Community on Columbia

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

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

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

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

When the Assyrian King Sennacherib invades Judah and threatens Jerusalem, Judah’s King Hezekiah “spreads out” his troubles before the Lord in the Temple. God responds by sending the prophet Isaiah to comfort the king with assurances that the enemy would not even shoot an arrow in their direction. An Angel wipes out the Assyrian forces, and Sennacherib returns to Ninevah and is assassinated by his two sons.

Notes on 2 Kings 19:1-37

King Hoshea of Israel stops sending his tribute money to Assyria, plotting with Egypt to rebel. Assyria imprisons Hoshea and lays siege to Samaria, defeating them after three years. After 200 years of idolatrous worship of the golden calves, the northern kingdom experiences the full weight of Assyrian cruelty, with many thousands taken into captivity and transported to Assyria in exile.

Notes on 2 Kings 17:1-41