#Ahaziah reigns in Judah

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Ahaziah Rules in Judah

1 Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, their next king, since the marauding bands who came with the Arabsa had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.

2 Ahaziah was twenty-twob years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri. 3 Ahaziah also followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. 4 He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and they led him to ruin.

5 Following their evil advice, Ahaziah joined Joram,c the son of King Ahab of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameansd wounded Joram in the battle, 6 he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had received at Ramoth.e Because Joram was wounded, King Ahaziahf of Judah went to Jezreel to visit him.

7 But God had decided that this visit would be Ahaziah’s downfall. While he was there, Ahaziah went out with Joram to meet Jehu grandson of Nimshi,g whom the LORD had appointed to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.

8 While Jehu was executing judgment against the family of Ahab, he happened to meet some of Judah’s officials and Ahaziah’s relativesh who were traveling with Ahaziah. So Jehu killed them all. 9 Then Jehu’s men searched for Ahaziah, and they found him hiding in the city of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu, who killed him. Ahaziah was given a decent burial because the people said, “He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat—a man who sought the LORD with all his heart.” But none of the surviving members of Ahaziah’s family was capable of ruling the kingdom.

Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah

10 When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of Judah’s royal family. 11 But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him. 12 Joash remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land. — 2 Chronicles 22 | New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Exodus 8:3; Joshua 15:56; 1 Kings 4:13; 2 Kings 8:24,25 and 26; 2 Kings 8:27,28 and 29; 2 Kings 9:3; 2 Kings 9:6-7; 2 Kings 9:27-28; 2 Kings 10:11; 2 Kings 10:13; 2 Kings 11:1; 2 Chronicles 17:4; 2 Chronicles 21:16; 2 Chronicles 23:1; 2 Chronicles 23:15; 2 Chronicles 28:2; Proverbs 13:20; Daniel 3:2

[lennart11412]

16Now in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat having been king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat began to reign as [b]king of Judah. 17He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. 19Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah, for the sake of His servant David, as He promised him to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

20In his days Edom revolted against Judah’s authority, and made a king over themselves. 21So [c]Joram went to Zair, and all his chariots with him. Then he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots; and the troops fled to their tents. 22Thus Edom has been in revolt against Judah’s authority to this day. And Libnah revolted at that time.

23Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 24So Joram [d]rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Ahaziah[e] his son reigned in his place.

[bernardo1969]

The First Book of Kings recounts the historical period from the arrival of King Solomon to the throne of Israel until the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah and Ahaziah in Israel, a period in the history of God's people that lasted almost 150 years. The book begins by recounting the most glorious era in the history of Israel, but then exposes the beginning of the progressive decline by recounting how the Kingdom of Solomon was divided into two; the Kingdom of Judah where Solomon's son, Rehoboam, ruled, and the Kingdom of Israel where Jeroboam, an officer of Solomon, governed. But it happened that Jeroboam did what is evil in the eyes of God by imposing in Israel the cult of the Golden Calf, and thus, in addition to the political schism, a religious schism occurred. And it was for this reason that God admonished Jeroboam's wife through the prophet Ahijah when she went to visit him, warning her that not only would the duration of his dynasty be short, but also that this would also bring about, as a consequence of Israel's idolatry, the destruction of the entire kingdom, and so Ahijah prophesied: "The LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from his good land that he gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused the LORD's anger by making Asherah poles. And he will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit" 1 Kings 14:15-16. The prediction of Ahijah is a reminder that the peace and the secure life are not blessings for fools but for God-fearing men, because there is a teaching in the Bible that has always been fulfilled unfailingly: "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction" Psalm 1:6.

[allscripture]

Ahaziah King of Israel

51 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.

52 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.

53 He served and worshiped Baal and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.

1 Kings 22:51-53 (NIV)

[freebiblestudyhub]

How Many Chapters Are There in 2 Kings?

