Chapter 1
This chapter of 2 Chronicles reads much like the second half of 1 Kings 3.  Solomon goes to Gibeon to sacrifice.  This chapter notes that the Tent of Meeting that Moses and Israel had built at Sinai, was still at Gibeon.  Only the Ark had been brought to Jerusalem at this time, and was in a tent there.  So it wasn't just random geography that took Solomon there.  However, the Ark of the Covenant, was in Jerusalem, in the tent that David had prepared there. Solomon offers a thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar before this tent.  So this didn't happen in just a day.  This would have taken a long time, a lot of animals, a lot of wood.

"That night", God asks Solomon what he wants, Solomon says wisdom.  God promises to make Solomon rich, like no king before him ever.
Solomon buys horses from Egypt and Kue, and then resells them to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Using today's price of $18/ounce, these numbers translate to $4,320 for a chariot and $1,080 for a horse.  He had 1,400 chariots.  Over $6MM in chariots.

2022 - Here is a thought, based on this verse:
17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. [2Ch 1:17 ESV]
Solomon becomes an arms dealer, supplying chariots of war, horses, and perhaps even horsemen to ride them to the surrounding nations.  Surely he did so in a very thoughtful and measured way!

Chapter 2
Chronicles says Solomon also built himself a house during this time.  There were 80,000 quarrying, 70,000 bearing burdens, and 3900 overseers.
In Chronicles, Solomon requests skilled workmen in gold, silver, iron, and so on, and in return Solomon provides food for Hiram's workers.  Maybe that is what 1 Kings meant by Hiram's house.  Hiram sends a skilled man - Huram-Abi.  Apparently this man was skilled in all the intricacies of working gold, wood, and fabric of all kinds.  Son of a woman of Dan and a man of Tyre.
The laborers who built the Temple were identified from a census that David had done.  These were the "resident aliens" in Israel.  They could live there, but when slave labor was needed for 7 years, they were put into service, like it or not.  Verse 18 says the 3600 Overseers were there to "make the people work".

Chapter 3
The Temple was built on Mt. Moriah, at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  This was where David had seen the Angel of Death after David's sin of counting the people.  
LOOK UP all the references to this mountain.  Is it the same place where Abraham offered Isaac?  Did God ever say that His Temple had to be on this mountain, or did Solomon just pick this for it's historic significance.  It was apparently not where the tent of meeting was set up.  Amazing that the Tent of Meeting was still serviceable after 480 years isn't it...
There are many "extras" here to look into.
The Temple was overlaid on the inside with gold just about everywhere.  Even some of the floors.  Precious stones were set to adorn the walls and there were carvings of cherubim on the walls.  45,000 lbs of gold was used to overlay the interior of the Most Holy Place.

2022 - This verse:
10 In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of wood and overlaid them with gold. [2Ch 3:10 ESV].  Were there no cherubim in the original tabernacle?  Or was it that the previous cherubim were on the lid of the ark, with their wings touching, and this time - in addition to that one since they still had the ark - they were free standing?  These cherubim have their wings touching each other and the wall, and they stand upright.  Perhaps this is to let us know that on the ark, the Cherubim are kneeling.  And I think on the ark the cherubim face each other, with the left wing of one touching the right wing of the other.  Why, I wonder, would Solomon add these two, especially as they were made of wood and overlaid with gold, rather than being entirely of gold?

Chapter 4
Much the same as 1 Kings 7.
The altar was 30' x 30' x 15' high.  That would make it possible to have many sacrifices at a time on the altar.  It was not a single file thing.  That also explains why so many priests were necessary - those sacrifices had to be washed, dispatched, butchered in many cases, and then place on the altar.

Here is something interesting:
2 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. [2Ch 4:2 ESV]
10 cubits in diameter, 30 cubits in circumference.  That's a rough approximation of pi.  Certainly says they were aware of the ratio.

6 He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the south side, and five on the north side. In these they were to rinse off what was used for the burnt offering, and the sea was for the priests to wash in. [2Ch 4:6 ESV].  Again, many sacrifices could be offered concurrently.
This is a good verse to associate with baptism.  The washing that was done, from the very earliest of times, was to prepare the sacrifice.  To make it presentable for sacrifice might be a better phrasing.  The priests themselves also had to wash, before they made the offerings.

I note that there are some differences in dimensions for some of the items when comparing 1Ki to 2Ch.  MSB notes say that the basin itself held the smaller amount mentioned in 1Ki, of 2000 baths.  The 2Ch reference to 3000 baths included the storage of 1000 baths to keep the fountain going.  It must have drained, somehow been put back into storage above the water level of the basin itself, constantly, so that the fountain was active.  
I expect any other differences in dimensions have explanations also.  These two writers were not focused on exactly the same details.  They described the same things but from different vantages.

Chapter 5
This recounts the same events as 1 Kings 8, but is only 14 verses long.

Note that the Temple is finished, sitting there gleaming.  Seven years of work complete.  MSB note says it was completed in the 8th month, so it wasn't until 11 months later that it was dedicated.

The dedication takes place in the seventh month.  This chapter says it happened at the feast that is in the seventh month, so at the Feast of Tabernacles.  Second time...Hard to tell here for sure, but it looks like they waited that 11 months before bringing the Ark into the new temple.  This would make sense, and the cloud appearing would be appropriate as the Ark is placed and as the Temple replaces the Tent of Meeting as central to the worship of Israel.  

2023 - As above, in 1 Kgs 8, vs 10 says specifically that only the stone tablets were in the ark.  Aaron's staff was no longer there, and neither was the little container of manna.  Only the 10 remained.

These verses:
11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever," the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, [2Ch 5:11-13 ESV]
Note the extended parentheses here.  The information about the singing, the cymbals, all the instruments, about singing in unison, all this is inside parentheses.  Which I have always thought indicated that the words within were not in 100% of the manuscripts.  So were these words inspired, or added by a later scribe?).  No MSB comment on it.

2021 - A very early use of musical instruments and singers and trumpeters in worship.

2022 - This verse:
13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever," the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, [2Ch 5:13 ESV]
Is this the last time the house of the LORD was filled with smoke?  Did it not happen when Nehemiah dedicated the rebuilt temple after the exile?

The day I read these chapters I decided to start showing ideas I have for further study in italics.  That way, I can come back through and find them, instead of having to search and read every note looking for such things.  This way, they will stand out.  This is day 164 of the Chronological Bible, so I'm about half way through already when I start this.  It will take me until this time next year (8/9/2020) to go through the study ideas I've already written this year.  (And it is now 8/8/20, and because of leap year, I am back to this note a day early!)

It would be good to study this feast and see what it was originally about and why.  I think it was about Israel living in tents in the desert for so long.  God "lived" in a tent also during that time, so it would seem like a good time to celebrate moving from tent to house, from wandering to settled, and so on.

Chapter 6
This chapter parallels 1 Kings 8 in large part.
This chapter repeats Solomon's prayer asking God to give ear particularly to prayers prayed in the direction of this Temple.  This surely refers to the geographic location of that Temple.  Why do we not do this?
32 "Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33 hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. [2Ch 6:32-33 ESV]
You don't have to be Israeli to pray toward the Temple, to be covered by Solomon's prayer for God to especially hear the prayers offered toward this place.  

2022 - There are seven pleas for God to "hear from heaven" when prayers are offered toward Jerusalem, toward the Temple.  

Chapter 7
This chapter adds that when Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices on the altar, then the glory of the Lord fills the Temple.  1 Kings 8 I don't think mentions the fire from heaven.  1 Kings 8 says the glory filled the Temple when the Ark was put into its place.  
Read these two chapters - 1 Kings 8, 2 Chron 6, in parallel (they were broken up in my chronological reading), and also check MSB to resolve the timing.

2021 - It seems to me that these people are constantly seeing visible signs of God's presence, or even more fundamentally, of his reality.  Only God can send fire down from heaven - at least until the end times.  So here we are in Solomon's time with a sign of the reality of the God of Israel that is undeniable.  It should have confirmed that all the old stories of the miracles of God, of his calling of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of the 10 plagues and the parting of the Red Sea and the water from the rock...all these things should have been confirmed as undeniable truth by this fire from heaven in Solomon's day.  Yet they turn away, in just a generation, and start worshiping idols again.  How can this be so?  And how can we accuse them, we who have more than any nation probably since their time ever had, and what are we doing with it?  Do we thank God for it, or aggressively try to remove him even from conscious thought.  
Possible FB post with this verse: 1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. [2Ch 7:1 ESV]

2021 - I may have said this before, but there is indication again in vs. 6 that it was David who "invented" musical instruments and singing as part of worship.  Perhaps no nation, no culture had ever included music in worship, and no idol had ever been worshiped this way.  Just a thought.  Need to find that previous place where it said this. (Done, at least in part.  Found one earlier place and tagged it, but there is a place where David is preparing items for the future temple where he orders musical instruments prepared.  And as he "orders" the ranks of the Levites, it is David who sets some to sing.  All this can, I think, be traced to David.  Didn't he play cymbals when he danced before God as the Ark was brought into Jerusalem?  That may have been a first also.

