God, the Bible and Political Justice: Chapter 18
Part Three: Political Lessons from Jewish History
Chapter 18
The Kings in Decline
The nation of Israel reached the zenith of its’ development politically and economically in Solomon’s day. If the Messiah had come at this point in history we would have had a very clear idea of how to disciple a nation politically. We would focus our attention on a strong but benevolent sovereign leader that would develop the nation by giving direction and making the people do what is right. Political power would be viewed as a top down institution and discipleship would be a “take over” strategy. But Jesus did not come in 931 B.C. and Solomon is not the end of Israel’s history. God is not finished making His point yet. We have 38 kings to go, 19 in Northern Israel and 19 in Southern Judah.
Israel wanted a King like all the other nations around them. In spite of God’s discouragement, they make the choice to move their system of governance from a federation of independent tribes to a sovereign monarchy. For three generations of political leaders it looks as though God has made a mistake, because the nation prospers. But God has not been in error. When you move political power up you can have rapid development but decline can come even faster.
The Kings of Divided Israel
Rehoboam- South-Judah
931-913 B.C. (17 years)
We are not told why Rehoboam is chosen from Solomon’s sons to lead Israel but “all the Israelites” went to Shechem “to make him King.”[1] Jeroboam is called back from exile in Egypt to take the people’s labor disputes to the new King. True to what God told them, they are discontent with the burden of all King Solomon’s national building projects and they want relief. Rehoboam responds following the advice of his younger advisors, that he will put an even heavier workload on them. The people who have just appointed him to lead them have no voice as far as he is concerned. The new King will tell them what to do. Or will he?
1 Kings 12:16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, O Israel! Look after your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them. 18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David”
Israel is now divided by civil war into two Kingdoms, North and South. They do not have consensus and they “will not” be ruled by Rehoboam. Israel will not be united as a single nation under their own authority again until the 20th century.
Rehoboam barely escapes being stoned to death in this civil dispute and returns to Judah and Jerusalem to rule from there. He musters an army for Judah to fight Jeroboam and the North but has enough sense to listen when a prophet tells him God will not bless with victory because this division of the Kingdom is from Him.
Why would God split the very kingdom He has been promising to establish for a thousand years? What is the danger He is trying to avert? Would Israel have dissolved into total destruction even more rapidly if there had not been a division of power? Regardless, God used civil war to both warn the nation and retard their decline. God is giving Israel time.
There is an unexpected blessing in this civil war. 2 Chronicles 11 account tells us that, because Jeroboam (the leader God raised up) builds two golden idols and appoints his own priest, the Levitical priests gave up their own lands and homes and moved to Judah. And “those who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem.”2 Chronicles 11:16 This mass exodus of God’s faithful people strengthened the Kingdom of Judah and the leadership of Rehoboam.
The support of these people who follow the ways of David and Solomon influence Rehoboam for three years until he is “established and strong.” 2 Chronicles 12:1 Then the King and the other people of Jerusalem turn away from the ways of God because they are “unfaithful” to Him. In other words, the hearts of the people and the King were not changed but they saw blessing because of the influence of the Godly remnant from the North. It was a short-lived impact however.
In Rehoboam’s fifth year as King God raises up an enemy in Shishak king of Egypt and they invade Judah. In 1 Kings 14:25-28 for the first time we read: “26 He carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made.” Rehoboam replaces the shields with bronze.
This theme of ransacking the Temple and striping Israel’s symbol of the presence of God will persist throughout their history, as will the ransacking of the palace. But we will let God develop that theme as we go.
In all of his unworthiness Rehoboam and his leaders humble themselves and ask God for help. And God responds by limiting the damage Shishack will do and so Judah is not “totally destroyed.” 2 Chronicles 12:7, 12
Because of God’s mercy Rehoboam is strengthened again in his rule and does “evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 12:14 This is God’s evaluation of Judah during the reign of Rehoboam: 1 Kings 14:22 Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than their fathers had done. 23 They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 24 There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.”
The King and the people of Judah continue to turn away from God even with the presence of this righteous remnant of Jews. However, God continues to help them whenever they cry out to Him.
Meanwhile, in the North Jeroboam is creating a new religion for Israel with two golden calves.
Jeroboam North-Israel
931-910 B.C. (22 years)
God raised Jeroboam up under Solomon’s rule because the people had forsaken Him and were worshipping the gods of the nations around them. The prophet Ahijah is sent with a message that God will tear ten tribes away from Solomon’s heir and give them to Jeroboam. God makes Jeroboam the same conditional promise he has given every political leader since Moses:
I Kings 11:38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.
Again, God has found the best man in Israel to lead his people and promised him blessing if he will follow God’s ways. When Israel rebels against Rehoboam they make Jeroboam King of Israel and when Rehoboam marshals his military against the revolt, God through the prophet Shemaia tells them not to fight their brothers and they obeyed! This division of the nation of Israel is from God.
