HOW TO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.
This is based on the N.I.V. translation of the
Second Book of Kings written about 550 B.C. or
34 lifetimes ago. Our comments are in brackets.
After Israel's King Ahab died, Moab (about 40
miles south east of Jerusalem) rebelled against
Israel. Israel's next king, Ahaziah, fell
through the lattice of his upper room and
injured himself. So he sent messengers (about 40
miles south west) to ask Baal-Zebub, god of
(pagan Philistine) Ekron if he'd recover.
But the Lord's angel told Elijah to meet the
messengers and
-Ask them, "Because there's no God in Israel
are you consulting Baal-Zebub?"
-Tell them the Lord says, "You'll die on your
bed."
So Elijah went, (met the messengers and gave
them the Lord's message). So the messengers
returned, the king asked why and they told him.
The king asked, "What kind of a man told you
this?"
They said, "He had a garment of hair and a
leather belt."
The king said, "That's Elijah."
So he sent a captain with 50 men.
He found Elijah sitting on top of a hill and
said, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!'"
Elijah answered, "If I'm a man of God, fire will
consume you." And it did.
So the king sent another captain with 50 men
with the same result.
And a third, but this captain fell on his knees
before Elijah and begged for his life.
The Lord's angel told Elijah, "Go down, don't
fear the king."
So Elijah went, told the king he'd die on his
bed because he consulted Baal-Zebub instead of
the Lord, and the king died, according to the
word of the Lord.
Having no son, Joram, Ahaziah's younger brother
succeeded him.
(Chapter 1)
When the Lord was about to take Elijah to heaven
in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their
way from Gilgal. Elijah told Elisha to stay,
because the Lord had sent him to Bethel. Elisha
wouldn't leave him so they went to Bethel.
Prophets there asked Elisha if he knew the Lord
was to take Elijah that day. "Yes" he said, "But
don't talk about it."
Elijah told Elisha to stay because the Lord had
sent him to Jericho. Again, he wouldn't leave
him so they went to Jericho. Prophets there
asked the same question as at Bethel and Elisha
gave the same reply.
Elijah told Elisha to stay because the Lord sent
him to the Jordan. Again he said, "As the Lord
lives I won't leave you." So they walked on.
Fifty prophets stood at a distance, facing the
place where they had stopped by the Jordan.
Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, struck the
water, it divided and they crossed on dry
ground.
Elijah asked Elisha, "What can I do for you
before I am taken?" "A double inheritance of
your spirit" Elisha replied. "A difficult
request" said Elijah, "But if you see me when
I'm taken from you, it will be yours - otherwise
not."
As they walked and talked, suddenly a chariot
and horses of fire appeared and separated the
two and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Elisha saw and cried out, "My Father! My father!
The chariot and horsemen of Israel." Elisha saw
him no more and he tore his clothes apart.
He picked up the cloak fallen from Elijah, went
back, stood by the Jordan, struck the water with
it and asked, "Where now is the lord Elijah's
God?" The water divided and he crossed over.
Jericho's prophets watching said, "The spirit of
Elijah is resting on Elisha." They went, bowed
and said, "Let the 50 of us look for Elijah, the
Lord's spirit may have picked him up and put him
on some mountain or in a valley."
Elisha said no. They persisted, so he agreed.
They searched for 3 days, found nothing and
reported to Elisha at Jericho.
Jericho's men told Elisha the water was bad and
the land unproductive. He asked for a bowl with
salt in it. He took it to the spring, threw the
salt in and said "The Lord says, 'I have healed
this water, never again will it cause death or
make the land unproductive.'" It's remained
wholesome to this day.
On his way to Bethel, (about 20 miles west)
youths jeered as he walked along the road. "Go
on up you baldhead." He turned, looked at them,
called a curse in the name of the Lord and two
bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of
them. He travelled north (about 60 miles) to
Mount Carmel and then back (about 30 miles) to
Samaria.
(Chapter 2)
Joram, Israel's king reigned 12 years, doing
evil in the Lord's eyes and sinning like
Jeroboam. But he wasn't as bad as his father and
mother, getting rid of his father's sacred stone
of Baal.
Moab's king had to supply Israel with 100,000
lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. But after
Ahab's death, he rebelled. So Israel's king
Joram asked Judah's King Jehoshaphat's help. He
agreed, asked by what route and was told,
"Through the desert of Edom."
So with the king of Edom they set out and after
a roundabout 7 day march had no water. Israel's
king complained, asking if the Lord was to hand
them over to Moab. But Judah's Jehoshaphat asked
if a prophet of the Lord was there to consult.
"Elisha is here," was the reply. Jehoshaphat
said, "The Lord's word is with him." So the 3
kings went down to him.
He said to Israel's king, "Go to your father and
mother's prophets." "No," Israel's king replied,
"The Lord's called us together to hand us over
to Moab." Elisha said, "As the Lord Almighty
lives whom I serve, but for Judah's King
Jehoshaphat I wouldn't even look at you. Bring a
harpist."
With harpist playing, the Lord's hand came upon
Elisha and he said, "Make this valley full of
ditches, the Lord says without wind or rain,
this valley will be filled with water and you'll
drink. This is easy in the Lord's eyes and He
will also hand Moab over to you. You'll
overthrow cities and towns. Cut down every good
tree, stop up their springs and ruin every good
field with stones."
Next morning there it was, water flowing from
the direction of Moab and the land was filled
with it.
Every Moabite man was stationed on the border.
The sun, shining on the water at early morning,
made it look like blood so they concluded the
three kings had fought each other and attacked.
But the Israelites defeated them, invaded their
land, slaughtered Moabites, destroyed towns,
threw stones onto good fields, stopped up all
the springs and cut down every good tree.
Moab's king with 700 swordsmen tried to break
through to the king of Edom and failed. He took
his firstborn son and sacrificed him on the city
wall. The fury against Israel being great, they
withdrew to their own land.
(Chapter 3)
A prophet's widow cried out to Elisha that a
creditor was coming to take her two boys as
slaves. Elisha asked her what she had at home.
"Nothing but a little oil" she said. He told her
to get all the jars she could find from her
neighbours, go inside, shut the door, pour oil
into the jars and put them aside. She did and
when all the jars were full the oil stopped
flowing. She told the man of God, who said,
"Sell the oil, pay your debts and you and your
sons can live off what's left."
Elisha went to Shunem (about 50 miles north of
Jerusalem) where a wealthy woman asked him to
stay for a meal. So whenever he came by he
stopped to eat. She told her husband, "This is a
holy man of God, let's make a small room on the
roof so he can stay whenever he comes." Lying
there one day he told his servant Gehazi to call
the woman. She came and he asked her if he could
repay her kindness for them, by speaking to the
king or army commander. But she had no need.
"What can be done?" Elisha asked. Gehazi said,
"She has no son and her husband is old." Elisha
said, "Call her." He did, she stood in the
doorway and Elisha said, "This time next year
you'll have a son in your arms." She objected,
"Don't mislead your servant, O man of God." But
that time next year she had a son.
The child went out to his father who was reaping
and said, "My head! My head!" He told a servant
to carry him to his mother, he sat on her lap
'til noon and died. She went up, laid him on the
bed of the man of God, shut the door, went out
and asked her husband for a donkey so she could
go to the man of God quickly, but didn't tell
him the boy was dead. So she came to the man of
God at Mount Carmel. He had Gehazi run to meet
her and ask if all was well. "It is," she said.
Reaching Elisha she took hold of his feet.
Gehazi tried to push her away but God's man
said, "Leave her alone! She's in bitter distress
but I don't know why." "Did I ask for a son?"
she said. "Didn't I ask you not to raise my
hopes?" Elisha said to Gehazi, "Tuck your cloak
into your belt, take my staff, run and lay the
staff on the boy's face." But she insisted
Elisha come himself. Gehazi went ahead, laid the
staff on the child's face, there was no sound or
response so he returned and told Elisha. Elisha
arrived, found the boy dead, shut the door on
the two of them and PRAYED TO THE LORD. He got
on the bed, lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes
to eyes and hands to hands and the boy's body
grew warm. Elisha then walked back and forth in
the room, got on the bed, stretched out upon him
once more and the boy sneezed 7 times and opened
his eyes. He had Gehazi bring the woman and he
gave her back her son, alive. She fell at his
feet, bowed to the ground, took her son and went
out.