2023 - Vs 7 ends with "His lovingkindness is forever",  "ki olam hesed".

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. [2Ch 7:14 ESV]
This is God's answer to the prayers Solomon had prayed for Israel that day at the dedication of the Temple.  God comes to Solomon by night and makes the statement above.  Solomon's prayer - with the one exception about foreigners praying toward the Temple - was exclusively about God's actions following rebellion against Him by His people.  It was Israel that could humble themselves and pray.  You can generalize "my people who are called by my name", but it seems to me that it is a real stretch to think we as Americans can invoke a promise God made to Solomon about the nation of Israel.

15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. [2Ch 7:15-16 ESV]
For all time.  How can anyone argue that a prayer offered at the wailing wall, or from anywhere in Jerusalem or anywhere on the planet, that is prayed toward Solomon's Temple, will not be heard especially by God, whether prayed by Israeli or foreigner?

2021 - This verse is right here also:
17 And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, 18 then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.' [2Ch 7:17-18 ESV]
In the same way that in vs 14 God refers to "my people", here He addresses whom?  Solomon.  Not any king in any time who follows God's command.  This is three verses later, and is specifically, only, uniquely a promise to Solomon son of David.  We don't try to apply this verse universally, so why are we so keen to do it with vs. 14.

Chapter 8
A detailing of all that Solomon built.  Restoring destroyed cities, building cities for storage, for his chariots and for his men.
This verse:
2 Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them. [2Ch 8:2 ESV]
I don't remember Hiram giving him cities.  That would be good to look up, along with the Geographical and national defense implications.  In light of the above, Hiram apparently didn't think what Solomon gave him was equivalent.  National defense may have been the main reason.

2021 - These verses:
7 All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, 8 from their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed--these Solomon drafted as forced labor, and so they are to this day. [2Ch 8:7-8 ESV]
This is how the wisest man who ever breathed handled foreigners in his country.  He made forced labor out of them, had them work, had them build for the natives.  All these peoples had been conquered by war, and there is no talk of paying them reparations or returning their lands.  They lost.  They are nothing.  They are to be treated humanely, but they work for us.  Perhaps the founding fathers of this country missed this principle in their reading?  One would need to see whether there is anything in the NT that would prohibit this.


This verse:
18 And Hiram sent to him by the hand of his servants ships and servants familiar with the sea, and they went to Ophir together with the servants of Solomon and brought from there 450 talents of gold and brought it to King Solomon. [2Ch 8:18 ESV]  This is 33,750 lbs of gold.  At $2000/oz tr, that is $67.5 million in gold.

2022 - But...Ophir didn't just "give" gold to anyone who came looking for it?  What did you trade for gold in those days?  How did Solomon have $67.5 million dollars worth of anything that he could take aboard ships and send to Ophir.  Where is Ophir???
Googled it, and we don't really know where it was.  There was a quotation saying that the King of Ophir built the walls of golden stones.  There was apparently a ton of it available...which would reduce its value in the eyes of those in Ophir.  Maybe they had gold but not food, not salt, not leather, and so on.  I'm sure they were picky, but they still had to eat.

Both 1 Kings 9 and this chapter say that the Canaanites left in the land - Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and so on, were all drafted as forced labor and used to build these things.  How would that fly in the US today, if we started drafting illegal immigrants and putting them to forced labor to improve the infrastructure of this country?  Imagine the howls!  Imagine the decline in illegal immigration!  Now there is a plan to earn citizenship!  Second time...this would still work.  Illegal immigrants drafted as forced labor - or minimum wage labor - for infrastructure projects, maintenance and restoration.  A Civilian Immigration Corp.

Chapter 9
Queen of Sheba, as in 1K10.  A very much abbreviated history of the reign of Solomon.  It says other histories were written by Nathan the prophet, Ahijah the Shilonite, and Iddo the Seer

Chapter 10
This chapter is very much like 1 Kings 12.  There is the addition of the name of Rehoboam's taskmaster, Hadoram.  (There is a note in 2 Chron that says in 1Kings 12 it was spelled Adoram.  Guess I just missed it there.)  1K12 also goes further with the history.  The chapter breaks are different in 2 Chronicles.  

Chapter 11
Rehoboam, because of Israel's rebellion, raised an army of 180,000, but God warned them not to attack.  Shemaiah is the prophet mentioned, both here and in 1Kgs, as conveying the warning not to attack.  So he built cities for the defense of Judah.  Bethlehem is one of those cities, along with Etam, Tekoa, and so on.  These were all fortified cities.  It may be that some were already there, but Rehoboam built them up and fortified them for defense.  He stored food and wine in each, and put commanders there.  Also shields and spears were stored in each of these cities.  "...So he held Judah and Benjamin."  Still, Jerusalem is very near the border with Israel.  There just wasn't much real estate there to make a defense.  Jerusalem would be hard to hold against an invading army it seems to me.

Verses 13-17 are information not in 1K.  It says that the Levites and priests left Israel and came to Jerusalem.  They left their homes and lands permanently, and all those in Israel who wanted to worship God came with them.  This was because Jereboam and his sons "fired" the priests and Levites and appointed their own.  Many refused to worship the golden calves Jereboam made, and left their homes to avoid doing so.  It seems, therefore, that God's retribution against the north was not just about their King's transgressions.  The people who stayed home and worshiped those calves put home and possessions ahead of God.  Then it says that for three years these people from the north strengthened the Kingdom of Judah, and made it secure, because for those three years "...they walked...in the way of David and Solomon."  So even though God had condemned all of Israel - the northern tribes - the ones who loved and worshiped God, who were faithful to him - have this chance to relocate, to get out of the God-abandoned north, and come to reside in the south.  There may have been quite a lot of these because it wasn't just the Levites, it was the people too, who just would not worship calves and goats.  Their numbers were sufficient to strengthen the southern kingdom - perhaps they supplied much of the labor to build the fortified cities and then to populate and guard them.  

Rehoboam marries.  The wives mentioned are distant relatives of his.  Maacah, one of Absalom's daughters, is his favorite of 18 wives and 60 concubines.  Rehoboam has 28 sons 60 daughters.  He chooses Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince, intending to make him King.  Both Rehoboam and Jereboam have a son named Abijah.  Jereboam's son dies, though God found some favor in him, as part of God's punishment of Jeroboam for the calves.  Rehoboam also  "distributes" his sons around Judah in the fortified cities.

Chapter 12
This verse:
1 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. [2Ch 12:1 ESV]
Is this use of Israel a reference to the north and what they had already done, or is this Israel "universal", and includes Judah and Benjamin with the 10 tribes?  It is not clear to me.  Maybe it means that Rehoboam's kingdom joined the north in rebellion against God.

In Jereboam's 5th year, Shishak of Egypt comes north with an army and sacks Jerusalem.  This is a huge army, "without number".  MSB says this invasion is recorded on an extant stone tablet, saying Shishak's army made it to the Sea of Galilee, but was unable to completely conquer both Judah and Israel.  Shishak ruled Egypt from 945-924 BC.  
God lets Rehoboam and the princes know that this invasion is from Him, to punish them for their rebellion against Him.  They humble themselves, and God partially relents.  They are not all killed, but instead become servants to Shishak. This verse explains God's purpose in sparing them:
8 Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." [2Ch 12:8 ESV]
They are to get a first hand, object lesson in the difference between serving God and serving the Kings of men.

Shishak takes all the treasure of the Temple, of the Kings house, and so on.  He thoroughly sacks the place.  He also destroys many of the fortified cities.  And this invasion was from the south.  Very likely they opened the gates to him as a way of saving their own lives, and Judah becomes a vassal state with a vassal king as a result.  It is likely important to remember for the next few chapters that Judah is now subject to Egypt's rule, while Israel is still independent.  

The chapter ends with the death of Rehoboam after a 17 year reign.  His son Abijah reigns in his place.  It mentions that Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonite.  If I remember right, this was one of the countries Israel was not to intermarry with.

2022 - These verses:
12 And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah. ... 14 And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. [2Ch 12:12, 14 ESV].
12 seems to say that Rehoboam turned from his evil ways, so that God was no longer angry at him.  But 14 says that on the whole, when his life and reign are evaluated, his life was evil.  Is the point here that he only humbled himself when he was scared to death of  King Shishak, and thought that all was lost, and then when he was "safe" again, he maybe didn't "fight" against God, but was also not committed to God?  Just kind of went out and came in and yawned a lot and didn't sweat over things of God?  If we look back at how this chapter opened it says:
1 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. [2Ch 12:1 ESV].  Surely seems like he only turned to God when he was having problems.  And when he was established, he not only turned away but he turned others away also.  Leaders bear the responsibility for the actions of those who are lead very often in the Bible.  So the summary verse - 14 - seems to be that on balance, between his own shortcomings and the shortcomings he inspired in others, his reign was an evil reign.

The last few verses say that Rehoboam's acts are recorded in the chronicles of Shemaiah the prophet, and Iddo the Seer.  We don't  have these chronicles today.  Rehoboam dies at the age of 58, after reigning for 17 years.

