A Divided Kingdom: The Books of I & II Kings Judah after the fall of Israel Part 1 II Kings Chapter 18-19

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WeekDateTopic 105 Dec 12The Bible before 2 nd Kings – A Summary 212 Dec 12Allies and Enemies: The World of the Israelites 319 Dec 12Judgment on Ahaziah: II Ki Dec 12Elijah, Moab, and Naaman: II Ki Jan 13Elisha the Prophet: II Ki Jan 13Jehu’s Revolt: II Ki 9:1-10: Jan 13After Jehu until the Fall of Samaria, Pt 1: II Ki Jan 13After Jehu until the Fall of Samaria, Pt 2: II Ki Jan 13Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 1: II Ki Feb 13Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 2: II Ki Feb 13Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 3: II Ki Feb 13Judah after the Fall of Isreal, Pt 4: II Ki Feb 13Summary of Kings II Kings

Today’s Objectives Review previous weeks lesson (II Kings 15-17) Learn about the rise of Hezekiah Learn about the threats of the Assyrian Sennacherib through his emissary, the Rabshakeh Learn about Hezekiah’s response Learn how Isaiah became involved with the crisis Watch how Hezekiah appealed to God and learned about God’s response See how Sennacherib dies

Previous Lesson Reviewed previous weeks lesson (II Kings 11-14, Joash, Elijah’s death) Learned about the rise and fall of Azariah (Uzziah) in Judah Learned about the worst king in Judah’s history Learned about Israel’s continually degrading morals and see how God uses Assyria to destroy the nation Learned about the resettlement plan of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians Reviewed a summary of why God executed his final judgment on Israel

Overview of I and II Kings Originally one book –Early Greek manuscripts of the OT combined the books of Samuel and Kings under the title of "kingdoms," or "reigns" –Kings was broken into two books for convenience sake because of its length (Greek translation) Authorship –Some portions of the book identical to the book of Jeremiah –Jeremiah would have personal knowledge of some contents –Evidence that Ezra was the author after the Babylonian captivity Timeline –Approximately 400 years, written between 560 B.C. and 538 B.C. –Start: Death of David in 971 B.C. –End: Jehoiachin's release from a Babylonian prison in 562 B.C.

Overview of I and II Kings Books of Samuel and Kings cover Israel's period as a nation under a king: –I Samuel: Life of Saul –II Samuel: Life of David –I Kings: Solomon and the divided kingdom –II Kings: The fall of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah Content of I and II Kings –47 chapters (I Ki – 22 chapters, II Ki – 25 chapters) –History of the Jewish commonwealth –Death of David to subjugation to Babylonians

Purpose –Imparting of great moral lessons backed up by well- known illustrations –Religious history –Focused upon kings rather than prophets Key Lesson –God does not fail His people; His people, led by their kings, have failed God –God’s covenant has the contingency of Israel’s faithfulness –Covenant also promises a return from exile those that return to God Overview of I and II Kings

Main Characters of Chapter Hezekiah – King of Judah during the attempt by the Assyrians to destroy Judah Sennacherib – King of Assyria who attacks Judah Rabshakeh - chief of the princes, the name given to the chief cup-bearer or the vizier of the Assyrian royal court, very well spoken, knew three languages (Akkadian, Hebrew, and Aramaic), main antagonist for today’s class

Places of Chapter Jerusalem – capital of Judah, or the southern kingdom, “city of David” Assyria – east of Israel near modern day northern Iraq Lachish – stronghold in Judah, captured by Sennacherib and used as his base of operations for actions against Judah, south and west of Jerusalem Nineveh – capital of Assyria, near modern day Mosul in northern Iraq

Righteous Reign of King Hezekiah (II Kings 18:1-12) Hezekiah reigns over Judah (18:1-2) –Son of King Ahaz –25 years old when he became king, 729 B.C. –Third year of Hoshea, therefore he watched Israel fall –29 year reign, possibly co-regent with Ahaz from 729/716 Hezekiah’s righteousness (18:3-6) –Did what was right in the sight of the Lord –Removed high places and broke sacred pillars –Cut down wooden images and broke the bronze serpant of Moses (Nehushtan, see Num 21:1-9)

