8/26/07
* SOUTHERN KINGS
THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH (TWO TRIBES)
CAPITAL: JERUSALEM
REHOBOAM
(NORTHERN KING - JEROBOAM I)
930 BC (REIGNED 17 YEARS) 41 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING
FATHER - SOLOMON (MOTHER NAAMAH, AN AMMONITE)
FOLLOWED POOR ADVICE FROM YOUNG ADVISERS THAT CAUSED THE REVOLT AND DIVIDING OF THE PEOPLE INTO THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF TEN TRIBES LED BY JEROBOAM AND REHOBOAM LED SOUTHERN KINGDOM (JUDAH & BENJAMIN)
BUILT MANY FORTIFIED CITIES, STRENGTHENED THE ECONOMY (DESPITE THE TRIBUTE PAID TO EGYPT), FOLLOWED GOD FOR THREE YEARS, BUT THEN SET UP IDOLS AD SHRINES TO FOREIGN GODS.
I KINGS 11:43-14:31 AND II CHRONICLES 9:31-12:16
ABIJAH
(NORTHERN KING - JEROBOAM I)
913 BC (REIGNED 3 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - REHOBOAM (MOTHER MAACAH, DAUGHTER OF ABISHALOM)
DESPITE HIS WICKEDNESS, HE CALLED FOR GOD'S HELP TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST ISRAEL.
I KINGS 14:31-15:8 AND II CHRONICLES 13:1-14:1
ASA
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEROBOAM I, NADAB, BAASHA, ELAH, ZIMRI, TIBNI, OMRI, & AHAB)
910 BC (REIGNED 41 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER ABIJAH - GRANDMOTHER WAS MAACAH, DAUGHTER OF ABISHALOM)
DESTROYED PAGAN ALTARS AND REBUILT ALTAR OF GOD, BUILT FORTIFIED CITIES, GAINED MUCH WEALTH FROM PLUNDER OF FOREIGN CONQUEST, REMOVED THE QUEEN MOTHER FOR WORSHIPPING ASHERAH, LED THE PEOPLE WITH THEIR HEARTS, PROVIDED PEACE ON HOME SOIL, WAS GREATLY LOVED, AND GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL FUNERAL. TOOK MATTERS IN HIS OWN HANDS TO SET UP A BRIBE WITH KING BEN-HADAD OF ARAM TO BREAK HIS ALLIANCE WITH KING BAASHA OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. WHEN GOD SENT THE PROPHET HANANI TO CONFRONT ASA, HE FLEW INTO A RAGE AND PUT THE PROPHET INTO PRISON. AT THE SAME TIME HE BRUTALLY OPPRESSED SOME OF THE PEOPLE. IN THE 39TH YEAR OF HIS REIGN ASA WAS AFFLICTED WITH A DISEASE IN HIS FEET. THOUGH HIS DISEASE WAS SEVERE, EVEN IN HIS ILLNESS, HE DID NOT SEEK HELP FROM THE LORD, BUT ONLY FROM THE PHYSICIANS
I KINGS 15:8-24 AND II CHRONICLES 14:1-16:14
JEHOSHAPHAT
(NORTHERN KING - AHAB)
872 BC (REIGNED 25 YEARS) (35 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - ASA (MOTHER WAS AZUBAH, DAUGHTER OF SHILHI)
HAD A STRONG MILITARY (KEPT TROOPS IN CITIES OF ISRAEL HIS FATHER HAD CONQUERED), COLLECTED TRIBUTE FROM THE PHILISTINES, WORSHIPED THE LORD AND DESTROYED IDOLS, ESTABLISHED EDUCATION, AND APPOINTED JUDGES AND COURTS.**DOWNFALL CAME BECAUSE HE ENTERED INTO A FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WICKED KING AHAB AND SET UP A MARRIAGE WITH HIS SON, JEHORAM TO AHAB'S DAUGHTER, ATHALIAH. HE JOINED KING AHAB AND WENT UP TO RAMOTH GILEAD TO BATTLE, WHERE AHAB WAS KILLED BY A PREDICTED RANDOM ARROW. WHEN JEHOSHAPHAT RETURNED HOME, JEHU, THE SEER, THE SON OF HANANI, WENT OUT TO MEET HIM AND SAID TO THE KING. "SHOULD YOU HELP THE WICKED AND LOVE THOSE WHO HATE THE LORD? BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WRATH OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU. THERE IS, HOWEVER, SOME GOOD IN YOU, FOR YOU HAVE RID THE LAND OF THE ASHERAH POLES AND HAVE SET YOU HEART ON SEEKING GOD." HE ALSO ENTERED A MILITARY PACK WITH AHAB'S SON, AHAZIAH AND BUILT SHIPS FOR TRADING. ELIEZER, SON OF DODAVAHU OF MARESHAH PROPHESIED AGAINST JEHOSHAPHAT, SAYING, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE AN ALLIANCE WITH AHAZIAH, THE LORD WILL DESTROY WHAT YOU HAVE MADE." THE SHIPS WERE WRECKED AND WERE NOT ABLE TO SET SAIL TO TRADE.
I KINGS 15:24; 22:41-50 AND II CHRONICLES 17:1-21:1
JEHORAM
(NORTHERN KINGS - AHAZIAH, & JORAM)
853 BC (REIGNED 8 YEARS) (32 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHOSHAPHAT (?-MOTHER)
MARRIED KING AHAB'S DAUGHTER, ATHALIAH. WAS A VERY WICKED KING. HAD ALL OF HIS BROTHERS KILLED WHEN HE BECAME KING. THE LORD AROUSED AGAINST JEHORAM THE HOSTILITY OF THE PHILISTINES AND OF THE ARABS WHO LIVED NEAR THE CUSHITES. THEY ATTACKED JUDAH, INVADED IT AND CARRIED OFF ALL THE GOODS FOUND IN THE KING'S PALACE, TOGETHER WITH HIS SONS AND WIVES. NOT A SON WAS LEFT TO HIM EXCEPT AHAZIAH, THE YOUNGEST. AFTER ALL THIS, THE LORD AFFLICTED HIM WITH AN INCURABLE DISEASE OF THE BOWELS. IN THE COURSE OF TIME, AT THE END OF THE SECOND YEAR, HIS BOWELS CAME OUT BECAUSE OF HIS DISEASE, AND HE DIED IN GREAT PAIN. HIS PEOPLE MADE NO FIRE IN HIS HONOR, AS THEY HAD FOR HIS FATHERS. HE PASSED AWAY, TO NO ONE'S REGRET, AND WAS BURIED IN THE CITY OF DAVID, BUT NOT IN THE TOMBS OF THE KINGS.
II KINGS 8:16-24 AND II CHRONICLES 21:1-20
AHAZIAH
(NORTHERN KING - JORAM)
842 (?) BC (REIGNED 1 YEAR) (22 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHORAM (MOTHER ATHALIAH, DAUGHTER OF KING AHAB)
WAS A VERY WICKED KING BECAUSE OF THE INFLUENCE OF HIS MOTHER AND HER RELATIVES FROM THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. JOINED WITH KING JORAM OF ISRAEL (HIS UNCLE - MOTHER, ATHALIAH, WAS JORAM'S SISTER.) TO GO TO WAR AGAINST KING HAZAEL OF ARAM AT RAMOTH GILEAD. THE ARAMEANS WOUNDED JORAM; SO KING JORAM RETURNED TO JEZREEL TO RECOVER FROM THE WOUNDS. AHAZIAH WENT TO VISIT JORAM WHILE HE WAS RESTING FROM HIS WOUND. THE PROPHET ELISHA SUMMONED A MAN FROM THE COMPANY OF PROPHETS AND TOLD HIM TO ANOINT JEHU AS THE NEW NORTHERN KING. JEHU KILLED BOTH JORAM AND AHAZIAH THAT DAY.
II KINGS 8:24-9:29 AND II CHRONICLES 22:1-10
ATHALIAH (QUEEN)
(NORTHERN KING - JEHU)
841 BC (REIGNED 6 YEARS) (? AGE WHEN SHE BECAME QUEEN)
DAUGHTER OF KING AHAB AND QUEEN JEZEBEL. MARRIED TO JEHORAM AND SON WAS AHAZIAH. JEZEBEL WAS KILLED BY JEHU AT THE SAME TIME THAT HE KILLED JORAM AND AHAZIAH. THE FIRST THING THAT ATHALIAH DID WHEN SHE BECAME QUEEN WAS TO KILL ALL OF HER GRANDCHILDREN (SONS OF AHAZIAH). ** HER DAUGHTER, JEHOSHEBA, WAS MARRIED TO PRIEST, JEHOIADA. SHE STOLE JOASH,(HER NEPHEW) WHO WAS A YEAR OLD AND THE ONLY SON LEFT FROM AHAZIAH AND HID HIM IN THE TEMPLE FOR 6 YEARS. ATHALIAH WAS KILLED BY THE SWORD WHEN JOASH WAS CROWNED KING AT 7 YEARS OLD.
II KINGS 11:1-20 AND II CHRONICLES 22:10-23:21
JOASH
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEHU, JEHOAHAZ, & JEHOASH)
835 BC (REIGNED 40 YEARS) (7 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAZIAH AND MOTHER ZIBIAH FROM BEERSHEBA.
AS LONG AS JEHOIADA, THE HIGH PRIEST, WAS ALIVE HE WAS A GOOD KING. HE PROMOTED PEACE, REPAIRED THE TEMPLE, & SMASHED ALTARS OF BAAL. WHEN JOHOIADA DIED HE BECAME WICKED AND EVEN HAD JOHOIADA'S SON KILLED WHEN HE WENT TO THE KING TO GET HIM TO REPENT FROM HIS WICKED WAYS. HIS OWN OFFICIALS CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM FOR KILLING ZECHARIAH, JOHOIADA'S SON. THEY KILLED HIM IN BED AS HE WAS RECOVERING FROM WOUNDS FROM ARAMEANS. HE WAS NOT BURIED IN TOMBS OF KINGS. JOHOIADA, THE HIGH PRIEST, WAS BURIED IN TOMBS OF KINGS THOUGH. *IMPORTANT LESSON FROM HIS LIFE IS THAT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO KEEP POSITIVE AND GODLY INFLUENCES IN OUR LIVES.
II KINGS 11:2-12:21 AND II CHRONICLES 22:11-24:27
AMAZIAH
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEHOASH, & JEROBOAM II)
796 BC (REIGNED 29 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOASH AND MOTHER - JEHOADDIN FROM JERUSALEM
WHEN HE BECAME KING, HE PUT THE ASSASSINS OF HIS FATHER TO DEATH, BUT NOT THEIR SONS. HE DEFEATED 10,000 EDOMITES IN VALLEY OF SALT. HE BROUGHT BACK GODS OF THE PEOPLE OF SEIR AND SET THEM UP AS HIS OWN GODS AND WORSHIPPED THEM. THE ANGER OF THE LORD BURNED AGAINST AMAZIAH. GOD SENT HIM A PROPHET TO GET HIM TO REPENT. HE REFUSED TO LISTEN AND THE PROPHET PREDICTED THAT GOD WOULD DESTROY HIM FOR NOT LISTENING AND OBEYING HIS ADVICE. SENT MESSENGERS TO JEHOASH, KING OF ISRAEL, TO GO TO BATTLE. JEHOASH TRIED TO WARN HIM THROUGH A PARABLE THAT HE COULDN'T WIN, BUT HE WOULDN'T LISTEN. JEHOASH ATTACKED AND DEFEATED JUDAH AND CAPTURED AMAZIAH AND PLUNDERED THE TEMPLE AND TOOK THE GOLD. HE ALSO BROKE DOWN THE WALL OF JERUSALEM. AMAZIAH LIVED 15 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF JEHOASH. THEY CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM IN JERUSALEM AND HE FLED TO LACHISH, BUT THEY SENT MEN AFTER HIM AND KILLED HIM THERE. HE WAS BROUGHT BACK BY HORSE AND BURIED IN JERUSALEM.
II KINGS 14:1-20 AND 2 CHRONICLES 25:1-28
AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEROBOAM II, ZECHARIAH, SHALLUM, MENAHEM)
(792 BC (REIGNED 52 YEARS) (16 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AMAZIAH AND MOTHER - JOCOLIAH FROM JERUSALEM.
FOLLOWED THE LORD AND THE LORD GAVE HIM SUCCESS AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED HIM. ZECHARIAH INSTRUCTED HIM TO FEAR THE LORD. HE BECAME VERY POWERFUL AND HIS PRIDE LED TO HIS DOWNFALL. HE WAS UNFAITHFUL TO THE LORD AND ENTERED THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD TO BURN INCENSE ON THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. AZARIAH, THE PRIEST, AND 80 OTHER COURAGEOUS PRIESTS OF THE LORD FOLLOWED HIM IN AND CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT BURNING INCENSE. HE GOT ANGRY AND THE LORD STRUCK HIM WITH LEPROSY ON HIS FOREHEAD AND HE HAD LEPROSY UNTIL HE DIED. HE LIVED IN A SEPARATE HOUSE. HIS SON JOTHAM CO-REIGNED WITH HIM FOR 10 YEARS.
II KINGS 15:1-17 AND II CHRONICLES 26:1-23
JOTHAM
(NORTHERN KINGS - MENAHEM, PEKAHIAH, PEKAH)
750 BC (REIGNED 16 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AZARIAH,UZZIAH AND MOTHER- JERUSHA, DAUGHTER OF ZADOK
HE FOLLOWED THE LORD, BUT THE PEOPLE CONTINUED THEIR CORRUPT PRACTICES. HE REBUILT THE UPPER GATE OF THE TEMPLE AND OTHER REBUILDING PROJECTS.
II KINGS 15:32-38 AND II CHRONICLES 27:1-9
AHAZ
(NORTHERN KINGS - PEKAH, & HOSHEA) ( 722 BC ENDED THE NORTHERN KINGDOM - ISRAEL WAS TAKEN TO ASSYRIA BY SHALMANESER)
735 BC (REIGNED 16 YEARS) (20 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOTHAM AND MOTHER - ?
VERY WICKED FROM THE BEGINNING. HE SACRIFICED HIS SONS IN THE FIRE. ARAMEANS DEFEATED HIM IN BATTLE. THE ISRAELITES DEFEATED HIM. ODED, A PROPHET OF THE LORD SPOKE TO THE ISRAELITES AND TOLD THEM TO SEND BACK THE JUDAH CAPTIVES. THEY RESPONDED AND SENT THEM BACK ALONG WITH THE PLUNDER THEY HAD TAKEN. AHAZ EVEN GAVE ITEMS FROM THE TEMPLE TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA, BUT THIS DIDN'T HELP. HE SHUT THE DOORS OF THE LORD'S TEMPLE. HE BECAME MORE UNFAITHFUL TO GOD DURING HIS TIME OF TROUBLE. HE SET UP ALTARS ON EVERY STREET CORNER IN JERUSALEM. NOT BURIED IN THE TOMBS OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL.
II KINGS 16:1-20 AND II CHRONICLES 28:1-27
HEZEKIAH
715 BC (REIGNED 29 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAZ AND MOTHER - ABIJAH, DAUGHTER OF ZECHARIAH
HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. HE OPENED THE DOORS OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD AND REPAIRED THEM. BROUGHT THE LEVITES IN TO RESTORE THE TEMPLE WORSHIP. SENNACHERIB, THE KING OF ASSYRIA, CAME UP AND WAS GOING TO CONQUER JERUSALEM. HE WAS SHOUTING HORRID THINGS ABOUT THE LORD GOD. HEZEKIAH AND THE PROPHET ISAIAH CRIED OUT TO THE LORD AND THE LORD SENT AN ANGEL THAT ANNIHILATED ALL THE FIGHTING MEN AND THE LEADERS AND OFFICERS IN THE CAMP OF THE ASSYRIAN KING. HE WITHDREW TO HIS OWN LAND IN DISGRACE. GOD PROTECTED JUDAH FROM HIM AND ALL OTHERS. HEZEKIAH BECAME ILL AND WAS AT THE POINT OF DEATH. ISAIAH CAME AND TOLD HIM TO GET HIS HOUSE IN ORDER BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO DIE. HEZEKIAH PRAYED TO THE LORD AND GOD TOLD ISAIAH TO TELL HIM THAT HE WOULD BE RESTORED IN 3 DAYS AND HE WOULD LIVE FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS. HE WANTED A SIGN TO KNOW IF THIS WAS A TRUE PROPHECY. HE ASKED FOR THE SHADOW TO GO BACK 10 STEPS (THIS IS REFERRING TO A SUNDIAL). THE LORD GRANTED HIS REQUEST. AT THIS TIME MERODACH-BALADAN, SON OF BALADAN, KING OF BABYLON SENT MESSENGERS TO SEND HIM A LETTER AND GIFT. HEZEKIAH RECEIVED THE MESSENGERS AND SHOWED THEM THROUGH ALL OF HIS STOREHOUSES. THIS WAS A MARK OF PRIDE TO SHOW OFF HIS OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ISAIAH QUESTIONED THIS AND TOLD HEZEKIAH THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD SAID THAT THE BABYLONIANS WOULD CAPTURE THE PALACE AND TAKE EVERYONE CAPTIVE, BUT NOT DURING HEZEKIAH'S LIFE TIME. HEZEKIAH WAS GLAD THERE WOULD BE PEACE DURING HIS LIFE. HE LIVED THESE LAST 15 YEARS IN A SPIRITUAL DECLINE AND HIS SON MANASSEH'S OUTLOOK REFLECTED THE INFLUENCE THAT HEZEKIAH HAD ON HIM.
II KINGS 16:20; 18:1-20; 21 AND II CHRONICLES 29:1-32; 33
MANASSEH
697 BC (REIGNED 55 YEARS) (12 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - HEZEKIAH AND MOTHER - HEPHZIBAH
WAS WICKED FROM THE BEGINNING. BUILT ALTARS TO BAAL, ETC. AND BOWED DOWN TO THEM. HE EVEN BUILT THESE ALTARS IN THE LORD'S TEMPLE. HE PRACTICED SORCERY AND DIVINATION AND WITCHCRAFT. HE CONSULTED MEDIUMS AND SPIRITISTS. HE SACRIFICED HIS OWN SON. THE LORD SPOKE TO MANASSEH AND HIS PEOPLE, BUT THEY PAID NO ATTENTION. SO THE LORD BROUGHT AGAINST THEM THE KING OF ASSYRIA, WHO TOOK HIM TO BABYLON. IN HIS DISTRESS, HE SOUGHT THE FAVOR OF THE LORD AND HUMBLED HIMSELF GREATLY BEFORE GOD. WHEN HE PRAYED, THE LORD WAS MOVED AND LISTENED TO HIS PLEA. HE BROUGHT HIM BACK TO JERUSALEM AND HIS KINGDOM AND MANASSEH KNEW THAT THE LORD IS GOD. AFTERWARDS HE REBUILT THE OUTER WALL OF THE CITY OF DAVID AND TORE DOWN ALTARS AND BEGAN WORSHIPING GOD. THE PEOPLE WORSHIPED GOD, BUT NOT IN THE WAY THEY WERE INSTRUCTED BY GOD. THEY WERE FOLLOWING PRACTICES OF THE HEATHENS. THE MAIN LESSON IN MANASSEH'S LIFE IS THAT HE WAS SO VERY WICKED IN THE EARLY PART OF HIS LIFE AND YET HE REPENTED AND GOD FORGAVE HIM. HE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH HIS REPENTANCE BY LIVING A GODLY LIFE, NOT JUST WORDS OF REPENTANCE.
II KINGS 21:1-18 AND II CHRONICLES 33:1-20
AMON
642 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (22 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - MANASSEH AND MOTHER - MESHULLEMETH, DAUGHTER OF HARUZ, FROM JOTBAH.
HE WAS WICKED AND TURNED HIS BACK ON GOD, AND DID NOT REPENT LIKE HIS FATHER. AMON'S OFFICIALS CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM AND ASSASSINATED HIM IN HIS PALACE. THEN THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND KILLED ALL THAT HAD PLOTTED TO KILL HIM.
II KINGS 21:18-26 AND II CHRONICLES 33:20-25
JOSIAH
640 BC (REIGNED 31 YEARS) (8 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AMON AND MOTHER - JEDIDAH, DAUGHTER OF ADAIAH FROM BOZKATH.
HE WAS A GODLY KING. HE FOLLOWED GOD WITH ALL HIS HEART. HE LED IN MANY REFORMS. HE GOT THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF GOD READ TO HIM AND HE TORE HIS CLOTHES IN GRIEF BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WERE NOT LIVING UP TO GOD'S STANDARDS. HE READ IT TO THE PEOPLE. HE OBSERVED THE PASSOVER AND WAS THE FIRST KING TO DO THIS. THE PASSOVER HAD NOT BEEN CELEBRATED SINCE THE DAYS OF THE JUDGES. WAS GREATLY LOVED BY HIS PEOPLE. AFTER ALL THIS, WHEN JOSIAH HAD SET THE TEMPLE IN ORDER, NECO KING OF EGYPT WENT UP TO FIGHT AT CARCHEMISH ON THE EUPHRATES, AND JOSIAH MARCHED OUT TO MEET HIM IN BATTLE. BUT NECO SENT MESSENGERS TO HIM, SAYING, "WHAT QUARREL IS THERE BETWEEN YOU AND ME, O KING OF JUDAH? IT IS NOT YOU I AM ATTACKING AT THIS TIME, BUT THE HOUSE WITH WHICH I AM AT WAR. GOD HAS TOLD ME TO HURRY; SO STOP OPPOSING GOD, WHO IS WITH ME, OR HE WILL DESTROY YOU." JOSIAH, HOWEVER, WOULD NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIM, BUT DISGUISED HIMSELF TO ENGAGE HIM IN BATTLE. HE WOULD NOT LISTEN TO WHAT NECO HAD SAID AT GOD'S COMMAND BUT WENT TO FIGHT HIM ON THE PLAIN OF MEGIDDO. ARCHERS SHOT KING JOSIAH, AND HE TOLD HIS OFFICERS, "TAKE ME AWAY, I AM BADLY WOUNDED." SO THEY TOOK HIM OUT OF HIS CHARIOT, PUT HIM IN THE OTHER CHARIOT HE HAD AND BROUGHT HIM TO JERUSALEM, WHERE HE DIED. HE WAS BURIED IN THE TOMBS OF HIS FATHERS, AND ALL JUDAH AND JERUSALEM MOURNED FOR HIM.
II KINGS 21:26-23:30 AND II CHRONICLES 33:25-35:27
JEHOAHAZ
609 BC (REIGNED 3 MONTHS) (23 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOSIAH AND MOTHER - HAMUTAL DAUGHTER OF JEREMIAH, FROM LIBNAH
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. PHARAOH NECO PUT HIM IN CHAINS AT RIBLAH IN THE LAND OF HAMATH SO THE HE MIGHT NOT REIGN IN JERUSALEM, AND HE IMPOSED ON JUDAH A LEVY OF A HUNDRED TALENTS OF SILVER AND A TALENT OF GOLD. PHARAOH NECO MADE ELIAKIM, SON OF JOSIAH KING IN PLACE OF HIS FATHER JOSIAH AND CHANGED ELIAKIM'S NAME TO JEHOIAKIM. BUT HE TOOK JEHOAHAZ AND CARRIED HIM OFF TO EGYPT, AND THERE HE DIED. JEHOIAKIM PAID PHARAOH NECO THE SILVER AND GOLD DEMANDED. IN ORDER TO DO SO, HE TAXED THE LAND AND EXACTED THE SILVER AND GOLD FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND ACCORDING TO THEIR ASSESSMENTS.
II KINGS 23:30-34 AND II CHRONICLES 36:1-4
JEHOIAKIM
609 BC (REIGNED 11 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER JOSIAH AND MOTHER - ZEBIDAH DAUGHTER OF PEDAIAH, FROM RUMAH.
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. DURING JEHOIAKIM'S REIGN, NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON INVADED THE LAND, AND JEHOIAKIM BECAME HIS VASSAL FOR THREE YEARS. BUT THEN HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND REBELLED AGAINST NEBUCHADNEZZAR. THE LORD SENT BABYLONIAN, ARAMEAN MOABITE AND AMMONITE RAIDERS AGAINST HIM. HE SENT THEM TO DESTROY JUDAH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORD OF THE LORD PROCLAIMED BY HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS.
II KINGS 23:34-24:6 AND II CHRONICLES 36:5-8
JEHOIACHIN
598 BC (REIGNED 3 MONTHS AND 10 DAYS) (18 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER JEHOIAKIM AND MOTHER - NEHUSHTA, DAUGHTER OF ELNATHAN, FROM JERUSALEM.
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. IN THE SPRING, KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR SENT FOR HIM AND BROUGHT HIM TO BABYLON, TOGETHER WITH ARTICLES OF VALUE FROM THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, AND HE MADE JEHOIACHIN'S UNCLE, ZEDEKIAH, KING OVER JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. IN THE 37TH YEAR OF THE EXILE OF JEHOIACHIN, KING OF JUDAH, IN THE YEAR EVIL-MERODACH BECAME KING OF BABYLON, HE RELEASED JEHOIACHIN FROM PRISON ON THE 27TH DAY OF THE 12TH MONTH. HE SPOKE KINDLY TO HIM AND GAVE HIM A SEAT OF HONOR HIGHER THAT THOSE OF THE OTHER KINGS WHO WERE WITH HIM IN BABYLON. SO JEHOIACHIN PUT ASIDE HIS PRISON CLOTHES AND FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE ATE REGULARLY AT THE KING'S TABLE. DAY BY DAY THE KING GAVE JEHOIACHIN A REGULAR ALLOWANCE AS LONG AS HE LIVED
II KINGS 24:6-15, 25:27-30 AND II CHRONICLES 36:8-10
ZEDEKIAH
597 BC (REIGNED 11 YEARS)(21 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOSIAH(JEREMIAH 27:1) MOTHER - HAMUTAL, DAUGHTER OF JEREMIAH, FROM LIBNAH.
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, JUST AS JEHOIAKIM HAD DONE. HIS NAME WAS MATTANIAH AND THE KING OF BABYLON CHANGED HIS NAME TO ZEDEKIAH. ZEDEKIAH REBELLED AGAINST THE KING OF BABYLON. FOR 2 YEARS KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON, CAMPED OUTSIDE THE CITY AND BUILT SIEGE WORKS ALL AROUND IT. THE FAMINE IN THE CITY HAD BECOME SO SEVERE THAT THERE WAS NO FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE TO EAT. THEN THE CITY WALL WAS BROKEN THROUGH, AND THE WHOLE ARMY FLED AT NIGHT THROUGH THE GATE BETWEEN THE TWO WALLS NEAR THE KING'S GARDEN, THOUGH THE BABYLONIANS WERE SURROUNDING THE CITY. THEY FLED TOWARD THE ARABAH, BUT THE BABYLONIAN ARMY PURSUED THE KING AND OVERTOOK HIM IN THE PLAINS OF JERICHO. ALL HIS SOLDIERS WERE SEPARATED FROM HIM AND SCATTERED, AND HE WAS CAPTURED. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE KING OF BABYLON AT RIBLAH, WHERE SENTENCE WAS PRONOUNCED ON HIM. THEY KILLED THE SONS OF ZEDEKIAH BEFORE HIS EYES. THEN THEY PUT OUT HIS EYES, BOUND HIM WITH BRONZE SHACKLES AND TOOK HIM TO BABYLON. NEBUCHADNEZZAR ORDERED THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD TO BE BURNED. THEY TOOK EVERYTHING OF VALUE AND BURNED THE TEMPLE AND PALACES. THEY LEFT THE POOR BEHIND AND BROUGHT THE STRONG AND SKILLED TO BABYLON. NEBUCHADNEZZAR APPOINTED GEDALIAH TO BE OVER THE PEOPLE LEFT IN JUDAH. ISHMAEL ASSASSINATED GEDALIAH AND THE MEN OF JUDAH. THOSE WHO ESCAPED WENT TO EGYPT.
II KINGS 24:17-25:21 AND II CHRONICLES 36:10-21
CAPITAL: JERUSALEM
REHOBOAM
(NORTHERN KING - JEROBOAM I)
930 BC (REIGNED 17 YEARS) 41 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING
FATHER - SOLOMON (MOTHER NAAMAH, AN AMMONITE)
FOLLOWED POOR ADVICE FROM YOUNG ADVISERS THAT CAUSED THE REVOLT AND DIVIDING OF THE PEOPLE INTO THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF TEN TRIBES LED BY JEROBOAM AND REHOBOAM LED SOUTHERN KINGDOM (JUDAH & BENJAMIN)
BUILT MANY FORTIFIED CITIES, STRENGTHENED THE ECONOMY (DESPITE THE TRIBUTE PAID TO EGYPT), FOLLOWED GOD FOR THREE YEARS, BUT THEN SET UP IDOLS AD SHRINES TO FOREIGN GODS.