Chapter 13
Abijah's mother was Maacah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.  The Maacah we saw in 1Kgs is the daughter of a different man.  It seems the note above that there were two Maacah's is likely correct.  It would take some time to unravel all this - I think Maacah was also from Ammon, but I don't know that it adds much to the history.
We get more detail of the war between Jereboam and Abijah.  Abijah has 400,000 men in his army, Jereboam 800,000.  They face off in the hill country of Ephraim.  Abijah proclaims that Jereboam is a scoundrel supported by scoundrels who took advantage of a very young Rehoboam.  He goes on to point out that the golden calves are not gods, that the priests of Israel are not really priests, and he contrasts this with how Judah serves God correctly, has Aaronic priests, and keeps the sacrifices and tends to the traditions of the Temple.  He warns Israel not to mess with them because God is surely on their side.  Here is another interesting thing that Abijah said:
5 Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? [2Ch 13:5 ESV]
Covenant of salt.  I still think of all the times in the NT where the salt has lost it's savor.  I think there is another verse that says God's covenant with Israel was a covenant of salt.  I believe this covenant of salt was abrogated in preference to the New Covenant, which is about light.  Not salt.

2022 - MSB has a good note here that includes references to the covenant of salt found in Lv 2.13, Nu 18.19, and Eze 43.24.  The one in Ezekiel has to do with the Millennial.  The first two are associated with the Mosaic Law in some sense.  I do not think the New Covenant is associated with salt...certainly MSB gives no NT references to it.  The salt has lost it's savor, we are in the church age, and in the promised Kingdom, in the physical Kingdom of the Millennial, the covenant of salt returns.  It is just not about today.

Jereboam has sent an ambush to come at Abijah from behind.  Though attacked from front and rear, the priests sound their trumpets and God gives the battle to Abijah.  It says that 500,000 men of Israel were slain, crippling Jereboam's army to the point that he never was able to make war on Judah again.  It further says that God struck down Jereboam, and he died.  

Abijah, on the other hand, "grew mighty" and took 14 wives and had 22 sons and 16 daughters.  Abijah's story is written in the story of the prophet Iddo.  It is interesting that Abijah was such a good king, that God was with him in this battle, and yet he only reigned for 3 years.

Chapter 14
Asa takes over, and the land has rest for 10 years.  Presumably because Israel's army had been so thoroughly defeated.  During the 10 years Asa fortifies several towns in Judah, tears down idols and such, and builds up his army.  It also says that he took out ALL the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim.  It doesn't say this about many kings, even the good kings of Judah often left the high places alone.  It says that Abijah left them alone, in fact.  This is a big deal, purging ALL idolatry from the land.  Asa has 300,000 men from Judah with large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin with shields and bows.

But it says that Zerah the Ethiopian brings an army of a million men and 300 chariots against them.  MSB note says it is likely that the Pharoah of Egypt was supporting Zerah in an attempt like that of Shishak earlier.  Asa prays for God's help, gets it, and defeats this massive army from the south.  It says that Asa and his army pursued the Ethiopians until none was left alive.  They plunder the belongings of the Ethiopians, and then plunder several towns in the area taking goods and livestock.  Slaves are not mentioned here.  Per MSB, Egypt does not bother Israel again for 150 years.

Chapter 15
Azariah, son of Oded is filled with the Spirit and prophesies to Asa and the army that God is with them, and will continue to be as long as they are with God and look to Him.  Asa takes this to heart and renews his efforts to remove idols and repair the Temple.  It says that many people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon were now living in Judah, having deserted their own lands to come to Judah when they saw that God was with Judah.

2021 - These verses:
5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. [2Ch 15:5-6 ESV]  These verses are about Israel, the northern kingdom.  They were a godless nation, and while they were so, look at the list of things that happened.  "...God troubled them with every sort of distress.".  God did that because they were His people and he wanted to correct them.  BUT, in principle, can we say that any nation that is godless, as Israel was, can expect God to trouble them?  Not to bring them back as His people perhaps, but so justice will be done in some measure?  Surely He did that when he brought Egyptian armies north to threaten Assyria and make them go home and leave Israel alone.  Surely Assyria first, and then Babylon fell in great measure because of their sin, though they were used by God for a time.  Had they converted, upon learning about the Jewish God, would they  have fallen?  Likely they would because God was not going to suffer competition with his chosen people.  What about today, during this time when Israel is blind?  How will He treat other nations today.  Is covid a judgement of the whole world because there is no Christian nation anymore.  Not anywhere.  California and the west are having this drought.  Cities are descending into anarchy.  Are the results of climate change judgement on the world - not for their carbon emissions but for their sin?  Are carbon emissions an effect more than they are a cause?

They gather at Jerusalem and sacrifice from the spoil they've taken 700 oxen and 7000 sheep.  They resolve to serve God, and to kill anyone who doesn't, be they man, woman, old, or young.  Peace reigns in Judah until the 35th year of King Asa.  Times were good, and the people were worshiping God, and the idols had been removed.

Chapter 16
In year 36, Baasha comes to build Ramah, as we saw in 1K15.  Asa allies with Ben-Hadad to make Baasha pull back.
We are told here, and not in 1K15 that Hanani the seer comes to Asa, and tells him that he should have relied on God to defeat Baasha, rather than on the King of Syria.  The result is that the army of the King of Syria has now escaped Asa.  Because of this, Asa will have war for the rest of his reign.  Asa is infuriated by this prophecy, imprisons the seer, and "inflicted cruelties upon some of the people".  No specifics are given.

This may explain also the disease in Asa's feet at the end of his life.  Even when his feet were severely diseased, he sought help from the physicians rather than from God.  He was angry with God still about that prophecy, though the sin was his, and he refused to go to God for help.  

So despite all the good that Asa did, despite his firm reliance on God early in his reign, somehow, as he got older, he depended upon himself and his own strategies to keep Judah safe.  Perhaps be became "fat and happy" and decided that he had less need of God.  Or maybe he felt that God would bless his every idea and strategy, even without consultation.  This seems a grave error.  God requires continual obedience and consultation.  You don't get to rest on your laurels with God.  None of us do.  

In order to get as much of the history of this time as we can, we must read both accounts - Kings and Chronicles - because information is filled in from one to the other.  I wonder how much more we'd know if we had those histories written by Nathan and Iddo?

Chapter 17
Back to the Kings of Judah.  (1 Kings 16 was about the Kings of Israel during Asa's reign.  17 Chronicles begins with Asa's successor in Judah, Jehoshaphat.  (Couldn't help but think Jehoshaphat the great jumping.)

Jehoshaphat puts soldiers in all the fortified cities and garrisons others.  He walks in the ways of David, does not worship false gods, nor the gods of Israel.  He even went so far as to take the Asherims and the high places out of Judah.  

2021 - He was one of the few to ever do this, once they had been put in place.  Mostly, even the good Kings left the high places alone.  Why were they that way?  What was the cost to them of removing the high places?

He also sends out teachers of the law, and instructs the people of Judah in the ways and teachings of the Lord - and uses the Book of the Law to do it.  Many names are given of those sent out to teach, including Obadiah and Zechariah.    I looked these up and it looks to me like neither of these were the same as the writers of the books with these names.  Obadiah was a couple kings later, Zechariah was about 300 years later.  Some of those sent out to teach were officials, others were Levites.

The nations around Judah became afraid, and no one attacked Judah during this time.  His army consisted of 1.16 million men, PLUS the ones in the garrisons and fortified cities.  This seems to me a a huge army for a nation of that size, but other nations were paying tribute to Jehoshaphat, which may have included food in addition to gold and silver. 

Chapter 18
This chapter tells us at the beginning that Jehoshaphat made a marriage alliance with Ahab.  This must be how he brought about peace with Israel.  From there, it is nearly exactly the same account as in 1 Kings as to the prophets that predicted victory in R-G.  Indeed, the rest of the chapter is almost interchangeable with 1K22.

Jehoshaphat was a good King.  He built up the army and the defense of Judah, he worshiped as David had worshiped. As a result, he had "great riches and honor".  God was blessing Jehoshaphat and all of Judah through him.  So what possessed him to ally himself with someone like Ahab?  Jehoshaphat even goes to Samaria to visit Ahab, and Ahab convinces J to help him in a war against Ramoth-Gilead.

2021 - From this map, it would appear that Ramoth-Gilead was on the main - or maybe the only viable - route from Syria going south.  To control this city, and to tax whatever came through it, would make a king quite wealthy.  I suspect that Ahab would have promised Jehoshaphat a cut of those taxes in exchange for his help in taking the city.

But Jehoshaphat says this:
4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD." [2Ch 18:4 ESV]  So at least Jehoshaphat has this right.  Ahab gathers up 400 prophets and puts the question to them.  To a man, they say to go up and fight because God will give them a win.  But Jehoshaphat still hesitates, and asks if  there isn't just one more prophet to consult.  Why does J do this?  A check in his spirit?  Suspicion of Ahab?  Maybe J already knew of this other prophet and knew that this other one was the most credible?  We don't really know why J did this, but we know 400 prophets giving the same answer were insufficient to make him go to war.