Hezekiah’s achievements (18:7-8) –Prospered wherever he went –Did not serve the Assyrian king –Subdued Philistines Israel fall into exile (18:9-12) –Shalmaneser took Samaria after a three-year siege –God allows Assyria to carry Israel away –For breaking His covenant (Deut 29:1-29) Righteous Reign of King Hezekiah (II Kings 18:1-12)

The Assyrian Threat (II Kings 18:13-37) Hezekiah attempts to buy peace (18:13-16) –Sennacherib of Assyria comes up against Judah –Hezekiah admits guilt, offers to pay whatever price to keep them from attacking –Hezekiah gives them all treasures of the temple and palace The Rebshakeh tries to induce surrender (18:17-20) –Sennacharib sends the Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh against Jerusalem –Try to convince Hezekiah to surrender –Assyria has defeated every “god” it has faced

The Rabshakeh demoralizes Judah (18:21-25) –States that Judah is trusting in Egypt, but shouldn’t –God has failed to protect Israel –The Rabshakeh further atagonizes Judah States that God told him to destroy Judah Hezekiah’s men ask Rabshakeh to speak only to them (18:26-27) –He was speaking in Hebrew, the people could understand his fearful words –They were worried the people would revolt The Assyrian Threat (II Kings 18:13-37)

The Rabshakeh appeals to the people directly (18:28-35) –Tells them to not trust in Hezekiah –God is going to deliver the city to the Assyrians –Assyria has defeated all the gods of all the lands Response of the officials and people (18:36-37) –The did not respond to the Rabshakeh –Because Hezekiah told them not to –Officials came to Hezekiah with the words of the Rabshakeh The Assyrian Threat (II Kings 18:13-37)

Hezekiah’s Prayers and Sennacherib’s Threats (II Kings 19:1-19) Hezekiah seeks Isaiah’s wisdom (19:1-5) –Hezekiah is distraught, sends his head of household, the scribe, and elders of the priests to see Isaiah –They relay Judah’s impending disaster to Isaiah –Asks for Isaiah’s prayers to God God assures Hezekiah (19:6-7) –Isaiah tells Hezekiah not to fear Assyria –Because the king of Assyria has blasphemed God –God will send a spirit spreading a rumor that will cause Assyria to flee

Response of Rabshakeh (19:8-13) –The Rabshakeh returns to the king of Assyria –Ethiopia was thought to be moving north –He sends threatening letter to Hezekiah to discourage him Hezekiah prays (19:14-19) –Appeals directly to God for help –Acknowledges God’s greatness and completeness Hezekiah’s Prayers and Sennacherib’s Threats (II Kings 19:1-19)

Sennacherib is worthy of scorn (19:20-21) –Isaiah delivers God’s message –God would not allow Assyria to destroy Judah God’s word to the king of Assyria (19:22-28) –Would put a hook in their nose and bridle on their lips and turn them back God will prosper wounded Judah (19:29-31) –God would preserve Judah, “remnant” God will defend Judah for His sake (19:32-34) –King of Assyria will not enter Judah –God will defend the city God Speaks Concerning the Situation (II Kings 19:20-34)

God strikes down the mighty army of Assyria (19:35) –An angel of the Lord kills 185,000 Assyrians at night while they camped The defeated Sennacherib is judged (19:36-37) –King of Assyria returns to Nineveh –His sons kill him while he is worshipping the god Nisroch Nisroch –Esarhaddon reigns in his place God Defends Jerusalem (II Kings 19:35-37)

Review Reviewed previous weeks lesson (II Kings 15-17) Learned about the rise of Hezekiah Learned about the threats of the Assyrian Sennacherib through his emissary, the Rabshakeh Learned about Hezekiah’s response Learned how Isaiah became involved with the crisis Watched how Hezekiah appealed to God and learned about God’s response Saw how Sennacherib died Next week, 2 Kings 20-21