II CHRONICLES CHAPTER 22 - 28

2 CHRONICLES 22

1 The dwellers of Jerusalem
Made Ahaziah youngest gem
Of his sons king and in his place,
For the band of the men and race
That came with the Arabians
To the camp had killed all the bans
Of older ones. So Ahaziah
The son of Jehoram pariah
King of Judah reigned there to fry her.
2 A son of forty-two years then
Was Ahaziah when again
He started to rule, and he reigned
A year in Jerusalem gained.
His mother’s name was Ahaliah,
The daughter of Omri to try her.
3 He too walked in ways of the house
Of Ahab: for his mother’s douse
Was to counsel him wickedness.
4 He did evil at the address
Of YHWH like the house of Ahab,
For they were his counsellors drab
After the death of his own dad,
And for his destruction and bad.
5 He acted by their advice and
Went with Jehoram of the band
Of Ahab king of Israel’s sons
To attack Hazael in runs,
The king of Syria up at
Ramothgilead where they sat,
And Syrians struck Joram down.
6 And he came back down to the town
Of Jezreel to convalesce there
Of the wounds of the battle share
At Ramah, when he fought the king
Of Syria, Hazael in string.
And Azariah Jehoram’s son,
King of Judah went down when done
To see Jehoram Ahab’s son
At Jezreel since he was undone.
7 And from Ælohim was the end
Of Ahaziah by the bend
Of coming to Joram, for when
He had come down, he went again
Out with Jehoram to attack
Jehu, son of Nimshi, whose back
YHWH had anointed to cut off
The house of Ahab by the scroff.

My Rabbi friend claims that messiah is
One buttered with the special oil and fizz
That has been lost since time of Babylon
That took the kings captive before the dawn.
And so there can be no anointed left,
The oil of the anointing’s left bereft.
I tried to say the word was not so literal
As to be interpreted as so bitteral.
Jehu was a messiah to attack
The house of Ahab with a cutting rack.
Inspection of the chronicles of kings
Shows that he too was anointed in springs.
If there is no messiah left to come,
Then I return to Decalogue as bum.

8 It happened when Jehu took up
Judgement on Ahab’s house and tup,
He found the chiefs of Judah there,
Ahaziah’s sons’ brothers’ share,
Serving Ahaziah, so he
Killed all them too and faithfully.
9 And he sought Ahaziah: and
They caught him where he hid in land
Of Samaria, and brought him
To Jehu, and when they’d killed him
They buried him, “Because,” said they,
“He is Jehoshaphat’s son gay
Who sought YHWH with all his heart’s way.”
So Ahaziah’s house did not
Have strength to keep in peace its lot.
10 When Athaliah the mother
Of Ahaziah saw that her
Son was dead, she got up and killed
All the royal folk there that filled
The house of Judah, those she killed.
11 Jehoshabeath, daughter of king,
She took Ahaziah’s sonling,
Joash away from among those
Sons of the king that were destroyed,
And hid him in a room employed
With his nurse. Jehoshabeath
The daughter of the king in path,
Jehoram, wife of Jehoiada
The priest, for she it was stayed a
Sister of Ahaziah, she
Hid him from Athaliah’s spree,
So she did not kill him or see.
12 And he was with them hid within
The house of God six years in bin:
And Athaliah ruled in sin.

How many people know, Beloved, the name
Jehoshabeath and what she for fame
Did or even what that blessed name may mean?
Other heroes crowd her right off the scene.
Jehoshabeath, sworn of YHWH, came out
To save a child from the queen and her clout.
She hid the baby in a room to keep
There quietly with his nurse and to sleep
While slaughter went apace in palace room
And all the royal house there met its doom.
So may Jehoshabeath’s name remain
A joy and comfort in this world insane
For slaughter, that the hidden may look up
And find behind the mirrors golden cup.

2 CHRONICLES 23

1 In seventh year Jehoiada
Strengthened himself, and made a law
Of covenant with the chiefs of
Hundreds: Azariah son of
Jehohanan, Azariah
The son of Obed, Maaseiah
The son of Adaiah, and last
Elishaphat son unsurpassed
Of Zichri. 2 And they went and cast
Throughout Judah and gathered in
The Levites from each town and bin
Of Judah, and chief counsellors
Of Israel, and they brought stores
Into Jerusalem. 3 Then all
The congregations great and small
Made a pact with the king inside
Ælohim’s house. He said as guide
To them, truly the king’s son shall
Reign as YHWH has said sans cabal
Of David’s sons. 4 “And this is what
You must do. One third of you shut
Upon the Sabbath of the priests
And Levites keep watch as from beasts
The gates, 5 "one third at the king's house,
One at Foundation Gate to dowse.
All the folk stay inside the courts
Of YHWH’s house with their own consorts.
6 "But let none come in house of YHWH
Except the priests and those of true
Levites who serve. They may go in,
For they are holy without sin,
But all the folk shall keep YHWH’s watch.
7 "The Levites shall come in a swatch
Around the king on every band,
Each man with his weapons in hand,
And whoever comes in the place,
Put him to death and out of grace.
You must be with the king when he
Comes in and when he goes out free."

