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Home , 2 Chronicles 16, 2 Chronicles 20, 2 Chronicles 21, 2 Chronicles 22, 2 Chronicles 23, 2 Chronicles 33

Monarchs of the Divided Kingdom

-Israel- 19 kings, all of them evil

I1 – I of Israel Reign: 22 years, 931-910 BC References: 1 Kings 12:26-14:20; :2-17 Key Principle: Our lives must be driven by God’s word, not our own insecurities. • Was promised the throne with God’s blessing through no merit of his own (1 Kings 11:31) • His undeserved position of power became his idol (1 Kings 12:26-27) and his fear of losing it became the basis of his greatest sin (1 Kings 12:28-29) Background information: • Had a dispute with King (1 Kings 11:26-27) • Was promised the kingdom although he wasn’t in line for the throne (1 Kings 11:31-39) • Fled to Egypt from the hand of Solomon (1 Kings 11:40) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 13:33)

I2 – Nadab of Israel Reign: 2 years, 910-909 BC References: 1 Kings 14:20-15:31) Key Principle: If we don’t see and acknowledge the sins of those who go before us, we will default to them. • Walked in the way of his father Jeroboam’s sin (:26) Background information: • Son of Jeroboam • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 15:26)

I3 – Baasha of Israel Reign: 24 years, 909-886 BC References: 1 Kings 15:27-16:8, :1-6 Key Principle: Just because we don’t see clear consequences of our sin doesn’t mean God doesn’t notice it. • Baasha’s whole family was killed after his death as a direct result of his evil ways (1 Kings 16:1- 11) Background information: • Usurped the throne from Nadab (1 Kings 15:27-28) • Destroyed the entire household of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 15:29) • Warred with Judah (1 Kings 15:32) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 15:34) I4 – Elah of Israel Reign: 2 years, 886-885 BC References: 1 Kings 16:6-14 Key Principle: A disregard for God’s word leads to inevitable punishment. • Heard the word of the Lord against his father (1 Kings 16:2-4) • Lived in blatant disregard and carelessness toward God’s word (1 Kings 16:8-10) Background information: • Son of Baasha • A drunkard (1 Kings 16:9) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 16:13)

I5 – of Israel Reign: 7 days, 885 BC References: 1 Kings 16:10-20 Key Principle: God’s judgment doesn’t always tarry. • Very short reign (1 Kings 16:15) • His sin led to swift punishment (1 Kings 17-19) Background information: • Usurped the throne from Elah (1 Kings 16:9) • Was a commander in the Israeli Army and a servant to Elah (1 Kings 16:9) • Wiped out the entire household of Baasha (1 Kings 16:11) • Committed suicide when he saw his sinful conspiracy implode (1 Kings 16:18)

I6 – of Israel Reign: 12 years, 885-874 BC References: 1 Kings 16:16-28 Key Principle: Our apparent “success” may not actually be success in God’s eyes. • Bought land, moved the capital, and built a dynasty (1 Kings 16:24) yet was still evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 16:25) Background information: • Usurped the throne from Zimri (1 Kings 16:16) • Was the commander of the Israeli Army (1 Kings 16:16) • Had a temporary co-regency with (1 Kings 16:21) • Bought (1 Kings 16:24) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 16:25)

I7 – of Israel Reign: 22 years, 874-853 BC References: 1 Kings 16:29-22:40 Key Principle: The truth gives us only two choices: conform to God’s will or disregard Him and reap the consequences. • Was faced with the truth more than once (1 Kings 17:1, 18:18, 20:42) • Reaped punishment from disobedience (1 Kings 20:42) but is spared when he responds to the word in repentance (1 Kings 21:29) Background information: • Son of Omri • Married to Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31) • Worshiped (1 Kings 16:31) • Warred with (1 Kings 20, 22) • Had a brief moment of repentance (1 Kings 21:29) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 16:30)

I8 – Ahaziah of Israel Reign: 2 years, 853-852 BC References: 1 Kings 22:40-:18, :35-37) Key Principle: God is Lord over everything – including my body. • Chose to consult with a false god instead of the Lord when he became ill (2 Kings 1:2-4) Background information: • Son of Ahab • Worshiped Baal (1 Kings 22:53) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 22:52)

I9 – Joram of Israel Reign: 12 years, 852-841 BC References: 2 Kings 1:17, 3:1-27, 6:8-8:15 Key Principle: The consequences of our choices may take more than just one lifetime to show themselves. • Ahab coveted and murdered two generations ago (1 Kings 21) and spoke the judgment for that sin (1 Kings 21:20-21) • Finally in Joram’s lifetime, the judgment is fulfilled through the destruction of his entire family line (:7) Background information: • Rightfully assumed the throne from Ahaziah, who had no heir (2 Kings 1:17) • Put away the pillars of Baal (:2) • Warred against with Judah and (2 Kings 3:7-27) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 3:2-3)

