Bible: Beginning to End - 2 Kings 1-17: The Divided Monarchy

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello and welcome back to Bible beginning to end, where we are reading through the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. As always, I won't be giving any commentary, but I will be stopping along the way to ask questions so that you can reflect on what God's word is saying and what God is saying to you through His Word. One thing I want you guys to know about, before we get started with today's episode, is that I have set up a type of newsletter that you can subscribe to so that you can get notified when I post a new episode. I'm doing this through the website substack, and it's free. You just click on the link in the description of this episode and type in your email, and then you'll get a notification when I post, which will usually only be when I have

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Starting point is 00:01:33 who listens, who contributes, who is a part of this really amazing community. So thank you for everything and your support throughout this process. Okay, now that that's all taken care of, today we're going to start a new book. We're going to start Second Kings, and it's continuing the story of First Kings, where we're learning about all the rulers throughout Israel and Judah and the things that happened to them during that time. And in Second Kings, today we're going to read through chapters 1 until chapter 17, which is known as a time called the divided monarchy. So I encourage you to relax, take a deep breath, and get ready as we dive in to Second Kings, Chapter 1, which starts with a section called Elijah confronts King Ahazia. Chapter 1, verse 1.

Starting point is 00:02:34 After King Ahab's death, the land of Moab rebelled against Israel. One day, Israel's new king Ahazia fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal Zibub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover. But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who is from Tishby, go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baalzab, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover? Now, therefore, this is what the Lord says.

Starting point is 00:03:18 You will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will surely die. So Elijah went to deliver the message. Okay, so pause there. Why does Elijah need to deliver a message to King Ahazia? What is Ahazia doing wrong that needs correction, that needs this message sent to him? Verse 5. When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them,

Starting point is 00:03:50 Why have you returned so soon? They replied, A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. This is what the Lord says. Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal's above, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover. Therefore, because you have done this,

Starting point is 00:04:12 you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will surely die. What sort of man was he? The king demanded. What did he look like? They replied, he was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. Elijah, from Tishby, the king exclaimed.

Starting point is 00:04:31 Then he sent an army captain with 50 soldiers to arrest him. They found him, sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us. But Elijah replied to the captain, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your 50 men. Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all. So the king sent another captain with 50 men.

Starting point is 00:05:02 The captain said to him, man of God, the king demands that you come down at once. Elijah replied, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your 50 men. And again, the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all. Once more, the king sent a third captain with 50 men. But this time, the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him,

Starting point is 00:05:33 Oh, man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these your 50 servants. See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please, spare my life. Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, Go down with him and don't be afraid of him. So Elijah got up and went with him to the king. Okay, so pause there. What do we learn about Elijah in this instance?

Starting point is 00:06:07 What do we learn about his faith and how strongly he believes in God? And what do we learn about Ahazia? Why do you think he sent three different groups of men? Why do you think he didn't believe the first time that Elijah was a man of God? Verse 16. And Elijah said to the king, this is what the Lord says. Why did you send messengers to Baalz above the god of Hecron to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question?

Starting point is 00:06:44 Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will surely die. So Ahazia died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah, since Ahazia did not have a son to succeed him, his brother, Joram, became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. The rest of the events in Ahazia's reign and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. Okay, so pause there. What do you think about all these kings?

Starting point is 00:07:21 Will we see another king who actually shows love for God? Or will we continue to see kings who fall away from God and worship other gods? What do you think is going to happen? Okay, so now we can start chapter two. Second Kings, chapter two, which begins with a section called Elijah taken into heaven. Chapter 2, verse 1. When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgall.

Starting point is 00:07:59 And Elijah said to Elisha, stay here. For the Lord has told me to go to Bethel. But Elisha replied, As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you. So they went down together to Bethel. Okay, so pause there. I want you to think about the relationship between Elijah and Elisha. Who are they?

Starting point is 00:08:26 How do they know each other? And what kind of relationship do they have? Have you ever had such a deep relationship with someone where you would say, as surely as the Lord lives and you live, I will never leave you. What kind of bond did they have? And how should we be treating each other? How does that give us a picture of how God loves us and how we should love each other? Verse 3.

Starting point is 00:09:01 The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today? Of course I know, Elisha answered, but be quiet about it. Then Elijah said to Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has called me to Jericho. But Elisha replied again, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you. So they went on together to Jericho. Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him,

Starting point is 00:09:38 Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today? Of course I know, Elisha answered, but be quiet about it. Then Elijah said to Elisha, Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River. But again, Elisha replied, As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you. So they went on together. Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. Then Elijah

Starting point is 00:10:17 folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground. Okay, so pause there. What does this image remember? mind you of, something that happened previously in the history of Israel. What does this show us about God's power? And we keep hearing prophets asking Elisha, do you know what's going to happen to Elijah? And he says, yes. Do you think Elijah knows what's going to happen? Verse 9. When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away. And Elisha replied, please, let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor. You have asked a difficult thing, Elijah replied. If you see me when I am taken from you,

Starting point is 00:11:26 then you will get your request. But if not, then you won't. As they were walking along and talking, Suddenly, a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, My father, my father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel. And as they disappeared from sight,

Starting point is 00:12:01 Elisha tore his clothes. in distress. Okay, I want you to think for a second about the scene that just happened. What did it look like? What do you think it felt like to be there and witness this? Why do you think Elijah was taken into heaven this way? How did Elisha react to this? Why do you think his reaction was so strong. What do you think it felt like for him to be there and witness this? And because he saw, Elijah carried away, what does that mean for Elisha? Verse 13. Elisha picked up Elijah's coat, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah's cloak and cried out,

Starting point is 00:13:12 where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? Then the river divided and Elisha went across. Okay, so pause there. I want you to think about Elisha. What do you think is going through his mind as he's picking up Elijah's cloak? The man he knew is gone. The man he cared for deeply, he had a strong relationship with his gone, and now he's picking up Elijah's cloak.

Starting point is 00:13:42 cloak, what does that cloak symbolize for Elisha? And we see Elisha perform the same miracle that Elijah did when they went across the river. What does that tell us about Elisha now? There was an Elisha before Elijah was taken away and there is an Elisha now after Elijah was taken away. What is the difference? Verse 15. When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance, what happened, they exclaimed, Elijah's spirit rests upon Elisha, and they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. Sir, they said,

Starting point is 00:14:29 just say the word, and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley. No, Elisha said, don't send them. But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, All right, send them. So 50 men searched for three days, but did not find Elijah. Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned.

Starting point is 00:15:04 Didn't I tell you not to go? He asked. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section. Reflect on the life of Elijah. Why was he so important in the community of Israel? Do you think Elisha will carry on his legacy, or will he turn away from God? Will he be different than Elisha? The next section is Elisha's first miracles. Verse 19. One day, the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. We have a problem, my lord, they told him.

Starting point is 00:15:45 This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. but the water is bad and the land is unproductive. Elisha said, bring me a new bowl with salt in it. So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, this is what the Lord says. I have purified this water.

Starting point is 00:16:13 It will no longer cause death or infertility. and the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said. Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. Go away, Baldie, they chanted, go away, baldy. Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. then two bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of them. From there, Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria.

Starting point is 00:16:57 Okay, so pause there. What are your first impressions of the two miracles that Elisha has performed? They're very different. You have the one with him purifying the water, and then you have the one with him sending the bears to attack the people who were mocking him. What do you think of these two stories and what are they telling us about Elisha? Okay, so now we can start Chapter 3, which begins with a section called War between Israel and Moab. Chapter 3, verse 1.

Starting point is 00:17:34 Ahab's son, Joram, began to rule over Israel in the 18th year of King Jehoshaphat's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria 12 years. He did what was evil in the Lord's side. but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up. Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam, son of Nabat, had committed, and led the people of Israel to commit. King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder.

Starting point is 00:18:10 He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But after Ahab's death, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So King Joram promptly mustered the army of Israel and marched from Samaria. On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him? And Jehosephat replied, why, of course.

Starting point is 00:18:42 You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my troops. My horses are your horses. Then Jehoshaphat asked, what root will we take? We will attack from the wilderness of Edom, Joram replied. The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals.

Starting point is 00:19:12 What should we do? The king of Israel cried out. The Lord has brought the three. of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us. But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him. One of King Joram's officers replied, Elisha, son of Shafat is here. He used to be Elijah's personal assistant. Jehosephat said yes, the Lord speaks through him. So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom, went to consult with

Starting point is 00:19:47 Elisha. Why are you coming to me? Elisha asked the king of Israel. Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother. Okay, so pause there. What is the predicament that the kings are in? And what information are they trying to seek through Elisha? But Elisha has an interesting response. Why do you think Elisha responds this way? He doesn't answer their question. He tells them to go to the pagan prophets. Why do you think that is? The rest of verse 13. But King Joram of Israel said, no. For it was the Lord who called us three kings here,

Starting point is 00:20:32 only to be defeated by the king of Moab. Elisha replied, As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn't even bother with you, except for my respect for King Jehosophat of Judah. Now bring me someone who can play the harp. Okay, pause there. Again, Elisha has kind of an interesting response. Why do you think he responds this way?

