2 CHRONICLES 21
JEHORAM REIGNS IN JUDAH
When Jehoshaphat dies, he leaves the throne of Judah to his firstborn son, Jehoram. Although Jehoram is from the line of David, he is not a righteous king. Although he is already king, Jehoram kills all of his brothers, leaving no competition for the throne.
During Jehoram’s kingship, the people of Edom revolt against Judah and appoint their own king. Jehoram leads with wickedness, influencing the people of Judah to worship false gods.
The prophet Elijah gives Jehoram a letter which shares the words of God. The letter reveals that because of Jehoram’s wickedness, God would send a plague on Jehoram’s family and inflict him with a terrible bowel disease. Worst mail ever!
God incites the Philistines and nearby nations to invade Judah, raiding the palace and stealing all of the king’s valued possessions. Jehoram’s family is taken as well, all of his wives and sons, except for Jehoahaz, his youngest son.
Just as Elijah prophesied, Jehoram dies an embarrassing and agonizing death from his disease. After his eight-year reign, there is no mourning for his death.
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AHAZIAH + ATHALIAH REIGN IN JUDAH
Jehoram’s only living son, Ahaziah (also called Jehoahaz), becomes the king over Judah.
Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, raises him in wickedness, training him to be deceitful and evil.
Ahaziah visits with Joram, king of Israel. There, God has given permission to a man named Jehu to bring destruction upon Ahab’s living lineage. Because Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter, Ahaziah is included in this legacy and is killed by Jehu.
When Athaliah sees that her son Ahaziah is dead, she takes over the throne, serving as the Queen over Judah. Athaliah, in her wickedness, slaughters her entire family including her children and grandchildren. Unknown to Athaliah, Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba saves one of the Ahaziah’s children, Joash, and hides him in safety.
(Note: There are two Jehorams and two Ahaziahs mentioned in Kings + Chronicles)
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JOASH APPOINTED + JEHOIADA’S LEADERSHIP
Jehosheba, who saved Joash, is married to the priest Jehoiada. Jehoiada gathers army officials and Levites to conspire against Athaliah and appoint Joash as king over Judah. Their plan works! Athaliah is shocked to see Joash is still alive and she is quickly killed after he is appointed.
Because Joash is still very young, Jehoiada leads the way in restoring Judah’s faithfulness. Jehoiada has the temple of Baal destroyed and killed the leader of Baal worship. He reinstates the Levites’ leadership of the temple and encourages the people to worship God in song and generosity. Jehoiada references the scriptures and remembers the dedication of his ancestors in efforts to redirect the people of Judah towards faithfulness.
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JOASH + JEHOIADA’S REIGN IN JUDAH
Joash instructs the priests to make repairs to the temple while keeping good records and being responsible with the money. After many years, the temple has not been restored or updated. Workmen are hired to repair the temple and prove to be more trustworthy with the money than the priests had been.
Jehoiada, the priest that aided Joash, creates the sacred vessels within the temple. Jehoiada lives a faithful life and is buried in the royal cemetery after his death to honor his service to God’s temple.
After Jehoiada’s death, Israel disobeys God and lives in rebellion. God sends prophets, including Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, to warn Israel, but they do not listen. Zechariah is stoned to death for his warning against Israel. Zechariah stands firm in his message, speaking of God’s judgment even in his final words.
After a forty-year reign, Joash is attacked and killed by two of his servants who conspired against him. After his death, Joash’s son Amaziah becomes king over Judah.
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AMAIAH’S PRIDEFUL BATTLE DECISIONS
Amaziah, son of Joash, reigns as king over Judah. Although he is faithful in some ways, his heart is divided, and he kills the servants who murdered his father.
Amaziah, along with his army, hires some of Israel’s army to grow his military in size. God sends a prophet to warn Amaziah not to team up with Israel and tells them they are better off on their own. God alone has the power to determine their victory, not the size of their army.
Amaziah is frustrated because he already paid many of Israel’s men. Eventually, he realizes that God’s help is worth more than the payments, so he sends the Israelites away. The troops that are dismissed are angry with Amaziah for enlisting them only to be rejected.
