Bible: Beginning to End - 2 Kings 18-25: The Last Era of the Southern Kingdom

Episode Date: June 11, 2024

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Hello and welcome back to Bible beginning to end, where we are reading through the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I am so glad you're here to read with us today, where we are reading through the rest of Second Kings. As always, I will be asking questions along the way, critical thinking questions, to get your mind moving and thinking about what God's Word is saying, so that you can spend time with God's Word on your own, praying and understanding what it means. And for right now, I'm using the New Living Translation. If you want links to getting a copy of the New Living Translation or to read along online, on the online version of the new living translation, those links are always in the description of the episode. So we're finishing up Second Kings today, and we've been reading through First and Second Kings.

is taking us through the people who ruled Israel after David. We really started this story back in First and Second Samuel, learning about David's reign in Israel. There's a lot of text dedicated to David as king. And then First and Second Kings is going through all of the kings who ruled after David. And we're learning about how they were as rulers, who they are as rulers. Did they follow God? Did they do what was good in the Lord's sight? Did they do what was evil in the Lord's sight?

So where we left off last time at the end of chapter 17 is that the northern kingdom of Israel, we've had Israel split into two different kingdoms. The northern kingdom of Israel has been conquered. Samaria has fallen and the Israelites are now exiled into Assyria. So that's where we are right now. And so this last section of Second Kings, Second Kings 18 through 25, covers a section called the last era of the Southern Kingdom. So like we've been doing in First Kings and the first half of Second Kings, we will be learning about the final rulers in this era of Israel. So we are going to start with chapter 18, which starts with a section called Hezekiah

rules in Judah. Chapter 18, verse 1. Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshiah's reign in Israel. He was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the pagan shrine, smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the ashore poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehachshhten. Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord

had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city. Okay, so pause there. What did you learn about Hezekiah so far? What kind of king is he? was he faithful to God or was he doing what was evil in the Lord's sight? Why does it say that God was with Hezekiah? And how does he compare with the other kings who have come before that we've read about in first and second kings?

Verse 9. During the fourth year of Hezekiah's reign, which was the seventh year of King Hoshiah's reign in Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked the city. of Samaria and began a siege against it. Three years later, during the sixth year of King Hezekiah's reign and the ninth year of King Hoshiah's reign in Israel, Samaria fell. At that time, the king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and placed them in colonies in Hala along the banks of the Haber River in Ghazan and in the cities of Medes. For they refused to listen to the Lord their God and obey him. Instead, they violated his covenant. All the laws that Moses, the Lord's servant, had commanded them to obey.

Okay, so pause there. Why was Israel exiled to Assyria during this time? And why was Judah, the southern kingdom, not exiled? The next section is Assyria invades Judah. Verse 13. In the 14th year of King Hezekiah, reign, King Sinakarib of Assyria came to attack the fortified towns of Judah and conquered them. King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lakhish.

I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money you demand if you will only withdraw. The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of more than 11 tons of silver and one ton of gold. To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the temple of the Lord and in the palace treasury. Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the Lord's temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold and he gave it all to the Assyrian king.

Okay, so pause there. Do you think Hezekiah made the right decision in giving the king of Assyria all this gold? Verse 17, Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent his commander-in-chief, his field commander, and his chief of staff, from Lakhish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians took up a position beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool

near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed. They summoned King Hezekiah, but the king sent these officials to meet with them. Eliakim, son of Hilkaya, the palace administrator, Shepna, the court secretary, and Joa, son of Oshkina. The Royal Historian. Okay, so the next section is Senecaarab threatens Jerusalem. Verse 19.

Then the Assyrian king's chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah. This is what the great king of Assyria says. What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on that you have rebelled against me? On Egypt?

If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable. But perhaps you will say to me, we are trusting in the Lord our God. But isn't he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn't Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem, worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem. I'll tell you what. Strike a bargain with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you 2,000 horses, if you can find that many men to ride on them. With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging

even the weakest contingent of my master's troops, even with the help of Egypt's chariots and charioteers? What's more, do you think we've invaded your land without the Lord's direction? The Lord himself told us to attack this land and destroy it. Then, Eliakum, son of Hilkaya, Shepna, and Joa, said to the Assyrian chief of staff, Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don't speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear. But, Sinakurib's chief of staff replied, Do you think my master sent this message only to you and your master?

He wants all the people to hear it. For when we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine. Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall. Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria. This is what the king says. Don't let Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you from my power.

Don't let him fool you into trusting in the Lord by saying, The Lord will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king. Don't listen to Hezekiah. These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering. Make peace with me. Open the gates and come out. Then each of you can continue eating from your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking from your own well.

Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one, a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of death. Don't listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying, The Lord will rescue us. Have the gods of any other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria? What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpid?

And what about the gods of Sephirviam, Hena and Eva? Did anyone rescue Samaria from my power? What God of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rest? Jerusalem from me. Okay, so pause there. Why did Hezekiah's people want the Assyrian chief of staff to speak in Aramaic instead of in Hebrew? And then why did the chief of staff speak in Hebrew anyway? What was he trying to accomplish with this speech? Is he telling the truth? Is Jerusalem hopeless? Can they not be saved from Assyria? How do you think Hezekiah

and the people of Jerusalem will respond to this speech. Verse 36. But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them. Do not answer him. Then Eliakim, son of Hilkaya, the palace administrator, Shebna, the court secretary, and Joa, son of Asif, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair. And they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian chief of staff had said.

Okay, so pause there. How were Hezekiah's leaders, Eliakim, Shabna, Joa, how were they affected by the Assyrian chief of staff's speech? Why do you think they were so affected by this speech, tearing their clothes in despair, rather than trusting in the Lord? and how will Hezekiah respond to Assyria? Okay, now we can start chapter 19, which begins with a section called Hezekiah seeks the Lord's help. Chapter 19, verse 1.

When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on Burlap and went into the temple of the Lord, and he sent Eliakum, the palace administrator, Shabna, the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in Burlap, to the priest. prophet Isaiah, son of Amaz. They told him, this is what King Hezekiah says. Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It's like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby. But perhaps the Lord Your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God,

and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left. Okay, so pause there. I want you to reflect on Hezekiah's initial response when his people brought him the words of the Assyrian chief of staff. How did he respond? Who did he include in his response? And how is he seeking God's help?

Verse 5. After King Hezekiah's officials delivered the king's message to Isaiah, Isaiah, the prophet replied, Say to your master, this is what the Lord says, Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king's messengers. Listen, I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a message that he is needed at home,

so he will return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword. Meanwhile, the Assyrian chief of staff left Jerusalem and went to consult the king of Assyria, who had left Lakhish and was attacking Libna. Soon afterward, King Sinakurib received word that King Taraka of Ethiopia was leading an army to fight against him. Before leaving to meet the attack,

he sent messengers back to Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this message. This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don't let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria. You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone who stood in their way. Why should you be any different? Have the gods of other nations rescued them such nations as Ghazan, Haran, Rezif, and the people of Eden who are in Tel-Azer? My predecessors destroyed them all.

What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpid? happened to the kings of Sephaviam, Hena and Iva. Okay, so pause there. How is this similar to the other speech that the chief of staff gave to Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem? And what was God's message in response to the first speech? What did he say to Hezekiah about how Hezekiah should respond to that first speech? When someone who is not in relationship with God speaks as they have a third.

about who God is or what God's intentions are or what God's character is, how should we respond? How are we supposed to know whether what that person is saying is true or not? When someone speaks with authority about God, whether they know God or not, whether they're a pastor or not, whether they're new to the faith or have been in the faith for a long time? How do we know if what they're saying aligns with who God really is? Are they telling the truth or not? I think it's important in our relationship with God to make sure that we know God personally. That's part of this project of understanding the scripture, understanding the history,

so that when people make claims about God, we know who he really is and we know what's true and what's not. So I just thought that's something important to think about as you're reading through the scriptures and learning about the prophets and the false prophets and how do we navigate that? How do we know what's real and what's not? Verse 14. After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord's temple and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord.

O Lord, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim. You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, O Lord, and see. Listen to Sinokorub's words of defiance against the living God. It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations, and they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course, the Assyrians could destroy them. They were not gods at all, only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord, our God rescue us from his power. Then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.

Okay, so pause there. Hezekiah's response. What did you think of his prayer? Did he rely on himself? Did he charge straight into battle? Or did he go to God? The next section is Isaiah predicts Judah's deliverance. Verse 20. Then Isaiah, son of Amaz, sent this message to Hezekiah. This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says.

I have heard your prayer about King Sinakurib of Assyria, and the Lord has spoken this word against him. The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head in derision as you flee. Whom have you been defying and ridiculing? Against whom did you raise your voice? at whom did you look with such haughty eyes? It was the Holy One of Israel. By your messengers, you have defied the Lord.

