Category: 2 Kings

It seems I missed one chapter while working through Chronicles and Kings. It is a period of great evil in the wake of Ahab, one of the most wicked kings of Israel. His widow Jezebel, Ahaziah King of Judah, and Joram King of Israel are hunted down and assassinated by Jehu, who the Lord anointed…

This chapter details the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of tis people. Zedekiah’s family is executed, and he and many Judeans are exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar’s Captain of the Guard, Nebuzaradan. “Nebuzaradan… burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem… And [they]… broke down the…

This chapter describes the final three kings of Judah and their acts against Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (Chaldea). “In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years… and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. Then he turned and rebelled against him… And [Nebuchadnezzar] carried away Jehoiachin…

This dense chapter describes many things, including Josiah’s thorough removal of false god worship throughout all of Judah and Israel (he even cleaned up the high places of Jeroboam and Solomon). “Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in…

This chapter introduces King Josiah, son of Amon (great grandson of Hezekiah) who does what is right in the eyes of the Lord. The book of the law is found and he repents, leading Judah according to God’s commands. ” ‘ “Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they…

This chapter details the reign of Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son. “And [Manasseh] did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the [Canaanites]. For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of…

This is the final chapter on King Hezekiah, covering two main topics: his life-threatening illness and miraculous recovery, and a prophesy of Babylonian exile. “And Hezekiah welcomed [the Babylonian envoys], and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his…

This dense and varied chapter contains several important events, too many to cover in detail. As Judah is threatened by Assyria, Hezekiah and his higher-ups humble themselves, seeking Isaiah and God for help. Isaiah prophesies and speaks God’s responses to Hezekiah’s prayers / inquiries. “…Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord… and [prayed]:…

This chapter parallels some of what we read in 2 Chr. Hezekiah becomes king of Judah, Israel is besieged and captured by Assyria, then Assyria besieges Judah a few years later. ” ‘Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! Thus says the king: “…Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in…

This chapter tells how Hoshea, King of Israel, continues the pattern of sin. God allows Assyria to take the entire nation captive, exile them from Israel, and resettle Samaria with pagan people. “And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the…