I10 – of Israel Reign: 28 years, 841-814 BC References: :2-10:36, :8-9 Key Principle: The one thing you refuse to surrender will become the thing that defines your life. God desires ALL of us. • Eradicated Baal from Israel (2 Kings 10:18-28) but didn’t actually surrender his heart to the Lord or repent from the sins of his fathers (2 Kings 10:29-31) Background information: • Usurped the throne from Joram (2 Kings 9:14-26) • Was anointed king by God before he assassinated Jehu (2 Kings 9:6) • Kills Joram of Israel, , the princes of Judah, Jezebel, and Ahab’s entire household (2 Kings 9:24, 9:27; 2 Chronicles 22:8; 2 Kings 9:33-37, 10:7) • Wipes out all worshipers of Baal (2 Kings 10:28)

I11 – Jehoahaz of Israel Reign: 17 years, 814-798 BC References: 2 Kings 10:35, 13:1-9 Key Principle: God is not your personal genie. • Jehoahaz walks in sin (:2), then cries out to the Lord in trouble and is delivered (2 Kings 3-5), then returns right back to his sin (2 Kings 13:6) Background information: • Son of Jehu • Brief moment of repentance (2 Kings 13:4) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 13:2)

I12 – Jehoash of Israel Reign: 16 years, 798-782 BC References: 2 Kings 13:10-14:14, :17-24 Key Principle: A truly surrendered heart will prove itself over time. • Loved and wept over Elisha (2 Kings 13:14) and followed in Jeroboam’s sins (2 Kings 13:11) Background information: • Son of Jehoahaz • Judah forced his hand into war (2 Chronicles 25:21) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 13:11)

I13 – Jeroboam II of Israel Reign: 41 years, 782-753 BC References: 2 Kings 13:13, 14:16-29 Key Principle: God can use those who don’t know Him to show His grace and further His plan. • Despite Jeroboam II’s evil ways, God used him to save Israel (:26-27) Background information: • Son of Jehoash • Restored order to Israel according to the word of the Lord (2 Kings 14:25) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 14:24)

I14 – Zechariah of Israel Reign: 6 months, 753-752 BC References: 2 Kings 14:29, 15:8-11 Key Principle: God is certain to deliver on His promises. • God promised that Jehu’s sons would be on the throne to the fourth generation, and Zechariah is the fourth (2 Kings 10:30) Background information: • Son of Jeroboam II • Was publicly assassinated (2 Kings 15:10) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 15:9)

I15 – Shallum of Israel Reign: 1 month, 752 BC References: 2 Kings 15:13-16 Key Principle: Do not be surprised when God returns your evil on your own head. • Assassinated Zechariah (2 Kings 15:10) and was killed in the same way by (2 Kings 15:14) Background information: • Usurped the throne from Zechariah (2 Kings 15:10)

I16 – Menahem of Israel Reign: 10 years, 752-742 BC References: 2 Kings 15:14-22 Key Principle: Without total surrender to God, at best we can only put a band-aid on our problems. • Put together a temporary fix for the impending judgment (2 Kings 15:19) but returned with a vengeance (:6) Background information: • Usurped the throne from Shallum (2 Kings 15:14) • Ruthlessly attacked Tiphshah and brutalized its citizens (2 Kings 15:16) • Heavily taxed the citizens of Israel (2 Kings 15:20) • Paid off Pul of Assyria (2 Kings 15:19) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 15:18)

I17 – of Israel Reign: 2 years, 742-740 BC References: 2 Kings 15:22-26 Key Principle: Beware of who you surround yourself with. • His closest people conspired to kill him (2 Kings 15:25) Background information: • Son of Menahem • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 15:24)

I18 – of Israel Reign: 20 years, 740-732 BC References: 2 Kings 15:27-31 Key Principle: In times of outward attack, don’t forget to look for inward attack as well. • Assyria attacks from the outside (2 Kings 15:29) and conspires from within (2 Kings 15:30) Background infromation: • Usurped the throne from Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:25) • Lost all the land of Naphtali to Assyria (2 Kings 15:29) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 15:28)

