SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 15:8-31; 17
2 Kings 15:8-31
Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.
Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. He reigned in Samaria ten years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. Pekahiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king. He reigned twenty years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king.
2 Kings 17
Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria.
All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 2: 2 Kings 15:8-31; 17
3a)
- Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months.
- Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He reigned one month.
- Menahem son of Gadi. He reigned 10 years.
- Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years
- Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king. He reigned twenty years.
- Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.
b) Probably chaotic. There were assassinations at every turn. There was no stability. Then Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked and took the Israelites captive and deported them.
4) Israel had been paying Shalmaneser king of Assyria tribute to avoid an invasion. Instead, Hoshea went to the king of Egypt instead and quit paying tribute, so the king of Assyria attacked and took the Israelites captive and deported them.
5a) All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. At every high place they burned incense. They did wicked things that made God angry. Thye forsook all the commands of God, so exile was their punishment.
b) Well, as we’ve seen, they get attacked and deported. God’s blessings turn to judgment, and anything can happen. Life becomes even harder without God.
c) Lots of ways. We can look to other people, material things, other items we own, have, or want. Ultimately, every path is empty.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 2: 2 Kings 15:8-31; 17
Lots of history here and a good insight into just how turbulent ancient times were.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 16, Day 2: 2 Kings 15:8-31; 17
In 2 Kings 15, we see 5 kings that reigned over Israel in a short amount of time.
Note that all did evil in the eyes of the Lord except Shallum, whom the writer does not say whether he was good or bad. It’s probably safe to assume he was bad.
Assyria moved many conquered nations and peoples to their lands. The land of Israel is not reduced to a small piece of land.
2 Kings 17 tells about the complete fall of Israel into the hands of the Assyrians.
Hoshea and Israel were subjects under Assyria and paid them money. However, Hoshea hoped to find help with Egypt. When Assyria found out, they attacked Israel, showing no mercy. Hoshea needed to turn to the Lord for help, not Egypt.
It took Assyria three years to conquer Israel, but they did. They deported all but the poor to Assyria.
It had been a short 200 years and many kings (19 in total) since Solomon when Israel was united when the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell.
It has been reported that Assyrians would lead captives away naked and pierced. Truly humbling for God’s people — all because God was ignored.
When Israel was resettled by the Assyrians, God is angry because they did not fear Him. He sent lions to show His power. Priests were sent, but the people still forsook God.
It’s simple — obey God and be saved. Yet, this is the ulimate example of Israel’s failure to do so.
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