Joash was in his 23rd year of reigning over Judah when Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria. Jehoahaz ruled for 17 years and lived an evil life. God's anger grew towards Israel and they were handed over to Hazael and his son, Beh-Hadad. God actually listened though when Jehoahaz prayed to Him and delivered them from the king of Aram. Even though this generous deed from God was given to them, the people of Israel didn't change their ways. They kept sinning in the way Jeroboam did and their Asherah sex and religion shrines stayed. Only 50 cavalry, 10 chariots, and 10,000 infantry were left after Hazael's reign over them. Jehoahaz died and Jehoash, his son, succeeded him. This occurred in Joash's 37th year reigning over Judah.
Jehoash reigned in Israel for 16 yrs and he lived an evil life just like his dad. He went to war w/ Amaziah, king of Judah in his 2nd year of reigning. Jeroboam took over the throne.
Meanwhile, Elisha fell ill and it was fatal. Jehoash brought him a bow and some arrows and Elisha told him to put his hand on the bow and put his hand on Jehoash's. Jehoash was then instructed to shoot an arrow out the window on the east side of the building. The arrow signified his deliverance from Hazael of Aram. Elisha said,"...You will do battle against Aram until there's nothing left of it." Elisha then told Jehoash to strike the ground with an arrow, but grew angry because he only struck the ground 3x instead of 5 or 6x. Because of this, Jehoash would only have victory over Aram 3x. Elisha croaked and was buried. He rotted for awhile and then some men near his tomb noticed Moabite invaders, so they ditched a dead body. When the corpse touched Elisha's bones, life went back into the man and he walked out of the tomb. The first thing I wonder is if there were any bystanders. The second thing is what if he was embalmed and all of his organs were taken out.
Ben-Hadad of Aram took the throne after Hazael died. Jehoash recaptured cities of Israel that were taken during Hazael's reign and defeated them in the 3x he went to battle against them.
Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king of Judah and reigned 29 years. He lived the way God wanted him to, but below David's standard of living. The palace guard who killed his father was executed by Amaziah. One day he challenged Jehoash to a duel and wouldn't accept no for an answer. The 2 kings met at Beth Shemesh. Israel kicked Judah's butt and Amaziah's men went running in defeat. King Amaziah was captured and Jehoash's army tore down 600 ft of Jerusalem's wall and took gold, silver, and anything that had value. The palace and the Temple of God were also raided and to put one more nail in the coffin, they took hostages. A plot against Amaziah was made and he fled to Lachish, but he was still killed there. His 16 year old son, Azariah, was made king.
Jeroboam became king over Israel in the 15th year of Amaziah's reign and ruled 41 years. He was evil and led Israel to sin. Even though God wasn't pleased by his sins, he did restore Israel's borders to Lebo Hamath on the north side of the country and to the Dead Sea. Because God wasn't done with Israel, He used Jeroboam to save them. His son, Zechariah, was heir to the throne when he died.
Azariah reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. He followed in his father's footsteps by living well in God's eyes. He still allowed the sex and religion shrines to stay though. Azariah was plagued with a leprosy until he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house and his son Jotham, was put in charge of the royal palace. Azariah was in his 38th year when Zechariah was king over Israel for a measly 6 months. Zechariah was assassinated in public by Shallum and he took over the kingly dties. Zechariah fulfilled God's word spoke to Jehu about 4 generations of his family ruling over Israel.
Shallum was only king of Israel for 1 month b/c he was attacked and killed by Menahem, son of Gadi, from Tirzah. Menahem created mayhem, devastating the town brutally ripped open every pregnant woman. He was king for 10 years, which is way too long in my opinion. When Tiglath-Pileser III, king of Assyria came to Samaria to attack it, Menahem made a deal with him. He gave him 37 tons of silver and made every owner of land in Israel give him 50 shekels. Pekahiah, son of Menahem, ruled Israel for 2 years. He was just as evil as his father. Pekah, a military aide, killed him in cold blood in his palace. Pekah had 50 Gadites following him and he became king of Israel in Azariah's last year of reigning Judah. Pekah lived an evil life and before too long Tiglath-Pileser III was back again. This time he captured Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali and took all the inhabitants hostage in Assyria. Pekah was killed by Hoshea in Jotham's 2 year of reigning in Judah. Jotham was 25 when he became king and ruled 16 years. He lived a good life according to God but allowed the sex and religion shrines to stay.
In Pekah's 17th year, Ahaz, son of Jotham, becaue king of Judah. Ahaz was 20 and ruled until he was 36 in Jerusalem. Apparently this guy was a real winner. He picked up the pagan ritual of passing his son through the fire. He also partook in sex and religion shrine activities. The king of Assyria received a message from Ahaz when Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel ganged up on Jerusalem. Ahaz robbed the palace and the Temple of God of gold and silver and asked Tiglath-Pileser III to save him. The Assyrian king captured Damascus, exiled Ninevites and killed Rezin. Ahaz then met the king in Damascus where he found an altar he favored. A priest named Uruiah built him a replica. King Ahaz reverently approached the pagan altar and made the following offerings: whole burnt, grain, libation of drink offering (the act of pouring a liquid offering (especially wine) as a religious ceremony) and sprinkle of blood from a peace offering. Ahaz pushed aside the bronze altar put there previously to signify God's presence. Uriah was told to only use the newer and greater altar. King Ahaz stripped the bronze off the furniture of the Temple.
Hoshea ruled Israel in Ahaz's 12th yr and ruled 9 yrs. He paid Shalmaneser, king of Assyria tribute, but his traiorous ways were revealed by him making a deal with So, king of Egypt. He was arrested and imprisoned for being late on his payments. Shalmaneser seiged Samaria for 3 yrs. This all happened when Hoshea reigned 9 yrs. The Israelites sinned therefore Shalmaneser exiled them in Assyria. They went to Halah and Medes. In short they (the people of Israel) prostituted themselves to every kind of evil available to them and God had enough. God was so livid w/ his people, He rid the country of them until only one tribe, Judah, was left. Judah failed in keeping commandments made by God. God rejected everyone tied to Israel. People from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim were brought to Samaria by the Assyrian king to replace the Israelites. God wasn't honored by them so he sent lions that mauled them to death. When the Assyrian king received message that the lions came from the god of the land b/c no one knew what he expected, priests once exiled from Samaria, were brought back to instruct the people. One priest taught the people to worship and honor God, but most of the people made their own gods amonst the sex and religion shrines. God wasn't exclusively honored or worshiped. A lot of priests were appointed at the fertility shrines, but they kept their devotion to their old gods even though they worshiped the one and only God. And they're still doing it, still worshiping any old god that had appeal to them. They don't really worship God—they don't take seriously what He says regarding how to behave and what to believe, what he revealed to the children of Jacob whom he named Israel.
No comments:
Post a Comment