Jeroboam is concerned that if the Jews of the north go to offer sacrifices at the Temple in the south they will be lured away from him. So, “after seeking advice”, he builds two golden calves and calls the people to worship them. They will be their gods. He built shrines and high places and created a priesthood for his new worship.
Those who are faithful to God leave Israel and move to Jerusalem. These two golden calves and the “sins of Jeroboam” will stay very prominent in the development of Israel from here on. Remember then this institutionalized idolatry as well as that of Solomon and his “high places.”
Prophets began to speak out against the idolatry of Jeroboam and his gods and altars, and the King begins to persecute them. In one encounter Jeroboam’s hand shrivels up and is restored when he ask the prophet to pray for him. The King seeks out the prophet Ahijah because his son is sick.
1 Kings 14:7 ‘I raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people Israel. 8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. 9 You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.
The best leader God could find for Israel has totally turned away from God. The clock is ticking on the destruction of Israel as 1 Kings 13:34 “This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.” In one generation Israel has gone from greatness to sowing the seeds of their total destruction. How could this happen? Because the King had the power to take them there!
Jeroboam ruled Israel for 22 years and Nadab his son succeeded him.
Abijah- South-Judah
913-910 B.C. (3 years)
Back in Judah, Rehoboam’s son Abijah takes the throne and commits all the sins of his father. Yet, for the sake of David, God seeks to do his best with this King. Finally real civil war breaks out between the Northern and Southern Kingdom. Abijah goes to field with 400,000 troops and Jeroboam with 800,000!
On the battlefield, Abijah makes an amazingly Godly speech calling Israel and Jeroboam to account for their golden calf idolatry and lawless priesthood. The King then declares that Judah, on the other hand, fights on behalf of the Lord God and His Levitical priesthood and observe “the requirements” of God.
1 Chronicles 13:13 Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them. 14 Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the LORD. The priests blew their trumpets 15 and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. 17 Abijah and his troops inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel’s able men. 18 The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the LORD, the God of their ancestors.
Was Abijah’s speech genuine? Did he have a moment of conscience? We don’t know but the people were trusting in God and God delivered them in spite of their political leader.
Abijah died and his son Asa took the throne.
Asa- South-Judah
910- 869 B.C. (41 years)
In Jeroboam’s twentieth year Asa became King in Judah. Asa did right in the eyes of the Lord, as David had done. He expelled the shrine prostitutes and got rid of the idols his father had made, deposed his pagan grandmother from being Queen Mother and replaced the silver and gold articles in the Temple that Egypt had taken. He made repairs in the temple and calls the people together to recommit themselves to God and following His law. Judah has peace for years.
The Cushites[2] come to war with Judah. Asa can field an army of 580,000-armed men. But the Cushites come with 300,000 chariots and a “vast” army. Asa calls on the Lord who helps the “powerless against the mighty.” Judah devastates the Cushite army.
The prophet Azariah has a word for King Asa: “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 4 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.” 2 Chronicles 15:2-4
In the latter years of Asa’s reign there was civil war with North Israel. Asa made a treaty with Ben-Hadad, King of Aram in Damascus and gave him all the silver and gold that was left in the temple treasuries to protect him from the Northern tribes. Hanani the seer came to the King with a word: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8 Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” 2 Chronciles 16:7
Asa is so angry he puts the prophet in prison, begins to “brutally oppress” some of the people. He was afflicted with a foot disease, but does not seek God’s help in this and dies of his ailments.
Asa, whose “heart was fully committed to the Lord, all his life” did not remove the high places, died mad at God and assured that Judah would have war the rest of it’s history.
His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him.
Nadab- North-Israel
909-908 B.C (2 years)
In the second year of Asa Nadab son of Jeroboam became King of Israel. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father “which he had caused Israel to commit.” He worshiped the golden calves. Baasha of the house of Issachar assassinates Nadab when he and his army are besieging a Philistine town.
Jeroboam has created institutionized idolatry and the impact is long lasting. It is official pagan worship. This is different then idolatry practiced by some of the citizens and its impact will last for generations.
Nadab ruled Israel for two years and Baasha made himself King and succeeded him. The red thread of violence is flowing.
Baasha- North-Israel
908-886 B.C. (24 years)
Baasha was raised up by God to deal with the evil Nadab and the house of Jeroboam is bringing on Israel with the golden calves. As soon as he became King he killed all of Jeraboam’s family “because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger.” 1 Kings 15:30
Baasha attempts war with Judah but backs off when he loses his ally in Aram.
Baasha did evil in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of Jeroboam. To this God responds: “I lifted you up from the dust and made you leader of my people Israel, but you walked in the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to provoke me to anger by their sins. 3 So I am about to consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat.” 1 Kings 16:2 The avenger is as bad as the avenged. There is no righteous leadership in Israel.
Baasha reigned in Israel for 24 years and his son Elah succeeded him as King.
Elah- North-Israel
886-885 B.C. (2 years)
Elah became King of Israel and while he is getting drunk in the home of a friend, Zimri, the commander of half of Elah’s chariots, assassinated him. As soon as Zimri is seated on the throne he kills off all of Baasha’s family “because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit…”
Elah ruled Israel for 2 years and is succeeded by Zimri.
Zimri- North-Israel
885 B.C. (7 days)
As soon as the army, encamped near Philistine Gibbethon, hears that Zimri has assassinated the King and proclaimed himself King, they march against Zimri in the capitol of Tirzah. Zimi retreats into the citadel of the royal palace and sets fire to the palace with himself inside.
1Kings16:18 “…So he died, 19 because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD and walking in the ways of Jeroboam and in the sin he had committed and had caused Israel to commit.”
Zimri was King in Israel for seven days and Omri takes his place. The political system of Israel is in free fall and violence is rampant.
Omri- North-Israel
885-874 B.C. (12 years)
Omri’s rule begins with civil war: “Then the people of Israel were split into two factions; half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king, and the other half supported Omri. 22 But Omri’s followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.” 1 Kings 16:21 The nation of Israel, split from Judah, is about to split again.
In the thirty-first year of Asa, Omni takes the throne. He buys the hill of Samaria and builds the city of Samaria, which will remain significant in Israel well into the time of Jesus. God’s evaluation of Omri: “But Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD and sinned more than all those before him. 26 He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit, so that they provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their worthless idols.” 1 Kings 16:25
Omni worshiped the two golden calves. He ruled Israel for 12 years and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab took his place.
Ahab- North-Israel
874-853 B.C. (22 years)
As impossible as it may seem at this juncture in Israel’s history, Ahab also does more evil than all the Kings that came before him. 1 Kings 16:31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.”
Ahab worshiped the two golden calves and upped the evil of previous Kings by adding more gods. God raises up many prophets in Ahab’s day. The great prophet Elijah is a nemesis to Ahab’s power. Elisha and Micaiah and others are also busy making God’s thoughts clear to all that would listen. The worse the national condition the harder God tries to call the people back to Himself.
Ben-Hadad, King of Aram[3] pulls together thirty-two ally Kings and attacks the city of Samaria. He wants all Ahab’s wealth, their wives and children and anything else of value. Ahab consults the elders and they all agree to resist the demands. Ben-Hadad swears he will destroy them.
1Kings 20:13 “Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.’14 “But who will do this?” asked Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘The young officers of the provincial commanders will do it.’ “
And they do! 232 young commanders with 7,000 troops defeat the armies of 32 (granted they are drunk) Kings. The Arameans flee suffering heavy loses. God uses one of the worst Kings to honor His own Name.
Again the prophet comes to Ahab and says: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.’ ” 1 Kings 20:28
We are not told exactly how vast this army is but they “covered the countryside. 100,000 were killed in the battle and another 27,000 when the walls of the city fall on them as they flee. In spite of God telling him to kill the king, Ben-Hadad, Ahab spares him and signs a treaty with him for the cities the Arameans have taken and the right to trade in the markets of Damascus.
Twice God gives this awful King military victory on behalf of Israel and His name. God is blessing the nation and their leader the best He can if they will listen to Him even in one area. Israel has disserted God. He has not disserted them.
But the Kings obedience has been incomplete. God sends another prophet to tell Ahab that it will be his life for the life of the King he has spared. The Aramean’s will attack again in three years and Ahab will die in battle.
Ahab is married to a Sidionite[4] princess named Jezebel. During a time of peace Ahab develops an urgent need for a vegetable garden. He wants to buy a vineyard close to his palace. But is refused by the owner. Naboth will not sell the inheritance of his fathers according to the Law of Moses. Jezebel berates Ahab over his concept of authority: 1 Kings 21:7 “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” She conspires with leaders of Naboth’s city in Ahab’s name to have him executed on false charges. And Ahab gets his vegetable garden.
1 Kings 21:17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?‘ Then say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’ “
1 Kings 21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”
Ahab repents and cries out to God. And, again, God who loves mercy hears him and responds. He will delay the judgment. God requires so little to extend His mercy and still they reject Him.
Jehoshaphat- South-Judah
872-869 B.C. (25 years)
In the forth year of Ahab, Jehosaphat, son of Asa, became King in Judah. “In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them, he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” I Kings 22:43
It is important to read all three accounts of Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22, 2 Kings 1-3, 8 and in 2 Chronicles 17-18 to get a clear picture of his checkered rule. He has a strange and conflicting relationship with the tribes in the Northern Kingdom.
The Chronicles account tells us that in his early years he strengthened himself against Israel and sought God rather than follow their paganism. He was devoted to the ways of God and sent officials and priests throughout the Southern Kingdom to teach the Book of the Law. Jehoshaphat rids Judah of the shrine prostitutes, but did not remove the high places. The people continued to worship and make sacrifices there.
Jehoshaphat restores the judicial system from the Law of Moses and Judah becomes a powerful military force that even the Philistines pay tribute to.