The book of 2 Kings has 25 chapters that span significant events in the history of ancient Israel and Judah, focusing on the monarchy's decline, the ministries of prophets, and the eventual exile of both kingdoms. Understanding the structure and content of these chapters offers valuable insight into God's relationship with His people, His justice, and His unwavering commitment to His covenant.

This article provides a deeper exploration of 2 Kings and its 25 chapters, examining their historical, theological, and spiritual significance.

1. The Historical Context of 2 Kings

To appreciate the narrative of 2 Kings, understanding its historical background is essential.

The Division of the Kingdom

The kingdom of Israel was united under kings Saul, David, and Solomon. However, after Solomon's death, it split into two separate kingdoms:

The Northern Kingdom (Israel): Comprised of 10 tribes, with Samaria as its capital.

The Southern Kingdom (Judah): Comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with Jerusalem as its capital.

2 Kings picks up where 1 Kings ends, continuing the account of the divided monarchy and its consequences.

The Role of the Prophets

The prophets served as God's messengers, calling kings and the people back to covenant faithfulness. In 2 Kings, prophets like Elisha, Isaiah, and others play pivotal roles in the unfolding narrative.

2. Chapter-by-Chapter Overview of 2 Kings

Let’s take a closer look at the content of the 25 chapters in 2 Kings, grouped by key events and themes.

Chapters 1–2: The Transition from Elijah to Elisha

Chapter 1: King Ahaziah of Israel seeks guidance from Baal-Zebub, angering God. Elijah prophesies Ahaziah’s death, highlighting God’s sovereignty over all nations.

Chapter 2: Elijah ascends to heaven in a chariot of fire, and Elisha begins his prophetic ministry with a display of God’s power, such as parting the Jordan River.

Chapters 3–9: Miracles and Judgment

Chapters 3–7: Elisha’s miracles emphasize God’s power and compassion. These include the multiplication of oil (4:1–7), the resurrection of a child (4:32–37), and healing Naaman’s leprosy (5:1–19).

Chapters 8–9: Jehu is anointed as king of Israel and executes judgment on the house of Ahab, fulfilling Elijah’s earlier prophecy.

Chapters 10–17: The Fall of Israel

Chapter 10: Jehu eradicates Baal worship in Israel but fails to lead the nation into true covenant faithfulness.

Chapter 17: The northern kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BC due to persistent idolatry and disobedience. The chapter explicitly outlines the reasons for God’s judgment, including the worship of false gods and rejection of His prophets.

Chapters 18–25: The Decline and Fall of Judah

Chapters 18–20: King Hezekiah’s reign is marked by faithfulness to God, including his reliance on Him during the Assyrian siege. However, Hezekiah’s pride later leads to prophetic warnings of Babylonian exile.

Chapters 21–25: The southern kingdom of Judah continues its decline under kings like Manasseh and Zedekiah. The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC results in the destruction of the temple and the exile of the people, fulfilling God’s warnings through the prophets.

3. Key Themes in 2 Kings

Covenant Faithfulness and Failure

The overarching theme of 2 Kings is the importance of faithfulness to God’s covenant. The narrative contrasts the blessings of obedience with the consequences of rebellion.

The Role of Prophets as God’s Messengers

Prophets like Elisha and Isaiah were central to God’s communication with His people, delivering messages of warning, judgment, and hope.

God’s Sovereignty in Judgment and Redemption

The fall of both Israel and Judah demonstrates God’s justice in holding His people accountable. Yet, His promises to David and the hope of restoration remain, pointing toward the future Messiah.

4. Spiritual Lessons from 2 Kings

The 25 chapters of 2 Kings offer timeless lessons for believers today.

God’s Justice Is Certain

The fall of Israel and Judah underscores that God is holy and just, and rebellion against Him leads to consequences.

God’s Mercy Is Ever-Present

Even amid judgment, God extends mercy, as seen in the ministries of prophets like Elisha and the deliverance of a faithful remnant.

Faithfulness Matters

The faithfulness of kings like Hezekiah and Josiah demonstrates that God honors those who seek Him, even in times of widespread disobedience.

5. Theological Significance of 2 Kings

The Davidic Covenant

Despite the failures of individual kings, God’s promise to David remains intact. This covenant finds ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the eternal King.

The Foreshadowing of Christ

The book points to Jesus as the ultimate prophet, priest, and king. He is the one who fulfills the law, restores the broken covenant, and inaugurates the Kingdom of God.

The Role of Exile in God’s Plan

The exile is not the end of the story but a step in God’s redemptive plan. It prepares the way for restoration and renewal, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

6. Conclusion

The book of 2 Kings, with its 25 chapters, is a compelling narrative of decline and judgment interwoven with threads of hope and redemption. Its historical and theological insights are as relevant today as they were in ancient times, reminding us of God’s holiness, justice, and mercy.

For modern readers, 2 Kings offers a mirror to examine our faithfulness to God, a call to heed His Word, and a promise of restoration through Christ, the ultimate King and Savior.

[jeffersonvann]

not loyal enough

20241012 Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com not loyal enough 2 Kings 13:1-25 (JDV). 2 Kings 13:1 In the twenty-third year of Judah’s King Joash son of Ahaziah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.2 Kings 13:2 He did what was evil in Yahveh’s sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away…

[lordgodjehovahsway]

1 Chronicles 3: History Records Of David's Sons And Daughter

1 These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron:

The firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

the second, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel;

2 the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;

3 the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

and the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.

4 These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months.

David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, 

5 and these were the children born to him there:

Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel. 

6 There were also Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, 

7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 

8 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet—nine in all. 

9 All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.

The Kings of Judah

10 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam,

Abijah his son,

Asa his son,

Jehoshaphat his son,

11 Jehoram his son,

Ahaziah his son,

Joash his son,

12 Amaziah his son,

Azariah his son,

Jotham his son,

13 Ahaz his son,

Hezekiah his son,

Manasseh his son,

14 Amon his son,

Josiah his son.

15 The sons of Josiah:

Johanan the firstborn,

Jehoiakim the second son,

Zedekiah the third,

Shallum the fourth.

16 The successors of Jehoiakim:

Jehoiachin his son,

and Zedekiah.

The Royal Line After the Exile

17 The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive:

Shealtiel his son, 

18 Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah.

19 The sons of Pedaiah:

Zerubbabel and Shimei.

The sons of Zerubbabel:

Meshullam and Hananiah.

Shelomith was their sister.

20 There were also five others:

Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-Hesed.

21 The descendants of Hananiah:

Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, and the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah and of Shekaniah.

22 The descendants of Shekaniah:

Shemaiah and his sons:

Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat—six in all.

23 The sons of Neariah:

Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam—three in all.

24 The sons of Elioenai:

Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah and Anani—seven in all.

[marysittingathisfeet]

The Princess Who Saved A Dynasty

Often the courageous woman in the Bible changed history. One who did so in a big way is not often discussed, but without her intervention even Jesus himself may have been affected.

Let's start off with a little back ground.

2 Chronicles 22: 10-12 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Jehosheba- (Let's call her Sherry for short. Too many J's- It's a bit confusing.) Who was she really.

First of all Sherry was a princess, but from a corrupt pagan family. Her father was King Jehoram. (There were 2 King Jehorams- one was King Jehoram- the ninth king of the Northern Tribe of Israel- son of Jezebel and Ahab. This Jehoram was NOT Sherry's father. But he was her uncle.) Sherry's father was the other King Jehoram. Let's call him Harry just to clarify which Jehoram we are talking about. Harry was the first born and heir of the Godly Jehoshaphat- King of Judah. Harry then married Ahab's daughter- Athaliah. They had a son named Ahaziah.

It is important to note King Harry of Judah was just as corrupt and evil as the kings of Northern Israel. Not only did he bring back pagan worship to Israel, he murdered his 6 younger brothers after he became king. Because of his many sins, God allowed Harry to have a "lingering disease of the bowels until the disease caused the bowels to come out." 2 Chronicles 21: 18-19- This took about 2 years. (I'm thinking colon cancer.) Anyway it was a slow painful horrible death. King Harry was about 40 when he died.

Harry's sad epitaph reads -"Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings." 2 Chronicles 21:20.

2. Sherry was half sister of Ahaziah. The evil queen Athaliah was not her mother, however. The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Harry’s youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. (Ironically King Harry had killed all of his brother's. Now all but one of his son's died. Coincidence? I think not.) Ahaziah was only 22 when he became king and reigned for 1 brief year before he was murdered.

3. Sherry was the only princess married to a priest- 2 Chronicles tells us that she was the wife of the priest Jehoiada. He was the chief priest in the Temple in Jerusalem during the reigns of Athaliah and Joash of Judah.

Despite the murky family background, Sherry exemplified wisdom, courage, and loyalty. When Sherry hid the 1 year old baby boy she saved the true rightful heir from Athaliah's murderous power grab. However, this put Sherry's life at risk. If found out, Athaliah would have had her killed. Until that point Queen Athaliah had probably not even given her a second look. In addition to her courage, Sherry showed wisdom and intelligence. She knew how and when to hide the baby and his nurse. Then Sherry was smart enough to whisk them to the temple to be hidden and raised in the temple by Sherry's husband Jehoiada. For 6 years the baby's presence was a well kept secret. Did Athaliah not notice that one of her grandchildren had survived. I assumed she knew her grandchildren, but then maybe she did not. Perhaps that is why it was so easy for her to kill them. The baby boy becomes King Joash who was one of the few Godly kings of Judah and is an ancestor to Jesus through Solomon.

Athaliah on the other hand was a cold hearted pagan worshipper. Athaliah leads her son to sin by worshipping idols. When he is killed, she murders her own grandchildren so she can become queen. She ruled for all of 6 years. During that time she did not inspire any loyalty. When the 7 year old Joash is declared queen by the priests and the people we read-

2: Chronicles 23 12- 15 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord. She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

(Bit ironic coming from a woman her murdered her own family to become queen.)

she was seized as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death. No one rallied to her defense. No one warned her to flee. She was essentially all alone even though she was queen.

(Note: the Horse Gate entrance was on the palace grounds. The gate was situated near the stables of Solomon that housed some of his twelve thousand horses.)

So what does this story teach us?

We can rise above our family background. God used Sherry to preserve David's dynasty and Jesus bloodline. No matter how dysfunctional, corrupt, or anti- God we can break the family cycle and create a new Godly one.

Don't be afraid to step in and do what is right. Sherry knew what Athaliah was doing was wrong. She knew she could die. But she also knew that a helpless baby needed her to save his life.

[hatrackley]

OT History Last Part – 2 Chronicles 22-24

The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.He too followed the ways…

[eugene114]

Ahab Dies in Battle

29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”

35The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot. 36Then, as the sun was going down, a shout went throughout the army, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his own country!”

37So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while [c]the harlots bathed, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken.

39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, the ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40So Ahab [d]rested with his fathers. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, to his feet thy tribute bring; ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, who like me his praise should sing? Alleluia, alleluia, praise the everlasting King.

2 Praise him for his grace and favour to our fathers in distress; praise him still the same for ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless: Alleluia, alleluia, glorious in his faithfulness.

