2 Kings 13:1-15:38

Memory Verse: 14:3

Questions

Outline

SORRY, THE COMMENTARY FOR THIS BOOK HAS NOT BEEN FINISHED.
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF BOOKS THAT ARE COMPLETED.

I. Evil King Jehoahaz and Good King Jehoash, Two Kings of Israel (13:1-25)

>1. What did the Lord do when Jehoahaz continued to do evil in the Lord's eyes? (1-3)

* 2 Kings 13:1-3 "In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. 3 So the LORD's anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son."

* 2 Kings 13:1-9 is not the same as 2 Chronicles 25 or any chapter thereafter for Chronicles record more of the history of kings of Judah while Kings record more of the history of the kings of Israel.

* "In the twenty-third year of Joash" -Joash (Jehoash) reigned in the kingdom of Judah from 836 to 797 B.C. His twenty-third year was 814 B.C. considering how Israel and Judah determined the years of a king's reign.

* Ahaziah is also known as Uzziah.

*

*

* Israel did not calculated a king's ascension and reign as other nations. After Israel and Judah split Judah kept calculating to "old way" and Israel switched and started calculating the way other nations did around them. Read "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings" by Edwin Richard Thiele for more understanding on how Israel and Judah calculated the dates of their king's ascension and reign.

>How did this cause him to repent?

* 2 Kings 13:4-5 "Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. 5 The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before."

*

*

*

*

>How did the Lord respond?

* Jehoahaz became king in Israel while Joash was still king in Judah. He started out wrong by doing evil in the Lord's eye. What evil? He did not worship and love nor obey God. Yet, when the Lord in anger made life hard for him and Israel after a long time Jehoahz repented. He changed and he saught the Lord's favor; perhaps the only Israel king to repent in this way. And the Lord provided a deliverer for him and Israel. They could love in their homes again.

Still, the nation of Israel as a whole did not seek the Lord. The people continued to worship the two golden calves set up by Jeroboam who started the nation of Israel when he and the ten tribes broke away from Judah and Jerusalem.

Also, the idol of Asherah, a carved pole, remained standing in Israel. An Asherah pole is a sacred tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious locations to honor the Ugaritic mother goddess Asherah, consort of El. Whose El?

El is the base Hebrew word often translated "God" in English. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning El-ohim created the heavens and the earth." Elohim is a singular-plural word. It is singular-plural because of its use and context in the sentence, and the "im" is how the Hebrew language makes a word plural like "s" and "es" at the end of English words. ELOHIM is the triune God; Father, Son, and Spirit.

EL is also part of the Hebrew word El-sheddai translated into English as "God Almighty".

The Israelites mistakenly thought Elohim meant many independant god's and they had consorts. They believed the pantheon of gods, higher powers, just like the rest of the nations around them. They accepted this and rejected the Lord.

Am I so different than Jehoahaz? Is American so different than Israel? Do I sin? Yes. Yet it is not to late for me or anyone. I can be like Jehoahaz. Everyday I wake up I need to decide to keep in conscience contact with God, seek his love and will, and ask his empowerment to do it. All day I have decisions to make; right or wrong, good or bad, love or selfish acts, hope or depression, faith or fear. God has given me control over my thoughts and my will. I can even decide to ask God to lead my thoughts and change my will and character. Lord give me a character overhaul. There is always hope because Elohim loves.

*

*

*

*

>2. Did false religion continue in Israel? (6)

* 2 Kings 13:6 "But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.'

*

*

*

*

>How low had Israel sunk? (7)

* 2 Kings 13:7 "Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust at threshing time."

*

*

*

*

> Who was the next king of Israel? (8-13)

* 2 Kings 13:8-13 "As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jehoahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash his son succeeded him as king. In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them. As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel."

* "the book of the annals of the kings of Israel" -The annals of the kings of Israel is lost and never has been found.

* "Samaria" -The capital city of Israel, the northern kingdom.

* "Jehoash" -Jehoash reigned Israel from 798 to 793 B.C.

* "the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah" -Joash (Jehoash) regined Judah from 836 thru 797 B.C. Joash's thirty-seventh year was 798 B.C. considering how Israel and Judah calculated the reign of their kings.

>3. When Elisha died what did King Jehoash say? (14; and 2 Kings 2:11-14)

* 2 Kings 13:14 "Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. "My father! My father!" he cried. "The chariots and horsemen of Israel!"

* 2 Kings 2:11-14 "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over."

* Elisha was a great prophet. God used him to raise a dead boy, float a metal axhead, blind men and then give them sight again, feed a hundred men with 10 loaves of barley, and other miracles. Despite all these miracles, he himself suffered from an illness and died from it. All the miracles prophets and Jesus performed were for the benefit of others. They were not for selfish reasons.

When Jehoash came to Elisha while he was on his death bed, Elisha still served the king. Through an arrow display Elisha predicted Israel's future with Aram, after Elisha would be dead

Even when someone died and fell on Elisha's corpse they arose, but Elisha did not.

Jesus teaches me to serve others and not seek selfish gain. God's gifts, the gifts of the Spirit, are for others, not for self.

*

*

* See a painting to the right depicting the prophet Elisha on his death bed with king Jehoash by his side now in public domain.

>What did Elisha tell him to do with a bow and arrow? (15-17)

* 2 Kings 13:15-17 "Elisha said, "Get a bow and some arrows," and he did so. "Take the bow in your hands," he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. "Open the east window," he said, and he opened it. "Shoot!" Elisha said, and he shot. "The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!" Elisha declared. "You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek."

*

*

*

*

>What was the result? (18-19)

* 2 Kings 13:18-19 "Then he said, "Take the arrows," and the king took them. Elisha told him, "Strike the ground." He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."

*

*

*

*

>What can we learn from the Lord from what happened at Elisha's grave and his dealings with Israel? (20-25)

* 2 Kings 13:20-25 "Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. 22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence. 24 Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son succeeded him as king. 25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered the Israelite towns."

*

*

*

*

II. Amaziah King of Judah and Jeroboam II King of Israel (14:1-25)

>4. What kind of king was Amaziah? (1-4)

* 2 Kings 14:1-4 "In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there."

* 2 Chronicles 25 also records Ahaziah's reign.

* "In the second year of Jehoash" -Jehoash was king of Israel from 798 thru 793 B.C. His second year was 797 B.C. considering how Judah and Israel calculated their kings reign.

* "Amaziah" -Amaziah was king of Judah from 797 thru 779 B.C. considering how Judah calculated their kings reign. Amaziah's 29 year reign included a 24 yer co-regency with his son Azariah (Uzziah). Jehoash was king in Israel when Amaziah was king in Judah. Jeroboam II became king of Israel in 793 B.C. which was in the middle of Amaziah's reign in Judah. All this is considering how Israel and Judah calculated their king's reign.

* Amaziah started out well. He followed and worshiped the Lord, but not whole heatedly. As his life continued he went from good to worse. Eventually pride and vanity lead him to totally ignore the Lord God. They also lead him to make poor decisions. He lost all he gained when he followed the Lord in his youth and more. His end was disgraceful.

Everyday I need to humble myself and acknowledge all I have and done was.all be because of the grace and mercy of God.

* Israel did not calculated a king's ascension and reign as other nations. After Israel and Judah split Judah kept calculating to "old way" and Israel switched and started calculating the way other nations did around them. Read "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings" by Edwin Richard Thiele for more understanding on how Israel and Judah calculated the dates of their king's ascension and reign.

>What was the first and second things he did as king? (5-7)

* 2 Kings 14:5-7 "After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. 6 Yet he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the LORD commanded: "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins." 7 He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day."

* 2 Chronicles 25:3-4 also records Amaziah killing the officials who had murdered his father.

* "defeated ten thousand Edomites" -Amaziah defeated the Edomites thus regaining some of the land that was lost during the reign of Jehoram.

* 2 Chronicles 25:5-12 also records Amaziah defeating the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, thus regaining some of the land that was lost during the reign of Jehoram.

*

*

*

>5. Was Ahaziah's challenge to their brothers, the Israelites righteous? (8-10)

* 2 Kings 14:8-10 "Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: "Come, meet me face to face." But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: "A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?"

* 2 Chronicles 25:13-19 also record Amaziah, king of Judah challenging and attacking Israel.

*

*

*

*

>What was the result? (11-14)

* 2 Kings 14:11-14 "Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate--a section about six hundred feet long. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria."

*

*

*

*

>How did the kings of Israel and Judah who fought each other end up? (15-22)

* 2 Kings 14:15-22 "As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 16 Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king. 17 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18 As for the other events of Amaziah's reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 19 They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20 He was brought back by horse and was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers, in the City of David. 21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers."

* Ahaziah is also known as Uzziah.

* 2 Chronicles 26 also records Ahaziah's (Uzziah) reign.