You have said, with my many chariots, I have conquered the highest mountains. Yes, the remotest peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypress trees. I have reached its farthest. corners and explored its deepest forests. I have dug wells in many foreign lands and refreshed myself with their water. With the sole of my foot, I stopped up all the rivers of Egypt. But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago, I planned it, and now I am making it happen. I planned for you to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble. That is why their people have

so little power and are so frightened and confused. They are as weak as grass, as easily trampled as tender green shoots. They are like grass sprouting on a housetop, scorched before it can grow lush and tall. But I know you well, where you stay, and when you come and go. I know the way you have raged against me, and because of your raging against me, and your arrogance, which I have heard for myself, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. I will make you return by the same road on which you came.

Okay, so pause there, reflect on what God said. What was his response to the king of Assyria? What was Assyria's sin? What did they do against God? And what do you think God meant when he said that he decided this long ago? He planned it. Does that mean that no one had a choice in what happened? This is what had to happen?

Or does it mean that God sees time differently? and everything that happens is part of a plan, but we have an active role in it because God knew what our decisions were going to be and knows everything of time before and after and now all at once, or does it mean something else? What does it mean when God says that this was his plan, that he planned this?

And what Isaiah is saying here is a message from God. And so when there's actually a message from God, actually the words that God spoke through the prophet Isaiah or through another prophet or spoke himself, it's important to pay attention to what's being said. So did you learn anything new about God through what was said here, about his character, about who he is, about how he works? Did you learn something new that you didn't know or realize before? Verse 29. Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Here's the proof that what I say is true. This year, you will eat only what grows up by itself,

and next year you will eat what springs up from that. But in the third year, you will plant crops and harvest them. You will tend vineyards and eat their fruit. And you who are left in Judah, who have escaped the ravages of the siege, will put roots down in your own soil and will grow up and flourish. For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem,

a group of survivors from Mount Zion, the passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's armies will make this happen. And this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria. His armies will not enter Jerusalem. them. They will not even shoot an arrow at it. They will not march outside its gates with their shields, nor build banks of earth against its walls. The king will return to his own country by the same road on which he came. He will not enter this city, says the Lord, for my own honor and for the

sake of my servant, David, I will defend this city and protect it. Okay, so pause there. When Isaiah gives this prophecy, he says, This is how you will know what I said is true. What does he mean by that? How do we know that a prophecy is true and actually from God or not? How will Hezekiah know that what Isaiah is saying is true? And then what did Isaiah say would happen to Jerusalem?

Who are these people? this remnant of people who will spread out from Jerusalem as a group of survivors. What is the significance of that? And how is that upholding the covenant that God made with Abraham? And then what about Assyria? What did Isaiah say would happen to Assyria? Verse 35, That night, the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp

and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. Then King Sinakarab of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there. One day, when he was worshipping in the temple of his god in Nisrock, his sons, Adramlech, and Sherezer killed him with their

swords. They then escaped to the land of Ararat. And another son, Asarhadon, became the next king of Assyria. Okay, so pause there. How did God fulfill his promise to his people? Okay, so now we can start chapter 20, Second King's Chapter 20, which begins with a section called Hezekiah's sickness and recovery. Chapter 20 verse 1. About that time Hezekiah became, deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amaz, went to visit him. He gave the king this message. This is what the Lord says. Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness. When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly,

always doing what pleases you. Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord. Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, this is what the Lord the God of your ancestor David says. I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now,

you will get out of bed and go to the table. temple of the Lord. I will add 15 years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant, David. Okay, so pause there. What do you think about that? Why did God change his mind? He said at first that Hezekiah was going to die. Was that not true? what may God change his mind? And what does that tell us about our relationship with God? Is it one-sided?

Is it just you're there and God does things to you and for you? Or is it an active back-and-forth relationship? Does God listen to our prayers? Does he answer them? Does he take what we say into consideration? How does that relationship work? and how do we see it working here with Hezekiah and God? Verse 7.

Then Isaiah said, Make an ointment from figs, so Hezekiah's servants spread the ointment over the boil, and Hezekiah recovered. Meanwhile, Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, What sign will the Lord give to prove that he will heal me and that I will go to the temple of the Lord three days from now? Isaiah replied,

This is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised. Would you like the shadow on the sundial to go forward ten steps, or backward ten steps? The shadow always moves forward, as I replied, so that would be easy. Make it go ten steps backward instead. So Isaiah the prophet asked the Lord to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz. The next section is Invoys from Babylon. Verse 12. Soon after this, Marodok Baladon, son of Baladon, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift,

for he had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick. Hezekiah received the Babylonian invoies and showed them everything in his treasure houses, the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries. There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him,