I am a child king on the Sabbath day
Surrounded by the holy Levite sway,
Kept from the fountains of the wrathful court,
And innocent of every deadly sport.
I am a child king as the Sabbath dawns
Above the Mount of Olives and the pawns
Of cypress and of church that dot the way
I see from temple mount and where I stay.
Beloved, the plans of men are true in time
And what now seems a joy here where I climb
May turn to dust, betrayed by loved and blessed.
But even then Your open heart of rest
Remembers me, a child king where I dance
With love among the armed and those askance.

8 So the Levites and all Judah
Did everything Jehoiada
The priest commanded. And each man
Took his men who were in the plan
Upon the Sabbath, with those who
Went off watch on Sabbath too,
For Jehoiada the priest did
Not let go divisions that hid.
9 Jehoiada the priest gave to
The chiefs of hundreds the spears due
And the large and small shields that were
For King David, that had been sure
In Ælohim’s temple astir.
10 Then he set all the folk, each man
With his weapon in his handspan,
From the right side of temple to
The left side of the temple, drew
Along by the altar and by
The temple, all around the king.
11 They brought out the king's son in ring,
Put the crown on him, the witness,
And made him king of their address.
Jehoiada and his sons came
To anoint him, said in acclaim,
"Let live the king!" and without blame.
12 When Athaliah heard the sound
Of people running, shouting round
Praise to the king, she came out to
The folk in the temple of YHWH.
13 When she looked, there was the king standing
By his pillar at gate demanding,
And the chiefs and the trumpeters
Were by the king in all their furs.
Rejoiced then all folk of the land,
And blew on trumpets by command,
Musicians with their instruments
Joined those who led the praise with sense.
Then Athaliah tore her clothes
And shouted, "Treason! Treason shows!"

The Sabbath is so many days in one:
The day of coronation of king spun,
The day of praise and singing in the court
Of temple, and the day of joy and sport.
The Sabbath is so many things I find,
The day of confrontation with the rind,
The day of some betrayal and the day
Of execution of the wicked sway
That guides the land and government a week
And falls at last into the hand I seek.
Beloved, I joy to see the Sabbath dawn,
I joy to see the candles when they’re drawn
Across the lowered sky, I joy to see
Your Sabbath coming to stay here with me.

14 Jehoiada the priest brought out
The chiefs of hundreds who were stout
Over the hosts, and said to them,
"Take her outside under guard’s hem,
And kill with sword whoever will
Follow her to her bloody hill.”
For the priest had said, "Do not kill
Her in YHWH’s house on Zion’s hill"
15 They grabbed her and she went out by
The coming in of Horse Gate’s ply
To the king’s palace and they came
To kill her there and to her shame.
16 Jehoiada made covenant
Between himself, the folk, and runt
King, that they should be YHWH’s folk’s brunt.
17 And all the people went into
Baal’s temple and destroyed from view.
They smashed its altars and its gods,
And killed Mattan the priest in prods
Of Baal in front of altar sods.
18 Jehoiada also appointed
To hand of priest, Levite anointed
To guard the house of YHWH just as
David had set YHWH’s house that has
To offer YHWH’s burnt offerings there
As written in Moses’ law’s share
With all rejoicing and elation
As set by David’s cantillation.
19 He set gatekeepers at the gates
Of YHWH’s house so no one who waits
Unclean should come in with his mates.
20 Then he took the chiefs of hundreds,
The nobles, the people’s chief heads,
And all the people of the land,
And brought the king down there to stand
From YHWH’s house, and they went up through
The Upper Gate to the king's pew,
And set the king upon the throne
Of the kingdom. 21 So all the grown
People of the land rejoiced there,
And the city was in the share
Of peace, for they had killed with sword
Queen Athaliah by the Lord.

O blessèd Sabbath day of judgement on
The priests of Baal and all the wicked spawn!
My heart bloodthirsty rises in that dream
Full foamed and cunning with a gory stream
Of heathen life poured out. O Lord above,
Might I live to see such for all my love.
Let me, Beloved, gaze on a wretched dream
And president, the judges and priests seem
Today to stand in honour, fallen down
And dragged in bloody gore about the town.
I’m weary with the coming of the sun
Day to cause all to stop to honour won.
I’m weary of the stolen sacrifice,
The currents of the hateful thing suffice.

