ISAIAH 10 (2 NEPHI 20)

Isaiah again addresses the destruction of the wicked and the ultimate return to God of His chosen people. The first four verses compose the fourth part of a four part poem which began in verse 8 of the previous chapter. The main focus of the chapter is the Assyrian destruction of Israel because of the wickedness of Israel. This destruction is a type of the destruction of the wicked which will accompany the second coming of the Savior. It should serve as a reminder to us that the Lord will come out victorious. He has power over our enemies today.  The entire chapter is written as a chiasmus or inverted parallelism. This chiasmus is broken down by Victor L. Ludlow:

 

A. The wicked will bow down (vs. 1-4)

     B. Assyria raised by the Lord (5)

                     C. The Assyrian king speaks against Jerusalem (6-11)

   D. The Lord will punish proud Assyria (12-14)

                      E. An ax is used as a tool (15)

 F. The Lord is a burning fire in the land (16-17)

     G. Only a remnant of the many remain (18-19)

          H. A remnant of Israel shall return to the Lord (20-21)

      G’. Out of the sands of the sea-only a remnant returns (22)

  F’. A divine consumption is in the land (23)

         E’. A rod is used as an instrument (24-26)

     D’. Assyria’s yoke will be lifted (27)

C’. Assyrian army approaches Jerusalem (28-32)

       B’. Assyria humbled by the Lord (33)

   A’. The haughty will be cut down (34)

 

(Isaiah, Prophet, Seer and Poet, Victor Ludlow, p. 161.)

 

Vs. 1-4- proclaims the 4th injustice begun in chapter 9.

Vs. 3 - A very important question for us to ask ourselves is if we turn away the needy, who will we turn to in the day of our need?

Vs. 4 - God’s hand remains outstretched if we will turn our lives to him.

Vs. 5 - Assyria is the rod in God’s hand to chasten Israel. The purposes of Assyria in using this rod are different than the Lord’s.  It reminds us that the Lord used the Lamanites to remind the Nephites of their need for the Lord and ultimately to destroy them when they ripened in iniquity. Spoil and prey refer to the prophetic name Mahershalalhashbaz. (In making speed to the spoil, he hasteneth the prey. 2 Nephi 18:1-4) Assyria also represents also evil nations of our day. The Lord is speaking in verses 5-7

Vs. 6 - The hypocritical nation is Israel who claims to be God’s chosen people but do not follow him. The Lord allows this destruction.

Vs. 7-11 - A telling of Assyria’s lack of awareness that they have been instruments in the Lord’s hands. They have taken the glory to themselves. The King of Assyria is speaking in verses 8-11

Vs. 12- The account of Assyria’s attack upon Jerusalem is told in 2 Kings 19:32-37 and Isaiah 37:33-38. The Lord sent his destroying angel to destroy much of Sennacherib’s army. Sennacherib was soon thereafter killed by his sons.

Vs. 13-15 - The Lord puts Assyria in their place. When we do God’s work, have we cause to boast any more than an ax can take credit for chopping down a tree? (See Alma 26-Ammon)

Vs. 16 - Assyria, who had been mighty will be reduced to leanness and the glory of Assyrian will be burned.

Vs. 17-19 - The destruction of Assyrian will include the rank and file of the army (thorns and briers) and the leaders (glory of his forest). The Lord used the Babylonians and later the Persians to destroy Assyria.

Vs. 20-23 - The return of Israel to the land and the Lord

Vs. 20 - The Hebrew word lashuv means to return and to repent. The meaning of the word repent in Hebrew means more than discontinuing bad thing. It requires a return to the Lord.

Vs. 26 - The Lord compares the help he gave to Gideon as he fought Midian in Judges 7:19-25. Oreb, prince of the Midianites, was slain on a rock that bears his name. Assyria is the figurative name God gives to latter-day enemies of righteousness.

Vs. 27 - The time will come when, because of the anointed Messiah, the burdens of earthlife will be removed.

Vs. 28-32 - Future conquests of Assyria are listed as she approaches Jerusalem. Shaking his hand at Jerusalem will be as close as Assyria gets.

Vs. 33-34 - Assyria, both mighty and low in stature will be taken down. After Jehovah, the forester, chops down the mighty cedars of Lebanon and the great Assyrians, he will clean up the underbrush so that the tree of Jesse, or the tree of the Messiah (identified in the next chapter) can flourish.