Starting point is 00:20:57 And then why do you think he asks for a harp? Okay, the rest of verse 15. While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha. And he said, this is what the Lord says. This dry valley will be filled with pools of water. You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord. But this valley will be filled. be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab. You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin their good land with stones.

Starting point is 00:21:55 Okay, so pause there. How did Elisha answer the kings? How do you see God working through Elisha? Verse 20. The next day, at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared. It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water, everywhere. Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border. But when they got up the next morning,

Starting point is 00:22:40 the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites, like blood. It's blood, the Moabites exclaimed, that three armies must have attacked and killed each other. Let's go, Minam Moab, and collect the plunder. But when the Moabites arrived at the Israeli, Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.

Starting point is 00:23:12 They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kerr Horaceath and its stone walls were left. But men with slings surrounded and attacked it. When the king of Moab saw that he was losing the battle, he led 700 of his swordsmen in a desperate attempt to break through the enemy lines near the king of Edom, but they failed. Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger against Israel, and the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land. Okay, so pause there. Did Elisha's prophecy come true?

Starting point is 00:24:06 What does that tell us about Elisha and his relationship with God and how God works? Okay, so now we can start the next chapter, which is Second King's, Chapter 4. This begins with a section called Elisha helps a poor widow. Chapter 4, verse 1. One day, the widow of a member of the group of, of prophets, came to Elisha and cried out, My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come threatening to take my two sons as slaves.

Starting point is 00:24:48 What can I do to help you? Elisha asked. Tell me, what do you have in the house? Nothing at all except a flask of olive oil, she replied. And Elisha said, borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled. So she did, as she was told.

Starting point is 00:25:18 Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon, every container was full to the brim. Bring me another jar, she said to one of her sons. There aren't anymore, he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.

Starting point is 00:25:48 Okay, so pause there. How did Elisha help this woman in need? And why do you think he asked her to go fill all these olive oil jars before telling her what the ultimate plan was? Why did he wait until the end to tell her what to do with the olive oil jars? oil and how she would be able to pay off her debts. The next section is Elisha and the woman from Shunem. Verse 8.

Starting point is 00:26:16 One day, Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. She said to her husband, I'm sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. Let's build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by. Okay, so pause there.

Starting point is 00:26:48 How do you think this woman knew that Elisha was a holy man of God? Verse 11. One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to this upper room to rest. He said to his servant, Ghasi, Tell the woman from Shunem, I want to speak with her. When she appeared, Elisha said to Gahazi, tell her, we appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?

Starting point is 00:27:22 No, she replied, my family takes good care of me. Later, Elisha asked Gahazi, what can we do for her? Gahazi replied, she doesn't have a son, and her husband is an old man. call her back again, Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway. Next year, at this time, you will be holding a son in your arms. Oh, my lord, she cried. Oh, man of God, don't deceive me and get my hopes up like that.

Starting point is 00:27:56 But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time, the following year, she had a son just as Elisha had said. One day, when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters. Suddenly he cried out, my head hurts. My head hurts. His father said to one of the servants, carry him home to his mother. So the servant took him home and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime, he died.

Starting point is 00:28:30 She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. then shut the door and left him there. She sent a message to her husband, send one of the servants and a donkey, so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back. Why go today, he asked. It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath, but she said, it will be all right.

Starting point is 00:28:55 So she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, Hurry, don't slow down until I tell you to. As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Olaisha saw her in distress. He said to Gahazi, Look, the woman from Shunem is coming. We're not to meet her and ask her. Is everything all right with you, your husband, and your child?

Starting point is 00:29:15 Yes, the woman told Gahazi, everything is fine. But when she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground before him and caught hold of his feet. Gahazi began to push her away, but the man of God said, Leave her alone. She is deeply troubled, but the Lord has not told me what it is. Then she said, did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn't I say, don't deceive me, and get my hopes up?

Starting point is 00:29:41 Then Elisha said to Cahazi, get ready to travel, take my staff and go. Don't talk to anyone along the way, go quickly, and lay the staff on the child's face. But the boy's mother said, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won't go home unless you go with me. So Elisha returned with her. Okay, so pause there. First of all, the question I have that you might have as well, why would God bless this woman with a child only to have him die? And then why do you think when she gets to Elisha, he doesn't know what's going on? He doesn't know that her son has died. Why do you think he says, the Lord hasn't told me yet what's going on? And then Elisha tells Ghasie to go with the staff, to save her son, but she says that she wants Elisha to come with them. Why do you think she wants Elisha to come himself?

Starting point is 00:30:48 Verse 31. Gahazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child's face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, The child is dead. When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet's bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord, and he lay down on the child's body, placing his mouth on the child's mouth,

Starting point is 00:31:17 his eyes on the child's eyes, and his hands on the child's hands. Then as he stretched out on him, the child's body began to grow warm again. Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his. his eyes. Then Elisha summoned Gahazi, called the child's mother, he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, here, take your son. She fell at his feet and bowed before him overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs. Okay, so pause there.

Starting point is 00:32:00 Why do you think God chose to save this child? This is not the only time someone is brought back from the dead in the Bible. This isn't even the first time we've seen something like this happen. We saw this happen with Elijah in 1st Kings 17, and this won't be the last. There will be a few instances of people being raised from the dead. So why do you think God chose this boy to be raised from the dead? What do we learn about God's power? And what do we learn about the prophets and how God He used them in the Old Testament and throughout the Bible from this passage and this story. The next section is Miracles During a Famine, Verse 38. Elisha now returned to Gilgall, and there was a famine in the land.

Starting point is 00:33:00 One day as the group of prophets was seated before him, he said to his servant, put a large pot on the fire and make some stew for the rest of the group. One of the young men went out into the field to gather herbs and come back with a pocket full of wild gourds. He shredded them and put them into the pot without realizing they were poisonous. Some of the stew was served to the men. But after they had eaten a bite or two, they cried out, Man of God, there's poison in this stew. So they would not eat it.

Starting point is 00:33:33 Elisha said, bring me some flour. Then he threw it into the pot and said, Now it's all right. go ahead and eat, and then it did not harm them. One day a man from Baal Shalisha brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and 20 loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, give it to the people so they can eat. What?

Starting point is 00:33:57 His servant exclaimed, feed a hundred people with only this. But Elisha repeated, Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the Lord says, everyone will eat. and there will even be some left over. And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all, and some left over, just as the Lord had promised. Okay, so pause there. We see a couple of miracles in this section.

Starting point is 00:34:24 What is the purpose of these miracles? Why does God perform miracles? Why does God perform them through prophets? How do we see God providing in this section? And how do we see Elisha showing his trust in God? Okay, so now we can start, Second Kings, Chapter 5, which begins with a section called the Healing of Na'amun. Chapter 5, verse 1.

Starting point is 00:34:59 The king of Aram had great admiration for Na'amun, the commander of his army, because through him, the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Na'amon was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. At this time, Aramian raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Na'amun's wife as a maid. One day, the girl said to her mistress, I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy, so Na'amun told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. Go and visit the prophet, the king of Aram told him.

Starting point is 00:35:41 I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the King of Israel. So Na'amun started out, carrying his gifts, 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 sets of clothing. The letter to the King of Israel said, With this letter, I present my servant Na'amun, I want you to heal him of his leprosy. When the King of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, am I God that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone of leprosy? I can see that he's just trying to pick a fight with me. Okay, so pause there. Why is Na'amun

Starting point is 00:36:25 traveling to the king of Israel? Why do you think the king of Israel reacts this way? What does that show us about his faith? Verse 8. But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him. Why are you so upset? Send Na'amun to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel. So Na'amon went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha's house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message. Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored and you will be healed of leprosy. but Na'amun became angry and stalked away.

Starting point is 00:37:18 I thought he would certainly come out to meet me, he said. I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me. Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Abana, and the Farper, better than any of the rivers in Israel? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed? So Na'amon turned and went away in a rage. Okay, so pause there.

Starting point is 00:37:43 Why do you think Na'amun reacted in this way? He's traveled all this way to specifically see this prophet. And when he gets there, Elisha tells him what to do, and he becomes angry. Why is he angry? What does this tell us about who Na'amun is and his spirit? Or do you have empathy for Na'amun? Do you understand where he's coming from? He goes all this way, and he has these expectations, and when he gets there, it's different than what he is. expected? Have you ever had an experience where you're really excited about something? You're hopeful for something and you get there and it's not what you expected? What was your reaction? How did you feel in that moment? Verse 13. But his officers tried to reason with him and said,

Starting point is 00:38:38 sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply go and wash and be cured. So Na'amun went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times as the man of God had instructed him, and his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed. Okay, so pause there. Who convinced Na'amun to finally go in the water and be healed? What does that show us about the importance of having wise people around us? and something that really stuck out to me in that passage was his officers said,

Starting point is 00:39:25 if he'd ask you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you've done it? So isn't it that much easier to do something so simple as go wash in the river? And it made me think about faith in general. You know, these officers knew that Elisha was a strong man of God and that he was trustworthy. But Na'amun wanted to make what he said really complicated instead of just listening and doing. And sometimes I think about that with our own faith. You know, it's simple. If you really think about it, believe in God and go, build a relationship with him.

