ya, ago nda drate lau.
Jehoiakima 'Bädri'ba Yuda ro
(2 Ambâ 36:5-8)35 'Bädri'ba Jehoiakima ozo mo'di ndi logo läguläguro be te Neko 'bädri'ba Ezipeto ro ri. Nda 'ba tate parata driutwe ro urune ago ozone oso 'bädri'ba Neko ko'ba tana be ronye. Nda ru mo'di ndi logo läguläguro be teni lidri rigyesi oso se atibe 'di alo alo ri ozone a'do ŋga ànyaro ro voro ronye.
36 Jehoiakima ka eto 'dimiri oko ndroa ndaro te orivoya 'buteritu fonji, nda mirivote ndroa 'butealo foalo Yerusalema ya. Endre ndaro ävuruna ni Zebida ŋguti Pedaya ro ni 'bakici Ruma yasi. 37 Nda yete tase undiro ayani OPI mile, oso se cini zutui ndaro koloyeyibe ronye.