2 CHRONICLES 24

1 Joash was seven years old when
He became king, and he again
Ruled forty years Jerusalem.
His mother's name was Zibiah
A woman come from Beersheba.
2 Joash did what was right in sight
Of YHWH all the days of the right
Jehoiada the priest and wight.
3 Jehoiada took for him two
Wives, and he had children in crew.
He had sons, he had daughters too.
4 And it happened after this that
Joash set his heart autocrat
To repair YHWH’s house where it’s at.
5 Then he gathered the priests, Levites,
And said to them, "Go out in lights
Of Judah’s towns, and gather from
All Israel money to fix some
Your Ælohim’s house year by year,
And do it quickly as with fear."
But the Levites did not move fast.
6 So the king called the chief priest last
Jehoiada and said to him,
"Why have you not required with vim
The Levites to bring in from Judah
And from Jerusalem the cruder
Of Moses YHWH’s servant and of
Israel’s congregation of love
To the tent of witness in glove?"
7 For the sons of Athaliah,
That wicked woman, without awe
Had broken in Ælohim’s house,
And offered all the sacred grouse
Of YHWH’s temple to Baals and spouse.

The boy Joash and Jehoiada priest
Made one fatal mistake it seems at least.
They did not spill enough of heathen blood
But left the sons of heathen queen to scud
To place of safety till the carnage fell
And peace came to Jerusalem a spell.
They left the sons of Athaliah there
To break into the temple and make share
Of pagan sacrifice within its gates,
Polluting sacred fire with heathen hates.
Beloved, raise up more men willing to cut
The throat of sinner and in time to shut
The flood of wickedness that fills the earth
And makes of righteousness a thing of dearth.

8 Then at the king's command they made
A chest, and set it outside stayed
At the gate of the house of YHWH.
9 And they made proclamation through
All Judah and Jerusalem
To bring to YHWH the offering’s gem
Moses servant of Ælohim
Commanded Israel in the scheme
Of wilderness by stratagem.
10 Then all the chiefs and all the folk
Rejoicing brought their gifts in poke,
And put them in the chest until
All had come and put in to fill.
11 It happened then when chest was brought
To the king's officer when sought
At hand of the Levites, and when
They saw there was much money, then
That the king's scribe and the high priest's man
Came and emptied the chest in ban,
And then returned it to its place.
So they did day by day, and so
They watched the sum of money grow.
12 The king and Jehoiada gave
It to those who did work like slave
In YHWH’s house, and they hired such
As masons and wood-workers’ touch
To fix the house of YHWH, and there
Were also those who worked in share
Of iron and bronze come to repair
The house of YHWH out of thin air.
13 The workmen worked, the task was done,
They fixed Ælohim’s house and won
The state it had been from the first,
And strengthened it about to burst.
14 When they had finished, then they brought
The rest of the money they got
Before king and Jehoiada,
They made from it vessels to use
Within that temple house of YHWH’s,
Vessels for serving, offering, and
Spoons and bowls gold and silver band.
And they offered burnt offerings in
The house of YHWH without stop in
All the days of Jehoiada.

I lay my all within the golden chest
Set up before Your temple, give my best
To serve You day and night in sacrifice,
I give You all I have of good and nice.
I lay my life before You on Your throne,
And scent the perfumes of the heavenly groan
Of rising prayers and praise, petition, plaint,
And farther penitence beyond complaint.
Beloved, I find the money box is filled
And yet I bring a thousand years unspilled
To fill again the treasure of Your store
And stand again and wait beside Your door.
The prayers and sacrifice mount up to be
A window on place and eternity.

15 Jehoiada grew old and aged
Of days, and he died, he was paged
At one hundred and thirty years
When he died and left all in tears.
16 They buried him in David’s town
Among the kings, for his renown
In doing good in Israel,
For Ælohim and His house spell.
17 After death of Jehoiada
All the chief leaders of Judah
Came and bowed down before the king.
And the king listened to their thing.
18 Therefore they left the house of YHWH
Ælohim of their fathers’ crew,
And worshipped wooden images
And idols; and wrath came to fizz
On Judah and Jerusalem
Because of their bad stratagem.
19 He sent prophets to them, to bring
Them back to YHWH; and so they sing
In witness against them, but they
Refuse to listen to their lay.
20 The Spirit of Ælohim came
Upon Zechariah the same
Son of Jehoiada the priest,
Who stood above the people fleeced,
And told them, "So says Ælohim:
`Why do you cross YHWH’s commands’ beam
So that you cannot prosper here?
Because you have forsaken ear
Of YHWH, so He forsakes you too.'"
21 They plotted against him and at
The king’s orders they came out flat
And stoned him with stones in the court
Of house of YHWH as though in sport.
22 So Joash the king did not mind
Jehoiada his dad was kind,
But killed his son, and as he died,
He said, “YHWH look upon the tide
And take vengeance upon my side!”