Starting point is 00:40:08 But we like to make it really complicated sometimes. And so I would ask you the same question. If God asks you to do something difficult, would you do it? so you should certainly obey him when he says to simply trust me. That's just something that I hope encourages you that if we see God as this trustworthy God of all creation, then how does that change the way we view the call of, follow me, believe in me?

Starting point is 00:40:42 Verse 15. Then Na'amun and his entire party went back to the man of God. They stood before him, and Na'amun said, now I know there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant. But Elisha replied, as surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts. And though Na'amun urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused. Then Na'amun said, all right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place,

Starting point is 00:41:16 and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other God except the Lord. However, may the Lord pardon me in this one thing. When my master the king goes into the temple of the God Riemann to worship there and leans on my army, may the Lord pardon me when I bow to. Go in peace, Elisha said, so Na'amun started home. again. Okay, so pause there. How did this experience impact Na'amun? How did it change his life? This is an example of someone's conversion, someone experiencing God for the first time. Have you had an experience like that? What was it like before you knew God and when you realized, oh, God is real? And this is real. And what I'm feeling is real. What was that odd?

Starting point is 00:42:18 moment like for you. And if you haven't had an aha moment like that, that's okay. I know a lot of people here are getting back into the word or they're just beginning to learn about God or you're here because you're curious about God. You may not believe in God. So you can also reflect on what you've learned so far, what you think about it, what God might be telling you today about His Word. Okay, so the next section is the greed of Gahazi. But Gahazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, My master should not have let this Aramian get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.

Starting point is 00:43:12 So Gahazi set off after Na'amun. When Na'amon saw Gahazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. "'Is everything all right?' Na'amun asked. "'Yes,' Gahazi said. "'But my master has sent me to tell you "'that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. "'He would like seventy-five pounds of silver "'and two sets of clothing to give them.'

Starting point is 00:43:38 "'By all means, take twice as much silver,' Na'amon insisted. "'He gave him two sets of clothing, "'tied up the money in two bags, "'and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gahazi. "'But when they arrived, At the citadel, Ghazi took the gifts from the servant and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house. When he went into his master, Elisha said to him,

Starting point is 00:44:05 Where have you been, Gahazi? I haven't been anywhere, he replied. But Elisha asked him, Don't you realize that I was there in spirit when Na'amun stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive growth? and vineyards, sheep, and cattle, and male and female servants? Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Na'amun's leprosy forever. When Gahazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy.

Starting point is 00:44:38 His skin was white as snow. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think Gahazi took advantage of Na'amun? And why did he think that Elisha would never find out? And what do you think about his punishment? What does this section show us about greed and how money can negatively impact our lives? Okay, so now we can start chapter six, which begins with a section called the Floating Axehead. Chapter 6 verse 1.

Starting point is 00:45:22 One day, the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, as you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. Let's go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet. All right, he told them, go ahead. Please come with us, someone suggested. I will, he said. So he went with them.

Starting point is 00:45:46 When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his axe head fell into the river. Oh, sir, he cried. It was a borrowed axe. Where did it fall? the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick

Starting point is 00:46:04 and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the axe head floated to the surface. Grab it, Elisha said, and the man reached out and grabbed it. The next section is, Elisha traps the Aramians. Verse 8. When the king of Aram was at war with Israel,

Starting point is 00:46:25 he would confer with his officers and say, we will mobilize our forces at such and such a place. But immediately, Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel. Do not go near that place, for the Aramians are planning to mobilize their troops there. So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again, Elisha warned the king so that he would be on alert there. The king of Aram became very upset. set over this. He called his officers together and demanded, which of you is the traitor?

Starting point is 00:47:04 Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans? It's not us, my lord, the king, one of the officers replied. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel, even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom. Okay, so pause there. What does that reveal to us about Elisha and the power he has through God. Verse 13. Go and find out where he is, the king commanded, so I can send troops

Starting point is 00:47:37 to seize him. And the report came back. Elisha is at Dauphin. So one night, the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning

Starting point is 00:47:55 and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. Oh, sir, what will we do now? The young man cried to Elisha. Don't be afraid, Elisha told him, for there are more on our side than on theirs. Then Elisha prayed,

Starting point is 00:48:15 O Lord, open his eyes and let him see. The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. As the Aramian army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, O Lord, please make them blind. So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.

Starting point is 00:48:40 Then Elisha went out and told them, You have come the wrong way. This isn't the right city. Follow me and I will take you to the man you are looking for. And he led them to the city of Samaria. As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see. So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.

Starting point is 00:49:08 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them? Of course not, Elisha replied. Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their children. master. So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramian raiders stayed away from the land of Israel. Okay, so pause there. How did Elisha rely on God to bring victory against the Aramians? How can we rely on God in our day-to-day lives

Starting point is 00:49:52 in ways that we may not even think are possible or ways that we forget to do? The next section is Ben Hadad besieges Samaria, verse 24. Some time later, however, King Ben Hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria. As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey's head sold for 80 pieces of silver, and a cup of dove's dung sold for five pieces of silver. Okay, so pause there. What do those prices mean? What do they tell us about the state of the society at this time after the siege? Verse 26. One day, as the king of Israel was walking along the wall of the city, a woman called to him,

Starting point is 00:50:52 please help me, my lord the king. He answered, If the Lord doesn't help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor one. wine from the press to give you. But then the king asked, what is the matter? She replied, This woman said to me, come on, let's eat your son today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow. So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, kill your son so we can eat him. But she has hidden her son. When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the King walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin. May God strike me and even kill me if I don't separate Elisha's head

Starting point is 00:51:46 from his shoulders this very day, the king vowed. Okay, so pause there. What is going on in society right now? You might be very shocked from the story that woman told. What do you think about it? why do you think that this evil thing is happening right now? And then what do you think of the king's reaction? Why is he saying that he must kill Elisha today? Verse 32. Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders of Israel when the king sent a messenger to summon him.

Starting point is 00:52:26 But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, A murderer has sent a man to cut off my head. When he arrives, shut the door, and keep him out. We will soon hear his master's steps following him. While Elisha was saying this, the messenger arrived and the king said, all this misery is from the Lord.

Starting point is 00:52:50 Why should I wait for the Lord any longer? Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 6. Why do you think the king is blaming everything that's happening on the Lord? And how do you think Elisha is going to respond? to this. Okay, chapter seven picks up right here, and it starts with Elisha's response. So chapter seven, verse one, Elisha replied, listen to this message from the Lord. This is what the Lord says. By this time tomorrow, in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.

Starting point is 00:53:40 The officer, assisting the king, said to the man of God, That couldn't happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven. But Elisha replied, You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won't be able to eat any of it. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think they won't be able to eat any of it? The next section is Outcasts visit the enemy camp. Verse 3.

Starting point is 00:54:08 Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. Why should we sit here waiting to die? They asked each other. We will starve if we stay here. But with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramian army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.

Starting point is 00:54:33 So at twilight, they set out for the camp of the Aramians. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there. for the Lord had caused the Aramian army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. The King of Israel has hired the Hittites and the Egyptians to attack us, they cried to one another, so they panicked and ran into the night abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else as they fled for their lives. When the man with leprosy arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another eating and drinking wine, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it.

Starting point is 00:55:21 Finally, they said to each other, this is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren't sharing it with anyone. If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let's go back and tell the people at the palace. So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. We went out to the Aramian camp, they said, and no one was there. The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn't a single person around. Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace. Okay, so pause there. Why is it significant that the Aramian camp is empty?

Starting point is 00:56:03 What does this mean for Israel? And how did God have a hand in drawing the Aramians away from their camp? The next section is Israel plunders the camp, verse 12. The king got out of bed in the middle of the night and told his officers, I know what has happened. The Iranians know we're starving. So they have left their camp and have hidden in the fields. They are expecting us to leave the city.

Starting point is 00:56:37 And then they will take us alive and capture the city. One of the officers replied, we had better send out scouts to check into this. Let them take five of the remaining horses. If something happens to them, it will be no worse than if they stay here and dive with the rest of us. So two chariots with horses were prepared, and the king sent scouts to see what had happened to the Aramian army. They went all the way to the Jordan River, following a trail of clothing and equipment that the Aramians had thrown away in their mad rush to escape. The scouts returned and told the king about it. Then the people of Samaria rushed out and plundered the Aramian camp.

Starting point is 00:57:18 So it was true that six quarts of choice flour were sold that day for one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain were sold for one piece of silver, just as the Lord had promised. Okay, so pause there. Why is it significant that these things were sold for one piece of silver? what are they referring to? What promise from God are they talking about? Verse 17, the king appointed his officer to control the traffic at the gate, but he was knocked down and trampled to death as the people rushed out. So everything happened exactly as the man of God had predicted when the king came to his house.

Starting point is 00:58:03 The man of God had said to the king, by this time tomorrow, in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour, will cost, one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver. The king's officer had replied, that couldn't happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven and the man of God had said, you will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won't be able to eat any of it. And so it was, for the people trampled him to death at the gate. Okay, so pause there. What is this story revealed to us about Elisha? And why do you think they include the conversation he had with the officer again?

