1. Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2. He did what was pleasing in the lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done.
3. In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the lord and repaired them.
4. He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple.
5. He said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.
6. Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the lord our God. They abandoned the lord and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him.
7. They also shut the doors to the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.
8. “That is why the lord’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.
9. Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured.
10. But now I will make a covenant with the lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.
11. My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”
12. Then these Levites got right to work:From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah.From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel.From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.
13. From the family of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel.From the family of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah.