2 Kings 22-25; 2 Chronicles 34-36

2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34
1-2 Josiah Reigns over Judah (2 Chronicles 34:1-7)

• Reigns 31 years, beginning at the age of 8; son of Amon and Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
• Unlike his father, he does right before God, walking in David's way, and does not "turn aside to the right or to the left."
• In the 8th year of his reign, he begins to seek "the God of his ancestor David," and in the 12th year begins to purge Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry. This is from the Chronicles account. The Kings account makes it seem as though all the purging is done after the discovery of the law. But it makes sense that it begins earlier, which is why he orders the temple to be repaired, leading to the discovery of the law.
  

3-20 Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law (2 Chronicles 34:8-21)

• In the 18th year of Josiah's reign, he sends his secretary - Shaphan - to Hilkiah the priest to ask him to count all the money in the temple so the carpenters who are repairing it can buy supplies.
• Chronicles: Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, bring the money to Hilkiah that the Levites have collected from Manasseh, Ephraim, the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah.
  
• Chronicles: The workers are named: Levites Jahath and Obadiah (sons of Merari), and Zechariah and Meshullan (sons of the Kohathites). Other Levites, musicians, direct every kind of service, and some of them are scribes, officials and gatekeepers. The Levites collect the money and bring it to Hilkiah.
  
• They won't have to give an accounting of what they spend, for "they deal honestly."
• While Hilkiah is in the temple, he finds the book of the law and gives it to Shaphan, who reads it and then takes it to the king and reads it to him. The people of God have had evil leadership for so long, they don't even seem to know of the existence of a book of the law. Before he finds the law, Josiah is good, I suppose, from personal choice – he prefers to follow in the steps of David rather than those of his father and grandfather.
  
• When Josiah hears it, he tears his clothes, for he realizes that God is going to punish Judah for the sins of their fathers.
• Then he commands Hilkiah, Shaphan's son Ahikam, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan and the king's servant Asaiah to inquire of the LORD regarding the book.

14-20 Consultation with Huldah the Prophetess (2 Chronicles 34:22-28)

• They go to the prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum, who lives in Jerusalem.
• She confirms that the LORD will punish Judah because of their disobedience and idolatry.
• But because Josiah is penitent and humble, he will die in peace and will not see the disaster that will come upon his people.
• They take the message back to the king.

2 Kings 23
1-20 Josiah's Reformation (2 Chronicles 34:29-33)

• Josiah gathers all the elders, priests, and all the people "both great and small" and reads the book of the covenant to them.
• He makes a public promise to follow the LORD, "keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul.... All the people joined in the covenant."
• Josiah's cleanup campaign commandments:

Bring the vessels out of the temples dedicated to Baal and Asherah and the hosts of heaven, burn them outside the city and carry their ashes to Bethel;


Depose the idolatrous priests that make offerings in the high places and in Jerusalem;

Bring the image of Asherah from the temple and burn it at the Wadi Kidron, beat it to dust and throw the dust on the graves of the common people;

Break down the houses of the male temple prostitutes, where women weave for Asherah;

Bring all the priests out of the towns of Judah and defile the high places where they make offerings, "from Geba to Beersheba";

Defile Topheth in the valley of Ben-hinnom, so no one will make their children pass through the fires of Molech;

Remove the horses that the kings has dedicated to the sun, and burn the chariots;

Pull down the altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, break them into pieces and throw the rubble into the Wadi Kidron;

Defile the high places east of Jerusalem that King Solomon built for Astarte (abomination of the Sidonians); Chemosh (of Moab) and Milcom (of Ammon);

Break down the pillars, cut down the sacred poles and cover the sites with human bones.

Pull down the altar and high place at Bethel erected by Jeroboam, burn it and crush it to dust.

Take the bones out of the tombs at Bethel and burn them.

Note: Josiah seems to be following the instructions that God gave the Israelites before they ever entered Canaan (Deuteronomy 12):

1 These are the statutes and ordinances that you must diligently observe in the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you to occupy all the days that you live on the earth. 2 You must demolish completely all the places where the nations whom you are about to dispossess served their gods, on the mountain heights, on the hills, and under every leafy tree. 3 Break down their altars, smash their pillars, burn their sacred poles with fire, and hew down the idols of their gods, and thus blot out their name from their places. 4 You shall not worship the Lord your God in such ways.

• Josiah inquires about a monument he sees and is told it is the tomb of the man of God who predicted what Josiah is doing against the altar of Bethel, so Josiah instructs that it be left alone, as well as the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria (buried with the young prophet). (See 1 Kings 13. Verse 2 mentions Josiah by name, before he was ever born.)
  
• He also removes all the shrines of high places in Samaria made by the kings of Israel.
• He slaughters the priests of the high places on the altars and burns human bones on them.
• Then he returns to Jerusalem.
  

21-27 The Passover Celebrated (2 Chronicles 35:1-19)

• Josiah commands the people to keep the Passover (which had not been kept since the days of the judges, in the days of the kings of Judah or Israel). According to commentators, it was kept during the Divided Kingdom by King Hezekiah, but not to this extent.
• The Chronicles account words it this way: "No passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel."
  
• Chronicles: Josiah appoints the priests to the offices and restores the ark to the temple.
• Chronicles: He supplies the animals for the sacrifices: 30,000 lambs and kids and 3,000 bulls.
• Chronicles: His officials – Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel – donate 2600 lams and kids and 300 hundred bulls.
• Chronicles: Also, Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel; Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad (chiefs of the Levites) donated\ 5000 lambs and kids and 500 bulls.
• Chronicles: Details of the Passover service, with some Levites doing the slaughtering, others doing the skinning, others doing the roasting, the singers and gatekeepers all doing their duties according to the designations assigned them by their ancestry.
  
• Josiah puts away all the abominations of Judah and Jerusalem and establishes God's law as the law of the land.
• "Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might...nor did any like him arise after him." There had been good kings before him in Judah, but none had both cleansed the nation and intently followed the covenant.
• However, God was still angry with his people for the sins of Manasseh and still promised to remove Judah from his sight as he had removed Israel. These makes it appear as though God is not merciful when his people repent, but he is merciful to Josiah. The people appear to follow Josiah's example, but they don't continue in faith to God. As soon as Josiah dies, the country reverts back to evil.
  

28-30 Josiah Dies in Battle (2 Chronicles 35:20-27)

• Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt goes to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates, and when King Josiah goes to meet him there, Pharaoh Neco kills him.
• Chronicles: Neco has gone to Carchemish to fight. When he sees Josiah, he tells him to go home, to "cease opposing God, who is with me, so that he will not destroy you." But Josiah doesn't listen. He disguises himself and joins the battle, and archers shoot him. He is badly wounded, and his servants take him back to Jerusalem, where he dies from the wounds.
  
• Kings: His servants carry his body from Megiddo back to Jerusalem and bury him in his own tomb.
• Chronicles: All Judah and Jerusalem mourn him; Jeremiah utters a lament for him, "and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day."
  
• The people anoint his son Jehoahaz as king.

31-35 Reign and Captivity of Jehoahaz (2 Chronicles 36:1-4)

• Jehoahaz, son of Josiah and Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, is 23 years old and reigns 3 months in Jerusalem
• He is an evil king; Phaoroh Neco captures and jails him at Riblah in Hamath and imposes tribute on Judah of 100 hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
• Pharaoh Neco makes Eliakim son of Josiah king and changes his name to Jehoiakim.
• He takes Jehoahaz to Egypt, where he dies.
• Jehoiakim pays the tribute to Pharaoh and taxes Judah in order to pay for it.

36-37
Jehoiakim Reigns over Judah (2 Chronicles 36:5)

• Jehoiakim, son of Josiah and Zebidah, daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah, is 25 years old and reigns 11 years.
• He does evil in God's sight, following in the steps of his ancestors.

2 Kings 24
1-7 Judah Overrun by Enemies (2 Chronicles 36:6-8)

• King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats Jehoiakim, who serves him for 3 years before Jehoiakim rebels.
• The LORD sends bands of Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites and Ammonites against Judah, fulfilling his promise of punishment for the sins of Manasseh, who had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood.
• Jehoiakim is succeeded by his son Jehoiachin.
• Egypt is no longer a threat, for it has been taken over by Babylon.

8-12 Reign and Captivity of Jehoiachin (2 Chronicles 36:9)

• Son of Jehoiachim and Nehushia daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem, 18 years old, reigns 3 months, continues the evil of his father.
• King Nebuchadnezzar, in the 8th year of his reign, returns to Jerusalem and besieges the city and takes captive Jehoiachin, his mother, servants, officers and palace officials.

13-17 Capture of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:10)

• Nebuchadnezzar carries off all the treasures from the temple and the palace, chops up the gold vessels made by King Solomon, and carries off all but the poorest people of Judah.
• Besides the king's family and his officials, he also captures 7000 men of valor and 1000 smiths and artisans -- all fit for war.
• He crowns Jehoiachin's uncle, Mattaniah, as king and changes his name to Zedekiah.

18-29 Zedekiah Reigns over Judah (2 Chronicles 36:11-12)

• Son of Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, 21 years old, reigns 11 years and continues in Jehoichin's evil ways.
• Jerusalem and Judah "so angered the LORD that he expelled them from his presence." They are unable to learn from the punishment shown to other evil kings. It's a downward spiral of sin.