The prayer of Zechariah is not one
To be confused with Jesus when it’s done.
Jesus prayed to forgive those who nailed him,
But Zechariah asks for vengeance grim.
There may be some on earth who follow Christ,
Who eat their cake and still have it well-iced,
But I have found them few and far between.
Most follow Zechariah on the scene.
Beloved, it’s not my heart is pure and true
To follow Christ in what I pray and do.
It’s rather that I see the vengeance fail
And think there is no use to rant and flail.
Unless You step in with a helping hand,
My peace lies in the acquiescent stand.

23 It happened in spring of the year
The army of Syria came near
Against him; they came to Judah
And to Jerusalem, and killed
All the chiefs of the people swilled,
And sent the booty to the king
Of Damascus and on the wing.
24 For the band of the Syrians came
With a small group of men of fame,
But YHWH delivered a great host
Into their hand, because the most
Of them had forsaken YHWH God
Of their ancestors on the sod.
And so they carried out judgement
Against Joash when they gave vent.
25 And when they had withdrawn from him,
For they left him wounded and grim,
His own servants plotted his blood
Because of the deaths in their flood
Of priest Jehoiada, and killed
Him on his bed, it so fulfilled.
And so he died. They buried him
In David’s city, but not trim
In the tombs of the kings with hymn.
26 These are the people who conspired
Against him: Zabad the son fired
Of Shimeath the Ammonitess,
Jehozabad the Moabitess’
Shimrith’s son, both come in to fight us.
27 And as for his sons, and the host
Of oracles about his boast,
And the repairing of the house
Of Ælohim, indeed by mouse
They are all written in the book
Of chronicles that the kings took.
So Amaziah his son reigned
In his place and his stead unfeigned.

It’s Ammon and Moab always to claim
The treasure of Your word, Beloved, in fame
When Israel lets down the faith and true,
When Judah’s kings of worth are far and few.
It’s Ammon sees the valley and the flood
Of Jordan roll above the gloried mud,
And Moab comes to rescue, though too late
Your glory from the claws of grim and great.
Beloved, make me like Ammonite to care
For Your oneness, and Ammonitess fair
To sing Your praises even with a sword.
Beloved, make me like Moabite to share
The hope of Abraham’s faith with the air
Until the second coming of the Lord.

2 CHRONICLES 25

1 Amaziah was twenty-five
Years old when he became king live,
And he reigned twenty-nine years in
Jerusalem. His mother's kin
And name was Jehoaddan of
Jerusalem, mother of love.
2 And he did what was right in sight
Of YHWH, but not with a heart right.
3 It happened, as soon as the realm
Was firm for him, he at the helm
Killed his servants who slew his dad
The king, the one who had been bad.
4 But he did not kill off their spawn,
As written in the law book drawn
Of Moses, where YHWH commanded,
Saying "The fathers not be rid
To death for their children, nor be
Children put to death on the fee
Of their fathers, but every kin
Be put to death for his own sin."

So Amaziah seems more righteous than
You Yourself, my Beloved, in Christian plan.
You slay Your own son for the sins of others
And call that justice to mothers and brothers.
Did You forget Your own law when You struck
Jesus upon the cross down in the muck?
If Jesus can die an atonement for
The sins of everyone, if bloody gore
Can turn Your heart alone to offer grace,
Then You, Beloved, are of inferior race.
Perhaps in fact Amaziah was right
And You do not forgive upon the sight
Of bloody anguish, but of broken heart,
Repentant for its owner’s sinful part.

5 Then Amaziah summoned all
Judah together at his call
And set over them thousands’ chiefs,
And chiefs of hundreds for reliefs,
By their ancestral houses through
All Judah and Benjamin’s crew,
And he took count of them from twenty
Years old and above and found plenty,
Three hundred thousand able men
To go out to battle again,
Handle the spear and shield with yen.
6 He then acquired one hundred more
Thousand courageous soldiers’ score
From Israel for one hundred talents
Of silver in pay to the gallants.
7 But a man of Ælohim came
To him, saying, "O king, for shame,
Do not let Israel’s army go
With you, for YHWH is not on show
With Israel nor with children prim
Bred and brought up in Ephraim.
8 "But if you go, off with you then!
Be strong in fighting, from His den
Ælohim shall make you fall down
Before the enemy in crown,
For Ælohim’s hand’s strong to help
As well as overthrow the whelp.”
9 And Amaziah told the man
Of Ælohim, “What of the plan
About the hundred talents spent
To get Israel’s troops in my tent?”
And Ælohim’s man answered him,
“YHWH’s able to give you more trim
And gear than this, just trust in Him.”
10 So Amaziah let go back
The army he had hired in slack
From Ephraim, back to their place.
That’s why they were an angry race
Against Judah, and they returned
In great wrath for all they had earned.
11 And Amaziah armed himself,
And leading his people and elf,
He went to the valley of salt
And killed ten thousand folk at fault
From Seir. 12 Also the children of
Judah took live captives above
Ten thousand, brought them to the top
Of the rock and there let them drop
From the top of the rock, so they
Were dashed in pieces in a day.

