C. THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH IN THE SOUTH 14:1-22 Amaziah the thistle king, is another example of a good start and a tragic end. The account of his reign moves through three stages: (1) his hopeful beginning (2 Kings 14:1-7); (2) his disastrous defeat (2 Kings 14:8-14); and (3) his treacherous death (2... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE THE KINGDOMS AT HIGH TIDE 2 Kings 13:10 to 2 Kings 15:7 Help came to Israel in the midst of the Aramean oppression from an unexpected quarter. In 802 B.C. the Assyrian king Adadnirari III attacked Damascus and inflicted serious casualties on Benhadad II. From that point on, Isra... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE HEYDAY PERIOD 14:23-15:7 Israel and Judah achieved their greatest glory under the reigns of Jeroboam II in the North (2 Kings 14:23-29), and Azariah (Uzziah) in the South (2 Kings 15:1-7). This somewhat unexpected turn of events resulted from two factors. About 800 B.C. the Assyrians withdr... [ Continue Reading ]