* "Lachish" -Lachish means obstinate. Lachish was an important Old Testament city located in the Shephelah (lowlands) south west of Jerusalem. It has usually been identified in modern times with the archaeological site called tell ed-Duweir. The same site has more recently come to be called tel Lachish. Lachish is also mentioned in ancient Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian records. The earliest reference to Lachish is in the Amarna letters (about 1400 B.C). It was evidently one of the important Canaanite cities of the time. The Hebrew army under Joshua's command defeated the king of Lachish, killed him and conquered his city (Joshua 10:5, 23,32-33). Later, Lachish was apportioned to the Tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:39). The next Biblical reference to Lachish comes in 2 Chronicles 11:9, from the reign of Rehoboam who fortified the city. Lachish was also the city of refuge for Amaziah who fled there from Jerusalem to escape a conspiracy against him (2 Kings 14:19; 2 Chronicles 25:27). Lachish is perhaps most well known for the story of its siege and conquest in 701 B.C. at the hands of the Assyrian King Sennacherib (2 Kings 18; 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36). Two later brief references appear (Jeremiah 34:7; Nehemiah 11:30). (Holman Bible Dictionary)

* See the Assyrian ramp built at Lachish, Israel to the right.

*

*

>6. What miraculous thing had the Lord done for Israel during Jeroboam II's reign? (23-25)

* 2 Kings 14:23-25 "In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 25 He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher."

* Israel was shrinking in size when Jeroboam became king of the capital city Sameria. So he went to war to increase it. It seems that every generation during this time was experiencing wars. They fought wars to gain, because of fear, grow in power, to seek revenge, and/or for fame. People often seek these no matter who gets hurt. Jesus said about clothes, food and shelter, "For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." I am to have faith in God. This is easier said than done. Yet, if I look closely in faith God shows me rainbows in a spiders web.

* "Jeroboam" -Jeroboam II king of Israel was an evil king. He reigned from 793 B.C. to 743 B.C. His reign started in the middle of the reign of Amaziah, king of Judah and continued almost the end of Amaziah, son Uzziah (Azariah).

* Jeroboam II is not mentioned in Chronicles because that book concentrates on the kings of Judah.

*

*

*

>Why?

* 2 Kings 14:26-29 "The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. 27 And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash. 28 As for the other events of Jeroboam's reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Yaudi, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 29 Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king."

* "Jeroboam" -Jeroboam II king of Israel was an evil king. He reigned from 793 B.C. to 743 B.C. His reign started in the middle of the reign of Amaziah, king of Judah and continued almost the end of Amaziah, son Uzziah (Azariah).

* Jeroboam II is not mentioned in Chronicles because that book concentrates on the kings of Judah.

*

*

>What can be learned about he Lord?

*

*

*

*

II. Two Kings of Judah and Five Kings of Israel (15:1-38)

>7. How is the times of Azariah described? (1-7)

* 2 Kings 15:1-7 "In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 5 The LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king's son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. 6 As for the other events of Azariah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 7 Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham his son succeeded him as king."

* Azariah is also known as Uzziah. See verses 13, 30, and 32.

* 2 Chronicles 26 also records Azariah's reign.

* 2 Chronicles 27 also records Jotham's reign.

* Amaziah, king of Judah died and his son, Azariah (aka Uzziah) became king.

Azariah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, the Lord afflicted him with leprosy until the day he died. He had to live separate from everyone. "Why", is often the question asked when "bad things" happen to anyone, even those who are considered "good people".

I cannot look at my situation and conclude God is punishing me or blessing me. Like Azariah, I can do right and still get sick. When the disciples saw that a man had been blind from birth they asked who sinned so that he was born blind, him or his parents. "Neither", Jesus answered, "It happened to bring glory to God." So I cannot conclude misfortune means curse and sin. I can look for God's glory and trust and love and obey. Not easy to do when life takes a turn for the worse. But why dwell in thoughts and attitudes that can't be answered and/or don't help and will probably only make things worse.

* The people of Judah made Uzziah king in his father, Azariah's stead twenty years before his father's death because of the leprosy. Otherwise, Uzziah's reign would have started in 779 BC, when his father died.

* Uzziah (aka Azariah) was 16 years old when he became king of Judah. The prophet Isaiah lived at this time. He recorded more events that happened at this time.

Uzziah did what was right in the Lord God's eyes. He had the fear of God and a good Biblical teacher. His actions showed he loved and respected God. He was good and kind to people and his country. A good relationship with God is based on these things. God blessed him.

Then Uzziah became proud because everything was going his way. He did what was forbidden for all to do except the priests. Perhaps he justified his motivation thinking, "God will accept me doing this because God loves me and I am special to him." God taught him in humility by giving him leprocy. God loved and blessed him enough to give him a hard lesson. He got leprosy.