Elisha returned to Gilgal (about 20 miles north
east of Jerusalem), there was a famine. Meeting
with prophets he told his servant to make a
large pot of stew for them. Gathering herbs in
the fields, gourds were found on a wild vine and
after returning, he cut them up and put them in
the stew. But when the men began to eat the stew
they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in
the pot." They couldn't eat it. Elisha put some
flour in the pot, served the stew and it was not
harmful.
A man brought Elisha twenty loaves of barley
bread and some heads of new grain. "Give it to
the people to eat," Elisha said. "How can I set
this before 100 men?" his servant asked. But
Elisha answered, "The Lord says, 'They will eat
and have some left over.'" So he set it before
them, they ate and had some left over according
to the word of the Lord.
(Chapter 4)
Naaman, the king of Aram's army commander (near
Damascus about 100 miles north east of
Jerusalem), was highly regarded because the Lord
had given victory to Aram, but he had leprosy. A
captive young girl from Israel told Naaman's
wife Elisha could cure leprosy. Naaman told the
king who gave permission to go and also a letter
to Israel's king asking him to cure the leprosy.
He took 340 kilograms of silver, 70 kilograms of
gold and 10 sets of clothing.
Israel's king said, "Am I God?" tore his robes
and said, "He is trying to pick a quarrel with
me." Hearing this Elisha sent a message saying,
"Have him come to me and he will know there's a
prophet in Israel." So Naaman with horses and
chariots stopped at Elisha's house. Elisha by
messenger told him to wash 7 times in the Jordan
and be healed. Naaman left in a rage saying he
expected him to come out, stand and call on the
name of the Lord, wave his hand over the leprosy
and cure it. "I might as well have washed in a
river at home, been cleansed and saved the
trip," he said. But Naaman's servants said, "If
the prophet had told you to do some great thing,
you would have done it. How much more when he
simply says, 'Wash and be cleansed.'" So he did
what Elisha said and he was healed.
Then he went back to the man of God with all his
attendants and said NOW I KNOW THAT THERE IS NO
GOD IN ALL THE WORLD EXCEPT IN ISRAEL. Please
accept a gift. But Elisha refused even though
Naaman urged him.
(It was thought a god could only be worshipped
on the soil of the nation he was bound to). So
Naaman asked for as much earth as two mules
could carry saying, "Your servant will never
again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any
other god but the Lord. But may He forgive me
when I enter the temple of Rimmon, my master
leaning on my arm and I also bow there."
"Go in peace" said Elisha.
After Naaman had travelled some distance, Gehazi
decided to run after him and got some gifts for
himself. Naaman got down from his chariot to
meet him and asked "Is everything all right?"
Gehazi said, "Yes" and that Elisha had sent him
to say two young prophets had just come, needing
34 kilograms of silver and 2 sets of clothing.
Naaman urged him to accept twice the amount of
requested silver and 2 sets of clothing. Two of
his servants carried them ahead of Gehazi.
Arriving home he put the gifts in the house,
sent the servants away and stood before Elisha
who asked, "Where have you been?" Gehazi
replied, "I haven't been anywhere."
But Elisha said, "My spirit was with you when
the man got down from the chariot. Is this the
time to take money or accept gifts? Naaman's
leprosy will cling to you and your descendants
forever." Gehazi left his presence leprous, as
white as snow.
(Chapter 5)
Prophets said to Elisha, "Let's go to the Jordan
and build a bigger place to live." Elisha went
too. Cutting trees by the Jordan, the iron head
fell off a borrowed axe into the water. The man
of God asked where it fell, cut a stick and
threw it there, the iron floated and it was
retrieved.
Aram's king was at war with Israel. Elisha kept
warning Israel's king where he was camped. This
enraged Aram's king who believed there was a
traitor in his camp. His officers denied it
saying, "It's Elisha who tells Israel's king the
very words you speak in your bedroom." "Find and
capture him," the king ordered. Being reported
he was in Dothan, the king sent horses,
chariots, a strong force by night and surrounded
the city.
Early next morning, Elisha's servant found the
city surrounded. "What shall we do?" he asked.
"DON'T FEAR, THOSE MEN WITH US ARE MORE THAN
THOSE AGAINST US." Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open
his eyes to see." The Lord did and he saw the
hills full of horses and chariots of fire all
around Elisha.
As the enemy approached, Elisha prayed to the
Lord, "Strike them blind" and He did. Then
Elisha told them, "This is not the road nor
city, follow me and I'll lead you to the man
you're looking for." He led them to Samaria.
Inside, he asked the Lord to open their eyes. He
did and there they were, inside Samaria.
Israel's king asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them?"
"No" was the reply. So he prepared a great feast
for them and sent them back to their master. So
Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory.
Some time later, Aram's King Ben-Hadad besieged
Samaria causing severe famine. A donkey's head
sold for 1 kilogram of silver and .03 of a litre
of seed pods for 2 ounces of silver. As Israel's
king passed by on the wall a woman cried for
help. He said, "If the Lord doesn't help you how
can I? What's the matter?" She said, "A woman
said, 'Let's eat your son to-day and mine
to-morrow.' We ate my son and now she has hidden
hers." The king tore his robes and revealed he
was wearing sackcloth underneath. He said, "I'll
have Elisha's head to-day."
Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders.
The king's messenger was on the way and Elisha
said, "This murderer is sending someone to cut
off my head. When the messenger comes shut and
hold the door, the king won't be far behind."
While he spoke, the king said "This disaster is
from the Lord, why should I wait for him any
longer?"
(Chapter 6)
Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord: This
time to-morrow 7.3 litres of flour will sell for
11 grams of silver and 15 litres of barley for
11 grams of silver at Samaria's gates."
The officer on whose arm the king was leaning
said to the man of God, "If the Lord opened
heaven's floodgates could this happen?" "You'll
see it with your own eyes, but not eat" answered
Elisha.
4 men with leprosy were at the city gate. They
reasoned they'd die if they stayed there and die
if they went into the city, so they may as well
surrender to the Arameans. At dusk they arrived
at the camp and found it deserted. The Lord had
caused the Arameans to hear the sound of
chariots, horses of a great army. Thinking
Israel's king had hired Hittite and Egyptian
kings, they ran for their lives.
The 4 lepers ate, drank, looted two tents and
hid the booty. Then they said, "This isn't
right, THIS IS A DAY FOR GOOD NEWS AND WE ARE
KEEPING IT TO OURSELVES. We'll be punished by
daylight, so let's report this to the royal
palace." So they told the gatekeepers who
reported to the king. He thought it was a trap
to lure them out into an ambush. So they sent
two chariots after the Arameans to check and
report back. They followed as far as the Jordan
and found the whole road strewn with clothing
and equipment the Arameans had thrown away in
their headlong flight.
After reporting this to the king, the people
went out and plundered the Arameans' camp. So,
as the Lord had said, 7.3 litres of flour and 15
litres of barley each sold for 11 grams of
silver.
The king put the officer on whose arm he leaned
in charge of the gate and the people trampled
him to death. It happened exactly as Elisha had
foretold, "You'll see it with your own eyes, but
you won't eat any of it."
(Chapter 7)
Elisha had told the woman whose son he had
restored to life to move to avoid the coming 7
year famine. She stayed in Philistine territory
for 7 years. Returning, she came to beg the king
for her house and land. The king was asking
Gehazi (Elisha's servant) about the great things
Elisha had done and he was telling about the
woman just as she arrived. Gehazi said "This is
the woman, and this is her son." The king asked
about it and she told him. So he assigned an
official to see everything, including all income
from her land, was restored, from the day she
left until her return.
Elisha went to Damascus where Aram's king was
ill. He sent Hazael with a gift of 40 camel
loads of finest wares to ask if he'd recover.
Elisha's reply was that he would recover and
also die. Then he wept and told Hazael it was
because of all the harm he would do to the
Israelites. Burning their fortified places,
killing young men with the sword, dashing little
children to the ground and ripping open pregnant
women.
Hazael asked how he could do this, Elisha
answered, "The Lord has shown me you'll become
king of Aram."
Hazael returned to Ben-Hadad, told him he'd
recover and next day smothered him with a thick,
water soaked cloth. So Hazael became king.
