2 Kings 21-23:30. Repentance and Reformation. Kings Manasseh and Josiah of Judah

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Vincent Brendan Park
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1 2 Kings 21-23:30 Repentance and Reformation Kings Manasseh and Josiah of Judah

2 Kings and Prophets Timeline Assyrian/Babylonian Captivity of Israel Fall of Assyria to Babylon 612 BC Southern Kingdom: Judah ~726 BC ~609 BC (29) (55) (11) (11) (31) Hezekiah Manasseh Josiah Jehoiakim Zedekiah Amon Jehoahaz Jehoiachin 586 BC Fall of Judah to Babylon Isaiah Jeremiah -685 BC ~ BC Daniel ~ BC Ezekiel ~ BC Part 2 Legend: Prophets Kings (approx. reign in years)

3 King Manasseh of Judah

4 King Manasseh s Deeds 2 Ki. 21, 2 Chr. 33 Followed the detestable practices of the nations driven out before Israel Rebuilt the high places, erected altars to Baal and Asherah poles Built altars in the temple and worshiped the starry host In the valley of Ben Hinnom, sacrificed his son in the fire to Molech Practiced sorcery, divination, consulted mediums and spiritists Shed much innocent blood, filling Jerusalem end to end Led the people astray, causing them to do evil

5 King Amon of Judah

6 King Josiah of Judah

7 King Josiah s Deeds 2 Ki , 2 Chr th year of his reign: he began to seek God 12 th year of his reign: began to purge Jerusalem and Judah of idols 18 th year of his reign: repaired the temple Read the Book of the Covenant to the people and renewed the covenant, leading all the people to pledge themselves to the covenant Cleansed the land Removed and burned articles and altars to other gods from the temple Removed pagan priests, tore down the shrines and desecrated the shrines and high places and altar to Molech, Smashed sacred stones and cut down Asherah poles, all detestable things Slaughtered all the priests of the high places, burned human bones on the altars Celebrated the Passover like never before or since in the days of the kings

8 Archeological Evidence Existence of these rulers? Main sources: Assyrian and Babylonian records Manasseh 1 seal (not found in situ), 2 records (Esarhaddon materials, Ashurbanipal help repress Egyptian revolt) Josiah non in situ ostracon (names king)

9 Assyrian Zenith & Fall 681 B.C. King Sennacherib is assassinated by his sons B.C. Esarhaddon reigns 671 Defeats Taharka, king of Egypt; makes Egypt a province of Assyria 669 Dies on a campaign against Egypt B.C. Ashurbanipal succeeds his father Established huge royal library 662 Defeats nephew of Tahakra of Egypt; Established Necho, an Egyptian prince, as a vassal pharaoh 652 B.C. Babylonian king (his brother) revolts, takes 4 years to subdue 650 B.C. Coalition of Egypt, Phoenicia and others revolt, subdued in 648 B.C. 627 B.C. Ashurbanipal dies and Assyria fights Scythian invasion from north Facts compiled from Old Testament Times by R. K. Harrison

10 The Assyrian Empire

11 Babylonian Rebellion & Rise 652 B.C. Babylonian king (brother of Ashurbanipal) revolts, subdued after 4 years 626 B.C. Babylon successfully asserts her independence from Assyria 616 B.C. King Nabopolassar allies with the Medes to attack Assyria 614 Ashur (capital city) fell 612 Ninevah fell 610 the last remnant of Assyrian forces were wiped out at Haran B.C. Babylonian Empire begins with the marriage of the daughter of the Medan king to Nebuchadnezzar II, son of Nabopolassar Facts compiled from Old Testament Times by R. K. Harrison

