Jehu. Kings and Prophets 2Kings /13/2016

Transcription

1 Jehu Kings and Prophets 2Kings /13/2016

2 Dynasties of the Northern Kingdom Name of Dynasty Name of kings Time Passage Jeroboam Jeroboam, Nadab B.C. I Kings Baasha Baasha, Elah B.C. I King Omri Omni, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram B.C. I King Jehu Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah B.C. II King 9-15 Last Kings Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, Hoshea II Kings 15-17

3 841 B.C. One of the most significant year in OT history 1. The death of Joram, King of Israel 2. The death of Ahaziah, King of Judah 3. The slaying of Queen Jezebel 4. The commencement of Jehu s reign as King of Israel 5. Davidic messianic line was at great risk of being broken by Athaliah 6. King Shalmaneser III of Assyria successfully launched his far reaching campaign against Syria and the west.

4 Assyria After the battle of Qarqar in 853 BC, Shalmaneser III returned to his homeland to deal with internal problems for the next 4 yrs. He returned in 849, 848, 845 BC and was met with stiff opposition In 841 BC, he manage to defeat Hazel, King of Aram and brought Jehu King of Israel under tribute as attested in the Black Obelisk 838 BC: As a result of the successful campaign in 841 BC, Shalmaneser now focused his campaign onto North Syria, Media (east), and Armenia (north). Shalmaneser s successor Shamshi-Adad V ( ) had most of the states in the west remained subservient, while he was preoccupied with war against Babylonia. Thus, leaving Hazael free from BC to pursue his policies toward neighboring states (Israel).

5 Assyria

6 Assyrian King Shalmaneser III Reigned BC Vigorous Military expansion: focused on Northern Syria (Aram 853 B.C: Battle of Qarqar 841 B.C: Defeated Hazael but failed to capture Damascus. Received tributes from Tyre, Sidon, Samaria. Submission of Jehu, son of Omri is shown on the Black Obelisk. 832 B.C.: Invaded Cilicia and capture Tarsus Before he died in 824 B.C., civil war broke out between one of his sons, and his heir. Rebuilt a palace and Ziggurat at Nimrud

7 Assyrian King Shalmaneser III

8 Shalmaneser: Conquest 841 BC

9 Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III

10 Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III A four-sided black limestone monument or pillar of approx. 6.5 ft Dated to 841 B.C. Discovered in 1846 by A.H. Layard in the central palace of Shalmaneser III at the ruin of Nimrod (or Calah) Contains cuneiform inscriptions record of tributes offered Shalmaneser III during his campaigns with Syria and the West Jehu Relief is the most significant panel with Jehu bowing with his face to the ground before Shalmaneser III Refer to Jehu as Son of Omri

11 Assyria It was the rise of the Assyrian king Adad-nirari III ( ) with renewed focus onto Syro-Palestinian region that prevented both Judah and Israel from complete servitude to Syria. Babylon was subjugated. Ada-nirari pushed west in BC and was successful against Damascus and Palestine. Due to trouble from other quarters, the control of Damascus and south was lost and was not regained until 743 BC under Tiglath- Pileser III.

12 Egypt Egypt was no match for Shalmaneser. King Osorkon II ( BC) attempted to establish alliance with Aramean and Palestinian states to resist Assyrian imperialism. This was evidence in the presence of Egyptian troops among alliance who fought against Shalmaneser III at the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BC. Takeloth II ( BC): Egypt weakened further as internal conflict arose as Thebes seemed independence from the north. Hence, neither Jehu or Joash could look to Egypt for alliance to fight again Hazael or Shalmaneser III.

13 Hazael of Damascus Court official under Ben-hadad II, Hazael became king of Aram. Under his reign, Aram expanded over large parts of Syria and Palestine. God instructed Elijah to anoint Hazael as King of Syria (1 King 19:15) Elisha announced to Hazael that he will become the trekking of at King of Aram. He suffocated his master and ascended to the throne. Reign from BC (37 yrs) In the annals of Shalmaneser III, it is recorded that Hazael, the son of nobody, seized the throne

14 Hazael of Damascus 842 BC: Besieged Ramoth-gilead and defeated the alliance of Joram and Ahaziah 841 BC, Hazael fought against Shalmaneser III. He and Damascus survived but with much devastation. Shalmaneser III annals claimed defeat of Hazael. 837 BC: Hazael survived another Assyrian attack. After that, Shalmaneser III abandoned further attack on Damascus. As a result of Shalmaneser s withdrawal, Israel became vulnerable to Hazael s attacks (from BC) resulting in the large loss of Israelite territory, especially in the Transjordan (from Arnon to Bashan) Jehoahaz ( BC) suffered constant harassment from Hazael and Israel was in complete servitude to Syria.

