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North & South… Introduction This stage of Israel’s history covers a period of about 325 years, from 930 B.C. To 605 B.C. The key events take place in Jerusalem and Samaria. Civil War The period begins with a civil war which splits the nation into two opposing kingdoms. The period ends with the capture of these two kingdoms by two enemy Gentile nations (1 Kings 12; 2 Kings 17, 25). Special Features The chaotic stage of Israel’s history has the following special features associated with it: 1. One king (Josiah) discovering God’s Word in the Temple and another king (Jehoiakim) attempting to destroy it in the fire (2 Kings 12; Jeremiah 36). 2. The second of 4 great miracle-working periods in the Bible. a. The first was during the time of Moses and Joshua. b. The second was during the time of Elijah and Elisha. c. The third was during the time of Daniel and Ezekiel. d. The fourth was during the time of Christ and the apostles. 3. All three of the individuals who were raised from the dead in the Old Testament: a. 1 Kings 17 b. 2 Kings 4 c. 2 Kings 13 4. The only Old Testament man ever to be healed of leprosy (Naaman, 2 Kings 5). 5. The salvation of Samaria (northern capital) by four lepers, and the salvation of Jerusalem (southern capital) by the angel of death (2 Kings 1, 19). 6. The beginning of the Samaritan race (2 Kings 17). 7. The second and third of three occasions when God rolled back the waters of the Jordan river (2 Kings 2). a. The first was in Joshua 3. 8. The account of a singing choir defeating an enemy on a battlefield (2 Chronicles 20:20-22). 9. The sight of water being burned by fire (1 Kings 18). 10. The sight of an ax head floating on water (2 Kings 6). 11. The only time in the Old Testament where men are allowed to see God’s mounted army of angels (2 Kings 6). 12. Seven prayers on a mountain, seven dips in a river, and seven sneezes on a bed 1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 5; 4). a. Elijah did the praying on Carmel. b. Naaman did the dipping in Jordan. c. A resurrected child did the sneezing in Shunem. Our Focus This stage is the most interwoven, fast-paced, and detailed period in all the Bible. We will focus on the rulers of the Chaotic Kingdom Stage. In order to make our study as brief and as meaningful as possible, we will make use of a twofold method: Floodlight Here the reign of every king will be briefly outlined. Spotlight Here the reign of the more important kings will be expounded upon. The Two Kingdoms A comparison of the two kingdoms The Northern Kingdom 1st Dynasty 1. He served as a cabinet member under Solomon, but fled to Egypt to escape the king’s wrath. 2. He led the revolt of the ten tribes at Shechem. 3. His false religion caused Israel to sin. 4. His pagan altar was destroyed, his arm paralyzed, and his son struck down by God because of his sin. 5. He was defeated by Abijam, the second king of the south. 6. He was stricken with a plague from God and died. Nadab 910-909 B.C. Ruled 2
years 1. The Son of Jeroboam. 2. He was assassinated by a rebel named Baasha. 3. First change of dynasty. 2nd Dynasty 1. He killed Nadab and fulfilled the prophecy of Ahijah. 2. He fought with Asa (the 3rd king of the south) and built a wall to cut off trade to Jerusalem. 3. His seed was predicted to suffer the same judgment as that of Jeroboam. Elah 886-885 B.C. Ruled 2
years 2. He was assassinated by a rebel soldier while drunk. 3. Second change of dynasty. 3rd Dynasty 1. Zimri fulfilled prophecy by slaughtering Baasha’s seed. 2. He was trapped by rebel soldiers in his own palace and killed himself. 3. Third change of dynasty. 4th Dynasty 1. He made Samaria the northern capital, moving it from Tirzah. 2. He was the most powerful king up to his time. 3. He arranged the marriage of his son Ahab to Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. Ahab 874-853 B.C. Ruled 22 years 1. He married Jezebel. 2. His Baal-worshipping practices caused a great famine to fall upon the land. 3. He was allowed to defeat the Syrians on two occasions to prove a point. 4. He was often denounced by Elijah. a. For encouraging Baal worship b. For his part in the murder of Naboth c. For sparing the life of a godless Syrian king 5. He tricked godly king Jehoshaphat (4th king of Judah) into a twofold compromise: a. A matrimonial alliance, whereby his wicked daughter, Athaliah, is given to Joram, son of Jehoshaphat b. A military alliance, whereby Jehoshaphat and Ahab go to war against Syria 6. The death of his wicked wife (Jezebel) was predicted by Elijah. 7. His own death was predicted by both Elijah and the prophet Micaiah. 8. He was slain in battle with the Syrians. Ahaziah 853-852 B.C. Ruled 2