Ahab admits there is one more prophet but that he hates this one, because he always prophesies ill toward Ahab.  Jehoshaphat asks to see him.  Ahab sends for him - Micaiah - and while they wait, the 400 prophets continue ranting and raving and doing things to prove the two kings should go to war against Ramoth-Gilead.  

When Micaiah shows up, first he says go up.  But Ahab knows this must be a lie since Micaiah never prophesies good for Ahab.  Ahab presses Micaiah for the truth, and sure enough, the prophesy changes.  They should not go up.  And Ahab looks over at Jehoshaphat, and basically says "See, I told you he never predicts any good thing for me!".  

Micaiah explains the prophecy.  It seems that Micaiah saw a vision of God on his throne in heaven, seeking a way to entice Ahab to go to war with R-G.  The whole host of heaven is assembled.  Many plans are proposed, but apparently rejected.  Finally, "a spirit" comes forward and says he knows how to entice Ahab.  He will do so by "becoming" a lying spirit in the mouths of all Ahab's prophets, telling Ahab to go to war, when in fact doing so will lead to his God-ordained destruction.  

This is not the first time we have seen a prophet lie.  Remember the one who lied to the man of God, enticing him to come back to his house to eat and drink, claiming and angel had given him this word to speak?  It  happens.  How are we to guard against this?  By consulting ALL the prophets?  Can we be sure that one at least will speak the truth?  And the point of all of this is that God wanted Ahab destroyed and the battle with R-G was the vehicle that would accomplish this.  God could have turned Ahab's heart, but he does not?  Is this an example of spiritual battle?  Were there demonic forces watching over Ahab, keeping him from death, so that he would continue to wreak havoc with Israel, continue false worship, false religion, and corruption in that kingdom?  And God chose to fight back on this very ground, and so have his own forces fight with Satan's forces rather than just do it Himself?  We certainly cannot speculate as to why God would do things this way.  MSB has nothing about all this in 2Ch 18, but discusses it in the notes to 1Kg 22.  It looks like speculation to me.  
2021 - God does not need to consult with angels to determine a good strategy.  That does not follow.  Angels are messengers, angels carry out God's will.  They are sent by Him to do His will.  What seems to be going on here is that there is a discussion of the best way to "intervene" in the affairs of men to bring about the desired result - the fall of Ahab.  God could just strike him dead.  For some reason this was not acceptable.  Ahab needed to die, but to do so in the normal progression of history.  So history had to be written.  The MSB note says the 400 prophets of Ahab were not Levites.  They were priests who were worshiping the golden calves of Jereboam.  It was not 400 true prophets who were deceived but 400 false prophets.  Jehoshaphat recognizes that these are not prophets of God, and that is why he asks for one more.  

MSB does say of this chapter that Jehoshaphat's marriage alliance and military alliance with Ahab has tragic results for Judah.  The marriage of Jehoshaphat's son to Athaliah, Ahab's daughter, will eventually see Athaliah on the throne as Queen of Judah.  This is the only time the throne had a woman in charge.  She brings the idols of Israel into Judah, and so corrupts the southern kingdom that it is eventually destroyed by Babylon.  These events under Jehoshaphat - a "good" king - start the slide of Judah into destruction, culminating with Manassah.

After all this, Jehoshaphat STILL decides to go with Ahab to R-G after all!  Why would he after insisting that this last prophet, this one true prophet, be located and brought forward?  This is all inexplicable.  

2021 - Not really.  We have this verse that explains it all:
19 And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. [2Ch 18:19 ESV]  God had decided that Ahab was going to fall.  Perhaps Ahab was too crafty to go up with just his own army.  Perhaps he wanted to make sure that if his army was weakened, so would Jehoshaphat's army be weakened.  So for this to come about, Jehoshaphat had to go with him.  Perhaps the reason it seems so unwise to us is because the true battle was spiritual in nature.  The decisions, manipulations, protections and over-comings were the tactics and strategies of angels - of some to keep Ahab in place and continue his reign of evil, and of others to move him out and give Israel some room to repent.  Perhaps this is always the case.  The more inexplicable the actions of these Kings /Presidents/Prime Ministers/Generals seems in hindsight, the more certain we can be that it was a spiritual battle of far greater implications than we can know.  How many times in history could this apply?  Both Napoleon and Hitler split there armies to attack Russia.  Stupid the first time, double stupid the second.  Why did Hitler keep fighting?  To bring about the total destruction of Germany because of the horror they perpetrated on the Jews.  There must be many many others.

It gets crazier.  Ahab disguises himself, so he will not be recognized as a king, but convinces Jehoshaphat to keep his regal robes on.  How stupid is Jehoshaphat at this point?  Even so, God protects him.  But Ahab gets hit with a random arrow, not really even intended for him.  He stays propped up in his chariot for the rest of the day, but at sunset, Ahab dies.

Chapter 19
At the end of yesterday's reading in 1Kgs 22, Jehoshaphat had died and Jehoram reigned in his place.  So this chapter in Chr is going backwards just a bit to fill in some of the details of Jehoshaphat's reign after he mistakenly allied himself with Ahab.  At this time also, Ahab is dead, and Ahaziah reigns in Israel.

Jehoshaphat gets home safely from the fight against Syria where Ahab was killed.  Jehu the prophet lets Jehoshaphat know that God is not pleased that he helped the evil Ahab.  I like the phrasing of this message:
2 But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. [2Ch 19:2 ESV]

But the good that Jehoshaphat has done counts in his favor.  
2021 - This verse:
3 Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God." [2Ch 19:3 ESV]  Jehoshaphat had made some terrible decisions.  He had allied himself to evil men.  He had not only cooperated but had contributed to their success.  These things were done by a man who'd set his heart to seek God.  Upon being told these things, Jehoshaphat continued his efforts to rule according to God's plan.  He seems to have been motivated by this scolding, rather than angered by it, and he sets out to do better.  That's what we ought to do.
2022 - Possible FB post.

He goes into Ephraim and sets up judges for the people there, and he insists on fair judgement.  He also sets up judges in Jerusalem from among the priests and Levites and the leading citizens.  Appeals from the outlying towns and cities come there for resolution.  He puts Amariah the chief priest over all matters of the Lord and Zebadiah the governor of Judah over the King's matters.  These are like final appeal.  He charges these also to do justly, because they are judging for the Lord, not for themselves.  It is interesting that there were matters that were not covered specifically in God's law, and these were considered "the King's matters" and were judged by a civil governor.  Matters of God's law were handled by the chief priest.  


This verse:  4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. [2Ch 19:4 ESV]
This map shows what was meant by Beersheba to Ephraim.  Beersheba was the southern limit of the Kingdom of Jehoshaphat -- of Judah at that time.  And Ephraim is the land to the north of Judah, taken and held by Jehoshaphat as a buffer - a "Golan Heights" of the time, against invasion from the north.

7 Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes." [2Ch 19:7 ESV]  The key to a peaceful, happy kingdom?  Justice for all.  Sounds sappy, but it is not new.  Equal justice means dignity to all.  No rich over poor, no white over black, none of that mess.  If the justice system is fair and impartial, and ANY man of ANY color can bring his case to the judges and be treated fairly, then that man will love his country, and live his life in the dignity that is within him.  Civil peace is not about justice in the past, it is about justice today.
Possible FB post with that other racism verse.


Chapter 20
Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites make war against Jehoshaphat.  Jehoshaphat and all of Judah are in terror because the army coming against them is huge.  They all meet in Jerusalem and Jehoshaphat prays for God's help against the invaders. Jehoshaphat prays this prayer, in part:
10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy-- 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." [2Ch 20:10-12 ESV]
Possible FB post - another non-defensive prayer.

2022 - This verse:
12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." [2Ch 20:12 ESV].  A good prayer when we are faced by enemies intent on our destruction.  When we can point to our enemies.  This verse impressed me again...but I think it is pretty specific in its application.  This is not a prayer for turning a red light green, or for a short wait list at the restaurant.  This is for more serious matters.  Interpersonal matters.

2021 - I had forgotten that God prevented Israel from invading these countries when they first came to Canaan.  Israel had spared them, and Jehoshaphat now rightly recalls the matter.  For these countries to invade Israel now is treachery, ingratitude, and self-aggrandizing.

The Spirit of the Lord comes upon one named Jahaziel, a descendant of Asaph, a Levite.  He prophesies to all the people and to Jehoshaphat.  He prophesies that Judah won't even need to fight in the battle, because God is going to take care of it.  He tells them where to go to meet the invaders, but once there, to stand firm, and watch what God will do.

2022 - This verse:
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." [2Ch 20:17 ESV].  This is God's reply to Jehoshaphat's prayer, through a prophet "ordained" for that moment.  It didn't just pop into everyone's head.  God says he will deal with the invasion...yet he still requires an act of faith from them.  They won't have to fight...but they have to go to where the enemy is located.  Did they armor up and take swords and spears, or did they just walk up there?  Was it only the men who went, or did all go?  In any case, despite their great fear of the enemy, and despite knowing they could never defeat so many in a pitched battle, God requires them to go and look into the eyes of those they fear.  Had they not done that...
Possible FB post.