He then made peace with Ahab, the worst King in the history of Israel and marries into his family. The two Kings go to war with Gilead[5] and Ahab is killed on the field of battle. The seer Jehu rebukes Jehoshaphat on God’s behalf asking, “should you help the wicked?” 2 Chronicles 19:2 Meaning the fact that he had gone to war with Ahab.
The Moabites and the Ammonites make war with Judah and Jehoshaphat leads Judah in seeking God turning to Him for help. All the men, women and children gather before the Lord and the Spirit of God comes on the prophets proclaiming a victory for Judah.
Somewhere in here Jehoshaphat makes an alliance with Ahaziah, son of Ahab, now King of Israel. Together they construct a fleet of ships for the purpose of trade in gold with Ophir. Again God speaks through the prophets and rebuke the King for aligning himself with wickedness and the ships are all destroyed by fire before ever sailing.
In the eighteenth year of his rule Jehoshaphat again goes to war to assist his northern brothers in Israel. Joram, now King of Israel, joined by the Kings of Edom and Judah, take their armies to deal with revolt in Moab. On the journey they run out of water and Jehoshaphat demands they inquire of the prophets of the Lord for direction. Elisha is nearest and the three Kings go to inquire of him. Elisha makes it clear, were are not for Jehoshaphat, he would have nothing to do with the other two Kings. But, after seeking, God prophesies victory over the Moabs.
Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became King and he ruled Judah for 25 years. His son Jehoram succeeded him.
Ahaziah- North-Israel
853-852 B.C. (2 years)
Ahaziah, son of Ahab, became King of Israel in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord as his father and mother, Jezebel had done. The King suffers a fall from the terrace of his palace rooms. He sends messengers to seek the god of Ekron as to the fate of his injuries. Meanwhile and angel of God sends Elisha to intercept King Ahaziah’s messengers and tells them God has said the King will die of his injuries. And he does!
He led Israel for two years and Joram, another son of Ahab, took his place on the throne.
Joram- North-Israel
852-841 B.C. (12 years)
2 Kings 3:2 tells us Joram “… did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.” Joram worshiped the two golden calves.
The Mobabites rise up and Judah and Edom join Israel in the fight. Because of Jehoshaphat uprightness, Elisha prophesies victory.
Later the city of Samaria is besieged by King of Aram, Ben-Hadad. Elisha is trapped in the city along with King Joram. The conditions are so extreme that people are eating human flesh to survive. Israel is reduced to cannibalism and we hear echoes’ of the flood. Joram seeks out Elisha. God speaks through Elisha and the Arameans flee the siege in utter confusion during the night leaving behind all their supplies.
Again God blesses the unrighteous because they cried out to him.
Jehoram- South-Judah
848-841 B.C. (8 years)
Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat was 32 years old when he became King. He continues his brothers’ confusing relationship with Israel and walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. He married Ahab’s daughter. As soon as he took the throne he put all his brothers to death and some of the princes of Israel as well. The marriage of his father into the house of Ahab has brought the evils of the Northern Kingdom into the Jerusalem. The violence is flowing in the South as it has in the North.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord: “Nevertheless, for the sake of his servant David, the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah.” 2 Kings 8:19 During his rein Edom[6] and Libnah revolt against Judah and long border (not sure what you mean by “long border”) and civil wars begin.
Elisha sends Jehoram a letter decrying his turning Judah to wickedness and the murder of his own brothers. He prophesies that the King’s own family will be destroyed and the King himself will die of a disease causing his bowels to fall out.
The Philistines plunder Judah and the King dies as Elisha said. Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, becomes King.
Ahaziah- South-Judah
841 B.C. (1 year)
Ahaziah was Jehoram’s son and son-in-law of King Ahab. His mother was a daughter of King Omri of Israel. He was deeply enmeshed in his violent dysfunctional family. He was 22 years old when he became King and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord as Ahab had done. Judah joins forces again with Israel to fight the Arameans in Ramoth Gilead in spite of all God’s warnings about the alliance.
During this time God raised up a leader in the military commander named Jehu son of Jehoshaphat. Elisha calls on a young member of the “company of prophets” and commissions him to take a flask of oil to Ramoth Gilead (presumably were the war is going on) and anoint Jehu privately with the words: “This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.” Then with great wisdom Elisha says to the prophet “Then open the door and flee; don’t delay.”2 Kings 9:3 What political drama! And God is engaged in all of it.
When Jehu returns to his fellow commanders and declares what the “madman” prophet has said they immediately pledge their allegiance to him and proclaim him King. The military coup commences.
Wounded in battle, King Joram has retired to Jezreel to heal. King Ahaziah has come down to visit him. Jehu takes his troops to Jezreel joined by the troops of Joram who are loyal to him as he encounter them. Joram and Ahazaiah come out to meet him: “Is it peace, Jehu?”
“How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”
Jehu shoots King Joram in his chariot and his body is dumped on the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. This is the land that Jezebel stole for Ahab’s vegetable garden by having Naboth murdered.
