Studying the Historical Books

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After completing our 3 1/2-year cycle of readings in the Torah, we decided to continue with the historical books that follow, beginning with Joshua.

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June 22, 2025 – 2 Kings 23 and Jeremiah 1 – The Last Kings of Judah

The last four kings of Judah after Josiah – Jehoahaz, Jehoakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah – were evil and led to the spiritual disintegration of Israel resulting in its final destruction. Our main witness is the prophet Jeremiah, who had to steel himself against the tremendous opposition from these kings and the people to deliver his warnings about the coming destruction.

Notes on 2 Kings 23:30-37 and Jeremiah 1:1-19

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June 8, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 35 – Josiah’s Passover

Once King Josiah had eliminated idolatry from the land, repaired the Temple and re-established the courses of the Levites for service, he arranged for the celebration of Passover. It was a momentous event, having been so long with the feasts or even Temple liturgy being neglected or outright banned. “Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah.” (2 Kings 23:22)

Notes on 2 Chronicles 35:1-27

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June 15, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 35 – Josiah’s Passover

Once King Josiah had eliminated idolatry from the land, repaired the Temple and re-established the courses of the Levites for service, he arranged for the celebration of Passover. It was a momentous event, having been so long with the feasts or even Temple liturgy being neglected or outright banned. “Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah.” (2 Kings 23:22)

Notes on 2 Chronicles 35:1-27

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June 1, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 34 – Josiah’s Good Reign

Josiah became king as a child of eight, but once he came of age, he regarded the idolatry he saw around him with increasing alarm. He purposed to eliminate it from Judah and the northern lands as well. Then he set about repairing the Temple and reinstating the courses of Levites. During the repairs, a hidden scroll of was discovered – the original scroll of the Law penned by Moses. It was opened to a passage in Deuteronomy that predicted Israel’s destruction and exile. The prophetess Huldah explained that Israel would surely go into exile, but because of Josiah’s faithfulness it would not occur until after his death.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 34:1-33

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May 18, 2025 – Isaiah 22 – Eliakim, Messiah and the Key of David

An oracle by the prophet Isaiah – before his murder by King Manasseh – describes the rise of a man named Shebna who usurped the position of chamberlain from another man named Eliakim. But Isaiah leaves his prediction of Shebna’s fall and Eliakim’s restoration to include a vision of the future Messiah and His possession of the Key of David. Jesus transferred the gift of this key to Peter and to His church, and is later depicted quoting this passage in the Book of Revelation.

Notes on Isaiah 22:1-25

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May 11, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 33 – Manasseh’s Evil Reign

Manasseh had the longest and worst reign of any king of Judah. This evil king reinstituted idolatry, and imposed a cruel tyranny on the people. But when he was captured and tortured by the Assyrians, he repented, and God accepted his changed heart.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 33:1-25

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April 27, 2025 – 2 Kings 20 – Hezekiah’s Illness and Healing

While threatened by Assyria, King Hezekiah falls ill, and God tells him he’s going to die. He cries out to God, and God heals him and gives in 15 more years to live, confirming it with a miraculous sign. Unfortunately, this righteous king becomes prideful in his successes.

Notes on 2 Kings 20:1-21

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