They go out the next day, and as they sing praises to God, the armies from Moab and Ammon attack the army from Mt. Seir, and once they are dead, they turn against each other.  The entire invading army basically "routes" itself without Judah lifting a sword.  Before even drawing a sword, here is what the army of Judah saw:
24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. [2Ch 20:24 ESV]
God had finished the battle before they even arrived!
This would be a good FB post, maybe the time after the non-defensive prayer.

Judah goes to take the spoil from all these dead men, and they spend three days taking it, so much they can't carry it all away.  The valley where they took the spoil was called The Valley of Beracah, which means valley of blessing.  After this, no other nearby countries thought to invade and attack Jehoshaphat.  When they returned to Jerusalem, we find this:
29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. [2Ch 20:29 ESV]
This is what happens when God executes judgement in history instead of in eternity.  Peace reigns, because those who do not know God are afraid of Him.  Does this apply to "civil war" between believers and unbelievers within a nation, does it apply to individuals with bad neighbors, or does it only work this way when a Godly nation wars against the ungodly?  This too might be a FB post, right in line with the previous two.  This end is the reason we pray for God to take over.

Jehoshaphat rules for 25 years.  In the summary, it says he did well, yet he did not take away the high places.  The last part of the chapter says that J cooperated with Ahaziah, King of Israel, to build ships to go to Tarshish.  A prophet named Eliezer tells J that because he has joined himself to Ahaziah, the ships will be destroyed.  The ships never reach their destination.  Seems like J would have figured this out after what he was told when he joined Ahab.

Chapter 21
Jehoshaphat  dies.  Jehoram, his son, rules in his place.  When he ascends to the throne, he kills all his brothers, and some of the powerful men of the country.  He rules 8 years, and follows the ways of Ahab because the daughter of Ahab was his wife.  This was the marriage of alliance that Jehoshaphat had himself arranged to bring peace with and truly evil King of Israel.  Remember the question from 2Chr 19:2.  This alliance was ill-conceived, and God was not consulted about it.  And now the consequences come to pass.  But God won't completely destroy Jehoram, as he had Ahab and the evil kings before Ahab, since God had promised David a throne forever.  Edom revolts, and they no longer serve Judah to this day.  Libnah revolts also because Judah is no longer worshiping God.  Jehoram builds high places and leads Judah astray in their worship.

Jehoram receives a letter from Elijah.  Elijah says God will bring a great plague on the people, on Jehoram's wives and children and possessions.  Jehoram himself will have a disease of the bowels, "...until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day."  This would be well after Ahab and Jezebel are both dead.  Elijah has outlived them both, and though this doesn't tell us where he is or what kind of life he has, we see that God is still using him.  I think it is interesting that this letter comes from Elijah and not from Elisha.  Perhaps that gives us a little better date for where in the history this actually falls.

2021 - This verse:
14 behold, the LORD will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, 15 and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day.'" [2Ch 21:14-15 ESV]  God says he will not destroy Jehoram because of His promise to David.  But look what he is going to do to the nation, and to Jehoram specifically.  A plague.  Surely we are to read that as disease of large proportion.  Can also me a great blow, or a slaughter.  Probably, any or all of these transpired in Jehoram's time.

The Philistines and the Arabians invade Judah, take all the possessions from the King's house, take his wives, and all his sons except the youngest - Jehoahaz.  Jehoram gets an incurable bowel disease so that at the end of two years his bowels come out and he dies in great agony.  He is buried without ceremony.  The actual phrase in ESV is that "...he departed with no one's regret."  vs 20

Chapter 22
Very odd.  21:17 says Jehoram's youngest son, the only one left alive, was named Jehoahaz.  But in 22:1, it says Ahaziah, his youngest son, was made King.  MSB does not address the discrepancy.  Perhaps he had another son, after the invaders had gone home, that became the new youngest son???  In 2Kgs 7, it looks like Joram and Jehoram are the same person, son and successor to Jehoshaphat...NO, Joram is King in Israel, and is the son of Ahab...No, not that either.  2Kg 8:23 calls Joram the King of Judah.  Very confusing.  So, whomever this Ahaziah might be, he becomes King in Judah.  The simplest answer is that Ahaziah actually IS Jehoahaz, but changed his name to escape being murdered by the invading Arabians.  Doesn't say this, but this could be it.  FINALLY!  Ahaziah is the youngest son of the King of Israel, and is coming to power in the north, per a chart I have...but this doesn't get me there either.  I am very confused, and will continue reading anyway.  
2021 - Vs 1 clearly says that Ahaziah was the son of Jehoram.  It also says. for the second time, that only Jehoram's youngest son was still alive.  I think, therefore, that Jehoahaz and Ahaziah are the same.  You can put them together as Jehoahaziah.  Easy to make them the same name.

This son reigns only one year.  His mother is Athaliah, granddaughter of Omri.  Ahaziah does as Ahab in Israel, because his own mother counsels him in evil.  The verses from 3 through 6 are long and confusing.  I am not sure what all they say.  At some point it seems that Ahaziah goes to visit a wounded Joram, son of Ahab, in Jezreel, after Israel has been in a battle with Hazael, King of Syria.  

This is all confusing.  It says that Jehu, who was chosen of God to execute judgement on the house of Ahab, came across Azariah's attendants while he was killing Ahab's descendants.  So he killed Azariah's men, seeks and finds Azariah hiding in Samaria (the town, not the country), and kills him too.  Azariah has no descendant able to rule the kingdom at this point.  Doesn't say he has no children, just that none are able to rule.

So as a result of all this, Athaliah, his mother, kills all the royal family of the house of Judah.  Holy cow!  How many people would this have been???  What a horror!  Even so, one of Azariah's daughters manages to steal Joash, one of Azariah's sons, and secret him away from the others so that he survives.  He is in hiding for six years. The sister, named Jehoshabeath, is married to Jehoiada, the priest.

Chapter 23
In the seventh year, Jehoiada takes courage and makes an alliance with the military commanders.  They go around and gather up a lot of Levites and also some of the leading men of Judah, and all show up in Jerusalem.  So the King is to be in the Temple, in a place off limits to the people.  As the Levites go off duty on the Sabbath, they are to station themselves in three places.  Some guard the king, some the court, some the gate.  As near as I can make out...Not only are those Levites that are going off duty hanging around, but the ones to go on duty are present also.  Lots and lots of Levites.  Jehoiada the priests hands out the spears and the large and small shields that were from David and still stored in the temple to all these Levites.  Once all is in place, the young King is brought out, crowned, and declared King of Judah.

Athaliah hears the noise, and those shouting "Long live the King" and goes to the temple and yells that it is treason.  Hard to tell exactly what happens then, but somehow she gets to the King's house, and is killed there by the military commanders.  

This was a long morning of reading!

Jehoiada makes a covenant with the military, the King, the people, and himself that they will all serve the Lord.  They tear down the temple of Baal, its altars and so forth and they kill Mattan, the high priest of Baal.  Right there in Jerusalem.  The law of Moses is re-established and the Levites begin sacrificing again.  The King is escorted to his house, and "...the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword."  So Queen Athaliah was actually the daughter of Ahab, and she was trying to rule in Judah.  All because good King Jehoshaphat had made an alliance with Ahab through marriage of his son to Ahab's daughter.

I am still not clear about the lines of succession here, and cannot document it.  I think too many people are using too many different names.  A good study would be to take the chart of the Kings of Israel and Judah, and go through the relevant chapters of 2Ch and 2Kg and try to straighten it all out with the interchangeable names noted.  This would be a good study, but a very tedious one I think.

Chapter 24
This chapter takes us back to 2K12, as Joash begins to reign in Judah at the age of 7.  Some clarification.  Joash tells the Levites to start collecting the Temple tax again.  Athaliah's sons had raided the temple treasury and taken the holy things to use for Baal worship.  The Levites are hesitant to start collecting this tax again...for obvious reasons.  That explains why the chest with a hole in the top was placed in the Temple.  Then the King declared the tax reinstated.  So people brought their money - but it does not sound like any accounting was made.  It was voluntarily mandatory.  

24:15 says Jehoiada the High Priest lived to be 130 years old.  But he died.  He was buried in Jerusalem among the Kings for all he had done for Israel.  This would be a great honor, to be buried with Kings.

vss 17-19 are very sad.  After the High Priest dies, the "princes" of Judah come and talk to the King.  The King listens to them.  As a result, they again abandon the Temple, and begin to worship the Asherim as their fathers did.  So quickly they turn away.  Why would they???  God is angry, yet he sends them prophets to bring them back.  But this does no good.  (What prophets?  Looking at my list, and noting that Joash became King of Judah in 835 BC, my list of prophets is very scant.  Apparently those sent did not end up writing down their message in a way that got into the Bible as a book with their name on it.)  

2023 - Here are those verses:  17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. [2Ch 24:17-18 ESV].  It occurs to me this year that the reason things change so quickly is simple greed.  If THE Temple is the ONLY Temple, then the only ones receiving offerings are the Aaronic and Levitical priests who are in charge of the Temple.  BUT, if there are altars and temples to MANY Gods, basically temples that anyone can establish anywhere and then appoint either themselves or whomever they want to be the priest of that temple, and then share the offerings made to that god in that "privately owned" temple - the meat, the money, the grain -  they'd have quite a lucrative business going there.  They'd be making money off religion.  They could sell the offerings right out the back door of the temple, and make a profit from inventory donated to the god of that temple or shrine.  Making money off religion is not new.  It was about greed then, and it's about greed now.  And it also requires a total disregard for the eternity of those fooled by the greedy.

