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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 2 Chronicles 36

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 23:31-25:30; 2 CHRONICLES 36

2 Kings 23:31-25:30

Jehoahaz[a] was twenty-three years old when he became king. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents[b] of silver and a talent[c] of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. The Lord sent Babylonian,[a] Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets.

Jehoiachin was eighteen[e] years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He surrended to Nebuchadnezzar. He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. 19 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. They laid seige to Jerusalem and eventually captured it. They bound Zedekiah after killing his sons and putting his eyes out. He burned God’s temple and took Judah into captivity.

In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison

2 Chronicles 36:

Jehoahaz[a] was twenty-three years old when he became king. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents[b] of silver and a talent[c] of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. He was taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar as a prisoner.

Jehoiachin was eighteen[e] years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 10 In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle,[f] Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God, and all the people became even more unfaithful to God.

God brought Babylon up against his people. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power, Cyrus king of Persia would begin building God’s temple once again.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 20; 2 Chronicles 36

11)

Jehoahaz. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Jehoiakim. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.

Joehoiachin. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Zedekiah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

12a) God sent warnings to his people via messengers. He brought consequences down on them for their sin. He took their kings away in captivity and gradually he took them, too.

b) The messengers were mocked. They continued to sin. They continued to follow other gods. No one learned.

c) God is faithful even when you are not.

13) God postponed judgment for hundreds of years. God gave His people every chance. The consequences were just.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 20; 2 Chronicles 36

Finally, the conclusion to Judah’s built-up sins. There were glimpses of light, but too few to make up for the darkness.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 20; 2 Chronicles 36

2 Kings 23:31-25:30

Essentially, all of Judah’s final kings (who only reigned a total of 24 years) did evil in the eyes of the Lord as they were all exiled to Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar makes Judah a servant nation mainly because of where it was located near his enemies of Egypt and Assyria. The first invasion was 605 B.C. Jerusalem would be invaded again in 597 and 587 B.C. Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, and it did not go well. He died, and more evil kings reigned.

Jerusalem was sacked, and the people were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar in 597. It was completely destroyed in 586 B.C. The skilled people were taken; the poor were left in Jerusalem. Jedekiah was made king by Nebuchadnezzar. He did evil and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar despite Jeremiah’s warnings Jeremiah 32:1-5. Zedekiah arrested Jeremiah and imprisoned him.

Jerusalem was under seige and finally fell. Zedekiah was taken prisoner and killed as prophesied (Ezekiel 12:13). The city was destroyed along with the temple. More people were taken except the poor. Gedaliah is made governor. He is killed. 2 Kings ends with King Jehoiachin receiving kindness from Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36:

The last 4 kings of Judah were evil. The Lord’s message is rejected, but the messengers were mocked. Jerusalem is destroyed. The people would be captives of Babylon for 70 years. They could return to their land when Persia conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. God allowed Persia to conquer the Babylonians when it was time to send his people back home. Isaiah 44:28-45:7 and Jeremiah 51:57-58 (Exodus 23:10-11).

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 23:21-30; 2 CHRONICLES 35

2 Kings 23:21-30:

Josiah orders everyone to celebrate the Passover. Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger.

Josiah was killed in battle by the King of Egypt. He was buried, and his son Jehoahaz became king.

2 Chronicles 35:

Josiah celebrates the Passover. He goes to battle with the King of Egypt who tried to warn Josiah not to fight him or he would die. Josiah ignores him and dies.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

9a) “Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.” The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. 

It was a grand celebration that had not been seen for so long. He followed the instructions in the book of the Law exactly as written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon.

b) Josiah goes all out in worship of the Lord – as we should.

10a) He goes to battle with the King of Egypt who tried to warn Josiah not to fight him or he would die. Josiah ignores him and dies.

b) Pride maybe. Maybe he thought he could help or postpone God’s judgment.

c) God speaks through other people sometimes, and we can’t ignore them. We need to take new knowledge to God to confirm and not let pride get in our way.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

It is so good to celebrate God as He should be celebrated.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

2 Kings 23:21-30:

Josiah celebrates Passover and reforms Judah. Josiah was Godly in a wicked time in Israel’s history. And, it wasn’t long after him that Judah would be judged. Jeremiah says that God would have relented (Jeremiah 7:5-7) if they only followed Him. Instead, they would face judgment, and Josiah dies.

2 Chronicles 35:

Josiah celebrates Passover for the first time since Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30:1-3). Sacrifices were made, and it was a wild success.

Josiah disregards God’s warning and goes to war. The was was between the Babylonians and the Assyrians, not Judah. The warning delivered via King Necho was from God. Josiah pays the ultimate price – his death. The disguise did not fool God.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 22:1-23; 20; 2 CHRONICLES 34

2 Kings 22:

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The book of the Law was found in the temple. Josiah tore his robes when he read the book because he knew none of the other kings had followed it.

The Lord responded by saying He would bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 “Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,[a] my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse[b] and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

2 Kings 20:

When Hezekiah became ill, the prophet Isaiah said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah wept and the Lord promised to add 15 more years to his life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’

Hezekiah showed the envoys his riches, and Isaiah prophesied that they would be carried away by Babylon. His son, Manasseh, succeeded him as king.

2 Chronicles 34:

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He purged Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. He repaired the temple of the Lord.