Amaziah moves forward in confidence with the small army of Judah and is victorious over the Edomites in Seir. After the battle, Amaziah worships the Edomite gods instead of praising God for his victory. God sends another prophet to confront Amaziah, but Amaziah would not listen or respond.
Amaziah defeats Edom in battle, giving him confidence. Next, Amaziah wants to pick a fight with Israel. This is a prideful and poor decision, leaving the nation Judah defeated and afraid. Jehoash, Israel’s king, captures Amaziah and plunders Judah in his absence. Amaziah escapes captivity, but is found and captured again.
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UZZIAH’S DISGRACEFUL ACTIONS
After Amaziah is taken into captivity by the Edomites, Uzziah (also called Azariah) serves as a righteous king in Judah.
Uzziah becomes well known for his military victories, having defeated the Philistines. Uzziah fortifies the city, making Judah more powerful and safe.
Although God helps Uzziah win the battles, Uzziah takes the credit and becomes prideful. In his arrogance, Uzziah attempts to burn incense in the temple, a role only to be done by the priests. Uzziah's actions are a disgrace to both God and the temple.
God responds by afflicting Uzziah with leprosy, causing him to live separately for the rest of his life. After Uzziah's death, his son Jotham rules in his place.
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JOTHAM FAITHFULLY LEADS JUDAH
After the death of Uzziah (also called Azariah), Jotham reigns as king over Judah. Jotham is a faithful king who restores the temple, builds fortresses around Judah, and defeats the Ammonites. Jotham becomes a powerful leader because of his steadfast faithfulness to God. After Jotham’s death, his son Ahaz becomes the next king.
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AHAZ WREAKS HAVOC IN JUDAH
After the death of Jotham, Ahaz becomes king of Judah. Ahaz does not rule in righteousness, but instead creates false idols, worships Baal, and offers heinous child sacrifices. Ahaz participates in all of the antics that the previous rulers attempted to wipe out, leading Judah more astray than ever.
In response to the sin of Ahaz, Judah is attacked by the Assyrains and the Israelites. God sends a prophet, Oded, to intercede and stop the Israelites from enslaving the people of Judah.
The Edomites and Philistines also attack Judah. Instead of turning to God to save them, the people of Judah ask the Assyrians for help. Ahaz even worships the false gods of Assyria as a cry for help. In direct disrespect to God, Ahaz steals elements of the temple and locks the temple doors. Ahaz trusts his own strength instead of relying on God.
Ahaz is remembered as a notoriously bad king. After his death, his son Hezekiah takes over the throne.
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HEZEKIAH WORKS TO RESTORE JUDAH
After the death of Ahaz, Hezekiah rules as a righteous king over Judah. Hezekiah follows God’s law, removes the high places of idol worship, and restores the temple.
With the help of the Levites, Hezekiah reinstates temple sacrifices and the people of Judah bring an overwhelming amount to give sacrificially before God. Together, the nation worships God with music and song.
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HEZEKIAH REINSTATES THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION
For the first time since Solomon’s reign (250+ years ago!) Israel and Judah celebrate Passover in unison. Hezekiah commits to follow God’s law, including his instruction to celebrate the Passover and annual feasts. Everyone is filled with gladness, and they extend the celebration for an extra seven days.
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HEZEKIAH ORGANIZES THE PRIESTS + REMOVES HIGH PLACES
After the Passover celebration has concluded, Hezekiah removes any remaining high places throughout Judah. Next, Hezekiah organizes the priests, dividing them according to their role or service to the temple.
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ASSYRIA WILL NOT INVADE JUDAH
When Hezekiah hears that Assyria is threatening Judah, his response is to fortify the city and turn to God in prayer for protection. Hezekiah encourages the people to find strength and courage by trusting that God is with them.
The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, mocks God and doubts His ability to save Judah. Hezekiah and Isaiah cry out to God, who sends an angel to strike down the Assyrians and provide for Judah! The people of Jerusalem rejoice and bring precious gifts to both God and Hezekiah.
Hezekiah becomes ill and is nearing his death. Hezekiah pleads with God and asks him to postpone His wrath upon Jerusalem until after his death. God honors this prayer and Jerusalem is not captured by Assyria during Hezekiah’s life. Later, Judah would be captured by Babylon after Hezekiah’s death.
