Standingin frontof them were seventyeldersof the houseof Israel,with Jaazaniahthe sonof Shaphanstandingamongthem, eachmanwith his censerin his handand the fragranceof the cloudof incenserising.
Then the kingcommandedHilkiahthe priest,Ahikamthe sonof Shaphan,Achborthe sonof Micaiah,Shaphanthe scribe,and Asaiahthe king'sservantsaying,
So Hilkiahthe priest,Ahikam,Achbor,Shaphan,and Asaiahwentto Huldahthe prophetess,the wifeof Shallumthe sonof Tikvah,the sonof Harhas,keeperof the wardrobe(now she livedin Jerusalemin the SecondQuarter); and they spoketo her.
Now in the eighteenthyearof KingJosiah,the kingsentShaphan,the sonof Azaliahthe sonof Meshullamthe scribe,to the houseof the LORDsaying,
Then Hilkiahthe highpriestsaidto Shaphanthe scribe,"I have foundthe bookof the lawin the houseof the LORD."And Hilkiahgavethe bookto Shaphanwho readit.
Now [as for] the peoplewho were leftin the landof Judah,whomNebuchadnezzarkingof Babylonhad left,he appointedGedaliahthe sonof Ahikam,the sonof Shaphanoverthem.
But when he becamestrong,his heartwas so proudthat he actedcorruptly,and he was unfaithfulto the LORDhis God,for he enteredthe templeof the LORDto burnincenseon the altarof incense.
But Uzziah,with a censerin his handfor burningincense,was enraged;and while he was enragedwith the priests,the leprosybrokeout on his foreheadbeforethe priestsin the houseof the LORD,besidethe altarof incense.
Then the kingcommandedHilkiah,Ahikamthe sonof Shaphan,Abdonthe sonof Micah,Shaphanthe scribe,and Asaiahthe king'sservant,saying,
Then He saidto Moses,"Comeup to the LORD,you and Aaron,Nadaband Abihuand seventyof the eldersof Israel,and you shall worshipat a distance.
Then Moseswentup with Aaron,Nadaband Abihu,and seventyof the eldersof Israel,
[Another] shapeswood,he extendsa measuringline;he outlinesit with red chalk.He worksit with planesand outlinesit with a compass,and makesit like the formof a man,like the beautyof man,so that it may sitin a house.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Goand buya potter'searthenwarejar,and [take] someof the eldersof the peopleand someof the seniorpriests.
"Becausethey have forsakenMe and have madethisan alienplaceand have burnedsacrificesin it to othergods,that neitherthey northeir forefathersnorthe kingsof Judahhad [ever] known,and [because] they have filledthisplacewith the bloodof the innocent
Then KingJehoiakimsentmento Egypt:Elnathanthe sonof Achborand [certain] menwith him [went] into Egypt.
But the handof Ahikamthe sonof Shaphanwas with Jeremiah,so that he was not giveninto the handsof the peopleto puthim to death.
[The letter was sent] by the handof Elasahthe sonof Shaphan,and Gemariahthe sonof Hilkiah,whomZedekiahkingof Judahsentto Babylonto Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babylon,saying,
Then Baruchreadfrom the bookthe wordsof Jeremiahin the houseof the LORDin the chamberof Gemariahthe sonof Shaphanthe scribe,in the uppercourt,at the entryof the NewGateof the LORD'Shouse,to allthe people.
"As for the smokingsacrificesthat you burnedin the citiesof Judahand in the streetsof Jerusalem,you and your forefathers,your kingsand your princes,and the peopleof the land,did not the LORDrememberthem and did not [all this] comeinto His mind?
"I will goto the greatAnd will speakto them, For they knowthe wayof the LORD[And] the ordinanceof their God."But they too, with oneaccord,have brokenthe yoke[And] burstthe bonds.
Then the kingof Babylonstruckthem downand putthem to deathat Riblahin the landof Hamath.So Judahwas ledawayinto exilefrom its land.
"Will you steal,murder,and commitadulteryand swearfalsely,and offersacrificesto Baaland walkafterothergodsthat you have not known,
Now in the seventhyear,in the fifth[month], on the tenthof the month,certainof the eldersof Israelcameto inquireof the LORD,and satbeforeme.
So I enteredand looked,and behold,everyformof creepingthingsand beasts[and] detestablethings,with allthe idolsof the houseof Israel,were carvedon the wallallaround.
"Utterlyslayoldmen,youngmen,maidens,littlechildren,and women,but do not touchanymanon whomis the mark;and you shall startfrom My sanctuary."So they startedwith the elderswho[were] beforethe temple.
"Openshamebelongs to us, O Lord,to our kings,our princesand our fathers,becausewe have sinnedagainst You.
The LORDtherefore saidto Moses,"Gatherfor Me seventymenfrom the eldersof Israel,whomyou knowto be the eldersof the peopleand their officersand bringthem to the tentof meeting,and let them taketheir standtherewith you.
Then the LORDcamedownin the cloudand spoketo him; and He tookof the Spiritwhowas upon him and placed[Him] upon the seventyelders.And when the Spiritrestedupon them, they prophesied.But they did not do[it] again.
"Eachof you takehis firepanand putincenseon it, and eachof you bringhis censerbeforethe LORD,two hundredand fiftyfirepans;also you and Aaron[shall] each[bring] his firepan."
Firealso cameforthfrom the LORDand consumedthe two hundredand fiftymenwho were offeringthe incense.
onegoldpanof ten[shekels], fullof incense;
Nowafterthisthe Lordappointedseventyothers,and sentthem in pairsaheadof Him to everycityand placewhereHe Himselfwas goingto come.
