Amaziah wouldn't listen so Judah was routed by Israel. Jehoash tore down the wall in Jerusalem, well, 600 feet of it anyway. Then he took all the gold from the temple, some hostages and went home. Fifteen years after Jehoash died people plotted against Amaziah and killed him. Then they made Azariah his son king of Judah. Jeroboam II became the next king of Israel, and he was wicked. Even though the king was bad, God heard the cries of the Israelites who suffered, so He allowed JII to get more land for them. Jeroboam II died and his son, Zechariah became king in Israel.
Azariah was 16 when he became king of Judah and he ruled 52 years. He obeyed the Lord, except that he left the local shrines in place where the people could make sacrifices. The Lord punished him with leprosy and he couldn't live in the palace. So his son, Jotham lived in the palace and ruled in his stead.
In Israel, Zechariah ruled 6 months. Shallum plotted against Zechariah, killed him publicly, and became king. One month later, Menahem killed Shallum. This guy was bad news. Menahem ruled Israel 10 years, then he died and his son, Pekahiah became king of Israel. Pekahiah ruled 2 years when his chief officer Pekah killed him and became king. Pekah ruled Israel 20 years when Hoshea plotted against him, killed him and became Israel's next king.
Jotham was king in Judah and he ruled for 16 years. He obeyed the Lord and rebuilt the Upper Gate that led to the Lord's temple, but the local shrines remained. During his rule, the Lord allowed Israel and Syria to attack Judah. Jotham died and was buried and Ahaz his son became king. Ahaz was 20 when he became king, and he ruled for 16 years. He was really bad, he even sacrificed his own son. Judah was attacked by Israel and Syria, but they couldn't capture Jerusalem. Then Ahaz sent a message to the king of Assyria, Tiglath-Pileser, asking him for help. He sent along the gold and silver from the treasuries and temple and sent them to the Assyrian king. The Assyrians attacked Damascus, deported the inhabitants and killed the king. Ahaz had to go to Damascus to meet his rescuer and while he was there he saw an altar he just had to have. He sent a sketch of it to Uriah the priest in Jerusalem, which he built before Ahaz got home. Apparently, Ahaz liked the new altar because he presented offerings on it. Then Ahaz told Uriah the way he wanted the new altar to be used. Uriah did as he was told. Ahaz dismantled the furnishings from inside the temple - the basins were removed including the Sea which he moved to a stone base. He took down the Sabbath canopy and royal entryway.
Hoshea became the last king of Israel. The Assyrians invaded the entire land, and the Israelites were removed from the land to Assyria. While I'm reading ch 17 vs 7-18, I am hearing the voice of that guy in the Ten Commandments who narrated the movie. A sad tale of disobedience and all is sourness and ruin.
Tomorrow read 2Kings 17:19-19:24
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