THE MESSENGERS OF THE KING OF ASSYRIA CALL ON THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM TO SURRENDER AND IN SO DOING SEEK TO DEMEAN HEZEKIAH (2 KINGS 18:18 TO 2 KINGS 19:1). We may wonder why this incident was described in such detail and the answer would be that it was in order to underline the greatness of the kin... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF AZARIAH (UZZIAH) KING OF JUDAH C. 767-740/39 BC. CO-REGENT FROM 791/90 BC. The reign of Azariah (Uzziah) can be paralleled with that of Jeroboam, with similar expansion and the same strictures to some extent applying. It introduced a period of prosperity unparalleled in Judah since the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF ZECHARIAH KING OF ISRAEL C.753-752 BC. By the time of Zechariah the prophets Amos and Hosea were in full flow denouncing the sins of Israel, and to some extent those of Judah. From this point on Israel would sink lower and lower until its existence as a nation would itself be terminate... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF SHALLUM KING OF ISRAEL C.752 BC (2 KINGS 15:13). It would appear that Tiphsach was Shallum's power base. Thus when Shallum took the throne after assassinating Zechariah without popular support, not only was he killed by Menahem in his turn but Tiphsach, which refused to yield and surre... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF MENAHEM KING OF ISRAEL C. 752-742/41 BC (2 KINGS 15:17). The author has nothing good to say about the reign of Menahem, but it was crucially important for one reason. Up to this time Assyria had either been kept at bay, when Aram and Israel had both been strong, or had been open to rece... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF PEKAHIAH KING OF ISRAEL C. 742/41-740/39 BC (2 KINGS 15:23). Pekahiah (‘YHWH is open eyed') succeeded his father, but it was as king of a country seething with discontent at having had to pay tribute to Assyria. Few in Israel actually really knew what they were now dealing with. To most... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF PEKAH KING OF ISRAEL C. 739-732/31 BC (2 KINGS 15:27). The appeasement party having been defeated, and their king overthrown, Israel became mainly anti-appeasment, and as such would unite with others in order to be ready to oppose Assyria. One of the main parties in the conspiracy along... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF JOTHAM KING OF JUDAH C. 740/39-732/1 BC. CO-REGENCY BEGAN C. 750 BC (2 KINGS 15:32). Prior to much of the above activity Jotham came to the throne of Judah, first as co-regent with his father Uzziah, and then as sole ruler. At his accession all was still quiet and peace reigned. Judah'... [ Continue Reading ]