[yoyomight-blog]

The story of Jehoahaz

2 Kings 13:1-9 Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel 13 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. 3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (Therefore the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly. 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7 For there was not left to Jehoahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 So Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his place 2 Kings 13:1-9

I titled this message, “The story of Jehoahaz”. But, to be honest, there isn’t much of a story at all. The basic story is (as we have heard so many times before) this king does evil in the sight of the Lord and does not turn against the sins of his fathers. However, this king is tired of the oppression from Hazael and cries out to God. God decides to answer him and Israel once again lives in peace. However, Jehoahaz goes right back to sinning as he did before. There are a few exceptions but that is the main premise. So, I read it. And, I was about to skip over it because there was not much there and a repeat of what we have heard before. But, as I regularly do, I thought about what was not said and pondered these things. The main thing that I thought about was God’s foreknowledge. He knew what was going to happen before it happened. So then, why did he help out Jehoahaz even though he knew he would go right back into the same place he was? I thought about this with other stories, but my impression with those was more of a grace due to the situation. There was more detail in many of the stories in Judges where I could connect with the person crying out to God and relate to why God granted reprieve even though they would turn back to their sins. But here, there is no such detail. Despite this there are things we do know for certain even though they are not said. For instance, God looked into Jehoahaz’s heart and saw a contrite heart that really wanted to connect with God. We know this because God in 2 Kings says that Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor and that the Lord listened to him. As a result, God sent a deliverer. Who this deliverer was we do not know. God would not have listened to him if his heart were not truly repentant and wanted to serve God from that moment on. I do believe Jehoahaz wanted to be a holy man, but wanting and doing are two different things. But then we may ask, was he truly repentant and contrite wanting to serve God? This is where we dabble in legalism and begin to be the judge God does not want us to be. How many times have you or I repented, wept and cried to God only to pick ourselves up to wallow in our mistake or sin again? The truth is that God looks at us the moment we approach him. He examines our heart and decides then how he will act. He does not determine his action based on our future mistakes. What kind of grace would God have if he did this? He would be back to judging us. Grace cannot judge if it is to be grace at all. God looks at the heart. God is fully aware of what is in man and his sinful desires. But what God longs for the most, is a relationship with us. And, when God sees it, He reacts to it. God can see our future, but we cannot. We only see what is in front of us. We can’t see our future mistakes and when we will fall down next and honestly, it  does not matter. What does matter is seeking God in the moment. Read the full article

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Shunammite's Land Restored

1 Then spoke Elisha to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn: for the LORD has called for a famine; and it shall also come on the land seven years. 2 And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry to the king for her house and for her land. 4 And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray you, all the great things that Elisha has done. 5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.

Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad

7 And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come here. 8 And the king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 10 And Elisha said to him, Go, say to him, You may certainly recover: however, the LORD has showed me that he shall surely die. 11 And he settled his countenance steadfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strong holds will you set on fire, and their young men will you slay with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child. 13 And Hazael said, But what, is your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD has showed me that you shall be king over Syria. 14 So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to you? And he answered, He told me that you should surely recover. 15 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

Jehoram's Wicked Reign in Judah (2 Chronicles 21:1-7)

16 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Je hoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. 17 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. 19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him always a light, and to his children.

Edom and Libnah Revolt (2 Chronicles 21:8-11)

20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. 21 So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents. 22 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time. 23 And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

24 And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Ahaziah Reigns Wickedly in Judah (2 Chronicles 22:1-4)

25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. 26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.

28 And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. — 2 Kings 8 | American King James Version (KJVUS) The American King James Version is Produced by Stone Engelbrite. It is a simple word for modern word update from the King James English. Cross References: Genesis 11:20; Genesis 24:48; Genesis 27:40; Genesis 41:27; 1 Samuel 9:7; 1 Samuel 17:43; 1 Kings 1:2; 1 Kings 11:24; 1 Kings 15:18; 1 Kings 19:17; 1 Kings 22:3; 1 Kings 22:44; 2 Kings 2:17; 2 Kings 3:1; 2 Kings 4:12; 2 Kings 4:35; 2 Kings 9:16; 2 Kings 9:29; 2 Kings 10:13; 2 Chronicles 21:1; 2 Chronicles 22:3; Psalm 132:17; Luke 21:20

[lennart11412]

1In the twenty-third year of Joash[a] the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not [b]depart from them.

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea; There’s a kindness in God’s justice, Which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner, And more graces for the good; There is mercy with the Savior, There is healing in His blood.

