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Jotham Rules in Judah, 2 Chronicles Chapter 28

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Jadok.

Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways. (vv. 1-2, NLT)

King Jotham became very powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son, Ahaz became the next king. (vv. 6-9, NLT)

Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 26

But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar. Azariah the high priest came after him with eighty other priests of the Lord, all brave men. They confronted Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The Lord will not honor you for this!”

Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But he as he was standing there raging before the priest at the incense altar in the Lord’s Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead. When the Azariah the high priest and al the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the Lord had struck him. So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for the was excluded from the Temple of the Lord. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land. (vv. 16-21, NLT)

Uzziah Rules in Judah, 2 Chronicles Chapter 26

All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah as king in place of his father. After his father’s death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. He did was was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah had done. Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success. (vv. 1-3, NLT)

Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows and sling stones. And he built structures in the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled sling stones. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. (v. 11-15, NLT)

Amaziah Rules Judah, Chronicles Chapter 25

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem. Amazaiah did what was pleasing to the Lord’s sight, but not whoehartedly.

When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father [Joash]. However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: “Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.” (vv. 1-4, NLT)

When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed in front of them, and offer sacrifices to them! This made the Lord very angry, and he set a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”

But the king interrupted him and said, “Sine when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet before I have you killed!”

So the prophet stopped with his warning: “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.” (vv 14-16, NLT)

Jehoiadia’s Reforms Refused, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 24

But after Jehoiadia’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah pole and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring then back to Him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.

Then the Spirit of God came to Zechariah, and King Joash order that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple. This was how King Joash paid Jehoida for his loyalty-killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died there were: “May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!” (vv. 17-22, NLT)

Joash Repairs the Temple, 2 Chronicles Chapter 24

Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoidada the priest. Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and he had sons and daughters. As one point Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of the Lord. He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: “Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!” But the Levites did not act immediately. (vv. 1-5 NLT)

Over the years the followers of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the Lord to worship the image of Baal.

So the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to. the Temple of the Lord. Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness. This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it. (vv. 7-10, NLT)

Revolt against Athaliah, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 23

In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army comnanders: …. and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in all the towns to come to Jerusalem. They all gathered at the Temple of God, where they made a solemn pact with Joash, the young king.

Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s son! The time has come for him to reign! The Lord has promised that a descendant of David will be our king. (vv 1-3, NLT)

[Jehoida said] You Levites form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to enter the Temple. Say wiht the king wherever he goes!”(v. 6B, NLT)

Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, “Long live the king!” (vv. 11, NLT)

Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah, 2 Chronicles Chapter 22

Then Athaliah, mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy all the rest of Judah’s royal family. But Ahaziah’s sister, Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jerhoam, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joah and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jeosheba, wife of Jehoidia, the priest and sister of Azhaiah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him. Joash remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land. (vv. 10-12, NLT)

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20

So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reined in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did was was pleasing to the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follwo the God of their ancestors.

The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from begging to end, are recorded in The Record of Jehu son of Hannai which is included in The Book of the Kings o Israel.

Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked. Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied agains Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea. (vv. 31-37, NLT)_

War with Surrounding Nations, 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20

After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshapat. (v. 1) NLT

“O Our God, wont’ you stop them? We are powerless against this might army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to You for help.”

As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the Lord cam upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, the son of Beniah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.

He said, “Listen, all you people of of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshapat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this might army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (vv 13-15, NLT)

After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord, His faithfulness endures forever!”

At that very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Sier to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir, and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir , they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped. (vv. 21-4, NLT)