years 1. He was the eldest son of Ahab and Jezebel. 2. He persuaded Jehoshaphat to enter into a ship-building enterprise with him at Ezion-Geber. 3. He suffered a severe (and later fatal) fall in his palace in Samaria. 4. He turned to the pagan god Baal-zebub for healing, but received instead the condemnation of Elijah, who he unsuccessfully attempted to arrest. Jehoram 852-841 B.C. Ruled 12 years 1. He was the youngest son of Ahab and Jezebel. 2. He persuaded Jehoshaphat to ally with him against Syria. 3. Elisha the prophet performed a miracle (for Jehoshaphat’s sake) which won the battle. 4. Elisha later helped Jehoram by warning him of several planned Syrian ambushes. 5. Elisha would, however, prevent him from slaughtering some supernaturally blinded Syrian troops. 6. He was on the throne when Naaman came to be healed of leprosy. 7. He was on the throne when God used four lepers to save Samaria from starvation. 8. He was finally murdered by Jehu in the Valley of Jezreel. 9. Fourth change of dynasty. 5th Dynasty 1. He was anointed by a messenger from Elisha, not by Elisha himself as many people believe. 2. He was known for his bloodletting. Among his other exploits we find these acts in his portfolio: a. He executed the dynasty of Ahab including Jehoram and Jezebel b. He rode his chariot to the valley of Jezreel, where he executed both Jehoram and Judah’s king Ahaziah (not to be confused with Ahab’s eldest son), grandson of Jehoshaphat c. He made his way to the city of Jezreel and killed Jezebel. d. He then demanded and received the heads of the 70 sons of Ahab who were living in the city of Samaria. e. He executed 42 royal princes of Judah. f. Finally, by trickery, he assembled all the priests of Baal in a large convention hall in Jezreel, where he ordered the slaughter of each priest. Jehoahaz 798-783 B.C. Ruled
17 years 1. He was the son of Jehu. 2. He saw his army almost wiped out by the Syrians. 3. He experienced a brief period of remorse over his sins, but apparently not genuine repentance. a. He was the closest thing to a righteous king the northern kingdom ever saw. Jehoash 798-783 B.C. Ruled 16
years 1. He visited Elisha on his deathbed. 2. He defeated Amaziah (6th king of Judah) on the battlefield. 3. He related one of the two Old Testament fables to ridicule the arrogant claims of Amaziah. 4. He plundered Jerusalem, taking many hostages and much wealth. 5. He had a co-regency for 12 years with Jeroboam II. Jeroboam II 783-743 B.C. Ruled
41 years 1. He ruled longer than any other northern king. 2. He was one of the most powerful kings of the north. 3. He recovered much of Israel’s lost territory. 4. He had a 12-year co-regency with Jehoash. Zechariah 743 B.C. Ruled 6
months 1. He was the great-great-grandson of Jehu, and the fourth ruler in his dynasty. 2. He was murdered by a rebel named Shallum, thus fulfilling God’s prophecy against Jehu (2 Kings 10:30; 14:29; 15:8-12). 3. Fifth change of dynasty. 6th Dynasty 1. He was murdered by an incredibly cruel soldier named . 2. Sixth change of dynasty. 7th Dynasty 1. He was one of Israel’s most brutal dictators. 2. He bought off Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser with a two-million dollar bribe. Pekahiah 738-737 B.C. Ruled 2
years 1. He was the son of Menahem. 2. He was killed by his own army commander, Pekah. 3. Seventh change of dynasty. 8th Dynasty 1. Only 8 years are in view here. It is thought that the first twelve years were shared by a co-regency arrangement with both Menahem and Pekahiah. 2. He joined Syria in an unsuccessful attempt to punish Judah for their refusal to ally against Assyria. 3. He saw Assyria capture some of Israel’s northern and eastern cities. 4. He was assassinated by Hoshea. 5. Eighth change of dynasty. 9th Dynasty 1. He was Israel’s final king. 2. He joined with Egypt in rebelling against Assyria. 3. He was imprisoned in Assyria for this. The Southern Kingdom Rehoboam 931-913 B.C. Ruled