I19 – Hoshea of Israel Reign: 9 years, 732-712 BC References: 2 Kings 15:30, 17:1-6 Key Principles: When we continually and willfully defy God, He will take away His hand of blessing. • Closed out a long line of sinful kings and finally saw the Lord’s hand of blessing taken away from Israel (2 Kings 17:6) Background information: • Usurped the throne from Pekah (2 Kings 15:30) • Served and paid tribute to the Assyrian king (2 Kings 17:3) • Got caught in a conspiracy against Assyria (2 Kings 17:4) • Finally saw God’s judgment come down on Israel (2 Kings 17:6) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 17:2)

-Judah- 19 kings and 1 queen, 5 of them righteous

J1 – of Judah Reign: 17 years, 931-913 BC References: 1 Kings 12:1-24, 1 Kings 14:21-31 Key Principle: Life lived for self is life gambled and lost. • Rehoboam believed he was entitled to the throne as a divine right and used it to abuse the people (1 Kings 12:12-15) and defy God (1 Kings 14:21-24) • Ultimately, Rehoboam’s self-centeredness cost Judah the testimony of God’s past blessing and replaced it with a cheap knockoff (1 Kings 14:25-27) Background information: • Son of Solomon (line of ) • The kingdom divided into Israel and Judah under his reign (1 Kings 12:16-20) • Became king at age 41 (1 Kings 14:21) • Lost the treasures of Solomon’s temple and palace to Shishak king of Egypt (1 Kings 14:25-26)

J2 – of Judah Reign: 3 years, 913-911 BC References: 1 Kings 15:1-7, 2 Chronicles 13 Key Principle: God blesses and disciplines His people, but not always immediately. Today’s experience doesn’t necessarily indicate His response to today’s work. • Abijah received undeserved blessing because of God’s loyalty to his great-grandfather David, who knew how to repent (1 Kings 15:4-5), yet he lived unsurrendered and constantly at war with the northern kingdom (1 Kings 15:3, 6) Background information: • Son of Rehoboam (line of David) • Only half-heartedly committed to the Lord, which became the defining sin of his life (1 Kings 15:3) • Became very powerful in terms of kingdom and family (2 Chronicles 13:21)

J3 – Reign: 41 years, 911-870 BC References: 1 Kings 15:9-24, 2 Chronicles 16 Key Principle: Our primary stumbling block will likely be our self-willed competence, not our inability. • Made great steps toward eradicating from Judah (1 Kings 15:11-15) but allowed fear and self-powered solutions to draw his heart away from God’s protection and provision (2 Chronicles 16:7-9) Background information: • Son of Abijah (line of David) • Removed male cult prostitutes and recently imported idols from the land (1 Kings 15:12) but failed to remove the high places (1 Kings 15:14) • Secured the treasury of the temple (1 Kings 15:15) • Did right in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 15:11)

J4 – of Judah Reign: 25 years, 870-848 BC References: 1 Kings 15:24, 22:2-50; :1-21:1 Key Principle: As believers, we need to choose wisely who we partner ourselves with. • Jehoshaphat allied himself with wicked king Ahab of Israel and placed himself in a position to act against God’s word () • Later, Jehoshaphat’s disobedient alliance with king Ahaziah of Israel set God against his enterprises (2 Chronicles 20:35-37 Background information: • Son of Asa (line of David) • Married to Ahab’s daughter (2 Chronicles 18:1) • Cried out to God when Judah was invaded (2 Chronicles 20:1-13) • Did right in the sight of the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:33)

J5 – Jehoram of Judah Reign: 8 years, 848-841 BC References: :16-24, Key Principle: You can’t count on the testimony of your forefathers to protect you from God’s hand— obedience is always your individual responsibility. • God spared Judah because of His loyalty to David (2 Kings 8:19) but He crumbled Jehoram’s family and kingdom due to his sin (2 Kings 8:20-23, 2 Chronicles 21:8-20) Background information: • Son of Jehoshaphat (line of David) • Married another daughter of Ahab and walked in wickedness as a result (2 Kings 8:18) • Killed off all his brothers once he took the throne (2 Chronicles 21:4) • Set up high places in Judah (2 Chronicles 21:11) • Was warned of the calamity he would reap and died “with no one’s regret” (2 Chronicles 21:12-20)