“Pick him up and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the LORD made this prophecy about him: 26 ‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the LORD, and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of the LORD.” 2 Kings 9
Jehu’s troops then mortally wound King Ahaziah who flees to Megiddo and dies there. Both the Kings of Judah and Israel are murdered at the same time!
Jehu-North-Israel
841-814 B.C. (28 years)
Having assassinated the Kings, Jehu continues God’s judgment of the house of Ahab buy directing the assassination of Jezebel and the execution of Ahab’s entire family and entourage of leaders, close friends and priests. Their reign of violence has reached its limits. The only deterrent to this pre-flood insanity seems to be the most drastic purging of both nations.
Jehu sends word to the elders of Samaria to fight him or join him and in response they execute all 70 sons of Ahaziah. He then sets out for Samaria and on the way there encounters the remaining family of Ahaziah fleeing. He kills all of them. Once again, God is using the most extreme of measures to stop the red thread of violence.
2 Kings 10:17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab’s family; he destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD spoken to Elijah.
Jehu assembles the people of Samaria in Jezreel and calls a solemn assembly of all the followers of Baal to worship. Once they have filled the temple wall to wall, Jehu charges the 80 officers and guards stationed at the doors to kill all of them when they finish worshipping and sacrificing to their god. They then destroyed the temple of Baal and turn the sight into a latrine.
2 Kings 10:30 The LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.
Jehu worshipped the golden calves of Jeroboam! Now we read these somber words:
2 Kings 10:32 In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel.
There is less and less that God can do and fewer He can use to turn the tide of Israel’s and Judah’s self destruction. Like in the days of Noah, the condition of the people and their leaders is nearing the point of no remedy for their nation. Like the nations God destroyed in the land when they came, the tribes of Israel have become the virulent melanoma endangering all of life.
Queen Athaliah-South-Judah
841-835 B.C. (7 years)
At the death of Ahaziah, as though things couldn’t get worse, we get his mother Athaliah, daughter of Israel’s King Omri as queen. In her bid to take power she begins to assassinate what remains of the royal family. Who is left? In another round of palace intrigue, Ahaziah’s sister, daughter of King Joram of Israel, Jehosheba stole the one living child of King Ahaziah; a newborn named Joash, and hides him from the Queen in the Temple with the help of the priest and her husband, Jehoiada.
In collaboration with the military leadership and palace guards, Jehoiada plots to overthrow the Queen and put Joash, grandson of Jehoshaphat, on the throne. When Joash is seven years old, Jehoiada and the military place him on a throne in front of the temple and declare him King. The people of Judah are ecstatic. As in the days of Samuel there is no better hope for Judah’s leadership than a child.
Athaliah hears the crowds and cries “treason.” The military leaders bring her out and execute her. Jehoiada then leads the people in making a covenant between the Lord, the King and the people that they will be “the Lord’s people.” They proceed as a crowd from there to tear down the temple of Baal and kill the priest of Baal before their own altar.
Joash- South-Judah
835-796 B.C. (40 years)
“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign over Israel.” In his 40 years as King, Joash “did what is right in the eyes of the Lord” with the help and council of the priest Jehoiada. He repaired the Temple with offerings from the people. But, he did not remove the high places and the people continued to worship there.
The account in 2 Chronicles 24 tells us that after the priest Jehoiada’s death, the King and his officials abandoned worship in the temple and returned to the worship of the Asherah poles. The priest Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, brings a word of God’s judgement publicly and the King has him stoned to death, in spite of the goodness of his father to the King.
The King of Aram, Hazael, determined to attack Jerusalem and, in spite of a smaller army, they defeat Judah and wound King Joash. The Kings’ officials conspire and assassinate him in retribution for his killing of Zechariah. Amaziah his son succeeded him as King of Judah.
Jehoahaz-North-Israel
814-798 B.C. (17 years)
Jehoahaz, son of Jehu was appointed to succeed his father in Israel. He did not follow the Lord but continued in the sins of Jeroboam, which “he caused Israel to sin.” The Lord repeatedly brought the Kings of Aram against Israel as an enemy. “But Jehoahaz entreated the Lord, and the Lord heeded him; for he saw the oppression of Israel.” 2 Kings 13:4 As in the days of the Judges, when Jehoahaz and the people cried out to Him, God raised up help and a deliver for the nation. They defeat the stronger Aramean army but the cost is great. Jehoahaz was left with 50 horsemen, 10 chariots and an army of 10,000 foot soldiers.
The people were once again able to live in their own homes taken from them by Aram but neither they nor the King turn away from the worship of the golden calves or their sacred Asherah pole.
Jehoash- North-Israel
798-782 B.C. (16 years)
Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, succeeded him as King. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and continued in the sins of Jeroboam, the worship of the golden calves. During this time Judah was at war with Edom and King Amaziah hired soldiers from Israel to help. On the advise of a prophet that God would not bless the alliance with wickedness, he send the troops home. (this last sentence is not clear to me)
Judah provokes King Jehoash and civil war is a result. Israel tears down a section of the wall of Jerusalem taking all the silver and gold from the temple and the palace.