2 Kings 25
1-21 The Fall and Captivity of Judah (2 Chronicles 36:13-21)

• Chronicles - Not only is Zedekiah evil, but "all the leading priests and the people also were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the LORD that he had consecrated in Jerusalem." All the good work of Josiah has been undone.
  
• Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, and in his 9th year, 10th month, 10th day, King Nebuchadnezzar brings his army and besieges it until Zedekiah's 11th year, 4th month, 9th day, when the city runs out of food.
  
• Zedekiah and soldiers make a break through the city wall at night, and flee toward Arabah.
• But the army catches up with him, and all his soldiers desert him.
• They bring Zedekiah to the king of Babylon and punish him by slaughtering all his sons in front of his eyes, then blinding him, then taking him in chains to Babylon.
• In the 5th month, 7th day - the 19th year of King Nebuchadnezzar's reign - his captain of the bodyguard, Nebuzaradan, comes to Jerusalem and burns the temple, the palace, and every great house.
• The Chaldean (Babylonian) army breaks down the walls of Jerusalem and carries away into exile everyone else, including those who had defected to Babylon, leaving only the poorest people to tend to the vineyards and till the soil.
• They break up the bronze pillars from the temple, and take away all the temple vessels, bronze, silver, and gold; the bronze from the pillars is beyond weighing because of their size.
• The captain takes the chief priest Seraiah, second priest Zephania, 3 threshold guardians, an army officer, 5 of the king's councilors, an army commander, and 60 men to the king of Babylon at Ribkah, and he executes them.
  
• "So Judah went into exile out of its land."
• Chronicles - This will be a captivity of 70 years, until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia.
  

Note: Though God has been telling his people for years - for generations – this day was coming (as pointed out in 2 Chronicles 36:15), and though all recent kings except Josiah have been evil and the priests and people have once again rebelled against God (2 Chronicles 36:14), still it's sad to see this happening, to see the house of God burned and pillaged, the leaders slaughtered, the people taken away from their homes, and most of all, to see God's people removed from the land he gave them so many generations before.

22-26 Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah

• Nebuchadnezzar appoints as governor of Judah Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan. So Gedaliah is the grandson of Shaphan, King Josiah's scribe.
• When the captains of the forces hear that Gedaliah has been made governor, they go to Mizpah, where Gedaliah tells them not to fear the Chaldean officials, but to serve the king of Babylon and live well.
• But 7 months later, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, comes with 10 men, and they kill Gedaliah and all the Judeans and Chaldeans with him and flee to Egypt, "for they were afraid of the Chaldeans." I'm not sure of their motivation here, unless it is resentment because Gedaliah has been appointed by Nebuchadnezzar and is not of royal blood. Jeremiah recounts the details of the murder in Jeremiah 41:1-10. Jeremiah is herald and witness of all that will and does happen.
  

27-30 Jehoiachin Released from Prison

• After 37 years in exile, King Evil-merodach of Babylon (after the death of his father Nebuchadnezzar) releases Jehoiachin from prison and gives him an honored place in the palace.
  
• He eats at the king's table and is given an allowance for the rest of his life.

2 Chronicles 36:22-23
Cyrus Proclaims Liberty for the Exiles

• In the first year of Cyrus king od Persian, he sends an edict throughout his kingdom:

"Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him! Let him go up."

2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33

2 Kings 21:1-16; 2 Chronicles 33:1-9
Manasseh Reigns over Judah

• Manasseh (son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah) begins his reign at the age of 12, reigns 55 years.
• He does not follow in the steps of his father, who was obedient to God, but is more like Ahab, disrespecting God to the extent of desecrating God's temple.
• Manasseh's sins, describing the ways he followed the nations Israel destroyed:
• Rebuilds the high places his father had destroyed;
• Erects altars for Baal;
• Makes a sacred pole, as King Ahab had done;
• Worships and serves the host of heaven;
• Builds altars in the temple of God for the host of heaven;
• Makes his son pass through fire in the valley of Hinnom;
  
• Practices soothsaying and augury, deals with mediums and wizards (a condemnation of such practices, which we should note today);
  
• Places a carved image of Asherah in the temple, where God had put his name as a testament of his faithfulness to Israel;
• Causes Judah to sin with idols;
• Sheds innocent blood.

• God's promises to punish Judah because of Manasseh:

• To bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of all who hear of it will tingle;
• To punish them as he would Samaria or the house of Ahab;
• To wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, turning it upside down;
• To cast off the remnant of his heritage and give them into the hands of their enemies.

2 Chronicles 33:10-17
Manasseh Restored after Repentance

• Because Manasseh does not listen, God brings the army of Assyria against Manasseh and they take him captive to Babylon.
• He humbles himself and prays to God, who restores him to his kingdom. If God can forgive Manasseh...
  
• "Then Manasseh knew that the LORD indeed was God." This seems to indicate that Manasseh humbled himself before God before he knew for sure he was God – a description of his growing faith – first a knowledge of God as one who punishes and then as one who delivers.
• Manasseh's restitutions:

• Builds high outer wall for city of David;
• Puts army commanders in all of Judah's fortified cities;
• Removes idols from the temple;
• Removes altars from Jerusalem;
• Restores the altar of the LORD and offers sacrifices;
• Commands Judah to serve the God of Israel. (Though the people still sacrifice on the high places, but only to the LORD.)
  

2 Kings 21:17-18; 2 Chronicles 33:18-20
Death of Manasseh

• The record of his prayer, his sin and faithlessness, the sites and sacred poles he built before he humbled himself are in the Annals of the Kings.
• When Manasseh dies he is buried in the garden of Uzza, at his house.
• He is succeeded by his son Amon.
  

2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chronicles 33:21-25
Amon Reigns over Judah

• Amon, son of Manasseh and Beshullemeth, daughter of Haruz of Jotbah, begins his reign at age 22, reigns for 2 years.
• He is evil, following in his father's footsteps, abandoning the LORD, never humbling himself as his father had.
  
• His servants conspire together and kill him, and are likewise killed by the people of the land.
• He is buried in the garden of Uzza, succeeded by his son Josiah.
  

2 Kings 17-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32

2 Kings 17
1-4 Hoshea Reigns over Israel

• Hoshea son of Elah begins to reign in Samaria in the 12th year of King Ahaz of Judah.
• He reigns 9 years and is evil, but not as evil as the kings of Israel before him.
• He is subject to King Shalmaneser of Assyria and pays tribute to him, but betrays Shalmaneser by sending messengers to King So of Egypt, neglecting his tribute to Assyria, so Shalmaneser imprisons him.

5-23 Israel Carried Captive to Assyria

• Shalmaneser besieges Samaria for 3 years.
• In Hoshea's 9th year, he carries the Israelites away to Assyria, in Halah (on the Habor, the river of Gozan, in cities of the Medes).
• This occurs because:

• • Israel has sinned against God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt.
  • They have worshiped other gods and walked in the customs of other nations.
  • They secretly did things that were not right, building high places, pillars, sacred poles.
  • Despite warnings by prophets and seers, they turned from God, being stubborn and refusing to listen.
  • They despised God's statues, rejected his commandments.
  • They cast images of 2 calves, worshiped the host of heaven, served Baal, and even made their sons and daughters pass through the fire (sacrificed their own children to false gods).
  • Therefore, God removed them from his sight, and only Judah was left.

• But Judah is not much better; they are following in Israel's footsteps.
  
• History lesson: God tore Israel from Jerusalem, and Jeroboam led them into apostasy, so God is punishing them now, as he said he would do.

24-41 Assyria Resettles Samaria

• Shalmaneser brings people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to live in Samaria in place of the Israelite people he carried away.
• Of course, they do not worship the LORD, so he sends lions among them to kill them.
• Someone tells the king this is happening because the newcomers don't know how to worship the god of the land, so he sends for an Israelite priest to come to Bethel to teach the inhabitants how to worship the LORD. This seems to make the LORD (YHWH) a localized God, and the land a sacred land. Yet when the Israelites lived there, he didn't send lions to kill them for their misbehavior. So was this to get Assyria's attention? It did force the king's hand, so at least there would be someone there who knew God's laws and could teach them.
• The people learn the ways of the true God, but they still hold on to their own gods, and "to this day" they continue to practice their former customs. We know from New Testament history (particularly from the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4) that the Samaritans, the mixed race of Jews and Gentiles, develop their own brand of Judaism.
  
• They do not worship the LORD, and they do not follow his statutes.

2 Kings 18:1-12 Hezekiah's Reign over Judah (2 Chronicles 29:1-2)

• Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, begins to reign in the 3rd year of King Hoshea of Israel.
• He is 25 when he begins his reign, and reigns for 29 years in Jerusalem.
  
• His mother was Abi (or Abijah, in Chronicles), daughter of Zechariah.
• He does right, following in David's footsteps: 1) he removes the high places and cuts down the sacred pole; 2) he shatters the bronze serpent (Nehushtan) that Moses had made, because the people are worshiping it; 3) he rebels against the king of Assyria; 4) he attacks the Philistines. I see a couple of lessons in the 2nd item here. If Hezekiah was sentimental about the bronze serpent, he didn't show it. Sometimes our sentimentality can get us into trouble. 1) On the surface, sentimental objects clutter up our homes and our lives, forcing us to take care of them, store them, carry them wherever we go. 2) On a spiritual level, we humans tend to worship these objects that had significance in the past. If it was good for Hezekiah to destroy the bronze serpent – which had such historical significance – why are religious people of the world intent on finding pieces of the ark, or deifying images of a burial shroud? They want to carry forward Jewish worship in the form of instrumental music, incense, dance worship or priestly robes but ignore the very clear warnings against bowing down to statues and other such images.
• It is in Hezekiah's 4th year that Shalmaneser besieges Samaria and in his 7th year that he carries the Israelites to Assyria.

