1 History of the Old Testament Judah in the 7th Century 2 Kings 21-24; 2 Chronicles Zephaniah; Jeremiah Habakkuk; Nahum

2 Introduction u Judah’s longevity … WHY? v a few good kings turned the nation toward repentance & spiritual renewal (cf. 2 Kg. 23:24-27; 2 Chr. 32:26; 34:26-28) u Judah’s doom … WHY? v persistent covenant-breaking behavior

3 Manasseh's Reign (2 Kg. 21; 2 Chr. 33) u Hezekiah's efforts to return to the covenant demands: short-lived u Manasseh (son): v 55 year long, reign of terror (2 Kg. 21:16) u Mixed reviews: v terrified by Assyria v fascinated with Assyria

4 u Rebuilt the shrines of the Ba'al cult u Built shrines: astral cult for the worship of the constellations and heavenly bodies (2 Kg. 21:2-9; 2 Chr. 33:2-9) u cult: “pass through the fire” u Asherah pole in the temple u Pronouncement: nation of Judah was consigned by Yahweh to destruction (2 Kg. 21:10-15; 24:3-4) u Amon continued: paganizing ways of his father (2 Kg. 21:19-22; 2 Chr. 33:21-23)

5 Manasseh Inscriptions u vassal of Assyria on archaeological artifacts v prisoner: a hook thru his nose... repented of his evil & prayed for mercy (2 Chr. 33:10-13) u Eventually... restored to Jerusalem u Penitent prayer (2 Chr. 33:12, 19) u Anonymous Jew: v prayer in honor of this repentance

6 Zephaniah & Josiah's Reforms (2Kg ; 2 Chr ; Zep. 1-3) Rebuke vs. Religious & Social Abuses u blistering judgment: v pagan worship (Zep. 1:4-5) v adoption of pagan customs & superstitions (Zep. 1:8-9) u Political & religious leaders: v deeply corrupt (Zep. 3:1-4)

7 Zephaniah (cont.) u citizens: indifferent (Zep. 1:12) u Only hope: thorough-going repentance (Zep. 2:1-3)... u Little hope … really (Zep. 3:6-7) u Day of Yahweh's Judgment: NEAR (Zep. 1:7-18)

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Josiah: Grandson of Manasseh u unparalleled spiritual reformation (2 Chr. 34:1-13) u discovered a long-misplaced book of Torah in the temple: Deuteronomy (2 Kg. 22; 2 Chr. 34:14-33)

10 Josiah (cont.) u Purge: false religion! u Renew the covenant! (2 Kg. 23) u Greatest celebration of Passover since the time of Samuel (2 Chr. 35:1-19)

11 Mesopotamian Empire Builders u Babylon now on the rise u Alliance: Pharaoh-Neco II of Egypt w/Assyria vs. Babylonians: Battle at Carchemish u Josiah: v tried to stop Egyptians v Judah defeated... v Josiah killed... (2 Chr. 35)

12 Jeremiah Habakkuk & Nahum

13 Powerful sense of the implications of covenant faithfulness and unfaithfulness... called the nation to come to its spiritual senses... again and again

14 Jeremiah u temple: a den of thieves (Je. 7, 26) u false hopes in the dynasty of David were futile if the nation did not keep covenant with her God (Je , 36, 45) u vs. the prophetic guild of the royal court, “itching ears” (Je. 14, 23, 27-29)

15 Jeremiah u powerful parables: v imminent disaster (Je. 13, cf. 18, 19, 24, 25, 32, 35) u confessions and prayers: v frustrations w/his calling & message (Je. 11:20-23; 12:1-6; 15:10-21; 17:14-18; 18:18-23; 20:7-13; 20:14-18)

16 Jeremiah (cont.) u lived to see fulfillment of predications u endured the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem... he saw the city fall (Je. 34, 37-39, 52) u taken to Egypt w/fleeing Jewish refugees ( 40-41)

17 Habakkuk dialogue betwn Habukkuk & Yahweh corruption!!!!! Q: “Why do you allow this to go on?” (Ha. 1:2-4)

18 Habakkuk Q How could Yahweh punish Judah with a Babylonian invasion, since Babylon was even worse than Judah (Ha. 1:12--2:1) ? Q Would God simply allow violence and destruction to increase without limit (Ha. 1:17) ?

19 Habakkuk u Habakkuk’s prayer: v God's judgment on the nations & salvation of his own people (Ha. 3)

20 “...the righteous will live by his faith...” (Ha. 2:4; 3:17-19)

21 u Oracle of Judgment: Nineveh (Na. 1:1; 2:1) u Comparison: the coming downfall w/the recent downfall of Thebes in Egypt in B.C. (Na. 3:7-11) Nahum

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23 The Last Days of Judah (2 Kg. 24; 2 Chr. 36) B.C.

24 Kings Following Josiah u all corrupt!!!! u political situation: very unstable!!!

25 Kings Following Josiah u Jehoahaz (3 months): exiled to Egypt u Jehoiakim (puppet king of Pharaoh- Necho II): invaded by Babylon... vassal to Nebuchadnezzar u Jehoiachin (3 months): surrendered to Babylonian army... taken prisoner to Babylon w/deportation of Judean citizens

26 Kings Following Josiah u Zedekiah (puppet king of Babylon): Jerusalem under siege until the city wall was breached the foreigners torched the city and the temple after they had looted everything of value...