DATES 597-586 DURATION 11 YEARS SCRIPTURE 2 KINGS 24:17—25:30;
1. He was the youngest son of Josiah and uncle to Jehoiachin.
2. Jeremiah was persecuted during his reign.
3. He rebelled against Babylon along with Egypt.
4. He was captured, blinded, and carried off into Babylonian captivity by Nebuchadnezzar.
5. Jerusalem was burned
T. Zedekiah (2 Ki. 24:17—25:30; 2 Chron. 36:11-21).
1. He was the youngest son of Josiah.
2. He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. For this he was blinded and carried off as a captive to Babylon.
3. He ruled for eleven years (597-586 b.c.).
The Spotlight, Rifle Approach:
The Chaotic Kingdom Stage can be best summarized by examining in some detail the lives of twenty individuals. This number does not include the writing prophets such as Jonah, whose life will be considered along with his book. Of the twenty, six are northern rulers, twelve are southern rulers, and two are prophets. These are: Jeroboam, Omri, Ahab, Jehu, Jeroboam II, Hoshea (northern), Rehoboam, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Athaliah, Joash, Uzziah, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah (southern), Elijah and Elisha (prophets).
The important northern rulers:
A. Jeroboam (first king). He began in 930 b.c. and ruled for twenty-two years.
To properly consider the reign of Jeroboam, it is necessary to know something of the circumstances which put him into power. It all began with Solomon's arrogant young son named Rehoboam.
1. Rehoboam comes to Shechem to be crowned king over all Israel (1 Ki. 12:1; 2 Chron. 10:1).
2. He is issued an ultimatum by a delegation led by Jeroboam (who had returned from Egyptian exile after Solomon's death) which stated simply that the people demanded a better life under him than they had known under Solomon (1 Ki. 12:3, 4; 2 Chron. 10:2-4).
3. Rehoboam asks for a three-day recess to consider their demands. During this period he consults with his arrogant young friends and, favoring their advice over the older and wiser men, retorts to waiting Israel at the end of the three-day period:
"My Father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my Father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" (1 Ki. 12:14).
4. Upon hearing this, ten of the twelve tribes heed Jeroboam's cry to strike their tents, and Israel's sorrowful secession story has begun (1 Ki. 12:16).
5. Rehoboam's tax collector is stoned to death and the frightened king runs for his life to Jerusalem (12:21, 22). (Rehoboam would continually disobey this command throughout his reign; see 1 Ki. 15:6.)
6. Jeroboam, the new leader of the ten-tribe confederation, is immediately faced with a serious threat. Three times a year, as commanded by God (see Lev. 23; Ex. 23:17), the entire nation is to go to Jerusalem and worship God. Jeroboam knows the priests will doubtless use these opportunities to bring all Israel back into the fold of Rehoboam. Jeroboam therefore attempts to resolve all this by adopting a fourfold plan.
a. He changes the religious symbols of Israel. Instead of the two golden cherubims above the ark, he substitutes two golden calves. Here he could point to the action of the first high priest Aaron for a historical example. (In fact, he stole Aaron's text in introducing these calves to Israel. Compare Ex. 32:4 with 1 Ki. 12:28.)
b. He changes the religious worship center from Jerusalem to Bethel and Dan. This is in direct disobedience to God's clear command to him. (See 1 Ki. 11:36.)
c. He degrades the Levitical priesthood, by making "priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi" (12:31). Because of this, the vast majority of priests and Levites flee southward to Judah, leaving behind them a situation of near-total apostasy. (See 2 Chron. 11:13-17.) (This explains the tragic fact that not one of the nineteen Israelite kings beginning with Jeroboam and ending with Hoshea—over a period of approximately 210 years—turned his heart and kingdom to God!)
d. He changes the religious calendar, from October to November. According to Leviticus 23, Israel was to observe six main yearly feasts, beginning in April and ending in October. These six feasts, three of which would fall in October, foreshadowed the Cross (unleavened bread), the resurrection (firstfruits), Pentecost (feast of fifty days), the rapture (feast of trumpets), the tribulation (day of atonement), and the millennium (feast of tabernacles). It is evident, however, that Jeroboam has little use for any of this, for we are told that he devises this November feast after his own heart. (See 12:33.)
7. Jeroboam visits the altar in Bethel to bum incense. He now becomes the second of three Israelite kings who dared to take upon themselves the office of a priest also. All three were severely punished. The other two were:
a. Saul (1 Sam. 13:9-14)
b. Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:16-21)
8. For his idolatry, Jeroboam is prophesied against and punished by a man of God.
a. The prophecy. That years later a king of Judah named Josiah would totally destroy Jeroboam's false religion, even burning the bones of his dead priests upon the very altar where Jeroboam stood sacrificing. This amazing prophecy was fulfilled exactly some 300 years later. (Compare 1 Ki. 13:2 with 2 Ki. 23:15, 16.)
b. The punishment. Jeroboam's altar was destroyed and his arm was paralyzed, both supernaturally from God (1 Ki. 13:3-6). The prophet then prayed and the king's hand was restored.
9. On his route home, the prophet foolishly heeds the words of a lying old prophet from Bethel, and thus forfeits his life for disobeying God.
~ THE CHAOTIC KINGDOM STAGE ~
a. God had told him to return home immediately.
b. The old Bethel prophet told him God had changed his mind and desired him to stay and eat in Bethel.
c. When he finally left for home he was attacked and killed by a lion.
10. Soon after this sad event, Jeroboam's son, Abijah, becomes very ill. Ahijah the prophet sadly relates God's message to Jeroboam's wife (who had attempted to disguise herself), which is that because of his extreme wickedness he will suffer terrible judgment (14:10-14). All this, of course, did take place. The child soon died (14:17) and a few years later Nadab, Jeroboam's son who succeeded him, was murdered along with all his relatives by a rebel named Baasha, who took over his throne (15:29). At this time God also issued the first chilling warning of the future Assyrian captivity, which occurred some 200 years later (14:15).
11. God strikes Jeroboam with a plague and he dies, after a wicked reign of twenty-two years. No less than twenty-one times it is recorded that he "made Israel to sin." He is succeeded by his son Nadab (1 Ki. 14:20; 2 Chron. 13:20). Nadab was murdered by a rebel named Baasha, after a reign of only two years. He thus became the first of six northern kings to be assassinated. These are: (2) Elah, (3) Jehoram, (4) Zechariah, (5) Shallum, and (6) Pekahiah. In killing him and his relatives, Baasha unknowingly fulfills the prophecy given to Jeroboam's wife by Ahijah the prophet. (Compare 1 Ki. 14:14 with 15:29.)
B. Omri (sixth king).
1. He began in 885 b.c. and reigned for twelve years.
2. Omri made the city of Samaria the new northern capital (1 Ki. 16:24).
3. He was the most wicked king of the north up to that time (16:25).
C. Ahab (seventh king).
1. He began in 874 and reigned for twenty-two years.
2. Ahab marries Jezebel and builds a temple to Baal in Samaria (1 Ki. 16:31, 32).
3. He was more wicked than his father Omri (16:33). (See also 21:25, 26.)
4. At the beginning of his reign a 500-year-old prophecy is fulfilled concerning the rebuilding of Jericho (16:34; compare with Josh. 6:26).
5. He is confronted by Elijah and warned that, due to his sin and Israel's wickedness, a three-and-a-half-year famine will occur (1 Ki. 17:1; Jas. 5:17).
6. Ahab sees his priests of Baal defeated and destroyed by Elijah on Mt. Carmel (18:40).
7. He is allowed by God to defeat the arrogant Syrians on two occasions to prove a point, the point being that Jehovah is Lord over all (20:23, 28).
At this time King Ben-hadad of Syria declares war on Ahab, who at first attempts to
appease with a bribe to the greedy Syrian Monarch, but when this fails, Ahab is determined to fight (1 Ki. 20:1-11). A nameless prophet (perhaps Elijah) reassures Ahab of victory over the Syrians, which victory soon takes place (20:13-19). After their defeat, the Syrians conclude it was due to a geographical factor, as the battle had taken place on hilly ground, thus giving the Israeli troops a tremendous advantage. The Syrians believed that the God of Israel was a hill God. Plans were then made to fight again, but this time they would meet Israel on the plains. They could not have been more mistaken. Israel's God is indeed the God of the hills, but he is also:
a. the God of the valley (Ex. 17:8-13; 1 Sam.
17:3, 49)
b. the God of the mountain (1 Ki. 18:19, 40)
c. the God of the plain (Jdg. 11:33)
d. the God of the water (Ex. 14:27, 28)
e. the God of the fire (Dan. 3:19-26)
The Syrians attack and are again soundly defeated, losing 127,000 infantrymen. The victorious Ahab disobeys God's command and spares Ben-hadad's life (as Saul had once done with Agag, 1 Sam. 15:31-33). The prophet of God then announces that because Ahab has done this, the Lord will require his life for Ben-hadad's life (1 Ki. 20:32-43). This will happen some three years later (see 1 Ki. 22:29-37).
8. Ahab attempts unsuccessfully to purchase a choice vineyard near his palace owned by a man from Jezreel named Naboth. Years back Samuel had warned against land grabbing by Israel's kings. (See 1 Sam. 8:14.) Even had Naboth wanted to sell his vineyard, the Le- vitical law would have forbidden him. (See Lev. 25:23; Num. 36:7; Ezek. 46:18.)
Ahab returns home in a sullen mood. Jezebel is told of Naboth's refusal and informs her pouting potentate to cheer up, as he will soon possess that vineyard. She then writes letters in Ahab's name, seals them with his seal, and addresses them to the civic leaders of Jezreel where Naboth lives. She commands them to call the citizens together for prayer and fasting. They are then to summon Naboth and pay two lying witnesses to accuse him of cursing God and the king. He then is to be taken out and murdered. This horrible order is carried out to the letter (1 Ki. 21:4-14). His sons are also stoned. (See 2 Ki. 9:26.) Wicked Jezebel, herself a rabid worshiper of Baal, now cleverly appeals to the Mosaic law in obtaining two witnesses against the accused (Lev. 24:17).
This mock trial would have its ultimate counterpart some nine centuries later on an early Friday morning in April as the mighty Creator is judged by his miserable creatures. (See Mt. 26:59-68.) Jezebel is told the news, and Ahab gleefully goes down to the vineyard to claim it (1 Ki. 21:15, 16). God now orders Elijah to confront Ahab in Naboth's
vineyard and pronounces heaven's curse upon him and his household. An angry and doubtless fearful Ahab then hears Elijah's stern words of judgment (21:19, 21-24). All this literally came true.
a. The dogs did lick Ahab's blood, as they had done with Naboth's blood (1 Ki. 22:38).
b. His descendants were destroyed. Ahazi- ah, his oldest son, died in a fall (2 Ki. 1:17), and Jehoram, his youngest son, was murdered by Jehu (2 Ki. 9:24), and his body thrown in the same field where Naboth was buried.
c. His wicked wife Jezebel was eaten by the wild dogs of Jezreel (2 Ki. 9:30-36).
Upon hearing these terrible prophecies, Ahab humbles himself, and God spares him from at least seeing his sons killed. But his repentance is only temporary and shallow (1 Ki. 21:27-29).