Jehoash dies and his son Jeroboam takes the throne.
Amaziah- South-Judah
796-767 B.C. (29 years)
Amaziah, son of King Joash, succeeded his father in the south. He did right in the eyes of the Lord, but not like his forefather David. He executed the officials that murdered his father but he spared their sons according to the Laws of Moses. He fought and defeated the attacking Edomites following the Word of the Lord to not use the hired troops of Israel, as God would not bless them.
Following his great victory that God has given him he brings back the gods of the Edomites and sets them up as his own gods, worshipping them and making sacrifices to them. He rejects the rebuke of the Lord’s prophet and continues in his idolatry. Amaziah provokes King Jehoash and Israel attacks and defeats Judah.
Amaziah is assassinated by his own people. Azariah his son was chosen by the people to be King.
Jeroboam II-North-Israel
793-753 B.C. (41 Years)
“In the fifteenth year of King Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria…” 2 Kings 14:23 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and continued in the sins of Jeroboam, worshipping the golden calves. He restored some boundaries of Israel in accordance with the Word of the Lord through a prophet.
In spite of Jeroboam II’s disregard for God: “The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. 27 And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.” 1 Kings 14:26 Amazing grace of God.
Zechariah the son of Jeroboam II became King in Israel.
Azariah (Uzziah)-South-Judah
792-740 B.C. (52 years)
King Azariah was 16 when all the people of Judah choose him to take the throne after his father, Amaziah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord as his father had. He sought God and the prophet Zechariah instructed him in the fear of the Lord. However, he did not take away the high places and the people continued to worship and make sacrifices there.
As long as Azariah sought God He gave him success in all that he did. He defeated the Philistines, Arabs and Meunites. The Ammonites paid his throne tribute. He fortified the wall of Jerusalem with towers. He had a passion for agriculture, dug a cistern and developed the land and livestock. He had a trained military with newly invented weapons.
But, as he gained power and fame he became proud. Like Saul before him, he begins to cross the boundaries of the role of the King with the role of the priesthood. He entered the Temple to burn incense before the Lord. The priests confront him with the fact that Moses gave this role to the priesthood and the descendants of Aaron. They order him to leave the sanctuary. The King begins to rage against the priests and he is struck with leprosy.
Azariah had leprosy the rest of his life and ran the affairs of Judah through his son Jotham. At his death, Jotham becomes King in Judah.
Zechariah-North-Israel
753 B.C. (6 months)
King Azariah placed his son Zechariah over Israel at his death. Zechariah did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. He and the people continued to worship the golden calves. Shallum, son of Jabesh, assassinated him in public. The violence continues to escalate and the pace quickens.
Shallum-North-Israel
752 B.C. (1 month)
Shallum takes the throne after assassinating Zechariah and rules one month before being assassinated by Menahem son of Gadi, who takes the throne.
Menahem-North-Israel
752-742 B.C. (10 years)
Menahem did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not stop the worship of the golden calves of Jeroboam and he led the people in this sin. He sacked Tiphsa in Tirazh and ripped open all the pregnant women. Assyria invades and King Menahem pays tribute to keep power in Israel, taxing the people in order to do so.
Pekahiah, his son, is King after Menahem’s death.
Pekahiah-North-Israel
742-740 B.C. (2 years)
As King, Pekahiah continued to do evil in the eyes of the Lord as his father Menahem had done. He continued to lead Israel in the worship of Jeroboam’s two golden calves. His military captain, Pekah, and 50 Gileadites attack and assassinate him in the palace.
Pekah-North-Israel
752-732 B.C. (20 years)
Pekah also does evil in the eyes of the Lord by continuing the worship of Jeroboam’s calves and leading the people of Israel to do the same. In the reign of Ahaz, God uses Pekah to bring judgment on Judah for their forsaking of the Lord. He invades, causes heavy casualties and plunder’s the southern kingdom. The King of Assyria invades the northern territories and takes the people captive to Assyria. King Pekah is assassinated.
Jotham-South-Judah
750-732 B.C. (16 years)
King Uzziah’s son Jotham becomes King after his father’s death. He did right in the eyes of the Lord just as his father had but he did not enter the priestly part of the temple. The high places were not removed however and the people continued their corrupt practices. King Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple, fortified the wall and strengthened Judah’s boarder defenses.
He went to war with and defeated the Ammonites conquering their territory. And he gained power “because he walked steadfastly before his God.” In his day, God began to raise up the Arameans and Israel against Judah. Uzziah’s son Ahaz becomes King at his death.
Ahaz- South-Judah
732-715 B.C. (16 years)
King Ahaz rules Judah for sixteen years. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord as David had but walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel. He followed the “abominable practices” of the nations God had driven out of the land, including sacrificing his own son.
Ahaz cast idols of the Baals for Judah to worship and he increased the high places throughout Israel. God hands Judah over to Aram through military victory. “In his times of trouble he becomes even more unfaithful to God.” 2 Chronicles 28:22 And Ahaz begins to worship the gods of Damascus. He closes the doors of the Temple and builds up altars to other gods on every street corner in Jerusalem.