Bless Amaziah for obeying word
Of prophet sent to him to tell unblurred
Your will on his account, that he might be
Pure always in both motive and in fee.
Bless every prophet that speaks from the heart
To bear right witness to the things that start
From Your wit of revealing humankind
The way to do and be, and not be blind.
Beloved, I speak Your word to king and pawn
And hardly see them obey in the dawn.
Beloved, I speak Your word to friend and foe
And hardly see them turning from the show.
Beloved, I speak Your word to my own soul:
Let me, not like my fellows, find Your goal.

13 As for the soldiers of the host
That Amaziah sent to coast
Not to go with him to the fight,
They attacked Judah’s towns in sight
From Samaria to Beth Horon,
Killed three thousand in them alone
And took the spoils to be their own.
14 It happened after Amaziah
Came from attacking Edom nigh her,
That he brought gods of Seir’s folk
And set them up as to provoke
As his gods, and bowed down to them
And also burned incense to them.
15 That’s why the anger of YHWH rose
Against Amaziah in rows
And He sent him a prophet who
Said to him, “Now say why have you
Sought out the gold of other folk,
Who could not rescue their own yoke
Of people from your hand and stroke?”
16 It happened as he talked with him,
He told him, “Have we set you grim
To counsel the king? So stop now.
Why should you be killed anyhow?”
And so the prophet stopped and said
“I know that Ælohim in dread
Has decided to destroy you,
Because you have done this in crew,
Not hearing what I told you to.”

The very man who hears Your word once told
May the next day return and then be sold
Into iniquity. The guest of fate
Before success is often one too late
To fill the bill, Beloved, of righteousness.
I thank You that I’m not blessed with success.
I have no battle on behind my back
In Seir, instead I only stand in lack.
In weakness is Your opportunity
To write Your law upon my heart in fee
So I may live a life and righteously
While generals take golden gods to be
Their love and entertainment in the church,
While such as I remain standing in lurch.

17 Now Amaziah king of Judah
Asked advice and sent out not cruder
To Joash Jehoahaz’ son,
The son of Jehu, Israel’s fun
King, saying, "Come, let us face one
Another." 18 And Joash the king
Of Israel sent Judah’s king
Amaziah word, telling him,
"A thistle that was living trim
In Lebanon sent to the cedar
That was in Lebanon to greet her,
Saying, ‘Give your daughter to my
Son as wife'; and passed by
A wild beast in Lebanon’s field
And trampled the thistle well-healed.
19 "See now, you say you’ve conquered well
The Edomites, and for a spell
Your heart is lifted up in pride.
Now stay at home by the hearthside,
Why should you look for trouble due,
That you should fall and Judah too?”
20 But Amaziah would not hear,
For it came from Ælohim’s gear
That He might deliver them to
Their foe’s hand because they sought to
Worship the gods of Edom’s crew.
21 So Joash king of Israel went
Out, and he and Amaziah
The unwise king of fair Judah
Met face to face at Beth Shemesh,
Which place belongs to Judah’s tent.
22 And Judah was defeated by
Israel, and every man would fly
Back to his tent fearing to die.
23 Then Joash king of Israel took
Captive Amaziah king-crook
Of Judah, the son of Joash,
The son of Jehoahaz, crash
At Beth Shemesh, and he brought him
Back to Jerusalem with trim,
And broke down Jerusalem’s wall
From the gate of Ephraim in stall
To the corner gate, four hundred
Arm-lengths before the people hid.
24 And he took all the gold and all
The silver, all the pots found in
The house of Ælohim in bin
With Obed-Edom, the rich things
Of the king's house, and captives’ rings
And went back to Samaria.
25 Son of Joash Amaziah,
King of Judah, lived fifteen years
After the death of Joash leers,
The son of Jehoahaz, king
Of Israel. 26 Now everything
That Amaziah did, from first
To last, indeed is writ to burst
In the book of the kings of Judah
And Israel, a land not cruder.
27 After the time that Amaziah
Turned away from following fire
Of YHWH, they made a plot on him
There in Jerusalem and grim,
And he fled to Lachish, but they
Sent after him to Lachish way
And killed him there once come to slay.
28 Then they brought him on horses and
Buried him with his fathers’ band
In Judah’s city on the land.

Beloved, I see You always give the wealth
Of gold and silver to those who in stealth
Fall on the other, who in words that rise
Discourteous, are here to claim the skies.
Survival of the fittest is the rule
Of jungle law and in the jungle school
All men are found who do not meet each other
With Decalogue alone as fit for brother.
Beloved, I see the poor, unfaithful king
Of Judah rest beneath Edom’s fair spring,
And then go out to lose the trophy where
The king of Israel comes in for his share.
I turn from kings and compliments to be
Your pawn beneath the fir or the palm tree.

