And the sons of Israel secretly did the things that were not right against Jehovah their God, and built high places for themselves in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city,
And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the homes found there, and completely destroyed them until this day. And they lived in their places, because there was pasture there for their flocks.
And he built towers in the wilderness, and dug many wells, for he had many cattle, both in the low country and in the plain; also he had farmers and vinedressers in the mountains, and in Carmel; for he was a lover of the earth.
And the Philistines had raided against the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and captured Bethshemesh and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho and its daughter villages, and Timnah and its daughter villages, and Gimzo and its daughter villages, and dwelt there.
Do not rejoice, O Philistia, all of you, for the rod of your striking is broken, because a viper comes forth from the root of a snake, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
And He dug about it, and cleared it of stones, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in its midst, and also hewed out a wine vat in it. And He waited for it to produce grapes, but it produced rotten grapes.