3I

3I

When Esarhaddon's son Ashurbanipan became king of Assyria upon the death of his father, he levied troops from Manasseh to meet the Egyptians on the field of battle.

In the six hundred nine and eightieth year of the Covenant Hoshaiah High Priest unto God Most High. Hoshaiah begat Hilkiah and Lael, and he begat daughters besides. Hoshaiah spoke out against the king for building shrines to Baal and Asherah in the temple, and the king dared not strike directly at the high priest, but Manasseh had many of Hoshaiah's supporters among the landed aristocracy put to death.

In the seven hundred first and tenth year of the Covenant Manesseh died after reigning fifty-five years, and his son Amon became king of Judah. And Amon begat Josiah.

King Amon sacrificed to the idols that had been set up by his father in the temple, and he became more the vassal to the Assyrians than his father had been, even as the power of Assyria waned. And wealthy Levites loyal to Hoshaiah led a coup against the king, and caused him to be assassinated after a reign of only two years.

In the seven hundred three and tenth year of the Covenant Josiah king of Judah, being then only eight years of age. But Hoshaiah the High Priest was the real power behind the throne until his death.

Josiah commanded all the religious items made for Baal, Asherah, and other gods to be burned outside the city. He tore down the apartments of the prostitutes in the cult of Asherah. He also destroyed once and for all the altar to the golden calf built in Beth-El by King Rehoboam.

In the seven hundred and thirtieth year of the Covenant Hilkiah son of Hoshaiah became High Priest unto Elyon Most High upon the death of his father. Hilkiah begat Azariah and Shashak, and he begat daughters besides.

And King Josiah commanded that all the people should congregate in the Great Court of the Temple, that he might recite to them a scroll that had been hidden in the walls of the hekhal from the days of the High Priest Zadok.

And for the first time the children of Israel learned of Moshe, the brother of Aaron, and how Yahweh made a Second Covenant with the Hebrews that was forgotten. Yet Aaron had no such brother named Moshe, and there was only ever the Abrahamic covenant.