What did those men want? Where are they from? Hezekiah replied, they came from the distant land of Babylon. What did they see in your palace? Isaiah asked. They saw everything, Hezekiah replied. I showed them everything I own, all my royal treasuries. Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, listen to this message from the Lord. The time is coming, when everything in your palace,

all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon's king. Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, This message you have given me from the Lord is good. For the king was thinking,

at least there will be peace and security during my lifetime. Okay, so pause there. Hezekiah invites these Babylonians into his palace and shows them everything. Do you think that was wise? Do you think he was making a wise decision by doing that? And then we have this interesting, prophecy from Isaiah where he's telling Hezekiah that the Lord is saying, Babylon's going to come

and they're going to take everything that you have, all of your treasures. And then Hezekiah's response is to say, that's good. Why did he think that that's good? Why does he have a positive reaction to this prophecy saying he's going to lose everything? Verse 20. The rest of the events in Hezekiah's reign, including the extent of his power, and how he built a poor. and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. Hezekiah died and his son Manasseh became the next king. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 20. What do we think of Hezekiah's reign? What kind of king was he? Did he do what was pleasing in the Lord's sight? Did he rule Judah well? Okay, so now we can start chapter 21,

which begins with a section called Manassah rules in Judah. Chapter 21, verse 1. Manassah was 12 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 55 years. His mother was Hevzebba. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.

He rebuilt the pagan shrines, his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherapole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshipped them. He built pagan altars in the temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, My name will remain in Jerusalem forever. He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the Lord's temple. Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire.

He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord's sight, arousing his anger. Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the temple, the very place where the Lord had told David and his son Solomon, my name will be honored forever in this temple and in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel. If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands, all the laws my servant Moses gave them, I will not send them into exile from this land that I gave their ancestors. But the people refused to listen, and Manasseh led them to do even more evil than the pagan name.

nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land. Okay, so pause there. What is Manasa doing and how is he different from his father, Hezekiah? And how do you think God is going to react to Manassas' sins? Verse 10. Then the Lord said through his servants, the prophets, King Manasa of Judah has done many detestable things. He's even more wicked than the people.

the Amarites who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused to the people of Judah to sin with his idols. So this is what the Lord the God of Israel says. I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish and turns it upside down. Then I will reject even the remnant of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies. But they have done great evil in my sight and have angered me ever since their ancestors came out of Egypt. Okay, so pause there. We hear that reference again to the remnant, the remnant of his own people.

Who is God talking about there? He just talked about it when he was talking to Hezekiah in the last chapter saying, a remnant of my people will escape and be saved. Who is this remnant? Why are they important? Verse 16. Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he had caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the Lord's sight. The rest of the events in Manassas' reign and everything he did, including the sins he committed, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When Manasseh died, he was buried in the palace garden, the garden of Uza. Then his son Ammon became the next king. Okay, so pause there and reflect on Manassah's reign of Judah.

What did he do? Was he doing what was evil in the Lord's sight? Was he doing what was good in the Lord's sight? How did he differ from his father, His Akaya? What do you think about his reign? And what does this section really, first and second kings altogether teach us about those who are leading us in the faith. Because many times it says that these kings caused the people to sin.

They led them into doing evil. They led them into doing things that went against God's desire for their life. Which is why I think it's so important to understand God and understand His Word and understand your relationship with him on a personal level so that when you're being led in the faith, leaders at the church, people, in your lives, anybody, you are able to see when they have gone astray. And you're able to see if what they're telling you is from God

or not because you know for yourself who God is. And you could see if you are under the rule of Manasseh. that when he's putting up these idols, you know that God's word says, don't worship idols, and you could see that he's leading you astray. So I guess the question is, how does this teach us what to look for

when we are being led in the faith by people in authority, in our churches, in our faith communities, and things like that? The next section is Ammon rules in Judah. Verse 19. Ammon was 22 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother was Mushulameth, the daughter of Haraz, from Jotpa.

He did what was evil in the Lord's sight just as his father Manasse had done. He followed the example of his father worshipping the same idols his father had worshipped. He abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and he refused to follow the Lord's ways. then Ammon's own officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace. But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Ammon, and they made his son Josiah the next king. The rest of the events in Ammon's reign and what he did are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. He was buried in his tomb in the Garden of Uzaa.

Then his son Josiah became the next king. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 21. When Ammon became king, he was also doing what was evil in the Lord's sight. And his own officials, it says, conspired against him and assassinated him. But then the people of Judah killed the officials who killed King Ammon. So what does that tell us about the state of Judah right now under Ammon's rule? Are they living for God? or have they fallen into what Ammon and his father Manasseh have led them to do?

