Today is the 29th day of June. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and I am happy.

Happy to be here with you today. Happy to be in this place that we make every day.

The global campfire that we gather around and take the next step for today.

I am grateful. It is wonderful to be here with you and excited to take the next step forward.

And that next step forward leads us back to where we left off and that happens to be the book of 2nd Kings right now.

Today we will read 2nd Kings chapters 15 and 16 and we are reading from the New English translation this week.

In the 27th year of King Jarabon's reign over Israel, Amazaya's son Azaraya became king over Judah.

He was 16 years old when he began to reign in Iran for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jekolaya, who was from Jerusalem.

He did what the Lord approved just as his father, Amazaya had done.

But the high places were not eliminated. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

The Lord afflicted the king with an illness. He suffered from a skin disease until the day he died.

He lived in separate quarters while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.

The rest of the events of Azaraya's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in this scroll called the annals of the kings of Judah.

Azaraya passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jotham replaced him as king.

In the 38th year of King Azaraya's reign over Judah, Jarabon's son Zechariah became king over Israel.

He reigned in Samaria for six months. He did evil in the sight of the Lord as his ancestors had done.

He did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jarabon son of Nibat who encouraged Israel to sin.

Shalom son of Jabash conspired against him. He assassinated him and Iblia and took his place as king.

The rest of the events of Zechariah's reign are recorded in this scroll called the annals of the kings of Israel.

His assassination fulfilled the Lord's message to Jahu.

Four generations of your descendants will rule on Israel's throne. And that is how it happened.

Shalom son of Jabash became king in the 39th year of King Uzziah's reign over Judah.

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