Zechariah was Jehoiada's son, and he gets up and tells the people that they do not prosper because they have turned back from following God, and that because they have abandoned God, He has also abandoned them.  Many are angry about this.  So the the King, Joash, who had gathered money to repair the Temple, orders that Zechariah be killed.  They stone him to death in the court of the Temple.  This is the son of the man who had hidden Joash for 6 years after Athaliah tried to kill all of Azariah's sons.  The heinousness of this - and the extent of the about face this represented from Joash - is incomprehensible.  How could this even happen!?!?!?!

And here is some additional explanation.  After Zechariah is killed, Syria brings an army against Jerusalem.  They prevail.  They kill all the princes of Judah, and send home the spoil that they take.  The Syrian army was small, not nearly large enough to take Jerusalem, but God gives victory to the Syrians because of the sin of Joash and the princes.  God avenges Zechariah.

Joash the King is severely wounded in the battle with the Syrians.  He is in bed when his servants decide to kill him for what he did to Zechariah.  They murder him as he lays helpless in his bed.  Brave servants.  Vs 26 tells us the servants names.  One was from Ammon, the other was from Moab.  These countries are named for the sons of Lot.  After all the good Joash had done, these acts at the end meant that while he was buried in the city of David, he was not buried with the Kings.

Joash's son Amaziah reigns in his place.

Chapter 25
2022 - This verse:
4 But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, "Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin." [2Ch 25:4 ESV].  I have seen this before.  This principle is codified in the Law of Moses as to how a nation ought to be run, and likely applies to interpersonal conflict.  Then in Ezekiel 18, we see that God also applies this principle to himself, in that he does not send a son to hell for the actions of his father.  So this applies both physically and spiritually.

Amaziah's story, as in 2K14.  More details on Amaziah's battle with Edom.  He musters 300,000 men from Judah and Benjamin, plus 100,000 mercenaries from Israel.  A prophet tells Amaziah that God is not with Israel, and they he won't need those men, to send them home.  Amaziah has already paid them, but sends them home with their money.  The men of Israel are fiercely angry about this.  Probably because they missed out on the real loot, though they did make 100 talents of silver.  That is not much silver per man when divided up.  This rebuff of the soldiers of Israel may in part account for Joash's rebuff of Amaziah's invitation to visit him face to face in Jerusalem.  Does the convoluted reply of Joash to that invitation apply to the dismissal of the mercenaries?  No...not as I read it.  Perhaps the thistle is Amaziah, the cedar is Joash, and the daughter for the son is about Athaliah and the marriage of "consolidation" that occurred earlier.  Joash is saying that the alliance begun then is not binding on him, and that he is prepared to make war on Israel despite what previous kings had agreed to.  Yes.  I think that is the meaning of this convoluted message.

2022 - This verse:
5 Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers' houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were 300,000 choice men, fit for war, able to handle spear and shield. [2Ch 25:5 ESV].  
A good principle of military organization here.  Draft whole families, whole households, and then put them in the same units.  I would expect the fighting to be much more spirited if it is your son or father, uncle or cousin who is fighting next to you.  Built in teamwork, built in self-sacrifice for your fellow soldiers...but a hard hard thing when people died.

Amaziah wins his battle with Edom, killing 10,000 in the battle and then throwing another 10,000 off a cliff to their deaths.  The angry mercenaries take the moment to raid into Judah, kill 3,000 people, and take much loot.  They likely spread terror where ever they went.  The mercenaries knew that the main army was far away in the south, and they were free to do as they liked.  No "rule of law" could oppose them.

Amaziah brings home the gods of Seir, and worships them.  A prophet points out that those gods couldn't help their own people, so it is kind of silly to worship them.  Amaziah threatens the prophet unless he keeps silent.  But the prophet does say that God has determined to destroy Amaziah.

Then Amaziah contacts Joash in Israel.  It turns out that this was because God wanted Amaziah destroyed over the gods of Seir he worshiped and chose this method to accomplish it.  
20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom. [2Ch 25:20 ESV]  This is another of those things that seems to be beyond all reason and logic.  Amaziah makes decisions that we just cannot understand.  Unwise, thoughtless, reckless, whatever.  This is now the second time I have noticed such a thing, where historical actions seem contradictory to good sense, yet they happened because God had decided that human history needed to go a certain way.  The time before it was the angel that came forth and said  he would put lies in the false prophets mouths so Ahab would fall.

It was also because of these gods that the conspiracy was formed against him, and led eventually to his death.  This verse:
27 From the time when he turned away from the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there. [2Ch 25:27 ESV]
So this was his downfall.  The conspiracy was not about the lost battle, but about the won battle, and the gods of Seir that Amaziah foolishly brought home with him.  Mind-boggling that he would do that.

Chapter 26
A bit of a short chapter.
First verse reads this way:
1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah (Azariah), who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. [2Ch 26:1 ESV]  This does not really indicate that Amaziah had died, though we know from previous reading that Amaziah makes some big mistakes at the end of his life.  After defeating Edom, he brings the gods of Edom home and begins to worship them.  Ultimately, a conspiracy is formed against him because of these false gods, and he is pursued to Lachish, and there assasinated.  Further indication that Uzziah becomes King while his father is still alive is in the wording of vs 2:
2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. [2Ch 26:2 ESV] This makes it seem as though Uzziah did some things before his father died, but this Eloth rebuild was not until later, after the former king died.  The conspiracy against Amaziah over the gods of Seir forced him to flee to Lachish.  Likely Uzziah was made king once Amaziah abandoned Jerusalem.  Eventually, enough force is mustered, or enough spies infiltrate Lachish to bring about his assassination.

In any case, Uzziah is a good king, mostly.  He set himself to follow God's ways, and God blessed him for as long as this continued.  Uzziah attacks the Philistines, and breaks down the walls of Gath, Ashdod, and Jabneh.  He builds Israeli cities there in their land.  The Ammonites pay tribute to him.  He and the kingdom of Judah grow strong, and his fame spreads all the way to Egypt.  He fortifies Jerusalem, and builds towers to protect the countryside.  He has herds and vineyards, for he loves the land.  He is a farmer at heart.  He also makes machines invented by skillful men to place on the towers to shoot arrows and great stones.

However, his pride begins to cause him problems.  Uzziah decides that he should be the one to go into the Holy of Holies and burn incense.  The priests, the sons of Aaron withstand him, and refuse to let him do so.  Uzziah is very angry about this.  Pride.  When he gets angry, leprosy appears immediately on his forehead.  The priests hurry to rush him out of the Temple, and he himself hurries out.  He is a leper for the rest of his life, and lives in isolation.  During this time, his son Jotham is over the household and the people of the land.  Interesting that Uzziah rules for a time as King while his father is in exile in Lachish, and history then repeats as Jotham rules while his leprous father lives in exile.  This fills in a lot of what 2K15 tells us.  Now we know that Azariah was King a long time before the leprosy took him.  By that time, it may be that Jotham was old enough to help him out.  It also means, to me at least, that Jotham was born before the King had leprosy.  

vs 22:
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote. [2Ch 26:22 ESV]
I noticed that tomorrow I start reading the book of Isaiah.  This pretty well determines the date of the book of Isaiah. 

Chapter 27
Jotham follows his father Uzziah/Amaziah as King of Judah, when he is 25.  Jotham followed God's teachings, but did not go into the Temple as Uzziah had, and ended up with leprosy.  Jotham had likely been regent for some time before he actually became king.  This kings example and authority were not enough, apparently, to turn the people as a whole back to God.  The people continued to be corrupt.

There is war with the Ammonites, and Judah prevails.  Ammon pays tribute to Jotham for three years.  Jotham prospers because he follows the ways of the Lord.  Jotham reigns 16 years, and then his son Ahaz reigns in his place.  So Jotham was 41 or so when he died.  This chapter gives us no information on cause of death.

​Chapter 28
Ahaz becomes king in Judah at 20, for 16 years.  He is a bad one.  Worships Baal, has images made of them, has his sons pass through the fire, and he worships on all the high places.  He follows the ways of the Kings of Israel, in the north.  And keep in mind that he is doing this as Isaiah, Amos, and Micah are prophesying about the coming destruction of the north.  Yet still, Ahaz follows their ways.

Because of this, Syria defeats Judah in battle and takes many captives back to Syria.  

2021 - Here is the verse:
5 Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. [2Ch 28:5 ESV].  Note that it starts with "Therefore..."  Sometimes it is not at all complicated.  In this case, in Ahaz's case, he did bad things, and the Syrians came and defeated them in battle and many captives were taken.  Done and done.  Not at all like the indirect situation earlier where they had a meeting in heaven to decide how Ahab would go down.  