What is going on with the people of Judah right now? And do we have hope for the next king? Is Josiah going to do what is evil in the Lord's side and continue this? Or is he going to do what is pleasing in the Lord's side? Okay, so now we can start chapter 22, which begins with a section called Josiah Rules in Judah. Chapter 22, verse 1. Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 31 years. His mother was Jededa, the daughter of Adaya from Boscheth. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, and followed the example of his ancestor, David. He did not turn away from

doing what was right. In the 18th year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shakespeare. Afan, son of Azalea, and grandson of Meshalam, the court secretary, to the temple of the Lord. He told him, Go to Hilkaya, the high priest, and have him count the money the gatekeepers have collected from the people at the Lord's Temple. Entrust this money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord's Temple. Then they can use it to pay workers to repair the temple. They will need to hire carpenters, builders, and masons. Also have them buy the timber and the finished stone needed to repair the temple.

But don't require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men. The next section is Hilkaya discovers God's law. Verse 8. Hilkaya, the high priest, said to Sheifan, the court secretary, I have found the book of the law in the Lord's Temple. Then Hilcaya gave the scroll to Sheifan. and he read it. Shefhan went to the king and reported,

Your officials have turned over the money collected at the temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the temple. Sheffan also told the king, Hilkaya the priest, has given me a scroll. So Shafan read it to the king. When the king heard what was written in the book of the law, he tore his clothes in despair. Then he gave these orders to Hilkaya the priest, a Haikam son of Sheafan, Akbor, son of Makaya, Shafan the court secretary, and Asiah the king's personal advisor.

Go to the temple and speak to the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah. Enquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord's great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do. Okay, so pause there. What is this scroll that they found in the temple? What is written on this scroll? And why do you think they found the scroll?

Why did they not know that it had been there this whole time in the temple? Where has God's word been? Where has his law been during this time? And what does this mean for the people of Judah, for God's followers, that it's been found? And what does Josiah's reaction to the scrolls being found tell us about who he is and what his relationship is like with God? Verse 14. So Hilkaya the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Schafen, and Asiah went to the new quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Holda.

She was the wife of Shalom, son of Tikva, son of Harhas, the keeper of the temple wardrobe. She said to them, The Lord the God of Israel has spoken. Go back and tell the man who sent you. This is what the Lord says. I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true. For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods.

And I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place and it will not be quenched. But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him. This is what the Lord the God of Israel says concerning the message you have just heard. You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people, that this land would be cursed and become desolate. tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance.

And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city. So they took her message back to the king. Okay, so pause there. What is this disaster? God is talking about, and why is he bringing this disaster on the people? Okay, so now we can start chapter 23, which begins with a section called Josiah's Religious Reforms.

Chapter 23, verse 1, then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the prophets, all the people from the Luther. least to the greatest. There, the king read to them the entire book of the covenant that had been found in the Lord's temple. The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord's presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

Then the king instructed Hilkaya, the high priest, and the priests of the second rank, and the temple gatekeepers to remove from the Lord's temple all the articles that were used to worship Baal, Asherah, and all the powers of the heavens. The king had all these things burned outside Jerusalem on the terraces of the Kidron Valley, and he carried the ashes away, to Bethel. He did away with the idolatrous priests who had been appointed by the previous kings of Judah, for they had offered sacrifices at the pagan shrines throughout Judah, and even in the vicinity of Jerusalem. They had also offered sacrifices to Baal and to the sun, the moon, the constellations, and to all the powers of the heavens. The king removed the Osherapole from the Lord's temple and took it

outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley where he burned it. Then he ground the ashes of the pole to dust and threw the dust over the graves of the people. He also tore down the living quarters of the male and female shrine prostitutes that were inside the temple of the Lord, where the women wove coverings for the Oshera Pole. Josiah brought to Jerusalem all the priests who were living in other towns of Judah. He also defiled the pagan shrines where they had offered sacrifices all the way from Geba to Bersheba. He destroyed the shrines at the entrance to the gate of Joshua, the governor of Jerusalem. This gate was located to the left of the city gate as one enters the city. The priests who had served the pagan shrines were not allowed to serve at the Lord's altar in Jerusalem,

but they were allowed to eat unleavened bread with the other priests. Then the king defiled the altar of Tofeth in the valley of Ben-Hanam, so no one could ever again use it to sacrifice a son or daughter in the fire as an offering to Malek. He removed from the entrance of the Lord's temple, the horse statues, that the former kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were near the quarters of Nathan Malek, the eunuch, an officer of the court. The king also burned the chariots dedicated to the sun. Josiah tore down the altars that the kings of Judah had built on the palace roof above the upper room of Ahaz. The king destroyed the altars that Manasseh had built in the two courtyards of the Lord's temple. He smashed them to bits and scattered the pieces in the Kidron Valley.