I KINGS 11:43-14:31 AND II CHRONICLES 9:31-12:16
ABIJAH
(NORTHERN KING - JEROBOAM I)
913 BC (REIGNED 3 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - REHOBOAM (MOTHER MAACAH, DAUGHTER OF ABISHALOM)
DESPITE HIS WICKEDNESS, HE CALLED FOR GOD'S HELP TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST ISRAEL.
I KINGS 14:31-15:8 AND II CHRONICLES 13:1-14:1
ASA
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEROBOAM I, NADAB, BAASHA, ELAH, ZIMRI, TIBNI, OMRI, & AHAB)
910 BC (REIGNED 41 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER ABIJAH - GRANDMOTHER WAS MAACAH, DAUGHTER OF ABISHALOM)
DESTROYED PAGAN ALTARS AND REBUILT ALTAR OF GOD, BUILT FORTIFIED CITIES, GAINED MUCH WEALTH FROM PLUNDER OF FOREIGN CONQUEST, REMOVED THE QUEEN MOTHER FOR WORSHIPPING ASHERAH, LED THE PEOPLE WITH THEIR HEARTS, PROVIDED PEACE ON HOME SOIL, WAS GREATLY LOVED, AND GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL FUNERAL. TOOK MATTERS IN HIS OWN HANDS TO SET UP A BRIBE WITH KING BEN-HADAD OF ARAM TO BREAK HIS ALLIANCE WITH KING BAASHA OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. WHEN GOD SENT THE PROPHET HANANI TO CONFRONT ASA, HE FLEW INTO A RAGE AND PUT THE PROPHET INTO PRISON. AT THE SAME TIME HE BRUTALLY OPPRESSED SOME OF THE PEOPLE. IN THE 39TH YEAR OF HIS REIGN ASA WAS AFFLICTED WITH A DISEASE IN HIS FEET. THOUGH HIS DISEASE WAS SEVERE, EVEN IN HIS ILLNESS, HE DID NOT SEEK HELP FROM THE LORD, BUT ONLY FROM THE PHYSICIANS
I KINGS 15:8-24 AND II CHRONICLES 14:1-16:14
JEHOSHAPHAT
(NORTHERN KING - AHAB)
872 BC (REIGNED 25 YEARS) (35 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - ASA (MOTHER WAS AZUBAH, DAUGHTER OF SHILHI)
HAD A STRONG MILITARY (KEPT TROOPS IN CITIES OF ISRAEL HIS FATHER HAD CONQUERED), COLLECTED TRIBUTE FROM THE PHILISTINES, WORSHIPED THE LORD AND DESTROYED IDOLS, ESTABLISHED EDUCATION, AND APPOINTED JUDGES AND COURTS.**DOWNFALL CAME BECAUSE HE ENTERED INTO A FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WICKED KING AHAB AND SET UP A MARRIAGE WITH HIS SON, JEHORAM TO AHAB'S DAUGHTER, ATHALIAH. HE JOINED KING AHAB AND WENT UP TO RAMOTH GILEAD TO BATTLE, WHERE AHAB WAS KILLED BY A PREDICTED RANDOM ARROW. WHEN JEHOSHAPHAT RETURNED HOME, JEHU, THE SEER, THE SON OF HANANI, WENT OUT TO MEET HIM AND SAID TO THE KING. "SHOULD YOU HELP THE WICKED AND LOVE THOSE WHO HATE THE LORD? BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WRATH OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU. THERE IS, HOWEVER, SOME GOOD IN YOU, FOR YOU HAVE RID THE LAND OF THE ASHERAH POLES AND HAVE SET YOU HEART ON SEEKING GOD." HE ALSO ENTERED A MILITARY PACK WITH AHAB'S SON, AHAZIAH AND BUILT SHIPS FOR TRADING. ELIEZER, SON OF DODAVAHU OF MARESHAH PROPHESIED AGAINST JEHOSHAPHAT, SAYING, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE AN ALLIANCE WITH AHAZIAH, THE LORD WILL DESTROY WHAT YOU HAVE MADE." THE SHIPS WERE WRECKED AND WERE NOT ABLE TO SET SAIL TO TRADE.
I KINGS 15:24; 22:41-50 AND II CHRONICLES 17:1-21:1
JEHORAM
(NORTHERN KINGS - AHAZIAH, & JORAM)
853 BC (REIGNED 8 YEARS) (32 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHOSHAPHAT (?-MOTHER)
MARRIED KING AHAB'S DAUGHTER, ATHALIAH. WAS A VERY WICKED KING. HAD ALL OF HIS BROTHERS KILLED WHEN HE BECAME KING. THE LORD AROUSED AGAINST JEHORAM THE HOSTILITY OF THE PHILISTINES AND OF THE ARABS WHO LIVED NEAR THE CUSHITES. THEY ATTACKED JUDAH, INVADED IT AND CARRIED OFF ALL THE GOODS FOUND IN THE KING'S PALACE, TOGETHER WITH HIS SONS AND WIVES. NOT A SON WAS LEFT TO HIM EXCEPT AHAZIAH, THE YOUNGEST. AFTER ALL THIS, THE LORD AFFLICTED HIM WITH AN INCURABLE DISEASE OF THE BOWELS. IN THE COURSE OF TIME, AT THE END OF THE SECOND YEAR, HIS BOWELS CAME OUT BECAUSE OF HIS DISEASE, AND HE DIED IN GREAT PAIN. HIS PEOPLE MADE NO FIRE IN HIS HONOR, AS THEY HAD FOR HIS FATHERS. HE PASSED AWAY, TO NO ONE'S REGRET, AND WAS BURIED IN THE CITY OF DAVID, BUT NOT IN THE TOMBS OF THE KINGS.
II KINGS 8:16-24 AND II CHRONICLES 21:1-20
AHAZIAH
(NORTHERN KING - JORAM)
842 (?) BC (REIGNED 1 YEAR) (22 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHORAM (MOTHER ATHALIAH, DAUGHTER OF KING AHAB)
WAS A VERY WICKED KING BECAUSE OF THE INFLUENCE OF HIS MOTHER AND HER RELATIVES FROM THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. JOINED WITH KING JORAM OF ISRAEL (HIS UNCLE - MOTHER, ATHALIAH, WAS JORAM'S SISTER.) TO GO TO WAR AGAINST KING HAZAEL OF ARAM AT RAMOTH GILEAD. THE ARAMEANS WOUNDED JORAM; SO KING JORAM RETURNED TO JEZREEL TO RECOVER FROM THE WOUNDS. AHAZIAH WENT TO VISIT JORAM WHILE HE WAS RESTING FROM HIS WOUND. THE PROPHET ELISHA SUMMONED A MAN FROM THE COMPANY OF PROPHETS AND TOLD HIM TO ANOINT JEHU AS THE NEW NORTHERN KING. JEHU KILLED BOTH JORAM AND AHAZIAH THAT DAY.
II KINGS 8:24-9:29 AND II CHRONICLES 22:1-10
ATHALIAH (QUEEN)
(NORTHERN KING - JEHU)
841 BC (REIGNED 6 YEARS) (? AGE WHEN SHE BECAME QUEEN)
DAUGHTER OF KING AHAB AND QUEEN JEZEBEL. MARRIED TO JEHORAM AND SON WAS AHAZIAH. JEZEBEL WAS KILLED BY JEHU AT THE SAME TIME THAT HE KILLED JORAM AND AHAZIAH. THE FIRST THING THAT ATHALIAH DID WHEN SHE BECAME QUEEN WAS TO KILL ALL OF HER GRANDCHILDREN (SONS OF AHAZIAH). ** HER DAUGHTER, JEHOSHEBA, WAS MARRIED TO PRIEST, JEHOIADA. SHE STOLE JOASH,(HER NEPHEW) WHO WAS A YEAR OLD AND THE ONLY SON LEFT FROM AHAZIAH AND HID HIM IN THE TEMPLE FOR 6 YEARS. ATHALIAH WAS KILLED BY THE SWORD WHEN JOASH WAS CROWNED KING AT 7 YEARS OLD.
II KINGS 11:1-20 AND II CHRONICLES 22:10-23:21
JOASH
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEHU, JEHOAHAZ, & JEHOASH)
835 BC (REIGNED 40 YEARS) (7 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAZIAH AND MOTHER ZIBIAH FROM BEERSHEBA.
AS LONG AS JEHOIADA, THE HIGH PRIEST, WAS ALIVE HE WAS A GOOD KING. HE PROMOTED PEACE, REPAIRED THE TEMPLE, & SMASHED ALTARS OF BAAL. WHEN JOHOIADA DIED HE BECAME WICKED AND EVEN HAD JOHOIADA'S SON KILLED WHEN HE WENT TO THE KING TO GET HIM TO REPENT FROM HIS WICKED WAYS. HIS OWN OFFICIALS CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM FOR KILLING ZECHARIAH, JOHOIADA'S SON. THEY KILLED HIM IN BED AS HE WAS RECOVERING FROM WOUNDS FROM ARAMEANS. HE WAS NOT BURIED IN TOMBS OF KINGS. JOHOIADA, THE HIGH PRIEST, WAS BURIED IN TOMBS OF KINGS THOUGH. *IMPORTANT LESSON FROM HIS LIFE IS THAT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO KEEP POSITIVE AND GODLY INFLUENCES IN OUR LIVES.
II KINGS 11:2-12:21 AND II CHRONICLES 22:11-24:27
AMAZIAH
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEHOASH, & JEROBOAM II)
796 BC (REIGNED 29 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOASH AND MOTHER - JEHOADDIN FROM JERUSALEM
WHEN HE BECAME KING, HE PUT THE ASSASSINS OF HIS FATHER TO DEATH, BUT NOT THEIR SONS. HE DEFEATED 10,000 EDOMITES IN VALLEY OF SALT. HE BROUGHT BACK GODS OF THE PEOPLE OF SEIR AND SET THEM UP AS HIS OWN GODS AND WORSHIPPED THEM. THE ANGER OF THE LORD BURNED AGAINST AMAZIAH. GOD SENT HIM A PROPHET TO GET HIM TO REPENT. HE REFUSED TO LISTEN AND THE PROPHET PREDICTED THAT GOD WOULD DESTROY HIM FOR NOT LISTENING AND OBEYING HIS ADVICE. SENT MESSENGERS TO JEHOASH, KING OF ISRAEL, TO GO TO BATTLE. JEHOASH TRIED TO WARN HIM THROUGH A PARABLE THAT HE COULDN'T WIN, BUT HE WOULDN'T LISTEN. JEHOASH ATTACKED AND DEFEATED JUDAH AND CAPTURED AMAZIAH AND PLUNDERED THE TEMPLE AND TOOK THE GOLD. HE ALSO BROKE DOWN THE WALL OF JERUSALEM. AMAZIAH LIVED 15 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF JEHOASH. THEY CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM IN JERUSALEM AND HE FLED TO LACHISH, BUT THEY SENT MEN AFTER HIM AND KILLED HIM THERE. HE WAS BROUGHT BACK BY HORSE AND BURIED IN JERUSALEM.
II KINGS 14:1-20 AND 2 CHRONICLES 25:1-28
AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
(NORTHERN KINGS - JEROBOAM II, ZECHARIAH, SHALLUM, MENAHEM)
(792 BC (REIGNED 52 YEARS) (16 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AMAZIAH AND MOTHER - JOCOLIAH FROM JERUSALEM.
FOLLOWED THE LORD AND THE LORD GAVE HIM SUCCESS AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED HIM. ZECHARIAH INSTRUCTED HIM TO FEAR THE LORD. HE BECAME VERY POWERFUL AND HIS PRIDE LED TO HIS DOWNFALL. HE WAS UNFAITHFUL TO THE LORD AND ENTERED THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD TO BURN INCENSE ON THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. AZARIAH, THE PRIEST, AND 80 OTHER COURAGEOUS PRIESTS OF THE LORD FOLLOWED HIM IN AND CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT BURNING INCENSE. HE GOT ANGRY AND THE LORD STRUCK HIM WITH LEPROSY ON HIS FOREHEAD AND HE HAD LEPROSY UNTIL HE DIED. HE LIVED IN A SEPARATE HOUSE. HIS SON JOTHAM CO-REIGNED WITH HIM FOR 10 YEARS.
II KINGS 15:1-17 AND II CHRONICLES 26:1-23
JOTHAM
(NORTHERN KINGS - MENAHEM, PEKAHIAH, PEKAH)
750 BC (REIGNED 16 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AZARIAH,UZZIAH AND MOTHER- JERUSHA, DAUGHTER OF ZADOK
HE FOLLOWED THE LORD, BUT THE PEOPLE CONTINUED THEIR CORRUPT PRACTICES. HE REBUILT THE UPPER GATE OF THE TEMPLE AND OTHER REBUILDING PROJECTS.
II KINGS 15:32-38 AND II CHRONICLES 27:1-9
AHAZ
(NORTHERN KINGS - PEKAH, & HOSHEA) ( 722 BC ENDED THE NORTHERN KINGDOM - ISRAEL WAS TAKEN TO ASSYRIA BY SHALMANESER)
735 BC (REIGNED 16 YEARS) (20 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOTHAM AND MOTHER - ?
VERY WICKED FROM THE BEGINNING. HE SACRIFICED HIS SONS IN THE FIRE. ARAMEANS DEFEATED HIM IN BATTLE. THE ISRAELITES DEFEATED HIM. ODED, A PROPHET OF THE LORD SPOKE TO THE ISRAELITES AND TOLD THEM TO SEND BACK THE JUDAH CAPTIVES. THEY RESPONDED AND SENT THEM BACK ALONG WITH THE PLUNDER THEY HAD TAKEN. AHAZ EVEN GAVE ITEMS FROM THE TEMPLE TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA, BUT THIS DIDN'T HELP. HE SHUT THE DOORS OF THE LORD'S TEMPLE. HE BECAME MORE UNFAITHFUL TO GOD DURING HIS TIME OF TROUBLE. HE SET UP ALTARS ON EVERY STREET CORNER IN JERUSALEM. NOT BURIED IN THE TOMBS OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL.