2 CHRONICLES 26

1 And all the folk of Judah took
Uzziah, who was sixteen rook
Old, and made him king in the stead
Of his dad Amaziah dead.
2 He built Elath and brought it back
To Judah, after the king slack
Rested in his ancestors’ track.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old
When he became king, and he tolled
Up fifty-two years on the throne
Of old Jerusalem. The name
Of his mother was one of fame,
Jecholiah born in the hem
Of her home town Jerusalem.
4 And he did what was right in sight
Of YHWH, according to the right
Of all that his dad Amaziah
Had done before him with desire.
5 He sought Ælohim in the days
Of Zechariah, who had ways
Of understanding in the sights
Of Ælohim; and long as he
Sought YHWH, Ælohim let him be.
6 Now he went out to the attack
Against the Philistines in back,
And broke down the fortress of Gath,
The wall of Jabneh, and the wrath
Of Ashdod; and he built towns round
Ashdod upon Philistine ground.
7 Ælohim helped him in the war
Against the Philistines, and more
Against Arabians who dwelt
In Gur Baal, and against svelte
Meunites. 8 Also Ammonites
Brought tribute to Uzziah’s rights.
His fame spread as far as the way
To go into Egypt, his sway
Became very great in a day.

When I sat on the beach in Eilat and
Looked out upon the blue Red Sea and sand,
I thought of how Uzziah took the task
In hand to recover where I now bask.
The very hills about remind me of
The centuries of hope and health and love
That covered Judah’s history and made
That record something higher than the shade
Of other folk’s stories of gain and loss,
Of other folk’s myths of the crown and cross.
Beloved, I look out on the shining waves
And think me back to all the centuries’ graves
That have washed hope since then until this day
That I look up to find You and Your way.

9 And Uzziah built towers in
Jerusalem at the gate’s din
At the corner, and at the gate
Of the valley, and at the rate
Of corner buttress of the wall.
And then he fortified them all.
10 He built towers in the desert too.
He dug wells, for he had not few
Cattle, both in the valleys and
In the plains, and he had a band
Of farmers and vinedressers on
The mountains in Carmel, was drawn
To the soil. 11But Uzziah had
An army of fighting men bad
Who went out to battle in bands,
By the number of their roll stands
Made up by Jeiel the scribe and one
Maaseiah, officer when done,
Under the oversight of one
Hananiah, royal chief won.
12 The whole number of chiefs that ruled
The mighty men in courage schooled
Was two thousand six hundred pooled.
13 And under their authority
Was an army of three hundred
And seven thousand five hundred,
That made war with mighty success,
To help the king in his address
Against the foe and enemy.
14 Then Uzziah prepared for them,
For the entire host, shields in gem,
Spears, helmets, body armour, bows,
And slings to cast stones at their foes.
15 He made things in Jerusalem,
Invented by his skilful men,
To be on towers and corners ready
To shoot arrows and large stones steady.
So his fame spread out far and wide,
To wonderfully and strongly bide.

The son of David named Uzziah made
The armour for his soldiers and the spade
Of every new invention set for war.
I see his genius guiding more and more.
With such a wealth of knowledge and the share
Of inventive creation, he’d beware
Not to let heart rise up in pride to fall.
He ought to be careful upon the wall.
But then the men of this great king were not
So inept as those Humpty Dumpty taught.
He can rest easy with his will and plot
Because he is so cunning and so smart.
Ride on, I say to the king from my heart,
Not dreaming that he’ll get horse before cart.

16 But when he was strong then his heart
Was lifted up, to his dispart,
For he sinned against YHWH and his
Ælohim when he without bizz
Went into the temple of YHWH
To burn incense on altar’s view.
17 So Azariah the priest went
In after him, and with him sent
Eighty priests of YHWH, valiant men.
18 They withstood King Uzziah then,
And said to him, "It’s not for you,
Uzziah, to burn incense to
YHWH, but for the priests, and the sons
Of Aaron, who are holy ones
To burn incense. So get you out
Of the sanctuary in rout,
For you’re trespassing without doubt!
To you no honour comes from YHWH
Ælohim for the thing you do."
19 Uzziah became angry then,
And had a censer in hand when
To burn incense. And while in wrath
Against the priests, appeared a swath
Of leprosy on his forehead,
In sight of the priests in YHWH’s house,
Beside the incense altar’s dowse.
20 And Azariah the high priest
And all the priests saw him released,
And there on his forehead appeared
The leprosy as he had feared,
And so they threw him from the place.
Indeed he also hurried out,
Because YHWH had struck him a clout.
21 Uzziah the king till the day
Of his death was in leper’s way.
He dwelt in his own house apart,
Because he was leper upstart,
For he was cut off from YHWH’s house.
Then Jotham his son came to souse
The people judging from the house
Of the king, both of men and spouse.
22 But all the rest of what he did,
Uzziah, from first to last bid,
The prophet Isaiah the son
Of Amoz wrote when he was done.
23 Uzziah rested with his dads,
And they buried him in the pads
Of his ancestors in the field
Of burial which is the yield
Of the kings, for they said then, “He
Is a leper, and not one free.”
And Jotham his son reigned instead
As he had been both born and bred.