Starting point is 00:58:49 Because we have it earlier in the chapter, and then here at the end, they repeat everything word for word. Why do you think they have that repetition? And then what does this story teach us about God as the provider? How does it show God providing for Israel? How does God provide for us in our daily lives? Okay, so now we can start chapter 8. which begins with a section called The Woman from Shunem returns home. Chapter 8, verse 1.

Starting point is 00:59:29 Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, take your family, and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years. So the woman did, as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. After the famine ended, she returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to see the king about getting back her house and land. As she came in, the king was talking with Gahazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said,

Starting point is 01:00:06 Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done. And Gahazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land. Look, my lord the king, Gazi exclaimed, here's the woman now, and this is her son, the very one Elisha brought back to life. Is this true? The king asked her, and she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think they include this story that's a little follow-up

Starting point is 01:00:54 about the woman from Shemam and her son? Does this give us any more insight into who Elisha is and the work God did through him? The next section is Haziel murders Ben Haddad. Verse 7. Elijah went to Damascus, the capital of Aram, where King Ben Hadad lay sick. When someone told the king that the man of God had come, the king said to Hasiel, take a gift to the man of God, then tell him to ask the Lord, will I recover from this illness? So Hasiel loaded down 40 camels with the finest products of Damascus as a gift for Elisha. He went to him and said, your servant Ben Haddad, the king of Aram, has sent me to ask. Will I recover from this illness?

Starting point is 01:01:47 And Elisha replied, go and tell him you will surely recover. But actually, the Lord has shown me that he will surely die. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think Elisha told Haziel to tell the king that he would recover from the illness when Elisha knew that the king would die? Is Elisha telling him to lie to the king? or does Elisha know that he's going to die from something else? How do you think Elisha would give these instructions?

Starting point is 01:02:27 Verse 11. Elisha stared at Haziel with a fixed gaze until Haziel became uneasy. Then the man of God started weeping. What's the matter, my lord? Haziel asked him. Elisha replied, I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities. Kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open

Starting point is 01:02:56 their pregnant women. Haziel responded, how could a nobody like me ever accomplish such great things? Elisha answered, The Lord has shown me that you are going to be the king of Aram. Okay, so pause there. When Elisha delivers this prophecy to Hazio, how does he feel? feel? What does it say he's doing when he gives this prophecy? And what does that tell us about how Elisha feels about the prophecy he's been given? And then how does Haseel respond? He says, how could a nobody like me ever accomplish such great things? What do you think about his response there?

Starting point is 01:03:42 What does that tell us about him and what he thinks about this prophecy? Verse 14. When Haziel left Elisha and went back, the king asked him, what did Elisha tell you? And Haseel replied, He told me that you will surely recover. But the next day, Haziel took a blanket, soaked it in water, and held it over the king's face until he died. Then Haziel became the next king of Aram. Okay, so pause there. This is an interesting turn of events. So we've seen Haziel before. Actually, if you go back and look at First Kings 1915, God asks Elijah to anoint him as king over Aram. So why do you think Haseel chose to kill the king? And do you think what Elisha prophesied is going to come true about Haziel? And why do you think God would anoint

Starting point is 01:04:53 a king when he knew Haziel was going to commit these atrocities. The next section is Jehoram rules in Judah. Verse 16. Jehoram, son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, began to rule over Judah in the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel. Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab's daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord's sight. But the Lord did not want to destroy Judah, for he had promised his servant David that his descendants would continue to rule shining like a lamp forever. Okay, so pause there. Why was it so important that Judah's line

Starting point is 01:05:51 continue? Why did the Lord not want to destroy Judah? Verse 20. During Jehorum's reign, the Edomites revolted against Judah and crowned their own king. So Jehoram went with all his chariots to attack the town of Zyre. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them under cover of darkness. But Jehoram's army deserted him and fled to their homes. So Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libna also revolted. about that same time. The rest of the events in Jehoram's reign and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When Jehoram died, he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. Then his son Ahazia became the next king. Okay, so pause there. Do you think

Starting point is 01:06:54 there will be any more kings who actually stay true to God, or will we continue to see this line of kings who fall away from God and do things that God does not approve of. Why do you think there are so many kings who are doing evil, so many kings who have fallen away from God? And when they do finally meet Jesus in the New Testament, the true king of Israel, the perfect king, how do you think they will feel once they see what a true king should be like? Okay, so the next section,

Starting point is 01:07:38 is Ahazia rules in Judah. Verse 25. Ahazia, son of Jehoram, began to rule over Judah in the 12th year of the reign of Joram, son of Ahab, king of Israel. Ahazia was 22 years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athalia, a granddaughter of King Amri of Israel. Ahazia followed the evil example of King Ahab's family. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight. just as Ahab's family had done, for he was related by marriage to the family of Ahab. Ahazia joined Joram, son of Ahab in his war against King Hazielvarum at Ramoth Gilead. When the Aramians wounded King Joram in the battle, he returned to Jazeal to recover from the wounds he had received at Ramath.

Starting point is 01:08:31 Because Joram was wounded, King Ahazia of Judah went to Jesreal to visit him. Okay, so now we can see him. start chapter nine, Second Kings, Chapter 9, which begins with a section called Jehu, Anointed King of Israel. Chapter 9, verse 1. Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. Get ready to travel, he told him, and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth Gilead and find Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Call him into a private room away from his friends and pour the oil over.

Starting point is 01:09:08 his head, say to him, this is what the Lord says, I anoint you to be the king over Israel. Then open the door and run for your life. Okay, so pause there. That's a very interesting set of instructions. Of course, we have the anointing of a king. Pretty straightforward. But then Elisha says to the young prophet, run for your life. Why do you think he gives him that instruction at the end?

Starting point is 01:09:36 You might look back at 1 Kings 19 again verses 16 to 18 and it might give you a little insight into why Elisha would say this to him. Verse 4. So the young prophet did as he was told

Starting point is 01:09:56 and went to Ramoth Gilead. When he arrived there, he found Jayhu sitting around with the other army officers. I have a message for you, commander, he said. For which one of us? Jayhu asked.

Starting point is 01:10:10 For you, You, commander, he replied. So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the olive oil over Jehu's head and said, This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. I anoint you, king, over the Lord's people, Israel. You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord's servants who were killed by Jezebel.

Starting point is 01:10:41 The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. I will destroy the family of Ahab as I destroyed the families of Jeroboam, son of Nabat, and of Baasha, son of Ahijah. Dogs will eat Ahab's wife, Jezebo, at the plot of land in Jezrael, and no one will bury her. Then the young prophet opened the door and ran. Okay, so pause there. Do you remember what happened in the story of Jezebel? Do you remember what happened with Ahab?

Starting point is 01:11:30 Why does the prophet give Jehu these specific instructions? Is this fulfilling a prophecy that was delivered in First Kings? Verse 11, Jahou went back to his fellow officers, and one of them asked him, What did that madman want? Is everything all right? You know how a man like that babbles on, Jehu replied. You're hiding something, they said. Tell us. So Jehu told them,

Starting point is 01:12:02 He said to me, this is what the Lord says. I have anointed you to be king over Israel. Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram's horn, shouting, Jahu is king. Okay, so pause there. We have this new king anointed, Jehu, and he has these very specific instructions from God. Do you think this is going to be a turning point? Do you think this is going to change anything in Israel? Okay, so the next section is Jehu kills Joram and Ahazia.

Starting point is 01:12:37 Verse 14. So Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, led a conspiracy against King Joram. Now Joram had been with the army at Ramoth Gilead, defending Israel. against the forces of King Hasiel of Aram. But King Joram was wounded in the fighting and returned to Jesreal to recover from his wounds. So Jihu told the men with him, If you want me to be king, don't let anyone leave town and go to Jezreel to report what we have done. Then Jahu got into a chariot and rode to Jazeal to find King Joram, who was lying there wounded. King Ahaziev was there too, for he had gone to visit him.

Starting point is 01:13:20 The watchman on the Tower of Jesreal saw Jayhu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram. I see a company of troops coming. Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace. King Joram ordered. So a horseman went out to meet Jahou and said, The king wants to know if you are coming in peace. Jayhue replied, What do you know about peace?

Starting point is 01:13:43 Fallen behind me. The watchman called out to the king. The messenger has met them, but he's not returning. So the king sent out a second horseman. He wrote up to them and said, The king wants to know if you come in peace. Again, Jehu answered, What do you know about peace?

Starting point is 01:14:02 Fallen behind me. The watchman exclaimed. The messenger has met them, but he isn't returning either. It must be Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving like a madman. Quick, get my chariot ready, King Joram commanded.

Starting point is 01:14:17 then King Joram of Israel and King Ahazia of Judah rode out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of land that had belonged to Nabath of Jezrael. King Joram demanded, do you come in peace, Jahu? Jahou replied, how can there be peace, as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel, are all around us? Then King Joram turned the horses around and fled, shouting to King Ahazia, trees in Ahazia. But Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he sank down dead in his chariot.

