question and answers for 2 Kings 15

Review & Intro:  In Chapter 14, we looked at King Amaziah of Judah; how he started good but ended with idolatry, ending in conspiracy against him as he was killed.  We began the history of Azariah of Judah after that.  We also saw in Israel the conclusion of King Joash and the history of his son Jeroboam II. ... In Chapter 15, the history of King Azariah (Uzziah) and his son Jotham who became king in his place after his long 52 year reign is given to us.  To get more details, we will look at 2 Chronicles 26 to find out why the Lord struck Uzziah with leprosy.  After that, we see 5 kings in succession that reigned over Israel in short amounts of time during the lengthy reign of Azariah in Judah.  The last of the kings of Israel was Hoshea.  The kingdom of Assyria has taken the land of Naphtali captive and more will be taken soon until there will no longer be a Northern Kingdom of Israel.

2 Kings Chapter 15 - Observation Questions

1.  How long had Jeroboam II been king over Israel when Azariah began to reign over Judah? vs. 1) 27

2.  How old was Azariah when he began to reign over Judah? vs. 2) 16

3.  How many years did Azariah reign over Judah? 52 

4.  What was the name of his mother? vs. 2) Jecoliah

5.  According to 2 Chronicles 26:1-4, what is another name that is used for King Azariah?  Uzziah           (this will be important as we move on and the names are interchanged in the text)

6.  Back to 2 Kings 15 ... King Azariah did "right" in the "sight" of the Lord.  Who was he like in his actions? vs. 3) As his father Amaziah

7.  Just like his father, Amaziah, what were 'not' taken away that were a stumbling block to the people of Judah? vs. 4)The high places.

8.  What are we told the Lord did to King Azariah and where did he live for the rest of his days? vs. 5) He was brought down withLeprosy and lived ina separate house.

9.  How were the people judged with the king living separate from them? vs. 5) His son ruled in his place

10.  Where can we learn more about the acts of King Azariah? vs. 6)The book of annals of the kings of Judah.  (chronicles of the kings of Judah.)

11.  Let's go over there now and get an understanding of 'why' the Lord struck him with leprosy and 'when' during his reign it happened to him.  This will prove very interesting and helpful for us to understand.  Please read the passage entirely and then answer the questions given.  Read 2 Chronicles Chapter 26.

• How long did Azariah (Uzziah) continue to seek God? vs.5)  during the days of Zechariah
• What happened as long as he sought God? vs.5) He was success
• Who did God help Azariah (Uzziah) to overcome in battles? vs. 6,7 - Name 3)Philistines,Arabs,  Meunites.
  
  
• Who else gave tribute to Azariah (Uzziah)? vs. 8) Ammonities
• How far did his fame extend as he became very strong? vs. 8)The borders of Egypt.
• What did Azariah (Uzziah) build in Jerusalem during his long reign? vs. 9 towers
• He not only built towers, but fortied them! (vs.9) ... What else did he do out in the wilderness area and what was the purpose? vs. 10) Cisternd
• What did Azariah (Uzziah) love? vs. 10) the soil
• What did Azariah (Uzziah) have ready at all times? vs. 11) A well trained army.
• What size army did he have ready for battle? vs.12,13)He had 2,600 leaders over 307,500 fighting men.
• What did he prepare for all the army? vs.14)Shields, spears, helmes coats of armor, bows and stingstones.
• What did Azariah (Uzziah) make for war? vs. 15)machines to use on the towers.
• Why was he so famous? vs. 15) He was greatly helped untill he became powerfull
• How long was he helped? vs. 15) he became powerfull
• What happened after he became strong? vs. 16)pride lead to his down fall.  Just as  it can us if we don't  give  the cretit Tod God for all that we have.  He is the one  that gives it to us.
• Where did his pride lead him? vs.16
• Why did Azariah the priest enter with 80 priests of the Lord to oppose Azariah (Uzziah) the king of Judah? vs.17,18 -Because he burntt incence to the Lord  in the temple and this was  not hei right to do it was the priest  as God had commanded  to Mose.
• This enraged King Azariah (Uzziah) as he held a center in his hand for burning incense.  What happened at that time? vs. 19,20 -God gave him Leprosy on his forehead.
• According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, there was an earthquake that happened at the same time in Jerusalem, which many archeologists have confirmed happened at that same time that would have ranged at about 8 on the rector scale.  How does Scripture verify an earthquake happened during the reign of Uzziah? Comment on Amos 1:1-The words of Amos, one fo the shepherds of Tekoa- what he saw concering Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king fo Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoah was king of Israel.
  