17 years 1. He was the son of Solomon. 2. His stupidity and tactlessness started the civil war. 3. He had 18 wives and 60 concubines. 4. His favorite wife was Maachah, the evil daughter of Absalom. 5. He sees his capital, Jerusalem, invaded by Shishak, Pharaoh of Egypt. Abijam 913-911 B.C. Ruled 3
years 1. He was the son of Rehoboam. 2. He defeated (via supernatural intervention) the northern king Jeroboam on the battlefield. 3. Even with God’s help, he degenerated into a wicked king. Asa 911-870 B.C. Ruled 41
years 1. He was the son of Abijam. 2. He was Judah’s first righteous king. 3. He led Judah in a revival. 4. He was a great builder. 5. He saw God answer his prayer by delivering Jerusalem from a massive Ethiopian attack (2 Chronicles 14:11). 6. He deposed Maachah (his grandmother) because of her idolatry. 7. He later backslid and threw into prison a prophet who had rebuked his sin. 8. He died of a foot disease, which problem he refused to take to God. Jehoshaphat 870-848 B.C. Ruled
25 years 2. He was Judah’s second righteous king. 3. He instituted a national religious education program by sending out teachers of the word of God. 4. He later marred his testimony by compromising with three ungodly northern kings. 5. He appointed a religious director and a civil director, thus recognizing the separation of church and state. 6. When Jerusalem was threatened by a massive Moabite invasion, God heard his prayer and supernaturally intervened. Joram 848-841 B.C. Ruled 8
years 1. He was the son of Jehoshaphat. 2. He married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. 3. He began his reign by murdering his six brothers. 4. He received a posthumous message from Elijah predicting judgment upon him because of his wicked and murderous reign. 5. He was attacked and defeated by the Philistines and Arabians. 6. He died of a horrible disease and was unmourned at the funeral. Ahaziah 841 B.C. Ruled 1 year 1. He was the son of Joram and Athaliah. 2. He was killed by Jehu (10th northern king). Athaliah 841-835 B.C. Ruled 6
years 1. She was the wife of Joram (Judah’s 5th king). 2. At the death of her son, Ahaziah, she took over the throne of Judah, slaughtering all the royal seed but one, Joash, who was hidden from her. 3. After a rule of 6 years, she was executed. Joash
835-796 B.C. Ruled 40 years 1. He was the son of Ahaziah. 2. He was the only one to survive the bloody purge of Athaliah. 3. He was Judah’s 3rd righteous king, but only for awhile, later becoming a cruel tyrant. 4. He sanctioned the stoning of Judah’s own high priest, Zechariah, who had fearlessly rebuked the sin among the people. a. This is not the prophet Zechariah. 5. He was executed by his own palace guard. Amaziah 796-781 B.C. Ruled 29
years 1. He was the son of Joash. 2. He was the 4th righteous king of Judah, but only for awhile. 3. He executed the killers of his father. 4. He was rebuked by a prophet for hiring some mercenary Israeli soldiers to help him fight against Edom. 5. He reluctantly dismissed those paid soldiers and, with God’s help, defeated Edom with his own soldiers. 6. He stupidly brought back some of the Edomite gods for worshiping purposes. 7. He then foolishly waged war on the northern kingdom and was decisively defeated. Uzziah 781-740 B.C. Ruled 52
years 2. He is also known as Azariah. 3. He was a mighty warrior and builder. 4. He attempted to intrude into the office of the priesthood and was punished for this by leprosy. Jotham 740-736 B.C. Ruled 16
years 1. He was the son of Uzziah. 2. He was Judah’s 5th righteous king. 3. He built the upper gate of the Temple and erected fortresses and towers. 4. He defeated his enemies and receive huge annual tribute from them. Ahaz 736-716 B.C. Ruled 16
years 1. He was the son of Jotham. 2. He was the second worst king of Judah. 3. He sacrificed his own children to demons. 4. He was the first person to hear about the virgin birth. a. See Isaiah 7:1-25 5. He ordered the construction of pagan Assyrian altar and placed it in the Temple to appease Tiglath-Pileser. Hezekiah 716-687 B.C. Ruled