Jehoram was 32 when he became king of Judah and
he reigned 8 years. He was as bad as the kings
of Israel, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord.
But for David's sake the Lord was unwilling to
destroy Judah. Edom rebelled against Judah, so
Jehoram went to Zair with his chariots, was
surrounded by Edomites, he broke through by
night but his army fled home. Edom continued
rebelling and Libnah also revolted. Jehoram
died, was buried in Jerusalem and Ahaziah his
son became king when he was 22. He reigned one
year.
He was as bad as Israel's King Ahab and did evil
in the eyes of the Lord. He went with Israel's
Joram (Ahab's son) to war against Aram's King
Hazael at Ramoth Gilead (about 60 miles north
east of Jerusalem). Wounded, Joram returned to
Jezreel and Azahiah went to see him.
(Chapter 8)
Elisha summoned a young prophet and told him to:
-Tuck your cloak into your belt.
-Take this flask of oil and go to Ramoth
Gilead.
-Look for Jehu.
-Get him away from his companions and take him
into an inner room.
-Pour the oil on his head and declare,
-The Lord says: "I anoint you king over
Israel."
-Then open the door and run; don't delay.
The young prophet obeyed and getting Jehu alone,
declared:
-The Lord, the God of Israel says:
-"I anoint you king over the Lord's people
Israel.
-You are to destroy Ahab's house.
-I will avenge the blood of my prophets
-And of all the Lord's servants shed by
Jezebel.
-I'll cut off from Ahab every last male in
Israel,
-Dogs will devour Jezebel, no one will bury
her."
Then he opened the door and ran.
Jehu told his fellow officers, they hurriedly
spread their cloaks on the bare steps, blew the
trumpet and shouted "Jehu is king."
Jehu got into his chariot and rode to Jezreel
where Israel's Joram was resting and Judah's
Ahaziah had gone to see him. (Joram had been
wounded defending Ramoth Gilead against Aram's
King Hazael).
The lookout on Jezreel's tower reported troops
coming. Joram ordered a horseman be sent to see
if they came in peace. He asked Jehu this who
replied, "What peace? Fall in behind me." This
the lookout reported. The king sent a second
horseman with the same result. The lookout
reported again and said "It's like Jehu's
driving - he drives like a madman."
So Joram and Ahaziah hitched up their chariots,
went out and met Jehu where Naboth's vineyard
had been. Joram asked "Have you come in peace?"
"How can there be peace while the idolatry and
witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abounds?" Jehu
replied.
Joram turned and fled calling, "Treachery,
Ahaziah."
Jehu drew his bow, shot Joram between the
shoulders piercing his heart and he slumped down
in the chariot. Jehu ordered Bidkar his chariot
officer throw him on the field that had belonged
to Naboth according to the word of the Lord (I
Kings (21:18-24). "Yesterday I saw the blood of
Naboth and his sons, and I'll surely make you
pay for this plot of ground declares the Lord."
He reminded Bidkar that they had been riding
together in chariots behind Ahab when the Lord
had made this prophecy.
Ahaziah saw this and fled up the road. Jehu
pursued shouting, "Kill him too." They wounded
him in his chariot (about 10 miles to the south)
near Ibleam but he escaped to Megiddo (about 15
miles to the north west) and died there. His
servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem and
buried him with his fathers in his tomb.
Jehu returned to Jezreel, Jezebel heard, painted
her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out the
window and said to Jehu, (with bitter sarcasm
for 45 years earlier Zimri had seized the throne
by assassination), "Have you come in peace,
Zimri, you murderer of your master?"
He looked up at the window and called out"Who is
on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked
down. "Throw her down" Jehu said. They did and
her blood spattered the wall and horses as they
trampled her.
Jehu went in, ate and drank and said, "Take care
of that cursed woman and bury her for she is a
king's daughter." But they found only her skull,
hands and feet. So Jehu said, "This is the word
of the Lord, spoken through Elijah: On the plot
of ground at Jezreel dogs will eat Jezebel's
flesh. Her body will be like refuse on the
ground at Jezreel. So no one will be able to say
'This is Jezebel.'"
(Chapter 9)
70 sons of Ahab's house lived in Samaria. Jehu
sent letters to their guardians and told them to
put the best son on the throne and fight for
Ahab's house. Terrified, they said, "Two kings
couldn't resist him, how can we?"
They replied saying they wouldn't appoint a king
and for Jehu to do what he liked.
So Jehu wrote again saying, if they were on his
side, to bring the heads of Ahab's 70 royal
princes to him at Jezreel next day. They did and
Jehu ordered the heads in baskets be put in two
piles by the city gate until morning.
Next morning Jehu addressed the people, "You are
innocent, I killed my master, but who killed all
these? Not a word the Lord has spoken against
the house of Ahab through Elijah will fail." So
Jehu killed everyone remaining in Jezreel of
Ahab's house, chief men, close friends, and
priests, leaving no survivor.
Jehu then went (about 20 miles south) to
Samaria. On the way he met some 42 relatives of
Judah's King Azariah and slaughtered them.
He then met Jehonadab who was on his way to meet
him. Jehu asked "Are you for me as I am for
you?" "Yes" was the reply. Jehu said, "Give me
your hand." He helped him into his chariot and
said, "Come and see my zeal for the Lord." At
Samaria he killed all left of Ahab's family
according to the word of the Lord through
Elijah.
Then Jehu told the people to summon all Baal's
prophets, ministers and priests so he could hold
sacrifice for Baal, with failure to come meaning
death. So they all came and crowded into the
temple of Baal. Jehu brought out robes for
Baal's ministers. He told them to make sure no
servants of the Lord were there and they went in
to make sacrifices and burnt offerings. But Jehu
had posted 80 men outside saying, "If any
escapes it will cost you your life."
As soon as he finished the burnt offering, he
ordered swordsmen to attack. They did, threw the
bodies out and entered the temple's inner
shrine. They brought out and burned the sacred
stone, tore the temple down and ever since used
it as a latrine.
So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. But he
did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam caused
Israel to commit because he didn't destroy the
golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
The Lord commended him for doing to Ahab's house
"All I had in mind to do" and promised his
descendants would sit on Israel's throne to the
fourth generation. But Jehu didn't carefully
keep the law of the Lord the God of Israel with
all his heart.
Then the Lord began to reduce Israel's size.
Hazael overpowered the Israelites east of the
Jordan River from the Dead Sea to the Sea of
Galilee (about 100 miles north). Jehu reigned 28
years, died and was buried in Samaria. Jehoahaz
his son succeeded him.
(Chapter 10)
With Judah's King Ahaziah dead, his mother
Athaliah, started to destroy the whole royal
family. But her sister hid Joash, Ahaziah's son
with his nurse for 6 years at the temple. In the
seventh year, her husband, priest Jehoida,
called commanders and guards to the temple,
showed them the king's son and put them under an
oath to guard the king on the Sabbath and kill
anyone approaching. They obeyed, both those
going off and coming on duty that day. Jehoida
gave out King David's spears and shields. The
guards stationed themselves around the king near
the altar and temple, from the south side to the
north side of the temple.
Jehoida brought the king's son out, crowned him,
gave him a copy of the covenant and proclaimed
him king. Anointing him they clapped their hands
and shouted, "Long live the king."
Athaliah heard the noise, went to the temple,
saw the king standing in the customary place by
the pillar with trumpets blowing and people
rejoicing. So she tore her robes and called out,
"Treason! Treason!"
Jehoida ordered unit commanders to, "Bring her
out between the ranks and kill anyone following
her." Having instructed them not to kill her in
the temple, they killed her where horses enter
the palace grounds.
Jehoida made a covenant between the Lord, king
and people that they'd be the Lord's people. He
also made a covenant between king and people.
All the people went and tore down Baal's temple.
smashing altars and idols and killing Mattan,
Baal's priest, in front of the altars.
Jehoida posted guards at the Lord's temple and
with commanders and guards and people brought
the king from temple to palace where he sat on
the royal throne. All the people rejoiced, the
city was quiet and Joash was 7 years old.
(Chapter 11)
Joash reigned 40 years, doing right in the
Lord's eyes while Jehoida instructed him but the
high places were not removed and the people
continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense
there.
He told the priests to collect money brought as
sacrifice offerings, census collections,
money received from voluntary personal vows, and
use it for temple repairs.