Trouble arises from the Edomites, Philistines and Israel and Ahaz makes an agreement with the King of Assyria to rescue Judah. He gives him all the gold and silver from the palace and the temple as a tribute. The Assyrians attack and take Damascus on Judah’s behalf.
Ahaz goes to Damascus to meet with the King of Assyria and visits the temple there. He is so impressed with the alter of their god that he sends a priest from Jerusalem to copy the alter and builds a duplicate inside the Temple in Jerusalem. This alter will now be used for sacrifices and God’s bronze alter will be used when the King inquires of the Lord.
Ahaz “promoted” wickedness in Judah and the nation “was humbled because of him.” The gods and idols he promoted and worshiped “were his downfall and the downfall of all of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 28:23
Ahaz died and his son Hezekiah becomes King in Judah.
Hoshea-North – Israel
732-722 B.C. (9 years)
Hoshea is the last King of Israel and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not as bad and Israel’s Kings before him. He stopped paying tribute to Assyria and seeks help from the Egyptians. The Assyrians invade and take him prisoner and the Assyrian military lays siege to Samaria for three years, finally taking the city and deporting the people to Assyria.
Now we read these sobering summarizing words:
“All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that provoked the LORD to anger. 12 They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.” 13 The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”
14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do. 16 They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 18 So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence. 21 When he tore Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin. 22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon[7], Cuthah[8], Avva[9], Hamath[10] and Sepharvaim[11] and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. 2 Kings 17
Hezekiah-South – Judah
715-689 B.C. (29 years)
Back in Judah the son of Ahaz, Hezekiah is taking reign. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, cut down the Asherah poles and smashed the bronze snake of Moses. There had been no one like him among all the Kings of Judah, before or after. He kept the commands of Moses and was successful in everything he undertook. King Hezekiah cut off the influence of Assyria and defeated the Philistines, all the way to Gaza.
In the fourth year of his reign, Samaria is attacked by Assyria and is over run. Ten years later Assyria again attacks Judah and they capture the fortified cities. Hezekiah offers to pay tribute and gives them all the silver from the palace and temple and the gold from the temple doors and doorposts.
In response the Assyrians challenge the people of Judah to rebel against Hezekiah saying he has torn down their real gods and now they are powerless. Hezekiah tells the people to be silent and to trust God. Then he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ashes and goes to the house of the Lord. The King sends a message to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. The prophet encourages Hezekiah the Lord will fight those who (unfinished sentence?)
Hezekiah receives the word of the prophet and takes it to the house of the Lord to pray. God answers, He will spare the city for David.
The next morning 85,000 Assyrians soldiers are mysteriously dead in their camp in the morning and the remaining troops withdraw to Nineveh.
Hezekiah is ill and the prophet says he will not recover. The King implores the Lord to remember all his faithfulness and wept bitterly. God sends the prophet back with the message that God will give him 15 more years and he is healed.
Babylon sends envoys to Judah and King Hezekiah shows them all his treasures. The prophet Isaiah comes to him with the message that God says that was mistake, they will come and take it all back to Babylon. But, this will not happen in his lifetime. The King says that is good at least they will have peace in his lifetime.
Manasseh-South – Judah
697-642 B.C. (55 years)
Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, succeeds him as King at the age of 12. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and followed the detestable practices of all the nations God had driven out. He rebuilt the high places, re-erected alters to Baal and Asherah that his father had destroyed. He bowed down to the stars and built two pagan alters in the temple. He sacrificed his own son, practiced sorcery, divination, consulted mediums and spiritists. He did and led Judah “so that they did more evil that the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.” 2 Chronicles 33:9 “Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end…” 2 Kings 21:16
At this time God said:
“I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem…” 2 Kings 21:13
God sends the Assyrians against Judah and they take Manasseh back to Babylon as prisoner. While there, Manasseh humbles himself before God and realizes how wrong he has been. Amazingly God hears his cry for help and makes a way for him to return to Jerusalem! “Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” 2 Chronicles 33:13
Manasseh begins a campaign to rebuild the outer wall of Jerusalem, remove the pagan altars and images from the temple and to rid Judah of foreign gods. But the people continued to worship at the high places.
Manasseh died and his son Amon replaces him.
Amon-South-Judah
642-640 B.C. (2 years)
King Amon became King at twenty-two years of age and continued to do evil in the eyes of the Lord as his father Manasseh had done. His own officials assassinated him in the palace. The people revolted and killed all the assassins and put Josiah, Amon’s son on the throne.
Josiah-South-Judah
640-609 B.C. (31 years)
Once again the best that God can do for leadership is a child. Amon’s son, Josiah took the throne of Judah at age 8. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of David. At the age of sixteen Josiah began to earnestly seek God and “did not turn from the right or the left.”