2 Chronicles 29:3-36
3-19 The Temple Cleansed

• In the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opens the doors of the temple, repairs them, and calls all the Levites together.
• His instruction: "Sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD, and carry out the filth from the holy place."
  
• Our ancestors have been unfaithful in this matter, and now you see the results: they have been destroyed by the sword, and our daughters and wives are in captivity.
• So it is "in my heart" to make a covenant with God, and you, my sons, must not be negligent in serving him.
• So for sixteen days – after sanctifying themselves – the Levites (named here) go to work, cleaning and sanctifying the inside of the temple and carrying out everything that is unclean. Afterward they report their results to Hezekiah. We don't usually think of Levites as performing physical tasks, but I suspect it was a major part of their job to maintain the physical structure of the temple. In this case, after years of neglect, the temple was in need of a major cleaning. This puts a practical spin on the adage, "Cleanliness is next to godliness."

20-36 Temple Worship Restored

• Hezekiah rises early the next morning, assembles the city officials and supervises the sacrifice of seven each of bulls, rams, lambs, and male goats as a sin offering "for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah."
• While the offerings burn on the altar, the Levites play David's instruments and the singers sing the songs of David and of Asaph. Many of Asaph's songs are recorded in our Old Testament. I'd like to think Psalm 80 was one of those they sang on this occasion!
• Next Hezekiah tells the people to bring their sacrifices and thank offerings. Some also offer burnt offerings, a total of 70 bulls, 100 rams, 200 lambs, 600 bulls, and 3,000 sheep.
• Here's an interesting tidbit: Not enough priests have sanctified themselves before this ceremony to skin all the burnt offerings, so the Levites have to help them, "for the Levites were more conscientious than the priests in sanctifying themselves." I'm not sure this has any significance, but it seems that those who did the "dirty work" were more aware of the need to keep themselves holy and prepared to serve God than the "spiritual" leaders.
  
• After the service, Hezekiah and the people rejoice "because of what God had done for the people." People not only feel good when they've done the right thing, they also become aware of where the credit lies.

2 Chronicles 30
1-27 The Great Passover

• Hezekiah sends messengers throughout Judah and Israel - from Beersheba to Dan - urging the people to return to Jerusalem to keep the passover.
• He makes a special plea to those who have escaped captivity by Assyria, promising them, "As you return to the LORD, you will find compassion.... For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful...."
• But most of those in Israel laugh the couriers to scorn; only a few from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun "humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem." Apparently they have learned nothing from the captivity of their brothers and sisters. After all, these are the ones who were spared.
  
• However, "the hand of God was on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king...commanded...."
• Many have not sanctified themselves properly before celebrating the Passover, so Hezekiah prays on their behalf, and God accepts their worship.
• Hezekiah gives credit to those who have helped in the 7-day celebration.
• They are enjoying it so much, they extend it another 7 days, with Hezekiah offering 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and the officials giving 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep.
• "Since the time of Solomon...there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem."

2 Chronicles 31
1-10 Pagan Shrines Destroyed (See also 2 Kings 18:4)

• When the celebration is finished, the people that attended go back to their cities and destroy the symbols of idolatry: pillars, sacred poles, high places and altars.
• Hezekiah appoints priests and Levites to their proper positions and gives them what is needed for burnt offerings.
• He also commands the people to give the priests and Levites their due, so they can "devote themselves to the LORD," and they give abundant tithes of everything, starting in the 3rd month and finishing in the 7th month, after which the priests and Levites have enough and some to spare.

11-21 Reorganization of Priests and Levites

• Hezekiah commands that storehouses be built for the contributions and appoints certain Levites to oversee them and others to distribute the contributions to priests and Levites throughout Judah.
  
• He appoints all Levites from 20 years and upward according to their divisions; he enrolls priests and their families according to their ancestral houses.
• In praise of Hezekiah:
  

Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah; he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God, and in accordance with the law and the commandments, to seek his God, he did with all his heart; and he prospered.

Note: What a heady time! It's what we all wish from our leaders. It's a picture of the ideal: When leaders have the courage and faith to do the right thing, the people gladly follow, and all are blessed for it.

2 Kings 18:13-37 Sennacherib Invades Judah (2 Chronicles 32:1-19)

• In Hezekiah's 14th year, King Sennacherib of Assyria attacks Judah's fortified cities and captures them. (Kings)
  
• Hezekiah with all his officers and warriors build towers and walls around the city and stop the flow of springs outside the city in order to deny Sennacherib's army access to water. (Chronicles)
• Hezekiah offers tribute, and Sennacherib demands 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold. (Kings)
  
• Hezekiah gives him all the silver in the treasury and strips the gold from the temple. (Kings)
  
• Sennacherib sends an army with "the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh" to Jerusalem, to "the conduit of the upper pool," and they call for the king. (Kings)
  
• Eliakim (son of Hilkiah, palace manager), Shebnah the secretary, and Joah (son of Asaph), the recorder, come out to meet them. (Kings)
• Rabshakeh sends a challenge to Hezekiah: Why are you so confident? You can't rely on *that broken reed" Egypt. It will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. (Kings)
• He continues: And surely you're not relying on your God; Hezekiah has removed his high places, so he's not going to help you. I certainly don't rely on your God, yet here I am, ready to destroy you.
• Eliakim and Shebnah urge Rabshakeh to speak to them in Aramaic so the people listening don't understand the challenge he's making, but Rabshakeh wants them to hear the threats. (Kings)
• Rabshakeh then directs his threats to all the people: Don't let Hezekiah fool you. He can't deliver you out of my hands. Instead, listen to the king of Assyria, who will take you away into a land where you will live well instead of dying. Do not listen to Hezekiah! Have you seen any other gods deliver their people from our hands?
• Sennacherib's messengers "spoke of the God of Jerusalem as if he were like the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of human hands." (Chronicles)
  
• However, the king has instructed the people to keep silent, so they don't answer Rabshakeh. After 14 years under Hezekiah, the people obviously have great respect for their king. (Kings)
• Eliakim and Shebna go to Hezekiah, appearing in torn clothes. (Kings)

2 Kings 19
1-7 Hezekiah Consults Isaiah

• King Hezekiah tears his clothes, covers himself with sackcloth, and goes into the temple.
  
• He sends Eliakim and Shebna to consult Isaiah, with this message: "This day is a day of distress, of rebuke and of disgrace; children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth." What a great figure for having no strength left to do what needs to be done!
• Isaiah replies: Do not be afraid, says the LORD, for I will make the king believe a rumor that will cause him to fall by his own sword in his own land. As is often the case, the LORD promises to work in a way humans cannot even imagine.

8-13 Sennacherib's Threat

• When Rabshakeh returns to Assyria, he finds the king has left Lachish to fight against Libnah.
• The king hears [a rumor!] that the King of Ethiopia is about to attack Assyria. While he takes care of that threat, he sends messengers to warn Hezekiah not to rely on his God.

14-34 Hezekiah's Prayer

• Hezekiah goes to the temple and worships God, explaining how indeed Sennacherib has destroyed other nations, but of course, their gods are nothing but wood and stone.
• "So now, O LORD...save us...so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you...are God alone."
• Isaiah sends word to Hezekiah that God has heard his prayer.
• God's reply to Sennacherib (in the form of a song): You don't know who you're dealing with here. I'm the one who gave you the power to overcome; I determined it long ago. Now, because of your arrogance, "I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will turn you back on the way by which you came."
• He also gives a sign to Hezekiah - you will reap the produce of the land that grows of itself. In other words, I will take care of my remnant nation. You don't even have to sow in order to reap.
• And regarding Sennacherib: He won't even come into this city, much less make war on it - for the sake of the city, and for "my servant David."

35-37 Sennacherbi's Defeat and Death (2 Chronicles 32:20-23)

• That night the "angel of the LORD" strikes down 185,000 Assyrians in their camp.
• King Sennacherib goes home to Nineveh. Later, as he is worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer kill him with a sword and escape to Ararat.
• He is succeeded by his son Esar-haddon.
• In Judah, on the other hand, many are bringing gifts to the "LORD in Jerusalem," and King Hezekiah is "exalted in the sight of all nations from the time onward." (Chronicles)

2 Kings 20
1-11 Hezekiah's Illness (2 Chronicles 32:24-26)

• Hezekiah becomes so ill that Isaiah advises him to "set his house in order."
• Isaiah leaves, and Hezekiah turns his face to the wall, weeping and pleading with God.
• Before Isaiah leaves the palace, God tells him to return to Hezekiah and tell him that he will not only heal him, he'll give him 15 more years, and will deliver Jerusalem out of Assyria's hand. Then he instructs that a lump of figs be put on Hezekiah's boil to heal it. This brings up questions: Was it just a boil that was killing him? If it was only a boil that could be healed with a lump of figs, why doesn't that done in the first place? If it is God that is healing him, why the need for the lump of figs?
• Hezekiah asks for a sign, and Isaiah tells him that the sun dial will retreat ten intervals.
• In Chronicles, it states that Hezekiah becomes proud, and wrath comes upon Judah and Jerusalem, after which Hezekiah humbles himself, so the wrath did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Maybe this refers to the time when Hezekiah gave all the tribute to Sennacherib, which results in Hezekiah consulting Isaiah (2 Kings 19).
  