  - and  Zechariah 14:5 - you will flee by my mountains valley,For it will extend to Azel.  You will flee as  youfled the earthquake in the days of Uzziah knig od Judah. Then the Lord God will cme and app the Holy ones with him.
• Back to 2 Chronicles 26 ... How long did King Azariah (Uzziah) remain a leper? vs.21 -Thfe rest of his life.
• What was he cut off from? vs. 21 - the palcae
• Where did he live after that? vs. 21 - separate house
• Who judged the people of the land for him in his absence? vs. 21-His son
• Where does 2 Chronicles 26:22 tell us we can find out more about the acts of Uzziah? vs. 22 -Isaiah
• Let's see what we learn about him from that prophet.  Comment on the following verses:  1) When did Isaiah prophesy? Isaiah 1:1 during the regns of Uzziah- ..... 2) What vision did Isaiah see the year that King Uzziah died? Isaiah 6:1-13)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  ¶ In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
  	Isa 6:2	Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
  	Isa 6:3	And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
  	Isa 6:4	And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
  	Isa 6:5	Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
  	Isa 6:6	¶ Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
  	Isa 6:7	And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
  	Isa 6:8	¶ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
  	Isa 6:9	¶ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
  	Isa 6:10	Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
  	Isa 6:11	¶ Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
  	Isa 6:12	And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
  	Isa 6:13	But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall bethe substance thereof.

• Back to 2 Chronicles 26. ... Where was Uzziah buried and why in the field? vs. 23)IN  the dfield next to his father belonging to the kings
• Who became king in his place? vs. 23)Jotham his son.

Back to 2 Kings Chapter 15:

12.  Who became king over Israel in Samaria in the 38th year of King Ahaziah (Uzziah)'s reign over Judah? vs. 8)Zechariah

13.  How long did he reign over Israel? vs. 8)6 months

14.  What was he like in the eyes of the Lord and why? vs. 9)evil

15.  Who conspired against him ... killed him ... and reigned in his place ... just 6 months later? vs. 9,10)Shallum son of Jabesh

16.  Where can we learn more about King Zechariah of Israel? vs. 11)Book of Chr.

17.  What prophecy was fulfilled at that time? vs. 12)That  Jehu family would sit on the throne four Gen.

18.  Shallum, son of Jabesh became king in the 39th year of King Uzziah's reign in Judah.  How long did he reign? vs.13)one month

19.  What a short reign he had!  ... Who came up from Tirzah to Samaria and killed him just one month later to become king in his place? vs. 14)Menahem son of Gadi

20.  Where can we learn more about King Shallum? vs. 15) Thfe Book of Chronicles

21.  In the 39th year of King Azariah (Uzziah) in Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel and reigned for 10 years in Samaria. (vs.17) .. What kind of king was he? vs. 18)He doid  the same sins  as  the ones before him.

22.  What is King Menahem notably known for doing during his reign to Tiphsah and its borders from Tirzah and why did he do it? vs. 16)He attecked  Tizah because they would not open their gates and tore open all the women that had babies.

23.  Who was coming against the land of Israel at that time? vs. 19) Pul king of Assyria

24.  What did King Menahem give to the king of Assyria for him to be with him and strengthen his kingdom? vs. 19)A thousand tallent of silver

25.  How did Menahem get more money to pay the king of Assyria off? vs. 20) Every rich man in Israel had to give 50 tallents of silver to him.

26.  Where can we learn more about Menahem? vs. 21) Book of Chronicles

27.  Who became king after Menahem's death? vs. 22) Pekahiah his son

28.  Remember Azariah (Uzziah) had a long reign over Judah; in fact 52 years.  Who became king over Israel in the 50th year of Azariah's reign in Judah? vs. 23)Pekahiah

29.  How long did he reign over Israel? vs. 23) in Samaria

30.  What kind of king was he like in the Lord's eyes and why? vs. 24)He did the same sins as  his father and caused Isreal to commit them as well.

31.  Who conspired against him and killed him in the castle of his house to become king in his place? vs. 25)Pekah

32.  Who were with Pekah when he conspired against Pekahiah? vs. 25)Argob and Arieh

33.  Where were the 50 men with him from? vs. 25)They were from Gilead

34.  Where can we learn more about King Pekahiah of Israel? vs. 26)  Book of Chronicles

35.  Who became king over Israel in Azariah's last year to reign over Judah; his 52nd year? vs. 27)Pekah

36.  How did he live according to God's sight? vs. 28)Evil in God's eyes

37.  What happened during the days of Pekah king of Israel? vs. 29) In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

38.   After Azariah's death (aka Uzziah), his son Jotham ruled over Judah.  What year of his reign did Hoshea conspire against Pekah and kill him to become king himself? vs. 30) twentieth year 

39.  Where can we learn more about King Pekah of Israel? vs. 31)  book of the chronicles

40.  Going back in time a little, when did Jotham become king over Judah after Azariah (Uzziah)'s death? vs. 32) second year

41.  How old was Jotham when he became king over Judah? vs. 33) 25

42.  What was his mother's name? vs. 33)Jerusha

43.  How did Jotham live his life in the sight of the Lord? vs. 34) And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

44.  What was still not taken away? vs. 35)  high places

45.  What was Jotham remembered for building? vs. 35)  He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD

46.  Where can we learn more about King Jotham of Judah? vs. 36) book of the chronicles

47.  Who began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah king of Israel against Judah at that time in those days? vs. 37)  the LORD

48.  When Jotham died, who became king over Judah in his place? vs. 38)  Ahaz his son .

 2 Kings Chapter 15 - Part 2 of 2 -

* Complete Part 1 First -

 

Applications:

49.  Although the beginning of Azariah's reign was "right in the sight of the Lord", and his son Jotham also had a walk that was "right in God's eyes", the high places remained and were not taken away.  Therefore the people still worshiped and made sacrifices there.  Many times we do things that are "right" in the sight of the Lord and yet, we do not tear down strongholds in our lives that are still not pleasing to the Lord.  Paul talked about the weapons of our warfare not being physical but spiritual and yet they are able to tear down strongholds and stand firm against our enemy which is the devil; the one who tempts us to be proud and open-minded and able to embrace things outside the will of God.  What strongholds are needing to be torn down in your life today?  Comment on the following Scriptures and commit those things to the Lord in prayer today.

