College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
2 Kings 23 - Introduction
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
THE LAST GREAT REFORMATION
Good King Hezekiah was followed on the throne by the most wicked king to ever rule Judah. All the religious gains effected by Hezekiah were soon lost, and the nation plunged anew into idolatry and all its attendant evils. Political independence, so bravely engineered by the father, was willingly surrendered by the son. Judah again fell into the orbit of Assyrian vassal kingdoms. For over half a century the abscess of sin festered in spite of the eleventh-hour effort of a chastened Manasseh to heal the wound. But with the assassination of Manasseh's son Amon after a brief reign the stage was set for the last and greatest reformation in the history of Judah.
REVIEW OF CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I. FACTS TO MASTER
A. Identify each of the following:
1. Manasseh
7. Baal
13. Asahiah
2. Amon
8. Asherah
14. Huldah
3. Josiah
9. Shaphan
15. Joshua
4. Moloch/Milcom
10. Hilkiah
16. Nathan-melech
5. Ashtoreth
11. Ahikam
6. Chemosh
12. Achbor
B. Identify each of the following places:
1. garden of Uzza
6. Topheth
2. Kidron
7. Valley of Hinnom
3. Bethel
8. Samaria
4. Geba
9. mount of corruption
5. Beersheba
C. How did each of the following figure in the events of this chapter?
1. line and plummet
6. unleavened bread
2. a dish
7. horses and chariots
3. a book
8. bones
4. ashes
9. Passover
5. powder
II. QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.
Manasseh was the wicked son of a righteous king; Josiah was the righteous son of a wicked king. What factors may account for this situation?
2.
Manasseh reigned longer than any other king of Judah. Why did God permit such a wicked man to retain the throne for so long?
3.
Was the decree pronounced against Judah and Jerusalem during the reign of Manasseh irrevocable?
4.
How old is the tradition that Isaiah the prophet was slain by Manasseh? How would you assess the historicity of this tradition?
5.
Manasseh repented of his wayward life toward the end of his reign. What success did he have in undoing his own life of sin? What lesson is there in this?
6.
How can you account for Josiah's righteousness at such a young age?
7.
Josiah began his reforms in his eighth year, yet it was not until his eighteenth year that repair work on the Temple commenced. Why this delay?
8.
What was the book found in the Temple in 621 B.C.? For what purpose was this book taken to Huldah?
9.
Huldah is called a prophetess. What other Biblical women have this title?
10.
What was Jeremiah's relationship to the reform of Josiah?
11.
Huldah predicted that Josiah would die in peace (2 Kings 22:20), but in fact he died in battle at Megiddo. How is this to be explained?
12.
What was Josiah's intention when he burned bones on altars throughout the land?
13.
In what sense was the Passover celebrated in Josiah's day unlike any Passover celebrated since the days of the Judges? (2 Kings 23:22)
14.
Scripture states there was no king like Josiah before or after him (2 Kings 23:25). Virtually the same thing is said of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:5). How can the statement be true with regard to both kings?
A city gate of Jerusalem
Armed force in the day of the king
Drawings by Horace Knowles from the British and Foreign Bible Society