Years passed and repairs were still not made.
Joash summoned Jehoida and other priests, asked
why, and told them in future not to collect
money from the people, and not make repairs
themselves. The priests agreed. Jehoida bored a
hole in the lid of a chest and placed it beside
the altar on the right side when entering the
temple. Priests guarding the entrance put the
money brought into the Lord's temple into the
chest. When nearly full, the royal secretary and
high priest came, counted the money, put it in
bags and gave it to those supervising temple
repairs. They paid carpenters, builders, masons,
stone cutters, bought timber, dressed stone and
met all other restoration expenses. The
supervisors acted with complete honesty, an
accounting was not required of them. Money for
sin and guilt offerings was not brought to the
temple. It was for the priests.
Aram's Israel captured Gath and turned to attack
Jerusalem. Joash bought him off with all the
sacred objects dedicated by Kings Jehoshaphat,
Jehoram and Ahaziah, his own dedicated gifts and
all the gold found in the treasuries of the
Lord's temple and the royal palace. His
officials conspired against and killed him at
Beth Millo. He was buried with his fathers in
Jerusalem.
Amaziah, his son succeeded him as king.
(Chapter 12)
Israel's Jehoahaz reigned 17 years, doing evil
in the Lord's eyes like Jeroboam. So the Lord's
anger burned against Israel and for a long time
He kept them under the power of Aram's Hazael
and his son Ben-Hadad.
Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favour, He
listened, seeing the king of Aram's severe
oppression and provided a deliverer. So the
Israelites lived in their own homes as before
but they did not turn away from and continued
in, the sins of the house of Jeroboam. Also the
Asherah Pole remained in Samaria.
Aram's King Hazael oppressed Israel during the
reign of Jehoahaz. But, because of His covenant
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Lord was
gracious to them, had compassion for them and
showed concern for them. To this day He has been
unwilling to destroy or banish them from His
presence.
Aram's king destroyed all Israel's army except
10 chariots, 50 horsemen and 10,000 foot
soldiers. Jehoahaz was buried in Samaria and
his son Jehoash succeeded him.
He reigned 16 years, did evil in the Lord's eyes
and didn't turn from, but continued in, the sins
of Jeroboam. He warred against Judah's Amaziah.
Elisha was suffering from the illness that
killed him. Jehoash visited, wept over him and
cried, "My father! My father! The chariots and
horsemen of Israel." (Meaning Elisha was the key
to Israel's military success, not her armies).
Elisha told him to hold bow and arrows. He did,
Elisha put his hands on the king's. "Open the
east window and shoot" he said. The king did.
"The Lord's arrow of victory over the Arameans,
you'll completely destroy them at Apher" said
Elisha. (Just east of the Sea of Galilee). Then
he told the king to strike the ground with
arrows. He did three times. The man of God was
angry and said you should have done it 5 or 6
times and defeated Aram completely, but now
you'll only win 3 times.
Aram's King Hazael died, son Ben-Hadad succeeded
him and Jehoash recaptured the towns lost in
battle by his father. Three times he defeated
him.
Jehoash died and was buried in Samaria with
Israel's kings.
Jeroboam succeeded him as king.
Elisha died and was buried.
Some Israelites were burying a man when they saw
a band of Moabite raiders so they threw him into
Elisha's tomb, his body touched Elisha's bones
and the man came to life and stood up.
(Chapter 13)
Judah's King Amaziah was 25 when his reign began
and he reigned 29 years. He did right in the
eyes of the Lord but the high places were not
removed, the people continued to offer
sacrifices and burn incense there.
He executed the officials who had murdered his
father, but not their sons, according to the Law
of Moses where the Lord commanded: "Fathers
shall not be put to death for their children or
vice-versa; each is to die for his own sins."
He defeated 10,000 Edomites south of the Dead
Sea and captured Sela (probably modern day
Petra).
Then he challenged Israel's King Jehoash to
fight. Jehoash replied, "You've become arrogant
because you defeated Edom. Glory in your victory
but stay at home. Why ask for trouble and
destroy both of us?"
But Amaziah wouldn't listen and attacked at Beth
Shemesh (about 10 miles west of Jerusalem).
Judah lost, Jehoash captured Amaziah, went to
Jerusalem, broke down 600 feet of the wall, took
temple gold, silver and articles, royal palace
treasuries, hostages and returned to Samaria.
(Amaziah was possibly released after the death
of Jehoash). Due to a conspiracy in Jerusalem he
fled to Lachish, the conspirators followed and
killed him there. Returned by horse, he was
buried in Jerusalem. His son Azariah succeeded
him. He rebuilt Elath (at the top of the Gulf of
Aqabah about 160 miles south of Jerusalem).
Jeroboam (the second) son of Israel's Jehoash,
became king in Samaria and he reigned 42 years.
He did evil in the Lord's eyes, not turning from
any of the sins Jeroboam (the first) caused
Israel to sin. He restored Israel's boundaries
to roughly where they were during David and
Solomon's reigns, according to the word of the
Lord, the God of Israel spoken through Jonah. He
was buried with his fathers, the kings of Israel
and succeeded by son Zechariah.
(Chapter 14)
Judah's Azariah was 16 when he became king and
he reigned 52 years. He did right in the Lord's
eyes but didn't remove the high places. The Lord
afflicted him with leprosy. He lived in a
separate house and his son Jotham had charge of
the palace and governed the people. Buried in
Jerusalem, son Jotham succeeded him.
Jeroboam's son Zechariah reigned for 6 months in
Israel, did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
Shallum assassinated him in front of the people
and succeeded him as king. This fulfilled the
Lord's word through Jehu, "Your descendants will
sit on Israel's throne to the fourth
generation."
Shallum reigned one month in Samaria and he was
assassinated by Menahem who succeeded him. He
attacked nearby Tiphsah, sacked it and ripped
open all the pregnant women. He reigned 10 years
and did evil in the eyes of the Lord and
continued sinning like Jeroboam.
Assyria's Pul invaded and Menahem bought him off
with 34 metric tons of silver. He exacted this
from Israel, every wealthy man having to
contribute .6 of a kilogram of silver. He died
and son Pekahiah succeeded him.
Pekahiah reigned 2 years in Israel, did evil in
the Lord's eyes and was asassinated by Pekah in
the royal palace citadel in Samaria. Pekah
succeeded him as king.
Pekah reigned 25 years in Israel, did evil in
the Lord's eyes, not turning from the sins of
Jeroboam. Assyria's King Tiglath-Pileser
invaded, took towns and land about 60 miles
north of Samaria, around Galilee, southwards
east of the Jordan into Gilead and deported the
people to Assyria. Then Hoshea assassinated
Pekah and succeeded him as king.
Judah's Jotham was 25 when his reign started and
he lasted 16 years. He did right in the Lord's
eyes but didn't remove the high places, so the
people continued to offer sacrifices and burn
incense there. The Lord began to send Aram's
King Pezin and Israel's Pekah against Judah. He
died, was buried with his fathers in Jerusalem
and son Ahaz succeeded him.
(Chapter 15)
Judah's King Ahaz was 20 when his reign began,
he reigned 16 years, didn't do right in the eyes
of the Lord his God, walked in the way of
Israel's kings, sacrificed his son in the fire,
followed the detestable practices of the nations
the Lord drove out before the Israelites,
offered sacrifices and burnt incense at the high
places, on hilltops and under every spreading
tree.
Aram's King Rezin and Israel's King Pekah
besieged but could not overpower Jerusalem.
Rezin drove Judah's men out of Elath (on the
Gulf of Aqabah) and Edomites moved in.
Ahaz asked help from Assyria's King
Tilgath-Pileser. He sent silver and gold from
the Temple of the Lord and royal palace
treasuries to him. So he attacked and captured
Damascus. Ahaz met him there, saw an altar and
sent a sketch of it with detailed construction
plans to priest Uriah who completed it before
Ahaz returned. Returning, Ahaz presented burnt,
grain, drink and the blood of fellowship
offerings on it. He moved the bronze altar from
the front of the Temple to the north side of the
new altar (which then stood in front of the
Temple).
He ordered priest Uriah, on the new altar to
offer:
-Morning burnt offerings.
-Evening grain offerings.
-The king's burnt and grain offerings.
