II CHRON 21-25 OBSERVATIONS

CHAPTER 21

Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat in Judah

· Jehoshaphat dies

· Jehoram, his first born, becomes king in Judah

· 32 years old

· Bad king…followed Israel, just as Ahab..Ahab’s daughter was his wife

· He did evil in sight of Lord

· YET Lord did not destroy house of David because of His covenant with David

Revolt against Judah

· Edom revolted against Judah

· Message comes from Elijah
2 Chronicles 21:12 - 15 (NASB) ¹²Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, “Thus says the LORD God of your father David, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah, ¹³but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot as the house of Ahab played the harlot, and you have also killed your brothers, your own family, who were better than you, ¹⁴behold, the LORD is going to strike your people, your sons, your wives and all your possessions with a great calamity; ¹⁵and you will suffer severe sickness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the sickness, day by day.’”

CHAPTER 22

Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah

· Youngest son of Jehoram

· 22 years old

· Reigned 1 year

· Bad king

· Followed after Ahab, did evil in sight of the Lord

Ahaziah Allies with Jehoram of Israel

· Ahaziah becomes an ally with Jehoram, son of Ahab and a bad king.

· God destroyed him when he went out against Jehu, whom God had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

Jehu Murders Princes of Judah

· As Jehu was getting rid of house of Ahab, he finds the princes of Judah as well.

· He puts them to death as well.

· When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw her son was dead…she destroyed (all) the royal offspring of house of Judah, EXCEPT

· Jehoshabeath, kings daughter, hid Joash, the son of Ahaziah.

· She placed in and his nurse in a bedroom in the house of God for SIX years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

CHAPTER 23

Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah

· Jehoida sets up a plan to put Joash on the throne of Judah

·
2 Chronicles 23:7 (NASB) ⁷“The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be kille
2 Chronicles 23:11 (NASB) ¹¹Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king!” d. Thus be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

Athaliah Murdered

·
2 Chronicles 23:13 - 15 (NASB) ¹³She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!” ¹⁴Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” ¹⁵So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there.

Reforms Carried Out

2 Chronicles 23:16 - 17 (NASB) ¹⁶Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD’S people. ¹⁷And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

CHAPTER 24

Joash Influenced by Jehoiada

· 7 years old

· Reigned 40 years

· Did good

Faithless Priests

· Restored the house of the Lord

· Told priests to act quickly, but they didn’t

· So he queries them, “Why are you taking so long?”

Temple Repaired

· King set up chest to receive voluntary offerings from people

· Gave money to masons…and didn’t require an accounting for they were honest men.

· Jehoida, the priest, dies at 130 years

Joash Murders Son of Jehoiada

· Joash murders Jehoida’s son

· May the Lord see and avenge!

Aram Invades and Defeats Judah

CHAPTER 25

Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah

· Amaziah succeeds Joash in Judah

· 25 years old

· Reigned 29 years in Jerusalem

· Did Good

· BUT not with a whole heart

Amaziah Defeats Edomites

·
2 Chronicles 25:7 - 9 (NASB) ⁷But a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim. ⁸“But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down.” ⁹Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The LORD has much more to give you than this.”

Amazikah Rebuked for Idolatry

· 2 Chronicles 25:15 (NASB) ¹⁵Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?”

Amaziah Defeated by Joash of Israel

· Amaziah sends to face off against Joash of Israel

· Joash (Israel)
2 Chronicles 25:18 - 19 (NASB) ¹⁸Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trampled the thorn bush. ¹⁹“You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?”

· But Amaziah would not listen

· Israel defeated Judah

· Amaziah captured by Joash

· Amaziah, from that time, turned away from the Lord