King Uzziah fell into pride just as
His great accomplishments suggested jazz.
He went into the holy place to fix
The offering and to spread incense and mix
The duty of anointed to the throne
With duty of anointed priest once shown.
Beloved, I see that even those that You
Appoint may miss their righteous way and do
In error, while stands before them the true.
Beloved, I see that my steps as I go
From stone to stone above the waters slow
Need guidance as I stumble here below.

2 CHRONICLES 27

1 Jotham was twenty-five years old
When he became king of the fold,
He ruled Jerusalem sixteen
Years, and his mother’s name was keen
Jerushah, daughter of Zadok.
2 He did right in the eyes of YHWH,
By all his dad Uzziah’s flock,
He did not enter house of YHWH,
But the folk all continued brew
Of their corruption in the pew.
3 He built YHWH’s house by upper gate,
Extended wall of Ophel’s rate.
4 He built towns in Judah’s hill tract,
And fortresses and towers unslacked
In wooded places where they lacked.
5 He also fought Ammonite king
And gained the victory to sing,
So that the Ammonites each year
Gave him one hundred talents gear
Of silver, ten thousand kors of
Wheat and ten thousand barley glove.
The Ammonites doled out tribute
The second and third year to boot.
6 So Jotham became strong because
He set his actions by the laws
Of YHWH his Ælohim with paws.
7 The rest of Jotham’s acts and all
His battles and deeds, see they’re all
Written in the Book of the Kings
Of Israel and of Judah’s things.
8 A son of twenty-five years he
Began to rule, his sovereignty
Extended sixteen years in hem
Of city of Jerusalem.
9 And Jotham slept with his ancestors
And they buried him in sequesters
Of David’s city, and Ahaz
His son was king of what he has.

Even a king, Beloved, may do right and
May build a portico and wall to stand
Against the temple of the great High God,
And yet his people whither on the sod
Of gross idolatry. It’s a thing odd.
The gauge of goodness is not in degree
Of strong influence to eternity,
But rather that a single soul is right
No matter what is wrong in people’s sight.
Beloved, I share with Jotham in the wing
Of doing though no other feels the spring,
And my song calls each hearer to the string
Instead of to the life and love and ring,
Instead of to commandments and their light.

2 CHRONICLES 28

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when
He became king and he reigned then
Sixteen years in Jerusalem,
But he did not act the right way
Before the eyes of YHWH to stay
After David his father’s ray.
2 But he acted just like the kings
Of Israel, and made cast things
As images to Baals in gem.
3 He burned incense in Ben-hinnom’s
Valley and also burned his sons
With fire according to the way
Of wickedness where nations stray,
Which YHWH had driven out before
The children of Israel in score.
4 He sacrificed and burned incense
In the high places for offence
On the hills and under every
Planted and waiting greening tree.
5 That’s why YHWH his Ælohim let
Him fall into the hand to fret
Of Aram’s king, and they struck him
And bore away from him so grim
A number of captives, and brought
Them to Damascus, and he fought
And lost to Israel’s king who taught
Him many losses in his plot.
6 For Pekah son of Remaliah
Killed in Judah when come to try her
A hundred twenty thousand dead
In one day, all courageous dread,
Because they had forsaken YHWH
Ælohim of their fathers due.
7 And Zichri, Ephraim’s mighty man,
Killed Maaseiah the king’s fan,
And Azrikam chief of his house,
And Elkanah, viceroy to dowse.

They burn their sons today as in the times
Of Ahaz where the desert lizard climbs.
The children in the iron, red-hot arms
Of Molech cried aloud in their alarms
And then succumbed to all the fire and heat,
Descending into hell for the last treat.
They burn their sons today to Baalim too,
But this time let them wear a boot or shoe
Where fire and brimstone rain upon the crew
In guise of poisoned missile, one of dread
To spread fire on each tousled, blondy head.
There is no end to the hostility
Of idol worship spread upon the sea
And land from here up to eternity.