9. At this time Ahab desires the reigning Judean monarch of the southern kingdom (whose name was Hezekiah) to join with him in fighting against Syrian king Ben-hadad, who has betrayed a three-year convenant (1 Ki. 22:1), and is still stationing Syrian troops at Ramoth-gilead. Had Ahab executed him as God had commanded some time back, this serious situation would not have arisen. Je- hoshaphat had nothing materially to gain, and much morally to lose. His response is tragic:
"I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses" (1 Ki. 22:4). Jehoshaphat evidently has second thoughts concerning this alliance right away, for he desires Ahab to, "Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today" (2 Chron. 18:4).
Ahab immediately summons 400 prophets, all of which were in his pay, and each possessing a spineless back and a lying tongue. They arrive and, to a man, loudly predict victory (2 Chron. 18:5, 6). These were the kind of men Jeremiah would later speak about. (See Jer. 23:21.) Jehoshaphat, still bothered with doubts, asks if there is any other prophet around. Ahab bitterly relates that, yes, "There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (1 Ki. 22:8). Perhaps the greatest compliment that could be paid to Micaiah is that he was hated by Ahab. The wicked king hated this prophet the way a foolish man might despise the doctor who told him he had cancer!
At the gentle urging of the southern king, Ahab reluctantly sends for the imprisoned Micaiah, but privately instructs the messenger to warn his prison prophet not to contradict the majority report. Micaiah listens to the message and retorts: "As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak" (1 Ki. 22:14).
As the two kings await the arrival of Micaiah, Zedekiah, the puppy-dog prophet spokesman for the rest, performs a few little tricks for his master Ahab. He grabs some horns and prances around, attempting to demonstrate Ahab's victory over the Syrians. He may have learned this little act by taking Deuteronomy 33:17 completely out of context. Finally Micaiah stands before Ahab, and no doubt with a twinkle in his eye, and with sarcasm in his voice, imitates the other prophets: "Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king" (1 Ki. 22:15). The dripping sarcasm must have been painfully evident to both, for Ahab turns livid with rage and screams out: "How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?" (22:16). Ahab wanted this about as much as a guilty criminal desires to hear the judge pronounce sentence upon him. The words were doubtless said to impress Jehoshaphat.
The twinkle from Micaiah's eye suddenly disappears and the scorn turns to sobering words of judgment as he says: "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said. These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace" (22:17).
Upon hearing this, Ahab explodes again, saying to Jehoshaphat: "Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?" (22:18).
Micaiah continues however, but stating that God has allowed a lying spirit to deceive Ahab's prophets, in order to kill the wicked king in battle. As he finishes this true prophecy, he is slapped by Zedekiah, Ahab's house pet. This stinging insult would later be experienced by both our Lord (Jn. 18:22) and the Apostle Paul (Acts 23:2). Ahab orders Micaiah back to prison and puts him on a diet of bread and water until he returns home safely from the battle. As he leaves, Micaiah states that if indeed Ahab returns safely, it will mean God has not spoken through him (1 Ki. 22:28).
10. Ahab and Jehoshaphat hurriedly proceed to Ramoth-gilead. On the eve of the battle, Ahab suggests that Jehoshaphat wear his royal robes, but that he, Ahab, put on the garment of an infantry soldier. The southern king agrees. Sometimes, it would seem, Jehoshaphat can be downright stupid (1 Ki. 22:29, 30).
Jehoshaphat is immediately spotted in battle and mistaken by the Syrians for Ahab. The foolish and frightened Judean king cries out to God for deliverance, and is unharmed by the Syrians when they realize he is not Ahab (1 Ki. 22:31-33; 2 Chron. 18:30-32). One of the Syrian soldiers, however, shoots an arrow haphazardly into the air at the Israeli troops and it strikes the disguised Ahab at the openings where the lower armor and
~ the chaotic kingdom stage
the breastplate meet. The wound is a mortal one. At his gasping order, Ahab is propped up in his chariot and hurriedly driven home. Just as the sun sinks in the western skies, he dies (1 Ki. 22:34-37; 2 Chron. 18:33, 34). Ahab is buried in Samaria and his blood- caked chariot is taken down to be cleaned at a nearby pool, where it is licked by the dogs, just as Elijah predicted (1 Ki. 22:38, 39). Ahab is succeeded by his oldest son, Ahaziah, who continues in the evil ways of his father (1 Ki. 22:52, 53).
D. Jehu (tenth king).
1. He began in 841 b.c. and reigned for twenty- eight years.
2. Elijah had been commanded to anoint Jehu as king (1 Ki. 19:16), but for some reason had not done so. Therefore, Elisha anoints him, using the services of a young preacher boy (2 Ki. 9:1).
3. Jehu becomes notorious for his chariot riding (9:20) and bloodletting. He would execute:
a. the Judean king, Ahaziah, grandson of Je- hoshaphat (9:27)
b. the northern king, Jehoram, who was in power at the time (9:24)
c. Jezebel (9:30-37)
d. Ahab's seventy sons (10:1, 11)
e. forty-two royal princes of Judah (10:14)
f. the Baal worshipers (10:25)
God orders him to execute the dynasty of Ahab, including Jezebel, whom the dogs would later eat (2 Ki. 9:1-10), but does not sanction these other assassinations. Let us now consider his bloody activities in brief manner.
Upon being anointed, Jehu mounts his chariot and drives furiously toward Jezebel to execute King Jehoram, Ahab's youngest son, who was at this time recovering from some wounds he had received in a recent battle. On that fateful day he had received a visitor, the Judean king, Ahaziah, who was Jehosha- phat's grandson, and Jehoram's nephew. It is doubtful in all history that two conferring heads of state have had more wicked mothers than did this pair. Jehoram's mother was Jezebel, and Ahaziah's mother was Athaliah.
Jehu is spotted while still on the valley road, and both Jehoram and Ahaziah, fearing an impending rebellion, ride out to meet Jehu, hoping to settle any demands in a peaceful manner. Jehu spurns Jehoram's pleas and executes both uncle and nephew kings by a shower of deadly arrows. Jehoram's lifeless body is thrown into the field of Naboth, where Ahab (the dead king's father) had once dumped Naboth himself. The birds were indeed coming home to roost (2 Ki. 9:25-29).
Jehu enters Jezreel, spots the painted hag, Jezebel, taunting him from an upstairs window, and orders her cast down. She is immediately thrown to her death and soon eaten by the wild city dogs who leave only her skull, feet, and hands. Thus Elijah's sober
prophecy to Ahab is literally fulfilled. (Compare 1 Ki. 21:23 with 2 Ki. 9:30-36.)
Jehu then writes a letter to the city council of Samaria, demanding the heads (literally) of the seventy sons of Ahab who were all living in that city. The frightened officials immediately obey this bloody order, pack the separated heads into baskets, and deliver this gory mass to Jehu in Jezreel (10:11-14).
Jehu continues his blood purging by slaying every descendant and friend of Ahab, including forty-two kinsmen of Ahaziah who have just arrived in Jezreel to visit Jezebel (10:11-14). The brutal charioteer then orders all the priests of Baal to attend a special religious convention in Jezreel, pretending that he too has become a Baal worshiper. However, secret plans are laid to slaughter the whole bunch once they can be herded into a central meeting place.
Eventually the house of Baal in Jezreel is packed with pagan priests. It is then that Jehu gives the order and the false Phoenician god stands helplessly by while his worshipers are systematically slaughtered. Jehu then burns their altar, wrecks the temple, and converts it into a public toilet. Because of his obedience to God concerning the destruction of Ahab's dynasty, Jehu is promised a continuation of his own dynasty up through the fourth generation (2 Ki. 10:30).
4. In spite of his reforms, Jehu continues worshiping the golden calves set up by Jeroboam (10:29-31), and dies an unsaved king.
E. Jeroboam II (thirteenth king).
1. He began in 793 and reigned forty-one years.
2. Jeroboam was the most powerful of all the northern kings.
3. He restored much of Israel's land which previously had been taken by the Syrians (2 Ki. 3:5; 14:25-27).
4. This was prophesied by Jonah, who lived during the reign of Jeroboam II (14:25).
F. Hoshea (nineteenth king).
1. He began in 732 and reigned nine years.
2. After becoming a vassal to the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser, Hoshea joined with Egypt in rebelling against that empire.
3. For this he was imprisoned by Shalmaneser (2 Ki. 17:4, 5).
4. It was at this time that Samaria fell and the citizens of the northern kingdom were carried away into Assyrian captivity (2 Ki. 17:6).
The important southern rulers:
A. Rehoboam (first king).
1. He began in 930 b.c. and reigned seventeen years.
2. His cruel and tactless answer to the demands of some of Israel's leaders help trigger the tragic civil war (1 Ki. 12:1-16).
3. He is unknowingly helped by Jeroboam who has driven the faithful Levite priests from the north to Jerusalem. These godly men were responsible in the main for Judah's continuation a century after Assyria had captured the northern kingdom (2 Chron. 11:16, 17).
4. Rehoboam's failure doubtless began by his polygamous actions, which involved eighteen wives and sixty concubines; they bore him twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Another factor in his downfall was his favorite wife, whose name was Maachah. This woman, the daughter of Absalom, apparently exercised an evil influence upon both Rehoboam and Abijam, their son, who succeeded his father. Finally, her wicked power was curbed by her own grandson. King Asa, who deposed her for idol-worshiping (2 Chron. 11:18-23; 12:1, 14; 2 Ki. 15:13). As his power grew, so his evil increased. Judah built shrines and obelisks and idols on every high hill and under every green tree. In addition to all this, there was homosexuality throughout the land. This vile and perverted sexual crime had possibly been introduced to the inhabitants of Palestine by Canaan, grandson of Noah. (See Gen. 9:20-25.)
Now the people of Israel had allowed this sickness of the soul to degrade them also. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul lashes out against sodomy perhaps more severely than against any other single sin. (Read Rom. 1:18-32.)
5. During the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Judah is invaded by King Shishak of Egypt with a powerful force. Because of Rehoboam's wickedness, Jerusalem is now invaded by a foreign power for the first time in nearly 100 years. Shishak conquers the fortified cities of Judah and comes to Jerusalem. Shemaiah, the prophet, then leads Rehoboam and the frightened people in a revival. God thus spares Jerusalem, but allows the city to pay tribute to Shishak, that they might realize it is far better to serve their Heavenly King than an earthly one. Shishak plunders the Temple treasury, including the golden shields placed there by Solomon. Rehoboam then replaces them with bronze shields, symbolizing the rapidly deteriorating spiritual condition of Judah. Already the trace of Ichabod could be seen gathering over the southern kingdom (2 Chron. 12:2-12; 1 Sam. 4:21).
6. After a reign of seventeen years, Rehoboam dies and is succeeded by his son, Abijam (1 Ki. 14:31).
7. Abijam soon finds cause to do battle with his father's old enemy, Jeroboam. They meet in the field, but Abijam has only 400,000 troops, as opposed to Jeroboam's 800,000 Israeli soldiers. Just prior to the fighting, Abijam gives a long lecture to Jeroboam and his soldiers concerning the folly of rebelling against the house of David, and the wickedness of their golden calf worship. He contrasts all this to the true Temple worship still carried on in Jerusalem. Upon completing his message, however, Abijam discovers that Jeroboam has secretly outflanked him and they are surrounded. He immediately cries out to God for mercy and the priests blow
their trumpets. God then turns the tide of battle their way and Jeroboam is dealt a severe defeat which costs him 500,000 men (2 Chron. 13:1-17).