Just uproots them, and takes them as slaves, and there is no one in Judah to come after them or rescue them, and bring them home.  They are just gone.  Then God has Israel defeat Judah also.  Israel kills 120,000 from Judah in a day, and takes 200,000 captive.  Many very high ranking people from Judah are killed including the King's son, the commander of the palace, and the King's second in command.  Israel takes all these captives, and soon after will be conquered by Assyria.  And then those captives are likely captured again and removed still further from home.  Argument could also be made that instead of wisely defending from the prophesied and imminent invasion from the north, both Israel and Syria are wasting time and resources grabbing captives from Judah.  Perhaps this is God's way of weakening them all for what is coming, and their infighting makes the ambitious King of Assyria turn his eyes toward them.

Oded the prophet and other leaders refute this, and return all the captives to Jericho.  Making slaves of them had made God even angrier with Israel than He was before.  Israel's victory was a punishment to Judah and NOT a reward to Israel!  Once this has happened, Ahaz appeals to the King of Assyria for help.  He invites a tyrant, an absolute ruler, a pagan, to come and help him.  

The Edomites and Philistines also invade.  The Philistines even take up residence in much of Judah.  Ahaz appeals to Assyria.  Tiglath-Pilesar III comes, takes offered tribute, and then does not help Ahaz.  These verses:
20 So Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. 21 For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the LORD and the house of the king and of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him. [2Ch 28:20-21 ESV]

Ahaz turns even more to idols.  "22 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the LORD--this same King Ahaz. [2Ch 28:22 ESV]."  Look at this wording.  The writer cannot believe it either.  How could one who is so obviously being corrected by God continue to rebel - to rebel EVEN MORE than before?  How can it be.  I think it is back to the idea of inexplicable historical actions and decisions being based on the intervention of God to move history in the way he intends.  So as God's chastening intensifies, it drives Ahaz further away rather than bringing him home.  This is a terrible thing, and shows just how hard hearted and committed to his chosen path in the wrong direction Ahaz has become.  Everything is going the wrong way for him, but instead of changing direction, he doubles down on the things he has already been doing.  He decides that since Syria's idols helped them, he will sacrifice to them also.  And he closes the doors of the Temple so that none can worship there at all, and builds pagan altars all over Jerusalem.  He makes these altars out of the cut up and melted down vessels from the Temple of Solomon.  How could he have sunk so low?
Here is a FB post about resisting the Holy Spirit.  About lives gone wrong and doubling down on wrong instead of admitting wrong.

When he dies at 36, they do not bury him with the kings, but he is buried in Jerusalem.  So he dies young at least, though we are not given the cause of death here in 2Ch.  His son Hezekiah reigns in his place.

Chapter 29
Starts just like 18 did.  2Ch contains a LOT more detail about the early days of Hezekiah's reign, and the steps taken to overhaul the idol worship that was taking place, to purge, and then cleanse Judah and the southern parts of Israel, and rid them of all the false Gods.  Much much detail on how this was done.  

This chapter adds that Hezekiah had the Temple opened, repaired, and put back into use by the Levites in the first month of his reign.  It takes 16 days to get everything cleaned up, restored, and ready for use in making sacrifices to God.  I did not remember that Ahaz had closed up the Temple and kept the people from worshiping there at all, but that is the indication here.  

Hezekiah comes to the Temple, and they begin sacrificing, to atone for the sins of Israel under Ahaz, Hezekiah's own father.  Once this is done, the rest of the people are encouraged to bring their sacrifices, if they are willing, and many many people do so.  There are so many sacrifices that there are not enough priests to do the work.  So the priests - sons of Aaron - get the Levites to help them, until such time as additional Aaronic priests can be consecrated.  It is a worshipful day of re-dedication to God under Hezekiah.  Temple worship and sacrifice are thus restored.

This verse:
36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly. [2Ch 29:36 ESV]
Possible FB post.  The point here is that Jerusalem and Judah went from worshiping idols and false gods to a restored Temple and priesthood, and became a nation under God again almost overnight.  God can restore, God's wrath can be averted, but in this case, that change in the nation came from the top down - from the King down to the people.  Leadership matters.  If leadership does not worship God, then the nation does not.  And things can change overnight!

Chapter 30
Now Hezekiah sends letters to those who escaped exile in Samaria, Ephraim, and Manasseh - to all who are outside Judah, but are still Jews by birth - and invites them to come to Jerusalem to observe Passover, though it is a belated one.  He extends friendship and welcome to those who for so long  have opposed Judah, tells them not to be hardheaded about God as their father's were, but to come and worship with Judah.

The messengers were laughed to scorn, mocked, and turned away.  Guess this confirms God's justice in destroying the 10 tribes in the north.

In vss 15-20 we find that many who showed up for the Passover were not ceremonially clean, but they ate the Passover anyway.  Hezekiah prayed to God to overlook this, as to those who "set their hearts to seek God", and God heard this prayer, and healed the people.  So...is this relevant to Baptism?  God will forgive those who diligently seek Him, despite their ceremonial uncleanness - which is kind of what baptism is about.  This might even be the OT type for salvation, and baptism is not strictly required.  This would  need to be included in any survey of baptism and its history.

This was truly a national revival, and it was noted by the God of heaven.  vs 27:
27 Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven. [2Ch 30:27 ESV]

Chapter 31
As the "pilgrims" are leaving Jerusalem after this great revival, they go through all the land breaking down the Asherim and destroying false altars and idols and so on, and once this work is completed, then and only then, do they return to their own homes.

Then Hezekiah sets up the Levites and Priests as commanded by Moses, offerings for the support of them are re-started, overseers of the tithes and offerings are appointed and goods are stored.  Distribution of the offerings to the priests and Levites in other cities are also looked after.  Everything that Hezekiah does to the end of restoring Judah to compliance and worship as instituted by Moses, is bless, and he is prospered.
In the next chapter, despite all the good Hezekiah has done in returning Judah to God in proper worship, Sennacherib of Assyria still invades.

Chapter 32
Starts with "1 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. [2Ch 32:1 ESV]."
Sometimes a great show of faith is met with an immediate test of that faith - a great faith means difficult test - to see if the faith is real.  If it goes all the way down.  
So when Hezekiah knows Sennacherib is coming, he gets busy.  He's put it in God's hands, but like the priest on Poseidon Adventure, he also does what he can to defend against the invader.  He stops up all the springs and creeks so the besieging army has no water.  He repaired and built up all the walls that had broken down, and even builds a second wall.  He strengthened the Millo (they don't really know what this is.  It is also referred to as the house of Millo. Could have been military, might have something to do with steps.  Surely it had something to do with defense though).  The walls had probably not been kept in good shape because doing so may have been an affront to Sennacherib.  After all, Hezekiah had stopped paying the tribute and was essentially in rebellion against Assyria.  Weapons and shields in abundance were also made.  Last, Hezekiah gathers the people and gives them a confidence building pep talk:
7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. [2Ch 32:7-8 ESV]
Possible FB post.
I think we've seen this "more with us" idea twice before.  Once with Joshua outside Jericho (or somewhere like that), and once with either Elijah or Elisha when the town he was in was surrounded.  Would be a good study to find those other two places...



Sennacherib sends messengers to Jerusalem while he himself is engaged in taking Lachish, pictured above.  This looks like a pretty formidable place, especially if you picture walls around the top.  It also had a moat around it.  


This photo of Lachish shows the only siege ramp excavated from the ancient near east.  Over 1000 iron arrowheads were recovered from this ramp.  Reliefs recovered from the time of Sennacherib show five battering rams ascending this ramp.  Certainly this is a secular tie of the Bible to very real events.

Sennacherib's message attempts to divide the people from their king.  He asks the people if it was Hezekiah who took all their gods from the high places and required them to serve only one God.
2021 - Actually, the way this reads, Sennacherib completely misunderstood the removal of the high places.  He believed these were places that the people worshiped God, and had no idea that it was idols that were worshiped in such places.   This is Sennacherib's greatest mistake.  He equates the worship of the one true God of Israel with dozens of miscellaneous idols made my men.  Ignorance of God is his biggest mistake.

He is very disrespectful, saying that no nations god or gods have ever been able to stand against Assyria or its armies.  He makes himself out to be more powerful than gods.  The emissaries that were sent shouted these things to the people of Jerusalem, to strike fear into to them, to throw cold water on their confidence, to undermine the leadership of Hezekiah.  They talked about gods, but it was a man they were trying to destroy.  This verse:
19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands. [2Ch 32:19 ESV]
This was a huge mistake, equating God with god made by men's hands.  This is very offensive to God.  God could have just turned Sennacherib and his army away with the rumor of an army coming against him from Cush.  But look how much more God did...

Then this story finishes up in just two verses - after all the tension that's been built up.  Is that coincidence?  The siege of Sennacherib turns out to be a non-event.  Hezekiah and Isaiah pray, and God sends an angel to "cut off" the mighty warriors, commanders, and officers in Sennacherib's army, so he goes home in shame.  In 2Kgs we know 185,000 or so died.  We know Sennacherib had heard and believed a rumor that another army was coming against him.  But we know that he left Jerusalem, and Judah, and went all the way home, where some of his own sons killed him.