-Burnt offering, grain and drink offerings for
the people of the land.
The blood of burnt offerings and sacrifices was
to be sprinkled on the altar. The king used the
bronze altar for seeking guidance.
Uriah did as he was told.
Ahaz removed side panels and basins from the
movable stands. He removed the bronze bulls from
the Sea and put it on a stone base. (In
deference to Assyria's king). He removed the
Sabbath canopy and royal entry way outside the
Temple. He died, was buried in Jerusalem and son
Hezekiah succeeded him.
(Chapter 16)
Israel's King Hoshea reigned 9 years and did
evil in the eyes of the Lord but not like his
predecessors. He had been paying tribute to
Assyria's King Shalmaneser but he stopped and
sent envoys to Egypt. So Shalmaneser:
-Seized and imprisoned Hoshea.
-Invaded the entire land.
-Besieged Samaria for 3 years and captured it.
-Deported the Israelites to Assyria.
All this happened because the Israelites:
-Sinned against the Lord their God who brought
them out from under the power of Egypt's
Pharaoh.
-Worshipped other gods.
-Followed the practices of the nations the
Lord had driven out before them.
-As well as practices introduced by Israel's
kings.
-Secretly did wrong things against the Lord
their God.
-Built high places in every town.
-Set up:
-Sacred stones and
-Asherah poles
-On every high hill
-And under every spreading tree.
-Burned incense at every high place as the
nations the Lord had driven out before them
had done.
-Did wicked things that provoked the Lord to
anger.
-Worshipped idols, though the Lord had said
"Don't do this."
-Would not listen and were as stiff necked as
their fathers who did not trust in the Lord.
-Rejected His decrees and covenant made with
their forefathers and warnings to them.
-Followed worthless idols and THEMSELVES
BECAME WORTHLESS.
-Imitated surrounding nations though the Lord
had ordered them not to.
-Did things the Lord had forbidden them to do.
-Forsook all the commands of the Lord their
God.
-Made two idols cast like calves and an
Asherah pole.
-Bowed down to all the starry hosts.
-Worshipped Baal.
-Sacrificed sons and daughters in the fire.
-Practised divination and sorcery.
-Sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the
Lord, provoking Him to anger.
-Persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did
not turn from them.
The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all His
prophets and seers:
-Turn from your evil ways.
-Observe my commands and decrees in accordance
with the entire law I commanded your fathers
to obey and gave you through my servants the
prophets.
The Lord was very angry with Israel and removed
them from His presence. Only Judah was left but
they also didn't keep the Lord's commandments.
They followed the practices Israel had
introduced. Therefore the Lord:
-Rejected Israel.
-Afflicted them.
-Gave them into plunderers' hands until He
-Thrust them from His presence.
When the Lord tore Israel from David's house
they made Jeroboam king. He enticed Israel away
from following the Lord and caused them to
commit a great sin.
The Lord removed Israel from His presence as He
warned through all His prophets.
So the people of Israel were taken from their
homeland to exile in Assyria and they're still
there.
Assyria's king replaced Israelites taken from
the towns of Samaria (the northern kingdom) with
people from the lands he ruled.
At first the people did not worship the Lord so
He killed some with lions. It was reported to
the king that this was because the new settlers
did not know Israel's God.
So he ordered one of Israel's priests be
returned to "teach the people what the God of
the land requires." So one came back and taught
them how to worship the Lord at Bethel.
But each national group made their own gods and
set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria
had made at the high places. They worshipped the
Lord but also appointed all sorts of their own
people to officiate as priests at the high
places. THEY WORSHIPPED THE LORD BUT ALSO SERVED
THEIR OWN GODS.
They still do, neither worshipping the Lord nor
obeying His decrees, ordinances, laws and
commands that the Lord gave Jacob's descendants
when He called Israel. When the Lord made a
covenant with them He commanded, "Do not worship
any other gods or bow down to them. But the
Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with
mighty power and outstretched arm is the one you
must worship. To Him you shall bow down and to
Him offer sacrifices. You must always carefully
keep the decrees, commands, ordinances and laws
He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. Do
not forget the covenant I made with you, and do
not worship other gods, rather worship the Lord
your God; it's He who will deliver you from the
hands of all your enemies."
But they wouldn't listen, but persisted in their
former practices. WHILE WORSHIPPING THE LORD,
THEY WERE SERVING THEIR IDOLS. TO THIS DAY THEIR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN CONTINUE TO DO AS
THEIR FATHERS DID.
(Chapter 17)
Judah's Hezekiah was 25 when he became king and
he reigned 29 years. He:
-Did right in the eyes of the Lord.
-Removed the high places.
-Smashed the sacred stones.
-Cut down the Asherah poles.
-Smashed Moses' bronze snake because people
were burning incense to it.
-Trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel.
-Was the best king of Judah.
-Held fast to the Lord and did not cease to
follow Him.
-Kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.
THEREFORE:
-The Lord was with Him.
-He was successful in all he undertook:
-His rebellion against Assyria's king.
-His defeat of Philistines as far as Gaza.
Assyria's King Shalmaneser besieged, defeated
Samaria and deported Israel, because they had
not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated
the covenant - all that Moses the Lord's servant
had commanded, neither listening to nor carrying
out his commands.
Then Assyria's Sennacherib captured all Judah's
fortified cities. So Hezekiah asked him to
withdraw for a cash payment of 11 tons of silver
and 1 ton of gold. To do this Hezekiah gave all
the silver in the Temple and royal palace and
the gold stripped from Temple doors and
doorposts.
Then Sennacherib, at Lachish, sent his supreme
commander, chief officer and field commander
with a large army who stopped at the aqueduct of
the Upper Pool and called for the king:
-So Eliakim, palace administrator, Shebna,
secretary and Joah, recorder, went out.
-The field commander said, "Tell Hezekiah
-Assyria's great king says
-What is your confidence based on?
-You say you have strategy and military
strength - empty words!
-Who are you depending on?
-Egypt, that splintered reed that pierces
a man's hand if he leans on it?
-The Lord your God?
-Whose high places Hezekiah removed.
-I'll give you 2000 horses if you can supply
riders.
-How can you repulse one officer of the least
of my master's officials, even though you
depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
-Furthermore, the Lord Himself told me to
destroy Judah."
Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joash told the field
commander to speak in Aramaic to spare Hebrews
listening on the wall.
The reply was "Why shouldn't they hear? They'll
have to eat their own excreta and drink their
urine like you!"
So the commander called out in Hebrew, "Hear the
word of Assyria's great king:
-Don't listen to Hezekiah.
-He can't save you.
-Don't let him persuade you to trust in the
Lord when he says 'the Lord will deliver
us.'
-Make peace and come out and
-Everyone will eat from his own vine
-And drink from his own cistern
-Until I come and take you to a land like
your own (Auschwitz!).
-Choose life not death.
-Don't listen to Hezekiah. He lies when he
says 'The Lord will deliver us.' Has the
god of any nation saved them from
Sennacherib? So can the Lord deliver you
out of my hand?"
But the people didn't reply in obedience to
Hezekiah's instructions.
Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah went to Hezekiah -
with clothes torn and told what the field
commander said.
(Chapter 18)
Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and
went into the Lord's Temple. He sent Eliakim,
Shebna and the leading priests all wearing
sackcloth to Isaiah. They told him, "Hezekiah
says:
-This is a day of distress, rebuke and
disgrace.
-Maybe the Lord your God will hear the field
commander's words that Assyria's king has
sent to ridicule the living God,
-And rebuke him.
-So pray for the surviving remnant."
Isaiah replied, "The Lord says,
-Don't fear the words of Assyria's king which
have blasphemed me.
-Listen! I'm putting such a spirit in him
that,
-Hearing a report,
-He will return home,
-Where I'll have him cut down with the
sword."
Hearing Sennacherib had left Lachish (about 30
miles south west of Jerusalem), the field
commander withdrew and found the king fighting
against Libnah. Then Sennacherib heard Egypt's
king was marching to fight him. So again he sent
this message to Hezekiah:
-"Don't let the God you depend on deceive you
when He says 'Jerusalem won't be handed over
to me.'
-You've heard how Assyrian kings have
destroyed countries completely.
-Did their gods save them?"
