Gods And Kings (Chronicles of the Kings Book #1) by Lynn Austin

Author:Lynn Austin [Austin, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Bethany House
Published: 2010-08-02T12:00:00+00:00

King Ahaz heard Uriah calling to him as he hurried down the royal walkway to his palace, but he didn’t stop. He didn’t want anyone to see that he was shaking uncontrollably. But when Uriah finally caught up to him outside his chambers, Ahaz turned on him angrily.

“The next time my sacrifices are interrupted, I’m holding you responsible. I never want to see Isaiah or hear his words again. Do you hear me? Never again!”

“I’m sorry—”

“And you’d better get your Levites under control, too, or I’ll be looking for a new high priest!”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I don’t know why Zechariah—” “Get rid of him!”

Ahaz shuddered as he recalled Zechariah’s warning. He had been a child when his grandfather, Uzziah, had been stricken with leprosy, but he remembered that day and his grandfather’s grief and anger very well. Ahaz had been afraid of Yahweh’s power ever since—and of men like Zechariah and Isaiah who claimed to speak for Him. It was one of the reasons why Ahaz had wanted Yahweh’s high priest on his side.

“Zechariah’s a dangerous fool,” Ahaz said, “and I never want to see him again.”

“But he’s your father-in-law—”

“I know who he is! And I know what he’s up to. He’s trying to regain the political power that he had with my grandfather—that’s what this is all about. It’s treason! Kill him!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m sorry about what happened today. I’ll take care of everything, and we’ll hold another sacrifice tomorrow. I assure you that nothing will go wrong.”

But Ahaz was barely listening. Isaiah’s vivid description of the deluge of Assyrian soldiers had overwhelmed him, and he felt as if he were drowning. He had rejected Isaiah’s advice at the Gihon Spring and ignored his warnings before leaving for Damascus. Both times Isaiah’s prophecies had been fulfilled. What if he was right this time?

Fear paralyzed Ahaz. In a nightmare vision, he saw Jerusalem besieged by thousands of Assyrian troops, battering rams pounding the city walls, his nobles and advisors impaled on stakes in the Gihon Valley. And he saw himself being slowly tortured to death by the Assyrian emperor. Ahaz knew of only one way to escape from this vision. He fled to his chambers and ordered some wine, mixed the Assyrian way … to help him forget.

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