12 Political Events Judah Egypt Assyria Babylon 686 Hezekiah dies, Manasseh reigns 681 Sennacherib dies, 680 Esarhaddon reigns 642 Manasseh dies, Amon reigns 640 Amon dies, Josiah reigns 609 Josiah dies, Jehoahaz II reigns, Jehoiakim reigns 664 Taharka dies, nephew reigns/dies, 662 Neco installed 669 Esarhaddon dies, Ashurbanipal reigns 650 Egypt, Phoenicia revolts (2 yrs to subdue) 652 Babylonian king revolts (4 yrs to subdue) 633 Psamtik I reigns Until 609 B.C. 627 Ashurbanipal dies 626 Assyria fights Scythians 610 Neco II reigns Until 595 B.C. 616 Nabopolassar + Medes Begins attacks on Assyria 626 Babylonian rebels 605 Battle of Carchemish Judah becomes Babylonian vassal Facts compiled from Old Testament Times by R. K. Harrison

13 Egyptian Role Psamtik I reigns in Egypt B.C. Neco II reigns 609 B.C. Neco II moves to aid Assyria s forces King Josiah opposes his movement and is killed at Megiddo B.C. Neco II of Egypt controls Judah Removes Josiah s son Jehoahaz after reigning 3 months, replaces him with son Jehoiakim Imposes a big tribute on Judah (2 Chr. 36:1-3) Neco II battles Nebuchadnezzar II (prince of Babylon) at Carchemish Egypt routed and Judah becomes a Babylonian vassal Facts compiled from Old Testament Times by R. K. Harrison

14 The Assyrian Empire

The Minor Prophets Nahum vision concerning judgment on Nineveh/Assyria Habakkuk beautiful discourse between complaints of the prophet and God s responses Complaint of injustice Response of

15 The Minor Prophets Nahum vision concerning judgment on Nineveh/Assyria Habakkuk beautiful discourse between complaints of the prophet and God s responses Complaint of injustice Response of Babylonians Prayer for mercy Profession of trust in God Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go onto the heights. Habakkuk 3:

16 the Prophetess Huldah 2 Kings 22:8-20, 2 Chr. 34:19-28 Discovery Book of the Law or Book of the Covenant Huldah woman, married, highly respected prophetess of the Lord, living in Jerusalem God s Response: I am going to bring disaster.. But also, because your heart was responsive and you have humbled yourself you will not see all the disaster

17 Scripture Passages Manasseh Read 2 Kings 21: Chr. 33:10-17 Josiah Read 2 Kings 22: Kings 23:24-27 Lev. 4:13

18 Table Discussion Manasseh (2 Ki.s 21:10-16, and 2 Chr. 33:10-17) What did God do to get Manasseh s attention? When and how was God merciful to Manasseh? What changed in Manasseh s thinking? What elements of true repentance do we see in Manasseh s behavior? What spiritual responsibility does a leader have towards his people? BONUS: What hope do you get from this passage? Josiah (2 Ki.s 22:8-20, 23:24-27, with Lev. 4:13) Under what circumstances was the Book of the Law found? What did Josiah assume upon reading the law? (see Lev. 4:13) What did he do? Who did God speak through and what does that teach us? How does God deal with those who repent? How did Josiah s actions demonstrate his heartfelt repentance? How did Josiah help others to repent?

19 Lessons from Manasseh Sometimes God is speaking, but we don t listen. God listens to humble prayer. Answered prayer teaches us who God is. True repentance means removing idols from our lives. There s hope even for the most wicked.

20 Lessons from Josiah Ignorance of sin does not mean innocent of sin. God chooses whomever He will to deliver His message. God is gracious to the humble heart. Our sins, though repented of, have consequences.

21 2 Kings The Responsibility of Leadership 2 Kings 21:9 But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. 2 Chr. 34:33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors. A sinful leader can cause people to sin, but a godly leader can help people faithful repent.

22 Apply It: Is God speaking and you aren t listening? Where is your leadership taking others? For whom do you need to maintain hope? How are you currently seeking God? What sin has the Lord made you aware of? How will you repent? How can you help others repent of sin?

23 Next Week King Johiakim and Jehoiachin Prophet Ezekiel (2 Kings 24, Jeremiah 36-37)

STUDY PAGES/NOTES KNOW THE WORD WEEK 59 Day 1

STUDY PAGES/NOTES KNOW THE WORD WEEK 59 Day 1 1. We are now in 2 Kings 21 and 22 and 2 Chronicles 33, reading about the last years of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. King Hezekiah was one of the best kings