8. In spite of his heaven-sent victory on the battlefield, Abijam degenerates into a wicked king (1 Ki. 15:3, 4). After a reign of three years, Abijam dies and is succeeded by his son Asa (1 Ki. 15:8).
B. Asa (third king).
1. He began in 911 b.c. and reigned forty-one years.
2. During the first ten years of his reign, the land was at peace. Asa used the time wisely.
a. He led the people in a great revival (2 Chron. 14:2-5).
b. He built up and fenced in the cities of Judah (14:6, 7).
3. This peace is suddenly shattered, however, when he is threatened with invasion by a million Ethiopian troops (14:9).
4. Hopelessly outnumbered, Asa cries out to God:
"Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them who have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Ixjrd, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee" (14:11).
5. God graciously answers this prayer and personally smites the Ethiopians (14:12).
6. A thankful Asa returns home and continues his reforms (15:8-15).
"And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul" (15:12).
7. The zealous king even deposes Maachah (his grandfather Rehoboam's wife) because of her idolatry (1 Ki. 15:13).
8. In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, the northern king, Baasha, declares war on him and begins building a wall fortress at Ramah to control the road to Judah, thus hoping to cut off all trade to Jerusalem (2 Chron. 16:1). Instead of trusting God, as he did during the Ethiopian threat some years back, Asa bribes the Syrian king to ally with him against Israel (2 Chron. 16:2-6).
9. Asa is severely rebuked for this by the prophet Hanani and warned that he would be plagued with wars from that point on due to his faithlessness. He eloquently reminds the foolish king of past history (2 Chron. 16:8, 9).
Hanani then says:
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore, from henceforth thou shalt have wars" (16:9). Asa responds by throwing Hanani in prison (2 Chron. 16:10). This is a favorite but futile trick of sinful monarchs toward uncooperative preachers. Ahab had done it to Mi-
caiah (2 Qiron. 18:7), Zedekiah did it to Jeremiah (Jer. 32:3), and Herod did it to John the Baptist (Mt. 14:3). He then ended the good reign he began by oppressing the people. Two years prior to his death he became seriously diseased in his feet, but refused to take this problem to God. After a reign of forty-one years he died and was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 16:10— 17:1).
C. Jehoshaphat (fourth king).
1. He began in 873 and reigned twenty-five years.
2. He began by continuing the moral reforms and building projects his father Asa had started (2 Chron. 17:3-6).
3. During his third year in power he instituted a nationwide religious education program, sending out Bible teachers to all important Judean cities who lectured to the people from the Law of Moses (17:7-9).
4. He grew in power and accepted tribute from the Philistines (17:11).
5. In the latter years of his reign, however, he marred his testimony by compromising with three ungodly northern kings, Ahab and his two sons, Ahaziah and Jehoram.
a. His matrimonial alliance with Ahab: He foolishly allowed his son Joram to marry Athaliah, the wicked daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (2 Chron. 18:1).
b. His military alliance with Ahab against Syria (2 Chron. 18:2, 3).
c. His trading alliance with Ahaziah, Ahab's oldest son (2 Chron. 20:35-37).
d. His military alliance with Jehoram, Ahab's youngest son, against Moab (2 Ki. 3:6, 7).
6. Jehoshaphat returns home after the Syrian fiasco and is soundly rebuked for his foolishness and compromise by the prophet Jehu (2 Chron. 19:1-3).
A chastened Jehoshaphat once again resumes his spiritual reforms, this time going out himself among the people, encouraging them to worship God, and appointing godly men to judge them. His admonition to these Jewish dispensers of justice is noteworthy indeed. (See 2 Chron. 19:6, 7.)
7. Jehoshaphat also appoints the high priest, Amariah, to act as a court of final appeal in religious matters, and Zebediah, a ruler of Judah, to determine all important civil cases. Here is another example of the "separation of church and state" principle often found in the Old Testament (as well as in the New Testament) (2 Chron. 19:11).
8. At this time the Moabites and their allies declare war upon Judah, and word reaches Jerusalem that a vast army is marching toward the Holy City. Jehoshaphat is badly shaken by this terrifying news and calls for a national time of fasting and praying. People from all across the nation flock to Jerusalem to join their king as he himself leads in public prayer beside the Temple. He prays:
"O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chron. 20:6, 12).
9. Suddenly the Spirit of God came upon a Le- vite named Jahaziel who proclaimed the following thrilling words:
"Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat, thus saith the Lord unto you. Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. . . .Tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you" (2 Chron. 20:15, 17).
10. The king falls down and leads all the people in a worship and praise service to God. The service ends as the Levitical choir stands and sings joyful songs of thanksgiving (20:18,19).
Early the next morning the army of Judah marches forth to meet the enemy. After a consultation with his associates, Jehoshaphat determines to let the choir lead the march, clothed in sanctified garments and singing, "His mercy endureth for ever" (v. 21). And so they meet the enemy. Almost immediately God causes consternation among the troops of the foe, and they begin fighting among themselves. Surely no other battle in all history was won like this battle. Here songs defeated spears, and hosannas proved stronger than horses. Four days after the battle, after gathering all the immense loot discarded by their enemies (money, garments, jewels), all the Judeans gathered in a valley called Berachah, which means "blessings" and again had a heavenly hallelujah hour of praising God (20:26-30).
D. Athaliah (seventh ruler).
1. She began in 841 b.c. and reigned six years.
2. It has already been noted that Athaliah (Jezebel's daughter) has married Joram (Hezeki- ah's son). They had one son and named him Ahaziah. When he was killed by Jehu, Athaliah mounted the throne (2 Chron. 22:10).
3. This murderous woman then ordered the slaughter of all of the royal seed of the house of Judah.
4. But Athaliah's own daughter, Jehosheba (along with her husband Jehoiada, who was high priest at that time) hid one sole survivor of the bloodbath, a small boy named Joash ( 22 : 11 ).
5. After hiding the lad for six years, Jehoiada planned a coup to dethrone Judah's only queen. He was aided by the army and the Levitical priests. When all was ready, Joash
was brought out of hiding and publicly proclaimed king. When the astonished and infuriated queen rushed out to crush this revolt, she was arrested and executed. It is ironic to note that this murderous mother, who had once attempted to wipe out David's seed, was herself slain by one of David's own spears (2 Ki. 11:4-16).
E. Joash (eighth king).
1. He began in 835 b.c. and reigned forty years.
2. The young king first cooperates with Je- hoiada the high priest in ushering in a time of revival, which includes, among other things, the destruction of the temples of Baal (2 Chron. 23:16-21; 24:1, 2).
Joash then determines that the Temple of God needs repairs and orders Jehoiada to carry it out. Jehoiada constructs a special offering box to finance the work (2 Ki. 12:4-16). This was the first free-will offering taken since the construction of the tabernacle under Moses. (See Ex. 35 and Num. 7.)
3. After the death of Jehoiada, the high priest, Judah would experience difficult days. As long as Jehoiada was living, Joash walked the line, but with his death, a tragic transformation took place. It was doubtless in the grace of God that the high priest lived as long as he did—130 years. But now he was dead and without him Joash became as a Lot without an Abraham (2 Chron. 24:2, 15, 16).
4. We note with sadness the events which took place during the final years of Joash's reign.
a. Soon after Jehoiada's funeral, the leaders of Judah induce the king to abandon God and worship idols. Joash now makes the same foolish and fatal error that his forefather, Rehoboam, once made; he allows himself to be counseled by the corrupt. (See 1 Ki. 12:8; 2 Chron. 24:17-19.)
b. The Syrian king, Hazael, began a move to enlarge his throne by capturing the Philistine city of Gath. He then started toward Jerusalem, but was for awhile bribed away by Joash, who hurriedly sent him all the gold and treasuries of the Temple (2 Ki. 12:17, 18).
c. The Spirit of God at this time came upon Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, and this fearless high priest boldly denounced Judah's idolatry and called for national repentance. Finally, at Joash's order, Zechariah was stoned to death. This is perhaps the darkest moment in Judah's history, the brutal murder of her own high priest. Our Lord would refer to this some eight- and-a-half centuries later. (See Mt. 23:35.)
Zechariah thus becomes the Old Testament Stephen, as both of them were stoned for speaking the truth. (See Acts 7:51-59.) His last words were: "The Lord look upon it, and require it" (2 Chron. 24:22).
Here the high priest asked that his death be avenged by God. We have al¬
ready noted the favorable comparison between Zechariah and Stephen's ministry. But there is a significant difference in that Zechariah dies demanding that God judge his murderers, while Stephen asks the Lord to forgive them (see Acts 7:60). New Testament grace goes much further than Old Testament law.
5. A few months after the murder of Zechariah, God sent the Syrian army all the way into Judah. Jerusalem was captured, the chief leaders executed, and the Holy City looted and spoiled. Joash himself was severely wounded at this time and was finally murdered by his own palace officials.
F. Uzziah (tenth king).
1. He began in 790 b.c. and reigned for fifty-two years.
2. Uzziah had the second longest rule of all Judah's kings. Uzziah was a good ruler and was helped much by a godly prophet named Zechariah (2 Chron. 26:5). We marvel at his accomplishments:
a. He rebuilt the city of Eloth and restored it to Judah.
b. He subdued the strong cities of the Philistines.
c. He was victorious against the Arabians.
d. He made the Ammonites give him annual tribute.
e. His fame spread down to Egypt and other nations.
f. He built fortified towers in Jerusalem.
g. He constructed forts in the Negeb.
h. He built many water reservoirs.
i. He raised great herds of cattle.
j. He laid out many farms and vineyards.
k. He organized his army into regiments. This army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. These men were led by 2600 commanders.
1. He equipped them with the finest weapons of war.
m. He produced great engines of war which shot arrows and huge stones from the towers and battlements (2 Chron. 26:6-15).
3. But in the midst of his strength he was cut down by pride. We are told: "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction" (26:16). The first creature in God's universe who sinned had these same tragic words said against him. (See Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-17.)
4. His sin was intrusion into the office of the priesthood by burning incense upon the golden altar.
5. Caught in the very act of doing this, the king was soundly and severely rebuked by the high priest, Azariah, and eighty other brave priests. He was warned that this action was only to be done by the descendants of Aaron. Uzziah became furious and refused to budge. He suddenly was divinely struck with leprosy even as he held the incense burner (26:17-21). Uzziah was the third and final
biblical king to make the fatal error of assuming the office of the priesthood. God rejected the first (Saul; 1 Sam. 13:11-14), took the son of the second (Jeroboam; 1 Ki. 14:17), and here struck the third with leprosy.
6. Uzziah later died, still in this tragic condition. "And Uzziah, the king, was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house ... for he was cut off from the house of the Lord" (2 Chr'on. 26:21).