Hezekiah took the letter, went into the Lord's
Temple,spread it out before the Lord and prayed:
-"O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the
cherubim,
-You alone are God over all the kingdoms of
the earth.
-You have made heaven and earth.
-O Lord, listen and see the insulting words
Sennacherib has sent the living God.
-It's true, Assyrian kings have destroyed
nations and lands, burning their gods which
weren't gods, but wood and stone fashioned
by men.
-NOW O LORD OUR GOD, DELIVER US FROM HIS HAND
THAT ALL KINGDOMS ON EARTH MAY KNOW THAT YOU
ALONE, O LORD, ARE GOD."
Then Isaiah told Hezekiah "This is what the Lord
the God of Israel says:
-'I've heard your prayer about Sennachrib and
this is the word the Lord's spoken against
him.
-The virgin daughter of Zion despises and
mocks you, tossing her head as you flee.
-You have,
-Insulted,
-Blasphemed,
-Raised your voice against me and
-Lifted your eyes in pride AGAINST THE HOLY
ONE OF ISRAEL.
-Heaped insults on the Lord.
-Said,
-With my many chariots I've ascended the
heights, cut the tallest trees and
reached remotest Lebanon.
-I've dug wells in foreign lands.
-Dried up Egypt's streams with the soles
of my feet.
-But I, the Lord,
-Planned all that long ago and
-Have now brought it to pass that you've,
-Turned fortified cities into piles of
stone.
-Dismayed and shamed people, like
scorching tender green shoots before
they can grow.
-Know,
-Where you come, go and stay.
-How you rage against me, and your
insolence has reached my ears.
-Will,
-Put my hook in your nose and
-My bit in your mouth and
-Make you return the way you came.
-Tell you Hezekiah,
-I'll provide self sown harvests for this
year and next and
-The third year you'll sow and reap, plant
vineyards and eat their fruit.
-That Judah's remnant will take root and
bear fruit because a band of survivors
will come out of Jerusalem. THE ZEAL OF
THE ALMIGHTY WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS.
-I'll defend and save Jerusalem for MY
SAKE AND THE SAKE OF MY SERVANT DAVID.
-Say this about Assyria's king,
-He won't enter, shoot an arrow in, come
before with a shield or build a siege
ramp against Jerusalem.
-He'll return the way he came.'"
That night the Lord's angel went out and put to
death 185,000 Assyrian men in their camp. The
others got up next morning and there were all
the dead bodies. So Sennacherib withdrew to
Nineveh where two of his sons cut him down with
the sword while he was worshipping in the temple
of his god Nisroch.
(Chapter 19)
Hezekiah became ill to the point of death.
Isaiah said "Put your house in order, you're
going to die."
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed,
"Remember O Lord how I've walked before you
faithfully, with whole hearted devotion and
doing good in your eyes." And he wept bitterly.
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the
Lord's word came to him. "Return and tell
Hezekiah, the Lord, the God of your father David
says:
-I've heard your prayer, seen your tears and
-Will heal you.
-Three days from now you'll go up to the
Temple of the Lord.
-I'll add 15 years to your life.
-I'll deliver Jerusalem from Assyria's king.
-I'll defend Jerusalem for my own and David's
sake."
Hezekiah asked for a sign that the Lord would
heal him and that he'd go up to the Temple on
the third day.
Isaiah answered "The Lord's sign is that the
sun's shadow will continue forward on those
steps or go back where it came from -which would
you prefer?" Hezekiah said, "Have it go back 10
steps." Isaiah called on the Lord and the Lord
made the shadow go back 10 steps.
Isaiah said, "Make a poultice of figs." They
did, applied it to the boil and he recovered.
Babylon's king heard Hezekiah was ill so he sent
messengers, a gift and letters. Hezekiah showed
the messengers everything in his palace and
kingdom.
Isaiah asked what happened and Hezekiah told
him. So Isaiah said, "Hear the Lord's word;
everything in your palace will be taken to
Babylon, including some of your descendants who
will become eunuchs in the king's palace there."
Hezekiah replied, "The word of the Lord is
good," thinking it meant peace and security in
his lifetime. (Which shows you can believe in
the living God and still make very dumb
statements).
Hezekiah made the pool and tunnel that brought
water into Jerusalem. He died, was buried in
Jerusalem and his 12 year old son Manasseh
succeeded him.
(Chapter 20)
Manasseh reigned 55 years doing evil in the
Lord's eyes, following the detestable practices
of the nations the Lord had driven out before
the Israelites. He,
-Rebuilt the high places,
-Erected altars to Baal and
-Made an Asherah pole.
-Bowed down and worshipped all the starry
hosts.
-Built altars to all the starry hosts in both
courts of the Temple.
-Sacrificed his own son in the fire.
-Practised sorcery and divination.
-Consulted mediums and spiritists.
-Provoked the Lord to anger.
-Put an Asherah pole in the Temple.
-Did more evil than the Amorites who preceded
him.
Concerning the Temple the Lord had said to David
and Solomon,
-In this Temple and Jerusalem I'll put my name
forever.
-I'll not again make Israelites' feet wander
from the land I gave their forefathers if
only,
-They carefully do all I commanded them and
-Keep the whole law Moses my servant gave
them.
But the people did not listen, Manasseh led them
astray. So they did more evil than the nations
the Lord destroyed before the Israelites.
The Lord said through His prophets, "Manasseh
has committed these detestable sins.
Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel says,
-Everyone's ears will tingle when they hear of
the disaster I'm bringing on Jerusalem and
Judah.
-I'll judge Jerusalem as I did Samaria and
Ahab's house.
-I'll wipe Jerusalem out like a dish and turn
it upside down.
-I'll forsake the remnant of my inheritance
and hand them over to their enemies.
-They'll be looted and plundered by all their
foes because they have done evil in my eyes
and provoked me to anger from the exodus
from Egypt 'til now."
Moreover Manasseh shed much innocent blood from
end to end of Jerusalem. He died, was buried in
the palace and 22 year old son Amon succeeded
him.
He reigned 2 years, did evil in the Lord's eyes,
walked in his father's ways, forsook the Lord
and did not walk in His ways. His officials
assassinated him in his palace and 8 year old
Josiah succeeded him.
(Chapter 21)
Josiah reigned 31 years, doing right in the
Lord's eyes, walking in David's ways, not
turning aside to the right or left. When he was
26 he sent his secretary, Shaphan to high priest
Hilkiah at the Temple with instructions to give
money collected by doorkeepers from the people
to supervisors of Temple repairs. It was
entrusted to them, without need for accounting
because they acted faithfully, paying
carpenters, builders and masons to repair the
Temple and buying timber and dressed stone.
Hilkiah had found the Book of the Law in the
Temple and he gave it to Shaphan. Shaphan
reported to Josiah that the money had been paid
out to Temple repair workers and supervisors and
also read from the Book in the king's presence.
Hearing the words of the Book of the Law he tore
his robes and ordered high priest Hilkiah,
Ahikam, Acbor, secretary Shaphan and Asaiah the
king's attendant to, "Enquire of the Lord for
me, the people and all Judah about what is
written in this Book. Great is the Lord's anger
because our fathers have not obeyed or acted
according to everything in it." So they spoke to
prophetess Huldah in Jerusalem.
She said, "The Lord, the God of Israel says: 'I
am going to bring disaster on Jerusalem and its
people according to everything written in this
Book. Because they have forsaken me, burned
incense to other gods and provoked me to anger
by all the idols they've made, my anger will
burn against this place and not be quenched.'
Tell Josiah, 'The Lord the God of Israel says:
-Because your heart was responsive and
-You humbled yourself before the Lord
-When you heard what I had spoken against this
place and people that they'd be accursed and
laid waste and
-Because you tore your robes and wept in my
presence,
-I have heard you declares the Lord.
-And I'll gather you to your fathers and
you'll die in peace.
-You won't see the disaster I'm going to bring
on this place.'"
So they told all this to the king.
(Chapter 22)
Josiah called elders, Jerusalem's people,
priests, prophets, everyone, to the Temple of
the Lord. He:
-Read to them all the words of the Book of the
Covenant.
-Stood by the pillar and renewed the Covenant
in the Lord's presence - to follow the Lord,
keep His commands, regulations and decrees
with all his heart and soul, thus confirming
the Covenant words in the Book. Then all the
people pledged themselves to the Covenant.
