The kingwentup to the houseof the LORDand allthe menof Judahand allthe inhabitantsof Jerusalemwith him, and the priestsand the prophetsand allthe people,bothsmalland great;and he readin their hearingallthe wordsof the bookof the covenantwhich was foundin the houseof the LORD.
They struckthe menwhowere at the doorwayof the housewith blindness,bothsmalland great,so that they wearied[themselves trying] to findthe doorway.
Therewas nothingin the arkexceptthe twotabletsof stonewhichMosesputthereat Horeb,wherethe LORDmadea covenant with the sonsof Israel,when they cameout of the landof Egypt.
Then Hilkiahthe highpriestsaidto Shaphanthe scribe,"I have foundthe bookof the lawin the houseof the LORD."And Hilkiahgavethe bookto Shaphanwho readit.
and whoeverwould not seekthe LORDGodof Israelshould be putto death,whethersmallorgreat,manorwoman.
They taughtin Judah,[having] the bookof the lawof the LORDwith them; and they wentthroughoutallthe citiesof Judahand taughtamong the people.
On that daythey readaloud from the bookof Mosesin the hearingof the people;and there was foundwrittenin it that noAmmoniteor Moabiteshould everenterthe assemblyof God,
While they stoodin their place,they readfrom the bookof the lawof the LORDtheir Godfor a fourthof the day;and for [another] fourththey confessedand worshipedthe LORDtheir God.
When thesedayswere completed,the kinggavea banquetlasting sevendaysfor allthe peoplewho were presentat the citadelin Susa,from the greatestto the least,in the courtof the gardenof the king'spalace.
"The smalland the greatare there,And the slaveis freefrom his master.
He will blessthose who fearthe LORD,The smalltogetherwith the great.
The wordwhichcameto Jeremiahfrom the LORDafterKingZedekiahhad madea covenantwith allthe peoplewhowere in Jerusalemto proclaimreleaseto them:
"So,having obtainedhelpfrom God,I standto thisdaytestifyingbothto smalland great,statingnothingbut whatthe Prophetsand Mosessaidwas goingto take place;
"Takethisbookof the lawand placeit besidethe arkof the covenantof the LORDyour God,that it may remainthereas a witnessagainst you.
And I sawthe dead,the greatand the small,standingbeforethe throne,and bookswere opened;and anotherbookwas opened,whichis [the book] of life;and the deadwere judgedfrom the things which were writtenin the books,accordingto their deeds.
and they tookcaptivethe women[and all] whowere in it, bothsmalland great,withoutkillinganyone,and carried[them] offand wenttheir way.
Afterthey had broughtit around,the handof the LORDwas against the citywith verygreatconfusion;and He smotethe menof the city,bothyoungand old,so that tumorsbrokeout on them.