Old Testament 302 Day 7

Thought: I hope the following helps to keep you motivated and inspired. I hope it is confirmation that Mormon beliefs are justifiable, and deserve to be respected alongside other Christian denominations:

I just read the first 31 pages of the Book of Mormon, and was entranced by 1 Nephi chapters 8 and 10. I feel as thought I could almost stop there, and come away with something. That something is this:

The Book of Mormon should be read by all Christians.  As an Atheist, that's not the effect I thought the book would have on me. Nevertheless, I can imagine the amount of "push back" Mormons have to face, trying to convince a "Christian" to read it. What a shame. Because it is the most clearly written Christian Biblical Document. If Christians would be willing to read the text, compare it to what they already believe, most would not only agree with it, but would find that it strengthens their faith even further. 1 Nephi 10 provides a greater and more straight forward message than Paul's letter to the Romans. And Romans is considered to be the definitive New Testament Epistle. The Reformation was based on Romans. But Nephi chapter 10 tops it.  There are really only two hangups to widespread Christian acceptance of the Book of Mormon. The first, is the fact that, the Book of Mormon isn't already in the Bible. If the chapters of the Book of Mormon were placed within the standard bible , and Christians just grew up knowing that 1 Nephi was found after Malachi and Jeremiah or Habakkuk...they would bite into it hook line and sinker. It would be accepted as biblical cannon. What could possibly make them object?   The second hangup is that the origin of the book of Mormon is still relatively new. But they confuse the translation of Joseph Smith in the 1800's with the 600 BC time frame of 1 Nephi. If Christians could accept 1 Nephi as 600 BC writing they would accept what it says. Can you imagine the level of excitement they would have if the dead sea scrolls contained excerpts from 1 Nephi? (ignoring the continental logistical problem). If the ancient text was carbon dated to 600 BC with the quote, " six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jew--even a Messiah...a Savior of the world"... what christian would protest that? They would consider it the greatest confirmation of the actual existence of Christ!

And as for the "craziness" of the Mormon origin story, is it no worse than any biblical story? Christians believe that God carved and wrote the ten commandments on stone tablets. But gold plates are somehow impossible? Christians believe that God sent Daniel and St. John visions. But Nephi's father can't have visions? Saul a persecutor of Christians can play a surprise role in God's message, but Joseph Smith can't? Christians see Christ as an all powerful Savior of the whole human race. But Jesus isn't allowed to VISIT the whole human race? I just don't see and of these "Mormon" things as being anymore preposterous than anything else that is already accepted by all Christians.  Finally, it is massively ironic that, Christians reject Mormons in the same way Jews rejected Christians. Christians see Christianity as strengthening and clarifying the Jewish faith, but fail to even consider the strengthening and clarifying that Mormonism could do to their christian faith. (An Atheist's Response to the Book of Mormon October 16, 2014 source: Dear Miss Mormon)

 

Book of the Week- Christ and the New Covenant, Jeffrey R. Holland

 

Nahum  and 2 Kings 21-25

 

NAHUM 663-612 BC - Hymn # 80

                  34th book in the Old Testament - 7th of the Minor Prophets - A native of Elkosh (a lost site in southern Judah) or the meaning or location of Elkosh is not known, but tradition holds that ancient Capernaum was the home of this prophet; its Hebrew name, kephar-nahum, means "village of Nahum." The message directed to Nineveh-the capital of Assyria-which had been a threat to Israel since at least 850 BC and threatened Judah until Sennacherib's forces were divinely decimated at the end of the century.   Nahum's prophecy was fulfilled, shortly after he gave it, about 612 BC, when the mother city of Assyria, Asshur, was destroyed (614 BC), then Nineveh, the capital city, fell; and finally the rest of the empire capitulated to Nabopolassar, king of the rising empire of Babylon.

Nahum means "full of comfort" and could refer to the comfort he brought to Judah in the knowledge of the end of the threat of Assyria.  Nahum is written in beautiful poetic form.  Nineveh had repented in the days of Jonah, now it is wicked again and will have to pay the consequences. 

Chapter One  Describes both the destructive might and the abundant goodness of the Lord. At the end of it, he foretold the end of wickedness and heralded the era of peace on earth in words similar to Isaiah's.

Chapter Two  Nahum graphically and dramatically described the invasion and overthrow of Nineveh.

Chapter Three  He told why the destruction was deserved.

2 Kings 21-25

Chapter 21-

              Vs.1-9 - Manasseh never met a sin he didn't like. 2 Chron. 33:11-19 has a very hard to believe story of Manasseh.

              Vs. 12-15 - The Lord has no more patience for this people

              Vs. 18-26 - Amon was as bad as his dad, but wasn't able to live as long.

