Readings for this week
Monday: 2 Kings 14
Tuesday: 2 Kings 15
Wednesday: 2 Kings 16
Thursday: 2 Kings 17
Friday: 2 Kings 18
Saturday: 2 Kings 19
Sunday: 2 Kings 20
Tuesday: 2 Kings 15
Wednesday: 2 Kings 16
Thursday: 2 Kings 17
Friday: 2 Kings 18
Saturday: 2 Kings 19
Sunday: 2 Kings 20
Introduction to 2nd Kings 14-20
Chapters 14-17
Meanwhile in the northern kingdom of Israel…
Jeroboam II was king of Israel for 41 years. He was bad. When he died, Zechariah took over as king. He was bad, too. He only reigned for 6 months before he was assassinated by a guy named Shallum and then Shallum became king. He was also bad. He was only king for 1 month before a guy named Menahem assassinated him and took over the throne. Menahem was bad, too. He reigned for 10 years. Israel became a vassal to the Assyrians during his reign.
After Menahem died, Pekahiah became king. He was bad, too. he only reigned for 2 years before he was assassinated by a guy named Pekah, and Pekah became king. He was bad, too, and his reign lasted for 29 years. During his reign, Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria invaded Israel and took many cities, including all of the territories of Gilead and Naphtali. Tiglath-Pileser deported many Israelites to Assyria.
Eventually, Pekah was assassinated by a guy named Hoshea and Hoshea became king. He was the last king of Israel… and yep, he was bad, too. During his 9 year reign, Israel was still a vassal to the Assyrians, but Hoshea refused to pay tribute to them and made an alliance with King So of Egypt. Shalmaneser, the King of Assyria, attacked Israel and put Hoshea in prison. The Assyrians invaded the entire land and laid siege to it for three years. Shalmaneser deported all the Israelites to Assyria, Holah, Gozan, and Media.
The text says, “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 LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets… But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God… They made golden calves to worship… They worshiped all the starry host… They worshiped Baal… They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire… They practiced divination… Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; He afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until He thrust them from His presence… So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.”
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. God sent lions to attack the people who had replaced Israel because of the evil things they did. The king of Assyria sent back one of the captive Israelite priests to teach the new people in the land how to worship the God of that land. The people, who came to be known as Samaritans, worshiped Yahweh, but also worshiped other gods, and they sacrificed their children in the fire.
After Menahem died, Pekahiah became king. He was bad, too. he only reigned for 2 years before he was assassinated by a guy named Pekah, and Pekah became king. He was bad, too, and his reign lasted for 29 years. During his reign, Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria invaded Israel and took many cities, including all of the territories of Gilead and Naphtali. Tiglath-Pileser deported many Israelites to Assyria.
Eventually, Pekah was assassinated by a guy named Hoshea and Hoshea became king. He was the last king of Israel… and yep, he was bad, too. During his 9 year reign, Israel was still a vassal to the Assyrians, but Hoshea refused to pay tribute to them and made an alliance with King So of Egypt. Shalmaneser, the King of Assyria, attacked Israel and put Hoshea in prison. The Assyrians invaded the entire land and laid siege to it for three years. Shalmaneser deported all the Israelites to Assyria, Holah, Gozan, and Media.
The text says, “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 LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets… But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God… They made golden calves to worship… They worshiped all the starry host… They worshiped Baal… They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire… They practiced divination… Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; He afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until He thrust them from His presence… So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.”
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. God sent lions to attack the people who had replaced Israel because of the evil things they did. The king of Assyria sent back one of the captive Israelite priests to teach the new people in the land how to worship the God of that land. The people, who came to be known as Samaritans, worshiped Yahweh, but also worshiped other gods, and they sacrificed their children in the fire.
Meanwhile in the southern kingdom of Judah…
Amaziah was king of Judah for 29 years. He was pretty good at first. He defeated Edom in battle but got cocky and eh picked an unwanted fight with Israel. The King of Israel captured Amaziah and put him in jail. The King of Israel then raided Jerusalem and the Temple. Later, Amaziah’s own people came and assassinated him.
Azariah became King of Judah at age 16 and reigned for 52 years. He was good, but his subjects worshiped idols. Azariah was a leper and became co-regent with his son Jotham.
When Azariah died, Jotham officially took over and reigned over Judah for another 16 years. He was good. He rebuilt the Temple's Upper Gate. Israel and the Assyrians began to struggle against Judah during his reign.
Ahaz was king of Judah 16 years reign. He was bad. He sacrificed his own son in the fire. There was war with Israel and Aram during his reign, and Ahaz allied himself with the Assyrians. He also dismantled large sections of the Temple and gave all the temple gold to Assyrians. Eventually, the Assyrians sacked Damascus (capital of Aram) and deported the Arameans. The prophet Isaiah spoke against a number of things that Ahaz did. When Ahaz died, Hezekiah became king of Judah.
Azariah became King of Judah at age 16 and reigned for 52 years. He was good, but his subjects worshiped idols. Azariah was a leper and became co-regent with his son Jotham.
When Azariah died, Jotham officially took over and reigned over Judah for another 16 years. He was good. He rebuilt the Temple's Upper Gate. Israel and the Assyrians began to struggle against Judah during his reign.