• Ephesians 6:10-18 -We must stand armed; and this is here most enlarged upon. Here is a Christian in complete armour: and the armour is divine: Armour of God, armour of light, Rom. 13:12.Armour of righteousness, 2 Co. 6:7. The apostle specifies the particulars of this armour, both offensive and defensive. The military girdle or belt, the breast-plate, the greaves (or soldier's shoes), the shield, the helmet, and the sword. It is observable that, among them all, there is none for the back; if we turn our back upon the enemy, we lie exposed. [1.] Truth or sincerity is our girdle, v. 14. It was prophesied of Christ (Isa. 11:5) thatrighteousness should be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. That which Christ was girded with all Christians must be girded with. God desires truth, that is, sincerity, in the inward parts. This is the strength of our loins; and it girds on all other pieces of our armour, and therefore is first mentioned. I know no religion without sincerity. Some understand it of the doctrine of the truths of the gospel: they should cleave to us as the girdle does to the loins, Jer. 13:11. This will restrain from libertinism and licentiousness, as a girdle restrains and keeps in the body. This is the Christian soldier's belt: ungirded with this, he is unblessed. [2.] Righteousness must be our breast-plate. The breast-plate secures the vitals, shelters the heart. The righteousness of Christ imputed to us is our breast-plate against the arrows of divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us is our breast-plate to fortify the heart against the attacks which Satan makes against us. The apostle explains this in 1 Th. 5:8, Putting on the breast-plate of faith and love. Faith and love include all Christian graces; for by faith we are united to Christ and by love to our brethren. These will infer a diligent observance of our duty to God, and a righteous deportment towards men, in all the offices of justice, truth, and charity. [3.] Resolution must be as the greaves to our legs: And their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, v. 15. Shoes, or greaves of brass, or the like, were formerly part of the military armour (1 Sa. 17:6): the use of them was to defend the feet against the gall-traps, and sharp sticks, which were wont to be laid privily in the way, to obstruct the marching of the enemy, those who fell upon them being unfit to march. The preparation of the gospel of peace signifies a prepared and resolved frame of heart, to adhere to the gospel and abide by it, which will enable us to walk with a steady pace in the way of religion, notwithstanding the difficulties and dangers that may be in it. It is styled the gospel of peace because it brings all sorts of peace, peace with God, with ourselves, and with one another. It may also be meant of that which prepares for the entertainment of the gospel, namely, repentance. With this our feet must be shod: for by living a life of repentance we are armed against temptations to sin, and the designs of our great enemy. Dr. Whitby thinks this may be the sense of the words: "That you may be ready for the combat, be shod with the gospel of peace, endeavour after that peaceable and quiet mind which the gospel calls for. Be not easily provoked, nor prone to quarrel: but show all gentleness and all long-suffering to all men, and this will certainly preserve you from many great temptations and persecutions, as did those shoes of brass the soldiers from those galltraps,' etc. [4.] Faith must be our shield: Above all, or chiefly, taking the shield of faith, v. 16. This is more necessary than any of them. Faith is all in all to us in an hour of temptation. The breast-plate secures the vitals; but with the shield we turn every way. This is the victory over the world, even our faith. We are to be fully persuaded of the truth of all God's promises and threatenings, such a faith being of great use against temptations. Consider faith as it is the evidence of things not seen and the substance of things hoped for, and it will appear to be of admirable use for this purpose. Faith, as receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, a sort of universal defence. Our enemy the devil is here called the wicked one. He is wicked himself, and he endeavours to make us wicked. His temptations are called darts, because of their swift and undiscerned flight, and the deep wounds that they give to the soul; fiery darts, by way of allusion to the poisonous darts which were wont to inflame the parts which were wounded with them, and therefore were so called, as the serpents with poisonous stings are called fiery serpents. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are the darts which Satan shoots at us. Faith is the shield with which we must quench these fiery darts, wherein we should receive them, and so render them ineffectual, that they may not hit us, or at least that they may not hurt us. Observe, Faith, acted upon the word of God and applying that, acted upon the grace of Christ and improving that, quenches the darts of temptation. [5.] Salvation must be our helmet (v. 17); that is, hope, which has salvation for its object; so 1 Th. 5:8. The helmet secures the head. A good hope of salvation, well founded and well built, will both purify the soul and keep it from being defiled by Satan, and it will comfort the soul and keep it from being troubled and tormented by Satan. He would tempt us to despair; but good hope keeps us trusting in God, and rejoicing in him. [6.] The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. The sword is a very necessary and useful part of a soldier's furniture. The word of God is very necessary, and of great use to the Christian, in order to his maintaining the spiritual warfare and succeeding in it. It is called the sword of the Spirit, because it is of the Spirit's inditing and he renders it efficacious and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword. Like Goliath's sword, none like that; with this we assault the assailants. Scripture-arguments are the most powerful arguments to repel temptation with. Christ himself resisted Satan's temptations with, It is written, Mt. 4:4, 6, 7, 10. This, being hid in the heart, will preserve from sin (Ps. 119:11), and will mortify and kill those lusts and corruptions that are latent there. [7.] Prayer must buckle on all the other parts of our Christian armour, v. 18. We must join prayer with all these graces, for our defence against these spiritual enemies, imploring help and assistance of God, as the case requires: and we must pray always. Not as though we were to do nothing else but pray, for there are other duties of religion and of our respective stations in the world that are to be done in their place and season; but we should keep up constant times of prayer, and be constant to them. We must pray upon all occasions, and as often as our own and others' necessities call us to it. We must always keep up a disposition to prayer, and should intermix ejaculatory prayers with other duties, and with common business. Though set and solemn prayer may sometimes be unseasonable (as when other duties are to be done), yet pious ejaculationscan never be so. We must pray with all prayer and supplication, with all kinds of prayer: public, private, and secret, social and solitary, solemn and sudden; with all the parts of prayer: confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgivings for favours received. We must pray in the Spirit; our spirits must be employed in the duty and we must do it by the grace of God's good Spirit. We must watch thereunto, endeavouring to keep our hearts in a praying frame, and taking all occasions, and improving all opportunities, for the duty: we must watch to all the motions of our own hearts towards the duty. When God says, Seek my face, our hearts must comply, Ps. 27:8. This we must do with all perseverance. We must abide by the duty of prayer, whatever change there may be in our outward circumstances; and we must continue in it as long as we live in the world. We must persevere in a particular prayer; not cutting it short, when our hearts are disposed to enlarge, and there is time for it, and our occasions call for it. We must likewise persevere in particular requests, notwithstanding some present discouragements and repulses. And we must pray withsupplication, not for ourselves only, but for all saints; for we are members one of another. Observe, None are so much saints, and in so good a condition in this world, but they need our prayers, and they ought to have them. The apostle passes hence to the conclusion of the epistle.
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 -He asserts the power of his preaching and his power to punish offenders.
  