15 Hazael As a result of Shalmaneser s withdrawal, Israel became vulnerable to Hazael s attacks. Hazael acted as the instrument of Yahweh to march against the Transjordan (2 Kings 10:32-33) Hazael attack on Israel is likely due to Jehu submission to Assyria, rather than aligning with Hazael to resist Assyria.

16 Hazael of Damascus Hazael also marched southward and attacked Gath, and other coastal Philistine cities. (2 Kings 12:17) Then he turned toward Jerusalem but was dissuaded by the large sum of temple and palace treasure offered by King Joash Died by 801 BC, succeeded by his son Ben-Hadad II. His death allow the Northern Kingdom to some relief of Syrian aggression It was the rise of the Assyrian king Adad-nirari III ( ) with renewed focus onto Syro-Palestinian region that prevented both Judah and Israel from complete servitude to Syria.

17 Hazael: Invasion Of Israel 837 BC

18 Tel Dan Stele The broken and fragmented stele commemorates the victory of an Aramean king over the king of Israel and the king of the House of David. It dates back to 9th century B.C, discovered during excavation of Tel Dan in The inscription the house of David provides the first evidence of King David from the Bible is a genuine historical figure

19 Jehu An army officer of Ahab who became a commander under Joram, who later dislodged the House of Omri. Jehu is the only anointed king of the Northern Kingdom His name means Yahweh is the True One Jehu s dynasty lasted almost a century, (from 841 to 752 B.C) Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah Israel grew from smallest geographical area to peak of international prestige

20 Prophet Elisha Elisha became the leading prophet of Israel from BC, at the beginning of King Joram s reign. He is known in Israel, Judah, Syria, Moab, and Edom While God called Elijah to anoint Hazael king over Aram, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. Elijah only called Elisha. It was Elisha who went to Damascus to announce to Hazael that God has called him to become king over Aram sent one among the company of prophets to anoint Jehu king over Israel

21 Read 2 King 9-10 Discussion: Jehu: Group Discussion 1 1. What was the mandate God gave to Jehu 2. List the events of killing that took place in these 2 chapters. 3. Discuss which ones of the killing fall within the mandate God gave Jehu, and which ones do not.

22 Jehu Anointing of Jehu Mandate for Jehu: 1. To destroy the whole house of Ahab 2. To kill Jezebel and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord s servants shed by Jezebel

23 Jehu Killing of Joram Killing of Ahaziah Killing of Jezebel Killing of Ahab s sons and descendants Killing of Ahab s chief men close friends, and priests

24 Jehu Killing of the relatives of Ahaziah Killing of Ahab s family in Samaria Killing of the ministers of Baal

25 Jehu Jehu reigned for 28 years. The most recorded acts were his killing. God commended him for the extermination of Ahab s house. Rewarded him with the throne to his 4th generation. Despite his zeal to remove baal worship in Israel, he continued in the idolatry of Jeroboam son of Nebat In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king

26 Prophet: Hosea Hosea was the prophet of the Northern Kingdom during the its final years. His prophetic ministry took place between BC: he lived to see the destruction of Samaria in 722 BC, and likely Hosea initially delivered his message orally to Israel, and was later transcribed to scrolls. The book recorded God commanded Hosea to marry an adulterous woman Gomer. Themes: God s faithfulness, mercy and unfailing love Judgment for sin Repentance and Restoration Hosea 1:4 Hosea condemned the needless brutality and blood shed Jehu carried out at Jezreel almost a century ago, and pronounced judgment on the house of Jehu as well as Israel.