II KINGS 16:1-20 AND II CHRONICLES 28:1-27
HEZEKIAH
715 BC (REIGNED 29 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAZ AND MOTHER - ABIJAH, DAUGHTER OF ZECHARIAH
HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. HE OPENED THE DOORS OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD AND REPAIRED THEM. BROUGHT THE LEVITES IN TO RESTORE THE TEMPLE WORSHIP. SENNACHERIB, THE KING OF ASSYRIA, CAME UP AND WAS GOING TO CONQUER JERUSALEM. HE WAS SHOUTING HORRID THINGS ABOUT THE LORD GOD. HEZEKIAH AND THE PROPHET ISAIAH CRIED OUT TO THE LORD AND THE LORD SENT AN ANGEL THAT ANNIHILATED ALL THE FIGHTING MEN AND THE LEADERS AND OFFICERS IN THE CAMP OF THE ASSYRIAN KING. HE WITHDREW TO HIS OWN LAND IN DISGRACE. GOD PROTECTED JUDAH FROM HIM AND ALL OTHERS. HEZEKIAH BECAME ILL AND WAS AT THE POINT OF DEATH. ISAIAH CAME AND TOLD HIM TO GET HIS HOUSE IN ORDER BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO DIE. HEZEKIAH PRAYED TO THE LORD AND GOD TOLD ISAIAH TO TELL HIM THAT HE WOULD BE RESTORED IN 3 DAYS AND HE WOULD LIVE FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS. HE WANTED A SIGN TO KNOW IF THIS WAS A TRUE PROPHECY. HE ASKED FOR THE SHADOW TO GO BACK 10 STEPS (THIS IS REFERRING TO A SUNDIAL). THE LORD GRANTED HIS REQUEST. AT THIS TIME MERODACH-BALADAN, SON OF BALADAN, KING OF BABYLON SENT MESSENGERS TO SEND HIM A LETTER AND GIFT. HEZEKIAH RECEIVED THE MESSENGERS AND SHOWED THEM THROUGH ALL OF HIS STOREHOUSES. THIS WAS A MARK OF PRIDE TO SHOW OFF HIS OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ISAIAH QUESTIONED THIS AND TOLD HEZEKIAH THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD SAID THAT THE BABYLONIANS WOULD CAPTURE THE PALACE AND TAKE EVERYONE CAPTIVE, BUT NOT DURING HEZEKIAH'S LIFE TIME. HEZEKIAH WAS GLAD THERE WOULD BE PEACE DURING HIS LIFE. HE LIVED THESE LAST 15 YEARS IN A SPIRITUAL DECLINE AND HIS SON MANASSEH'S OUTLOOK REFLECTED THE INFLUENCE THAT HEZEKIAH HAD ON HIM.
II KINGS 16:20; 18:1-20; 21 AND II CHRONICLES 29:1-32; 33
MANASSEH
697 BC (REIGNED 55 YEARS) (12 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - HEZEKIAH AND MOTHER - HEPHZIBAH
WAS WICKED FROM THE BEGINNING. BUILT ALTARS TO BAAL, ETC. AND BOWED DOWN TO THEM. HE EVEN BUILT THESE ALTARS IN THE LORD'S TEMPLE. HE PRACTICED SORCERY AND DIVINATION AND WITCHCRAFT. HE CONSULTED MEDIUMS AND SPIRITISTS. HE SACRIFICED HIS OWN SON. THE LORD SPOKE TO MANASSEH AND HIS PEOPLE, BUT THEY PAID NO ATTENTION. SO THE LORD BROUGHT AGAINST THEM THE KING OF ASSYRIA, WHO TOOK HIM TO BABYLON. IN HIS DISTRESS, HE SOUGHT THE FAVOR OF THE LORD AND HUMBLED HIMSELF GREATLY BEFORE GOD. WHEN HE PRAYED, THE LORD WAS MOVED AND LISTENED TO HIS PLEA. HE BROUGHT HIM BACK TO JERUSALEM AND HIS KINGDOM AND MANASSEH KNEW THAT THE LORD IS GOD. AFTERWARDS HE REBUILT THE OUTER WALL OF THE CITY OF DAVID AND TORE DOWN ALTARS AND BEGAN WORSHIPING GOD. THE PEOPLE WORSHIPED GOD, BUT NOT IN THE WAY THEY WERE INSTRUCTED BY GOD. THEY WERE FOLLOWING PRACTICES OF THE HEATHENS. THE MAIN LESSON IN MANASSEH'S LIFE IS THAT HE WAS SO VERY WICKED IN THE EARLY PART OF HIS LIFE AND YET HE REPENTED AND GOD FORGAVE HIM. HE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH HIS REPENTANCE BY LIVING A GODLY LIFE, NOT JUST WORDS OF REPENTANCE.
II KINGS 21:1-18 AND II CHRONICLES 33:1-20
AMON
642 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (22 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - MANASSEH AND MOTHER - MESHULLEMETH, DAUGHTER OF HARUZ, FROM JOTBAH.
HE WAS WICKED AND TURNED HIS BACK ON GOD, AND DID NOT REPENT LIKE HIS FATHER. AMON'S OFFICIALS CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM AND ASSASSINATED HIM IN HIS PALACE. THEN THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND KILLED ALL THAT HAD PLOTTED TO KILL HIM.
II KINGS 21:18-26 AND II CHRONICLES 33:20-25
JOSIAH
640 BC (REIGNED 31 YEARS) (8 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AMON AND MOTHER - JEDIDAH, DAUGHTER OF ADAIAH FROM BOZKATH.
HE WAS A GODLY KING. HE FOLLOWED GOD WITH ALL HIS HEART. HE LED IN MANY REFORMS. HE GOT THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF GOD READ TO HIM AND HE TORE HIS CLOTHES IN GRIEF BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WERE NOT LIVING UP TO GOD'S STANDARDS. HE READ IT TO THE PEOPLE. HE OBSERVED THE PASSOVER AND WAS THE FIRST KING TO DO THIS. THE PASSOVER HAD NOT BEEN CELEBRATED SINCE THE DAYS OF THE JUDGES. WAS GREATLY LOVED BY HIS PEOPLE. AFTER ALL THIS, WHEN JOSIAH HAD SET THE TEMPLE IN ORDER, NECO KING OF EGYPT WENT UP TO FIGHT AT CARCHEMISH ON THE EUPHRATES, AND JOSIAH MARCHED OUT TO MEET HIM IN BATTLE. BUT NECO SENT MESSENGERS TO HIM, SAYING, "WHAT QUARREL IS THERE BETWEEN YOU AND ME, O KING OF JUDAH? IT IS NOT YOU I AM ATTACKING AT THIS TIME, BUT THE HOUSE WITH WHICH I AM AT WAR. GOD HAS TOLD ME TO HURRY; SO STOP OPPOSING GOD, WHO IS WITH ME, OR HE WILL DESTROY YOU." JOSIAH, HOWEVER, WOULD NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIM, BUT DISGUISED HIMSELF TO ENGAGE HIM IN BATTLE. HE WOULD NOT LISTEN TO WHAT NECO HAD SAID AT GOD'S COMMAND BUT WENT TO FIGHT HIM ON THE PLAIN OF MEGIDDO. ARCHERS SHOT KING JOSIAH, AND HE TOLD HIS OFFICERS, "TAKE ME AWAY, I AM BADLY WOUNDED." SO THEY TOOK HIM OUT OF HIS CHARIOT, PUT HIM IN THE OTHER CHARIOT HE HAD AND BROUGHT HIM TO JERUSALEM, WHERE HE DIED. HE WAS BURIED IN THE TOMBS OF HIS FATHERS, AND ALL JUDAH AND JERUSALEM MOURNED FOR HIM.
II KINGS 21:26-23:30 AND II CHRONICLES 33:25-35:27
JEHOAHAZ
609 BC (REIGNED 3 MONTHS) (23 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOSIAH AND MOTHER - HAMUTAL DAUGHTER OF JEREMIAH, FROM LIBNAH
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. PHARAOH NECO PUT HIM IN CHAINS AT RIBLAH IN THE LAND OF HAMATH SO THE HE MIGHT NOT REIGN IN JERUSALEM, AND HE IMPOSED ON JUDAH A LEVY OF A HUNDRED TALENTS OF SILVER AND A TALENT OF GOLD. PHARAOH NECO MADE ELIAKIM, SON OF JOSIAH KING IN PLACE OF HIS FATHER JOSIAH AND CHANGED ELIAKIM'S NAME TO JEHOIAKIM. BUT HE TOOK JEHOAHAZ AND CARRIED HIM OFF TO EGYPT, AND THERE HE DIED. JEHOIAKIM PAID PHARAOH NECO THE SILVER AND GOLD DEMANDED. IN ORDER TO DO SO, HE TAXED THE LAND AND EXACTED THE SILVER AND GOLD FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND ACCORDING TO THEIR ASSESSMENTS.
II KINGS 23:30-34 AND II CHRONICLES 36:1-4
JEHOIAKIM
609 BC (REIGNED 11 YEARS) (25 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER JOSIAH AND MOTHER - ZEBIDAH DAUGHTER OF PEDAIAH, FROM RUMAH.
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. DURING JEHOIAKIM'S REIGN, NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON INVADED THE LAND, AND JEHOIAKIM BECAME HIS VASSAL FOR THREE YEARS. BUT THEN HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND REBELLED AGAINST NEBUCHADNEZZAR. THE LORD SENT BABYLONIAN, ARAMEAN MOABITE AND AMMONITE RAIDERS AGAINST HIM. HE SENT THEM TO DESTROY JUDAH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORD OF THE LORD PROCLAIMED BY HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS.
II KINGS 23:34-24:6 AND II CHRONICLES 36:5-8
JEHOIACHIN
598 BC (REIGNED 3 MONTHS AND 10 DAYS) (18 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER JEHOIAKIM AND MOTHER - NEHUSHTA, DAUGHTER OF ELNATHAN, FROM JERUSALEM.
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. IN THE SPRING, KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR SENT FOR HIM AND BROUGHT HIM TO BABYLON, TOGETHER WITH ARTICLES OF VALUE FROM THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, AND HE MADE JEHOIACHIN'S UNCLE, ZEDEKIAH, KING OVER JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. IN THE 37TH YEAR OF THE EXILE OF JEHOIACHIN, KING OF JUDAH, IN THE YEAR EVIL-MERODACH BECAME KING OF BABYLON, HE RELEASED JEHOIACHIN FROM PRISON ON THE 27TH DAY OF THE 12TH MONTH. HE SPOKE KINDLY TO HIM AND GAVE HIM A SEAT OF HONOR HIGHER THAT THOSE OF THE OTHER KINGS WHO WERE WITH HIM IN BABYLON. SO JEHOIACHIN PUT ASIDE HIS PRISON CLOTHES AND FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE ATE REGULARLY AT THE KING'S TABLE. DAY BY DAY THE KING GAVE JEHOIACHIN A REGULAR ALLOWANCE AS LONG AS HE LIVED
II KINGS 24:6-15, 25:27-30 AND II CHRONICLES 36:8-10
ZEDEKIAH
597 BC (REIGNED 11 YEARS)(21 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JOSIAH(JEREMIAH 27:1) MOTHER - HAMUTAL, DAUGHTER OF JEREMIAH, FROM LIBNAH.
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, JUST AS JEHOIAKIM HAD DONE. HIS NAME WAS MATTANIAH AND THE KING OF BABYLON CHANGED HIS NAME TO ZEDEKIAH. ZEDEKIAH REBELLED AGAINST THE KING OF BABYLON. FOR 2 YEARS KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON, CAMPED OUTSIDE THE CITY AND BUILT SIEGE WORKS ALL AROUND IT. THE FAMINE IN THE CITY HAD BECOME SO SEVERE THAT THERE WAS NO FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE TO EAT. THEN THE CITY WALL WAS BROKEN THROUGH, AND THE WHOLE ARMY FLED AT NIGHT THROUGH THE GATE BETWEEN THE TWO WALLS NEAR THE KING'S GARDEN, THOUGH THE BABYLONIANS WERE SURROUNDING THE CITY. THEY FLED TOWARD THE ARABAH, BUT THE BABYLONIAN ARMY PURSUED THE KING AND OVERTOOK HIM IN THE PLAINS OF JERICHO. ALL HIS SOLDIERS WERE SEPARATED FROM HIM AND SCATTERED, AND HE WAS CAPTURED. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE KING OF BABYLON AT RIBLAH, WHERE SENTENCE WAS PRONOUNCED ON HIM. THEY KILLED THE SONS OF ZEDEKIAH BEFORE HIS EYES. THEN THEY PUT OUT HIS EYES, BOUND HIM WITH BRONZE SHACKLES AND TOOK HIM TO BABYLON. NEBUCHADNEZZAR ORDERED THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD TO BE BURNED. THEY TOOK EVERYTHING OF VALUE AND BURNED THE TEMPLE AND PALACES. THEY LEFT THE POOR BEHIND AND BROUGHT THE STRONG AND SKILLED TO BABYLON. NEBUCHADNEZZAR APPOINTED GEDALIAH TO BE OVER THE PEOPLE LEFT IN JUDAH. ISHMAEL ASSASSINATED GEDALIAH AND THE MEN OF JUDAH. THOSE WHO ESCAPED WENT TO EGYPT.
II KINGS 24:17-25:21 AND II CHRONICLES 36:10-21
* NORTHERN KINGS
THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL (TEN TRIBES)
CAPITAL: SHECHEM, THEN TIRZAH, THEN SAMARIA
JEROBOAM I
(SOUTHERN KINGS - REHOBOAM, ABIJAH & ASA)
930 BC (REIGNED 22 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - NEBAT AND MOTHER ZERUAH
DURING HIS CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, SOLOMON NOTICED YOUNG JEROBOAM'S NATURAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND MADE HIM A SPECIAL PROJECT FOREMAN. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, GOD CONTACTED JEROBOAM THROUGH THE PROPHET AHIJAH. HE TOLD JEROBOAM THAT GOD WOULD PUNISH DAVID'S DYNASTY BY TEARING THE KINGDOM FROM SOLOMON'S SON AND THAT JEROBOAM WOULD RULE THE TEN NORTHERN TRIBES. AND GOD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE SAME FATE WOULD DESTROY JEROBOAM'S FAMILY IF THEY REFUSED TO OBEY GOD. APPARENTLY SOLOMON HEARD ABOUT THESE EVENTS AND TRIED TO HAVE JEROBOAM KILLED. THE FUTURE KING ESCAPED TO EGYPT, WHERE HE STAYED UNTIL SOLOMON DIED. WHEN REHOBOAM, SOLOMON'S HEIR TOOK THE THRONE, JEROBOAM RETURNED. HE REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE IN DEMANDING THAT THE NEW KING BE MORE LENIENT THAN HIS FATHER. REHOBOAM'S UNWISE CHOICE TO REJECT HIS PEOPLE'S REQUEST LED TO THEIR REJECTING HIM AS KING. ONLY JUDAH AND THE ANNEXED TRIBE OF BENJAMIN REMAINED LOYAL TO DAVID'S DYNASTY. THE OTHER TEN TRIBES MADE JEROBOAM KING. RATHER THAN SEEING THIS FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S PROMISE AS MOTIVATION TO OBEY GOD, JEROBOAM DECIDED TO DO WHATEVER HE COULD TO SECURE HIS POSITION. HE LED HIS KINGDOM AWAY FROM THE GOD WHO HAD ALLOWED HIM TO REIGN. GOD HAD ALREADY WARNED HIM OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ACTION-HIS FAMILY WAS EVENTUALLY WIPED OUT. AND JEROBOAM SET INTO MOTION EVENTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. HE ERECTED IDOLS IN ISRAEL TO KEEP THE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. HE APPOINTED PRIESTS FROM OUTSIDE THE TRIBE OF LEVI.