  1. The power of his preaching, v. 3, 5. Here observe, (1.) The work of the ministry is a warfare, not after the flesh indeed, for it is a spiritual warfare, with spiritual enemies and for spiritual purposes. And though ministers walk in the flesh, or live in the body, and in the common affairs of life act as other men, yet in their work and warfare they must not go by the maxims of the flesh, nor should they design to please the flesh: this must be crucified with its affections and lusts; it must be mortified and kept under. (2.) The doctrines of the gospel and discipline of the church are the weapons of this warfare; and these are not carnal: outward force, therefore, is not the method of the gospel, but strong persuasions, by the power of truth and the meekness of wisdom. A good argument this is against persecution for conscience' sake: conscience is accountable to God only; and people must be persuaded to God and their duty, not driven by force of arms. And so the weapons of our warfare are mighty, or very powerful; the evidence of truth is convincing and cogent. This indeed is through God, or owing to him, because they are his institutions, and accompanied with his blessing, which makes all opposition to fall before his victorious gospel. We may here observe, [1.] What opposition is made against the gospel by the powers of sin and Satan in the hearts of men. Ignorance, prejudices, beloved lusts, are Satan's strong-holds in the souls of some; vain imaginations, carnal reasonings, and high thoughts, or proud conceits, in others, exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, that is, by these ways the devil endeavours to keep men from faith and obedience to the gospel, and secures his possession of the hearts of men, as his own house or property. But then observe, [2.] The conquest which the word of God gains. These strong-holds are pulled down by the gospel as the means, through the grace and power of God accompanying it as the principal efficient cause. Note, The conversion of the soul is the conquest of Satan in that soul.
• Hebrews 12:1 - Lay aside every weight, and the sin, etc. 1. Every weight, that is, all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world. Inordinate care for the present life, or fondness for it, is a dead weight upon the soul, that pulls it down when it should ascend upwards, and pulls it back when it should press forward; it makes duty and difficulties harder and heavier than they would be. 2. The sin that doth so easily beset us; the sin that has the greatest advantage against us, by the circumstances we are in, our constitution, our company. This may mean either the damning sin of unbelief or rather the darling sin of the Jews, an over-fondness for their own dispensation. Let us lay aside all external and internal hindrances
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 -Though it is displeasing to God for us to presume, it is not pleasing to him for us to despair. If the former be a great sin, the latter is far from being innocent. Though we must fear and take heed lest we fall, yet should we not be terrified and amazed; for either our trials will be proportioned to our strength, or strength will be supplied in proportion to our temptations. We live indeed in a tempting world, where we are compassed about with snares. Every place, condition, relation, employment, and enjoyment, abounds with them; yet what comfort may we fetch from such a passage! For, 1. "No temptation,' says the apostle, "hath yet taken you, but such as is common to man, what is human; that is, such as you may expect from men of such principles as heathens, and such power; or else such as is common to mankind in the present state; or else such as the spirit and resolution of mere men may bear you through.' Note, The trials of common Christians are but common trials: others have the like burdens and the like temptations; what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. 2. God is faithful. Though Satan be a deceiver, God is true. Men may be false, and the world may be false; but God is faithful, and our strength and security are in him. He keepeth his covenant, and will never disappoint the filial hope and trust of his children. 3. He is wise as well as faithful, and will proportion our burden to our strength. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able. He knows what we can bear, and what we can bear up against; and he will, in his wise providence, either proportion our temptations to our strength or make us able to grapple with them. He will take care that we be not overcome, if we rely upon him, and resolve to approve ourselves faithful to him. We need not perplex ourselves with the difficulties in our way when God will take care that they shall not be too great for us to encounter, especially.