J6 – Ahaziah of Judah Reign: 1 year, 841 BC References: 2 Kings 8:24-9:27, 2 Chronicles 22:1-9 Key Principle: My choices have the power to completely alter the lives of later generations. • Ahaziah’s grandfather Jehoshaphat and father Jehoram set a precedent for poor taste in friends (2 Chronicles 18:1, 2 Kings 8:18) and their choices put Ahaziah under the direct influence of evil (2 Chronicles 22:3) Background information: • Youngest and only living son of Jehoram (line of David) • Listened to the corrupt counsel of his mother , a daughter of Ahab (2 Chronicles 22:3) • Joined forces with his uncle, king , against the king of Aram (2 Kings 8:28) • Was assassinated by Jehu at Megiddo during a visit to his wounded uncle (2 Kings 8:29, 9:27) J7 – Queen Athaliah of Judah Reign: 6 years, 841-835 BC References: 2 Kings 11 Key Principle: God is working a plan, but He has a great enemy trying to thwart that plan using self- interested people. • Athaliah was desperate to stay in power once she could no longer control her son’s reign (2 Kings 11:1), yet God was working His plan behind the scenes through , , and Joash (2 Kings 11:2-4) Background information: • Mother of Ahaziah and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel—no rightful place on Judah’s throne • Killed all of Ahaziah’s possible heirs in order to keep control of the throne (2 Kings 11:1) • Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s sister, thwarted Athaliah’s plan by saving Joash and hiding him in the temple for six years (2 Kings 11:2) • Was executed outside of the king’s house once Joash was crowned king (2 Kings 11:12-16)

J8 – Joash of Judah Reign: 40 years, 835-796 BC References: 2 Kings 11:21-12:21, :11-24:27 Key Principle: Right actions are worth only as much as the surrender of the heart they come from. • Joash worked hard to institute religious reforms and repair the temple while his mentor Jehoiada lived (2 Kings 12:2), but after Jehoiada’s death the true hardness of Joash’s heart is revealed (2 Kings 12:17-18, :17-22) Background information: • Son of Ahaziah (line of David) • Was trained in God’s word by Jehoiada the priest from a very young age (2 Kings 12:2) • The only surviving heir to the throne of Judah after Athaliah’s massacre (2 Kings 11:1-2) • Became king at the age of seven (2 Kings 11:21) • Did right in the sight of the Lord only while Jehoiada lived (2 Chronicles 24:2)

J9 – Reign: 29 years, 796-740 BC References: 2 Kings 14:1-20, 2 Chronicles 25:1-28 Key Principle: Compliance is not the same as obedience. • Though Amaziah maintained the reforming work of his father Joash and followed the letter of the Law (2 Kings 14:3-6), his heart was not fully yielded to God and he was a inwardly prideful and idolatrous (2 Kings 14:10, 2 Chronicles 25:14-16) Background information: • Son of Joash (line of David) • He forfeited the safety of Judah and the sacred things of God’s house for his own pride (2 Kings 14:8-14) • Was assassinated by conspirators in (2 Kings 14:19) • Did right in the sight of the Lord, “yet not with a whole heart” (2 Chronicles 25:2)

J10 – Azariah () of Judah Reign: 52 years, 767-740 BC References: 2 Kings 15:1-7; :1-23 Key Principle: God doesn’t bless you because you’re special, He blesses you because you’re chosen—and He opposes those who believe they somehow deserve His grace. • Azariah began his reign with a unified kingdom and God’s blessing on his work (2 Chronicles 26:1-5), but he began to take pride in his own strength and became careless with God’s holiness as a result (2 Chronicles 26:16) • God caused him to become leprous for the rest of his life so that he would be permanently banished from His temple (2 Chronicles 26:17-21) Background information: • Son of Amaziah (line of David) • Did right in the sight of the Lord until pride corrupted his heart (2 Kings 15:3)

J11 – Reign: 16 years, 740-732 BC References: 2 Kings 15:32-38, :1-9 Key Principle: Great men build a model of godliness and then train their children up in that model. • Jotham learned from both his father’s successes and mistakes, and chose his path accordingly (2 Chronicles 27:2, 6) Background information: • Son of Azariah (line of David) • Had a godly heritage (2 Chronicles 27:1) • Did right in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 15:34)

J12 – of Judah Reign: 16 years, 732-716 BC References: :1-20, :1-27 Key Principle: Do not use God’s things for unholy purposes. • Ahaz did not learn the same respect for God’s things as his father, and used the treasures of the temple as foreign tribute (2 Kings 16:8) and the priests of God to further idolatry (2 Kings 16:10-16) Background information: • Son of Jotham (line of David) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 16:2-4) J13 – of Judah Reign: 29 years, 716-687 BC References: :1-20:21, :1-32:33 Key Principle: Faith in God empowers us to shine distinctly in the worst circumstances, but fear always draws us toward the darkness. • During Hezekiah’s reign, Judah is watching in despair while Israel is besieged, plundered, and carried away by Assyria (2 Kings 18:9-12), yet Hezekiah trusts God so completely that he is the first king to tear down the high places of idolatry (2 Kings 18:4) and his prayer of trust and surrender moves God to protect Judah from the Assyrians (:14-35) • However, when faced with death, Hezekiah distrusts God’s plan and asks for more time (2 Kings 20:1-3); the 15 extra years God grants him will become the source of some of Judah’s darkest days (2 Kings 20:16-21:1) Background information: • Son of Ahaz (line of David) • Did right in the sight of the Lord (1 King 18:3)