I KINGS 11:26-14:34 AND II CHRONICLES 10:12-13:20
NADAB
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
909 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEROBOAM I AND MOTHER (?)
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. BAASHA, SON OF AHIJAH OF THE HOUSE OF ISSACHAR PLOTTED AGAINST HIM, AND HE STRUCK HIM DOWN AT GIBBETHON, A PHILISTINE TOWN, WHILE NADAB AND ALL ISRAEL WERE BESIEGING IT.
I KINGS 15:25-28
BAASHA
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
908 BC (REIGNED 24 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHIJAH, OF THE HOUSE OF ISSACHAR & MOTHER -?
FIRST CHANGE OF BLOOD LINES IN THE NORTHERN KINGDOM.
HE KILLED JEROBOAM'S WHOLE FAMILY, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD GIVEN THROUGH HIS SERVANT AHIJAH THE SHILONITE - BECAUSE OF THE SINS JEROBOAM HAD COMMITTED AND HAD CAUSED ISRAEL TO COMMIT. THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JEHU, SON OF HANANI AGAINST BAASHA, "I LIFTED YOU UP FROM THE DUST AND MADE YOU LEADER OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL, BUT YOU WALKED IN THE WAYS OF JEROBOAM AND CAUSED MY PEOPLE ISRAEL TO SIN AND TO PROVOKE ME TO ANGER BY THEIR SINS. SO I AM ABOUT TO CONSUME BAASHA AND HIS HOUSE, AND I WILL MAKE YOUR HOUSE LIKE THAT OF JEROBOAM SON OF NEBAT. DOGS WILL EAT THOSE BELONGING TO BAASHA WHO DIE IN THE CITY, AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR WILL FEED ON THOSE WHO DIE IN THE COUNTRY.
I KINGS 15:27-16:7 AND II CHRONICLES 16:1-6
ELAH
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
886 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER BAASHA AND MOTHER ?
ZIMRI, ONE OF HIS OFFICIALS, WHO HAD COMMAND OF HALF HIS CHARIOTS, PLOTTED AGAINST HIM. ELAH WAS IN TIRZAH AT THE TIME, GETTING DRUNK IN THE HOME OF ARZA, THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE PALACE AT TIRZAH. ZIMRI CAME IN, STRUCK HIM DOWN AND KILLED HIM. THEN HE SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
I KINGS 16:6-14
ZIMRI
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
885 BC (REIGNED 7 DAYS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER ? AND MOTHER ?
WAS ONE OF ELAH'S OFFICIALS AND HE KILLED ELAH. HE KILLED OFF BAASHA'S WHOLE FAMILY. THE ARMY WAS ENCAMPED NEAR GIBBETHON, A PHILISTINE TOWN. WHEN THE ISRAELITES IN THE CAMP HEARD THAT ZIMRI HAD PLOTTED AGAINST THE KING AND MURDERED HIM, THEY PROCLAIMED OMRI, THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMY, KING OVER ISRAEL THAT VERY DAY THERE IN THE CAMP. THEN OMRI AND ALL THE ISRAELITES WITH HIM WITHDREW FROM GIBBETHON AND LAID SIEGE TO TIRZAH. WHEN ZIMRI SAW THAT THE CITY WAS TAKEN, HE WENT INTO THE CITADEL OF THE ROYAL PALACE AND SET THE PALACE ON FIRE AROUND HIM. SO HE DIED BECAUSE OF THE SINS HE HAD COMMITTED, DOING EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD AND WALKING IN THE WAYS OF JEROBOAM.
I KINGS 16:9-20
TIBNI
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
885 BC (REIGNED ?) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - GINATH AND MOTHER - ?
AFTER ZIMRI'S DEATH, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE SPLIT INTO TWO FACTIONS: HALF SUPPORTED TIBNI AND THE OTHER HALF SUPPORTED OMRI. BUT, OMRI'S FOLLOWERS PROVED STRONGER THAN THOSE OF TIBNI. SO TIBNI DIED AND OMRI BECAME KING
I KINGS 16:21,22
OMRI
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
885 BC (REIGNED 12 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
OMRI BEGAN HIS REIGN AS POLITICAL DISSENSION BREWED IN ISRAEL. AFTER ZIMRI KILLED HIMSELF, THE ISRAELITE ARMY CHOSE OMRI, THEIR COMMANDER, AS THE NEXT RULER.. TIBNI, OMRI'S CHIEF RIVAL TO THE THRONE, DIED, AND OMRI THEN BEGAN HIS EVIL REIGN. DURING HIS 12 YEAR RULE OVER ISRAEL, HE WAS A SHREWD AND CAPABLE LEADER. HE ORGANIZED THE BUILDING OF HIS NEW CAPITAL CITY, SAMARIA, WHILE STRENGTHENING THE NATION POLITICALLY AND MILITARILY. BUT HE DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE NATION'S SPIRITUAL CONDITION (MICAH 6:16), AND HE PURPOSELY LED ISRAEL FARTHER FROM GOD IN ORDER TO PUT MORE POWER IN HIS OWN HANDS. OMRI'S NEW CAPITAL, SAMARIA, OFFERED SOME POLITICAL ADVANTAGES. THE CITY WAS HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY, SO HE HAD TOTAL CONTROL OVER IT. SAMARIA ALSO COMMANDED A HILLTOP POSITION, WHICH MADE IT EASY TO DEFEND. OMRI DIED BEFORE COMPLETING THE CITY. SO HIS SON, AHAB, COMPLETED IN BUILDING NOT ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL IVORY PALACE, BUT ALSO A TEMPLE TO THE GOD BAAL. SAMARIA SERVED AS THE CAPITAL CITY FOR THE REST OF ISRAEL'S DYNASTIES UNTIL IT FELL TO THE ASSYRIANS IN 722 BC.
I KINGS 16:16-28
AHAB
(SOUTHERN KINGS - ASA AND JEHOSHAPHAT)
874 BC (REIGNED 22 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - OMRI AND MOTHER - ?
AHAB DID MORE EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD THAN ANY OF THOSE BEFORE HIM. HE MARRIED JEZEBEL, WHO CAME FROM THE PHOENICIAN CITY OF TYRE, WHERE HER FATHER HAD BEEN A HIGH PRIEST AND EVENTUALLY KING. JEZEBEL WORSHIPED THE GOD BAAL. IN ORDER TO PLEASE HER, AHAB BUILT A TEMPLE AND AN ALTAR FOR BAAL, THUS PROMOTING IDOLATRY AND LEADING THE ENTIRE NATION INTO SIN. IN AHAB'S TIME, HIEL OF BETHEL REBUILT JERICHO. HE LAID ITS FOUNDATIONS AT THE COST OF HIS FIRSTBORN SON ABIRAM, AND HE SET UP ITS GATES AT THE COST OF HIS YOUNGEST SON SEGUB, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORD OF THE LORD SPOKEN BY JOSHUA, SON OF NUN.(JOSHUA 6:26). AHAB'S DAUGHTER ATHALIAH MARRIED JEHOSHAPHAT'S SON, JEHORAM. WAS KILLED IN BATTLE BY A PREDICTED RANDOM ARROW SHOT BY ONE OF THE SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF ARAM. AHAB AND JEHOSHAPHAT WENT TO BATTLE AGAINST THE KING OF ARAM. AHAB WAS DISGUISED AND NOT IN HIS KINGLY ROBES. HE PROPPED HIMSELF UP IN HIS CHARIOT FACING THE ARAMEANS UNTIL EVENING AND THEN AT SUNSET, HE DIED. ELIJAH PREDICTED AHAB'S DEATH AND JEZEBEL'S DEATH. HE PREDICTED THAT THE DOGS WOULD LICK UP THEIR BLOOD. THIS PREDICTION CAME TRUE. ELIJAH ALSO PREDICTED THAT AHAB'S DESCENDANTS WOULD BE WIPED OUT. AHAB HUMBLED HIMSELF BEFORE GOD AND THE LORD REDUCED HIS PUNISHMENT, BY NOT HAVING HIS DESCENDANTS WIPED OUT DURING HIS LIFETIME.
I KINGS 16:28-22:40 AND II CHRONICLES 18:1-34
AHAZIAH
(SOUTHERN KING - JEHORAM)
853 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAB AND MOTHER - JEZEBEL
AFTER AHAB'S DEATH, MOAB REBELLED AGAINST ISRAEL. NOW AHAZIAH HAD FALLEN THROUGH THE LATTICE OF HIS UPPER ROOM IN SAMARIA AND INJURED HIMSELF. SO HE SENT MESSENGERS, SAYING TO THEM, "GO AND CONSULT BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON, TO SEE IF I WILL RECOVER FROM THIS INJURY." BUT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID TO ELIJAH, THE TISHBITE, "GO UP AND MEET THE MESSENGERS OF THE KING OF SAMARIA AND ASK THEM, "IS IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOD IN ISRAEL THAT YOU ARE GOING OFF TO CONSULT BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON?" THEREFORE THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS, "YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THE BED YOU ARE LYING ON. YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE!", SO ELIJAH WENT. THE KING SENT A COMPANY OF 50 MEN TO GET ELIJAH TO COME SEE THE KING. ELIJAH HAD FIRE CONSUME 2 SETS OF 50 MEN THAT THE KING HAD SENT. THE THIRD COMPANY OF 50 MEN HUMBLED THEMSELVES BEFORE ELIJAH. ELIJAH WENT WITH THEM TO THE KING AND AHAZIAH DIED JUST AS ELIJAH HAD SPOKEN FROM THE LORD. BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER JORAM SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
MADE AN ALLIANCE WITH JEHOSHAPHAT AND BUILT SHIPS. ALL THE SHIPS SANK.
I KINGS 22:40-II KINGS 1:18 AND II CHRONICLES 20:35-37
JORAM
(SOUTHERN KINGS - JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH)
852 BC (REIGNED 12 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAB AND MOTHER - JEZEBEL
HE GOT RID OF THE SACRED STONE OF BAAL THAT HIS FATHER HAD MADE. NEVERTHELESS HE CLUNG TO THE SINS OF JEROBOAM, SON OF NEBAT. HE DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THEM. HE WENT TO WAR WITH HIS NEPHEW, KING AHAZIAH, AGAINST HAZAEL, KING OF ARAM. HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE BATTLE AND HE WENT TO JEZREEL TO RECOVER FROM HIS WOUNDS. AHAZIAH CAME TO VISIT HIM. JEHU KILLED JORAM AND AHAZIAH AND JEZEBEL THAT DAY AND JEHU BECAME THE NEW KING OF ISRAEL.
II KINGS 3:1-8:25 AND II CHRONICLES 22:5-7
JEHU
(SOUTHERN KING - QUEEN ATHLIAH, AND JOASH)
841 BC (REIGNED 28 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
(BREAK IN BLOOD LINE)
JEHU ORDERED HIS ADMINISTRATORS TO KILL THE FAMILY OF AHAB. they TOOK THE PRINCES AND SLAUGHTERED ALL SEVENTY OF THEM. THEY PUT THEIR HEADS IN BASKETS AND SENT THEM TO JEHU IN JEZREEL. THEY PUT THEM IN TWO PILES AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CITY GATE UNTIL MORNING. JEHU KILLED EVERYONE IN JEZREEL WHO REMAINED OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB, AS WELL AS ALL HIS CHIEF MEN, HIS CLOSE FRIENDS AND HIS PRIESTS, LEAVING HIM NO SURVIVOR. HE DECEIVED EVERYONE BY TELLING THEM THEY WERE TO HAVE A GREAT SACRIFICE FOR BAAL. WHEN THEY CAME, JEHU HAD EVERYONE KILLED THAT WORSHIPED BAAL. JEHU DESTROYED BAAL WORSHIP IN ISRAEL, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE SINS OF JEROBOAM, SON OF NEBAT, WHICH HE HAD CAUSED ISRAEL TO COMMIT--THE WORSHIP OF THE GOLDEN CALVES AT BETHEL AND DAN. THE LORD SAID TO JEHU, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE WELL IN ACCOMPLISHING WHAT IS RIGHT IN MY EYES AND HAVE DONE TO THE HOUSE OF AHAB ALL I HAD IN MIND TO DO, YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL SIT ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL TO THE FOURTH GENERATION." YET, JEHU WAS NOT CAREFUL TO KEEP THE LAW OF THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WITH ALL HIS HEART.
II KINGS 9:1-10:36 AND II CHRONICLES 22:7-12
JEHOAHAZ
(SOUTHERN KING- JOASH)
814 BC (REIGNED 17 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHU AND MOTHER - ?
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. 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. 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. 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. BUT THEY DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE SINS OF THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM. THE ASHERAH POLE ALSO REMAINED STANDING IN SAMARIA. THE LORD HEARD JEHOAHAZ'S PRAYER FOR HELP. GOD DELAYED HIS JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL WHEN THEY TURNED TO HIM FOR HELP, BUT THEY DID NOT SUSTAIN THEIR DEPENDENCE ON GOD FOR LONG. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE PERIODIC BREAKS IN THEIR IDOL WORSHIP, THERE WAS RARELY EVIDENCE OF GENUINE FAITH. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY NO TO SIN; WE MUST ALSO SAY YES TO A LIFE OF COMMITMENT TO GOD. AN OCCASIONAL CALL FOR HELP IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A DAILY LIFE OF TRUST IN GOD. 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.
