Today's Reading:

2 Kings 16
2 Kings 17
2 Chronicles 28

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was made up of ten of the twelve tribes of Israel (often called Ephraim for the leading tribe). Israel fell to the Assyrian empire in 722 BC. Assyria conquered Samaria after a three-year siege and exiled many of the Israelites.

The Promised Land was now lost to about half of the original tribal homeland that was given to Abraham’s descendants. After Solomon’s death, the tribes split into two kingdoms, Israel (N) and Judah (S). The Northern Kingdom was made up of ten tribes, while the Southern Kingdom consisted of Judah, Benjamin and the Levites (who had no land allocations). The northern portion was lost as a distinct Israelite homeland.

The ten northern tribes became known as the “lost tribes” because they were exiled, scattered, and assimilated into other nations. They did not return as a unified group like Judah did after their exile to Babylon. Over time, the distinct tribal identities faded from the historical records. Prophets like Hosea and Amos warned of this very judgment for their idolatry, injustice and unfaithfulness to God.

The fall of the Northern Kingdom was judgment for the centuries of rebellion, yet it shows God’s character. Sin has consequences. Even while exiled, God preserved a remnant. In Christ the promises are fulfilled. Jesus, the true descendant of David, gathers people from every tribe and nation into one new family (Ephesians 2:11-22, Galatians 3:28-29). The “lost” are found in Him. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

Ahaz King of Judah #12 (South)- Ahaz was the son of Jotham and did not follow the ways of the Lord. He even sacrificed his own son in the fire! Moses had given God’s law to not sacrifice in this pagan manner (Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5 and Deuteronomy 18:10). God said the firstborn were to be consecrated to the Lord and redeemed by payment to the priest. Ahaz was the southern king who was copying the northern kings’ idol worship. He now followed their Molech worship, and the child sacrifice was the most horrific act one of Judah’s kings had done. God had warned about the Canaanites, and this is what happens when you follow their pagan rituals.

King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel (North) attacked Jerusalem in Judah (South). They wanted Judah to join them in an alliance against Assyria, but King Ahaz refused. During this battle, Israel crushed Judah, killing 120,000 men and taking 200,000 women and children captive back to Samaria. In 2 Chronicles 28, Oded the prophet met the Israelite army that had just won and told them that the Lord was angry with Judah and had given them into their hands as judgment on King Ahaz and all of Judah’s sin. But Israel had taken it too far in their rage. Oded reminded them that Judah was their brother (fellow Israelites), and that Israel themselves were guilty of sin. Oded commanded them to send the captives home or face the wrath of God. The leaders of Ephraim agreed, and they immediately released the captives, sending them home with clothes, food, and donkeys for the weak. Victory does not give one the right to act cruelly.

Ahaz instead pleaded to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria, paying him tribute for protection. Rather than trusting Immanuel (Isaiah 7), he chose to become a vassal to Assyria. This was a temporary “save,” but in the end it contributed to Judah’s downfall. Being a vassal state brought Assyrian religious influences with it. Therefore, Judah would not last long.

At the same time King Ahaz had sent to Assyria for help, the Edomites had come and attacked Judah. The Philistines had also attacked and taken several cities in the south. Ahaz was being attacked from multiple directions at once. In 2 Chronicles 28:19, Scripture noted that “The Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel.” Note, Ahaz was actually the king of Judah (S) but was called “king of Israel” in a negative way due to his acting just like the unfaithful kings of the Northern Kingdom. Ahaz had taken the silver and gold from the Temple and palace to pay tribute to Assyria for their help, but the Assyrian king attacked Judah.

Ahaz, now a vassal, went to see the new king of Damascus (Damascus was under Syria control, now under Assyria) and saw an altar that he liked. He went back to Judah and had the high priest build him an identical one. Ahaz moved God’s original bronze altar aside in order to have it for personal use and then commanded everyone to use the new pagan altar. He became more unfaithful to God over time, even cutting up the furniture pieces in the temple and shutting the doors. He set up pagan altars in every town across Judah. God’s anger grew. Ahaz passed away and his son Hezekiah succeeded him.

If that was not clear as mud, let’s break it down this way:

King Rezin of Aram = Syria. Capital is Damascus.
King Pekah of Israel = Ephraim/Israel. Capital is Samaria. (North)
King Ahaz of Judah = Judah. Capital is Jerusalem (South)

King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel attacked King Ahaz of Judah.
King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria = larger empire, capital is Nineveh.

Aram/Syria (Damascus) and Israel (Samaria) attacked Judah (Jerusalem). Ahaz refused to join them and instead begged Assyria for help. Assyria came, defeated Aram/Syria, and captured Damascus, their capital. After the victory, Ahaz traveled to Damascus (now under Assyrian control) to meet with Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria. While there in Damascus, Ahaz saw the pagan altar and had his own built back in Jerusalem.

We read the kings of Jehu’s house (dynasty) in 2 Kings 15 on day 180. God promised that Jehu’s line would last for four generations since Jehu got rid of King Ahab’s family and the worship of Baal. The four northern kings were, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah. Once Zechariah was killed after reigning only six months, the Jehu dynasty ended. Israel fell into chaos with the short reigns of Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and then Pekah. Finally, Hoshea became the last king of the Northern Kingdom.

Hoshea King of Israel #20 (North)- Hoshea was the final king of the Northern Kingdom. He was bad, but not the worst king they had. He became vassal to Shalmaneser V of Assyria. Hoshea decided to stop paying tribute to Assyria and went to the king of Egypt for protection in an alliance. Shalmaneser realized what Hoshea was up to and put him in prison (Tiglath-Pileser had been king just prior). Hosea 5:13 described that Israel’s capital, Samaria, (N) was captured and detailed the 27,290 Israelites were deported to Assyria (Assyrian records). Israel’s Northern Kingdom was no more. This was all preordained by God due to sin.

Assyria brought other nations into the land of Israel and God prompted lions to attack them, since the land was God’s and they were not worshipping Him. In near ancient times, each land had its own “god” who expected proper worship and rituals. The people were to take on the customs of the land. By ignoring Yahweh, they provoked His divine judgment. Lions were a real threat in the area at the time (David, Samson, and the prophets all talk of lions). Without a large population due to the exile to Assyria, the wild animals increased. God used it as judgment and an immediate warning to the invaders. The new population brought in by the Assyrians became known as the “hated” group called the Samaritans. They were a mix of part Jew and part pagan. Think of the story in the New Testament of the woman at the well (John 4). This foreshadows Jesus and his purpose in visiting the town as well as the inclusion of the pagans.

Today's Discussion question:

What do you notice in churches and religious acts today, like the Nehushtan (the bronze snake, it means “a piece of bronze” showing there is no divinity in it)? What good ordinary things have become idols, gradually shifting us away from Him (such as liturgy, hymns prayer books, specific styles of worship)?

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