29 years 2. He was Judah’s 6th righteous king. 3. He was the second best king of Judah. 4. He was the richest of all. 5. He repaired the Temple, organized an orchestral group, and appointed a Levitical singing choir. 6. He carried out the greatest Passover celebration since Solomon. 7. He saw the death angel defeat the Assyrian enemies which had surrounded Jerusalem. 8. He was supernaturally healed of a terminal disease and given and additional 15 years to live. 9. He added 15 Psalms to the Old Testament Canon. 10. He foolishly showed the wealth of Judah to some nosy Babylonian ambassadors. Manasseh 687-642 B.C. Ruled
55 years 1. He was the son of Hezekiah. 2. He ruled longer than any other king of the north or south. 3. He was the most wicked king of all. 4. Although his faith in God did not come until later in life, while in an enemy prison, he was the 7th righteous king of Judah. Amon 642-640 B.C. Ruled 2
years 1. He was the son of Manasseh. 2. He was wicked like his father, but did not repent as his father had done. 3. He was executed by his own household servant. Josiah 640-609 B.C. Ruled 31
years 1. He was the son of Amon. 2. He was the last godly of Judah. 3. At the beginning of his reign, the book of Moses was discovered among the debris in the Temple. a. He used this to lead Judah in a great revival. 4. He conducted a larger Passover celebration than that of Hezekiah, his great-grandfather. 5. He fulfilled a three-hundred-year-old prophecy. a. See 1 Kings 13:1,2 & 2 Kings 23:15. 6. He was killed in a battle with the Egyptians. Jehoahaz 609 B.C. Ruled 3
months 1. He was the middle son of Josiah. 2. He was deposed after only 90 days by the same Pharaoh who had killed his father. 3. He was taken captive into Egypt where he eventually died. Jehoiakim 609-598 B.C. Ruled
11 years 1. He was the eldest son of Josiah. 2. He was Judah’s 2nd worst king. 3. He was placed on the throne by the Egyptian Pharaoh. 4. He was later made a vassal by Nebuchadnezzar after Egypt was defeated by the Babylonians. 5. He was self-centered and materialistic. 6. He murdered innocent people and often persecuted the prophet Jeremiah. 7. He burned a copy of a part of God’s word. a. Jeremiah 36:22-32 8. He experienced the first of three visits Nebuchadnezzar made to the city of Jerusalem. 9. During this visit in 606 B.C., Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken into captivity. 10. At his death, he received the burial of an ass, as Jeremiah had predicted. Jehoiachin 598 B.C. Ruled 3
months 1. He was the son of Jehoiakim. 2. He is the last of the line of David to sit on the throne. 3. He is also known as Jeconiah and Coniah. 4. He received a curse from God, stating that none of his seed would sit upon the throne of Judah. 5. Both Ezekiel (19:5-9) and Jeremiah (22:24-26) predicted he would be carried off into Babylonian captivity. 6. He died in Babylon. Zedekiah 598-587 B.C. Ruled
11 years 1. He was the youngest son of Josiah and the uncle of Jehoiachin. 2. He persecuted Jeremiah 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 to the ground and the Temple burned at this time. As the new leader of the ten-tribe confederation, Jeroboam is faced with a serious dilemma. Jerusalem Three times each year, per God’s command (Leviticus 23; Exodus 23:17), the entire nation is supposed to go to Jerusalem to worship God. Jeroboam knows the priests will exploit these opportunities to re-unite the nation under Rehoboam. Jeroboam adopts a fourfold plan. Change of Symbols Jeroboam changed the symbols of Israel from two cherubim to two golden calves. He even stole Aaron’s text to introduce the calves to Israel (cf. Exodus 32:4 with 1 Kings 12:28). Change of Worship Center Jeroboam moved the religious worship center from Jerusalem to Bethel and Daniel. This was done in direct defiance to God’s clear command to him (1 Kings 11:36). Change of Priesthood Jeroboam degrades the Levitical priesthood by making “priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi” (1 Kings 12:31). Because of this, the vast majority of the priests and Levites flee to Judah, leaving behind a situation of nearly total apostasy (2 Chronicles 11:13-17).