8 The sons of Israel carried off
Their brothers captive, not to scoff,
Two hundred thousand women, sons
And daughters, also by their tons
Their booty, and they brought the spoil
Back to Samaria with toil.
9 But YHWH’s prophet was there whose name
Was Oded, he went out to blame
The host returning to the town
Samaria and said with frown,
“See, because YHWH the Ælohim
Of your ancestors, it would seem
Was wroth with Judah, He has brought
Them into your hand, yet you sought
To kill them with a rage that cries
For vengeance even to the skies.
10 “And now you plan to subjugate
For yourselves all the folk of late
Judah and Jerusalem as
Manservants and as maids for jazz.
Indeed, do you not have your own
Evil deeds against YHWH God’s throne?
11 “So listen to me now and turn
Look the captives whom you would earn
From your brothers, for YHWH’s wrath flames
Against you to your shames and blames.”
12 Some of the chiefs of Ephraim’s folk,
Azariah, Johanan’s son,
Berechiah, son of the bloke
Meshillemoth, as well as son
Of Shallum named Jehiskiah,
Son of Hadlai named Amasa,
Withstood those who came from the war,
13 And said to them, "Bring not in store
Such captives here, for we have grieved
YHWH, and you intend unreprieved
To add to our sins and our guilt.
For our guilt’s great, and there is spilt
Fierce anger up to Israel’s hilt."
14 So the armed men left the captives
And the booty before it gives
By the leaders and all the crowd.
15 And then the men who were allowed
By name got up and took the bowed
Captives, and from the booty they
Clothed all who were naked that day
Among them, dressed them and gave shoes,
And meat and drink and oil from cruise,
And put the weaker ones to ride
On donkeys. So they brought to bide
To their brothers in Jericho,
The city of palm trees to show.
Then they returned to Samaria.

The only thing it seems that brings the world
Back to some modicum of justice swirled
Is blood kinship, but even then the gate
Is opened well to crush brother and mate
With pillaging upon the asphalt street.
In every place I turn I face and greet
The smiling teeth of the oppression that
Fills earth with misery, pocket with fat.
Some charity clothes founder on the back
Of donkey to ride to the boiling slack
Of stone Jerusalem, city where all
The quarrels started because of one wall.
Beloved, I dance upon the narrow walk
That divides the fair city from the flock.

16 At the same time King Ahaz sent
To the kings of Assyria meant
To help him. 17 For again had come
The Edomites, attacked in sum
Judah, and taken captives spent.
18 The Philistines also attacked
The cities of the lowlands tracked
And from the south of Judah backed,
And taken Beth Shemesh, and both
Aijalon’s town and Gederoth,
Sochoh with its villages and
Timnah with its surroundings, and
Gimzo with its suburbs; and they
Lived there. 19 For YHWH brought Judah’s way
Low because of Ahaz the king
Of Israel, for he on wing
Had fostered wickedness among
Judah, always unfaithful sung
To YHWH. 20 Also Tiglath-Pileser
King of Assyria came as geezer
To him and he distressed him,
And did not help him as with vim.

One can pay out a sum to other kings,
Assyrian ghosts and dancers in the wings.
One can rely on the Americans
To throw out Saddam Hussein with their bans.
But in the end all turn as traitors will
And march toward one’s own fortress and hill.
The neighbours I knew as a child would come
And try to steal away with every sum
That I’d collect from the hearth and paste,
Each scrap of crimson paper from the waste.
Life is a robbers’ den and on the shore
Wherever I may flee I find it more
So, as I enter marbled halls to find
The cashier with the check is far from blind.

21 For Ahaz took some from the house
Of YHWH, also from the king’s house,
And from the leaders, and he gave
To the Assyrian king in wave,
But he did not help him a stave.
22 But in the time of his distress
King Ahaz increased in address
Unfaithful to YHWH, King Ahaz.
23 He sacrificed to the gods’ jazz
Of Damascus which had defeated
Him, saying, "Because the gods treated
The Syrian kings to help them, I
Will sacrifice to them and spy
So they may help me on the sly."
But they were his downfall and that
Of all Israel out flat.
24 So Ahaz gathered sacred pots
Of Ælohim’s house, cut in lots
The things of Ælohim’s house and
Shut up the doors of YHWH’s house and
Set him up altars on the stand
All over Jerusalem’s band.
25 In every one of Judah’s towns
He made high places on the downs
To burn incense to other gods,
Provoking to wrath on the sods
YHWH Ælohim of his dads’ nods.
26 And the rest of his acts and all
His doings, from first to last call,
Indeed they’re written in the book
Of Judah’s kings and Israel’s crook.
27 So Ahaz rested with his dads,
And they buried him in the pads
Of the town, in Jerusalem,
But they did not bring him into
The tombs of Israel’s kings in view.
Then Hezekiah his son reigned
In his place after unrestrained.

In truth, was Ahaz not right to suggest
That You were not out to succour the best?
It matters not what gods a man may serve,
The true God or the one that throws a curve.
In every case the rule of jungle wins,
No matter how a man pray on his shins.
This book of Chronicles pretends the grief
Is caused by worshipping idols in brief,
And all success comes with worship of You.
But science of statistics come in view
Does not support the thesis. Yet I take
You only for my God and for my stake
And let the monkeys of the jungle gabble
Along with gods galore and running rabble.

AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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