Ahaz was king of Judah 16 years reign. He was bad. He sacrificed his own son in the fire. There was war with Israel and Aram during his reign, and Ahaz allied himself with the Assyrians. He also dismantled large sections of the Temple and gave all the temple gold to Assyrians. Eventually, the Assyrians sacked Damascus (capital of Aram) and deported the Arameans. The prophet Isaiah spoke against a number of things that Ahaz did. When Ahaz died, Hezekiah became king of Judah.
Chapter 18
Hezekiah was one of Judah’s greatest kings. He reigned in Jerusalem 29 years. The text says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.” He destroyed the peoples’ idols. Even destroyed the bronze snake of Moses. The prophet Isaiah warns Hezekiah not to ally himself with Egypt and Philistia when they rebel against Assyria. Hezekiah listens at first, but later rebels.
Hezekiah’s wipes out the Philistines. The Assyrians destroy the northern kingdom of Israel during his reign. Later, the Assyrians capture all of Judah’s fortified cities. Hezekiah bribes the Assyrian king Sennacherib with gold and silver from the royal and Temple treasuries to keep him out of Jerusalem for a while.
Later, Sennacherib’s troops surrounded Jerusalem again. The field commander called out to the people of Jerusalem: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? Pharaoh will not be able to save you from us. We will give you a good new land to live in if you surrender to us. Will Yahweh really protect you? Haven’t you been unfaithful to Yahweh? None of the gods of the other nations of the world were able to save their people from our might. Yahweh himself told us to march against Jerusalem and destroy it! Surely you will all eat your own dung and drink your own piss!
The people remained silent as Hezekiah had commanded them. Hezekiah puts on sackcloth and goes to the Temple. He sends for the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. Hezekiah hoped that God would “rebuke” the Assyrians for their blasphemy and save Jerusalem.
Hezekiah’s wipes out the Philistines. The Assyrians destroy the northern kingdom of Israel during his reign. Later, the Assyrians capture all of Judah’s fortified cities. Hezekiah bribes the Assyrian king Sennacherib with gold and silver from the royal and Temple treasuries to keep him out of Jerusalem for a while.
Later, Sennacherib’s troops surrounded Jerusalem again. The field commander called out to the people of Jerusalem: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? Pharaoh will not be able to save you from us. We will give you a good new land to live in if you surrender to us. Will Yahweh really protect you? Haven’t you been unfaithful to Yahweh? None of the gods of the other nations of the world were able to save their people from our might. Yahweh himself told us to march against Jerusalem and destroy it! Surely you will all eat your own dung and drink your own piss!
The people remained silent as Hezekiah had commanded them. Hezekiah puts on sackcloth and goes to the Temple. He sends for the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. Hezekiah hoped that God would “rebuke” the Assyrians for their blasphemy and save Jerusalem.
Chapter 19
Isaiah gave this message to King Hezekiah:
“This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.”
The Assyrians retreated because of threats of a Cushite invasion from the African continent. As they left, they sent a letter to King Hezekiah threatening that they would eventually come back and conquer Jerusalem and no one would be able to stop them.
Hezekiah’s Prayer:
“It is true that the Assyrians have destroyed the gods of other nations…because they were not really gods at all… Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”
Isaiah’s message about Sennacherib, condensed:
“‘Virgin Daughter Zion
despises you and mocks you.
Daughter Jerusalem
tosses her head as you flee.
Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
“Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:
“‘He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield
or build a siege ramp against it.
By the way that he came he will return;
he will not enter this city,
declares the Lord.
I will defend this city and save it,
for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’”
The angel of the LORD slaughters 185,000 Assyrian soldiers at night. Sennacherib returns to his capital at Nineveh. His two sons assassinate him. Esarhaddon becomes king of Assyria.
“This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.”
The Assyrians retreated because of threats of a Cushite invasion from the African continent. As they left, they sent a letter to King Hezekiah threatening that they would eventually come back and conquer Jerusalem and no one would be able to stop them.
Hezekiah’s Prayer:
“It is true that the Assyrians have destroyed the gods of other nations…because they were not really gods at all… Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”
Isaiah’s message about Sennacherib, condensed:
“‘Virgin Daughter Zion
despises you and mocks you.
Daughter Jerusalem
tosses her head as you flee.
Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
“Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:
“‘He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield
or build a siege ramp against it.
By the way that he came he will return;
he will not enter this city,
declares the Lord.
I will defend this city and save it,
for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’”
The angel of the LORD slaughters 185,000 Assyrian soldiers at night. Sennacherib returns to his capital at Nineveh. His two sons assassinate him. Esarhaddon becomes king of Assyria.
Chapter 20
Later, King Marduk-Baladan of Babylon is pleased when he learns that Hezekiah has recovered, and he sends envoys with gifts for him. Hezekiah shows off all of Jerusalem’s wealth to the envoys. Isaiah scolds him, and predicts the King of Babylon will one day come to plunder Jerusalem’s wealth. Hezekiah doesn’t care – he figures he’ll be long gone by then
Hezekiah is famous for building an extensive tunnel and water system under the city in order to make sure the city would never run out of water in the event of a long siege.
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