At age twenty the King began to purge Judah of all the high places Solomon had built, the Asherah poles and carved and cast images used for pagan worship. By the age of twenty-six Josiah turned his attention to the restoration of the Temple. During this process the priests find the Book of Law and read it to the King. Josiah commands the priest to enquire of God what His thoughts are about the people of Judah and their past:
“11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” 2 Kings 22
They consult the prophetess Hulda and “15 She said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 ‘This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. 20 Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’ ” 2 Kings 22
Josiah gather’s all the people of Jerusalem, great and small, along with the elders of Judah. The King reads to them the entire law and he leads them in making a covenment with the Lord to follow His commandments. They cleanse the Temple of pagan artifacts and depose the pagan priest worshipping there. He destroyed and defiled all the pagan high places including those where they had sacrificed their children. He continues this destruction even into Samaria, tearing down the high places that Jeraboam had built.
Then King Josiah returns to Jerusalem and the country celebrates Passover for first time since Samuel and the time of the Judges. Never before or after was there a king like Josiah who turned so completely to God and the Law of Moses.
“26 Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger. 27 So the LORD said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘There shall my Name be.’ ” 2 Kings 23
Egypt moves it’s army to the Euphrates to assist Assyria in battle and King Josiah goes out to confront the Pharaoh’s military. Neco, head of Egypt, tries to turn Josiah away telling him he has no fight with him. “ Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Neco had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.” 2 Chronicles 35:22
Josiah is wounded in this battle and dies in Jerusalem as a result. His son, Jehoahaz is chosen by the people to rule in his place.
Jehoahaz-South-Judah
609 B.C. (3 months)
Josiah’s son, who is twenty-three when he begins to reign, did evil in the eyes of the Lord just as his ancestors had done. The Pharaoh Neco takes Jehoahaz captive to Egypt and makes Eliakim his brother king in his stead. Egypt levies taxes on Judah and takes the silver and the gold from the people of the land to pay it. There is not enough left in the Temple and the palace.
The Pharaoh changes Eliahkim’s name to Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim-South-Judah
609-598 B.C. (11 years)
Jehoiakim is twenty-five when he takes the throne and he continues to do evil in the eyes of the Lord as his ancestors had done. During his time, Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon invades the land makes Jehoiakim his vassal and takes the wealth from the palace and the temple. Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar after three years and God sends Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites and Ammonites against him to destroy Judah.
2 Kings 24:2 He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely these things happened to Judah according to the LORD’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, 4 including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.”
Babylon takes control of the land from the Wadi of Egypt all the way to the Euphrates River. This is close to the original boundaries of the Garden of Eden and the original promise of land to Abraham.
Jehoiachin-South-Judah
598-597 B.C. (3 months 10 days)
Jehoiachin is Jehoiakim’s son and he replaces his father as King at the age of eighteen. He also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Soon after he is crowned, Babylon makes siege of Jerusalem and captures the city. Nebuchadnezzar takes the King, family and officials prisoner and sacks the palace and the temple:
2 Kings 24:14 He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left. 15 Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother, his wives, his officials and the leading men of the land. 16 The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand craftsmen and artisans.
Not only has Judah lost its’ land but now it loses all its’ talent and leadership. The land is left to those who have been most oppressed by the wickedness of Judah, the poor!
Mattaniah (Zedekiah)-South-Judah
597-586 B.C. (11 years)
Jehoiachin’s uncle Mattaniah, who is twenty-one, is appointed by Babylon to run Jeruselem under Nebuchadnezzar’s authority. His name is changed to Zedekiah. He does evil in the eyes of the Lord as Jehoiakim had. He refuses to humble himself at the word of the Lord brought by the prophet Jeremiah. He is stiff-necked and the leaders of the priests and the people themselves become even more unfaithful to the Lord and increase their detestable practices and defiling of the Temple.
Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon and they bring a siege against Jerusalem that lasts more than four months. Those left in the city along with the King and soldiers brake through walls and flee towards Arabah. Many are captured including the King and his family. All of Zedekiah’s sons are slaughtered before him and then he is blinded, bond and taken to Babylon.
The Babylonian military break down all the walls of the city, burned the house of the Lord, the King’s house and all the great houses of the city. Finally most of the people are taken to Babylon along with the rest of the gold, silver and all the bronze left from the house of the Lord. Only the poorest of the poor are left to dress the vines and till the land.
2 Chronicles 36:15 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.
“There was no remedy.” Like Adam and the Garden, Cain and his exile, the days of Noah and sons of Jacob, the violence and destructiveness of both Israel and Judah has reached the point of no return. In His mercy God sends them into exile, even while doing so promising them a time to return to their land and to Him. God is constantly faithful to Himself, His ways and His people.
Within the next 100 or so years the rulers of these same countries will be sending the people of Israel back to their land, rebuilding the Temple and paying to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. But the nation will not be restored to the glory days of Solomon. It will suffer occupation and exile by the Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, Syria and rule of the Hasmonean Dynasty. It will be known as Palestine for a millennium.
What is God laboring for us in this long and difficult history? What is He highlighting for our instruction of political justice? Is there anything here to teach us His ways for our nations in the 21st Century?