Starting point is 01:15:01 Jayhu said to Bikkar, his officer, Throw him into the plot of land that belonged to Nabath of Jazeal. Do you remember when you and I were riding along behind his father Ahab? The Lord pronounced this message against him. I solemnly swear that I will repay him here on this plot of land, says the Lord, for the murder of Naboth and his sons that I saw yesterday. So throw him out on Naboth's property just as the Lord, said. When King Ahazia of Judah saw what was happening, he fled along the road to Beth Hagen.

Starting point is 01:15:39 Jahu rode after him, shouting, shoot him too. So they shot Ahazia in his chariot. at the ascent of Gur, near Ibrahim. He was able to go as far as Megadog, but he died there. His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem, where they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David. Ahazia had become king over Judah in the 11th year of the reign of Joram, son of Ahab. Okay, so pause there.

Starting point is 01:16:08 How is God fulfilling his prophecy through Jehu? The next section is The Death of Jezebel. Verse 30. When Jezebel, the Queen Mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezrael, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair, and sat at a window. When Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted at him, Have you come in peace, you murderer? You're just like Zimri, who murdered his master.

Starting point is 01:16:40 Jayhu looked up and saw her at the window and shouted, Who is on my side? and two or three eunuchs looked out at him. Throw her down, Jehu yelled. So they threw her out the window, and her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. And Jehu trampled her body under his horse's hooves. Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank.

Starting point is 01:17:09 Afterward, he said, Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king. But when they went out to bury her, they found only her skull, her feet, and her hands. When they returned and told Jehu, he stated, This fulfills the message from the Lord, which he spoke through his servant, Elijah, from Tishby. At the plot of land in Jesreal, dogs will eat Jezebel's body. Her remains will be scattered like dung on the plot of land in Jezreel.

Starting point is 01:17:45 so that no one will be able to recognize her. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 9. When Jezebel sees Jehu, why does she refer to Zimri? Who was Zimri? And why do you think she would refer to him right now? And then, what do you think about what happened to Jezebel? Does it align with what God said would happen to Jezebel? Why was she punished in this way?

Starting point is 01:18:20 And what do you think Jehu is going to do next? And how do you think Jehu is going to impact Israel and possibly Judah as well? Okay, so now we can start Chapter 10, which begins with a section called Jehu kills Ahab's family. 2 Kings chapter 10 verse 1. Ahab had 70 sons living in the city of Samaria, so Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the elders and officials of the city, and to the guardians of King, Ahab's sons. He said, The king's sons are with you, and you have at your disposal, chariots, horses, a fortified city,

Starting point is 01:19:07 and weapons. As soon as you received this letter, select the best qualified of your master's sons to be your king and prepare to fight for Ahab's dynasty. But they were paralyzed with fear and said, We've seen that two kings couldn't stand against this man. What can we do? So the palace and city administrators, together with the elders and the guardians of the king's sons, sent this message to Jehu. We are your servants and will do anything you tell us. We will not make anyone king, do whatever you think is best. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think Jehu sent this message to the elders and officials of the city, letting them know what was going to happen? And then why did the elders and officials choose to be on Jayhu's side rather than try and fight him.

Starting point is 01:20:06 Verse 6. Jehu responded with a second letter, If you are on my side and are going to obey me, bring the heads of your master's sons to me at Jezrael by this time tomorrow. Now the 70 sons of the king were being cared for by the leaders of Samaria, where they had been raised since childhood. When the letters arrived, the leaders killed all. 70 of the king's sons. They placed their heads in baskets and presented them to Jehu at Jezrael. A messenger went to Jehu and said, They have brought the heads of the king's sons.

Starting point is 01:20:43 So Jehu ordered, pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate, and leave them there until morning. In the morning, he went out and spoke to the crowd that had gathered around them. You are not to blame, he told them. I am the one who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? You can be sure that the message of the Lord that was spoken concerning Ahab's family will not fail. The Lord declared, through his servant Elijah, that this would happen. Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab's relatives living in Jezrael

Starting point is 01:21:20 and all his important officials, his personal friends, and his priests. So Ahab was left without a single survivor. Okay, so Paul is there. Jehu said that Elijah said this would happen. Elijah, prophet of the Lord, said this would happen. Do you remember when Elijah said that and what he said would happen to Ahab? And do you remember why Ahab and his family are being punished? And if you look back at 1st Kings 21, 17 to 21.

Starting point is 01:21:56 17 to 24, and you see Elijah's prophecy, did Jehu follow what God asked him to do, what God said would happen to Ahab's family, or did he take it too far? Were other people affected by Jahu's actions that were not intended to be affected based on Elijah's prophecy? Verse 12. Then Jayhu set out for Samaria. Along the way, while he was, at Beth Eckett of the shepherds, he met some relatives of King Ahazia of Judah. Who are you? he asked them. And they replied, we are relatives of King Ahazia. We are going to visit the sons of King Ahab and the sons of the queen mother. Take them alive, Jayhu shouted to his men, and they captured all 42 of them and killed them at the well of Beth Akid. None of them escaped.

Starting point is 01:22:54 When Jayhu left there, he met Jahanadab, son of Reckub, who was. coming to meet him. After they had greeted each other, Jayhu said to him, are you as loyal to me as I am to you? Yes, I am, Jahanadab replied. If you are, Jayhu said, then give me your hand. So Jahanadab put out his hand, and Jayhu helped him into the chariot. Then Jayhu said, Now come with me and see how devoted I am to the Lord. So Jahanadab rode along with him. When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he killed everyone who was left there from Ahab's family, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Okay, so the next section is Jehu kills the priests of Baal. Verse 18. Then Jehu called a meeting of all the people of the city and said to them,

Starting point is 01:23:49 Ahab's worship of Baal was nothing compared to the way I will worship him. Therefore, summon all the prophets and worshippers of Ba'al and call together all his priests. See to it that every one of them comes, for I am going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. Anyone who fails to come will be put to death. But Jahu's cunning plan was to destroy all the worshippers of Ba'al. Then Jehu ordered, Prepare a solemn assembly to worship Ba'al. So they did.

Starting point is 01:24:23 He sent messengers to the people. throughout all Israel, summoning those who worshipped Ba'al. They all came. Not a single one remained behind, and they filled the temple of Ba'al from one end to the other. And Jehu instructed the keeper of the wardrobe. Be sure that every worshipper of Baal wears one of these robes, so ropes were given to them.

Starting point is 01:24:49 Then Jehu went into the temple of Baal with Jahanadab, son of Rakab. Jahou said to the worshippers of Ba'al, make sure no one who worships the Lord is here, only those who worship Ba'al. So they were all inside the temple to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed 80 of his men outside the building and had warned them. If you let anyone escape, you will pay for it with your own life. As soon as Jehu had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, he commanded his guards and officers.

Starting point is 01:25:26 Go in and kill all of them. Don't let a single one escape. So they killed them all with their swords, and the guards and officers dragged their bodies outside. Then Jehu's men went into the innermost fortress of the temple of Ba'al. They dragged out the sacred pillar used in the worship of Baal and burned it. They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet,

Starting point is 01:25:55 as it remains to this day. In this way, Jehu destroyed every trace of Ba'al worship from Israel. He did not, however, destroy the golden calves at Bethel and Dan, with which Jeroboam, son of Nabat, had caused Israel to sin. Nonetheless, the Lord said to Jehu, You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of His sons. Israel down to the fourth generation. But Jehu did not obey the law of the Lord, the God of Israel

Starting point is 01:26:32 with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think Jehu had to destroy all these people who were worshipping Ba'al? Try to piece out, why did it have to happen this way? And why do you think that God says that Jayhue's family is going to lead to the fourth generation. Why not the fifth? Why not the third? What's specific about the fourth generation? And then why do you think Jehu turns away from God? It says that he does not obey the law of the Lord with all his heart. What do you think caused this? The next section is the death of Jehu. Verse 32. At about that time, the Lord began to cut down the size of Israel.

Starting point is 01:27:31 territory. King Haziel conquered several sections of the country east of the Jordan River, including all of Gilead, Gad, Rubin, and Manasseh. He conquered the area from the town of Arnian, Gorge, to his far north as Gilead and Boshin. The rest of the events in Jahu's reign, everything he did, and all his achievements are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. When Jayhu died, he was buried in six. Samaria, then his son, Jehoahaz, became the next king. In all, Jehu reigned over Israel from Samaria for 28 years. Okay, so now we can start Chapter 11, which begins with a section called Queen Athalia

Starting point is 01:28:19 rules in Judah. Chapter 11, verse 1. When Athalia, the mother of King Ahazia of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family. But Ahaziah's sister, Jehocheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahazia's infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king's children who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom, and they hid him from Athalia, so the child was not murdered. Joash remained hidden in the temple of the Lord for six years while Athalia ruled over the land. Okay, so pause there.

Starting point is 01:29:02 Why did they need to hide one of Ahazia's sons? And why did they choose Joash as the child to hide? And why did they have to hide him for six years? Why couldn't they just hide him for a short amount of time? The next section is revolt against Athalia. Verse four. In the seventh year of Athalia's reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned the commanders, the Karate mercenaries, and the palace guards to come to the temple of the Lord.