The king also desecrated the pagan shrines east of Jerusalem to the south of the Mount of Corruption where King Solomon of Israel had built shrines for Ashtorath the detestable goddess of the Sedonians, and for Kamash, the detestable god of the Moabites, and for Malek, the vile god of the Ammonites. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherapoles.

Then he desecrated these places by scattering human bones over them. The king also tore down the altar at Bethel, the pagan shrine that Jeroboam, son of Nabat, had made when he caused Israel to sin. He burned down the shrine and ground it to dust, and he burned at the Asherapole. Then Josiah turned around and noticed several tombs in the side of the hill. He ordered that the bones be brought out, and he burned them on the altar at Bethel to desecrate it. This happened just as the Lord had promised through the man of God when Jeroboam stood beside the

altar at the festival. Then Josiah turned and looked up at the tomb of the man of God who had predicted these things. What is that monument? Over there, Josiah asked, and the people of the town told him, it is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted the very things that you have just done to the altar at Bethel. Josiah replied, leave it alone. Don't disturb his bones. so they did not burn his bones or those of the old prophet from Samaria. Then Josiah demolished all the buildings at the pagan shrines in the towns of Samaria just as he had done at Bethel. They had been built by the various kings of Israel and had made the Lord very angry.

He executed the priests of the pagan shrines on their own altars, and he burned human bones on the altars to desecrate the bones. them. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem. Okay, so pause there. What is the significance of this section? It starts out with Josiah gathering everyone together. Why does he do this? Why does he gather everyone together? And then he reaffirms this covenant with God and Israel. What covenant is he reaffirming? And then we have a series of verses where Joseph, and his people are destroying the pagan shrines and idols that the people of Jerusalem have made, and they are removing things from the temple that are not pleasing to God.

Why are they doing these things? Why is it important for them to go through this process? And who are the kings that came before Josiah who let these things happen? and then they get to a burial place of someone who they call the man of God. And they talk about the fact that Josiah is fulfilling a prophecy that this person made. Who are they talking about? And what prophecy are they talking about? You might want to check 1st Kings 13 versus 1 to 3 and 21 to 32 to help answer that question

or reread that whole chapter. Okay, the next section is Josiah Celebrate. Passover. So before we even start this section, what is Passover? Do you remember what that festival, what that holiday is about, and why it's significant for the people of Israel? Verse 21. King Josiah then issued this order to all the people. You must celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God as required in the book of the covenant. There had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel, nor throughout all the years of the kings of Israel and Judah.

But in the 18th year of King Josiah's reign, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem. Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He did this in obedience to the laws written in the scroll that Hilkaya the priest had found in the Lord's temple. Never before had there been a king like Josiah who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength,

obeying all the laws of Moses, and there has never been a king like him since. Even so, the Lord was very angry with Judah because of all the wicked things Manasseh had done to provoke him. For the Lord said, I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel, and I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem in the temple where my name was to be honored. The rest of the events in Josiah's reign in all his deeds are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necco, king of Egypt, went to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah and his army marched out to fight him,

but King Neko killed him when they met at Megado. Josiah's officers took his body back in a chariot from Megado to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land anointed Josiah's son, Jehoahaz, and made him the next king. Okay, so pause there and reflect on Josiah's reign. What did he do for the people of Israel? Did he do what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, or did he go against God? And what do you think about the significance of them celebrating Passover for the first time in such a long time?

Why is it important for us to remember the things that God has done in the past and celebrate them? And now we have another king, Jehoahaz, and do we think that he's going to do what's pleasing in the Lord's sight and follow his father's reign or is he going to turn from God? The next section is Jehoahaz rules in Judah. Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Hamatal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libna. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as his ancestors had done.

Pharaoh Necco put Jehoahaz in prison at Ribla in the land of Hamath. to prevent him from ruling in Jerusalem. He also demanded that Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute. The next section is Jehoiakim rules in Judah. Verse 34. Pharaoh Neco then installed Eliakim, another of Josiah's sons to reign in place of his father,

and he changed Eliakim's name to Jeholyakim. Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt as a prisoner where he died. In order to get the silver and gold demanded as tribute by Pharaoh Necco, Jeholyakim collected a tax from the people of Judah, requiring them to pay in proportion to their wealth. Jeholyakim was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 11 years. His mother was Zebeda, the daughter of Padaya, from Ruma.

