35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worshipi any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.j 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm,k is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be carefull to keep the decreesm and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forgetn the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord,o they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

Hezekiah King of Judah

18:2–4pp—2Ch 29:1–2; 31:1
18:5–7pp—2Ch 31:20–21
18:9–12pp—2Ki 17:3–7

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiahp son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.q His mother’s name was Abijaha daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was rightr in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Davids had done. 4 He removedt the high places,u smashed the sacred stonesv and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snakew Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.b)

5 Hezekiah trustedx in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fasty to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.