50.  King Azariah (Uzziah) became proud 'when' he was strong.  Many times in our 'weakness' we acknowledge God because that is when we 'need' Him so badly.  When we get stronger, we forget Him at times.  God is not impressed with your accomplishments but continues to look at your heart.  When our heart belongs to him, He will always be in support of us and defend us and deliver us from the enemy.  Comment on the verses below:

• Proverbs 16:18 -
• Proverbs 29:23 -
• 2 Chronicles 16:9 -
• Matthew 23:12 -
• James 4:10 -
• 1 Peter 5:6,7 -  

51.  We saw in the writings of the prophet Isaiah and Amos that there was an earthquake associated with the time of King Uzziah as well as the fact that we are told in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles that he had leprosy break out upon him when he refused to give up offering the incense in the house of the Lord that was designated only for Aaron and his descendants, the high priests.. God is holy and we are to treat Him as holy.  We cannot rewrite His laws or try to change His Word.  His Word is settled forever and His commandments are pure and define Who He is and how He wants us to be like Him.  Because Jesus took our sins and paid for them on the cross, we can now enter the Holy Place through Him.  Comment on the following Scriptures:

• Exodus 20:30 -
• Isaiah 42:8 -
• Isaiah 43:10,11 -
• John 14:15 -
• Hebrews 4:16 -
• Hebrews 10:17-22 - 
• 1 Peter 1:13-19 -  
• 1 Peter 4:17 -
• Revelation 4:8 -
• Revelation 16:5 -

52.  The chapter turns back to what was happening with the kings from Israel after Azariah's death is mentioned in Judah.  We read about Zechariah and how Shallum conspired against him and killed him.  God reminded us that He had kept His word to Jehu that he would have sons reign to the 4th generation and it was so. (vs. 12).  After Shallum, there was Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and then Israel's last king over the Northern Kingdom before they were taken captive by Assyria - Hoshea.   We are told quite a bit about Menahem, including the fact that he "ripped up pregnant women" in Tiphsah and its borders from Tirzah because the gates were not opened to him. (vs.16) ... How does a heart become that evil and hard and cold?  How can a person commit murder and especially not care for the woman or her baby?  Comment on the condition of the heart without the Lord on the comments below:

• Jeremiah 17:9 -
• Proverbs 4:23 -
• Matthew 15:19 -
• Matthew 24:12 -
• Mark 7:21,22 -
• Romans 1:21 -
• Romans 1:28-32 -
• 2 Timothy 3:1-5 -
• Revelation 3:15,16 -

53.  We see the way that Menahem gave the king of Assyria payment to be on his good side when Assyria was dominating as a great force against all the nations.  Later, in the days of Pekah, some of the tribes of Naphtali were taken captive by Assyria.  Eventually through 3 seiges, the nation of Israel will be completely taken away to Assyria.  Read 1 Chronicles 5:26 to see who began to stir up the nation of Assyria against Israel.  Give your thoughts about this.  Can we be taken captive by the enemy in a spiritual sense today if we neglect the Lord and turn away from Him? 

• 1 Chronicles 5:25,26 -

54.  Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.