12-19 Envoys from Babylon (2 Chronicles 32:27-31)

• King Merodach-baladan, son of Baladon of Babylon, sends envoys with gifts and to inquire of Hezekiah's health.
• Hezekiah welcomes them and shows them all the treasures in his storehouses. The Chronicles account says of this that "God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart." Even the best of men, with the best of intentions, are subject to pride.
  
• When Isaiah asks him about the visitors, Hezekiah tells him what he has done, and Isaiah prophesies that the days will come when Babylon will come in and carry out all those treasures, as well as his children.
• Hezekiah replies, "The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good," and thinks to himself, "Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?" Huh? Apparently this is the mental response from a man who has been promised security, has already acted foolishly, and resigns himself (and his family) to whatever will happen. Que sera, sera.

20-21 Death of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:32-33)

• The rest of Hezekiah's legacy - his power, how he brought water into the city - are recorded in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah.
• After his death, his son Manasseh succeeds him.
  

2 Kings 15-16, 2 Chronicles 26-28

2 Kings 15
1-4 Azariah (Uzziah) Begins Reign over Judah (2 Chronicles 26:1-15)

• Son of Amaziah of Judah and Jecoliah, begins reign in 27th year of Jeroboam II of Israel, at 16 years old, for 52 years.
• As long as Zechariah the priest is alive, he does right as his father had done, but does not take away the high places. "As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper."
  
• He rebuilds Eloth, restoring it to Judah, wars against the Philistines, Arabs, and Meunites.The Ammonites pay tribute to him.
• In Jerusalem, he builds towers, cisterns, large herds, with farmers and vine dressers, "for he loved the soil."
• His army, under Hananiah, has 2600 mighty warriors, with a well-equipped army of 375,500 and machines on the towers and corners that shoot arrows and large stones.
  

5-7 Uzziah Succumbs to Pride and Apostasy (2 Chronicles 26:16-23)

• In his success he becomes proud and "false to God," and enters the temple to make his own offering of incense.
• The priest Azariah, with 80 other priests, tells him it is only for priests to do.
• He becomes very angry, and begins to offer the incense anyway, and the LORD strikes him with leprosy
• From that day he lives in a separate house while his son Jotham governs.
• At his death, he is buried in the city of David in a field "near his ancestors," for he is leprous, and is succeeded by his son Jotham.

8-12 Zechariah Reigns over Israel

• Begins in 38th year of Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah, reigning only 6 months.
• He does what is evil, following the sins of Jeroboam.
• Shallum son of Jabesh conspires against him, murders him in public, then reigns in his place.
• Fulfills prophecy of God to Jehu (2 Kings 10:30) that his sons would sit on the throne of Israel for 4 generations. (Jehu - Jehoahaz - Jehoash - Jeroboam II - Zechariah)

13-16 Shallum over Israel

• Shallum begins reign in 39th year of King Uzziah of Judah, reigning only one month.
• Menahem son of Gadi from Tirzah kills Shallum and reigns in his place.
• Because the city of Tiphsah does not open to him, Menahem sacks it, "ripping open" all the pregnant women.

17-22 Menahem over Israel

• An evil king, Menahem begins reign in 39th year of Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah, reigns 10 years.
• When King Pul of Assyria threatens Israel, he exacts 50 shekels each from the wealthy, gives Pul 1000 talents of silver, and Assyria turns back.
• Succeeded by his son Pekahiah.

23-26 Pekahiah over Israel

• An evil king, Pekahiah begins reign in 50th year of Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah, reigns 2 years.
• Pekah son of Remaliah, his captain, conspires with 50 Gileadites to kill him, Arbog and Arich in the citadel of the palace, and reigns in his place.

27-31 Pekah over Israel

• An evil king, Pekah begins reign in 52nd year of Azariah, reigning 20 years.
• King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria captures several cities, and carries their people to Assyria.
• In the 20th year of Jotham of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah conspires against and kills Pekah, reigning in his place.

32-38 Jotham over Judah (2 Chronicles 27:1-9)

• Son of Uzziah (Azariah) and Jerusha daughter of Zadok, Jotham begins reign in 2nd year of Pekah of Israel, at 25 years old, reigning 16 years.
• Jotham does right, as Uzziah had done, but does not remove the high places
• He does not invade the temple as Uzziah did.
• He builds the upper gate of the temple, cities in the hill country, forts, and towers.
• He fights and prevails over the king of the Ammonites, receiving 100 talents of silver, 10,000 cors of wheat and 10,000 of barley for 3 years in a row.
• He becomes strong because "he ordered his ways before the LORD his God."
  
• At this time the LORD begins sending King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.
• Jotham is buried in city of David, succeeded by his son Ahaz.

2 Kings 16
1-20 Ahaz over Judah (2 Chronicles 28)

• Ahaz begins reign in 17th year of Pekah, at 20 years old, reigning 16 years in Jerusalem.
• He does not do right in God's sight, but walks in the path of kings of Israel, making even his own son(s) "pass through the fire," sacrificing in the high places and making images for the Baals.
  
• King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel wage war on Jerusalem, besieging the city but not conquering it. Per the Chronicles account (28:5), the king of Aram takes people captive to Damascus. And Pekah kills 120,000 in Judah in one day (28:6). Zichri of Ephraim kills the king's son Maaseiah, Azrikam the palace commander, and Elkanah, the next in authority to the king (28:7).
  
• Chronicles account: Israel takes 200,000 captives to Samaria, but Oded, a prophet, convinces them of the evil and consequences of taking their own brothers captive. He is backed up by Ephraimite chiefs Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum and Amasa son of Hadlai, who clothe, feed, and anoint the captives and take them to Jericho, back to their kindred. Then they return to Samaria. (28:8-15)
  
• The king of Edom recovers Elath for Edom, driving out the Judeans.
• Ahaz appeals to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria for help against Aram (Syria), giving him silver and gold out of the temple, and the king of Assyria marches against Damascus, taking its people captive and killing Rezin. Per the Chronicles account, Tiglath-pileser does not help Judah, but oppresses them instead, even after Ahaz plunders the temple and his house to give tribute to Tiglath-pileser (28:16-21). On this seeming contradiction, commentators say that Tiglath-pileser does go against Damascus but takes it for himself, using his position there to further oppress Judah. Ahaz learns little from this experience of trusting his enemies and the enemies of God -- instead he tries to emulate them.
  
• King Ahaz goes to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser and while there copies the plans of the altar at Damascus, and tells the priest Uriah to build one just like it in Samaria.
• When Ahaz returns from Damascus, he replaces the original bronze altar with the "great" one, moving the bronze altar to the north of the new one, for Ahaz to "inquire by." Chronicles: [The gods of Aram] "were the ruin of him, and of all Israel."
  
• He "shuts the doors of the house of the Lord," and desecrates the bronze sea and other equipment "because of the king of Assyria."
• When he dies, he is buried in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings of Israel. He is succeeded by his son Hezekiah.
  

2 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 25

2 Kings 13
1-9 Jehoahaz Reigns over Israel

• Son of Jehu (2 Kings 10:35), begins to reign in 23rd year of King Joash, son of Ahaziah of Judah, reigns 17 years.
• He's evil, following in the sins of Jeroboam, and God allows King Hazael of Aram and Hazael's son Ben-hadad, to defeat Israel in battle.
• After Jehoahaz asks God for help, he gives Israel a "savior" (doesn't say who - maybe his son?), and the Israelites are allowed to stay in their homes. However, they still continue to sin, and keep the Asherah (sacred pole) in their land.
• Jehoahaz is left with a small army - 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, 10,000 footmen, which the king of Aram destroys.
• He dies and is buried in Samaria, succeeded by his son Joash.

10-13 Jehoash Reigns over Israel (same person as Joash)

• Begins to reign in the 37th year of King Joash of Judah, reigns 16 years. Also walks in the sins of Jeroboam.
• His other acts are written in the "Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel."
  
• See following section and 2 Kings 14:8-15 for more details about Jehoash's reign.
  
• He sleeps with his ancestors, and his son Jeroboam (II) takes the throne.

14-21 Death of Elisha

• Elisha is sick unto death, and King Joash of Israel comes to him, frantic about the small number of chariots and horsemen he has. He calls him, "My father, my father!" yet expresses no concern about Elisha's health, or maybe it's just not recorded.
  
• Elisha (patiently) gives him detailed instructions about how to defeat Aram:
• "Get a bow and arrow, open the window to the east, and as I put my hands on your hands, shoot the arrow. That is the LORD's arrow of victory over Aram."
• "Now take the arrows and strike the ground with them."
  
• So Joash strikes the ground 3 times, but Elisha tells him he should have struck the ground 5 or 6 times, then he would have made an end of Aram. With only 3 times, he'll strike Aram only 3 times. So how was Joash supposed to know this? Or did it indicate he wasn't aggressive enough?
• Elisha dies and is buried. Later, during a spring raid by a band of Moabites, residents are burying a man, and in haste because the Moabites are approaching, they throw the body into Elisha's grave. As soon as the man touches the bones of Elisha, he "came to life and stood on his feet."