-Ordered high priest Hilkiah, next ranking
priests and doorkeepers to remove from the
Temple of the Lord all articles made for
Baal, Asherah and starry hosts.
-Burned them outside Jerusalem in the Kidron
Valley and took the ashes (15 miles north)
to Bethel.
-Did away with pagan priests who burned
incense to Baal, sun and moon,
constellations and starry hosts.
-Took the Asherah pole from the Temple, burned
it in the Kidron Valley, ground it to powder
and scattered the dust on the graves of the
common people.
-Tore down the quarters of the male cult
prostitutes in the Temple of the Lord and
where women wove for Asherah.
-Brought all the priests from Judah's towns.
-Desecrated the high places from Geba (about
10 miles north east of Jerusalem) to
Beersheba (about 50 miles south west of
Jerusalem), where priests had burned
incense.
-Broke down shrines at the gates to the left
of the city gate. Priests of high places
didn't serve at the altar of the Lord in
Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread with
fellow priests.
-Desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom
(below Jerusalem walls to the south and
west) to prevent sacrifice of children by
fire to Molech.
-Removed from the Temple entrance horses
dedicated, by Judah's kings, to the sun,
along with their chariots. They were in a
court near the Temple.
-Pulled down altars erected by Judah's kings
on the (Temple) roof near the upper room of
Ahaz and
-The altars Manasseh had built in the two
courts of the Temple.
-Smashed these and threw the rubble into the
Kidron Valley below the western city walls.
-Desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem
on the south side of the hill of corruption,
built by Solomon for vile goddess Ashtoreth,
vile god Chemosh and detestable god Molech.
He smashed sacred stones, cut down Asherah
poles and covered the site with human bones.
-Demolished the altar and high place at Bethel
by burning it, grinding it to powder and
burning the Asherah pole. He removed bones
from tombs on the hillside there and burned
them on the altar to defile it, according to
the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man
of God who foretold these things (I Kings
13:1-2). That prophet's tomb was there so
Josiah ordered it not to be disturbed.
-Removed and defiled all the high place
shrines in the towns of Samaria. He
slaughtered the priests there on the altars
and burned human bones on them.
-Celebrated the Passover to the Lord at
Jerusalem according to the Book of the
Covenant. He was still 26 and there hadn't
been such a Passover celebration since the
days of the Judges.
-Got rid of mediums, spiritists, household
gods, idols and all other detestable things
seen in Judah and Jerusalem.
-Did (all the above) to fulfill the
requirements of the Book of the Law found by
high priest Hilkiah in the Temple.
There hasn't been a king before or after like
him who turned to the Lord as he did. WITH ALL
HIS HEART, SOUL AND STRENGTH in accordance with
Moses' law.
But this didn't turn away the Lord's fierce
anger. He said, "I'll remove Judah from my
presence and reject Jerusalem and the Temple as
I removed Israel."
Egypt's King Pharaoh Neco, on his way to help
Assyria's king, was attacked by Josiah, but Neco
killed him at Megiddo (about 30 miles south west
of the Sea of Galilee). His body was returned to
Jerusalem by chariot where he was buried in his
own tomb. Son Jehoahaz was anointed by the
people of the land as the next king. He was 23,
did evil in the eyes of the Lord, was put in
chains at Riblah (about 100 miles north of
Jerusalem) by Pharaoh so he couldn't reign in
Jerusalem and reigned 3 months. Neco took him to
Egypt where he died.
Neco imposed a levy of 3.4 metric tones of
silver and 75 pounds of gold. He made Eliakim
son of Josiah king and changed his name to
Jehoiakim. He taxed the people of the land
according to their assessments and paid Neco the
silver and gold he levied. Jehoiakim was 25 when
his reign began and he reigned for 11 years
doing evil in the Lord's eyes just as his
fathers had.
(Chapter 23)
Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar invaded and made
Jehoiakim a vassal for 3 years. Then he
rebelled. The Lord sent Babylonian, Aramean,
Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him to
destroy Judah in accordance with His word
through His prophets. It was to remove them from
the Lord's presence because of Manasseh's sins,
who filled Jerusalem with innocent blood that
the Lord was not willing to forgive.
Jehoiakim died and his son Jehoiachin succeeded
him. He was 18 years old, he did evil in the
Lord's eyes and reigned 3 months. Babylon's King
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and
Jehoiachin, his mother, wives, attendants,
nobles, officials, 7000 fighting men, 1000
craftsmen and artisans and all Jerusalem, 10,000
people in all, surrendered and were deported to
Babylon. Only the poorest people of the land
were left. All Temple and palace treasures
including all the gold articles Solomon made for
the Temple were taken away by Nebuchadnezzar.
Just as the Lord had declared (through Isaiah -
see Chapter 20:13,17).
He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king and
changed his name to Zedekiah.
He was 21 years old, reigned for 11 years, did
evil in the Lord's eyes and rebelled against
Babylon's king.
All that happened in Jerusalem because of the
Lord's anger, so finally He thrust them from His
presence.
Egypt's king did not march out of his own
country because Babylon's king had taken all his
territory from the Wadi of Egypt (probably about
100 miles east of the Nile) to the Euphrates
River.
(Chapter 24)
Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem
and built siege works. After about two and a
half years with no wood and severe famine, on
July 18th, 586 B.C., the city wall was broken
through and the king and whole army fled at
night through the gate near the king's garden.
The pursuing Babylonian army overtook them in
Jericho's plains, captured Zedekiah, killed his
sons before his eyes, then put out his eyes,
bound him with bronze shackles and took him to
Babylon.
On August 14th, 586 B.C., the commander of
Nebuchadnezzar's imperial guard came to
Jerusalem and
-Set fire to the Temple, the royal palace and
all Jerusalem's houses and important
buildings.
-Broke down Jerusalem's walls.
-Carried into exile people remaining in the
city with the rest of the population except
some of the poorest people of the land left
to work vineyards and fields.
-Broke up the bronze Temple pillars, movable
stands and bronze Sea and carried the bronze
to Babylon. The bronze was more than could
be weighed as each of the two pillars was
8.1 metres high plus a 1.3 metre capital.
-Took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers,
dishes and all bronze articles used in the
Temple service, with gold and silver censers
and sprinkling bowls.
-Took the chief priest, the next ranking
priest, the 3 doorkeepers, the officer in
charge of fighting men, 5 royal advisers,
the chief in charge of conscripting the
people of the land and 60 of his men found
in the city and brought them to Babylon's
king at Riblah, (about 180 miles north north
east of Jerusalem) who executed them.
SO JUDAH WENT INTO CAPTIVITY AWAY FROM HER LAND.
Babylon's king appointed Gedaliah to be over the
people left behind in Judah. Army officers and
men heard of this and came to him at Mizpah
(about 10 miles north of Jerusalem). He
reassured them with an oath not to fear
Babylonian officials, but to settle down, serve
Babylon's king and all would go well for them.
But Ishmael, of royal blood, came with 10 men
and assassinated Gedaliah, also men of Judah and
Babylonians with him at Mizpah. So all the
people fled to Egypt fearing Babylonian
reprisals.
On March 22nd, 561 B.C., Evil-Merodach became
Babylon's new king, released Jehoiachin from
prison, gave him a seat of honour, allowed him
to eat regularly at the king's table and gave
him a lifetime regular allowance.
(Chapter 25)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM 2 KINGS.
1. You may be an ordinary man but linked to and
indwelt by the EXTRAordinary power of the
living God, (through faith in Jesus Christ),
miracles can happen.
(Chapter 1)
2. Be quick to confess sin, and ask God the
Holy Spirit to give you understanding of,
and the ability to live consistently in line
with His word, i.e., with God Himself. Then
it will be said of you "The Lord's word is
with him." You will be an instrument of the
Lord's victorious power and healing touch.
The opposition and conflict will be merely
an opportunity for God's victory to be seen
so that some may believe in Him and be
saved. Since every battle is the Lord's,
opponents are dead men before the fight even
starts. A comforting, confidence boosting
fact. Because God's Spirit will enable you
to love them, they won't have power over you
to make you angry or fearful. You'll be a
man of holy, serene, loving, 100% positive
confidence - an inspiration to men. Jesus,
still in action.