Chapter 22- Hezekiah got a great grandson! Josiah began his reign at age 8 and did some big time reforms at age 26. They found lost scriptures and heard the words of a prophetess who gave bad news for Judah and good news for Josiah? Vs. 19-20

Chapter 23- Vs. 25 - Maybe Josiah should be my favorite king instead of Hezekiah. "I feel strongly that we must all of us return to the scriptures just as King Josiah did and let them work mightily within us, impelling us to an unwavering determination to serve the Lord." (SWKimball, Ensign, Sept. 1976, p. 4-5) Vs. 26. Josiah Could Not Undo What Manasseh Had Done “Manasseh is mentioned here and at [2 Kings 24:3and Jeremiah 15:4] as the person who, by his idolatry and his unrighteousness, with which he provoked God to anger, had brought upon Judah and Jerusalem the unavoidable judgment of rejection. It is true that Josiah had exterminated outward and gross idolatry throughout the land by his sincere conversion to the Lord, and by his zeal for the restoration of the lawful worship of Jehovah, and had persuaded the people to enter into covenant with its God once more; but a thorough conversion of the people to the Lord he had not been able to effect. For, as Clericus has correctly observed, ‘although the king was most religious, and the people obeyed him through fear, yet for all that the mind of the people was not changed, as is evident enough from the reproaches of Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and other prophets, who prophesied about that time and a little after.’ With regard to this point compare especially the first ten chapters of Jeremiah, which contain a resumé of his labours in the reign of Josiah, and bear witness to the deep inward apostasy of the people from the Lord, not only before and during Josiah’s reform of worship, but also afterwards.” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 3:1:492.)

              Vs. 29- Why do you think Josiah went to Megiddo? The result was 4 years of Egyptian rule.             Josiah didn't sire righteous sons. Jehoahaz reigned 3 months and was taken into Egypt & Jehoiakim (Eliakim) for 11 yrs. He paid tribute to Egypt for protection from Babylon. Then to Babylon, then he rebelled and was taken toward Babylon, but apparently died on the way and was given the burial of an ass. (no burial)

Chapter 24- In the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC-Babylon defeated Egypt- sending Judah to Babylonian control.

Vs. 12–16. How Many Times Was the Temple in Jerusalem Desecrated under Nebuchadnezzar’s Reign? Vs. 13 records that Nebuchadnezzar “carried out thence [from the temple] all the treasures.” Evidence indicates, however, that the temple of Solomon was spoiled three times under Nebuchadnezzar. The first time was when Jerusalem was attacked and Jehoiakim was taken to Babylon. The vessels removed at this time were those that Belshazzar profaned, as recorded in Daniel 5:2, and that Cyrus, the Median-Persian king, permitted the Jews to carry back to Jerusalem when they were released (see Ezra 1:7–11). When Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem a second time, as recorded in Isaiah, he also took spoil. The third time was when Nebuchadnezzar pillaged the temple under Zedekiah, the last king of Judah (see 2 Kings 25:13–17). (OTSM)

Chapter 25

              Zedekiah did not believe their prophecies,: It happened that the two prophets agreed with one another in what they said as in all other things, that the city should be taken, and Zedekiah himself should be taken captive; but Ezekiel disagreed with him [Jeremiah], and said that Zedekiah should not see Babylon [see Ezekiel 12:13], while Jeremiah said to him, that the king of Babylon should carry him away thither in bonds [see Jeremiah 34:3]; and because they did not both say the same thing as to this circumstance, he disbelieved what they both appeared to agree in, and condemned them as not speaking truth therein, although all the things foretold him did come to pass according to their prophecies, as we shall show upon a fitter opportunity.” (Josephus- Antiquities, bk. 10, chap. 7, par. 2.)  2 Kings 25:7

Vs. 27-30 - An interesting turn in events for Jehoiachin

 

Hezekiah (1)

Manasseh (2)

Amon (3)

Josiah (4)

Jehoahaz (5)- Jehoiakim (6) - Zedekiah (8)

Jehoiachin (7)

ISAIAH 8 (2 NEPHI 18)

 

In chapter 17, Isaiah spoke to King Ahaz and warned him against making alliances with anyone other than God. He now turns to the people and invites them to put their trust in the Lord rather than earthly kingdoms. He prophesies of upcoming judgments upon Syria, Israel, Assyria and also Judah. In the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, these two chapter were one.

 Vs. 1-4- In these verses (prose) Isaiah relates the fulfillment of the prophecy given Ahaz as a sign in 7:14. This sign is a token of the birth of the Savior.

Vs. 1 - The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz is the longest word in the Bible and means, “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.” This boy is a living witness of the destruction by Assyria of Syria and Israel and to the speed with which that destruction will be carried out.  A man’s pen is referring to the engraving tool of a man, a common writing instrument. On a great scroll may indicate that it was to be part of an important and to be preserved record.