II KINGS 13:1-9
JEHOASH
(SOUTHERN KINGS - JOASH & AMAZIAH)
798 BC (REIGNED 16 YEARS) (? AGE WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHOAHAZ - MOTHER - ?
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD AND DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM ANY OF THE SINS OF JEROBOAM, SON OF NEBAT. KING AMAZIAH OF JUDAH SENT A MESSAGE TO JEHOASH WITH A CHALLENGE: "COME MEET ME FACE TO FACE." JEHOASH SENT HIM THIS MESSAGE BACK: "A THISTLE IN LEBANON SENT A MESSAGE TO A CEDAR IN LEBANON. "GIVE YOUR DAUGHTER TO MY SON IN MARRIAGE." THE 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? 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.
II KINGS 13:10-14:16 AND II CHRONICLES 25:17-24
JEROBOAM II
(SOUTHERN KING - AMAZIAH & AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
793 BC (REIGNED 41 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHOASH AND MOTHER - ?
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. HE WAS THE ONE WHO RESTORED THE BOUNDARIES OF ISRAEL FROM LEBO HAMATH TO THE SEA OF 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. JEROBOAM II HAD NO DEVOTION TO GOD, YET UNDER HIS WARLIKE POLICIES AND SKILLFUL ADMINISTRATION ISRAEL ENJOYED MORE NATIONAL POWER AND MATERIAL PROSPERITY THAN AT ANY TIME SINCE THE DAYS OF SOLOMON. THE PROPHETS AMOS AND HOSEA, HOWEVER TELL US WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING WHEN THE KINGDOM (HOSEA 13:4-8; AMOS 6:11-14). JEROBOAM'S ADMINISTRATION IGNORED POLICIES OF JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS. AS A RESULT, THE RICH BECAME RICHER, AND THE POOR, POORER. THE PEOPLE BECAME SELF-CENTERED, RELYING MORE ON THEIR POWER, SECURITY, AND POSSESSIONS THAN ON GOD. THE POOR WERE SO OPPRESSED THAT IT WAS HARD FOR THEM TO BELIEVE GOD NOTICED THEIR PLIGHT. MATERIAL PROSPERITY IS NOT ALWAYS AN INDICATION OF GOD'S BLESSING.
II KINGS 14:16-29
ZECHARIAH
(SOUTHERN KING - AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
753 BC (REIGNED 6 MONTHS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEROBOAM II AND MOTHER - ?
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. SHALLUM, SON OF JABESH CONSPIRED AGAINST ZECHARIAH. HE ATTACKED HIM IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE, ASSASSINATED HIM AND SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING. SO THE WORD OF THE LORD SPOKEN TO JEHU WAS FULFILLED, "YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL SIT ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL TO THE 4TH GENERATION
II KINGS 14:29-15:11
SHALLUM
(SOUTHERN KING - AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
752 BC (REIGNED 1 MONTH) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
CHANGE OF BLOOD LINES
FATHER - JABESH AND MOTHER - ?
MENAHEM, SON OF GADI WENT FROM TIRZAH UP TO SAMARIA. HE ATTACKED SHALLUM, ASSASSINATED HIM AND SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING
II KINGS 15:10-15
MENAHEM
(SOUTHERN KINGS - AZARIAH (UZZIAH) AND JOTHAM)
752 BC (REIGNED 10 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - GADI AND MOTHER - ?
CHANGED BLOOD LINES
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. AT THE TIME HE ASSASSINATED KING SHALLUM, 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. ANCIENT HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS SAY THAT MENAHEM WAS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF JEROBOAM'S ARMY. AFTER JEROBOAM'S SON WAS ASSASSINATED, MENAHEM PROBABLY SAW HIMSELF AND NOT SHALLUM AS THE RIGHTFUL SUCCESSOR TO ISRAEL'S THRONE. HE TOOK MONEY FROM HIS PEOPLE AND PAID OFF THE KING OF ASSYRIA
II KINGS 15:14-22
PEKAHIAH
(SOUTHERN KING - JOTHAM)
742 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - MENAHEM AND MOTHER - ?
DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. ONE OF HIS CHIEF OFFICERS, PEKAH, SON OF REMALIAH CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM. TAKING 50 MEN OF GILEAD WITH HIM, HE ASSASSINATED PEKAHIAH, ALONG WITH ARGOB, AND ARIEH, IN THE CITADEL OF THE ROYAL PALACE AT SAMARIA. PEKAH SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
II KINGS 15:22-26
PEKAH
(SOUTHERN KING - JOTHAM AND AHAZ)
740 BC (REIGNED 8 YEARS) (?YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - REMALIAH AND MOTHER - ?
CHANGE OF BLOOD LINES
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. TIGLATH-PILESER, KING OF ASSYRIA CAME AND TOOK IJON, ABEL BETH MAACAH, JANOAH, KEDESH AND HAZOR. HE TOOK GILEAD AND GALILEE, INCLUDING THE LAND OF NEPHTALI AND DEPORTED THE PEOPLE TO ASSYRIA. THEN HOSHEA, SON OF ELAH ATTACKED AND ASSASSINATED HIM AND SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
II KINGS 15:25-31 AND II CHRONICLES 28:5-8
HOSHEA
(SOUTHERN KING - AHAZ)
732 BC (REIGNED 9 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - ELAH AND MOTHER - ?
CHANGE OF BLOODLINES
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. SHALMANESER KING OF ASSYRIA CAME UP TO ATTACK HOSHEA, WHO HAD BEEN SHALMANESER'S VASSAL AND HAD PAID HIM TRIBUTE. BUT THE KING OF ASSYRIA DISCOVERED THAT HOSHEA WAS A TRAITOR, FOR HE HAD SENT ENVOYS TO SO KING OF EGYPT, AND HE NO LONGER PAID TRIBUTE TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA, AS HE HAD DONE YEAR BY YEAR. THEREFORE SHALMANESER SEIZED HIM AND PUT HIM IN PRISON. THE KING OF ASSYRIA INVADED THE ENTIRE LAND, MARCHED AGAINST SAMARIA AND LAID SIEGE TO IT FOR 3 YEARS. IN THE NINTH YEAR OF HOSHEA, THE KING OF ASSYRIA CAPTURED SAMARIA AND DEPORTED THE ISRAELITES TO ASSYRIA. HE SETTLED THEM IN HALAH, IN GOZAN ON THE HABOR RIVER AND IN THE TOWNS OF THE MEDES. ALL THIS TOOK PLACE BECAUSE THE ISRAELITES HAD SINNED AGAINST THE LORD THEIR GOD, WHO HAD BROUGHT THEM UP OUT OF EGYPT FROM UNDER THE POWER OF PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT. THEY WORSHIPED OTHER GODS AND FOLLOWED THE PRACTICES OF THE NATIONS THE LORD HAD DRIVEN OUT BEFORE THEM, AS WELL AS THE PRACTICES THAT THE KINGS OF ISRAEL HAD INTRODUCED. THE ISRAELITES SECRETLY DID THINGS AGAINST THE LORD THEIR GOD THAT WERE NOT RIGHT. FROM WATCHTOWER TO FORTIFIED CITY THEY BUILT THEMSELVES HIGH PLACES IN ALL THEIR TOWNS. THEY SET UP SACRED STONES AND ASHERAH POLES ON EVERY HIGH HILL AND UNDER EVERY SPREADING TREE. AT EVERY HIGH PLACE THEY BURNED INCENSE, AS THE NATIONS WHOM THE LORD HAD DRIVEN OUT BEFORE THEM HAD DONE. THEY DID WICKED THINGS THAT PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER. THEY WORSHIPED IDOLS, THOUGH THE LORD HAD SAID, "YOU SHALL NOT DO THIS." 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 THAT I COMMANDED YOUR FATHERS TO OBEY AND THAT I DELIVERED TO YOU THROUGH MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS. BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN AND WERE AS STIFF-NECKED AS THEIR FATHERS, WHO DID NOT TRUST IN THE LORD THEIR GOD. THEY REJECTED HIS DECREES AND THE COVENANT HE HAD MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS AND THE WARNINGS HE HAD GIVEN THEM. THEY FOLLOWED WORTHLESS IDOLS AND THEMSELVES BECAME WORTHLESS. THEY IMITATED THE NATIONS AROUND THEM ALTHOUGH THE LORD HAD ORDERED THEM, "DO NOT DO AS THEY DO," AND THEY DID THE THINGS THE LORD HAD FORBIDDEN THEM TO DO. THEY FORSOOK ALL THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD THEIR GOD AND MADE FOR THEMSELVES TWO IDOLS CAST IN THE SHAPE OF CALVES, AND AN ASHERAH POLE. THEY BOWED DOWN TO ALL THE STARRY HOSTS, AND THEY WORSHIPED BAAL. THEY SACRIFICED THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN THE FIRE. THEY PRACTICED DIVINATION AND SORCERY AND SOLD THEMSELVES TO DO EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, PROVOKING HIM TO ANGER. SO THE LORD WAS VERY ANGRY WITH ISRAEL AND REMOVED THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE. ONLY THE TRIBE OF JUDAH WAS LEFT AND EVEN JUDAH DID NOT KEEP THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD THEIR GOD.
THEY FOLLOWED THE PRACTICES ISRAEL HAD INTRODUCED. THEREFORE THE LORD REJECTED ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, HE AFFLICTED THEM AND GAVE THEM INTO THE HANDS OF PLUNDERERS UNTIL HE THRUST THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE. WHEN HE TORE ISRAEL AWAY FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID, THEY MADE JEROBOAM SON OF NEBAT THEIR KING. JEROBOAM ENTICED ISRAEL AWAY FROM FOLLOWING THE LORD AND CAUSED THEM TO COMMIT A GREAT SIN. THE ISRAELITES PERSISTED IN ALL THE SINS OF JEROBOAM AND DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THEM UNTIL THE LORD REMOVED THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE, AS HE HAD WARNED THROUGH ALL HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS. SO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMELAND INTO EXILE IN ASSYRIA. THE KING OF ASSYRIA BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM BABYLON, CUTHAH, AVVA, HAMATH AND SEPHARVAIM AND SETTLED THEM IN THE TOWNS OF SAMARIA TO REPLACE THE ISRAELITES. THEY TOOK OVER SAMARIA AND LIVED IN ITS TOWNS. WHEN THEY FIRST LIVED THERE, THEY DID NOT WORSHIP THE LORD; SO HE SENT LIONS AMONG THEM AND THEY KILLED SOME OF THE PEOPLE. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA. "THE PEOPLE YOU DEPORTED AND RESETTLED IN THE TOWNS OF SAMARIA DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE GOD OF THAT COUNTRY REQUIRES. HE HAS SENT LIONS AMONG THEM, WHICH ARE KILLING THEM OFF, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HE REQUIRES. THEN THE KING OF ASSYRIA GAVE THIS ORDER; "HAVE ONE OF THE PRIESTS YOU TOOK CAPTIVE FROM SAMARIA GO BACK TO LIVE THERE AND TEACH THE PEOPLE WHAT THE GOD OF THE LAND REQUIRES. " SO ONE OF THE PRIESTS WHO HAD BEEN EXILED FROM SAMARIA CAME TO LIVE IN BETHEL AND TAUGHT THEM HOW TO WORSHIP THE LORD. NEVERTHELESS, EACH NATIONAL GROUP MADE ITS OWN GODS IN THE SEVERAL TOWNS WHERE THEY SETTLED, AND SET THEM UP IN THE SHRINES THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA HAD MADE AT THE HIGH PLACES. THE MEN FROM BABYLON MADE SUCCOTH BENOTH, THE MEN FROM CUTHAH MADE NERGAL, AND THE MEN FROM HAMATH MADE ASHIMA, THE AVVITES MADE NIBHAZ AND TARTAK, AND SEPHARVITES BURNED THEIR CHILDREN IN THE FIRE AS SACRIFICES TO ADRAMMELECH AND ANAMMELECH, THE GODS OF SEPHARVAIM. THEY WORSHIPED THE LORD, BUT THEY ALSO APPOINTED ALL SORTS OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE TO OFFICIATE FOR THEM AS PRIESTS IN THE SHRINES AT THE HIGH PLACES. THEY WORSHIPED THE LORD, BUT THEY ALSO SERVED THEIR OWN GODS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CUSTOMS OF THE NATIONS FROM WHICH THEY HAD BEEN BROUGHT. TO THIS DAY THEY PERSIST IN THEIR FORMER PRACTICES. THEY NEITHER WORSHIP THE LORD NOR ADHERE TO THE DECREES AND ORDINANCES, THE LAWS AND COMMANDS THAT THE LORD GAVE THE DESCENDANTS OF JACOB, WHOM HE NAMED ISRAEL. WHEN THE LORD MADE A COVENANT WITH THE ISRAELITES, HE COMMANDED THEM:"DO NOT WORSHIP ANY OTHER GODS OR BOW DOWN TO THEM, SERVE THEM OR SACRIFICE 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 SACRIFICE. YOU MUST ALWAYS BE CAREFUL TO KEEP THE DECREES AND ORDINANCES, THE LAWS AND COMMANDS HE WROTE FOR YOU. DO NOT WORSHIP OTHER GODS. DO NOT FORGET THE COVENANT I HAVE MADE WITH YOU, AND DO NOT WORSHIP OTHER GODS. RATHER, WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD; IT IS HE WHO WILL DELIVER YOU FROM THE HAND OF ALL YOUR ENEMIES." THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN, HOWEVER, BUT
PERSISTED IN THEIR FORMER PRACTICES. EVEN WHILE THESE PEOPLE WERE WORSHIPING THE LORD, THEY WERE SERVING THEIR IDOLS.