Starting point is 01:29:42 He made a solemn pact with them and made them swear an oath of loyalty there in the Lord's temple. Then he showed them the king's son. Jehoiada told them, this is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself. Another third of you are to stand guard at the Sir Gate, and the final third must stand guard behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace. The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the Lord's Temple.

Starting point is 01:30:20 Form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with the king wherever he goes. So the commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. They brought them all to Jehoiada the priest, and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the temple of the Lord. The palace guards stationed themselves around the king with their weapons ready.

Starting point is 01:30:56 They formed a line from the south side of the temple around to the north side and all around the altar. Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king's son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God's law. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, Long live, the king. Okay, so pause there. What does this mean for Judah that they are anointing Joash as the next king? The next section is the death of a Thalia. Verse 13. When Athalia heard the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the Lord's temple to see what was happening. When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at the times

Starting point is 01:31:53 of coronation. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. When Athalia saw all. When Athalia saw all, this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted treason. Treason. Okay, so pause there. Why is Athalia reacting this way? Verse 15. Then Jehoida, the priest, ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops.

Starting point is 01:32:25 Take her to the soldiers in front of the temple and kill anyone who tries to rescue her. For the priest had said, she must not be killed in the temple of the Lord. So they seized her and let her. her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there. The next section is Jehoiada's religious reforms. Verse 17. Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the King and the People, that they would be the Lord's people. He also made a covenant between the King and the people.

Starting point is 01:33:02 Okay, so pause there. Do you remember what a covenant is? why was it important that they made this covenant at this time? Do you think this is a new covenant or a renewing of a covenant that God had made with Judah and his people before? Verse 18, And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Matan, the priest.

Starting point is 01:33:43 of Baal in front of the altars. Jehoita the priest stationed guards at the temple of the Lord. Then the commanders, the Karite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the people of the Lord escorted the king from the temple of the Lord. They went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took his seat on the royal throne. So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful, because Athalia had been killed at the king's palace.

Starting point is 01:34:16 Joash was seven years old when he became king. Okay, so pause there. What do you think of a seven-year-old becoming king? Do you think Joash was making decisions at seven years old on actually acting as king, or do you think somebody stepped in in his place as his advisor or another role like that to help run Judah? Okay, so now we can start chapter 12. which begins with a section called Joash Repairs the Temple.

Starting point is 01:34:53 Chapter 12, verse 1. Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu's reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem for 40 years. His mother was Zibia from Beersheba. All his life, Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight because Jehoiada, the priest, instructed him. Yet even so, he did not destroy the pagan tree. trines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

Starting point is 01:35:24 One day, King Joash said to the priests, Collect all the money brought as a sacred offering to the Lord's temple, whether it is a regular assessment, a payment of vows, or a voluntary gift. Let the priests take some of that money to pay for whatever repairs are needed at the temple. But by the 23rd year of Joash's reign, The priests still had not repaired the temple. So King Joash called for Jehoiada and the other priests and asked them, Why haven't you repaired the temple?

Starting point is 01:35:59 Don't use any more money for your own needs. From now on, it must all be spent on the temple's repairs. So the priests agreed not to accept any more money from the people, and they also agreed to let others take responsibility for repairing the temple. Okay, so pause there. why do you think the priests hadn't restored the temple yet? Verse 9. Then Jehoiada, the priest, bored a hole in the lid of a large chest

Starting point is 01:36:31 and set it on the right-hand side of the altar at the entrance of the temple of the Lord. The priests, guarding the entrance, put all of the people's contributions into the chest. Whenever the chest became full, the court secretary and the high priest counted the money that had been brought to the Lord's temple and put it into bags. Then they gave the money to the construction supervisors who used it to pay the people working on the Lord's Temple, the carpenters, the builders, the masons, and the stone cutters. They also used the money to buy the timber and the finished stone needed for repairing the Lord's Temple, and they paid any other expenses related to the temple's restoration. The money brought to the temple was not used for making silver bowls, lamp snuffers, basins, trumpets, or other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the Lord.

Starting point is 01:37:24 It was paid to the workmen who used it for the temple repairs. No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors because they were honest and trustworthy men. However, the money that was contributed for guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the Lord's temple. It was given to the priests for their own use. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think that the money contributed for guilt and sin offerings was given to the priests rather than toward the temple restoration? And why do you think Joash wanted to prioritize restoring the temple? What is so significant about the temple? The next section is the end of Joash's reign. Verse 17. About this time,

Starting point is 01:38:15 King Haziel of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. King Joash collected all the sacred objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahazia, the previous kings of Judah, had dedicated along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to Haziel, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the Lord's temple and the royal palace. So Haziel called off his attack on Jerusalem. The rest of the events in Joash's reign and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. Joash's officers plotted against him and assassinated him at Beth Malo on the road to Silla. The assassins were Josakar, son of Shemith, and Jehobabad, son of Shomar, both trusted advisors.

Starting point is 01:39:10 Joash was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, then his son, a moroseph. Masia became the next king. Okay, so pause there. What do you think about Joash's reign overall? Was he a good leader over Judah? Did he remain true to God during his reign? And then what do you think about the way his life ended? Why do you think two of his trusted advisors assassinated Joash? And I'll actually give you a little insight into that in Second Chronicles, which is one of the upcoming books. We will get a little information about why Joash's officers plotted against him and assassinated him. So, if you're curious and want to look ahead, you can go to Second Chronicles 24,

Starting point is 01:40:01 verses 17 to 26 to get this information. Okay, so now we can start chapter 13, which begins with a section called Jehoahaz rules in Israel. Chapter 13, verse 1. Jehooha's son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the 23rd year of King Joach's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria 17 years, but he did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam, son of Nabat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hasiel of Aram and his son bin Hadad to defeat them repeatedly. Then Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord's

Starting point is 01:40:52 help and the Lord heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. So the Lord provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Aramians. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days. But they continued to sin, following the evil example of Jeroboam. They also allowed the Asherah Pole in Samaria to remain standing. Finally, Jehoahaz's army was reduced to 50 charioteers, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Aram had killed the others, trampling them like dust under his feet. The rest of the events in Jehoahaz's reign, everything he did, and the extent of his power,

Starting point is 01:41:40 are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. When Jehoahaz died, he was buried in Samaria. Then his son Jehoashe became the next king. Okay, so pause there and reflect on Jehoahaz's reign. So they didn't really go into a lot of detail about his reign. It was a very short section. But what did you learn about his reign as king? And how do you compare him to other kings at this time?

Starting point is 01:42:12 It says that he did what was evil in the Lord's sight, like kings before him. But it also has a section where, Jehoahaz, praise to the Lord for help, and the Lord does send help. What does that tell us about how the Lord provides for us and protects us, even when we don't believe, or even when we don't trust in him, or even when we aren't treating him the way that we should be? The next section is Jehoash rules in Israel. Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, began to rule over Israel in the 37th year of King, Joash's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria 16 years, but he did what was evil in the Lord's

Starting point is 01:42:59 sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam's son of Nabat had led Israel to commit. The rest of the events in Jehoash's reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amazia of Judah, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. When Jehoasch died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Jeroboam II became the next king. Okay, so pause there. Again, we have another king in Israel, Jehoash, who we don't get a lot of details about. But what do you hear in his section that's similar to the kings that came before him? And why do you think that this pattern is repeating itself? Why are all the kings of Israel, doing what is evil in the Lord's sight.

Starting point is 01:43:57 The next section is Elisha's final prophecy. Verse 14. When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. My father, my father. I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel, he cried. Elisha told him, get a bow and some arrows,

Starting point is 01:44:21 and the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, Put your hand on the bow, and Elisha laid his own hands on the king's hands. Then he commanded, Open the eastern window, and he opened it. Then he said, shoot. So he shot an arrow.

Starting point is 01:44:44 Elisha proclaimed, This is the Lord's arrow. An arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Aramians at Offick. Then he said, Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground. So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him.

Starting point is 01:45:09 You should have struck the ground five or six times, he exclaimed. Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times. Okay, so pause there. What is the prophecy that Elisha is making in this section? Why is this a significant prophecy? Why is it important that Israel defeat the Aramians? And then why was Elisha angry when Jehoash only struck the ground three times? How was Jehoash supposed to know that he should have struck the ground more than three times? And remember, this is Elishaish. So reflect on the person of Elisha. What is his significance in the Bible story? What prophecies

Starting point is 01:46:09 did he make? And how did God use him to fulfill God's will for Israel and Judah? Verse 20. Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once, when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet. Okay, so pause there. What do you think about this story where this man's body just touches the bones of Elisha and he is revived and brought back to life? What does this tell us about God's power through Elisha?