22-25 Israel Recaptures Cities from Aram

• King Hazael oppresses Israel all the days of Jehoahaz (Joash's father), but in compassion, God does not allow Israel to be destroyed.
• When Ben-hadad succeeds Hazael, Joash reclaims the cities that had been taken from his father; he defeats Ben-hadad three times -- just as Elisha prophesied from his death bed.

2 Kings 14 (2 Chronicles 25)
1-6 Amaziah Reigns over Judah (2 Chr. 25:1-4)

• Begins his reign in the 2nd year of King Joash of Israel, at the age of 25 years, and he reigns 29 years in Jerusalem. His father is Joash of Judah and his mother is Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.
• He does right in God's sight, yet "not with a true heart," not up to David's standards -- more like his father Joash, in that he does not remove the high places.
• As soon as he has enough power, he kills the servants who murdered his father (2 Kings 12:20), but not their children, in obedience to the law of Moses (don't kill the children for the crimes of their parents).

7 Amaziah's War against Edom (2 Chr. 25:5-16)

• Amaziah assembles the people and sets them up by tribes into an army, mustering all 20 years and older, for a total of 300,000.
  
• He also hires 100,000 men from Israel for 100 talents of silver, but "a man of God" tells him not to use them, for they are Ephraimites, and God won't let Amaziah win with them. He discharges the Israelites, causing them to be extremely angry with Judah.
• In battle in the Valley of Salt, his army strikes down 10,000 men of Seir and captures another 10,000 whom they take alive to the top of Sela and throw off the mountain. He renames Sela Jokthe-el ("conquered by God").
• Meanwhile, the Israelites that Amaziah dismissed attack cities of Judah, killing 3000 and taking much booty.
• Amaziah brings home gods of Seir and set them up to worship them. God sends him a prophet who challenges him: "Why have you resorted to a people's gods who could not deliver their own people from your hand?" Good question. Why do any of us resort to behavior we know is self-destructive? Pride? Greed? Self indulgence?
  
• Amaziah says the prophet is not an appointed royal counselor, so he should stop speaking, or he'll be forced to kill him. The prophet stops, but still gets in that last words: "God will destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my advice." This reading answers the question I had after reading only the 2 Kings account: Why Amaziah's defeat at the hands of Joash of Israel in the next section?
  

8-14 Amaziah of Judah vs. Joash of Israel (2 Chronicles 15:17-24)

• Amaziah tries to set up a face-to-face meeting (battle) with King Joash of Israel, but Joash warns him (with a parable) that it won't be a good idea; tells Amaziah he is just overconfident after his defeat of Edom.
• But Amaziah doesn't listen (God's doing), and sure enough, Israel defeats Judah. Jehoash captures Amaziah, bring him to Jerusalem and breaks down 400 cubits of the wall of Jerusalem, and seizes all the gold and silver in the temple and the king's house, and takes hostages back to Samaria.

15-22 Deaths of Joash and Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:25-28)

• Amaziah lives 15 years after Jehoash's death. He is killed by conspirators, after fleeing from them to Lachish. They bring him back to Jerusalem to be buried with his ancestors.
• Succeeded by Azariah, his son, who is 16 years old, and who rebuilds Elath and restores it to Judah after his father's death.

23-29 Jeroboam II Reigns over Israel

• Son of Joash, begins to reign in the 15th year of King Amaziah of Judah, reigns 41 years.
• Follows in the sins of Jeroboam, but he does restore one of the borders of Israel, as prophesied by Jonah, son of Amittai (the Jonah we know), for the LORD did not promise to blot out Israel. He also recovers the cities Damascus and Hamath.
  
• After he dies, his son Zechariah succeeds him.
  

2 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 24

2 Kings 12 (2 Chronicles 24:1-14)
1-16 King Joash (Jehoash) Repairs the Temple

• Joash, whose mother is Zibiah of Beer-sheba, begins his reign in Jehu's 7th year and reigns 40 years in Jerusalem.
• Jehoiada gets him 2 wives, and he has sons and daughters.
  
• Under Jehoiada's instruction, he does what is right in God's sight, although he does not take away the high places.
• Some time into his reign, he instructs the priests to go out and get sacred donations, assessments, and voluntary offerings to repair the temple. The dedicated things in the house of the LORD had been used by Athaliah's followers for the worship of Baal.
  
• After 23 years, the repairs have still not been made, so he tells the priests, including Jehoiada, to either repair the house or stop accepting money. So they decide not to gather any more donations.
• By Joash's command, Jehoiada sets up a donation chest by the altar and Joash sends out a proclamation for all Judah to bring in the taxes that Moses had laid on the people in the wilderness. He sets priests to guard the chest.
• When it gets full, the king's secretary and high priest go up, count the money, put it in bags, and give it to carpenters, masons and stonecutters and for supplies to repair the temple. They don't ask for an accounting from the workers, because they are trustworthy.
• When the repairs are finished, they use the remainder to buy vessels of gold or silver from the money.
• The priests still receive money from guilt offerings and sin offerings. I just now realized this must be where the Catholic practice of selling indulgences comes from! Except I think that devolved into an abusive practice and getting permission to sin, not as a sacrifice for sin.
• They offered burnt offerings in the temple all the days of Jehoiada.

2 Chronicles 24:15-22 Joash's Apostasy

• When Jehoiada dies at the age of 132, they bury him in the city of David among the kings, "because he had done good in Israel, for God and his house."
• Sadly, his influence doesn't last. The officials of Judah come, do obeisance to King Josiah, and convince him to abandon the temple and serve the sacred poles and idols.
• God sends prophets to bring them back to the LORD, but they refuse to listen.
• Zechariah, son of the priest Jehoiada, rises up and preaches against their transgression, but the people conspire against him, and by the king's command they stone him to death. Joash "did not remember the kindness of Jehoiada." As Zechariah dies, he says, "May the LORD see and avenge!"

2 Kings 12:17-18 (2 Chronicles 24:23-24) Hazael Threatens Jerusalem

• (Usually an enemy of Israel, not Judah), King Hazael fights against Gath and takes it, then decides to take on Jerusalem as well.
  
• Joash pacifies Hazael by taking all the votive gifts his predecessors had put into the temple, with all the gold in the temple and king's house and sends them to Hazael, who withdraws.
• The Chronicles account may have been at a later time, possibly because Joash ceases to pay tribute to Hazael. In that account, the Syrian army, with just a few men, attacks Judah, destroys the officials, and takes all the booty to the king of Damascus. The LORD is responsible for this defeat of Joash because he has abandoned the God of his fathers.
  

2 Kings 12:19-21 (2 Chronicles 24:25-27)
Death of Joash

• The Arameans (Syrians) leave Joash severely wounded and weakened.
  
• Because of his killing Zechariah, his servants, Jozacar (Zabad) and Jehozabad, conspire to kill him, in his bed, in the house of Millo.
  
• He is buried with his ancestors in the city of David, succeeded by his son Amaziah. (Chronicles says he is not buried in the tombs of the kings.)
  

2 Kings 10-11; 2 Chron. 22:10 - 23; 23

2 Kings 10
1-17 Massacre of Ahab's Descendants

• Seventy sons of Ahab are spread out through Samaria. Jehu sends letters to the rulers, elders, and guardians of the sons, challenging them to choose the most qualified son to sit on Ahab's throne.
  
• But they are all terrified of Jehu -- this man who has killed 2 kings -- and they express their subservience to him. As proof of their loyalty, Jehu tells them to send the heads of their master's sons to him in baskets.
• They do as he says, and he lays the heads in two heaps at the gate all night. He gathers the people the next morning and tells them are innocent -- he is guilty of the assassination of his master; others are guilty of the deaths of Ahab's sons. Then he proceeds to slaughter all the remaining descendants of Ahab until no survivors are left in Jezreel.
• Jehu sets out for Samaria and on the way meets relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah who are coming to visit the queen mother. He takes them them to the pit of Beth-eked and slaughters all 42 of them.
• When he leaves there, he meets Jehonadab son of Rechab and receives his pledge of loyalty, taking him up into his own chariot. Then he finishes off killing Ahab's descendants in Samaria.

18-31 Slaughter of Worshipers of Baal

• Jehu assembles worshipers of Baal from throughout Israel in the temple of Baal, until it's wall to wall with worshipers, making sure there are no worshipers of the LORD present. Then they begin to offer sacrifices.
• He stations 80 men outside the temple and instructs them to stand outside the temple, letting no one escape or forfeit their own lives. They kill everyone in the temple, throw them out, then burn down the temple and make it a "latrine."
• So Jehu wipes out Baal, but he still continues to worship the golden calves in Dan and Bethel that Jehu built. However, God tells him because of his success in wiping out Ahab's seed, his family would be on the throne for 4 generations.

32-36 Death of Jehu

• God begins to "trim off" parts of Israel, by allowing Hazel to capture much of the land.
• Jehu reigns for 28 years, and is buried in Samaria, succeeded by his son Jehoahaz.

2 Kings 11 (Judah)
1-3 Athaliah's Reign (2 Chronicles 22:10-12)

• When Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, sees her son is dead, she tries to destroy the rest of the royal family, but Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, rescues Joash his infant son, and hides him and his nurse in a bedroom for six years. Note the potential power of women: One destroys, the other one saves and nurtures.
  
• Athaliah reigns over Judah for 6 years.