Change of Calendar Jeroboam changed the religious calendar from October to November. According to Leviticus 23, Israel was to observe six (6) main yearly feasts, beginning in April and ending in October. These 6 feasts, 3 of which would fall in October, were typical of:
Obviously Jeroboam had no use for any of this because Scripture tells us that he created the November feast after his own heart (1 Kings 12:33). Priesthood Jeroboam visits the altar in Bethel to burn incense. He now becomes the second of 3 Israelite kings who dared take upon themselves the office of a priest. All three were severely punished. The other two were: For his idolatry, Jeroboam was prophesied against by a man of God. 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 (cf. 1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23;15, 16). The Punishment Jeroboam’s altar was destroyed and his arm paralyzed, both supernaturally from God. Requittal God strikes Jeroboam with a plague and he dies, after an evil reign of 22 years. It is recorded not less than 21 times that he, “made Israel to sin.” Perhaps the best known of all the kings of the northern kingdom. Ahab’s wife was Jezebel. She is the only person in the Old Testament with this name (”where is the prince?”). She is the epitome of:
Elijah warns Ahab that, because of his sin and Israel’s wickedness, a three-and-a-half-year famine will occur (1 Kings 17:1). Elijah then defeats the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:40). King Ben-hadad Ben-hadad then declares war on Ahab, but God allows Ahab to defeat the Syrians on two occasions to prove a point;
Victory #1 The Syrians fought Israel in the hills. Ben-hadad decides the defeat was owing to geographical factors. This meant that Israel’s God was a hill God. Plans were made to fight again. Victory #2 The Syrians fought Israel on the plain believing that the God of Israel was the God of the hills…he is, but he is also:
The Syrians lost 127,000 infantrymen. Ahab disobeyed God’s command and spared Ben-hadad’s life (as Saul had once done with Agag). The prophet of God then announced that God would require Ahab’s life for that of Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20:32-43). The Vineyard Even though Samuel, some years earlier, had warned against land grabbing by kings, Ahab tries to buy a vineyard from Naboth. He was not selling, and even had he wanted to, the Levitical law would have forbidden him (Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18). The Helpful Wife When Jezebel learns of Naboth’s refusal to sell the vineyard, she contrives a plan to get it anyway. She pays two lying witnesses to state that Naboth had cursed both God and the king. Naboth is then taken out and murdered, and his sons are all stoned. The Prophecy God ordered Elijah to confront Ahab and pronounce heaven’s curse upon him and his household.
Ahaziah was killed in a fall, and Jehoram, his youngest, was murdered by Jehu.
When he heard all of this he humbled himself and God spared him from seeing his sons killed. At this time Ahab enlists the aid of Jehoshaphat to fight against the Syrian king, Ben-hadad (who was supposed to be dead already).
To a man they predict victory.
Ahab’s response: 1 Kings 22:8
He grabs some horns and prances around in an attempt to demonstrate Ahab’s victory.
He is then slapped in the face by Zedekiah and re-imprisoned by Ahab and placed on a diet of bread and water until his safe return.