G. Ahaz (twelfth king).
1. He began in 735 b.c. and reigned sixteen years.
2. This young, arrogant twenty-year-old king experienced troubles almost from the start.
a. He was threatened by an enemy alliance of Rezin (the Syrian king), and Pekah (the Israelite king) (2 Ki. 15:37; 16:5, 6).
b. He was attacked separately, and then cojointly (2 Chron. 28:5, 6; 2 Ki. 16:5). They wanted to punish him for his refusal to join them in an alignment to stop the growing power of Assyria, Rezin, and Pekah.
c. The terrified young king was visited by Isaiah, who assured him not to worry, for the Syrian-Israelite plot would fail and those nations themselves would soon (within sixty-five years) be destroyed (Isa. 7:1-9).
d. God then (through Isaiah) invited Ahaz to ask him for a divine sign to prove his enemies would indeed be destroyed as prophesied. The unbelieving king refused (having apparently already determined to enlist Israel) and Isaiah then predicted that a sign would be forthcoming from God himself to the entire house of David (and not just to Ahaz), proving God's might and love to all Abraham's seed. Note the eloquent language:
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isa. 7:14).
Thus did Isaiah predict the virgin birth of Christ! Seven centuries later the angel Gabriel would remind a heartbroken carpenter living in Nazareth concerning these words. (See Mt. 1:18-25.)
e. Ahaz not only refused to heed God's word, but turned his wicked heart to Baal worship, which included offering up his own children as burnt sacrifices to this devil-god in the valley of Hinnom, right outside Jerusalem (2 Chron. 28:1-4).
f. Because of all this, God allowed many enemies to spoil Ahaz's kingdom.
g. In sheer desperation, Ahaz turned to the Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser, for help against these foes. He bribed him by sending along the gold and silver of the Temple with his request (2 Chron. 28:16-21; 2 Ki. 16:7, 8).
h. Tiglath-pileser agreed and captured Damascus, killing Rezin, one of Ahaz's en¬
emies. The Judean king then hastened to Damascus to lick the hand of the Assyrian king. While he was there, he saw a special pagan altar. He jotted down its dimensions and sent it back to Urijah, the high priest, with orders to have a model ready for him upon his return. This false altar then replaced the old bronze one in the Temple (2 Ki. 16:10-16). He thus continued his vile pagan worship (2 Chron. 28:22).
i. Tiglath-pileser continued his conquest by carrying away into captivity some of the cities of northern Israel, including the land east of Jordan (2 Ki. 15:29).
H. Hezekiah (thirteenth king).
1. He began in 715 b.c. and reigned for twenty- nine years.
2. His reforms. By God's estimation, Hezekiah was the best king of Judah up to his time. His spiritual record would only be exceeded by his grandson, Josiah (2 Ki. 18:5). He broke the shrines on the hills, destroyed the idols of Asherch and the serpent of brass made by Moses (Num. 21:9), which were being worshiped by the people.
3. His wealth. Among all the kings of both North and South, Hezekiah's vast wealth was exceeded only by Solomon (2 Chron. 32:27-30).
4. His Temple ministry. During the very first month of his reign, Hezekiah ordered the reinstitution of animal sacrifices, realizing that great Mosaic law which stated, "It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11; see also Heb. 9:22). The king then organized the Temple orchestral group consisting of harps, psalteries, cymbals, and a special trumpet corps of priests. A Levitical singing choir was also formed, which featured the Psalms of David in their repertoire. When all was ready, the public was invited to come (2 Chron. 29:20-30). This simply had to be one of the great worship services of all time.
5. His great Passover celebration. Hezekiah began planning for the grandest Passover celebration since Solomon's dedication of the Temple over three centuries back (2 Chron. 30:26). Letters were sent throughout all Judea and parts of Israel inviting people to repent, return, and rejoice, all of which could be accomplished by attending the Passover. Many of the northern peoples laughed and scorned such an invitation (for a New Testament example, see Luke 14:16-24), but others joyfully responded (2 Chron. 30:3-11).
The celebration was originally scheduled to last seven days, but it was unanimously decided to continue it for another seven days. A fantastic number of animals were offered during these days which included 20,000 young bulls and 17,000 sheep (2 Chron. 30:21-27). Eventually the worshipers returned home and the revival continued, as household idols were destroyed (2 Chron.
31:1). Hezekiah then organized his priests and Levites into service corps, appointing some to offer animal sacrifices to God, and others simply to thank and praise him (2 Chron. 31:2, 3). Years before, David had appointed a special choir numbering 288 to do nothing but praise and thank the Lord (1 Chron. 16:4; 6:31, 32.) Time and again we read of this consecrated choir:
a. As the Temple was dedicated under Solomon (2 Chron. 5:12, 13).
b. As the Lord defeated a great host of Israel's enemies under Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:21).
c. As wicked Queen Athaliah was deposed under Jehoiada the high priest (2 Chron. 23:13).
d. During Hezekiah's revival (2 Chron. 29:25-28).
e. During the Passover celebration under Josiah (2 Chron. 35:15, 16).
f. As the returning remnant laid the Temple foundation under Ezra (Ezra 3:11, 13).
The tithes now began to roll in from God's revived people. Azariah, the high priest, put the surplus in specially prepared rooms in the Temple. Note his testimony:
"Since the people began to bring the offering into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store" (2 Chron. 31:10).
This glorious truth is further amplified in the final Old Testament book. (See Mai. 3:8-10.)
6. His military achievements. Under the reign of Ahaz, Judah had paid tribute to the Assyrians, but in the fourth year of his rule Hezekiah rebelled against the Assyrian monarch, Shalmaneser, and no longer did this (2 Ki. 18:7). He also conducted a successful Philistine campaign at this time (2 Ki. 18:8).
7. His sickness and recovery. Hezekiah was stricken with a fatal boil-like disease and told by God through Isaiah that he would not recover. The reason for this sickness may have been his pride (2 Chron. 32:24, 25; Isa. 38:17).
The broken king turned his face to the wall and pleaded for God to spare him. God heard and promised to add fifteen more years to his life (2 Ki. 20:1-6). Thus Hezekiah was the only human being who ever lived who could (for fifteen years) absolutely count on seeing another sunrise when he retired at night.
Isaiah prepared a fig paste to put upon Hezekiah. This plaster, of course, had no more healing power than did the clay with which Jesus anointed the eyes of the blind man (Jn. 9:6). Both healings were accomplished by faith in the power and promise of God's Word (2 Ki. 20:7). Hezekiah asked for a supernatural sign to prove this treatment would really work. God granted him this.
and, at the king's own request, moved the shadow on the royal sundial back ten points (2 Ki. 20:8-11). Dr. John Davis writes the following concerning this miracle:
"The sign that God gave to Hezekiah was certainly one of the most spectacular miracles in Old Testament history. In the courtyard of the palace there was apparently a series of steps (not necessarily a • sundial as we would think of it) so arranged that the shadow cast by the sun would give an approximation of the time. At the request of the kings, and, doubtless, in the presence of a large group of officials (including foreign ambassadors?), the shadow moved backward ten steps (or degrees)! How did God actually accomplish this miracle? Did He cause the earth to stop its rotation and turn backwards a little? All true Christians would agree that He could have done such a thing, for by Him all things consist, or hold together (Col. 1:17). But the Bible makes it rather clear that this was not God's method; for, in referring to this miracle, 2 Chronicles 32:24 states that Hezekiah 'prayed unto Jehovah; and he spake unto him, and gave him a sign (Hebrew: mopheth).' But in verse 31 we are told that the Babylonians sent ambassadors to Hezekiah 'to inquire of the wonder ( mopheth ) that was done in the land.' Obviously, then, it was a geographically localized miracle, which did not involve a reversal of the earth's rotation, with shadows retreating ten degrees all over the Near East. Instead, the miracle occurred only 'in the land' (of Judea); and, to be even more specific, it was only in the king's courtyard that 'the sun returned ten steps of the dial whereon it was gone down' (Isa. 38:8). It is the writer's conviction that a proper understanding of the nature of this great miracle helps us to understand what happened in the miracle of Joshua's long day (Josh. 10:12-14). Since Joshua's need was a prolongation of light (not a slowing down of the earth's rotation), his need could be met by a supernatural continuation of sunlight and moonlight in central Palestine for 'about a whole day' until Joshua's army could follow up its great victory and completely destroy the enemy." (Solomon to the Exile, pp. 128-129)
In his book, the prophet Isaiah includes for us a page in Hezekiah's diary written during this terrible sickness. It makes a gloomy reading indeed. (See Isa. 38:9-20.)
Some believe that Hezekiah spent the last fifteen years of his life putting the Old Testament Scriptures in order, for we often find the Hebrew letters "H Z K" at the end of many Old Testament books in the Hebrew manuscripts.
8. His Babylonian visitors. Hezekiah received an envoy from a rising power which would
~ THE CHAOTIC KINGDOM STAGE -
soon meet and defeat mighty Assyria. The Babylonians may have come for several reasons:
a. To pay their respects to a king who had been raised from his very deathbed.
b. To inquire as to how this happened. The Babylonians were indeed fascinated by astronomic signs, for their national life revolved around the movement of heavenly bodies. (See Isa. 47:13; Dan. 2:27; Jer. 10:2.)
c. To determine how much loot they could take from Jerusalem after coming into power (2 Ki. 20:12, 13).
Hezekiah foolishly showed them all his treasures. He was soundly rebuked by Isaiah for this. The prophet then predicted that years after the king's death, Judah would be carried into captivity by the Babylonians, partly to obtain the very wealth Hezekiah had so freely shown them. The king's answer is a classic study in total selfishness:
"Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?" (2 Ki. 20:19). (See also Rom. 7:18.)
We are told that God allowed the Babylon visit as a test for Hezekiah. But he flunked. (See 2 Chron. 32:31.)
9. His ordeal with Sennacherib. As we have already observed, Hezekiah had rebelled against paying tribute to Assyria during the fourth year of his reign. But as he began his fourteenth year in office, the powerful successor of Shalmaneser began to threaten Jerusalem. Hezekiah attempted to patch up his previous rebellion by sending a $1,500,000 bribe to the Assyrian warrior. This sad attempt to appease the bloodthirsty Sennacherib reminds one of England's prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, meekly going to Munich in the late thirties to hand over to Hitler half of Europe! But it didn't work, as both Hezekiah and Chamberlain would sadly discover.
Sennacherib soon surrounded the city of Jerusalem (2 Ki. 18:17; Isa. 36:1). Hezekiah made a desperate effort to defend himself by reinforcing the walls and recruiting an army. He even delivered a challenging message to inspire them, but apparently the king had serious personal doubts concerning the outcome of the crisis (2 Chron. 32:1-8).
Sennacherib now sent his Rabshakeh (title for his chief of staff) who attempted at first to break down Jerusalem's walls by the sheer power of his big mouth alone. He spewed out his terrible threats near the water supply source of the city, a place where he knew the greatest number of Jews could be reached. He lists seven arguments why Jerusalem should surrender immediately (2 Ki. 18:17-35).
a. Their ally Egypt was powerless to help them (v. 21).
b. They had "offended" Jehovah their God by destroying all the worship places except in Jerusalem (v. 22).
Those Jews who heard this argument must have laughed out loud at its stupidity. It was quite true that Hezekiah had removed the high places (see 18:4), but only because these were centers of Baal worship.
c. Jerusalem had a weak army (v. 23). Rabshakeh even offered to furnish 2000 horses, but doubted if they would muster up the soldiers to ride them.
d. It was God's will that Jerusalem be conquered (v. 25). It is true that Isaiah did predict the invasion of Assyria into Palestine (Isa. 10:5, 6), but not because this was his perfect will. It was a divine punishment for their sins.
e. Assyria had a massive army (v. 24).
f. Pleasant surrender conditions were proposed (v. 31). No one but an absolute fool would swallow this lie, for the Assyrians treated their prisoners in a most horrible way.
g. The absolute inability of Jehovah to save Jerusalem was pointed out (v. 35). This loudmouth would soon learn firsthand just how "weak" Jehovah really was!
