Lesson 13 Judah Alone

17 periods Creation Flood Scattering of people Patriarchs Exodus from Egypt Wandering Conquest of Canaan Judges United Kingdom Divided Kingdom Judah Alone Captivity Return from Captivity Years of Silence Life of Christ Early Church Letters to Christians

Judah is now alone Israel has fallen into captivity The cities of Israel have been burned and the people carried into captivity. Only the very poor remain Foreigners have been brought into the land of Israel and intermarried with those left behind this was the beginning of the Samaritan people. Neighboring territories have been conquered by Assyria

Judah is now alone - Israel has fallen into captivity All of them are paying enormous tribute Judah was feeling the pressure of Assyria Judah can be thankful that Ahaz has died and Hezekiah is now on the throne He led Judah with extensive reformation He destroyed idols in the land He had cleansed the temple and restarted regular worship at the temple. He proclaimed Passover & invited all Covenant was renewed with Jehovah

Tekoa Israel Phoenicia Philistine Tyre Moab Edom Ammon Damascus Judah alone

Hezekiah The fall of Samaria was in the 6 th year of Hezekiah 721 B.C. 2 K 18:10 Hezekiah ruled for 23 years after the fall of Samaria His reign began about 727 The latter years of his reign he dealt with the threat by Assyria

Hezekiah Three main episodes during last years of Hezekiah 1. Invasion by the Assyrians 2. Sickness of Hezekiah 3. Visit of emissaries from Merodach- baladan of Babylon Beware of books that give account solely from Assyrian and Babylonian records, they give no credence of Bible records

Hezekiah After Samaria falls, the Assyrians were the threat most on the mind of Hezekiah Hezekiah thought Egypt would be a great help if needed Egypt encouraged Judah to rebel against Assyria thus giving a buffer zone for Egypt Isaiah led a group that argued Judah should rely on Jehovah rather than Egypt because Egypt could not be depended upon

Hezekiah Jehovah warned about depending on Egypt Isa 18:1-7; 19:1-15; 30:1-14 Jehovah wanted His people to rely on Him If they would be righteous and serve Him, they would not have to worry because He would deliver them from their enemies Hezekiah and Judah refused to take heed Assyria would come and put down the rebellion by Judah

Preparation for Assyrian Invasion 2Kings 20:20; 2 Chr 32:1-8; Isa 22:11 Careful preparation to protect the land of Judah from the Assyrians was made One thing done was to dig an extensive tunnel called the Siloam Tunnel A spring called Gihon flowed out of a cave just outside of the city wall of Jerusalem down to the Kidron Valley

He had the tunnel started from the cave digging toward the city and some started from the Pool of Siloam digging toward the cave The cave opening outside the city was closed up by Hezekiah The water was diverted through the tunnel to the city The tunnel was 1,777 feet long Jerusalem would now have access to all the water needed during a siege by any other nation Hammers, chisels, pickaxe were used in digging the tunnel Water still runs through the tunnel today

The Invasion of Sennacherib 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chr 32:1-22; Isa Sennacherib came and besieged Lachish Hezekiah sent messengers to him saying, “I have done wrong and will pay whatever tribute you ask” The demand was for 11 tons of silver and about a ton of gold Hezekiah took from the temple treasury and his own royal treasury to pay He stripped gold from plated doors and door- post in the temple

The Invasion of Sennacherib 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chr 32:1-22; Isa Sennacherib sends servants to Jerusalem with this message What are you depending upon? Where is your military strength you speak about? Do you think you can depend on Egypt? If you are depending on your god, remember that Hezekiah removed all the high places and alters

The Invasion of Sennacherib 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chr 32:1-22; Isa Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? Have any of their gods saved them? No god can deliver you from my hand Your god is no different and can not save you. Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you! Don’t listen to him! No god has been able to stop us. Do you think your god can deliver you?

The Invasion of Sennacherib 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chr 32:1-22; Isa The men of Judah had been ordered to not say a word back to the commanders The leaders that Hezekiah had in charge came to him with their clothes rent Hezekiah sends his men to Isaiah about the Assyrian threat Isaiah said, “Do not be afraid of what you heard” Jehovah will deal with him for his blaspheming

The Invasion of Sennacherib 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chr 32:1-22; Isa He will receive a report and returned to his own country He will be cut down with the sword, God said The report was that Tirhakah of Ethiopia was leading an Egyptian army against him Sennacherib moved his army to Eltekeh to meet Tirhakah and there he defeated the Egyptian forces.

The Invasion of Sennacherib 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chr 32:1-22; Isa Before Sennacherib goes to battle with the Egyptians he sent a letter to Hezekiah Don’t think your god can protect you Upon reading the letter, Hezekiah goes up to the temple of the Lord and spreads it before God His action shows the very strong faith he had in God

Hezekiah’s prayer Isa 37 16O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. 17Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. 18Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, 19And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. 20Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

Jehovah’s answer through Isa. Chapter 37:33ff You can be scornful toward Assyria They have dared to insult and blaspheme Jehovah the Holy One of Israel They are filled with pride I Jehovah gave them the power I planned it and brought it to pass The Assyrians rage against Me Therefore I will put my hook in their nose and my bit in their mouth and I will make them return by the way they came.

Jehovah’s answer Hezekiah, do not worry he will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here He will not come with a siege ramp or shield I will defend this city and save it That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death 185,000 men of Assyria They immediately broke camp and left Sennacherib was slain by 2 of his sons while worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch His son Esarhaddon was his successor.