27 Israel after Jehu s Purge Policy of alliance during the Omrides dynasty was broken Broke alliance with Judah Ended alliance with Tye and Phoenicia Israel s internal collapse: Critical loss of leadership in Israel Bitterness and fear that paralyzed the nation Jehu lack the ability or foresight to restore national health

28 Israel after Jehu s Purge The rise of Assyria Return of Shalmaneser III in 841BC defeated Syria forces, ravaged the land, but fail to take Damascus > Assyrian forces attack along Phoenician Coast > taking tribute from Tyre, Sidon,and Jehu (Israel) **See Black Obelisk** Assyria turned focus away from the west (Southern Syria and Israel) between BC The rise of Syria Israel s submission to Assyria in 841 BC (instead of standing with Syria to fight against Assyria) + The change of Assyrian military focus in 837 BC >Hazael s invasion of Israel in 837 BC resulting in significant loss of the Transjordan to Syria

29 Shalmaneser: Conquest 841 BC

30 Athaliah of Judah Daughter of King Ahab, and wife of King Jehoram (son of Jehoshaphat) who entered into a marriage alliance. A strong-willed woman who introduced Baal worship in Jerusalem Assumed control of the throne of Judah after the death of her son Ahaziah (reigned less than 1yr). Her usurpation lasted from BC. Killed all the legitimate heirs with the exception of Ahaziah s infant son Joash who was hidden by his aunt Jehosheba and remained under the tutelage of her husband, Jehoiada the high priest. Almost broke the Davidic Messianic line.

31 Athaliah of Judah When Joash was seven, Jehoiada crowned him king in the Temple Athaliah was put to death Jehoiada led the people into a reaffirmation of the covenant and be God s faithful people Subsequent to the pledge, the people demolished the temple of baal, smashed the idols and the altars, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal. The people welcome Joash to the throne. Davidic messianic line was preserved.

32 King Joash King of Judah ( BC): came to the throne at age seven, reigned 40 yrs. (2 Kings Chr 24) He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord when he was under the influence of Jehoiada the priest Repaired and purified the Temple Presented burnt offerings continually BUT, the high places were not removed When Hazael attacked Jerusalem, he took all the sacred objects, gifts and gold found in the Temple and sent them to Hazael, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.

33 King Joash He did evil in the eyes of the Lord after the death of Jehoiada Abandoned the Temple of the Lord and worshipped Asherah poles and idols. Thus turned the heart of the people away from God. Incurred God s ange and ignore prophetic warnings Stone to death Zechariah son of Jehoiada when Zechariah prophesied against them. Judgement: Army of Aram marched against Joash, plundered Jerusalem and severely wounded Joash. Joash was killed in his bed by his officials who conspired against him for murdering Zechariah.

34 Zechariah (Son of Jehoiada) From 2 Chr 24: Son of the High Priest Jehoiada After Jehoiada s death, King Joash turned away from Yahweh, abandoned the Temple, and worship the Asherah pole and idols The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah and he confronted Joash for his apostasy and proclaimed God s judgment upon him. But King Joash plotted against him and order him to be stoned to death in the courtyard of the Lord s Temple. That year, the army of Aram (a small army) marched against Joash, invaded Judah and Jerusalem, killed all the leaders of the people, and severely wounded Joash, who was later murdered by 2 of his officials. Joash was NOT buried in the tombs of the kings In Luke 11: In the 6 Woes upon the Pharisee, Jesus pronounced the woe of their killing of God s prophets and He remembers Zechariah.

35 Jehu: Group Discussion 2 Revisiting 2 King 9-10 Group Discussion: 1. What are some good and not-so-good leadership qualities you observed in Jehu? 2. Share some of the leadership lessons you learned through this passage.

36 Jehu: Leadership Lessons Good leaders do God s work God s way. They trust and obey God every step of the way. They stay the course and remain in the center of God s call. They resist the temptation of the end justifies the means.

37 Jehu: Summary Joshua 1:7-8: Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

38 Jehu Kings and Prophets 2Kings /13/2016

39 Leadership Lessons The powerful influence of godly advisor (Joash/Jehoiada) Leaders are called by God to follow His mandate: not falling short of it, deter from it, nor exceeding it (as in the case of Jehu s bloody coup) The fundamental quality of a godly leader is one who s heart is devoted to the Lord, one who remains faithful to Him through life Leadership of Jehu and Jehoiada: Leadership motivated by selfish ambition and leadership motivated by spiritual dedication.