During all this Assyrian arrogance, Rabshakeh was interrupted only once by Hez- ekiah's three-man truce delegation. They timidly asked that the "peace talks" be conducted in Aramaic (Syrian), and not in Hebrew, to prevent the listening crowd from understanding. The Judean negotiators were afraid a panic would follow if the seriousness of the situation was fully realized. Rabshakeh not only refused, but lifted his voice to a shout, so all could hear. But a panic did not take place. The people remained silent. This was wise, for how does a sheep answer the grunts and snorts of a wild hog? (2 Ki. 18:27, 28, 36).
10. His prayer for the city of Jerusalem. The three-man delegation immediately reported all Rabshakeh's threats to Hezekiah. The king then earnestly besought God in prayer. Hezekiah immediately heard from that grand prophet Isaiah, who reassured him that God had already determined to slay Sennacherib; and that he had nothing to fear from the Assyrian sneers. (See 2 Ki. 19:1-7; also Phil. 4:6, 7.)
11. His answer from the Lord. God at this point addressed both Hezekiah and Sennacherib through the prophet Isaiah (2 Ki. 19:20-33).
To Hezekiah, God said:
a. I have heard you (v. 20). This by itself would have surely comforted the king's heart. (See Ps. 20:1; 34:4; 120:1; Jonah 2:2; 1 Jn. 5:14.) How different are the deaf idols of the pagan gods. (See Ps.l35:15-21; 115:2-7.)
b. The fields which the Assyrians have destroyed will be resown and replanted (v. 29).
c. By the third year the normal agricultural cycle will function again (v. 29).
d. This time of testing will produce a strong remnant of spiritual believers in Jerusalem (v. 29).
To Sennacherib, God said:
e. My "daughter" Zion is not afraid of you (v. 21).
f. She scorns and mocks you (v. 21).
g. The only reason you have conquered anything is because I let you do so (v. 25).
h. I know every rotten thing you think, say, and do (v. 27).
i. I will put a hook in your nose and a bridle in your mouth and drag you from Jerusalem (v. 28).
Note: This was a cruelty which the Assyrians frequently inflicted upon their captives. Another pagan nation will suffer this same kind of judgment during the tribulation. (See Ezek. 38:4.)
j. You will not enter Jerusalem nor even shoot an arrow into the city (v. 32).
k. You yourself will be murdered by members of your own household (v. 7).
Note: Archaeological findings indicate that Sennacherib was crushed to death by his own sons. This they did by creeping into his private prayer chapel and pushing over upon him a gigantic statue of Nisrich, his god! Dr. John Davis writes: "And thus the great and proud king of Assyria, who boasted that Hezekiah's God was utterly helpless, not only lost his army at one flick of Jehovah's finger but was himself crushed to death by the idol of a non-existent deity to whom he had devoted his life." (Solomon to the Exile, p. 124)
l. I will save this city both for my sake, and for David's sake (v. 34).
m. All this will happen because when you mocked Jerusalem, you also mocked me. God not only promised to save Jerusalem, but assured the king that not one enemy arrow would fall into it. That very night the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian troops, and dead bodies were seen all across the landscape in the morning. Some believe this angel was Christ himself. At any rate, the powers of an angel are fantastic. In Matthew 26:53 our Lord said he could, if he so desired, even then call for twelve legions of angels to help him. A legion in those days was 6000 soldiers. Thus Christ had at his immediate disposal at least 72,000 heavenly warriors. The Assyrians now experienced that which the Egyptians had suffered some eight centuries previously. (See Ex. 12:29.) Sennacherib immediately returned to Nineveh and was soon murdered, just as God predicted (2 Ki. 19:36, 37). Hezekiah died after a glorious twenty-nine-year reign, and was succeeded by his son, Manasseh (2 Ki. 20:20, 21; 2 Chron. 32:32, 33).
I. Manasseh (fourteenth king).
1. He began in 695 b.c. and reigned for fifty-five years.
2. The fourteenth ruler of Judah was, without doubt, the most unique king ever to sit upon either the northern or southern throne. Note the following:
a. He was king longer than any other of either kingdom.
b. He had the godliest father up to that time of all Judean kings.
c. His grandson Josiah was finest of all.
d. He was the only wicked king to genuinely repent prior to his death.
e. He was the most wicked of all kings prior to his salvation!
3. The preconversion reign of Manasseh (as recorded in 2 Ki. 21:2-6; 2 Chron. 33:1-20) would probably have surpassed that of Stalin and Hitler in terms of sheer wickedness. Consider the following items of information:
a. He rebuilt all the altars of Baal his father had destroyed (2 Chron. 33:3).
b. He set up a Zodiac center for the heathen worship of the sun, moon, and stars in every house of God (2 Chron. 33:4, 5).
c. He sacrificed his own children to satanic gods in the Valley of Hinnom as his grandfather Ahaz had done (33:6).
d. He consulted spirit-mediums and fortune-tellers (33:6).
e. Tradition says he murdered Isaiah by having him sawn asunder (Heb. 11:37).
f. God said he was more wicked than heathen nations which had once occupied Palestine (2 Ki. 21:11).
g. He shed innocent blood from one end of Jerusalem to another (2 Ki. 21:16).
h. He totally ignored repeated warnings of God in all this (2 Chron. 33:10).
i. He was imprisoned temporarily by the king of Assyria.
j. He repented while in prison and was forgiven by God.
k. He was later allowed to return as king of Judah.
l. He ruled for fifty-five years and was succeeded by his son, Amon.
J. Josiah (sixteenth king).
1. He began in 640 b.c. and reigned for thirty- one years.
2. Josiah was the finest king since Solomon.
"And like him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him" (2 Ki. 23:25).
His achievements stagger the mind. One wonders just when he arranged to eat and sleep!
3. The reforms of Josiah.
a. He began to seek after God while he was yet very young, only sixteen (2 Chron. 34:3).
Q- n
~ THE CHAOTIC KINGDOM STAGE ~
b. At the age of twenty, he began his massive reform work (34:3).
He destroyed all the altars of Baal (34:4). He then ground them into dust and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them (34:4).
e. He burned the bones of heathen priests upon their own altars (34:5).
f. He carried out these actions in distant Israelite cities as well as in his own kingdom (34:6).
g. At the age of twenty-six, he began to repair the Temple (34:8).
h. He led his people in a massive "repentance service" upon the discovery of the law of Moses (2 Ki. 23:1-3,18-21, 29-32). He then had this book read to all his people.
i. He planned for and presided over one of the greatest Passover services of all time (2 Chron. 35:1, 18).
j. He killed heathen priests whom previous kings of Judah had appointed (2 Ki. 23:5).
k. He removed the shameful idol of Ashe- rah from the Temple (23:6).
l. He tore down the houses of male prostitutes (23:7).
m. He brought back to Jerusalem the priests of God who were living in other cities in Judah (23:8).
n. He destroyed the altar of Topheth in the Hinnom Valley so no one could offer human sacrifices upon it (23:10).
o. He tore down the statue of horses and chariots (which were dedicated to the use of the sun god) located near the entrance of the Temple (23:11).
p. He tore down Ahaz's pagan altars on the palace roof (23:12).
q. He destroyed those altars which Manas- seh had built in the two courts of the Temple (23:12).
r. He removed the shrines of Ashtoreth (god of Sidon), Chemosh (god of Moab), and Milcom (god of Ammon), which Solomon had built for his many wives (23:13).
s. He tore down the altar and shrine at Bethel which Jeroboam I had made (23:15), thus fulfilling a 300-year-old prophecy. (See 1 Ki. 13:1, 2.)
t. He demolished the shrines on the hills of Samaria (23:19).
u. He exterminated mediums, wizards, and soothsayers (23:24).
4. The scriptural ministry of Josiah.
a. In cleansing the Temple, Hilkiah the high priest discovered an old scroll which turned out to be a copy of the Law of Moses (2 Ki. 22:8).
b. Josiah was informed of this and tore his clothes in terror, realizing how the Old Testament laws had been so ridiculed and ignored during the wicked reign of both his father and grandfather (22:9-13). Apparently under Manasseh's I
wicked reign the Word of God had been all but totally destroyed. It was probably a capital offense to possess a copy of the Mosaic Law. Thus some faithful priest may have hidden a copy of this precious law in the Temple to await better days.
c. The young king then ordered Hilkiah to seek the counsel of a godly woman prophetess concerning all this. Her name was Huldah, and she may have been Jeremiah's aunt. (See 2 Ki. 22:14; Jer. 32:7.) God had often spoken to his people through a woman, and would do so after this also (22:14).
(1) He spoke through Miriam, the sister of Moses (Ex. 15:20).
(2) He worked through Deborah (Jdg. 5).
(3) Zacharias' wife was a prophetess (Lk. 2:36).
(4) Philip's four daughters were called prophetesses (Acts 21:9).
d. Huldah's message was a twofold prophecy. It stated that:
(1) Because of Judah's tragic and shameful spiritual failure, God had already determined to judge his people. She pronounced upon the Holy City the fearful divine words of the Lord (see 22:17).
(2) Because of Josiah's love of God, he would be spared all this, as judgment would not fall until after his death. He himself would be "gathered into thy grave in peace" (2 Ki. 22 : 20 ).
We are not to understand this to mean that Josiah would die a quiet death on his royal bed (he was actually killed in battle), but that he would be spared the wrath of the Babylonian capitivity and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem.
e. Josiah then gathered all his people at the Temple and personally read aloud the Law of Moses and urged them all to obey God's Word (2 Ki. 23:1-3).
5. The great Passover celebration of Josiah. This feast, which had begun in Egypt nearly 900 years back (Ex. 12) had evidently not been celebrated since the days of Hezekiah, over sixty years ago. But now Josiah determines to amend for this delay. We note with amazement the tremendous number of animals offered up at this time (2 Chron. 35:7, 8 ).
a. Animals.
(1) thirty thousand lambs
(2) three thousand young bulls
(3) seventy-six hundred sheep
(4) three hundred oxen
b. Ark of the Covenant.
According to 2 Chronicles 35:18, this was the greatest Passover of all time. During the Passover celebration, Josiah elevated the sacred Ark of the Covenant to its proper place in the Temple
(2 Chron. 35:3). Here is the final Old Testament mention of this, the most sacred piece of furniture ever built, the Ark of the Covenant. Its history makes fascinating reading indeed.
(1) It is first mentioned in Exodus 25:10.
(2) It was put in the tabernacle by Moses (Ex. 40:21).
(3) It was carried throughout Israel's forty-year wilderness experiences (Num. 10:35; 14:44).
(4) It followed the people of Israel across the Jordan River (Josh. 4:5).
(5) It was carried around Jericho (Josh. 6:13).
(6) It was placed beside Joshua on Mt. Ebal as he read the law to all Israel (Josh. 8:33).
(7) It was formally placed in the new tabernacle, set up at Shiloh (Josh. 18:1).
(8) It was carried into battle with the Philistines by wicked Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam. 4:4).