(II KINGS 17)
II KINGS 15:30; 17:1-6
CAPITAL: SHECHEM, THEN TIRZAH, THEN SAMARIA
JEROBOAM I
(SOUTHERN KINGS - REHOBOAM, ABIJAH & ASA)
930 BC (REIGNED 22 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - NEBAT AND MOTHER ZERUAH
DURING HIS CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, SOLOMON NOTICED YOUNG JEROBOAM'S NATURAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND MADE HIM A SPECIAL PROJECT FOREMAN. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, GOD CONTACTED JEROBOAM THROUGH THE PROPHET AHIJAH. HE TOLD JEROBOAM THAT GOD WOULD PUNISH DAVID'S DYNASTY BY TEARING THE KINGDOM FROM SOLOMON'S SON AND THAT JEROBOAM WOULD RULE THE TEN NORTHERN TRIBES. AND GOD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE SAME FATE WOULD DESTROY JEROBOAM'S FAMILY IF THEY REFUSED TO OBEY GOD. APPARENTLY SOLOMON HEARD ABOUT THESE EVENTS AND TRIED TO HAVE JEROBOAM KILLED. THE FUTURE KING ESCAPED TO EGYPT, WHERE HE STAYED UNTIL SOLOMON DIED. WHEN REHOBOAM, SOLOMON'S HEIR TOOK THE THRONE, JEROBOAM RETURNED. HE REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE IN DEMANDING THAT THE NEW KING BE MORE LENIENT THAN HIS FATHER. REHOBOAM'S UNWISE CHOICE TO REJECT HIS PEOPLE'S REQUEST LED TO THEIR REJECTING HIM AS KING. ONLY JUDAH AND THE ANNEXED TRIBE OF BENJAMIN REMAINED LOYAL TO DAVID'S DYNASTY. THE OTHER TEN TRIBES MADE JEROBOAM KING. RATHER THAN SEEING THIS FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S PROMISE AS MOTIVATION TO OBEY GOD, JEROBOAM DECIDED TO DO WHATEVER HE COULD TO SECURE HIS POSITION. HE LED HIS KINGDOM AWAY FROM THE GOD WHO HAD ALLOWED HIM TO REIGN. GOD HAD ALREADY WARNED HIM OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ACTION-HIS FAMILY WAS EVENTUALLY WIPED OUT. AND JEROBOAM SET INTO MOTION EVENTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. HE ERECTED IDOLS IN ISRAEL TO KEEP THE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. HE APPOINTED PRIESTS FROM OUTSIDE THE TRIBE OF LEVI.
I KINGS 11:26-14:34 AND II CHRONICLES 10:12-13:20
NADAB
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
909 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEROBOAM I AND MOTHER (?)
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. BAASHA, SON OF AHIJAH OF THE HOUSE OF ISSACHAR PLOTTED AGAINST HIM, AND HE STRUCK HIM DOWN AT GIBBETHON, A PHILISTINE TOWN, WHILE NADAB AND ALL ISRAEL WERE BESIEGING IT.
I KINGS 15:25-28
BAASHA
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
908 BC (REIGNED 24 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHIJAH, OF THE HOUSE OF ISSACHAR & MOTHER -?
FIRST CHANGE OF BLOOD LINES IN THE NORTHERN KINGDOM.
HE KILLED JEROBOAM'S WHOLE FAMILY, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD GIVEN THROUGH HIS SERVANT AHIJAH THE SHILONITE - BECAUSE OF THE SINS JEROBOAM HAD COMMITTED AND HAD CAUSED ISRAEL TO COMMIT. THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JEHU, SON OF HANANI AGAINST BAASHA, "I LIFTED YOU UP FROM THE DUST AND MADE YOU LEADER OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL, BUT YOU WALKED IN THE WAYS OF JEROBOAM AND CAUSED MY PEOPLE ISRAEL TO SIN AND TO PROVOKE ME TO ANGER BY THEIR SINS. SO I AM ABOUT TO CONSUME BAASHA AND HIS HOUSE, AND I WILL MAKE YOUR HOUSE LIKE THAT OF JEROBOAM SON OF NEBAT. DOGS WILL EAT THOSE BELONGING TO BAASHA WHO DIE IN THE CITY, AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR WILL FEED ON THOSE WHO DIE IN THE COUNTRY.
I KINGS 15:27-16:7 AND II CHRONICLES 16:1-6
ELAH
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
886 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER BAASHA AND MOTHER ?
ZIMRI, ONE OF HIS OFFICIALS, WHO HAD COMMAND OF HALF HIS CHARIOTS, PLOTTED AGAINST HIM. ELAH WAS IN TIRZAH AT THE TIME, GETTING DRUNK IN THE HOME OF ARZA, THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE PALACE AT TIRZAH. ZIMRI CAME IN, STRUCK HIM DOWN AND KILLED HIM. THEN HE SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
I KINGS 16:6-14
ZIMRI
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
885 BC (REIGNED 7 DAYS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER ? AND MOTHER ?
WAS ONE OF ELAH'S OFFICIALS AND HE KILLED ELAH. HE KILLED OFF BAASHA'S WHOLE FAMILY. THE ARMY WAS ENCAMPED NEAR GIBBETHON, A PHILISTINE TOWN. WHEN THE ISRAELITES IN THE CAMP HEARD THAT ZIMRI HAD PLOTTED AGAINST THE KING AND MURDERED HIM, THEY PROCLAIMED OMRI, THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMY, KING OVER ISRAEL THAT VERY DAY THERE IN THE CAMP. THEN OMRI AND ALL THE ISRAELITES WITH HIM WITHDREW FROM GIBBETHON AND LAID SIEGE TO TIRZAH. WHEN ZIMRI SAW THAT THE CITY WAS TAKEN, HE WENT INTO THE CITADEL OF THE ROYAL PALACE AND SET THE PALACE ON FIRE AROUND HIM. SO HE DIED BECAUSE OF THE SINS HE HAD COMMITTED, DOING EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD AND WALKING IN THE WAYS OF JEROBOAM.
I KINGS 16:9-20
TIBNI
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
885 BC (REIGNED ?) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - GINATH AND MOTHER - ?
AFTER ZIMRI'S DEATH, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE SPLIT INTO TWO FACTIONS: HALF SUPPORTED TIBNI AND THE OTHER HALF SUPPORTED OMRI. BUT, OMRI'S FOLLOWERS PROVED STRONGER THAN THOSE OF TIBNI. SO TIBNI DIED AND OMRI BECAME KING
I KINGS 16:21,22
OMRI
(SOUTHERN KING - ASA)
885 BC (REIGNED 12 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
OMRI BEGAN HIS REIGN AS POLITICAL DISSENSION BREWED IN ISRAEL. AFTER ZIMRI KILLED HIMSELF, THE ISRAELITE ARMY CHOSE OMRI, THEIR COMMANDER, AS THE NEXT RULER.. TIBNI, OMRI'S CHIEF RIVAL TO THE THRONE, DIED, AND OMRI THEN BEGAN HIS EVIL REIGN. DURING HIS 12 YEAR RULE OVER ISRAEL, HE WAS A SHREWD AND CAPABLE LEADER. HE ORGANIZED THE BUILDING OF HIS NEW CAPITAL CITY, SAMARIA, WHILE STRENGTHENING THE NATION POLITICALLY AND MILITARILY. BUT HE DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE NATION'S SPIRITUAL CONDITION (MICAH 6:16), AND HE PURPOSELY LED ISRAEL FARTHER FROM GOD IN ORDER TO PUT MORE POWER IN HIS OWN HANDS. OMRI'S NEW CAPITAL, SAMARIA, OFFERED SOME POLITICAL ADVANTAGES. THE CITY WAS HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY, SO HE HAD TOTAL CONTROL OVER IT. SAMARIA ALSO COMMANDED A HILLTOP POSITION, WHICH MADE IT EASY TO DEFEND. OMRI DIED BEFORE COMPLETING THE CITY. SO HIS SON, AHAB, COMPLETED IN BUILDING NOT ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL IVORY PALACE, BUT ALSO A TEMPLE TO THE GOD BAAL. SAMARIA SERVED AS THE CAPITAL CITY FOR THE REST OF ISRAEL'S DYNASTIES UNTIL IT FELL TO THE ASSYRIANS IN 722 BC.
I KINGS 16:16-28
AHAB
(SOUTHERN KINGS - ASA AND JEHOSHAPHAT)
874 BC (REIGNED 22 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - OMRI AND MOTHER - ?
AHAB DID MORE EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD THAN ANY OF THOSE BEFORE HIM. HE MARRIED JEZEBEL, WHO CAME FROM THE PHOENICIAN CITY OF TYRE, WHERE HER FATHER HAD BEEN A HIGH PRIEST AND EVENTUALLY KING. JEZEBEL WORSHIPED THE GOD BAAL. IN ORDER TO PLEASE HER, AHAB BUILT A TEMPLE AND AN ALTAR FOR BAAL, THUS PROMOTING IDOLATRY AND LEADING THE ENTIRE NATION INTO SIN. IN AHAB'S TIME, HIEL OF BETHEL REBUILT JERICHO. HE LAID ITS FOUNDATIONS AT THE COST OF HIS FIRSTBORN SON ABIRAM, AND HE SET UP ITS GATES AT THE COST OF HIS YOUNGEST SON SEGUB, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORD OF THE LORD SPOKEN BY JOSHUA, SON OF NUN.(JOSHUA 6:26). AHAB'S DAUGHTER ATHALIAH MARRIED JEHOSHAPHAT'S SON, JEHORAM. WAS KILLED IN BATTLE BY A PREDICTED RANDOM ARROW SHOT BY ONE OF THE SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF ARAM. AHAB AND JEHOSHAPHAT WENT TO BATTLE AGAINST THE KING OF ARAM. AHAB WAS DISGUISED AND NOT IN HIS KINGLY ROBES. HE PROPPED HIMSELF UP IN HIS CHARIOT FACING THE ARAMEANS UNTIL EVENING AND THEN AT SUNSET, HE DIED. ELIJAH PREDICTED AHAB'S DEATH AND JEZEBEL'S DEATH. HE PREDICTED THAT THE DOGS WOULD LICK UP THEIR BLOOD. THIS PREDICTION CAME TRUE. ELIJAH ALSO PREDICTED THAT AHAB'S DESCENDANTS WOULD BE WIPED OUT. AHAB HUMBLED HIMSELF BEFORE GOD AND THE LORD REDUCED HIS PUNISHMENT, BY NOT HAVING HIS DESCENDANTS WIPED OUT DURING HIS LIFETIME.
I KINGS 16:28-22:40 AND II CHRONICLES 18:1-34
AHAZIAH
(SOUTHERN KING - JEHORAM)
853 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAB AND MOTHER - JEZEBEL
AFTER AHAB'S DEATH, MOAB REBELLED AGAINST ISRAEL. NOW AHAZIAH HAD FALLEN THROUGH THE LATTICE OF HIS UPPER ROOM IN SAMARIA AND INJURED HIMSELF. SO HE SENT MESSENGERS, SAYING TO THEM, "GO AND CONSULT BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON, TO SEE IF I WILL RECOVER FROM THIS INJURY." BUT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID TO ELIJAH, THE TISHBITE, "GO UP AND MEET THE MESSENGERS OF THE KING OF SAMARIA AND ASK THEM, "IS IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOD IN ISRAEL THAT YOU ARE GOING OFF TO CONSULT BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON?" THEREFORE THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS, "YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THE BED YOU ARE LYING ON. YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE!", SO ELIJAH WENT. THE KING SENT A COMPANY OF 50 MEN TO GET ELIJAH TO COME SEE THE KING. ELIJAH HAD FIRE CONSUME 2 SETS OF 50 MEN THAT THE KING HAD SENT. THE THIRD COMPANY OF 50 MEN HUMBLED THEMSELVES BEFORE ELIJAH. ELIJAH WENT WITH THEM TO THE KING AND AHAZIAH DIED JUST AS ELIJAH HAD SPOKEN FROM THE LORD. BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER JORAM SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
MADE AN ALLIANCE WITH JEHOSHAPHAT AND BUILT SHIPS. ALL THE SHIPS SANK.
I KINGS 22:40-II KINGS 1:18 AND II CHRONICLES 20:35-37
JORAM
(SOUTHERN KINGS - JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH)
852 BC (REIGNED 12 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - AHAB AND MOTHER - JEZEBEL
HE GOT RID OF THE SACRED STONE OF BAAL THAT HIS FATHER HAD MADE. NEVERTHELESS HE CLUNG TO THE SINS OF JEROBOAM, SON OF NEBAT. HE DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THEM. HE WENT TO WAR WITH HIS NEPHEW, KING AHAZIAH, AGAINST HAZAEL, KING OF ARAM. HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE BATTLE AND HE WENT TO JEZREEL TO RECOVER FROM HIS WOUNDS. AHAZIAH CAME TO VISIT HIM. JEHU KILLED JORAM AND AHAZIAH AND JEZEBEL THAT DAY AND JEHU BECAME THE NEW KING OF ISRAEL.
II KINGS 3:1-8:25 AND II CHRONICLES 22:5-7
JEHU
(SOUTHERN KING - QUEEN ATHLIAH, AND JOASH)
841 BC (REIGNED 28 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
(BREAK IN BLOOD LINE)
JEHU ORDERED HIS ADMINISTRATORS TO KILL THE FAMILY OF AHAB. they TOOK THE PRINCES AND SLAUGHTERED ALL SEVENTY OF THEM. THEY PUT THEIR HEADS IN BASKETS AND SENT THEM TO JEHU IN JEZREEL. THEY PUT THEM IN TWO PILES AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CITY GATE UNTIL MORNING. JEHU KILLED EVERYONE IN JEZREEL WHO REMAINED OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB, AS WELL AS ALL HIS CHIEF MEN, HIS CLOSE FRIENDS AND HIS PRIESTS, LEAVING HIM NO SURVIVOR. HE DECEIVED EVERYONE BY TELLING THEM THEY WERE TO HAVE A GREAT SACRIFICE FOR BAAL. WHEN THEY CAME, JEHU HAD EVERYONE KILLED THAT WORSHIPED BAAL. JEHU DESTROYED BAAL WORSHIP IN ISRAEL, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE SINS OF JEROBOAM, SON OF NEBAT, WHICH HE HAD CAUSED ISRAEL TO COMMIT--THE WORSHIP OF THE GOLDEN CALVES AT BETHEL AND DAN. THE LORD SAID TO JEHU, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE WELL IN ACCOMPLISHING WHAT IS RIGHT IN MY EYES AND HAVE DONE TO THE HOUSE OF AHAB ALL I HAD IN MIND TO DO, YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL SIT ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL TO THE FOURTH GENERATION." YET, JEHU WAS NOT CAREFUL TO KEEP THE LAW OF THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WITH ALL HIS HEART.
