Josiah Renews the Covenant^(A)(B)(C)(D)

23 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. ² He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read^(E) in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant,^(F) which had been found in the temple of the Lord. ³ The king stood by the pillar^(G) and renewed the covenant^(H) in the presence of the Lord—to follow^(I) the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

⁴ The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers^(J) to remove^(K) from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. ⁵ He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem—those who burned incense^(L) to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts.^{(M) 6} He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the Lord to the Kidron Valley^(N) outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder^(O) and scattered the dust over the graves^(P) of the common people.^{(Q) 7} He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes^(R) that were in the temple of the Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.

⁸ Josiah brought all the priests from the towns of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba^(S) to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He broke down the gateway at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the city governor, which was on the left of the city gate. ⁹ Although the priests of the high places did not serve^(T) at the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests.

¹⁰ He desecrated Topheth,^(U) which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom,^(V) so no one could use it to sacrifice their son^(W) or daughter in the fire to Molek. ¹¹ He removed from the entrance to the temple of the Lord the horses that the kings of Judah^(X) had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court^[a] near the room of an official named Nathan-Melek. Josiah then burned the chariots dedicated to the sun.^(Y)

¹² He pulled down^(Z) the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof^(AA) near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts^(AB) of the temple of the Lord. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley.^{(AC) 13} The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon^(AD) king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable^(AE) god of the people of Ammon.^{(AF) 14} Josiah smashed^(AG) the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones.^(AH)

¹⁵ Even the altar^(AI) at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam^(AJ) son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. ¹⁶ Then Josiah^(AK) looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance^(AL) with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things.

¹⁷ The king asked, “What is that tombstone I see?”

The people of the city said, “It marks the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced against the altar of Bethel the very things you have done to it.”

¹⁸ “Leave it alone,” he said. “Don’t let anyone disturb his bones^(AM).” So they spared his bones and those of the prophet^(AN) who had come from Samaria.

¹⁹ Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria and that had aroused the Lord’s anger. ²⁰ Josiah slaughtered^(AO) all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones^(AP) on them. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

²¹ The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover^(AQ) to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”^{(AR) 22} Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. ²³ But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.^(AS)

²⁴ Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists,^(AT) the household gods,^(AU) the idols and all the other detestable^(AV) things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. ²⁵ Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned^(AW) to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.^(AX)

²⁶ Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger,^(AY) which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh^(AZ) had done to arouse his anger. ²⁷ So the Lord said, “I will remove^(BA) Judah also from my presence^(BB) as I removed Israel, and I will reject^(BC) Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’^[b]”

²⁸ As for the other events of Josiah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

²⁹ While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho^(BD) king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.^{(BE) 30} Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot^(BF) from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

Jehoahaz King of Judah^(BG)

³¹ Jehoahaz^(BH) was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal^(BI) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. ³² He did evil^(BJ) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done. ³³ Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah^(BK) in the land of Hamath^(BL) so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents^[c] of silver and a talent^[d] of gold. ³⁴ Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim^(BM) son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, and there he died.^{(BN) 35} Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.^(BO)

Jehoiakim King of Judah^(BP)

³⁶ Jehoiakim^(BQ) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah. ³⁷ And he did evil^(BR) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done.

Promise of Restoration

33 While Jeremiah was still confined^(A) in the courtyard^(B) of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time:^{(C) 2} “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth,^(D) the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name:^{(E) 3} ‘Call^(F) to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable^(G) things you do not know.’ ⁴ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege^(H) ramps^(I) and the sword ⁵ in the fight with the Babylonians^[a]: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath.^(J) I will hide my face^(K) from this city because of all its wickedness.

⁶ “‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal^(L) my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace^(M) and security. ⁷ I will bring Judah^(N) and Israel back from captivity^[b](O) and will rebuild^(P) them as they were before.^{(Q) 8} I will cleanse^(R) them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive^(S) all their sins of rebellion against me. ⁹ Then this city will bring me renown,^(T) joy, praise^(U) and honor^(V) before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble^(W) at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’

¹⁰ “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.”^(X) Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted,^(Y) inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more ¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness,^(Z) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings^(AA) to the house of the Lord, saying,

For I will restore the fortunes^(AD) of the land as they were before,^(AE)’ says the Lord.

¹² “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate^(AF) and without people or animals^(AG)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.^{(AH) 13} In the towns of the hill^(AI) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(AJ) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand^(AK) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

¹⁴ “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise^(AL) I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

¹⁷ For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail^(AT) to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, ¹⁸ nor will the Levitical^(AU) priests^(AV) ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.^(AW)’”

¹⁹ The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁰ “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day^(AX) and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time,^{(AY) 21} then my covenant^(AZ) with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites^(BA) who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.^{(BB) 22} I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless^(BC) as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’”

²³ The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁴ “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms^[d](BD) he chose’? So they despise^(BE) my people and no longer regard them as a nation.^{(BF) 25} This is what the Lord says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night^(BG) and established the laws^(BH) of heaven and earth,^{(BI) 26} then I will reject^(BJ) the descendants of Jacob^(BK) and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes^[e](BL) and have compassion^(BM) on them.’”

1 Paul, an apostle^(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(B)

To God’s holy people^(C) in Ephesus,^[a](D) the faithful^(E) in Christ Jesus:

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(F)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(G) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(H) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us^(I) in him before the creation of the world^(J) to be holy and blameless^(K) in his sight. In love^{(L) 5} he^[b] predestined^(M) us for adoption to sonship^[c](N) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(O) and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace,^(P) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^{(Q) 7} In him we have redemption^(R) through his blood,^(S) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches^(T) of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery^(U) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^(V) in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^(W)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^(X)

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined^(Y) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(Z) of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^{(AA) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(AB) when you heard the message of truth,^(AC) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(AD) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(AE) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(AF) until the redemption^(AG) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(AH)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(AI) and your love for all God’s people,^{(AJ) 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(AK) remembering you in my prayers.^{(AL) 17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(AM) may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom^(AN) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(AO) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(AP) you, the riches^(AQ) of his glorious inheritance^(AR) in his holy people,^{(AS) 19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(AT) is the same as the mighty strength^{(AU) 20} he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(AV) and seated him at his right hand^(AW) in the heavenly realms,^{(AX) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(AY) and every name^(AZ) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(BA) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(BB) and appointed him to be head^(BC) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(BD) the fullness of him^(BE) who fills everything in every way.^(BF)

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^{(BG) 2} in which you used to live^(BH) when you followed the ways of this world^(BI) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(BJ) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(BK) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(BL) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[g](BM) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(BN) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(BO)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(BP) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(BQ) and seated us with him^(BR) in the heavenly realms^(BS) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(BT) expressed in his kindness^(BU) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace^(BV) you have been saved,^(BW) through faith^(BX)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(BY) so that no one can boast.^{(BZ) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(CA) created^(CB) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(CC) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly^(CD) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)^(CE)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(CF) to the covenants of the promise,^(CG) without hope^(CH) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(CI) were far away have been brought near^(CJ) by the blood of Christ.^(CK)

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace,^(CL) who has made the two groups one^(CM) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh^(CN) the law with its commands and regulations.^(CO) His purpose was to create in himself one^(CP) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(CQ) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace^(CR) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(CS) 18} For through him we both have access^(CT) to the Father^(CU) by one Spirit.^(CV)

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(CW) but fellow citizens^(CX) with God’s people and also members of his household,^{(CY) 20} built^(CZ) on the foundation^(DA) of the apostles and prophets,^(DB) with Christ Jesus himself^(DC) as the chief cornerstone.^{(DD) 21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(DE) in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(DF)