Starting point is 01:47:03 How was Elisha able to perform this miracle even after death? Verse 22 King Haseel of Aram had oppressed Israel during the entire reign of King Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to this day, he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence. King Haziel of Aram died, and his son Ben Hedad became the next king. Then Jehosh, son of Jehoahaz, recaptured from Ben Hadad, son of Haziel, the towns that

Starting point is 01:47:48 had been taken from Jehoash's father, Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben Hada on three occasions, and he recovered the Israelite towns. Okay, so pause there, because I would have been taken. want you to think about that verse, verse 23, where it said that the Lord was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel. They were not totally destroyed. And he pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So what was it about that covenant that made God pity Israel? Why was that covenant so important and powerful to God? This is important because, fast-forwarding a little bit to the New Testament, if Jesus is the new covenant, then how does this translate to God's relationship

Starting point is 01:48:39 with us in modern times if he used the reminder of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to remind him of his love for Israel? How does he use the covenant that he made with us through Jesus in our relationships with him? Okay, so now we can start chapter 4. 14, which begins with a section called Amazia rules in Judah. Chapter 14, verse 1. Amazia, son of Joash, began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of king, Jehoash, of Israel. Amazia was 25 years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem 29 years. His mother was Jehoadan from Jerusalem.

Starting point is 01:49:32 Amazia did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight. but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash. Amazia did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. Okay, so pause there. It says that Amazia did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not like his ancestor David.

Starting point is 01:50:01 And then it shows a couple of examples of things that he did that were not pleasing to God. So what does that mean that he did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not like David? How did he differ from David? Verse 5. When Amazia was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.

Starting point is 01:50:25 However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by Moses in the book of the law. Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children. nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes. Amazia also killed 10,000 Edamites in the Valley of Salt. He also conquered Sela and changed its name to Jokhthiel, as it is called to this day.

Starting point is 01:50:58 One day, Amazia sent messengers with this challenge to Israel's king, Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, and grandson, of Jehu. Come and meet me in battle. But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amazia of Judah with this story. Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree. Give your daughters in marriage to my son. But just then, a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it. You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are proud of it, but be content with your victory and stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah? Okay, so pause there. Why do you think Amazia sent this

Starting point is 01:51:57 message to Israel? Why do you think he wanted to have a battle against Israel? And then what do you of Jehoash's story about the thistle and the cedar tree? What do you think that story meant? And then why do you think Jehoash is trying to convince Amazia not to go to battle with Israel? Verse 11, but Amazia refused to listen. So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amazia of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth Shamesh in Judah. Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home. King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amazia, son of Joash, and grandson of Ahazia at Beth Shamesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall,

Starting point is 01:53:04 from the Ephraim gate to the corner gate. He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the temple of the Lord. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria. The rest of the events in Jehoash's reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amazia of Judah, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the king. of Israel, and his son, Jeroboam, the second, became the next king. King Amazia of Judah lived for 15 years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel. The rest of the events in Amazia's reign

Starting point is 01:53:52 are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. There was a conspiracy against Amazia's life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lakhish, but his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there. They brought his body back. back to Jerusalem on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. All the people of Judah had crowned Amazia's 16-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father Amazia. After his father's death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Eloth and restored it to Judah. Okay, so pause there. We still have this war, this fight going on between Israel and Judah. So what do you think about the situation that just happened between Amazia and Jehoash?

Starting point is 01:54:42 Why do you think Israel was the victor in this fight? The next section is Jeroboam the 2nd rules in Israel. Verse 23. Jeroboam the 2nd, the son of Jehoash, began to rule over Israel in the 15th year of King Amazia's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria, 41 years. He reigned in Samaria, years. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nabat had led Israel to commit. Jeroboam II recovered the territories of Israel between Libo Hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the Lord the God of Israel had promised through Jonah, son of Amitai, the prophet from Gath Heifer. For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel and that there was no one in Israel slave or free to help them.

Starting point is 01:55:41 And because the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them. The rest of the events in the reign of Jeroboam II, and everything he did, including the extent of his power, his wars, and how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. When Jeroboam II died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son, Zechariah, became the next king.

Starting point is 01:56:19 Okay, so pause there at the end of that chapter. Why did God decide to give to Israel during this time rather than take away when Jeroboam the second was in reign? How did God use Jeroboam the Second to quote unquote save Israel? In what ways did Israel see prosperity during this time? Okay, so now we can start Chapter 15, which begins with a section called Uzziah rules in Judah. Chapter 15, verse 1. Uzziah, son of Amazia, began to rule over Judah in the 27th year of the reign of King Jeroboam the 2nd of Israel.

Starting point is 01:57:06 He was 16 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 52 years. His mother was Giacolia from Jerusalem. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, just as his father Amazia had done. But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. The Lord struck the king with leprosy, which lasted until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate. house. The king's son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace and he governed the people of the land. Okay, so pause there. Why was Uzziah struck with leprosy?

Starting point is 01:57:51 Verse 6. The rest of the events in Uzziah's reign and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Jotham became the next king. Okay, so pause there. Again, we have these patterns repeating themselves. We have Uzziah also doing what is pleasing in the Lord's sight, but at the same time, not destroying the pagan shrines. So what do you think of Uzziah's reign in Judah? And now we're going to flip over from Judah to Israel with the next section called Zechariah rules in Israel. Verse 8. Zechariah's son of Jeroboam II began to rule over Israel in the 38th year of King Uzziah's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria six months. Zechariah did what was evil in the Lord's sight, as his ancestors had done. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam, son of Nabat, had led Israel to commit.

Starting point is 01:59:04 Then Shalam, son of Jabesh, conspired against Zechariah, assassinated him in public and became the next king. The rest of the events in Zechariah's reign are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. So the Lord's message to Jehu came true. Your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation. Okay, so pause there. We have a lot of parallels going on. We've got the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel.

Starting point is 01:59:37 As you read, I want you to think about them both. What are the differences between Judah and Israel? Is one group following God more closely while the other is rebelling against God? Are they both rebelling against God? Are they both following God? What are the differences? And why do we have this separation? Okay, so the next section is Shalam rules in Israel.

Starting point is 02:00:09 Verse 13. Shalom, son of Jabesh, began to rule over Israel in the 39th year of King Uzziah's reign in Judah. Shalom reigned in Samaria only one month. Then, Minaham, son of Gadi, went to Samaria from Tursa, and assassinated him, and he became the next king. The rest of the events in Shalem's reign, including his conspiracy are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. The next section is Menaham rules in Israel. Verse 16. At that time, Minaham destroyed the town of Tapua and all the surrounding countryside as far as Terza, because its citizens refused to surrender the town.

Starting point is 02:01:01 He killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women. Minahem, son of Godi, began to rule over Israel in the 39th year of King Uzziah's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria ten years, but Minahem did what was evil in the Lord's sight. During his entire reign, he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam, son of Nabat, had led Israel to commit. Then King Tigloth, Pelliser, of Assyria, invaded the land, but Minahem paid him 37 tons of silver to gain his support in tightening his grip on royal power. Minahem extorted the money from the rich of Israel demanding that each of them pay 50 pieces of

Starting point is 02:01:50 silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned from attacking Israel and did not stay in the land. The rest of the events in Minaham's reign and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. When men, Menahem died, his son Pechaheahe became the next king. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section and just reflect on the amount of kings we have in Israel right now who are doing evil in the Lord's sight. Will this pattern continue? And why is this the pattern right now? The next section is Pechaheahe rules in Israel.

Starting point is 02:02:33 Verse 23. Pechaheahe, son of Menahem, began to rule over Israel. in the 50th year of King Uzziah's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years, but Pecahahya did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam's son of Nabat had led Israel to commit. Then Pecca, son of Ramalia,

Starting point is 02:02:59 the commander of Pecahahia's army conspired against him. With 50 men from Gilead, Peca assassinated the king, along with Argyb and Aria in the citadel of the palace at Samaria, and Peca reigned in his place. The rest of the events in Pecahaya's reign and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. The next section is Pecca rules in Israel. Verse 27. Pecca, son of Ramalia, began to rule over Israel in the 52nd year of King Uzai's reign in Judah.

Starting point is 02:03:37 He reigned in Samaria 20 years, but Pecca did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam's son of Nabat had let Israel to commit. During Pecca's reign, King Tigloth Peleser of Assyria attacked Israel again, and he captured the towns of Aegean, Abel Beth Maka, Genoa, Kadesh, and Hazor. He also conquered the regions of Gilead, Galilee, and all of Nathali, and he took the people to Assyria as captives. Then Hoshiah, son of Ila, conspired against Pecca and assassinated him. He began to rule over Israel in the 20th year of Jotham, son of Uzziah. The rest of the events in Pecca's reign and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.

Starting point is 02:04:34 Okay, so pause there. Think about what the king of Assyria did. What did he take and conquer from Israel? What different towns and different regions and what kind of impact do you think that would make on Israel at the time? The next section is Jotham rules in Judah. Verse 32. Jotham, son of Uzziah, began to rule over Judah in the second year of King Pecca's reign in Israel. He was 25 years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem 16 years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadik. Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight. He did everything his father Uzziah had done, but he did not destroy the pagan shrines and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. He rebuilt the upper gate of the

Starting point is 02:05:32 temple of the Lord. The rest of the events in Jophe was. Rhe's reign, and everything he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. In those days, the Lord began to send King Resin of Aram and King Pecca of Israel to attack Judah. When Jotham died, he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Ahaz became the next king. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 15. We only have two more chapters to go in this section. but the question I want to ask is, why do you think the kings in Judah are doing what is pleasing in the Lord's sight while the kings in Israel are doing what is evil in the Lord's sight?

