One Year Bible, Monday July 4th.
Jehoahaz Rules in Judah
Jehoahaz reigned only 3 months in Judah and was put in prison by Pharaoh Neco.
Pharaoh was able to dominate Judah and make it effectively a vassal kingdom and a buffer against the growing Babylonian Empire. He imposed on the land a tribute and put on the throne of Judah a puppet king, a brother of Jehoahaz (Eliakim, renamed Jehoiakim).
Jehoiakim Rules in Judah
Jehoiakim reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem and did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He had to pay tribute to the Pharaoh, which required him to tax the people of Judah.
During his reign, King Nebuchadnezer of Babylon invaded and took over Judah, as the prophet had predicted. When Jehoiakim died, his on Jehoiachin took over.
Jehoiachin Rules in Judah
Jehoiachin only ruled in Jerusalem for three month, as King Nebuchadnezer continued to take over the capital city. We see here a summary of the complete ransacking of Judah and how all of the most treasured possessions and people were taken.
As the Lord had said beforehand, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the treasures from the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. He stripped away[d] all the gold objects that King Solomon of Israel had placed in the Temple. 14 King Nebuchadnezzar took all of Jerusalem captive, including all the commanders and the best of the soldiers, craftsmen, and artisans—10,000 in all. Only the poorest people were left in the land. 15 Nebuchadnezzar led King Jehoiachin away as a captive to Babylon, along with the queen mother, his wives and officials, and all Jerusalem’s elite. 16 He also exiled 7,000 of the best troops and 1,000 craftsmen and artisans, all of whom were strong and fit for war.
Zedekiah Rules in Jerusalem
He was the last king who ruled in Judah before the official exile into Babylon came to pass. He did evil like the kings before him.
The Fall of Jerusalem
Zedekiah rebelled against King Nebuchadnezer and the results were not pretty. All of his sons were killed before his very eyes, and his own eyes were gouged out, as he was led to Babylon in chains. The city gates were besieged and the Babylonians completely surrounded the city.
The Temple Destroyed
He burned down the Temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings[m] in the city. 10 Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side. 11 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population. 12 But the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields.
The priests and gatekeepers were rounded up and all killed. The rest of the people were sent into exile.
Gedaliah Governs in Judah
He reigned only a short period of time before some of his own officials conspired to kill him.
Then all the people of Judah, from the least to the greatest, as well as the army commanders, fled in panic to Egypt, for they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do to them.
Hope for Israel’s Royal Line
This King Jehoiachin was not the last king of Judah; Zedekiah came after him. But he was taken away to Babylon in bronze fetters (2 Kings 24:10-12). These last events of 2 Kings came when Jehoiachin had been a captive for many years.
“Since he was seemingly considered by the Judeans the last legitimate king, news of his later condition would be of great significance.” (Dilday)
Released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison… spoke kindly to him, and gave him a more prominent seat: The final words of the Book of 2 Kings describe small kindnesses and blessings given in the worst circumstances. Judah was still depopulated; the people of God were still exiled; and the king of Judah was still a prisoner in Babylon. Yet, looking for even small notes of grace and mercy as evidences of the returning favor of God, the divine historian noted that King Jehoiachin began to receive better treatment in Babylon.
When Paul told the Council the part of his vision where the Lord told him that he would be sent to the Gentiles, it got the Jewish men all riled up. When the soldiers went to beat Paul up for the ruckus he was causing, he again appealed by letting them know he was a Roman citizen.
Paul before the High Council
Though the anti-Paul sentiment was high, Paul did something brilliant. He pointed out that he was on trial for his belief in the resurrection of the dead. This created a big fight because the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and also the supernatural, whereas the Sadducees didn't. As a result, they began fighting with themselves so much the commander had Paul taken out and brought back to their prison.
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