4-12 Jehoiada Anoints the Child Joash (2 Chronicles 23:1-11)

• In the 7th year of Athaliah, Jehoiada the priest takes courage and gathers army captains, guards, Levites and family heads. Putting them under an oath, he reveals the king's son.
• The priests and Levites who are on duty on the Sabbath are to be gatekeepers, a third will guard the king's house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation. No one is to be in the temple except the priests and Levites.The priest gives King David's weapons to the priests and Levites.
• The people come to the temple, and as the guards surround Joash, he crowns him king at the entrance of the temple. They shout, "Long live the king!"
  

13-21 Death of Athaliah (2 Chronicles 23:12-21)

• When Athaliah hears the noise, she goes to the temple, sees what is happening and cries "Treason! Treason!" Jehoiada commands that anyone following her will be killed.
• They seize her, but not wanting to kill her in the temple, take her to the entrance of the Horse Gate at the king's house and kill her there.
• Jehoiada makes a covenant with the people that they should be the LORD's people, and they go to the house of Baal and tear it down, killing Maatan, the priest of Baal.
• Jehoiada restores the levitical priesthood and temple worship, forbidding unclean people to enter the temple.
  
• Then they bring Joash to the king's house and put him on the throne.
• All the people of the land rejoice, because after Athaliah's death, the city is quiet.
• Joash is 7 years old when he begins to reign.
  

2 Kings 6-9; 2 Chronicles 20:1 - 22:9

2 Kings 6 (Elisha in Israel)
1-7 Miracle of the Ax Head

• Elisha's company of prophets tell him they want to build a bigger residence by the Jordan River. Elijah and Elisha haven't worked in isolation. They each attract an entourage of "lesser" prophets, of which Elijah, and now Elisha is the leader. And now Elisha's troupe has become so large, they need a bigger building. I wonder: Were any of them married? Apparently this is where they lived.
• As they cut down trees for the building, one of the prophets' borrowed ax head falls into the water. Elisha throws in a stick after it, and it floats to the top.

I can't believe I don't remember reading the following story. And I'm surprised we don't hear more sermons about "chariots of fire." It's really quite amazing and even funny. (Also, this must be where that movie from 30 years ago gets its name!)

8-23 Aramean Attack Thwarted

• The king of Aram (Ben-hadad) plans raids into different parts of Israel, but every time he does so, Elisha warns the king (Jehoram) where the attack will take place.
• The king of Aram suspects one of his men is an informant. When he learns it's Elisha (who, it is reported, tells the king of Israel the words he speaks in his bedchamber), he sends an army to Dothan, Elisha's residence, to seize him.
• The next morning, when Elisha's servant sees the army, he panics, but Elisha tells him not to be afraid, "for there are more with us than there are with them." He asks God to show his servant the myriads of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. One commentator points out that this servant is probably a replacement for the leprous Gehazi so he would be unaware of Elisha's powers. If that is so, then chapter 8 is out of sequence, for there Gehazi is very much alive and telling the king stories.
  
• Elisha prays that God will blind the soldiers. He leads the blind army to Samaria.
  
• When they arrive, the soldiers' sights return, and they realize where they are, with no chance of escape. The king of Israel wants to kill them, but Elisha reminds him they are not his prisoners, but God's. He tells the king to feed them and let them go.
• "And the Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel."

2 Kings 6:24 - 2 Kings 7:2 Ben-hadad's Siege of Samaria (I guess this is not the same thing as a raid.)

• "Some time later" Ben-hadad, king of Aram, musters his whole army and lays siege to Samaria.
• The famine is so great in Samaria because of the siege that a donkey's head is sold for 80 shekels of silver, and 1/4 of a kab (?) of dove's dung sells for 5 shekels of silver.
• As the king is walking (in sackcloth) next to a city wall, a woman cries out and complains to the king that she and another woman have eaten the 1st woman's son, but now the 2nd woman is unwilling to kill her own son for food. This indication of his people's desperation distresses the king, and he vows to have Elisha's head. (He blames God for this famine, and consequently God's prophet.)
• Elisha, sitting in his house with the elders, tells the elders the "murderer" is coming to take off his head, and to shut the door against him. The king asks Elisha why he should continue to trust in God.
• Elisha predicts that on the next day in Samaria, a shekel will buy a measure of choice meal or 2 measures of barley. The king's captain asks how that can be, and Elisha answers: "You shall see it with your own eyes, but shall not eat from it."

2 Kings 7:3-20 The Arameans Flee -- And This is How It Happens.

• 4 leprous men decide to desert to the Aramean army just to get some food. If the Arameans kill them, it's okay -- they're going to die anyway.
• When they get to the camp, there's no one there, because God has caused the army to hear the sound of chariots, like the approach of a great army, and they think Israel has hired Hittites and Egyptians to help in the fight, so they flee for their lives, leaving everything behind.
• The lepers have their fill of food and carry away all the silver, gold, and clothing they can. Then their consciences begin to hurt, and they decide to give the "good news" to the king. The king thinks it's a trick, so he sends messengers to investigate; they affirm the report.
• The Israelites plunder the Aramean camp, and "a measure of choice meal" is sold for a shekel, as is 2 measures of barley. Also as prophesied, the king's captain is trampled by the people as they rush toward the food. A heavy price to pay for disbelief, reminiscent of Sarah (Genesis 18:12) and Zechariah (Luke 1:18-20), who had their own moments of doubt. They didn't pay such serious consequences, though.
  

2 Kings 8:1-15
1-6 Land Restored to Shunammite Woman

• Elisha had told the Shunammite woman to go live in Philistia during the 7-year famine. When she returns, she goes to the king to appeal the return of her land to her.
• In the meantime, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, is with the king telling him Elisha's stories, including the one of raising the Shunammite woman's son. Just then, she comes in, and Gehazi identifies her. The king restores all her land to her plus the revenue made from it for the past 7 years. Doesn't Gehazi have leprosy? Wouldn't he be sequestered somewhere?
  

7-15 Death of Ben-hadad

• Elisha goes to Damascus while King Ben-hadad is ill. The king sends Hazael to inquire of Elisha whether or not he will recover. Hazael goes to meet Elisha, bearing 40 camel loads of goods.
• He asks Elisha about the king's recovery, and Elisha tells Hazael to tell the king that he will recover, but that the LORD has revealed that he will actually die. Then Elisha begins to cry, telling Hazael he knows he will afflict the people of Israel with horrendous violence.
  
• Hazael "humbly" replies, "What is your servant, a mere dog, that he should do this great thing?" Elisha tells him he will be the next king.
• Hazael conveys the message to the king that he will recover. But the next day Hazael smothers the king to death with a wet bed-cover. This is at last the fulfillment of the prophecy made to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:15-17: "...you will appoint Hazael as king over Aram..."
  

2 Chronicles 20 (Meanwhile, down in Judah)
1-4 Invasion from the East

• Moabites and Ammonites approach Jerusalem.
• In fear, Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast and seeks God's help.

5-30 Jehoshaphat's Prayer and Victory

• Recalls the history of God and their dealings with these people, confesses their weakness as a nation without God's help. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
• God's spirit comes on Jahaziel, a Levite, and he assures all the people that the victory will be the LORD's, and they have no reason to be afraid.
• Jehoshaphat bows to the ground, as do all the people, in worship. The Levites stand up to praise God.
• They rise early in the morning to meet their opponents, Jehoshaphat encouraging them to believe and appointing some to sing praises as they go.
• Somehow the Ammonites and Moabites destroy the inhabitants of Mount Seir, then each other in battle.
• The people of Judah come upon the battlefield, covered in corpses, but with an immense amount of booty: livestock, goods, clothing, precious things, so much it takes them 3 days to carry it away.
• On the 4th day they assemble for praise in the Valley of Beracah (Blessing).
• Jehoshaphat's accomplishments summarized:
• He followed God, like his father had, and also made peace with the king of Israel (not necessarily a good thing, as we see the way his sons turn out.)
  
• Got rid of a remnant of male temple prostitutes left over from his father's reign
• Brought people back to God (see also 2 Chron. 17:7ff)
• Appointed judges, instructing them to judge on the LORD's behalf, and not to pervert the law or take bribes.
• Charged the heads of the families of Israel to act with justice: "Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good!"
  
• He is buried in the city of David, succeeded by his son Jehoram.

2 Kings 8:16-19 (2 Chronicles 21:1-7)
1-7 Jehoram's Reign

• Jehoshaphat names his oldest son, Jehoram, as his successor, giving his other six sons many gifts and fortified cities.
• He begins to reign in the 5th year of King Joram (aka Jehoram) son of Ahab of Israel.
  
• When Jehoram comes to power, he kills all his brothers and some of the officials of Israel.
• He is 32 years old when he begins to reign, reigning for 8 years, lives in the ways of the king of Israel, as Ahab did, for his wife was the daughter of Ahab. (2 Chron. 18:1 -- One explanation for Jehoshaphat's friendship with Ahab.)
• God does not destroy his house, for it is David's house.
  

2 Kings 8:20-24 (2 Chronicles 21:8-10)
Revolt of Edom (See also 1 Kings 22:47 for passing reference to this)

• Edom revolts and sets up their own king, and Jehoram attacks Zair by night, causing Edom to revolt against Judah from then on.
  
• Libnah also revolts against Jehoram, because he has forsaken God.

2 Chronicles 21:11-17 Letter from Elijah
This is puzzling, of course, because I thought Elijah had been "translated" by now. Commentaries have 3 explanations:
1) Elijah wrote the letter before he ascended, and it was delivered by another prophet (John Gill);
2) This is a translator's error, it should say Elisha, not Elijah (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown);
3) Jehoram came to the throne before Elijah's ascension (Matthew Henry). Note: John Wesley's commentary says the same thing as Matthew Henry's, word for word!