He did what was evil. in the Lord's sight, just as his ancestors had done. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 23. We have two sons of Josiah becoming king and both of them doing what was evil in the Lord's sight. So what do we think is going to happen next in the story of Jeholyakim's reign? And why do you think there is this pattern of doing what is good in the Lord's sight and doing what is evil, and back and forth and back and forth.

Okay, so now we can start chapter 24, which picks up right where chapter 23 ended. So chapter 24, verse 1. During Jeholyakim's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land of Judah. Jeholyakim surrendered and paid him tribute for three years, but then rebelled. Then the Lord sent bands of Babylonian, Aramian, Moabite, and Ereuth. Ammonite raiders against Judah to destroy it, just as the Lord had promised through his prophets. These disasters happened to Judah because of the Lord's command. He had decided to banish Judah from his presence because of the many sins of Manasseh,

who had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. The Lord would not forgive this. The rest of the events in Jeholyakim's reign and all his deeds are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When Jeholyakim died, his son Jeholyakin became the next king. The king of Egypt did not venture out of his country after that, for the king of Babylon captured the entire area formerly claimed by Egypt, from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

The next section is Jeholyakin rules in Judah. Verse 8 Jeholyakin was 18 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Nahushta, the daughter of Vilnathan from Jerusalem. Jehoyiken did what was evil in the Lord's sight just as his father had done. During Jehoiken's reign, the officers of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up against Jerusalem and besieged it. Nebuchadnezzar himself arrived at the city during the siege. Then King Jeholyken, along with the queen mother, his advisors, his commanders, and his officials, surrendered to the Babylonians.

In the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, he took Jehoiken prisoner. As the Lord had said beforehand, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the treasures from the Lord's temple and the royal palace. He stripped away all the gold objects that King Solomon of Israel had placed in the temple. King Nebuchadnezzar took all of Jerusalem captive, including all the commanders and the best of the soldiers, craftsmen, and artisans, 10,000 in all. Only the poorest people were left in the land. Nebuchadnezzar led King Jehoiken away as a captive to Babylon, along with the Queen Mother, his wives and officials, and all Jerusalem's elite. He also exiled 7,000 of the best troops and 1,000 craftsmen and artisans,

all of whom were strong and fit for war. Then the King of Babylon installed Matanaya, Jehoiken's unclean, as the next king, and he changed Matanaya's name to Zedekiah. Okay, the next section is Zedekiah rules in Judah, verse 18. Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 11 years. His mother was Hamatal, the daughter of Jeremiah, from Libna. But Zedekiah did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as Jeholyakim had done. These things happened because of the Lord's anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah,

until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 24. We had a new person introduced in this chapter, King Nebuchadnezzar. He's a pretty famous figure in the Bible. So I'm curious, what did he do to Jerusalem? What role did he play in the destruction and exile? of Jerusalem. How did he affect the people of Jerusalem and how did he affect the leadership in Jerusalem? King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon in general will come up again in scripture. So it's important to

kind of understand this history that they have with Israel as we're reading through the scriptures. Okay, so now we can start chapter 25, which is the final chapter in Second Kings, and we'll conclude the story of first and second kings. Now, this first verse that I'm about to read is actually a continuation of the last verse from chapter 24, but it starts a new section, so I'm including it here, but it really goes from verse 20. So I'll read verse 20 again, and then go into the new section and then start chapter 25. I hope that's not too confusing. So verse 20 of chapter 24 said, these things happened because of the Lord's anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile.

Okay, and then a new section begins called the Fall of Jerusalem, and there's a little sentence there that says, Jeddichaya rebelled against the king of Babylon. And now we can start Chapter 25, which continues this section of the fall, of Jerusalem. Chapter 25, verse 1. So on January 15th, during the ninth year of Zetekiah's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. Jerusalem was kept under siege until the 11th year of King Zedekiah's reign. By July 18th, in the 11th year of Zedekiah's reign, the famine in the

famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone. Then, a section of the city wall was broken down. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, the soldiers waited for nightfall and escaped through the gate between the two walls behind the king's garden. Then they headed toward the Jordan Valley. But the Babylonian troops chased the king and overtook him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered. They captured the king and took him to the king of Babylon at Ribla, where they pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah.

They made Zedekiah watch as they slaughtered his sons, then they gouged out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section. what has happened to Jerusalem. Why is this significant? Is this something that God said would happen? The next section is the temple destroyed.

Verse 8. On August 14th of that year, which was the 19th year of King Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadne, the captain of the guard, and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem. He burned down the temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city.

Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side. Then Nebazirotin, the captain of the guard, took as exiles the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population. but the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields. The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars in front of the Lord's Temple,

the bronze watercarts, and the great bronze basin called the sea, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon. They also took all the ash buckets, shovels, lamp snuffers, ladles, and all the other bronze articles used for making sacrifices at the temple. The captain of the guard also took the incense burners and basins, and all the other articles made of pure gold or silver. The weight of the bronze from the two pillars, the sea, and the water carts, was too great to be measured.

These things had been made for the Lord's Temple in the days of Solomon. Each of the pillars was 27 feet tall. The bronze capital on top of each pillar was seven and a half feet high and was decorated with a network of bronze pomegranates all the way around. Nebuchadne, the captain of the guard, took with him as prisoners, Soraya the High Priest, Zephaniah, the priest of the second rank, and the three chief gatekeepers. And from among the people still hiding in the city, he took an officer who had been in charge of the Judean army, five of the king's personal advisors, the army commander's chief secretary, who was in charge of recruitment,

and 60 other citizens. Nebuchadnebazirotin, the captain of the guard, took them all to the king of Babylon at Ribla. And there at Ripla, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon had them all put to death. So the people of Judah were sent into exile from their land. Okay, so pause there at the end of this section. Why is God allowing this to happen to Judah? We saw the split between Israel and the north and Jerusalem. Judah in the south, and now Judah is fallen at the hands of the Babylonians, at the hands of

King Nebuchadnezzar. What does this mean for the people of God? And how do you think God's people will move forward? The next section is Gedelaya governs in Judah. Verse 22. Then King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedeliah, son of a Haikam, and grandson of Sheifan, as governor over the people he had left in Judah. When all the army commanders and their men learned that the king of Babylon had appointed Getalaya as governor, they went to see him at Mizpah. These included Ishmael, son of Nathaniah,

Johan, son of Korea, Saraya, son of Tanhumath, the Netaphethite, Jezaniah, son of Maakathite, and all their men. Gettelaya vowed to them that the Babylonian officials meant them no harm. Don't be afraid of them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon and all will go well for you, he promised. Okay, so pause there.

What is Gettelaya promising them? It might sound familiar. It might kind of sound like God's promises to Judah. But what is the difference? Getelaya says, live in the land and serve who? So Get Eliah is saying that if they serve the king of Babylon, they will prosper. Do you think they will fall for this? Do you think they will listen to Get Eliah and forget the promises of God? And then for more of an introspective question, how are people in your own lives or things in your

own lives promising you things that only God can give you? How do you respond to those promises? How should you respond to those promises and how can you remind yourself of what God's promises are and how he fulfills his promises to us? Verse 25. But in mid-autum of that year, Ishmael, son of Nathaniah and grandson of Alishima, who was a member of the royal family, went to Mizpah with ten men and killed Getaliah. He also killed all the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. Then all the people of Judah, from the least, to the greatest, as well as the army commanders, fled in panic to Egypt, for they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do to them. The next section is Hope for Israel's Royal Line, verse 27.

In the 37th year of the exile of King Jehoiken of Judah, evil Meriduck ascended to the Babylonian throne. He was kind to Jehoiken and released him from prison on April 2nd of that year. He spoke kindly to Jehoiken and gave him a higher place than all the other exiled kings in Babylon. He supplied Jehoiken with new clothes to replace his prison garb and allowed him to die. in the king's presence for the rest of his life. So the king gave him a regular food allowance as long as he lived. Okay, so pause there at the end of Second Kings. Where are the people of Judah?

Where are God's people? What situation have they found themselves in? We are seeing Judah in a time of failure. They have been captured. They have been exiled from Judah. and they have fallen away from God. So what does that mean for their future? Is there still hope?

Will God still fulfill his promises to the people of Judah? Okay, so we have now finished First and Second Kings. We have read the story of Israel after King David's reign when there were a series of kings, and we learned what happened to Israel and God's people during that time. We saw kings who lived for God, and we saw kings who did what was evil in God's sight. We saw Israel split into two nations, the north and the south, divided as Israel in the north, and Judah in the south. We saw times of prosperity, and we ended this section with Judah being completely taken by the Babylonians, and being exiled.

from Judah and into the control of the Babylonians. So that's where we leave Israel right now in our Old Testament story. And next time we're going to pick up with First Chronicles as we read through First and Second Chronicles. And just to give you a little heads up, when we read through First and Second Chronicles, it's going to sound like we're reading a lot of the same information over again. But it's still important. And we'll talk a little bit about why a lot of that information is the same. We'll talk about what information is different and why this book is also included in the Old Testament if a lot of this information was already covered in First and Second Kings.

So thank you so much for listening. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and that you are able to grow closer to God and His Word. And I will talk to you in the next one.