(Chapters 2 & 3)
3. On the above basis God will use you to solve
"impossible" everyday problems. This
evidence that He lives through you - a holy
man of God, will bring people to know, trust
in and be saved by Him. Be inspired by what
God did with this woman at Shunem. It all
began because an ordinary man walking past
had an extraordinary difference about him.He
was recognisably a man of God. That's "all"
you need. Not slick promotion, star billing
and a microphone with big speakers! But
something much more costly. Your own
crucifixion and resurrection with Jesus
Christ. Crucifixion (nevertheless NOT MY
will - always a total disaster = repentance)
and resurrection (BUT YOURS be done = belief
or faith).
(Chapter 4)
4. Every time God is able to point someone to
Him through you an event of eternal
importance takes place. So the more God is
able to do this through you, the better.It's
3.37 p.m. on February 10th, 1999. Two
thousand feet up in the Blue Mountains near
Sydney, Australia, I look across the misty
ridges. And I've just been inspired. By a
young Jewish slave girl who about 2550 years
ago cared enough about her sick slave master
to mention the name of a man of God to his
wife. 2500 years from now someone may be
inspired by what God is going to do through
you to-day. And it doesn't have to make the
6 p.m. TV news. A quiet word pointing
Godward.
5. What incredible potential is within you. God
can use you just as He did Elijah. A man of
God. Everywhere he went God was able to work
miracles through him. That's just a NORMAL
Christian life. Like Peter and Paul. Like
Jesus.
6. God will use you with joyful disregard of
all human prejudicial barriers. Race,
colour, creed, social status are irrelevant.
His unconditional love and human need for it
are all that counts. Why would a Jew give a
second thought to Naaman. He was an enemy,
the wrong nationality, and a leper!
7. Your relationship with God must be first
hand, real,personal. If ever there was a man
who ought to have come to know God it was
Gehazi. His "denomination" was right, his
"minister" was right but his heart wasn't.
So he really blew it.
(Chapter 5)
8. The life of a man of God is one of "total
freedom." If you can't function without the
"security" of some kind of "religious box" -
denomination, cathedral or whatever - forget
it. Being God's man would be too scary for
you. God never did anything through Elijah
the same way twice. You must just be 100%
available, God will do the rest.
9. If you're God's man, be sure the devil wants
you stone cold dead. Seriously! So what! He
was defeated at Calvary. Do what Elisha did.
Lift up your eyes to see the chariots of
fire. Focus on Christ the solution not on
whatever problem the devil has most success
with against you. Be sure, yet totally
unafraid, the devil WILL hit you with
everything he can. Unless you face this as
a daily fact of life you'll be de-stabilised
by his attack.
(Chapter 6)
10. As God's man, heaven's unlimited resources
are available for practical use to meet real
needs. Relationships grow through shared
experiences (NOT by reading text books).
Sharing real everyday life experiences is
how God builds His relationship with you. A
week experiencing God using you in the slums
of Calcutta, (like Mother Theresa),would get
you closer to God than a lifetime's
cloistered isolation as a theological
academic.
So do what Jesus said, "Ask (in line with
God's will) and it shall be given you."
(Matthew 7:7). Show real faith. EXPECT
MIRACLES THAT WILL LEAD PEOPLE TO FAITH IN
GOD so that He is glorified and praised.
(Chapter 7)
11. Though it must never be the motivation for
action, when you exercise genuine faith in
God, He will at the right time, bless you
for it.
(Chapter 8)
12. History (His story) is the record of God's
world. Men and nations who look to and
follow Him grow and live, those who look
away wither and die. So at any point in time
men and nations are either on an upward or
downward path. God's judgment is just to
stand aside and let man go his own downward
way to Auschwitz.
You must play your part in history as God's
man on this basis. Going up and taking
others with you. Evaluate every hour of
every day on this basis. Your greatest
influence for good is with those closest to
you. Your family. Get it right with the love
the Lord supplies.
(Chapters 9 & 10)
13. No place is too dark for God to light a
candle. God's judgment fell on Europe. The
stink and vermin in the concentration camps
was so bad the German guards wouldn't go
inside which left the Christians in peace to
pray. Who'd look for a little boy hidden in
the Temple? If you end up in a black hole
because you're God's man, remember this.
(Chapter 11)
14. Restoring some "cathedral" is no substitute
for getting it right with God, keeping it
right and doing what the Lord enables you to
do and seeing this happen right through the
land. Don't waste time in a side show when
you should be leading the main battle.
(Chapter 12)
15. Retirement as God's man? Forget it! God will
use you while ever you want Him to. If
you're "fair dinkum" this means 'til your
last breath in this life. And someone might
just bounce out of your grave too! Great for
the 6 p.m. TV news! Why not!?
(Chapter 13)
16. So the Lord enables you to knock over a
Goliath? In victory's glow the devil will
suggest (at least some of) the credit
belongs to you. If you're stupid enough to
believe that and sally forth to do battle
without the Lord's direction and presence -
you're a dead man! Pride goeth before a
fall!
17 And how about a bit of economic success
achieved other than according to His word?
Hardly rates a mention in history. Don't
waste your life like that!
(Chapter 14)
18. If you don't 100% trust God sooner or later
you'll disobey His word. That's sin against
yourself, God and others. Its result is
disaster and death. So avoid it. And when
you foul up, quickly repent (turn resolutely
from it) and confess it.
(Chapter 15)
19. Don't go wandering around the country
looking for some new piece of "cathedral
furniture." Totally irrelevant! So is
re-arranging what's there!
(Chapter 16)
20. People have a deep need to worship. Your
mission is to introduce them to THE LORD
GOD - JESUS CHRIST. If not, they'll worship
worthless things (and become worthless
themselves). Such as the gods of:
-Power - political
- economic
-Prowess - sport
-Beauty - TV fads
- TV stars
-False
religions- New Age, atheism etc.
21. Or they'll try hybrid worship. Enough of
Jesus Christ to make them feel good but not
enough to stop them enjoying sin.
And here is where most institutional
Christianity is at.
God will consign it to "Babylon" where it
belongs.
You, man of God, must have a clear message.
Choose who you will serve:
- The Lord God, Jesus Christ with 100%
commitment.
- or some hybrid form of religion,
whether Christianity or something
else. Which, for certain, God will
reject.
(Chapter 17)
22. Man of God, be certain that the closer you
walk in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ
the mightier and fiercer will be the
opposition to you. And you'll be all alone,
surrounded and subjected to intense
psychological warfare. But then they can't
hear your prayer for help or see the Lord's
army standing with you - but you can.
So get rid of any unconfessed sin and -relax
- because - the battle is the Lord's.
(Chapter 18)
23. And the opposition is (of divine logic and
necessity) dead.
But, like Hezekiah, your goal must be that
deliverance will result in "all kingdoms on
earth knowing that you alone, O Lord, are
God."
So when opposition seems insurmountable,read
Chapter 19.
(Chapter 19)
24. Your God has incredible patience. This man
had seen 185,000 Assyrian soldiers disposed
of by the Lord in answer to prayer. The Lord
tells him he will be healed and worship the
Lord in the Temple in three days' time. And
what does he do? Asks God to prove His word
by making the sun go backwards!!
(Chapter 20)
25. If God puts you in a position of leadership
you have the potential to influence many in
a positive and good way. And the reverse
applies, carrying with it God's inevitable
judgment.
(Chapter 21)
26. Who the Lord Jesus Christ is and what He
wants you to do is all clearly written in
His word, the Bible. So you must KNOW His
way and GO His way. It will be, at times,
against the "logic" of your self centred
sinful nature. The world's only hope is
hearing this from you. Its alternative
ultimately lies through the gates of
Auschwitz. The "logic" of sin.
(Chapter 22)
27. As you live in and by the word of the Lord,
Jesus Christ, you will see clearly where
institutionalised Christianity needs
reforming. Act as the Lord directs to bring
reformation. Everything not conforming to
God's word must go to the garbage tip.
28. Success in one job the Lord gives you to do
does not guarantee success in another.
(Josiah was a great performer but,seemingly,
a hopeless military strategist). Make sure
you are in the centre of God's will at all
times.
(Chapter 23)
29. God is 100% reliable, He always keeps His
word. Live on that basis. God brings hope
and new life out of the ashes of His
judgment.
(Chapters 24 & 25)
|