On the eve of the battle, Ahab comes up with a plan. He has Jehoshaphat wear his royal robes into battle and he (Ahab) will put on the garb of an infantry soldier. Jehoshaphat agrees. K Jehoshaphat is immediately spotted in the battle and the Syrians believe he is Ahab. Jehoshaphat then cries out to God for deliverance and is unharmed by the Syrians who now realize it is not Ahab. One of the Syrian soldiers shoots an arrow wildly into the air at the Israeli troops and it hits Ahab. Ahab died that evening. Ahab’s blood-soaked chariot is taken down to a nearby pool to be cleaned where it is licked by dogs, just as Elijah had predicted. Jehu was notorious for his bloodletting (see page16-164). God ordered Jehu to execute the dynasty of Ahab, including Jezebel, whom the dogs would later eat (2 Kings 9:1-10), but did not sanction the other assassinations.
Jehu executes them both.
She is immediately thrown to her death and soon eaten by wild dogs who left only her skull, feet, and hands.
These were removed from their rightful owners, packed in baskets, and sent to Jehu in Jezreel.
It is Rehoboam who is singlehandedly responsible for the Israeli civil war. Rehoboam is unknowingly helped by Jeroboam who drives the Levite priests from the north to Jerusalem.
During the first 10 years of his reign, the land was at peace; Asa used the time wisely.
Peace ended suddenly when Judah was threatened with an invasion by a million Ethiopian troops (14:9). Asa cries out to God for deliverance (14:11).
In the 36th year of his reign, the northern king, Baasha, declares war on him and begins building a walled fortress at Ramah.
Asa is severely rebuked for this by the prophet Hanani.
This is a favored response of sinful monarchs toward uncooperative preachers. Asa ended his good reign by oppressing the people. Religious Reforms He began his reign by continuing the moral reforms and building projects started by his father, Asa. In the 3rd year of his reign, he instituted a nationwide religious education program, sending out Bible teachers to all important Judean cities (2 Chronicles 17:7-9). The Heartbreak of Compromise 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.
Jehoshaphat returns home after the Syrian fiasco and is soundly rebuked for his foolishness and compromise by the prophet Jehu (2 Chronicles 19:1-3).
Jehoshaphat 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. 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.
Early the next morning Judah’s army marches out to engage the enemy. God causes fear among the apposing troops and they begin fighting among themselves.
Joash
cooperates with Jehoiada the high priest in ushering in a time of revival, including the
destruction of the temples of Baal Joash then determines that the Temple of God needs repair and orders Jehoiada to oversee the project.
This was the first free-will offering taken since the construction of the tabernacle under Moses. After the death of Jehoiada Joash became like Lot without Abraham. Judah’s leaders (who are corrupt) persuaded Joash to abandon God and worship idols. The Syrian
king, Hazael, began a move to enlarge his kingdom by capturing the Philistine city of
Gath. He then started toward Jerusalem, but was bribed off by Joash, who sent all the gold
and treasuries of the Temple The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah (the son of Jehoiada) who boldly denounces Judah’s idolatry, calling for national repentance. Finally, at Joash’s order, Zechariah is stoned to death. Jesus referred to this about 850 years later (Matthew 23:35).