But we make God’s love too narrow By false limits of our own, And we magnify its strictness With a zeal God will not own.

For the love of God is broader Than the measures of the mind, And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more simple, We should rest upon God’s word, And our lives would be illumined By the presence of our Lord.

[ancestorsofjudah]

2 Kings 13: 1-6. "The Asherah Pole."

The Melachim are divided into epochs which delineate certain scenarios called object lessons in Judaism. They are heavily embedded in Gematria, the Algebra of the Hebrew Language meaning the language can be read literally, figuratively, and converted into numbers based on position and decrypted to what I call the bedrock of human spirituality, the words of the angels.

Anytime and everytime there is a number- an amount of time, a quantity, a date, the specific interplay of Gematria with mind must be discovered and the object lesson must be defined.

This section opens with what seems like a date, "the twenty third year of the reign of Joash, the son of Ahaziah...and he reigned seventeen years.

Watch what happens when we alter one character. What if it was the twenty second vs. the twenty third:

v. 13, the Value in Gematria is 9528, tahvah, "the emergence."

the etymology is tah, "the support" of vah, "whatever foundation the nation is built on."

shawa=

"The verb שית (shyt) means to give, set or place firm. Noun שית (shyt) refers to occupational garb, the dress upon which the profession stands. Noun שת (shat) describes a national foundation; whatever a nation is set on. Noun שית (shayit) collectively describes a kind of plant (perhaps a bottle tree?).

The unused verb שוא (shw') clearly must have meant something similar to the previous. Noun שוא (shaw') means emptiness or nullification. Nouns שוא (shw'), שואה (sho'a), שאה (sho'a), משואה (mesho'a) and משאה (mesho'a) mean ravage, ruin and desolation. Noun תשאה (teshu'a) denotes a sound, probably loud and accompanying destruction.

Hebrew is perilously dual. Which means we can tahvah the nation from underneath and make it great or we can empty it of alll value and pull it down.

Now watch what happens if I make it the 22nd year: the number is 9519, טהאט‎, "that" which means "is that so? Is that of the nature of the Holy?"

If we put them together, the object lessons are "to know that which is Holy, the nation must dress according to its profession."

Simply put, a straight read of the Torah or any other document based on Judaism, including the Gospels and the Quran is not going to do it.

At this point in the Book of Kings, God is telling us to dress for success. For that, this section says, the Asherah Poles, the evil penis gobblers have to be taken down. King Jehoahaz, "what God has taken possession of" must have been a fan:

Jehoahaz King of Israel

13 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.

2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them.

3 So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.

4 Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.

5 The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.

6 But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole[a] remained standing in Samaria.

An Asherah Pole a sign peace, freedom, and the economy are progressing is not a bad thing:

"Verb ישר (yashar) means to be straight or level. Adjective ישר (yashar) means right or upright. Nouns ישר (yosher), ישרה (yeshara) and מישר (meshar) mean uprightness or straightness. Noun מישור (mishor) describes a level place or plain.

Verb אשר ('ashar) covers a decisive progression or a setting right, and is often applied to describe happiness and prosperity (right on!). This is not due to a curious coincidence but to the obvious correlation of righteousness and efficiency.

Righteousness in the Biblical sense describes a solid grasp of natural law, which leads to high levels of technology, social liquidity and greater levels of peace and prosperity."

A little white boy will grow in value as he ages, but a little black girl will not. To devalue the former, which God has intended to be a part of our mix is not proper or even legal. Try as we might we cannot convince society to accept the ordinary presence of certain kinds of persons and this devalues the entire human race.

This is the biggest problem with the Asherah Pole- is it is perennially out of reach:

"The lesson of the long pole says that we should aspire to spiritual heights that lie beyond our reach. Not that we should presume to be what we are not—that would be like an ordinary person entering the sanctuary—but neither should we desist from our efforts to reach that place. Even when we know that we ourselves will never be “there,” we can still act upon that place, influence it, even illuminate it."