(9) It was captured by the Philistines for seven months (1 Sam. 4:11; 6:1). During this time
(a) It was taken to Ashdod where it defeated Dagon (1 Sam. 5:1).
(b) It was taken to Ekron, where it caused a great plague (1 Sam. 5:10).
(10) It was carried by two "Milch Kine" into Bethshemesh. Here God smote a number of the citizens of this city for looking inside (1 Sam. 6:12).
(11) It was taken to Kirjath-jearim. Here it remained for twenty years (1 Sam. 7:1).
(12) It was brought to Gibeah by Saul. Here it saved Israel from the Philistines (1 Sam. 14:18).
(13) It was carried from Gibeah toward Jerusalem by David on a new cart. En route, Uzzah was slain for touching it (2 Sam. 6:3).
(14) It rested at the house of Obed-edom for three months (2 Sam. 6:11).
(15) It was brought into Jerusalem by David (2 Sam. 6:16).
(16) It was carried by Zadok the high priest over the brook Kidron to David during his escape from Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam. 15:24).
(17) It was carried back to Jerusalem by David's order (2 Sam. 15:25, 29).
(18) It was placed in Solomon's Temple (1 Ki. 8:1).
(19) We do not know what eventually became of it.
6. The tragic death of Josiah.
a. Necho, the king of Egypt, planned to lead an army through Judah to aid the Babylonians against the Assyrians at Car- chemish (2 Chron. 35:20).
b. Josiah declared war upon Necho for this. In vain, the Egyptian king attempted to convince the Judean ruler that he had no quarrel with him whatsoever, and warned him not to interfere, lest God destroy him in battle (35:20, 21).
c. Josiah refused the peace offers and attacked Necho in the Valley of Megiddo. This particular encampment located in the plain of Esdraelon had already seen many battles.
(1) It was here that Deborah and Barak defeated the Canaanites (Jdg. 4-5).
(2) It was here that Gideon defeated the Midianites (Jdg. 7).
(3) It was here that David defeated Goliath (1 Sam. 17).
(4) It was here that the Philistines killed Saul (1 Sam. 31).
(5) It was here that Josiah was killed (2 Chron. 35:22).
(6) It will be in this area that the mighty battle of Armageddon will someday be fought (Zech. 12:11; Rev. 16:16).
d. Josiah was tragically slain in spite of an attempt to disguise himself (as did another king once). (See 1 Ki. 22:30.) He was carried back to Jerusalem and buried with much ceremony and sorrow. Jeremiah himself attended the funeral (1 Chron. 35:23-25). At his death, Judah would see no more good kings. It was all spiritual degeneration from this point on. Josiah was succeeded by his son, Jehoahaz (2 Chron. 36:1).
K. Jehoiakim (eighteenth king).
1. He began in 609 b.c. and reigned for eleven years.
2. With the exception of Manasseh (his great- great-grandfather), Jehoiakim may be regarded as Judah's most evil king. Note this sordid record:
a. He built a plush palace, with huge rooms, many windows, paneled throughout with a fragrant cedar, and painted a beautiful red. This he accomplished with forced slave labor while his own people were suffering (Jer. 22:13, 14).
b. He was full of selfish greed and dishonesty (22:17).
c. He murdered the innocent, oppressed the poor, and reigned with ruthlessness (22:17).
d. He butchered with a sword a godly and fearless prophet named Uriah, having him first tracked down in Egypt and brought back to Jerusalem (26:33).
e. He often attempted to silence the prophet, Jeremiah (26:24; 36:19, 26).
f. On one occasion he burned a scroll which contained the inspired writings and prophecies of Jeremiah. But this backfired, as the prophet rewrote all the king had burned and added a chilling prophecy against Jehoiakim (36:22, 23, 27-32).
3. Jehoiakim was made a vassal by Nebuchadnezzar after the Babylonians had defeated the Assyrians and Egyptians at the battle of Carchemish. During the last part of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and took some of the sacred Temple vessels to Babylon. He also bound Jehoiakim, intending to carry him along, but apparently, for some reason, restored him to the throne of Judah as his puppet king (2 Ki. 24:1; Jer. 25:1; 2 Chron. 36:6, 7). He did, however, carry into captivity some royal Jewish youths, one of which was Daniel (Dan. 1:3, 4).
4. After three years of this, Jehoiakim was induced by the Egyptian party in his court to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar.
5. Although Nebuchadnezzar apparently could not rise up immediately at that time to crush this rebellion, God punished the wicked Judean king by allowing the land to be invaded by the Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites (2 Ki. 24:2, 3).
6. Jehoiakim died, and, as prophesied by Jeremiah (22:18,19; 36:30), received the burial of a wild animal. He was dragged out of Jerusalem and thrown on the garbage dump beyond the gate, unmourned even by his immediate family. He was succeeded by his son, Jehoiachin (2 Ki. 24:5, 6).
L. Zedekiah (twentieth king).
1. He began in 597 and reigned for eleven years. This youngest son of godly King Jo- siah was the last to rule, and, like his two brothers, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, Zedekiah was wicked. He has been called "the fickle puppet" (2 Ki. 24:18, 19; 2 Chron. 36:12).
2. At first, Zedekiah showed signs of an intention to obey the Law of Moses (Jer. 34:8-10).
3. He went to Babylon in his fourth year, probably to reassure Nebuchadnezzar of his loyalty (51:59).
4. He returned and was forced to muzzle the "loud-mouth" prophet, Jeremiah (27-29).
5. Jeremiah suffered much under the reign of Zedekiah.
a. He was hated and plotted against because of his message of divine judgment (Jer. 11:8-10).
b. He was arrested by the Temple priest Pashhur, whipped, and put in stocks for one night (20:1-3).
c. He was almost murdered by a wild mob by Judah's false priests and prophets after one of his messages (26:7-9).
d. In the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign, a false prophet named Hananiah publicly rebuked Jeremiah, saying Babylon would be overthrown in two years (28:1-4).
e. He was arrested and thrown into prison, charged with treason (27:11-16).
f. He was then removed from there and placed in the palace prison by the fickle Zedekiah (37:21).
g. He was soon taken from here, however, and placed into an empty cistern in the prison yard by some Jewish hotheads.
There was no water in it, and Jeremiah sank down into the thick layer of mire at its bottom (38:1-6).
h. He was again set free and, in vain, attempted to convince Zedekiah to submit to the Babylonian threat as God's divine punishment (38:14-26).
l. During the final two years of Zedekiah's pitiful and perverted rule, Jeremiah was again confined to prison. At this time, he was ordered to purchase a farm from his cousin, Hanamel (32:6-15).
6. Zedekiah foolishly refused the counsel of Jeremiah and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty (2 Chron. 36:13). Rising to this revolt, Nebuchadnezzar came against him. For some thirty months, Jerusalem held out, but on July 18, 586 b.c., it totally collapsed. During the final night, Zedekiah attempted to escape, but was captured near Jericho and brought back to Nebuchadnezzar for punishment. He was forced to witness the execution of his own sons and then his eyes were gouged out. He was finally taken in chains to Babylon where he died (Jer. 52:4-11; 39:1-7).
Note: Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah that he would look into the very eyes of Nebuchadnezzar (32:4; 34:3), but Ezekiel prophesied that he would not see Babylon with his eyes (12:6, 12, 13). These horrible prophecies came true.
7. During the latter part of July, 587, Nebuchadnezzar's captain of the guard, Nebuzara- dan, burned the Temple, along with most private and public buildings. The walls of the city were torn down (Jer. 52:12-23).
8. Nebuchadnezzar then ordered the execution of Seraiah the high priest along with seventy-three other important officials. Judah's exile was now complete (Jer. 52:24-27). From this date on, until May 14,1948 a.d., Israel as a nation would cease to exist.
The important oral prophets:
A. Elijah.
The ministry of Elijah, one of the most colorful and courageous prophets who ever lived, will be considered first in outline subject-matter form, and then presented in actual chronological fashion.
An outline, subject-matter consideration of his life:
1. Elijah and King Ahab:
a. announcing the three-and-a-half year drought (1 Ki. 17:1)
b. challenging him to a contest on Mt. Carmel (18:17-20)
c. predicting the end of the drought (18:41-46)
d. pronouncing the death sentence upon him and his wife (21:17-24)
2. Elijah and the ravens at Cherith (17:2-7)
3. Elijah and the widow at Zarephath (17:8-15)
4. Elijah and Obadiah (18:1-16)
5. Elijah and the people of Israel (18:20-24)
Elijah
ELIJAH AND KING AHAB
Announcing the three-and-a-half year drought (1 Ki. 17:1) Challenging him to a contest on Mt. Carmel (17:17-19)
Predicting the end of the drought (18:41-46)
Pronouncing the death sentence upon him and his wife
(21:17-24)
ELIJAH AND THE RAVENS OF CHERITH
He is supernaturally fed by some ravens beside a drying brook (1 Ki. 17:2-7)
ELIJAH AND A WIDOW AT ZAREPHATH
He is supernaturally fed by God through a widow (1 Ki. 17:8-16) He raises the dead son of that widow (17:17-24)
ELIJAH AND A BACKSLIDER NAMED OBADIAH
Obadiah was a secret believer who had ministered to 100 prophets (1 Ki. 18:1-15)
He reluctantly and fearfully arranges a meeting between Elijah and Ahab (1 Ki. 18:16)
ELIJAH AND THE NATION ISRAEL
He rebukes and challenges Israel on Mt. Carmel (1 Ki. 18:20-24)
ELIJAH AND THE PRIESTS OF BAAL
The priests of Baal are unable to pray down the fire
(1 Ki. 18:25-29)
He has them killed for their paganism (18:40)
ELIJAH AND THE LORD GOD
He flees Israel to escape Jezebel’s revenge (1 Ki. 19:1-3)
He is ministered to by an angel (19:4-7)
He hears God’s still small voice in a cave (19:8-18)
ELIJAH AND ELISHA THE PROPHET
He calls Elisha to special service (1 Ki. 19:19-21)
He prepares Elisha for special service (2 Ki. 2:1-10)
ELIJAH AND NORTHERN KING AHAZIAH
He predicts wicked Ahaziah will die from a fall (2 Ki. 1:1 -18)
He prays down fire to destroy two companies of soldiers sent to arrest him (1:9-12)
He spares the third company, led by a captain who begs for mercy (1:13-16)
ELIJAH AND A CHARIOT OF FIRE
He parts the River Jordan and stands on the eastern bank
(2 Ki. 2:1-8)
He receives a last request from Elisha (2:9,10)
He is carried into heaven without dying (2:11)
6. Elijah and the priests of Baal (18:25-40)
7. Elijah and God (19:1-18)
8. Elijah and Elisha
a. calling him to special service (1 Ki. 19:19-21)
b. preparing him for special service (2 Ki. 2 : 1 - 10 )
9. Elijah and King Ahaziah (2 Ki. 1:1-17)
10. Elijah and the chariot of fire (2 Ki. 2:11)
A chronological consideration of his life:
1. Dr. John Whitcomb introduces this mighty Tishbite as follows:
"Like a meteor suddenly flashing across the darkened sky, Elijah appears on the scene without historical background, and without warning!" (Solomon to the Exile, p. 50)
2. He announces to wicked King Ahab that a long drought can be expected as a punish¬
ment for sin (1 Ki. 17:1). The New Testament writer James refers to this terrible drought as an example of the tremendous power of prayer (Jas. 5:17). James says the drought lasted three-and-a-half years. The lack of rain was a divine punishment for sin. (See Deut. 11:13-17; 28:24; 2 Chron. 7:12-15.)