From that time on, per vs 23, Hezekiah was exalted by all the nations around him.  Gifts were brought to him and to his God.  All this adoration would have been a temptation, and it seems Hezekiah yielded to it, and let his pride run.

Hezekiah gets very sick, prays, and recovers, as told in 2Kings.  This says that:
25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. [2Ch 32:25 ESV]
God gave him 15 more years and he did nothing worthwhile with it...except bring God's wrath on he and his people.  Then the next verse:
26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. [2Ch 32:26 ESV]
Don't think we are told this part in 2K.  Hezekiah seemed almost flippant about the chastisement not coming until his son was in power, but here we see that he did repent, and humble himself.

31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart. [2Ch 32:31 ESV]
I wonder if the sign they came to inquire about was the sun going backwards 10 steps?  And we're told straight up that this was a test of what Hezekiah was really made of.  The test was so Hezekiah would see the truth himself about what kind of person he was - a prideful, boastful man - because certainly God already knew,  Could make a case that's what all testing from God is about.  So we will know our own hearts.  Good post for FB.  Hezekiah had been sent many extravagant gifts over the turning away of Sennacherib that all the world had heard about.  He was very famous, and was made very rich with these gifts. So when the emissaries from Babylon came, Hezekiah showed off.  He wanted them to see what a very great King he was and how wealthy.  Perhaps some of his motivation was to convince Babylon not to try what Assyria had tried, but mostly, he was just showing off. Perhaps the reference to the sign that the emissaries came about was their only real interest.  Had they not been shown all the treasure, they may never have guessed Jerusalem would be such a rich prize.  

Chapter 33
Manasseh begins to reign at the age of 12.  First 9 verses are about the evil that Manasseh did, in some detail.  He was very much into astrology, necromancy, fortune telling, omens, sorcery, and mediums.  He worshiped the occult.  He seems to have been obsessed with such thing.  Why do people go there when it is God with the proven track record of prophecy and foretelling?  And when it is God that wipes out these pretenders and the nations that follow their ways?  As this reads, it wasn't just one of his sons that Manasseh sacrificed to the fire, but several of them.  Why did he reign for 55 years?  
I note that this whole chapter reads very much like the chapter about Manasseh in 2Kgs, also restating the covenant conditions that Manasseh was breaking.

Then this:
10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. [2Ch 33:10-11 ESV]
I did not read about this (yet?) in 2K.  Assyria came back after Sennacherib was murdered, and Manasseh is captured.  Did he open the doors?  How did he get captured?  Did Jerusalem fall at this time???  MSB says Babylon had rebelled against Assyria, and possibly Manasseh had supported Babylon, and was therefore taken to Assyria for trial.  But we see nothing about how they got to him?
Manasseh repents in his distress - truly repents - and God hears him, and the Assyrians let him return to Jerusalem.  This verse:
13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. [2Ch 33:13 ESV]
He finally accepted the truth.  He had to have know it in his head, but now it is in his heart.

He sets about trying to undo the evil he had put in place, removing idols from the Temple, starting the sacrifices again, and he also did some building, adding an outer wall to part of the city for defense.  Even so, the people continued to make sacrifices on the high places, but only to God.  Problem was, this was not the procedure God established and still required.

Manasseh dies, and his son Amon reigns in his place.

I had in my head that it was the sins of Manasseh that finally broke across the line and brought wrath on Jerusalem itself, and resulted in the Babylonian captivity.  I thought it said several places, in so many words, that Manasseh was the straw that broke it all down.  But this chapter doesn't indicate that at all.  It says Manasseh repented, and tried to do good, possibly for a majority of his reign.  So this is why he was allowed to stay in power for so long.  He truly repented. If one who has killed his own children by burning them as sacrifices to an idol, who can God not save?  This was a truly evil man, repented, converted by the 2x4 method of being captured and taken to a foreign land and having everything stripped away from him.  In Manasseh's case, this brought him back.  But it does not always work.

Amon only reigns for two years, and repeats his father's early errors.  His servants conspire and kill him, then the people kill the servants who killed the king.  Amon's son Josiah reigns in his place.

Chapter 34
This starts off about like 2Ki 22 did.  Will only mention "new information" from these chapters.

Josiah's "cleansing"  the land of idols extended far into Israel also.  It was not just confined to Judah.  Josiah turned to God in the eighth year of his reign, so when he was 16, and he began purging the land in the 12th year, when he was 20.

vs 6-13 describe in more detail the repairs that were being made.  That they were quite extensive tells us that the previous Kings of Judah had let the Temple fall into a terrible, neglected state.  During these repairs, they find this book of the law as it was given to Moses.  Could it be that at that time, there was one and only one extant copy of the Pentateuch?  That preservation of this one copy through all the neglect and idolatry gave the only detailed description of God's commands to Israel in Sinai?

2021 - 25 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. [2Ch 34:25 ESV].  I think this may mean that this particular Jerusalem will never be restored.  The Temple of Ezekiel will be built in another place, just as Ezekiel says, and the Dome of the Rock will not matter because the Temple is not to be built there anyway.  God repents of putting his name on Jerusalem, he levels it twice, first with Babylon and then with Rome, and it has not to this day been wholly possessed by Israel again.  It is not the place.

2022 - Here is an interesting thought.  Josiah hears the words of the book, and repents.  He asks God what is going to happen, and God tells him outright that this place is going to be leveled.  It is all over for Jerusalem and Israel.  But God says it won't be in Josiah's time.  So nothing Josiah or the people then in Jerusalem could do was going to avert forever this disaster that God had decreed for them, because of the accumulated violations of His Law.  They were beyond the line.  Judgment was mandated.  No going back.  Even in this, Josiah calls all Israel together, reads the book to them, makes a public commitment to follow the words of this book and to keep its Laws, and demands that all his subjects do likewise, EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS it will not avert what is coming.
It is the same for us.  I hear so many saying that if God does not bring down the US he will owe an apology to Sodom and Gomorrah.  I hear this one a lot.  And you know what?  It might very well be true that the end of our country is just around the corner.  But that does not excuse us, those of us who confess Christ, from continuing to do the things God's word requires of us.  The standard for us does not go down because others are plumbing ever greater depths of depravity.  And this is not a time to hide!  The light ought to shine brighter and brighter as the world gets darker.  We all need to renew our covenant with God and walk in all His ways.
Good FB post.


Chapter 35
Re-institution of the Passover.
This verse:
3 And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. You need not carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel. [2Ch 35:3 ESV]
Where had it been?  Is this the last we hear of it?  Supposedly it was in Herod's Temple still in 70 AD, but that isn't in the Bible as far as I know.

When Neco hears that Josiah is coming, he tells him to "go away" because Neco has no designs on Judah but is only assisting the Assyrians.  Further, Neco says it is God who told him to come and do this, and if Josiah doesn't go away, then God will destroy Josiah.  Josiah does not listen.

Josiah is so intent on "helping" Neco against Babylon that he disguises himself, and goes into battle with Neco, though Neco doesn't know it.  This verse:
22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. [2Ch 35:22 ESV]

Implying that Neco was truthful about God sending him up there.  Why would Josiah not be informed of this?

Here is something to watch for once I start reading Jeremiah:
25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments. [2Ch 35:25 ESV]

Chapter 36
Jehoahaz made King.  Reigns 3 months.  So Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin are the same person.  Many notes and dates in MSB at the start of this chapter.  Names-so many for the same people-need more deciphering.
The King of Egypt deposes Jehoahaz in Jerusalem.  (So not the same one.  Egypt made Eliakim his brother King in his place.  He also changes the name of Eliakim to Jehoiakim.  Neco of Egypt takes Jehoahaz to Egypt as captive.  So - a little housekeeping:
Josiah - then Jehoahaz/Joahaz.  Deposed by Neco of Egypt.  Eliakim, brother of Jehoahaz, made King by Neco.  Neco changes Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim is evil for 11 years.  Taken captive by Babylon.  Some of the Temple vessels are taken here.
Jehoiachin rules in his place.  Reigns 3 mos and 10 days.  Neb captures, makes Zedekiah King.  Zedekiah is Jehoiachin's Uncle I believe.
10 In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him (Jehoiachin) to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. [2Ch 36:10 ESV]  So this verse is about the second time Nebuchadnezzar looted Jerusalem.  The first is in 2Chron 36:6, when Neb comes up and takes Jehoiakim, and takes him captive to Babylon.
Zedekiah is also evil.  Rebels against Neb, against Jeremiah's advice and counsel.  These verses:
13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. 14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem. [2Ch 36:13-14 ESV]
Jerusalem had become just a pit of evil, fully deserving of their fate.

God sends many messengers to turn them, because He has compassion.  But they kept mocking the messengers of God.  Last of vs 16: "...the wrath of the Lord rose against His people, until there was no remedy."
Babylon comes up yet again.  They take many captives, as in 2K25, until establishment of the kingdom of Persia.  That is, until the land had enjoyed it's Sabbaths.  70 years.  
First year of Cyrus, King of Persia.  Cyrus says the Lord, the God of heaven, wants him to build Him a house in Jerusalem.  He frees the Jews.
Last chapter of 2Ch.