The goal of complete social liquidity that is hoisted high but deemed to idealistic is a problem for almost every nation on this world. We have falsely concluded it is too difficult if not impossible to self-govern and achieve success. We are wrong. This wrongness is embodied in the Asherah Pole.

It is like its linguistic origin an dual figure. One can promise peace and prosperity to the people and fall short, or one can avoid promising these things and then an abomination like Russia will be the result, but neither are the objectives of the Religion or the King which include going all the way.

The scripture says the sins of Jeroboam are the reason we don't pursue and complete our wealth and social equity goals- we print weapons instead of money, we burn the earth instead of tilling it, we enslave and abuse others instead of caring and cooperating with them. We are beings of all the wrong excesses but we say we all is well.

"So the Israelites live in their same homes as before." They were unchanged.

The Values in Gematria for the above passages are:

v. 2: Evil in the Eyes of the Lord is jealousy. There are two ways to get what you want- steal it or earn it.

The Value in Gematria is 8983, חטחג‎ , hathag, + plus Jeroboam, son of Nebat= did not gather around the location of the Table. Also means "gathered and made a mistake."

v. 3: "So he kept him under the power of the Highest Vision and the Voice of The Thunder." A Ben Hadad is an experienced Jew that annunicates the primary value system of the Religion and its vision to the world. This is supposed to herd people away from their mistaken impressions of civilization to the refuge of the truth of the importance of Shabbat.

The Value in Gematria is 4947, דטדז‎ , dtdz, "Data from the past."

v. 4: Jehoahaz listens.

the Value in Gematria is 9194, טאטד‎‎, tatad, "taught him as far as he could go, helped him acheive his rank."

"The shape-shifting verb נתן (natan) means to give in a broad bouquet of senses, from regular giving or bestowing, to setting or putting, to transforming one thing or situation into another.

The conjunction עד ('ad) or עדי ('ady) means "as far as" or until. The same verb, namely עדה ('ada II) is used to mean to adorn or ornament oneself — that is: to have items approach the canvas of one's bulk in order to testify of some social rank or perhaps the trade or order one belongs to."

v. 5: the Value in Gematria is 8286, חבחו, huvaho, "he was required."

v. 6: the Value in Gematria is 8967, חטוז‎‎, hatuz, "signed into courage."

So the notion of consigning an entire nation into the effort required to achieve its professional goals might seem too daunting but the Melachim say this failure of attitude and disposition is just whoopie pies and to do what has to be done.

Obviously the entire Tanakh has to be run through a Gematria calculator and recast. Tell me about it when it's over.

[bernardo1969]

After the death of King Solomon, the kingdom he ruled was divided into two, the Kingdom of Judah to the south and the Kingdom of Israel to the north, and both kingdoms followed very different paths, while the Kingdom of Judah remained faithful to the dynasty of King David; a series of murders broke out in the Northern Kingdom, causing many dynasties to succeed each other, and with the crimes idolatry also arrived in the Kingdom of Israel. And so the Second Book of Kings begins by recounting the history of Israel with the assumption of Ahaziah as king, a king who like many others had abandoned fidelity to the law of Moses and accepted the pagan gods. And the Second Book of Kings tells how Elijah prophesied the death of this King for seeking an oracle from the god Baal Zebub, god of Ekron. This story leaves a very clear teaching, those who follow idolatry, like Ahaziah, are destined for ruin and failure, only the the spiritual gift of fear of God (constancy, firmness, devotion) is the true spiritual path for man. With these words, the Second Book of Kings relates how God sent Elijah to prophesy against Ahaziah for his sin: "After Ahab's death, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, ´Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.´ But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, ´Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ´Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?´ Therefore this is what the LORD says; ´You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!´So Elijah went." 2 Kings 1:1-4.

[salvationcall]

What does 2 Kings 13:1-9 mean?

The Reign of Jehoahaz. – B.C. 839. 1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. 3 And the anger of the LORD��