3. God then orders his prophet to hide himself (from the king's wrath) by the Brook Cherith at a place east of where it enters the Jordan (17:2). Here he would be fed supernaturally by some ravens.
4. Elijah is now ordered to proceed to a city in Jezebel's own backyard, called Zarephath, where God has commanded a widow to feed him. After what must have seemed an eternity (possibly a year or longer), Elijah finally graduates from the D.B.I. (Drying Brook Institute). The brook experience almost always precedes the Mt. Carmel challenge in the plan of God for his chosen servants. Paul spent three years in the A.B.I. (Arabian Bible Institute, Gal. 1:18) and Moses passed some forty years on the campus of the S.B.I., Sinai Bible Institute. (See Ex. 3:1; 1 Ki. 17:8, 9.)
Again God does the unexpected thing. His prophet who has been fed by some ravens now has his needs met by a lonely and poverty-stricken old widow. Elijah asks the starving widow and her son to share their last available meal with him and promises them that God himself will see to it that their oil and flour containers will always be full until it rains and the crops grow again. By faith the widow shares with him and finds God's promise to be true (17:10-16).
5. Suddenly, with no warning whatsoever, the widow's son dies. In her grief-stricken statement at this time, the widow brings out two significant things (1 Ki. 17:18):
a. The testimony of Elijah. Note her phrase, "O thou man of God." Here was a woman who had seen the prophet out of his pulpit and before he had drunk his first cup of coffee in the morning. She saw him as he really was, and still could call him a man of God. The acid test of a man's true religion is the home test.
b. Her own uneasy conscience. She asks him if he was sent to call her sin to remembrance. Perhaps some shameful and secret deed in her past had constantly plagued her conscience.
6. Elijah carries the lad upstairs, stretches himself upon the lifeless body three times, and prays that God will raise the boy. God hears his prayer. This marks the first of eight body resurrections in the Bible (not counting the resurrection of Christ). These are:
a. Elijah raises the widow's boy (1 Ki. 17:22).
b. Elisha raises the son of a Shunammite woman (2 Ki. 4:35).
c. Elisha's bones raise a man whose dead body touches them during a graveyard burial (2 Ki. 13:21).
d. Christ raises the daughter of Jairus (Mt. 9:25).
e. Christ raises the son of a widow (Lk. 7:14).
f. Christ raises Lazarus (Jn. 11:43, 44).
g. Peter raises Dorcas (Acts 9:40, 41).
h. Paul raises Eutychus (Acts 20:12).
7. Elijah is promised by God that he will soon send rain and orders his prophet to confront Ahab again. En route to the palace, Elijah is met by Obadiah, a backslidden believer, who served as household administrator under Ahab. Obadiah attempts to impress Elijah with his good works (he has hidden 100 prophets in a cave from the murderous wrath of Jezebel) and reluctantly and fearfully agrees to inform Ahab of Elijah's presence (1 Ki. 18:1-16).
8. At their summit meeting, Ahab blames Elijah for all Israel's trouble.
9. Elijah, however, refuses to accept Ahab's stupid accusation and challenges Ahab and pagan priests of Baal to a "fire-consuming sacrifice" contest on Mt. Carmel, with the following rules:
a. Two bullocks would be sacrificed and laid upon two altars, one dedicated to Baal, the other to God.
b. Both deities would be prayed to, and the real god could prove himself by sending down fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice (1 Ki. 18:23-25).
10. The priests of Baal pray first, agonizing, screaming, dancing, and even cutting themselves to attract their god's attention, but all in vain. During this time Elijah mocks them. We read that about noontime, Elijah began mocking them.
" 'You'll have to shout louder than that,' he scoffed, 'to catch the attention of your god! Perhaps he is talking to someone, or is out sitting on the toilet, or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be awakened'" (1 Ki. 18:27, The Living Bible).
11. Then it was evening, and Elijah's turn. He took twelve stones and rebuilt an old torn- down altar of God in that very area. He then dug a three-foot wide trench around the altar and dumped twelve barrels of sea water into it. Finally, he stepped back and prayed (18:36, 37).
12. The fire immediately fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. Note the order in which the things at the altar were consumed:
a. The burnt-sacrifice. This speaks of ourselves! (See Rom. 12:1-3.)
b. The wood. This speaks of our efforts. It is tragically possible for a pastor on a Sunday morning to experience either fire without wood or wood without fire. The first occurs when he isn't studied up, and the second when he isn't prayed up.
c. The stones. This speaks of the difficult things in our lives.
d. The dust. This speaks of the useless things in our lives.
e. The water. This speaks of the impossible things in our lives (18:38).
13. Elijah then executed the prophets of Baal.
14. Finally, after a sevenfold prayer meeting, there was a great rain (18:45). God often works in a roundabout way, but he does so to accomplish certain specific things. Thus, through all this:
a. Elijah received valuable training for his future ministry.
b. A disrespectful king learned the fear of the Lord.
c. A heathen woman believed on the name of the Lord.
d. A young man was raised from the dead.
e. A backslidden believer was restored to fellowship.
f. The nation Israel experienced a temporary revival.
g. A large number of God's enemies were destroyed.
15. Upon hearing of Elijah's action, Jezebel vowed to kill him in twenty-four hours, and Elijah ran for his life (19:2). This points out two important spiritual truths:
a. The infallibility of the Word of God. No mere human author would have included the sad account we read here. This part in the life of a fearless man of God would have simply been denied or ignored.
b. The fallibility of the man of God. Elijah, like David, was a man who failed God in what was supposedly his strongest point. In David's case it was his purity and in Elijah's situation it was his courage. But both fell on their faces. They needed the lesson God taught Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 : 1 - 10 .
16. Elijah fled eastward and after a day's journey he fell exhausted under a juniper tree, praying that God would kill him (19:4). This was prayed some twenty-eight centuries ago and God had yet to answer it. Elijah, like Enoch, participated in God's first and second space shot. (Compare Gen. 5:24 with 2 Ki. 2:11.) But someday the Lord will allow his prophet to lay down his life for Jesus. (Compare Mai. 4:5, 6 with Rev. 11:3-12.) Both Moses (Num. 11:15) and Jonah (4:3) had also prayed this despondent prayer.
17. As he slept, an angel touched him and fed him (19:5). God often allows his angels to participate in his dealing with man. (See Heb. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:12.)
Elijah was by now totally exhausted, having traveled 150 miles from Jezreel to Beer- sheba. But now he desperately needed food. Our spiritual and physical natures are so closely entwined that one automatically affects the other. Part of his terrible soul depression was due to the mistreatment of his body. The stomach can affect the soul. (See Ps. 127:2.)
18. God himself finally spoke through a still, small voice to Elijah in a cave, perhaps the same one where Moses had viewed God's glory some five centuries before. (Compare 19:9 with Ex. 33:21-23.) In spite of his objections to the contrary, Elijah was ordered immediately to perform four tasks:
a. Get back and start preaching again. Besides, he was not alone as he claimed, for God still had 7000 followers in Israel who had not bowed to Baal (19:15, 18).
b. Anoint a man named Hazael to be king of Syria (19:15).
c. Anoint a man named Jehu to be king of Israel (19:16).
d. Begin training Elisha to succeed him (19:16). In passing, it should be noted (19:10) that Elijah's prayer here is the only example of an Israelite believer making intercession against his own beloved nation Israel. Paul specifically states that this was indeed the case. (See Rom. 11:1-4.) Needless to say, God has never and will never honor this kind of praying. James and John later expressed the same vindictive spirit concerning some unbelieving Samaritans. (See Lk. 9:55.)
19. Elijah returned and found Elisha plowing in a field. Elijah went over to him and threw his coat across his shoulders. Elisha thereupon prepared a farewell feast for his family and servants and followed Elijah (19:19-21).
20. Elijah confronted wicked Ahab in the vineyard of Naboth. There he predicted the divine death penalty judgment upon both Ahab and Jezebel for their part in the coldblooded murder of godly Naboth (1 Ki. 21:17-24).
21. Sometime later. King Ahaziah, wicked northern ruler (and eldest son of Ahab) suffered a severe fall off the upstairs porch of his palace in Samaria. Fearing the worst, he sent messengers to the Philistine temple dedicated to Baalzebub at Ekron to ask this pagan god whether he would recover (2 Ki. 1:1-3). This ungodly son of Ahab was apparently unaware of Israel's history, for had he been aware, he certainly would not have trusted in a pagan god who was utterly powerless to save his own worshipers against the wrath of the Ark of God (in 1 Samuel 5:10-12). Elijah was instructed by God's angel to intercept these messengers and send them back to Ahaziah with his prophecy, that due to the king's idolatry, he would indeed soon die (1:3-6).
Ahaziah correctly guessed the identity of this fearless hairy man with the wide leather belt and sent out a captain with fifty men to arrest him. As the soldiers approached him, Elijah called down fire from heaven and they were consumed. Another fifty were sent out and suffered the same fate. The captain of the third group fell to his knees and begged Elijah to spare their lives and come with
them. The prophet agreed and soon stood before the king where he repeated similar words he had once said to Ahab, Ahaziah's father. Shortly after this, Ahaziah died and was succeeded by his younger brother Jeho- ram (2 Ki. 1:7-17). He had reigned for but two short years.
22. Elijah's magnificent ministry had now come to a close and he would soon be taken heavenward by means of a whirlwind, without dying. He quickly traveled his circuit for the final time, moving rapidly from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to the Jordan River. At the first three stops he tested the determination of Elisha by suggesting that he might want to drop the hectic life of the prophet and return to his quiet farm. But on each occasion (2:2, 4, 6) he refused by uttering these five fearless words: "1 will not leave thee!" Elisha, like Ruth, thus proved worthy for the blessings of God! (See Ruth 1:15-17.) Both at Bethel and Jericho Elisha spoke with the sons of the prophets living in those areas. These men may have been able to trace their heritage back to the prophetic schools of Samuel's day (1 Sam. 19:20). But what a sorry lot they were.
a. They were cowardly (1 Ki. 18:4).
b. They attempted to discourage Elisha (2 Ki. 2:3, 5)
c. They lacked faith (2 Ki. 2:16-18).
When they came to the Jordan River, Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it; and the river divided, allowing them to cross on dry ground (2:8).
23. Elijah then asked Elisha what wish he would have granted before his heavenly departure. Elisha asked for a double portion of his master's power. He was told this was a hard thing, but that if he were present at Elijah's translation the request would be granted (2:9, 10).
24. Suddenly a chariot of fire, drawn by horses of fire, appeared and drove between them, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven (2:11). He thus became the second of two individuals who saw glory without the grave. (See Gen. 5:24 for the other person.)
B. Elisha.
1. Parting the waters at Jordan (2 Ki. 2:14). When Elijah had disappeared from view, Elisha picked up his master's cloak and returned to the Jordan River bank to see if his request for power had been granted. Striking the river with Elijah's cloak, he thundered out, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" Immediately the Jordan waters parted. This marked the third time such a miracle had happened in Israel's history. (Compare Josh. 3:17; 2 Ki. 2:8, 14.) Today, in our desperate world, the cry is: "Where are the Elijahs of the Lord God?"