The book of the Law was found in the temple. Josiah tore his robes when he read the book because he knew none of the other kings had followed it. He read the book to the people and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord. Everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledged themselves to it. Everyone followed the Lord as long as Josiah lived.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

6a)

2 Chronicles 34:1-2: Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

2 Chronicles 34:3a: In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.

2 Chronicles 34:3b-7: In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6 In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, 7 he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:8:  In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.

7a) He tore his robes and inquired of the Lord about the consequences of those who acted before him.

b) You truly can’t grow with God until you do acknowledge your weaknesses before Him.

8a) Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. 27 So the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.

b) God heard Josiah and postponed punishment: “Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

Josiah read the Law to the people and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord. Everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledged themselves to it. Everyone followed the Lord as long as Josiah lived.

c) I hope rightly. I hope I repent and turn to His ways and not mine. This is not always the case, I’m sure. I’m unsure on the recent experience.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

I love reading about the good kings much more than the bad kings. It gives me hope for the human race.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

2 Kings 22:

Josiah followed the Lord. He repaired the temple. According to 2 Chronicles 34, the repair of the temple happened after Josiah committed to the Lord at age 16 and began getting rid of idolatry in Judah. The book of the Law is found and read. Deuteronomy 31:24-27, tells us that there was a copy of the Book of the Law beside the ark of the covenant from Moses on. But, the book had been neglected for so long due to bad kings.

  •  Deuteronomy 17:18-20 says each king was to have a personal copy of the law, and he was to read it.
  • Deuteronomy 31:9-13 commands the entire law to be read to an assembly of the nation once every 7 years at the Feast of Tabernacles to remind the people of God’s word.

There was apublic reading of the law in Joshua 8:34, during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:7-9), more than 500 years later, and in the reign of Josiah  (2 Chronicles 34:30), more than 250 years after Jehoshaphat. There could have been more readings, too.

A spiritual revival happened, especially in Josiah. He sought the Lord, and the Lord says judgment is coming, but he spares Josiah due to his faithfulness and postpones judgment of the people. We’ve seen this a lot in this study where God takes pity on his people when they repent and postpones judgment (Ahab,1 Kings 21:25-29). This should encourage us.

2 Kings 20:

God extends Hezekiah’s life 15 years when He tells him that he will die (which is kind of God). He does this because he was faithful to the Lord. We know from 2 Kings 18:2 and 2 Kings 20:6 that Hezekiah was 39 years old when God told him he would die soon. This is also recorded in Isaiah 38.

Hezekiah prayed to God, and God answers (something we all should do). God confirmed his prophecy with a sign (another thing God did not have to do but does out of mercy for us).

Next, we see Hezekiah sin by being prideful of his riches that God gave him. He did not testify about God to these envoys either. This is a sin that God addresses. God says they will be taken away to Babylon, but Hezekiah is joyous because it won’t be in his day.

Hezekiah did not finish well. Will you?

2 Chronicles 34:

Josiah was a good king who worked to end idolatry in Judah. He restored the temple and discovered the book of the Law again. Josiah is overjoyed and goes to God. God answers. He will punish his people but not in Josiah’s time. Josiah will be gathered to his people.

Josiah renews God’s covenant and helps the people to follow God’s ways.

Josiah finishes well. Will you?

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 2: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 21; 2 CHRONICLES 33

2 Kings 21:

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king of Judah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord would punish him for this by bringing disaster on Jerusalem and Judah.

Manasseh’s son Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was assassinated by his officials, and his son Josiah reigned after him.

2 Chronicles 33:

Manassah did evil in the eyes of hte Lord. The Lord brought Assyria against him and took him prisoner. Then, Manassah turned back to God and God took pity on him. He brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Manasseh rebuilt Jerusalem, restored the altar of God and sacrifices to him. The people did as well.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 2: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33

3a)

 He followed the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” 5 In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

7 He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.”

9 But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

It roused God’s anger towards Judah and would cause their eventual fall into slavery and exile by Assyria.

b) God warned Manasseh and His people of what would happen because of their sin. This still gives them time to repent and come to the Lord to ward off these consequences.

4a) The Lord brought Assyria against Manansseh and took him prisoner. Then, Manassah turned back to God and God took pity on him. He brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Manasseh rebuilt Jerusalem, restored the altar of God and sacrifices to him. The people did as well.

b) Through all the hardships God has restored me to him. The circumstances of life and the consequences of my bad choices bring me closer to him.

5) As the leader goes, so goes the country. It’s super important to lead by example (even in your family) if you want a certain outcome.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 2: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33

Very sad to read about these rulers, but there’s always an olive branch extended by the Lord, which is encouraging to say the least.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 2: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33

2 Kings 21:

Note that Manasseh was born in the additional 15 years that Hezekiah prayed for and was granted by the Lord.

Fun Fact: Manasseh reigned 55 years, the longest reign of a king of Judah.

God promises judgment for all of Manasseh’s evil. Manesseh even kills his own people.

2 Chronicles 33:

This book records that Manasseh was taken by the Babylonians as prisoner, which caused him to turn back to God. Manasseh proved his repentance was genuine by taking away the idols and the foreign gods from Jerusalem, and he commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel (2 Chronicles 33:16). Yet, Judah was too far into sin to be saved entirely.

Amon was no better, and he was assassinated as such.

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