Starting point is 02:06:20 What is going on between Judah and Israel? Okay, so now we can start chapter 16, which begins with a section called Ahaz Rules in Judah. Chapter 16, verse 1. Ahaz, son of Jotham, began to run. rule over Judah in the 17th year of King Pecca's reign in Israel. Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 16 years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord His God as his ancestor David had done. Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel, even sacrificing his own son in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan

Starting point is 02:07:08 nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree. Okay, so pause there. We have Ahaz, who is one of the rulers in Judah who did not follow God and did not do what was pleasing in the Lord's sight. So why do you think Ahaz behaved this way and what do you think about the actions he took as king. Verse 5. Then King Rezen of Aram and King Pecca of Israel came up to attack Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz, but could not conquer him.

Starting point is 02:07:53 At that time, the king of Edom recovered the town of Eloth for Edom. He drove out the people of Judah and sent Edomites to live there, as they do to this day. King Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglin. Pallasor of Assyria with this message, I am your servant and your vassal. Come up and rescue me from the attacking armies of Aram and Israel. Then Ahaz took the silver and gold from the temple of the Lord and the palace treasury and sent it as a payment to the Assyrian king.

Starting point is 02:08:31 So the king of Assyria attacked the Aramian capital of Damascus and led its population away as captives, resettling them in Kerr. He also killed King Rezin. King Ahaz then went to Damascus to meet with King Tigloth-Poleser of Assyria. While he was there, he took special note of the altar. Then he sent a model of the altar to Uriah, the priest, along with its design in full detail. Uriah followed the king's instructions and built an altar just like it. and it was ready before the king returned from Damascus.

Starting point is 02:09:10 When the king returned, he inspected the altar and made offerings on it. He presented a burnt offering and a grain offering. He poured out a liquid offering and he sprinkled the blood of peace offerings on the altar. Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze altar from its place in front of the Lord's temple between the entrance and the new altar, and placed it on the north side. of the new altar. He told Uriah the priest, used the new altar for the morning sacrifices of the burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king's burnt offering and grain offering, and the burnt offerings of all the people, as well as their grain offerings and liquid offerings.

Starting point is 02:09:56 Sprinkle the blood from all the burnt offerings and sacrifices on the new altar. The bronze altar will be for my personal use only. Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz commanded him. Then the king removed the side panels and basins from the portable water carts. He also removed

Starting point is 02:10:17 the great bronze basin called the sea from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed it on the stone pavement. In deference to the king of Assyria, he also removed the canopy that had been constructed inside the palace for use on

Starting point is 02:10:33 the Sabbath day, as well as the king's outer entrance to the temple. The rest of the events in Ahaz's reign, and everything he did, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When Ahaz died, he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 16. I want you to think about what Ahaz did in regard to the temple and the place of worship. First, I want you to remember what was the temple? What was it made out of and what was it used for? What changes did Ahaz make to the temple? What do you think motivated Ahaz to make these changes? And why do you think Uriah went along with what Ahaz said? Do you think what Ahaz did is what God wanted

Starting point is 02:11:36 for the temple? Or did Ahaz make these decisions on his own? Okay, so now we can start the last chapter of this section, 2 Kings 17, which begins with a section called Hoshiah rules in Israel. Chapter 17, verse 1. Hosea, son of Ila, began to rule over Israel in the 12th year of King Ahaz's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria nine years. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, but not to the same extent as the kings of Israel. who ruled before him. King Shalmaneser of Assyria

Starting point is 02:12:18 attacked King Hoshaya, so Hoshaya was forced to pay heavy tribute to Assyria. But Hosea stopped paying the annual tribute and conspired against the king of Assyria by asking King So of Egypt to help him shake free of Assyria's power. When the king of Assyria discovered this treachery, he seized Hosea and put him in prison.

Starting point is 02:12:43 The next section is Samaria falls to Assyria. Then the king of Assyria invaded the entire land, and for three years he besieged the city of Samaria. Finally, in the ninth year of King Hoshiah's reign, Samaria fell, and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyria. They were settled in colonies and Hala along the banks of the Harbor River in Ghazan, and in the cities of the Medes. This disaster came upon the people of Israel

Starting point is 02:13:18 because they worshipped other gods. They send against the Lord their God who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They had followed the practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them, as well as the practices the kings of Israel had introduced.

Starting point is 02:13:42 The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the Lord their God. They built pagan shrines for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest outpost to the largest walled city. They set up sacred pillars and ashorepoles at the top of every hill and under every green tree. They offered sacrifices on all the hilltops, just like the nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them. So the people of Israel had done many evil things arousing the Lord's anger. Yes, they worshipped idols, despite the Lord's specific and repeated warnings. Okay, so pause there. What have the Israelites done to make God angry?

Starting point is 02:14:35 And what was their consequence because of that? And why do you think God is reacting to their sin now? What do you think is going to happen to the Israelites? will they continue to turn away from God? Will they turn back to God? Will we see them come back to God? And then potentially have another time in the future where there's a period of the Israelites turning away from God?

Starting point is 02:15:06 What do you think is going to happen? And I also want to ask because I think it's easy to say, you know, why is Israel doing this? Why is Israel falling away from God again? why are the kings behaving this way? But I want you to be self-reflective and think about the ways that we fall short of God and the ways that we can often see ourselves in the same patterns of sin. And how do we receive love and grace and forgiveness and restoration from God in our own lives?

Starting point is 02:15:49 Verse 13, again and again the Lord had sent his promise, and seers to warn both Israel and Judah. Turn from all your evil ways, obey my commands and decrees, the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants, the prophets. But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God.

Starting point is 02:16:19 They rejected his decrees, and the covenant he had known covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshipped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the examples of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord's command not to imitate them. They rejected all the commands of the Lord, their God, and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherapole and worshipped Ba'al and all the forces of heaven. they even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune tellers and practiced sorcery

Starting point is 02:17:02 and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord's anger. Okay, so pause there. What types of sin had Israel found themselves caught up in? And how do you think this happened? How do you think they found themselves caught up in these sins, even sacrificing their own sons and daughters? Verse 18. Because the Lord was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God,

Starting point is 02:17:42 for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced. The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence. For when the Lord tore Israel away from the kingdom of David, they chose Jeroboam, son of Nabat, as their king. But Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit a great sin. And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins until the Lord finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day.

Starting point is 02:18:33 Okay, so pause there. Why did God banish Israel from his presence? But he spared the tribe of Judah. Why was the tribe of Judah spared when he banished Israel? The next section is foreigners settle in Israel. Verse 24. The king of Assyria, transported groups of people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sephirviam, and resettled them

Starting point is 02:19:06 in the towns of Samaria, replacing the people of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns. But, since these foreign settlers did not worship the Lord when they first arrived, the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. So a message was sent to the king of Assyria. The people you have sent to live in the towns of Samaria do not know the religious customs of the god of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshipped him correctly. The king of Assyria then commanded, send one of the exiled priests back to Samaria. Let him live there and teach the new residence the religious customs of the god of the land. So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria returned to Bethel and taught the new

Starting point is 02:19:57 residents how to worship the Lord. But these various groups of foreigners also continued to worship their own gods. In town after town where they lived, they placed their idols at the pagan shrines that the people of Samaria had built. Those from Babylon worshipped idols of their god, Suketh Banath. Those from Cuthah worshipped. their god, Nagal, and those from Hamath worshipped Ashima. The Avites worshipped their gods, Nibahas, and Tartik, and the people from Sephaviam even burned their own children, as sacrifices to their gods Adramalek and Anamelech. These new residents worshipped the Lord, but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer sacrifices

Starting point is 02:20:49 at their places of worship. And though they worshipped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came. And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshipping the Lord

Starting point is 02:21:08 and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel. For the Lord had made a covenant with the descendants of Jacob, and commanded them do not worship any other gods or bow before them, or serve them, or offer sacrifices to them. But worship only the Lord who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone and offer sacrifices only to him.

Starting point is 02:21:41 Be careful at all times to obey the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands that he wrote for you. You must not worship other gods. Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods. You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies. But the people would not listen and continued to follow their former practices. So while these new residents worshipped the Lord, they also worshipped their idols, and to this day their descendants do the same.

Starting point is 02:22:21 Okay, so pause there at the end of Chapter 17 where we're stopping for today. So what is going on with the Israelites? What has happened to them? Think about their journey from Exodus until now. What changes have we seen? And this is a big shift to see the split between Israel and Judah. So what do you think is going to happen next? Okay, so that was a very long,

Starting point is 02:22:51 episode this time, we covered a lot of ground as we continue on in the history of Israel and the kings who ruled during this time, and we will finish Second Kings next time as we continued to learn about this history. Thank you for listening, and I will talk to you in the next one.

Bible: Beginning to End - 2 Kings 1-17: The Divided Monarchy

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