II KINGS 9:1-10:36 AND II CHRONICLES 22:7-12
JEHOAHAZ
(SOUTHERN KING- JOASH)
814 BC (REIGNED 17 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHU AND MOTHER - ?
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. 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. 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. 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. BUT THEY DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE SINS OF THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM. THE ASHERAH POLE ALSO REMAINED STANDING IN SAMARIA. THE LORD HEARD JEHOAHAZ'S PRAYER FOR HELP. GOD DELAYED HIS JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL WHEN THEY TURNED TO HIM FOR HELP, BUT THEY DID NOT SUSTAIN THEIR DEPENDENCE ON GOD FOR LONG. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE PERIODIC BREAKS IN THEIR IDOL WORSHIP, THERE WAS RARELY EVIDENCE OF GENUINE FAITH. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY NO TO SIN; WE MUST ALSO SAY YES TO A LIFE OF COMMITMENT TO GOD. AN OCCASIONAL CALL FOR HELP IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A DAILY LIFE OF TRUST IN GOD. 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.
II KINGS 13:1-9
JEHOASH
(SOUTHERN KINGS - JOASH & AMAZIAH)
798 BC (REIGNED 16 YEARS) (? AGE WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHOAHAZ - MOTHER - ?
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD AND DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM ANY OF THE SINS OF JEROBOAM, SON OF NEBAT. KING AMAZIAH OF JUDAH SENT A MESSAGE TO JEHOASH WITH A CHALLENGE: "COME MEET ME FACE TO FACE." JEHOASH SENT HIM THIS MESSAGE BACK: "A THISTLE IN LEBANON SENT A MESSAGE TO A CEDAR IN LEBANON. "GIVE YOUR DAUGHTER TO MY SON IN MARRIAGE." THE 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? 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.
II KINGS 13:10-14:16 AND II CHRONICLES 25:17-24
JEROBOAM II
(SOUTHERN KING - AMAZIAH & AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
793 BC (REIGNED 41 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEHOASH AND MOTHER - ?
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. HE WAS THE ONE WHO RESTORED THE BOUNDARIES OF ISRAEL FROM LEBO HAMATH TO THE SEA OF 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. JEROBOAM II HAD NO DEVOTION TO GOD, YET UNDER HIS WARLIKE POLICIES AND SKILLFUL ADMINISTRATION ISRAEL ENJOYED MORE NATIONAL POWER AND MATERIAL PROSPERITY THAN AT ANY TIME SINCE THE DAYS OF SOLOMON. THE PROPHETS AMOS AND HOSEA, HOWEVER TELL US WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING WHEN THE KINGDOM (HOSEA 13:4-8; AMOS 6:11-14). JEROBOAM'S ADMINISTRATION IGNORED POLICIES OF JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS. AS A RESULT, THE RICH BECAME RICHER, AND THE POOR, POORER. THE PEOPLE BECAME SELF-CENTERED, RELYING MORE ON THEIR POWER, SECURITY, AND POSSESSIONS THAN ON GOD. THE POOR WERE SO OPPRESSED THAT IT WAS HARD FOR THEM TO BELIEVE GOD NOTICED THEIR PLIGHT. MATERIAL PROSPERITY IS NOT ALWAYS AN INDICATION OF GOD'S BLESSING.
II KINGS 14:16-29
ZECHARIAH
(SOUTHERN KING - AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
753 BC (REIGNED 6 MONTHS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - JEROBOAM II AND MOTHER - ?
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. SHALLUM, SON OF JABESH CONSPIRED AGAINST ZECHARIAH. HE ATTACKED HIM IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE, ASSASSINATED HIM AND SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING. SO THE WORD OF THE LORD SPOKEN TO JEHU WAS FULFILLED, "YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL SIT ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL TO THE 4TH GENERATION
II KINGS 14:29-15:11
SHALLUM
(SOUTHERN KING - AZARIAH (UZZIAH)
752 BC (REIGNED 1 MONTH) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
CHANGE OF BLOOD LINES
FATHER - JABESH AND MOTHER - ?
MENAHEM, SON OF GADI WENT FROM TIRZAH UP TO SAMARIA. HE ATTACKED SHALLUM, ASSASSINATED HIM AND SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING
II KINGS 15:10-15
MENAHEM
(SOUTHERN KINGS - AZARIAH (UZZIAH) AND JOTHAM)
752 BC (REIGNED 10 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - GADI AND MOTHER - ?
CHANGED BLOOD LINES
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. AT THE TIME HE ASSASSINATED KING SHALLUM, 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. ANCIENT HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS SAY THAT MENAHEM WAS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF JEROBOAM'S ARMY. AFTER JEROBOAM'S SON WAS ASSASSINATED, MENAHEM PROBABLY SAW HIMSELF AND NOT SHALLUM AS THE RIGHTFUL SUCCESSOR TO ISRAEL'S THRONE. HE TOOK MONEY FROM HIS PEOPLE AND PAID OFF THE KING OF ASSYRIA
II KINGS 15:14-22
PEKAHIAH
(SOUTHERN KING - JOTHAM)
742 BC (REIGNED 2 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - MENAHEM AND MOTHER - ?
DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. ONE OF HIS CHIEF OFFICERS, PEKAH, SON OF REMALIAH CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM. TAKING 50 MEN OF GILEAD WITH HIM, HE ASSASSINATED PEKAHIAH, ALONG WITH ARGOB, AND ARIEH, IN THE CITADEL OF THE ROYAL PALACE AT SAMARIA. PEKAH SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
II KINGS 15:22-26
PEKAH
(SOUTHERN KING - JOTHAM AND AHAZ)
740 BC (REIGNED 8 YEARS) (?YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - REMALIAH AND MOTHER - ?
CHANGE OF BLOOD LINES
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. TIGLATH-PILESER, KING OF ASSYRIA CAME AND TOOK IJON, ABEL BETH MAACAH, JANOAH, KEDESH AND HAZOR. HE TOOK GILEAD AND GALILEE, INCLUDING THE LAND OF NEPHTALI AND DEPORTED THE PEOPLE TO ASSYRIA. THEN HOSHEA, SON OF ELAH ATTACKED AND ASSASSINATED HIM AND SUCCEEDED HIM AS KING.
II KINGS 15:25-31 AND II CHRONICLES 28:5-8
HOSHEA
(SOUTHERN KING - AHAZ)
732 BC (REIGNED 9 YEARS) (? YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING)
FATHER - ELAH AND MOTHER - ?
CHANGE OF BLOODLINES
HE DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. SHALMANESER KING OF ASSYRIA CAME UP TO ATTACK HOSHEA, WHO HAD BEEN SHALMANESER'S VASSAL AND HAD PAID HIM TRIBUTE. BUT THE KING OF ASSYRIA DISCOVERED THAT HOSHEA WAS A TRAITOR, FOR HE HAD SENT ENVOYS TO SO KING OF EGYPT, AND HE NO LONGER PAID TRIBUTE TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA, AS HE HAD DONE YEAR BY YEAR. THEREFORE SHALMANESER SEIZED HIM AND PUT HIM IN PRISON. THE KING OF ASSYRIA INVADED THE ENTIRE LAND, MARCHED AGAINST SAMARIA AND LAID SIEGE TO IT FOR 3 YEARS. IN THE NINTH YEAR OF HOSHEA, THE KING OF ASSYRIA CAPTURED SAMARIA AND DEPORTED THE ISRAELITES TO ASSYRIA. HE SETTLED THEM IN HALAH, IN GOZAN ON THE HABOR RIVER AND IN THE TOWNS OF THE MEDES. ALL THIS TOOK PLACE BECAUSE THE ISRAELITES HAD SINNED AGAINST THE LORD THEIR GOD, WHO HAD BROUGHT THEM UP OUT OF EGYPT FROM UNDER THE POWER OF PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT. THEY WORSHIPED OTHER GODS AND FOLLOWED THE PRACTICES OF THE NATIONS THE LORD HAD DRIVEN OUT BEFORE THEM, AS WELL AS THE PRACTICES THAT THE KINGS OF ISRAEL HAD INTRODUCED. THE ISRAELITES SECRETLY DID THINGS AGAINST THE LORD THEIR GOD THAT WERE NOT RIGHT. FROM WATCHTOWER TO FORTIFIED CITY THEY BUILT THEMSELVES HIGH PLACES IN ALL THEIR TOWNS. THEY SET UP SACRED STONES AND ASHERAH POLES ON EVERY HIGH HILL AND UNDER EVERY SPREADING TREE. AT EVERY HIGH PLACE THEY BURNED INCENSE, AS THE NATIONS WHOM THE LORD HAD DRIVEN OUT BEFORE THEM HAD DONE. THEY DID WICKED THINGS THAT PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER. THEY WORSHIPED IDOLS, THOUGH THE LORD HAD SAID, "YOU SHALL NOT DO THIS." 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 THAT I COMMANDED YOUR FATHERS TO OBEY AND THAT I DELIVERED TO YOU THROUGH MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS. BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN AND WERE AS STIFF-NECKED AS THEIR FATHERS, WHO DID NOT TRUST IN THE LORD THEIR GOD. THEY REJECTED HIS DECREES AND THE COVENANT HE HAD MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS AND THE WARNINGS HE HAD GIVEN THEM. THEY FOLLOWED WORTHLESS IDOLS AND THEMSELVES BECAME WORTHLESS. THEY IMITATED THE NATIONS AROUND THEM ALTHOUGH THE LORD HAD ORDERED THEM, "DO NOT DO AS THEY DO," AND THEY DID THE THINGS THE LORD HAD FORBIDDEN THEM TO DO. THEY FORSOOK ALL THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD THEIR GOD AND MADE FOR THEMSELVES TWO IDOLS CAST IN THE SHAPE OF CALVES, AND AN ASHERAH POLE. THEY BOWED DOWN TO ALL THE STARRY HOSTS, AND THEY WORSHIPED BAAL. THEY SACRIFICED THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN THE FIRE. THEY PRACTICED DIVINATION AND SORCERY AND SOLD THEMSELVES TO DO EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, PROVOKING HIM TO ANGER. SO THE LORD WAS VERY ANGRY WITH ISRAEL AND REMOVED THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE. ONLY THE TRIBE OF JUDAH WAS LEFT AND EVEN JUDAH DID NOT KEEP THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD THEIR GOD.
THEY FOLLOWED THE PRACTICES ISRAEL HAD INTRODUCED. THEREFORE THE LORD REJECTED ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, HE AFFLICTED THEM AND GAVE THEM INTO THE HANDS OF PLUNDERERS UNTIL HE THRUST THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE. WHEN HE TORE ISRAEL AWAY FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID, THEY MADE JEROBOAM SON OF NEBAT THEIR KING. JEROBOAM ENTICED ISRAEL AWAY FROM FOLLOWING THE LORD AND CAUSED THEM TO COMMIT A GREAT SIN. THE ISRAELITES PERSISTED IN ALL THE SINS OF JEROBOAM AND DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THEM UNTIL THE LORD REMOVED THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE, AS HE HAD WARNED THROUGH ALL HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS. SO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMELAND INTO EXILE IN ASSYRIA. THE KING OF ASSYRIA BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM BABYLON, CUTHAH, AVVA, HAMATH AND SEPHARVAIM AND SETTLED THEM IN THE TOWNS OF SAMARIA TO REPLACE THE ISRAELITES. THEY TOOK OVER SAMARIA AND LIVED IN ITS TOWNS. WHEN THEY FIRST LIVED THERE, THEY DID NOT WORSHIP THE LORD; SO HE SENT LIONS AMONG THEM AND THEY KILLED SOME OF THE PEOPLE. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA. "THE PEOPLE YOU DEPORTED AND RESETTLED IN THE TOWNS OF SAMARIA DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE GOD OF THAT COUNTRY REQUIRES. HE HAS SENT LIONS AMONG THEM, WHICH ARE KILLING THEM OFF, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HE REQUIRES. THEN THE KING OF ASSYRIA GAVE THIS ORDER; "HAVE ONE OF THE PRIESTS YOU TOOK CAPTIVE FROM SAMARIA GO BACK TO LIVE THERE AND TEACH THE PEOPLE WHAT THE GOD OF THE LAND REQUIRES. " SO ONE OF THE PRIESTS WHO HAD BEEN EXILED FROM SAMARIA CAME TO LIVE IN BETHEL AND TAUGHT THEM HOW TO WORSHIP THE LORD. NEVERTHELESS, EACH NATIONAL GROUP MADE ITS OWN GODS IN THE SEVERAL TOWNS WHERE THEY SETTLED, AND SET THEM UP IN THE SHRINES THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA HAD MADE AT THE HIGH PLACES. THE MEN FROM BABYLON MADE SUCCOTH BENOTH, THE MEN FROM CUTHAH MADE NERGAL, AND THE MEN FROM HAMATH MADE ASHIMA, THE AVVITES MADE NIBHAZ AND TARTAK, AND SEPHARVITES BURNED THEIR CHILDREN IN THE FIRE AS SACRIFICES TO ADRAMMELECH AND ANAMMELECH, THE GODS OF SEPHARVAIM. THEY WORSHIPED THE LORD, BUT THEY ALSO APPOINTED ALL SORTS OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE TO OFFICIATE FOR THEM AS PRIESTS IN THE SHRINES AT THE HIGH PLACES. THEY WORSHIPED THE LORD, BUT THEY ALSO SERVED THEIR OWN GODS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CUSTOMS OF THE NATIONS FROM WHICH THEY HAD BEEN BROUGHT. TO THIS DAY THEY PERSIST IN THEIR FORMER PRACTICES. THEY NEITHER WORSHIP THE LORD NOR ADHERE TO THE DECREES AND ORDINANCES, THE LAWS AND COMMANDS THAT THE LORD GAVE THE DESCENDANTS OF JACOB, WHOM HE NAMED ISRAEL. WHEN THE LORD MADE A COVENANT WITH THE ISRAELITES, HE COMMANDED THEM:"DO NOT WORSHIP ANY OTHER GODS OR BOW DOWN TO THEM, SERVE THEM OR SACRIFICE 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 SACRIFICE. YOU MUST ALWAYS BE CAREFUL TO KEEP THE DECREES AND ORDINANCES, THE LAWS AND COMMANDS HE WROTE FOR YOU. DO NOT WORSHIP OTHER GODS. DO NOT FORGET THE COVENANT I HAVE MADE WITH YOU, AND DO NOT WORSHIP OTHER GODS. RATHER, WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD; IT IS HE WHO WILL DELIVER YOU FROM THE HAND OF ALL YOUR ENEMIES." THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN, HOWEVER, BUT
PERSISTED IN THEIR FORMER PRACTICES. EVEN WHILE THESE PEOPLE WERE WORSHIPING THE LORD, THEY WERE SERVING THEIR IDOLS.
(II KINGS 17)
II KINGS 15:30; 17:1-6
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