The Lord look upon it, and require it. 2 Chronicles 24:22
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Acts 7:60 A few months after the murder of Zechariah, God sent the Syrian army all the way into Judah. Jerusalem was captured and looted. Joash was seriously wounded and finally murdered by his own palace officials. Uzziah had the second longest reign of all Judah’s kings, 52 years. He was a good ruler and was helped by a godly prophet named Zechariah (Not the prophet of the Book of Zechariah). Uzziah’s accomplishments were:
In the midst of his strength he was cut down by pride, burning incense upon the golden altar. He was immediately stricken with leprosy and later died, still a leper. By God’s own estimation, Hezekiah was the best king of Judah up to his time. His spiritual record would be surpassed only by his grandson, Josiah. Hezekiah’s vast wealth was exceeded only by Solomon’s. In the first month of his reign, Hezekiah re-instituted the animal sacrifice. Josiah He was the finest king since Solomon: And like unto 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 Kings 23:25 The achievements of Josiah are phenomenal. They include: 1. He began seeking after God when he was just 16 (2 Chronicles 34:3). 2. At the age of 20, he began his massive reform work (34:3). 3. He destroyed the altars of Baal (34:4). 4. He then ground them into dust and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them (34:4). 5. He burned the bones of heathen priests upon their own altars (34:5). 6. He carried out these action in distant Israelite cities as well as in his own kingdom (34:6). 7. At the age of 26, he began to repair the Temple (34:8). 8. He led his people in a massive “repentance service” upon the discovery of the law of Moses (2 Kings 23:1-3, 18-21, 29-32). He then had this book read to all the people. 9. He planned for and presided over one of the greatest Passover services of all time (2 Chronicles 35:1, 18). 10. He killed heathen priests whom previous kings of Judah had appointed (2 Kings 23:5). 11. He removed the shameful idol of Asherah from the Temple (23:6). 12. He tore down the houses of male prostitutes (23:7). 13. He brought the priests of God, who were living in other cities of Judah, back to Jerusalem (23:8) 14. He destroyed the altar of Topheth in the Hinnom Valley so no one could offer human sacrifices upon it (23:10). 15. 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). 16. He tore down Ahaz’s pagan altars on the palace roof (23:12). 17. He remove 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). 18. 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 Kings 13:1, 2) 19. He demolished the shrines on the hills of Samaria (23:19). 20. He exterminated mediums, wizards, and soothsayers (23:24). 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 Kings 22:8). Josiah was informed of this and tore his clothes out of terror.
Josiah then ordered Hilkiah to seek out the counsel of a godly prophetess concerning all this.
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 words of the Lord (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 unto thy grave in peace” (2 Kings 2:20).
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 Kings 23:1-3). The Greatest Passover Celebration The Passover had evidently not been celebrated since the days of Hezekiah, over 60 years ago. But now Josiah was determined to make amends. The number os animals sacrificed is amazing: 30,000 Lambs 3,000 young bulls 7,600 sheep 300 oxen The Ark of the Covenant According to 2 Ch. 35:18, this was the greatest Passover of all time. During the celebration, Josiah elevated the Ark of the Covenant to its proper place in the Temple (2 Chronicles 35:3). This is the final Old Testament mention of the Ark of the Covenant. Here is a synopsis of its history: 1. It is first mentioned in Exodus 25:10. 2. It was placed in the Tabernacle by Moses (Exodus 40:21). 3. It was carried throughout Israel’s 40-year wilderness journey (Numbers 10:35; 14:44). 4. It followed the people of Israel across the Jordan River (Joshua 4:5). 5. It was carried around Jericho (Joshua 6:13). 6. It was placed beside Joshua on Mt. Ebal as he read the law to all Israel (Joshua 8:33). 7. It was formally placed in the new tabernacle, set up at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). 8. It was carried into battle with the Philistines by Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 4:4). 9. It was captured by the Philistines for seven months (1 Samuel 4:11; 6:1). During the seven months:
10. It was carried by two milk cows (milch kine) into Bethshemesh where God smote a number of citizens for looking inside (1 Samuel 6:12). 11. It was carried to Kirjath-jearim where it remained for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:1). 12. It was brought to Gibeah by Saul where it saved Israel from the Philistines (1 Samuel 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 Samuel 6:3). 14. It ressted at the house of Obed-edom for 3 months (2 Samuel 6:11). 15. It was brought into Jerusalem by David (2 Samuel 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 Samuel 15:24). 17. It was carried back to Jerusalem by David’s order (2 Samuel 15:25, 29). 18. It was placed in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:1). 19. None of the Canonized books of the Bible says what eventually became of it, but in the book of 2 Maccabees 2:1-12 we are told that the prophet Jeremiah hid the Ark, the tabernacle, and the altar of incense in a cave-dwelling in Mt. Nebo. |
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