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
