20th August

¹ Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.² Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.³ And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.⁴ Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:⁵ Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.⁶ And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.⁷ Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.⁸ And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.⁹ And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.¹⁰ And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.¹¹ And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.¹² And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.¹³ And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.¹⁴ But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.¹⁵ And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.¹⁶ And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.¹⁷ And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.¹⁸ Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,¹⁹ There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.²⁰ So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.²¹ And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.²² Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.²³ The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.²⁴ And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.²⁵ And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.²⁶ And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.²⁷ And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.²⁸ Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.²⁹ And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:³⁰ Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.³¹ Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?³² And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.³³ In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.³⁴ And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

¹ Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.² Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.³ Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.⁴ And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,⁵ That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.⁶ And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.⁷ And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.⁸ But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.⁹ Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.¹⁰ Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.¹¹ But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,¹² Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.¹³ Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.¹⁴ So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.¹⁵ But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.¹⁶ Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:¹⁷ And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,¹⁸ Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

¹ And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.² And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.³ And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.⁴ And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.⁵ But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.⁶ Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.⁷ And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.⁸ And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.⁹ But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?¹⁰ For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.¹¹ But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.¹² And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?¹³ And they cried out again, Crucify him.¹⁴ Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.¹⁵ And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.¹⁷ And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,¹⁸ And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!¹⁹ And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.²¹ And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.²² And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.²³ And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.²⁴ And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.²⁵ And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.²⁶ And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.²⁷ And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.²⁸ And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.²⁹ And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,³⁰ Save thyself, and come down from the cross.³¹ Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.³² Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.³³ And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?³⁵ And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.³⁶ And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.³⁷ And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.³⁸ And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.³⁹ And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.⁴⁰ There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;⁴¹ (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.⁴² And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,⁴³ Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.⁴⁴ And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.⁴⁵ And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.⁴⁶ And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.