• Jehoram builds high places and causes Judah to stray.
• Elijah (prophet to Israel) sends him a letter, warning him that because of his disobedience, God will bring a plague on his people, his family, and even on him.
• The Philistines also come up against Judah and carry away the king's possessions, as well as all his wives and his sons, except Jehoahaz (AKA Ahaziah).
• Jehoram is stricken with an incurable bowel disease and dies in great agony. No one regrets his death.
• He is 32 years when he begins to reign and reigns 8 years, buried in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
  

2 Kings 8:25-28 (2 Chronicles 22:1-6)

• Jehoram's son Ahaziah (by Athaliah, granddaughter of Omri of Israel) becomes king in the 12th year of King Joram of Israel, at the age of 22, and reigns for one year. He follows Ahab's ways, because he is a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.
• He goes to war with King Joram of Israel against King Hazael of Aram, and Joram is wounded. Ahaziah goes to visit Joram in Jezreel.

2 Kings 9
1-13 Anointing of Jehu
And here comes the 2nd part of God's prophecy to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:15-17.

• Elisha instructs one of the prophets to take a flask of oil, go to Ramoth-gilead and anoint Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel. "Then open the door and flee; do not linger." Isn't this funny? "Anoint Jehu, and run!"
  
• So the young prophet goes to Ramoth-gilead, asks to speak to Jehu, who is an army commander. He anoints him with oil, and instructs him to strike down Ahab's house, as vengeance on Jezebel for the blood of the LORD's prophets and servants. He prophesies that Jezebel will be eaten by dogs. Then he opens the door and flees.
• Jehu goes back to his company and tells the other commanders a "madman" has anointed him king over Israel. They take it seriously -- take off their cloaks, spread them on the bare steps, blow trumpets and declare him king.

14-26 Joram of Israel killed

• Jehu sets out for Jezreel, where Joram is lying wounded from battle with Aram. Ahaziah of Judah is with him.
• Joram's sentinel sees the horsemen, and Joram sends out messengers one at a time to see if the horsemen come in peace, but Jehu answers each one, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me." And they do. Finally the sentinel recognizes Jehu, because "he drives like a maniac."
• Joram seems to be expecting him. He and Ahaziah go out to meet Jehu at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite, whom Jezebel had killed.
• He asks Jehu if he's come in peace, but Jehu tells him there can be no peace "as long as the many whoredoms and sorceries of your mother Jezebel continue."
• Joram says to Ahaziah, "Treason, Ahaziah!" Jehu shoots Joram between his shoulders, and instructs his aide Bidkar to throw him on Naboth's plot.

27-29 Ahaziah of Judah Killed (2 Chronicles 22:7-9)

• King Ahaziah tries to get away, but they chase him and shoot him in his chariot. (The Chronicles account says that Ahaziah is hiding in Samaria, found, and brought to Jehu and killed.)
  
• He gets as far as Megiddo and dies there. In respect for his grandfather Jehoshaphat, they bury him in his ancestral tomb in the city of David.
  

30-37 Jezebel's Violent Death

• When Jezebel hears of Jehu's arrival, she paints her eyes and adorns her head, looks out the window, asks Jehu "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?"
• Jehu appeals to 2 or 3 eunuchs to throw her out the window, which they do, and horses trample on her. He goes in to eat and drink, then gives instructions to bury the "cursed woman," since she is a king's daughter, after all. But they find nothing of her except her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands, fulfilling Elijah's (and Elisha's) prophecies.
  

1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18-19

1 Kings 22 (2 Chronicles 18)
1-12 Joint Campaign with Judah against Aram

• Aram (King Ben-hadad) and Israel go 3 years without fighting.
• Jehoshaphat has made a marriage alliance with Ahab. (2 Chron. 21:6 -- Jehoshaphat's son Jeroham marries Ahab's daughter and turns out to be one of the evil kings of Judah.)
  
• In the 3rd year, Jehoshaphat visits Ahab, and Ahab invites him to do battle against Aram to re-claim Ramoth-gilead
• Jehoshaphat agrees, with one condition: Ahab should inquire of God first.
• Ahab gathers 400 prophets, and asks them if he should go up against Ramoth-gilead, and they all tell him he should, for God will give it to him.
• Jehoshaphat asks if there are any other prophets.
  
• Ahab tells him "there is still one other" (KJV: "Yet one man" - One of Bill's favorite sermons) -- Micaiah son of Imlah. But "I hate him, for he never prophesies anything favorable about me."Still, he summons him.
• And here's the picture: The kings are sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them, and Zedekiah, one of them, with horns of iron, acting out how Ahab is going to "gore" the Arameans.

13-28 Micaiah's Bad News

• The messenger who goes to get Micaiah warns him that he should give the king good news, because everyone else has.
• Micaiah's answer: "As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak."
• When he comes before the king, he tells Ahab God will give him victory.
• Something in his manner makes the king think he's not telling the truth, and he demands it.
• The real version: Micaiah sees Israel scattered on a mountain, like sheep without a shepherd.
  
• Ahab: See? I told you so!
• Micaiah accuses the other prophets of being deceitful. Zechariah slaps him for his impudence, and Ahab returns Micaiah to the governor of the city with instructions to throw him into prison, feed him reduced rations, and not release him until Ahab returns from the battle.
• Micaiah: "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken to me."
  

29-40 Defeat and Death of Ahab

• Ahab and Jehoshaphat go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, and Ahab decides to disguise himself but tells Jehoshaphat to wear his robes.
• The king of Aram has told his 32 captains to fight only the king of Israel.
• When they see Jehoshaphat, they think it's Ahab, but he quickly identifies himself.
• One of them shoots a random arrow, and it strikes Ahab between the armor and the breastplate. He leaves the field of battle, mortally wounded, bleeding to death by evening. The armies scatter, and they take Ahab's body back to Samaria.
• He is succeeded by his son Ahaziah.

41-50 Summary of Jehoshaphat's Reign (2 Chronicles 19)

• Son of Asa and Azubah, daughter of Shilhi, begins his reign in Ahab's 4th year at 35 years old, reigning 25 years in Jerusalem.
• After Ahab's death, he returns to Jerusalem. Jehu son of Hanani the seer comes to tell him that God is not pleased with his alliance with Ahab, but finds good in him because he has destroyed sacred poles and sought God.
• He makes an alliance with Ahaziah, Ahab's son, to build ships to send to Ophir for gold, but God disapproves, and the ships are wrecked.

51-53 Ahaziah's Reign

• Begins to reign in Jehoshaphat's 17th year, reigns 2 years, and is evil, just like his father and mother and Jeroboam.
• Serves Baal and worships him, provoking the LORD to anger.

1 Kings 17-21; 2 Chronicles 17

1 Kings 17 (Israel)

1-7 Elijah Predicts a Drought

• Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, tells Ahab there will be drought
• God tells Elijah to go live (hide from Ahab) by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan, where wadi provides him water, and the ravens bring him bread and meat
• However, the wadi eventually dries up.

8-16 The Widow of Zarephath

• So God tells Elijah to go to Zarephath in Sidon, where he has a commanded a widow to feed Elijah.
• When he gets there, he finds her gathering sticks for a fire to cook a last meal for her and her son, because they are down to their last meal and oil.
• He promises her that if she will give him some of the bread, her meal and oil will not run out.
• She does so, and his promise is fulfilled; they eat for many days.

17-24 Death of the Widow's Son

• After those days, the widow's son becomes ill and dies.
• The widow rails against Elijah, blaming him for her son's death.
• Elijah carries the child up to his room, covers him with his own body, and pleads to God for the child's life.
• The child revives, and the woman acknowledges that Elijah is a man of God and that he speaks the truth. The never-ending oil and meal are not enough to show this?
  

1 Kings 18
1-19 Elijah's Message to Ahab

• In the 3rd year of the drought, God tells Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him God is sending rain.
• In the meantime, in Samaria, where the drought is severe, Ahab sends for his servant Obadiah, who is in charge of the palace.
• (Obadiah is a follower of God; previously he had hid 100 prophets in a cave when Jezebel was "killing off" God's prophets.)
• Ahab instructs Obadiah to help him look for creeks throughout the land to find water for their cattle. Ahab goes one way, Obadiah the other.
• On the way, Obadiah meets Elijah, who asks him to tell Ahab of his presence.
• Obadiah responds, Are you kidding? They've been looking all over for you, and sure enough, as soon as I tell them you're here, you'll disappear somewhere, and they'll have my head!
• Elijah assures him he won't go anywhere, and Obadiah goes to fetch Ahab.
• Ahab greets Elijah as "trouble of Israel." Isn't that typical? Those who tell the truth of God are considered troublers rather than those who are disobeying him.
  
• Elijah: You and all your father's house are the ones who have troubled Israel because of your disobedience.
  
• Elijah asks Ahab to assemble Israel at Mt. Carmel, with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah who "eat at Jezebel's table."

