Then the kingcommandedHilkiahthe highpriestand the priestsof the secondorder and the doorkeepers,to bringout of the templeof the LORDallthe vesselsthat were madefor Baal,for Asherah,and for allthe hostof heaven;and he burnedthem outsideJerusalemin the fieldsof the Kidron,and carriedtheir ashesto Bethel.
While allthe countrywas weepingwith a loudvoice,allthe peoplepassedover.The kingalso passedoverthe brookKidron,and allthe peoplepassedovertowardthe wayof the wilderness.
He setonein Bethel,and the otherhe putin Dan.
He alsoremovedMaacahhis motherfrom [being] queenmother,becauseshe had madea horridimageas an Asherah;and Asacutdownher horridimageand burned[it] at the brookKidron.
It cameabout, as though it had been a trivialthingfor him to walkin the sinsof Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat,that he marriedJezebelthe daughterof Ethbaalkingof the Sidonians,and wentto serveBaaland worshipedhim.
"Nowthen send[and] gatherto me allIsraelat MountCarmel,[together] with 450prophetsof Baaland 400prophetsof the Asherah,who eatat Jezebel'stable."
Then they tookthe oxwhichwas giventhem and they preparedit and calledon the nameof Baalfrom morninguntilnoonsaying,"O Baal,answerus." But therewas novoiceand nooneanswered.And they leapedaboutthe altarwhichthey made.
Then Elijahsaidto them, "Seizethe prophetsof Baal;do not let oneof them escape."So they seizedthem; and Elijahbroughtthem downto the brookKishon,and slewthem there.
"Yet I will leave7000in Israel,allthe kneesthat have not bowedto Baaland everymouththat has not kissedhim."
They broughtout the [sacred] pillarsof the houseof Baaland burnedthem.
When they sawthat there was muchmoneyin the chest,the king'sscribeand the highpriestcameup and tied[it] in bags and countedthe moneywhich was foundin the houseof the LORD.
They forsookallthe commandmentsof the LORDtheir Godand madefor themselves moltenimages,[even] twocalves,and madean Asherahand worshipedallthe hostof heavenand servedBaal.
For he rebuiltthe highplaceswhichHezekiahhis fatherhad destroyed;and he erectedaltarsfor Baaland madean Asherah,as Ahabkingof Israelhad done,and worshipedallthe hostof heavenand servedthem.
For he builtaltarsfor allthe hostof heavenin the twocourtsof the houseof the LORD.
Then he setthe carvedimageof Asherahthat he had made,in the houseof whichthe LORDsaidto Davidand to his sonSolomon,"In thishouseand in Jerusalem,whichI have chosenfrom allthe tribesof Israel,I will putMy nameforever.
"Goup to Hilkiahthe highpriestthat he may countthe moneybroughtin to the houseof the LORDwhichthe doorkeepershave gatheredfrom the people.
The altarswhich[were] on the roof,the upperchamberof Ahaz,whichthe kingsof Judahhad made,and the altarswhichManassehhad madein the twocourtsof the houseof the LORD,the kingbrokedown;and he smashedthem thereand threwtheir dustinto the brookKidron.
Furthermore,the altarthat [was] at Bethel[and] the highplacewhichJeroboamthe sonof Nebat,whomade Israelsin,had made,eventhat altarand the highplacehe brokedown.Then he demolishedits stones, groundthem to dust,and burnedthe Asherah.
Then the captainof the guardtookSeraiahthe chiefpriestand Zephaniahthe secondpriest,with the threeofficersof the temple.
He alsoremovedMaacah,the motherof KingAsa,from the [position of] queenmother,becauseshe had madea horridimageas an Asherah,and Asacutdownher horridimage,crushed[it] and burned[it] at the brookKidron.
For he rebuiltthe highplaceswhichHezekiahhis fatherhad brokendown;he also erectedaltarsfor the Baalsand madeAsherim,and worshipedallthe hostof heavenand servedthem.
Then he putthe carvedimageof the idolwhichhe had madein the houseof God,of whichGodhad saidto Davidand to Solomonhis son,"In thishouseand in Jerusalem,whichI have chosenfrom allthe tribesof Israel,I will putMy nameforever;
Thereforethrough thisJacob'siniquitywill be forgiven;And thiswill be the fullpriceof the pardoningof his sin:When he makesallthe altarstoneslike pulverizedchalkstones;[When] Asherimand incensealtarswill not stand.
"Will you steal,murder,and commitadulteryand swearfalsely,and offersacrificesto Baaland walkafterothergodsthat you have not known,
And He saidto me, "Sonof man,doyou seewhatthey are doing,the greatabominationswhichthe houseof Israelare committinghere,so that I would be farfrom My sanctuary?But yetyou will seestillgreaterabominations."
Thoughyou, Israel,playthe harlot,Do not let Judahbecomeguilty;Also do not goto Gilgal,Or goup to Beth-avenAnd takethe oath:"As the LORDlives!"
"EnterBetheland transgress;In Gilgalmultiplytransgression!Bringyour sacrificesevery morning,Your tithesevery threedays.
"So I will stretchout My handagainstJudahAnd againstallthe inhabitantsof Jerusalem.And I will cutoffthe remnantof Baalfrom thisplace,[And] the namesof the idolatrouspriestsalongwith the priests.
Thenthe chiefpriestsand the eldersof the peoplewere gathered togetherin the courtof the high priest,namedCaiaphas;
Nowwhen morningcame,allthe chief priestsand the eldersof the peopleconferredtogether againstJesusto put Him to death;
When Jesushad spokenthesewords, He went forthwith His disciplesoverthe ravineof the Kidron,wherethere was a garden,in whichHe enteredwith His disciples.
So they forsookthe LORDand servedBaaland the Ashtaroth.
