The fall of Samaria had alarmed Jerusalem, but by the united efforts of the good king Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, Judah was spared at this time and God gave the nation another opportunity to avert the doom of captivity.

I. THE TWO TRIBES.

1. The Career of Hezekiah.

(1) His Reformation (2 Kings 18:1-8).— He destroyed the idols, removed the high places, and broke into pieces the brazen serpent which the people worshiped. He cleansed the temple and again established the temple services. He celebrated a special passover and renewed their vow of allegiance to Jehovah.

(2) The Invasion of Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13-19:37).— Hezekiah, by the encouragement of Isaiah, ventured to throw off the Assyrian yoke and refused to pay tribute. Sennacherib, the successor of Sargon, appeared before Jerusalem, and Hezekiah took the treasures from the temple to pay the king. Two years later he again invaded Judah and besieged Lachish and Libnah. He sent messengers to Jerusalem to demand Hezekiah to surrender, but the message was received in profound silence. Hezekiah asked Isaiah to pray to Jehovah, and Isaiah encouraged the king boldly to defy the enemy, assuring him that the Lord was on their side, and that the Assyrian king could do them no harm. Sennacherib sent a second embassy to Hezekiah with a letter demanding his immediate surrender. Hezekiah took the letter to the temple and spread it before the Lord, and Isaiah assured him that Sennacherib dared not attack the city. The Assyrian host came near the city, feeling confident of their success; but that very night the angel of the Lord passed through the Assyrian camp and 185,000 were slain. Sennacherib fled to his own country and Hezekiah was troubled no more by the Assyrians.

(3) The Babylonian Embassy (2 Kings 20:1-21).— In answer to prayer Hezekiah was restored from a dangerous illness and God promised to prolong his life fifteen years. News of his remarkable recovery reached Berodach-baladan, king of Babylon, and he sent messengers to congratulate him. To these embassadors Hezekiah showed all the royal treasures. Isaiah rebuked him for this and told him that these treasures would one day be carried into Babylon.

2. The Career of Hanasseh (2 Kings 21:1-26). — Manasseh's reign was the longest and most wicked reign over Judah. Altars were erected to Baal and human victims sacrificed to Moloch. The altar of Jehovah was broken down and the ark removed from its sacred precinct. The prophets rebuked him and many were martyred, insomuch that Jerusalem was filled with blood. Tradition states that during his reign Isaiah was sawn asunder. For these sins the Lord delivered Manasseh into the hands of Esar-haddon, who carried him captive to Babylon. Here he repented deeply of his sins and the Lord restored him to Jerusalem. He attempted to restore the worship of Jehovah, but he could not undo the evil he had committed.

3. The Career of Josiah.

(1) His Reformation (1 Kings 22:1 - 23:26). — Josiah was only eight years old when made king, but he began to seek the Lord in early years and soon began with great zeal to institute a great reform in Judah. He gathered contributions and began to repair the temple. While the repairs were going on they found the book of the law amid the rubbish. When Josiah heard this book read he was filled with alarm and sought the advice of the prophetess Huldah, who assured him the punishment would not be inflicted during his reign, for his piety had met the approval of Jehovah. Josiah completed the repairs of the temple and then had the book of the law read in the ears of the people. The denunciations against idolatry caused the people to renew their covenant with Jehovah, temple service was restored and the passover was celebrated.

(2) His Death (2 Kings 23:26-30). — But Josiah's reformation could not arrest the doom that awaited Judah. The Assyrian Empire had grown weak, and Pharaoh-nechoh, king of Egypt, determined to capture Carchemish on the Euphrates. Josiah opposed his passage through his dominion and met him in open battle at Megiddo. Josiah was slain, and soon Judah forgot the reform of the good young king.

4. The Captivities of Judah.

(1) The First Captivity (2 Kings 24:1-7). 606 B. C— By the defeat of Josiah, Pharaoh-nechoh of Egypt gained control over Judah. He put Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, on the throne, but at the end of three months removed him and made Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah, king over Judah. In 606 B. C, after Jehoiakim had reigned as subject king four years, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, captured Jerusalem, plundered the temple and put king Jehoiakim in fetters; but on promise of loyalty he was permitted to retain his royal dignity until his death. Nebuchadnezzar, however, took into captivity some of the nobles, among whom was Daniel (Dan. 1:1-4).

(2) The Second Captivity, 598 B c C. (2 Kings 24:8-16).— After the death of Jehoiakim, the end of Judah was near at hand. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, king; but he reigned only three months, when Nebuchadnezzar with his army again appeared, took the treasures of the temple, and carried the king and ten thousand of the best people into captivity at Babylon. Among these captives was the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 1:1-3).

(3) The Final Captivity, 587 B. C. (2 Kings 26:1-30).— Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah king over Judah. Jeremiah urged king Zedekiah to remain faithful to Nebuchadnezzar and warned him not to trust in Egypt; but disregarding this advice he made an alliance with Egypt, and thus afforded another pretext for Nebuchadnezzar to invade Judah. He laid siege to Jerusalem, and, for sixteen months the inhabitants of the city endured the most fearful suffering. At length the Babylonians broke down the walls. Zedekiah with a few men escaped to Jericho; but he was soon captured and was sent to Riblah, where, after his sons had been murdered before him, his eyes were thrust out and he was taken to Babylon. The city and temple were burned, the walls broken down and the rest of the people, save a scanty remnant, were taken into captivity. A few of the poor of the land were left to be vine-dressers and husbandmen, and Gedaliah was made ruler over them. Jeremiah also chose to remain with this remnant. Gedaliah was treacherously slain and against the advice of Jeremiah they fled to Egypt.

QUESTIONS.

• Give the date of the opening and closing of this chapter.

• What reforms did Hezekiah bring about in the kingdom of Judah?

• Who was Sennacherib?

• Who encouraged the king not to pay tribute?

• What effort did he make to conquer the city?

• What was his loss? How did Hezekiah receive the messengers from

• Babylon? What was his rebuke and by whom?

• How long did Manasseh reign and what was the character of his reign?

• In what reforms did Josiah better the kingdom?

• Why was the Bible hid so long?

• Where and in what way was Josiah killed?

• Give the dates of the three captivities of Judah.

• In whom did Judah put her trust?

• What was done with Solomon's Temple?

• What class of Jews were left in the land?

• Who was the great prophet during the closing years of the kingdom of Judah?

REVIEW.

I. The Two Tribes.

1. The Career of Hezekiah:

(1) His Reformation,

(2) The Invasion of Sennacherib,

(3) The Babylonian Embassy.

2. The Career of Mannasseh.

3. The Career of Josiah:

(1) His Reformation,

(2) His Death.

4. The Captivities of Judah:

(1) The First Captivity, 606 B. C,

(2) The Second Captivity, 598 B. C,

(3) The Final Captivity, 587 B. C.