1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 18, Session 3: Judah Was Taken Into Captivity TEACHER BIBLE STUDY Warnings had come from the prophets for decades. God patiently waited for His people to turn from their sin. The prophet Jeremiah spared few details when he warned Judah what would happen if they did not turn from their evil ways. (See Jeremiah 25:1-14.) The people of Judah did not change their ways. The kingdom had been declining for years, despite King Josiah’s efforts to prompt nationwide repentance. When King Josiah died, the people went back to their old ways, worshiping idols and disobeying the Lord. The time of judgment had come. Like God had warned through Jeremiah, He used the king of Babylon—King Nebuchadnezzar—to deport the people from Judah to Babylon where they would live in exile for 70 years. King Nebuchadnezzar went to Judah when Jehoiakim was king. He put Jehoiakim in chains and took him to Babylon. Jehoiachin became king, and Nebuchadnezzar came back for him too. Many of the people in Judah were taken, along with treasures from the Lord’s temple. Nebuchadnezzar put Zedekiah on the throne in Jerusalem. The people of Judah were unfaithful to God. Zedekiah rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, and God poured out His wrath on Judah. Nebuchadnezzar showed no mercy to the people of Jerusalem. The Babylonians set fire to the Lord’s temple and the king’s palace. They destroyed the wall around Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzar’s armies carried most of the people away to Babylon as prisoners; only poor farmers were allowed to stay and work the land. The people were held captive in Babylon, serving the king for the next 70 years. God did not abandon His people. The prophet Jeremiah told what would happen next: “The days are certainly coming … when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah” (Jeremiah 30:3). God was going to save His people from captivity and raise up a new King—a forever King—from the line of David. (Jeremiah 30:9) LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: Judah Was Taken into Captivity Bible Passage: 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 Big Picture Question: How did God punish His people for their sin? God allowed their enemies to capture them and to destroy Jerusalem. Key Passage: Ezekiel 37:27 Unit Christ Connection: Though it appeared that sin prevailed, the covenant God promised would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 1 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 18, Session 3: Judah Was Taken Into Captivity Transition Time Welcome time Activity sheet/Table Centers Session starter (10 minutes) Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline Map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Sing (5 minutes) Key passage (4 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (3 minutes) The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional) Prayer (5 minutes) Table Time Timeline map (1 minute) Bible story review (10 minutes) Large Group Review / Activities Key passage activity (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW Judah Was Taken into Captivity 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 The last four kings of Judah came from King Josiah’s family. His three sons—Jehoahaz (jih HOH uh haz), Jehoiakim (jih HOY uh kim), and Zedekiah (ZED uh KIGH uh)—each ruled as king of Judah. Even Josiah’s grandson Jehoiachin (jih HOY uh kin) was king of Judah at one time. The people of Judah made Jehoahaz king, but he wasn’t king for very long. He did what was evil in the sight of God. The king of Egypt came and made Jehoahaz a prisoner. He made Jehoahaz give him lots of silver and gold. Then he put Jehoahaz’s brother Jehoiakim on the throne. The king of Egypt took Jehoahaz to Egypt. When Jehoiakim was king of Judah, he too did what was evil in the sight of God. The king of Babylon attacked Jehoiakim, put him in shackles, and took him to Babylon. The king of Babylon also took some of the things from the Lord’s temple and put them in his own 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 18, Session 3: Judah Was Taken Into Captivity temple. When Jehoiakim was taken away, his son Jehoiachin became king of Judah. Jehoiachin was king of Judah for just three months. He too did what was evil in the sight of God, just like his father had done. The king of Babylon sent for Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon. The king of Babylon made Jehoiachin’s uncle Zedekiah king of Judah. Zedekiah was just like his brothers; he did what was evil in the sight of God. He led the people of Judah to do evil things. The prophet Jeremiah warned Zedekiah that God’s judgment was coming, but Zedekiah did not listen. God was angry with the people of Judah. They did not obey God. They lived however they wanted to live. They sinned and were unfaithful to God. God loved His people. He didn’t want to destroy them. God sent prophets to warn the people to stop sinning and to turn back to God, but the people didn’t listen. They laughed at the prophets and made fun of them. Finally, it was time to punish the people of Judah for their sin. God sent His judgment. God brought the king of Babylon to Judah. The king and his armies attacked the people of Judah. Many people died. The king of Babylon took everything out of the Lord’s temple and carried it to Babylon. He took whatever he could find from the king of Judah and his leaders. Then the king and the Babylonian army burned the temple. They tore down the wall that protected the city of Jerusalem, and they burned the palaces. Anything they did not carry back to Babylon was destroyed. All the people who were still alive were taken back to Babylon. The king of Babylon forced them to be slaves. They served the king and his family for many years. All of this happened just as God said it would happen when He warned the people through the prophet Jeremiah. Christ Connection: God righteously punished His people for their sin but remained faithful to them, keeping the promise He made to David to provide a king. Ultimately, God punished our sin through His Son, Jesus, and made Him our King forever. TRANSITION TIME Session Title: Judah Was Taken into Captivity Bible Passage: 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 Big Picture Question: How did God punish His people for their sin? God allowed their enemies to capture them and to destroy Jerusalem. Key Passage: Ezekiel 37:27 Unit Christ Connection: Though it appeared that sin prevailed, the covenant God promised would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Welcome time Tip: As kids arrive this is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 18, Session 3: Judah Was Taken Into Captivity Arriving Activity: Fair Punishment Talk to the kids about rules as they enter the room. Invite them to share rules they have at school, home, and other places. Ask the following questions about the rules: What is the punishment for breaking rules? Do you get any warnings before you are punished? Do you think people who break rules should be punished? Say • No one expects to keep breaking a rule without getting punished. The Israelites broke God’s rules over and over. Do you think they deserved to be punished? Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table centers (Miscellaneous Activities) “Leaping Letters” activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid pencils, markers or crayons Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say • These five kings were the last to rule over the nation of Judah. We will learn today what happened to them and to Judah. If time remains, allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Capture the Crown paper crowns (x2 per classroom) masking tape Form two teams of kids, and tape a line down the center of the room. Each team will hide its crown on its designated side of the room. While one team hides its crown, guide the other team to face the opposite direction. Once both crowns are hidden, give the command to charge. Teams will switch sides and try to find the other team’s crown. The first team to do so wins. Say • God told the people of Judah that an enemy would attack Jerusalem if they didn’t turn back to God. Another nation was about to capture the land promised to God’s people. Option 2: Human Tic-Tac-Toe masking tape clean sock Make a large tic-tac-toe board on the floor with tape. Form two teams, and instruct each team to line up single file. The first kid in the first line will toss a rolled up sock onto a square. She will then stand in that square. The first kid in the second line will then attempt to toss the sock into a square and stand there. Repeat until a team lines up three kids in a row or the game ends in a draw. If the sock lands where someone else is standing or outside of the gameboard, the kid who tossed it goes to the back of his team’s line, and the team loses that turn.