20-40 The Duel at Mount Carmel

• Elijah challenges the people to stop "limping with two different opinions." Choose either God or Baal.
• He calls for two bulls and challenges the prophets of Baal to prepare theirs for sacrifice and call on their god to light it with fire. From morning until noon they call, finally "limping" around the altar.
• Elijah mocks them: Maybe your god is meditating, or has wandered away, is on a journey, or maybe even asleep! They begin cutting themselves until they bleed. Yet there is still "no voice, no answer, and no response."
• Elijah: Watch this! He repairs the damaged altar of God with 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes. He digs a trench around the altar, prepares the bull and puts it on the altar, and 3 times has them pour 4 jars of water on the burnt offering, until the wood is soaked and the trench is full of water.
• He makes a short appeal to God, fire comes from God, consumes the burnt offering, wood, stones, dust and evaporates all the water.
  
• The people fall on their faces and recognize God as LORD.
• Elijah orders the prophets of Baal seized, takes them to the Wadi Kishon and kills them.

Two questions: 1)Where are the prophets of Asherah that were mentioned in 18:19? Did they not show up? 2) And this is a question no one can answer: Why is God just now showing his power against the prophets of Baal? Had they reached their height of power and arrogance? Were the people's hearts only now ready to believe, in the face of this 3-year drought?

41-46 The End of the Drought

• Elijah tells Ahab to go up, eat and drink, for he hears rain, and Ahab does so.
• Elijah goes to the top of Carmel and bows down with his face between his knees. He keeps telling his servant to look toward the sea to check for rain. The first time, nothing, the next six times, nothing. The seventh time, a little cloud.
• He sends his servant to tell Ahab to board his chariot before the rain prevents him. The rain comes, and Ahab rides off to Jezreel, but, with strength provided by God, Elijah runs ahead of Ahab. According to a Jamieson, Fausset, Brown commentary,
  

...it was customary for kings and nobles to have runners before their chariots, who are tightly girt for the purpose. The prophet, like the Bedouins of his native Gilead, had been trained to run; and, as the Lord was with him, he continued with unabated agility and strength. It was, in the circumstances, a most proper service for Elijah to render. It tended to strengthen the favorable impression made on the heart of Ahab and furnished an answer to the cavils of Jezebel for it showed that he who was so zealous in the service of God, was, at the same time, devotedly loyal to his king. The result of this solemn and decisive contest was a heavy blow and great discouragement to the cause of idolatry. But subsequent events seem to prove that the impressions, though deep, were but partial and temporary.

1 Kings 19
1-9 Elijah Flees from Jezebel

• When Jezebel hears of the contest from Ahab, she threatens Elijah, and he runs. It's always worthy of remarking here that in a contest with 450 false prophets, Elijah shows no fear, but the threat of one woman terrifies him. Rather then being emboldened by that experience, he is exhausted.
  
• Leaving his servant in Beersheba, he goes into the wilderness and asks God to take his life, then he falls asleep.
• An angel wakes him, provides food for him, and tells him to travel. He gets to Horeb 40 days later on the strength of that one meal.

10-18 Elijah Meets God at Horeb

• v. 10 God comes to Elijah, and he tells God that he is zealous for him, but he's the only one left, and they're wanting to kill him.
• God tells Elijah to stand out on the mountain, "for the LORD is about to pass by."
• Though a strong wind, an earthquake, and a fire come up, the LORD does not appear in any of them. But after the fire, there's a "sound of sheer silence." Even though I'm more familiar with the KJV's "the still, small voice" here, this description may be even more powerful. It had been so noisy up there on that mountain, the silence must have been especially "deafening" and would certainly get Elijah's attention.
• "When Elijah heard it," he emerged from the cave (where, I presume, he had been hiding from all that weather), wrapping his face with his mantle. The storm is gone, he hears this silence, yet he protects his face with his cloak Could it be that he was anxious about what would happen next -- like emerging from a basement after a tornado?
  
• A voice comes to him, and Elijah and God have the same conversation they had back in verse 10.
• God tells Elijah to go to the wilderness of Damascus and anoint Hazael as king of Aram, Jehu as king of Israel, and Elisha as prophet in Elijah's place. Jehu will kill whoever Hazael does not, and Elisha will kill whoever Jehu does not. Except for Elijah, the other two do not seem to happen, at least not immediately.
  
• Yet God will leave 7000 in Israel who have not "bowed to Baal."
  

19-21 Elisha Becomes Elijah's Disciple

• Elijah goes and finds Elisha son of Shaphat plowing with 12 oxen. Elijah throws his mantle over him, and Elisha asks to go back home to say goodbye to his family.
• Elisha goes back, slaughters the oxen, and using the wood from their equipment, he boils their meat and gives it to the people. Maybe instead of saying we "burn our bridges behind us," we should say "boil our oxen."
  
• Then he returns to follow Elijah.

1 Kings 20
1-12 Ahab's Wars with the Arameans

• King Ben-hadad of Aram gathers his army, with 32 other kings, and attacks Samaria, then sends a message to Ahab demanding his silver, gold, his "fairest wives and children."
• Ahab's answer? "I am yours, and all that I have." Which is what you would expect this weak king to answer.
  
• Ben-hadad: I'm also sending my soldiers to ransack your houses and take whatever they want. After Ahab consults with the people, he refuses to allow him to do this.
• Ben-hadad boasts that after he's finished with Samaria, there won't even be a handful of dirt to go around for each of his followers.
• Ahab: "One who puts on armor should not brag like one who takes it off." Another expression that would be fun to remember, but I'm not sure when I'd ever use it!
• When Ben-hadad receives Ahab's message, he's drinking with the kings, and immediately orders his men to take their positions.

13-22 Prophet Advises Ahab

• A "certain prophet" tells Ahab the LORD will deliver Ben-hadad's army to his hands by the young men who serve the district governors.
• Ahab musters 232 of the young men, with 7,000 Israelites, and they go out at noon, when Ben-hadad is drunk.
• Benhadad's scouts tell him the Israelites are approaching, but it's too late -- the Israelites overcome the Arameans, though Ben-hadad escapes.
• The prophet warns Ahab that Ben-hadad will return in the spring.

23-34 The Battle on the Plain

• Ben-hadad's servants tell him the reason they were defeated before is because Israel's gods are "of the hills." If they can meet them on the plain, it will be different.
• So in the spring they go to Aphek to fight the Israel, and even though the Arameans "fill the country," while Israel is like "two little flocks of goats," the Israelites kill 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. The rest flee into the city of Aphek, and a wall falls on 27,000 of them.
• Ben-hadad has also fled into the city to hide, and his servants convince him to humble himself and plead to Ahab for mercy. Ahab accepts him, calling him "his brother," and makes a treaty: for Benhadad's promise to restore towns he has taken from Samaria, Ahab lets Ben-hadad go.

35-43 Prophet Condemns Ahab

• "At the command of the LORD," A prophet asks another to strike him, but the 2nd one refuses. Because in this he disobeys God, a lion kills the 2nd prophet.
• He asks another man to do the same, and the man does.
• Then the prophet disguises himself with a bandage over his eyes and waits by the side of the road for the king to pass by. When he does, the prophet tells him he was supposed to protect a man, at the risk of his own life or a talent of silver, but the man has disappeared. The king replies: "So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it." In other words, you made the promise, you must keep it.
• The prophet reveals himself, and using himself as an object lesson, tells Ahab that because he spared his enemy, he would lose both his life and his people. Per commentaries, 1) God didn't even spare the prophet's friend from disobedience. How could Ahab spare Ben-hadad? 2) Ahab hadn't carried out God's wishes in destroying his enemy.
• Ahab returns to Samaria "resentful and sullen."
  

1 Kings 21
1-16 Naboth's Vineyard

• Back at home, Ahab is coveting the vineyard beside the palace, which belongs to Naboth the Jezreelite, but Naboth refuses to sell or trade his "ancestral inheritance."
• Ahab goes to bed and pouts, refusing to eat.
  
• When Jezebel learns the reason for his depression, she promises him she'll take care of it.
• Under Ahab's seal, she sends out letters to city elders and nobles, telling them to proclaim a fast, seat Naboth at the head of the assembly and appoint two scoundrels to accuse him of cursing God and the king, then to stone him to death.
• They do as she says and report back to her, and she tells Ahab to go ahead and take possession of his vineyard.

17-29 Elijah Pronounces God's Sentence

• God sends Elijah to tell Ahab (who is in Naboth's vineyard at the time) that "in the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood." This appears to be the last straw for God -- this ultimate show of Ahab's inhumanity and weakness. Even though he didn't kill Naboth, he allowed Jezebel to do his dirty work without question.
  
• Ahab calls Elijah his enemy, to which Elijah responds with the same curse that God had put on Jeroboam, that his family would be wiped out.
• And, by the way, the dogs will eat Jezebel.
• (There was no one like Ahab, who "sold himself to do...evil...urged on by his wife Jezebel.")
  
• At Elijah's pronouncement, Ahab tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and fasts.
• At these signs of Ahab's humility before him, God relents from killing Ahab, and promises instead to punish his family in the next generation.

2 Chronicles 17 (Meanwhile, down south in Judah...)

• Jehoshaphat, Asa's successor, fortifies Judah's cities.
• God is with Jehoshaphat, who walks in the "earlier ways of his father" (Asa).
  
• He sends officials - Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah -- to teach the book of the law of the LORD in the cities of Judah, with several (named) Levites and two priests.
• The kingdoms around Judah have great respect for him and do not make war. Rather, the Philistines bring him tribute: silver, livestock.
• He builds up great armies with great warriors and great commanders:
  
• Judah
• Adnah, commander of 300,000 warriors
• Jehohanan - 280,000
• Amasiah - 200,000
• Benjamin
• Elida - 200,000
• Jehozabad - 180,000