When God blesses and I know it, I need to remember who he is, who I am, and why things are getting better in my life. God has his rules and ways for a purpose. His purposes are good even though I may not understand them.

Since Jesus came the Old Testament Levitical laws has been fulfilled and thus need not be obeyed and practiced. The early church council in Jerusalem gave only a few suggeations to Gentiles believers in Jesus, as did Apostle Paul. Jesus taught me a lot. We live by the Spirit who has and is writing on my heart his will for me every day and every minute. When I walk in the Spirit I need to humbly remember my place.

>Why did the king live in a separate house?

* "The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy" -The reason why is recorded in 2 Chronicles 26. In short in pride he tried to offer a sacrifice that only the priests were allowed to offer.

* "he lived in a separate house" -Lepers were required to live apart from the community.

* "Jotham the king's son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land" - During the years of (Ahaziah) Uzziah's leprosy his son reigned in his stead.

*

*

* Isaiah chapters 1 thru 5 is about this time. 2 Chronicles 26:22 says, "The other events of Uzziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz."

The book of Isaiah is very long. It covers the time from Judah's King Uzziah thru King Hezekiah, and Israel's King Jeroboam to its fall to the Assyrian army in 722 BC. He prophecied 42 years. Judah was attacked by Assyria in 701 BC.

Isaiah's first five chapters are a collection of short prophecies that are not in chronological order. Rather they are in subject order.

The people of Israel and Judah have reached a low point in their devotion to the God of Israel -the people have become greedy and have stopped following and adhering to their values. The wealthy elite are becoming rich at the expense of others. Peasant farmers who once practiced subsistence farming are being forced to farm what is best for foreign trade, mostly wine and oil. Corruption was at every level of their society.

The Lord told the prophet Isaiah to write these words to his people, both Israel and Judah, who lived during Uzziah's reign. Isaiah 5:7 and 13 say, "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress... Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; those of high rank will die of hunger and the common people will be parched with thirst."

Isaiah chapters 1 thru 5, 2 Kings 14-16, 2 Chronicles 25-28, and Amos have information about this time.

The average person in Judah and Israel were very sinful. Reading all they did is like the news of today. We are no different then they. We need to change. We need to take heed of these words. Oh Lord, what am I to do?

* Isaiah's first five chapters are a collection of short prophecies that are not in chronological order as they were given. Rather they are in subject order. Yesterday's DB concerened the average Israeli and Jew (a term that Babylon would give to the people they took into captivity when they defeated the remnants of these kingdoms). Today I see the hope that the Lord gives the people.

The descendants of the people he took out of Egypt was given a chance to repent, and thus be saved. Isaiah 1:18-20 says, "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." They had done and were doing despicable things, even killing their babies as offerings to Baal. Yet, he would take away their sin and guilt if they admit their sin, powerlessness over sin, need for God's forgiveness, ask for it, seek to maintain a conscience contact with God through prayer and meditation, study God's Word, seek to stop doing those terrible things to each other, and seek amends to those who they have hurt as long as the amends wouldn't hurt the other person.

Even if this generation refuse God's offer, there was still hope for the future generations. Isaiah 1:8-9 says, "Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah." And verse 1:26 says, "I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."

Isaiah 4:2 says, "In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains, it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it." "IN THE LAST DAYS" refers to the first and second coming of Jesus. Isaihs pure prophets Amos, Joel and Obadiah were the first prophets to use the phrase "the day of the Lord" (aka "in that day" and "in the last days") referring to the Lord's coming, judgment and restoration. Verses 3 and 4 foretell of the Gentiles being taught by Jesus because they want to live as he teaches and the good news he teaches will go out from Jerusalem to all nations and people will be changed. When Jesus comes again, "Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

Above I wrote, "OH Lord, what am I to do?" Here is the answer. Seek God and his ways, put my hope in Jesus.

* Isaiah 6 states that the Lord appeared to the prophet in the year that Uzziah, the king of Judah died, 740 BC. Uzziah's son, Jotham had been ruling in his place because Uzziah was struck with leprosy when in pride he did what only the Lord said priests could do, offer a sacrifice in the temple. Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. However, the people of Judah did not.

Neighboring kingdom Israel was ruled by Menahem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of God as did none of his predecessors. In 743 BC when Israel's king Jeroboam died, his son king Zachariah, and king Shallow were assassinated. The people of Israel were no better than there kings or the people of Judah. This is the time that the Lord appeared to Isaiah. The Lord Jesus commissioned Isaiah to deliver a hard message to delivef. Jesus quoted these verses to Israel during his ministry 800 years later.

