Judah Series

March 25, 2023

After an additional 15 years, Hezekiah died and Manasseh, his 12-year-old son, became king.

Manasseh – Reigned 55 years (697-643 BC) = EVIL

• 2 Chronicles 33:9 - Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

According to 2 Kings 21:2-7, Manasseh:

• Rebuilt the high places and altars for Baal and the Asherim.

• Built altars and worshipped the Hosts of Heaven.

• Built altars in both courts of the Temple and put a carved Asherah pole in the Temple.

• Sacrificed his own sons in the fire to Molech.

• Practiced sorcery and divination and consulted mediums and spiritists.

Yahweh sent Assyria against Manasseh - they captured him and took him to Babylon.

• Ellen White {PK 382}: This affliction brought the king to his senses; "he sought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto Him: and He was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God." 2 Chronicles 33:11-13. But this repentance, remarkable though it was, came too late to save the kingdom from the corrupting influence of years of idolatrous practices. Many had stumbled and fallen, never again to rise.

Manasseh was restored as king and reigned again in Judah. He eventually died and his son, Amon, became king.

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Amon – Reigned 2 years (643-641 BC) = EVIL

He did not humble himself before God – his servants murdered him – then the people killed the servants and made Amon’s 8-year-old son, Josiah, king.

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Josiah – Reigned 31 Years (641-609 BC) = RIGHT

• He restored the worship of God.

• He sought Yahweh.

• He purged Judah and Jerusalem of the high places and the Asherim. He destroyed the altars of Baal as well as all carved and molten images. He burned the bones of the priests. He did the same in the land of Israel – fulfilling the young prophets declaration to Jeroboam 300 years earlier, “A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who now make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.” – 1 Kings 13:2-3.

• He purged and repaired the Temple and celebrated Passover. “The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah…” - 2 Chronicles 35:18

While repairing the Temple, Hilkiah, the priest, found the Book of the Law {Deuteronomy} and read it to the king. Josiah became very distressed and instructed Hilkiah to inquire of the Lord - Hilkiah went to Huldah, the prophetess:

• 2 Chronicles 34:23-28 - …This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people -- all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. Tell the king of Judah … Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. Now I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.

Years later, Pharaoh Necho was headed for Carchemish to fight the Assyrians. Josiah decided to join the fight and met Necho on the plain of Megiddo. Necho sent Josiah a note: “I don’t have a problem with you. Stop for your own sake and don’t interfere with God, who is with me, so that He may not destroy you.” – 2 Chronicles 25:21

Josiah did not heed the warning. He disguised himself and engaged Necho’s army. An enemy archer shot him and he died.

• 2 Kings 23:25 - Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did -- with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

His son, Jehoahaz, was made king.

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Jehoahaz – Reigned 3 months (609 BC) = EVIL