Page 281 - Bible History

254 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE IN CAPTIVITY
Him.'' When he had nished speaking, he was taken from their sight and they could see him no more.
After prophesying the fall of Ninive and the re­ f:s building of Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity,
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the older Tobias died at a good old age.
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3. ISAIAS THE PROPHET Is SENT TO KING EzECHIAS At the time that the Samaritans were taken captive
by the Assyrian king, Ezechias ruled over the King­ dom of Juda. He was a holy man and listened to the prophets of God. When he was only twenty-four years old he had been made king. He destroyed all the shrines where idols were worshiped and tore down all the altars which had been built outside Jerusalem in de ance of the Law. At his command the priests and Levites cleansed the Temple and removed an altar that had been placed there in honor of the false gods. Seven days were spent in purifying the Temple.
Ezechias also restored the order of the services as wors they had existed in the time of David. He provided
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the victims for the sacri ces of the morning and the evening of each day, and for the feast days prescribed by the Law of Moses. He urged the people to pay the priests the rst fruits and the tithes as it was ordered in the Law of Moses, and the people obeyed him.
.One time Ezechias became sick unto death.. Isaias h:;: cae to him and said, ''Thus saith the Lord God, 'Get hias all things in order for thou shalt die and not live!' "
When Ezechias heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, ''I beseech Thee, 0 Lord, remember how I have walked before Thee in
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