The synapses of the message is, "I tell you again and again and you refuse to accept, believe, and obey. If you would accept, believe, and obey you would understand, change and be healed."

This truth is still valid today. It applies to me every morning, noon and night. Its all up to me. Its my choice. Chose sin and gloom. Or righteousness and healing.

>8. What does Israel's King Zechariah's death say about the times? (8-12)

* 2 Kings 15:8-12 "In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. 9 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. 11 The other events of Zechariah's reign are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel. 12 So the word of the LORD spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: "Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."

* 2 Chronicles chapters 26 and 27 are the same time, but concern Judah's kings Uzziah and Jotham.

* 5 Israel kings who do evil in the eyes of the Lord. The common way one became king was by assassinated the one before him. Most reigned for one to a few months. Yet the people were just as sinful. The while nation had kept themselves away from God. Its not like God did not send them prophets. Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, perhaps Obadiah, and others were all prophets of the Lord at this time. Still the people chose to do what they wanted and claimed and worship God according to what they thought he should be like. They disobeyed God and refused to go to Jerusalem because of pride and hate. A nation becomes what the people make it. My life becomes the decisions I have made. Yet there is hope for the Lord Jesus can change my life, anyone's life, and any nation if we want and ask him to. Its never to late to change.

*

*

>How does Israel's King Shallum's one month reign further reinforce this? (13-16)

* 2 Kings 15:13-16 "Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. 15 The other events of Shallum's reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel. 16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women."

* "Shallum" -Shallum became king of Israel in 752 B.C. according to the way Israel calculated the reign of their kings. He was king in the middle of the long reign of Uzziah (Azariah) in Judah.

* "Menahem" -Menahem because king of Israel in 752 B.C. according to the way Israel calculated the reign of their kings. He was king in the middle of the long reign of Uzziah (Azariah) in Judah. In 750 B.C. Uzziah's and his son Jotham were co-regents until Uzziah died in 740 B.C.

*

>What characterized Israel's King Menahum's reign? (16)

* "Tirzah... Tiphsah"

* "because they refused to open their gates"

* "He sacked"

* "ripped open all the pregnant women"

>9. What happened during Israel's King Menahem's reign? (17-22)

* 2 Kings 15:17-22 "In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 19 Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy man had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer. 21 As for the other events of Menahem's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem rested with his fathers. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king."

* "Pul king of Assyria" -The Northern Kingdom of Israel (aka Samaria, Ephraim) was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian monarchs, Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul) and Shalmaneser V. The later Assyrian rulers Sargon II and his son and successor, Sennacherib, were responsible for finishing the twenty-year demise of Israel's northern ten-tribe kingdom. Sennacherib also invaded some parts of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He records forty-six fortified towns captured from Judah, and presumably carried away into Assyria. Jerusalem was besieged, but not taken. Some now call the northern tribes "The Ten Lost Tribes".

* The King of Assyria was also called King of Nineveh. According to ancient Assyrian and Babylonian lists some of the kings of Assyria in were; Adad-nirari III (811-783 B.C.), his son Shalmaneser IV (783-773), his son Ashur-Dan III (773-755), his uncle Ashur-nirari V (755-745), and his son Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727). In 612 B.C. Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, fell to the Medes, Babylonians, and Scythians; supported by the Egyptians.

*

*

*

*

>What must life been like in Israel when yet another king, Pekahiah was assassinated? (23-26)

* 2 Kings 15:23-26 "In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 Pekahiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 25 One of his chief officers, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king. 26 The other events of Pekahiah's reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel."

*

*

*

*

>Who attacked Israel in Israel's King Pekah reign? (27-31)

* 2 Kings 15:27-31 "In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 29 In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah. 31 As for the other events of Pekah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?"

* "Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria"

*

*

*

>What can we learn from the way the Lord dealt with sinful Israel?

*

*

*

*

>10. When Judah sinned during Jotham's reign by worshiping in their way instead of God's who did the Lord send to attack them? (32-38)

* 2 Kings 15:32-38 "In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. 34 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the LORD. 36 As for the other events of Jotham's reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 37 (In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) 38 Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king."

* Azariah is also known as Uzziah.

* 2 Chronicles 26 also records the reign of Judah's king Azariah (Uzziah).

* 2 Chronicles 27 also records the reign of Judah's king Jotham.

* 2 Chronicles 28 also records the reign of Judah's king Ahaz.

*

*

>What can be learned about the Lord in this study?

*

*

*

*