All this was watched by the students from the J.B.I. (Jericho Bible Institute), but these pessimistic prophets found it difficult to be-
lieve Elijah really went all the way to heaven and therefore suggested that some of their best athletes form a search party; "Lest per- adventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley" (2 Ki. 2:16). After repeated urging, Elisha agreed to the search. After the fifty men combed the entire area for three days, the hunt was called off (2 Ki. 2:17, 18).
Elisha now employed his supernatural powers to their greatest extent. No other Old or New Testament individual (apart from the Savior), with the possible exception of Moses, could match the sheer number of his miracles.
2. Purifying the waters at Jericho (2:19-22).
At Jericho Elisha purified a polluted city well, which was believed by the citizens to be causing miscarriages, by pouring a bowl of salt into the noxious water (2 Ki. 2:19-22). Moses did a similar miracle at Marah centuries before. (See Ex. 15:23-25.)
3. Judging some hoodlums at Bethel (2:23, 24). En route to Bethel he was surrounded by a gang of young hoodlums from that city who ridiculed his bald head and mocked the recent translation of Elijah. Elisha caused two female bears to appear, and forty-two of these arrogant rebels were clawed as a divine punishment (2 Ki. 2:23-25). The Hebrew word yeled, translated "little children," should doubtless be rendered "young lads." The same word is found in 1 Samuel 16:11, referring to David, and by then David had already established a reputation as "a mighty man of valor" (1 Sam. 16:18), having killed a lion and a bear (1 Sam. 17:34-37). Note their taunt, "Go up, thou bald head," an obvious effort to ridicule the rapture of Elijah. (See Lev. 26:21, 22.)
4. Causing some empty ditches to fill with water (2 Ki. 3:16-27).
This took place during the days of Jehosha- phat, king of Judah. Jehoshaphat was again tricked by the Ahab dynasty into an unholy alliance. This time (the fourth and final). King Jehoram, Ahab's youngest son, persuaded him into a fighting alliance to defeat the Moabites, who had rebelled against Israel by refusing to pay their tribute after Ahab's death (3:1-8).
The two allied armies met in the wilderness of Edom and immediately were faced with the problem of water. In desperation both kings turned to Elisha when it was discovered he was secretly traveling with them. Elisha utterly spurned the pleas of wicked Jehoram, but agreed to help for Jehosha- phat's sake. At his order, great trenches were dug and the next day God had filled them all with water (3:9-20).
The Moabites were now aware of the impending attack and began to marshal their forces along the frontier. On the day of the battle, the Moabites mistook the rays of the
sun shining across the water-filled trenches for blood, and immediately attacked, concluding that their enemies were fighting a bloody battle among themselves (3:21-23).
This reckless action led them into a trap which resulted in their total defeat. The Moabite king made one last effort to break through the siege by leading an attack of 700 swordsmen. When this failed, he took his oldest son and, to the horror of the watching allied armies, killed and sacrificed him as a burnt offering to his pagan god (3:22-27).
5. Creating oil in empty vessels (4:1-7).
At Samaria he rescued a poverty-stricken widow of a God-fearing man from her creditor, who was threatening to enslave her two sons for non-payment. Elisha ordered the woman to borrow every possible container from her neighbors and then pour her remaining jar of olive oil into these vessels. She did this and every container was supernatu- rally filled, thus solving her indebtedness problem (2 Ki. 4:1-7). God loves to use little things.
a. He used Moses' rod (Ex. 4:2).
b. He used Aaron's rod (Num. 17:8).
c. He used David's sling (1 Sam. 17:49).
d. He used Gideon's trumpet (Jdg. 7:18).
e. He used the widow's handful of meal (1 Ki. 17:12).
f. He used a little boy's lunch (Jn. 6:9-11).
6. Raising a dead boy at Shunem (4:18-21, 32-37).
In Shunem he was given a sleeping room by a prominent woman of that city and her husband. To reward her kindness for his prophet's chamber, Elisha promised she would have a son. The son was bom, but fell sick some years later and died. In desperation the mother found Elisha and begged him to do something. He then sent his carnal servant Gehazi who laid the prophet's staff upon the dead child's face, but all in vain. Elisha then arrived and stretched his body across the child. The lad became warm, sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes (2 Ki. 4:8-37). Elisha would later advise this woman to leave the land during a divinely sent seven-year famine. Upon return, she went to the northern king (Jehoram) to get her land back. Gehazi happened to be there and was relating to the king how Elisha had once raised a boy from the dead. At that very moment she walked in. The king was so impressed he restored all her land (2 Ki. 8:1-6).
7. Purifying a poisonous stew at Gilgal (4:38-41).
In Gilgal a student prophet had unknowingly prepared some harmful stew for the students' lunch hour by adding some poisonous wild gourds. Upon discovering this, Elisha purified the soup by throwing some meal into it (2 Ki. 4:38-41).
8. Feeding 100 men by supernaturally increasing twenty loaves of bread and a sack of corn (4:42-44).
Near Baal-shalishah he fed one thousand men supernaturally from a sack of fresh com and twenty loaves of barley bread. Again the prophet's servant Gehazi displayed his carnality by doubting this could be done. He acted here as Philip and Andrew would later respond prior to the feeding of the 5000 performed by our Lord in John 6:5-13. (See 2 Ki. 4:42-44.)
9. Healing of Naaman (5:1-19).
The Syrian king at this time had an army commander whose name was Naaman. This general was honorable, brave, and successful, but he had a problem, for he was also a leper (2 Ki. 5:1). A little Israeli slave girl who was serving in the Naaman household told her master about the miraculous power of the prophet Elisha in Israel. Acting upon her testimony, the Syrian king sent Naaman to Jehoram (Israel's ruler) carrying $20,000 in silver, $60,000 in gold, and ten units of clothing, along with a personal royal letter requesting healing (5:2-6).
Jehoram was filled with both wrath and fear at this impossible request and concluded Syria demanded this as an excuse to invade the land again. However, Elisha soon learned the purpose of Naaman's visit, and bid the leprous general to visit him (5:7, 8). Naaman arrived and waited outside Elisha's home where he was instructed by a servant to wash seven times in the Jordan River, which would cure his leprosy. The Syrian soldier was furious at such “impersonal treatment" but finally was persuaded by his own servants to obey. This he did and was immediately healed (5:9-14).
Naaman arrived back at Elisha's home and was this time greeted by the prophet, but his offered reward was refused. Elisha's servant, Gehazi, coveted the money and later told Naaman that his master had changed his mind. Naaman gave him $4,000 and two expensive robes. Elisha discovered this, and Gehazi was divinely punished by being afflicted with the kind of leprosy of which Naaman was cured (5:15-27).
10. Predicting the judgment of leprosy upon Gehazi (2 Ki. 5:15-27).
11. Recovering a lost axehead (6:1-7).
At the river Jordan, Elisha caused an axehead which had accidentally fallen into the water to float on top (2 Ki. 6:1-7).
12. Revealing the secret war plans of Syria (6:8-12).
Elisha the prophet, who had once refused to help Jehoram, the northern king, now aided him by warning the monarch of several planned Syrian ambushes (2 Ki. 6:8-10).
The Syrian king concluded a traitor in his camp must be informing Israel of their plans, but was told by one of his officers that Elisha was supernaturally revealing these plans (6:11, 12). Syrian troops were immediately dispatched to arrest Elisha at Dothan. The
prophet awakened the next day and found himself surrounded by a great army of chariots and horses (6:13-15).
13. Praying that his servant could see an invisible angelic army and blinding the Syrian army (6:15-23).
His servant, Gehazi, was terrified, but was soon reassured by Elisha.
“And he answered. Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said. Lord, 1 pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said. Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha" (6:16-18).
Elisha then led these sightless Syrian soldiers into Samaria, where their eyes were opened. King Jehoram (the northern king) determined to slay his helpless enemies, but was forbidden to do so by Elisha (6:19-23). This little account by itself totally refutes the devilish claim of liberals and unbelievers that the Old Testament is one huge bloody "eye- for-an-eye“ slaughter story. Here an entire Syrian army was defeated by sheer kindness. (See Rom. 12:20, 21; Prov. 25:21, 22; Mt. 5:43-45.)
14. Blinding the entire Syrian army (2 Ki. 6:18-23).
15. Predicting the salvation of Samaria from starvation (2 Ki. 7).
Some years later (perhaps after Naaman's death) the Syrians invaded Israel and besieged the city capitol of Samaria, causing a great famine. This must have been indescribably horrible, for even a donkey 7 s head sold for $50.00 and a pint of dove's dung brought $3.00. Things became so desperate that even cannibalism was practiced (6:29).
All this was tragically prophesied over five centuries before by Moses. (See Lev. 26:27-29.) The southern kingdom of Judah would later be reduced to this same pit of despair during the destruction of Jerusalem. (Compare Deut. 28:53 with Lam. 4:10; see 2 Kings 6:25-29.) The northern king, Jehoram, bitterly remembered how Elisha had once refused to allow him to kill the blinded Syrian soldiers some years back, and vowed to execute the prophet, blaming him for the present terrible situation (6:31). The unruffled Elisha ignored the king's threats and predicted that within twenty-four hours food would be so plentiful that two gallons of flour and four gallons of barley grain would only bring a dollar in the Samaritan market. He also prophesied that the king's chief officer, an especially arrogant man, would see this food but never live to eat it (7:1, 2).
~ THE CHAOTIC KINGDOM STAGE ~
Outside the gate of the city sat four starving lepers who decided in desperation to surrender to the Syrians and began walking toward their camp (7:3, 4). But God caused their very footsteps to resemble the clatter of speeding chariots and horses. In panic, the Syrians fled, concluding that Samaria must have hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack them (7:5-7).
God had employed this method before. (See 2 Sam. 5:23, 24; Jdg. 7:16-21; 2 Chron. 20:20-25.) After looting the camp, the four lepers reported the good news to Samaria. Soon thousands of frantically happy men and women were rushing out from the main gate to gather food. In their mad drive, the king's official, attempting to control the traffic, was knocked down and crushed to death, just as Elisha had predicted. That very day two gallons of flour and four gallons of barley grain did indeed sell for a dollar (7:8-20).
16. Predicting the death of Ben-hadad, King of Syria, and the subsequent reign of Hazael over Syria (2 Ki. 8:7-15).
Elisha went to Damascus to visit Ben-hadad,
the ailing Syrian king. En route he was greeted by Hazael, an important Syrian official who presented the prophet with forty camel loads of the best products of the land. Hazael was instructed to inquire whether Ben-hadad would recover from his illness. Elisha gave the strange answer that he would indeed get well, but would still die (2 Ki. 8:7-10).
Elisha then predicted that Hazael would become the next king of Syria and that his reign would shed much Israelite blood. Hazael denied this, but the very next day he smothered to death his master, Ben-hadad (8:11-15).
Hazael would later oppress Israel without mercy. (See 2 Ki. 13:22.) Elisha instructed one of his young prophets to locate a professional charioteer in Ramoth-gilead named Jehu and anoint him the next king over Israel. This was done and Jehu was ordered by God to execute the dynasty of Ahab, including Jezebel, whom the dogs would later eat (2 Ki. 9:1-10). Note: The anointing of both