J14 – Reign: 55 years, 687-642 BC References: 2 Kings 21:1-18, :1-20 Key Principle: You can’t out-sin God’s love. • Manasseh is the most evil of all the kings and undoes all his forefathers’ reforms (2 Kings 21:2- 9) and yet God got his attention in a time of trouble and he humbled himself in repentance and was delivered (2 Chronicles 33:12-13) Background information: • Son of Hezekiah (line of David) • Had a godly heritage and yet actively rebelled (2 Kings 18:3-5, 21:2-9) • Did great evil in the sight of the Lord and yet repented and changed his ways (2 Chronicles 33:10-16)

J15 – Reign: 2 years, 642-640 BC References: 2 Kings 21:18-26, 2 Chronicles 33:21-25 Key Principle: Repentance sets us free from the judicial consequences of our sin, but it doesn’t erase the ongoing earthly effects. • Amon walked in the evil ways he learned from his father Manasseh before Manasseh’s miraculous heart change (2 Kings 21:20-22) Background information: • Son of Manasseh (line of David) • Was assassinated by his own servants (:23) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 22:20) J16 – of Judah Reign: 31 years, 640-608 BC References: 2 Kings 22:1-23:29, :1-35:27 Key Principle: Without a knowledge of God’s Word, we are missing an important component of relationship even if we’re otherwise walking with Him. • Josiah walked rightly and sought to know God from a young age (2 Kings 22:2, 2 Chronicles 34:3), yet when the lost scroll of the Law was found, he discovered that he lacked a practical knowledge of God’s standards (2 Kings 22:13) • Exposure to God’s Word softened Josiah’s heart to take sin and its ramifications seriously in Judah (2 Kings 22:15-23:25) Background information: • Son of Amon (line of David) • Became king at age 8 (2 Kings 22:1) • Was killed by Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo (:29) • Did right in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 22:2)

J17 – Jehoahaz (Shallum) of Judah Reign: 3 months, 608 BC References: 2 Kings 23:30-33, :1-4 Key Principle: Models of godliness are useless to us if we don’t take our own responsibility to apply them. • Jehoahaz was raised by the godliest king of Judah (2 Kings 23:25) and yet he rejected that example and walked in evil (2 Kings 23:32) Background information: • Son of Josiah (line of David) • Was captured by Pharaoh Neco and died in Egypt (2 Kings 23:33-34) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 23:32)

J18 – (Eliakim) of Judah Reign: 11 years, 608-597 BC References: 2 Kings 23:34-24:6, 2 Chronicles 36:5-8 Key Principle: Grace time has a limit. • Jehoiakim chose not to follow God in spite of God’s repeated efforts to get his attention (2 Kings 23:37-24:2), and time eventually ran out (:2) Background information: • Son of Josiah (line of David) put in power by Pharaoh Neco (2 Kings 23:34) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 23:37)

J19 – Jehoiachin (, Coniah) of Judah Reign: 3 months, 597 BC References: 2 Kings 24:8-16, 2 Chronicles 36:9-10 Key Principle: Living without a sense of urgency will lull you to sleep in false confidence and set you up for attack. • Jehoiachin wasn’t expecting opposition yet because it was the rainy season (the turn of the year —2 Chronicles 36:10) and the illusion of more time set him up to forfeit Jerusalem to (2 Kings 24:10-12) Background information: • Son of Jehoiakim (line of David) • Was led into exile in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:15) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 24:9)

J20 – of Judah Reign: 11 years, 597-586 BC References: 2 Kings 24:17-25:7, 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 Key Principle: Anything you trust to “set you free” that isn’t God Himself will become your prison for the rest of your life. • The hearts of Zedekiah and all the people were hard toward God and His warnings to stop their abominations (2 Chronicles 36:12-16), until at last God handed the kingdom over to the world they thought they wanted (2 Chronicles 36:17-21) Background information: • Put in power by his nephew, Nebuchadnezzar (no rightful place on Judah’s throne—2 Kings 24:17) • Rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and hardened his heart toward God (2 Chronicles 36:13) • The last thing he saw before his eyes were put out was the slaughter of his sons at the hand of the Chaldeans (:7) • Did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 24:19)