Before his death, the king of Babylon comes to Hezekiah’s home and God allows him to be tested to see what is in his heart. Hezekiah, although faithful throughout the majority of his life, ends his reign with pride over his possessions. Hezekiah’s story is explored more in-depth in 2 Kings 18-20 and Isaiah 36-39.
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THE WICKED REIGNS OF MANASSEH + AMNON
After Hezekiah’s death, his son Manasseh begins his reign in Judah at the young age of twelve. Manasseh angers God with his evil ways. He rebuilds the high places, creates altars of Baal, consults mediums and fortune tellers, and participates in child sacrifice. Even the temple, once used to honor God, is made into a place of idol worship. Manasseh undoes the good deeds of the previous righteous kings, leading Judah further into sin and rebellion. Through the voice of the prophets, God sends a warning of denouncement against Manasseh’s reign.
Eventually, God intervenes, and Manasseh is captured and bound with hooks and chains by the Assyrians and left in Babylon. Manasseh responds to God’s actions, repenting and humbling himself before God. Because of this, God brings Manasseh back to Jerusalem. Afterward, Manasseh removes foreign gods and idols and makes altars to bring sacrifices to God.
After the death of Manasseh, his son Amnon reigns in Judah for two years. Amnon is wicked, unfaithful to God, and unrepentant. During his reign, his servants conspire against him and murder him, making his son Josiah the new king over Judah.
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JOSIAH MOURNS + RESPONDS TO GOD’S LAW
Josiah rules as a righteous king over Judah, removing high places and altars of Baal. Josiah provides money to the Levite priests to help rebuild and restore the temple. During this time, Hilkiah, the priest, found the Book of the Law that God had given to Moses.
Upon hearing the contents of the book, Josiah mourns and tears his clothes in repentance. Josiah knows that God’s wrath would be great, according to what was written in his law and the actions of Judah. God shows compassion on Josiah for his repentance and humility. God promises Josiah that His wrath will not come until after his death, similar to the promise He earlier made to Hezekiah. Instead of pride, Josiah responds with obedience and follows God’s law for the remainder of his life.
2 CHRONICLES 35
JOSIAH CELEBRATES PASSOVER + DIES NEEDLESSLY IN BATTLE
Following God’s word, Josiah honors the Passover with an elaborate and abundant celebration. Josiah reinstates the Levites to their assigned roles within the temple and makes copious sacrifices in accordance with God’s laws. The ark of the covenant is placed within the temple and the priests prepare for a time of worship.
Later on, Josiah enters into a nearby battle with the Egyptians in disguise. Despite being warned by Egypt’s ruler, Pharaoh Neco, Josiah engages in the war between Egypt and Carchemish. After celebrating the Passover and reestablishing temple rituals, Josiah’s decision is inconsistent with his faithful character. By the wound of an arrow, Josiah is killed in battle. Josiah was the last righteous king of Judah, and Jerusalem mourned his death.
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THE EXILE + FUTURE HOPE FOR THE ISRAELITES
After his death, Josiah’s son Jehoahaz becomes king over Judah. Only three months after taking the throne, Egypt overthrows Jehoahaz and institutes his brother Eliakim as king. The Egyptians change Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim rules for eleven years as an evil king. He is eventually captured and taken into Babylonian captivity. Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin follows in his footsteps as a wicked ruler over Judah. After three months, Jehoachin is also taken into Babylonian captivity and Nebuchadnezzar appoints Zedekiah as king over Judah.
Although he swears to be loyal to Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah rebels against the Babylonians. Zedekiah never repents or turns toward God, but instead brings disaster upon Jerusalem.
Zedekiah serves as the final king over Judah, as the remaining people are either killed or exiled to Babylon. The Babylonian empire takes over, murdering the people and plundering the temple. Just as the prophets warned, this is the start of the seventy-year exile for the Israelites.
The final verse flashes forward seventy years later, once Persia has taken over Babylon. God gives king Cyrus, ruler of Persia, a message to announce throughout the kingdom that God’s people are to return to Judah and rebuild a temple of worship. These few verses offer hope for Judah’s return to foster a greater redemption and a righteous king.