Vs. 2 - Isaiah follows the Dt. 17:6; 19:15 injunction to have 2 or 3 witnesses for what he is to pronounce to the people. It is written down as a witness that the prophecy of the previous chapter (Isaiah 17:14) is being fulfilled and that he has done as commanded. Uriah "My Light is Jehovah" (2 Kings 16:10-16) was a prominent priest. Zechariah's "Remember Jehovah" identify is unknown.

Vs. 3 - In fulfillment of 17:14. Parry says that he may have also been called Immanuel. At any rate he is a type of the Savior, not the Savior, just as his mother is a type of Mary.

Vs. 4 - The prophecy was fulfilled in 734-732 BC when Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, captured the Galilee region, the Jezreel Valley, and the Tran Jordan, and plundered their riches.

Vs. 5-10 represent the unwillingness of the people of Judah to accept the Savior. Isaiah contrasts the pleasant waters of Shiloah with those of the raging and destructive waters of the Euphrates.

Vs. 5, 6 - The waters of Shiloah (Israel’s only perennial spring-in SE Jerusalem)  are a soft, slow rolling water located near the temple mount of Jerusalem and represent the Savior. (The word Shiloh means, “He who’s right it is") Rezin was king of Syria and Pekah, the son of Remaliah, was king of Israel.   Rather than rejoicing in Jehovah, Judah rejoiced in the bad things happening to Syria and Israel.

Vs. 7 - the Lord here compares the destructive might of the Euphrates River with that of the Assyrian rulers and tells what they will do to Judah.

Vs. 8 - Isaiah portrays the completeness of Assyria’s destruction of Judah, but reminds the people that they are His people for Immanuel, “God is with us.”

Vs. 9,10 - A warning to invading nations that whatever alliances they make, they will be punished for their war against God’s people. Wars, treaties and contracts that take people away from God will ALWAYS be unproductive in the long run. The repitition is probably a scribal error not duplicated in the Isaiah Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Vs. 11-15 are verses admonishing Isaiah and those others (2nd person plural used) to not be obsessed with the war, but to look to the Savior. Important verses for our day!

Vs. 11 - Isaiah is told that he is not to be like the rest of his people in their sins.

Vs. 12 - Isaiah is told not to worry about the confederacy of Israel and Syria, like he told Ahaz not to in the previous chapter. Remember they were trying to replace Ahaz with a puppet ruler.

Vs. 13 - Many of us fear the terrorists when we should fear the Lord.

Vs. 14 - Jesus is often referred to as a sanctuary or temple (see Ezek. 11:26; John 2:18-20; Rev. 21:22) also a stone or rock or a gin, snare or trap. The message is, “Whatever you need and deserve, he will provide and be.

Vs. 15 - a prophecy of the results of vs. 14.

Vs. 16 - has reference in my life to a testimony that is sure and a determination to keep the law.

Vs. 17 - I will wait for the Lord to answer my prayers in his time even when he seems to be hiding from me, I will maintain my hope in Christ. "I will look for him" is literally translated "I will hope for him."

Vs. 18 - Isaiah’s family and our families should be as signs for the Lord. Isaiah’s name means “Jehovah saves”, Shear-jashub means “a remnant shall return” and Maher-shalal-hash-baz was a reminder of the swift destruction and plundering of the Assyrians. What does your name mean to people with whom you come in contact? The Jerusalem Temple stood on Mount Zion.

Vs. 19 - We look for all the right answers in all the wrong places. Peep=whisper or chirp like a bird. According to J.R. Dummelow it refers to the thin and feeble voices of ghosts from Sheol (Hell). Peep and Mutter refer to methods of people who use spirits and wizards to communicate with spirits.  Sometimes we spend too much time and energy listening to the News and not enough listening to Living Prophets.

Vs. 20 - an admonition to look to the law (torah) and to the testimony (words of the prophets) and when they speak from other sources there is no light in them.   1)Standard works, 2) Living prophets and 3) Holy Ghost

Vs. 21 - When Israel and Judah find themselves in their deplorable condition, they will blame their leaders and their God.

Vs. 22 - When lost Israel looks for help they look in all the wrong places. This may represent a time when no light is to be found on earth (apostasy) or to a time when people are not looking for it.

 

Isaiah 9 (2 Nephi 19)

 

Vs. 1-2 - These two verses are hard to understand, but we get help from Matthew 4:13-16. It becomes clear that Jesus comes and provides light in a land that had experienced much darkness. Jesus not only provides the light, he is indeed the Light.

The end of verse two may refer to the light given to those in Spirit Prison.

Vs. 3 - Multiplying the nation has apparent reference to Covenant of Abraham and his innumerable posterity.

Isaiah compares the joy of the harvest to the joy of the mission of the Savior. The "not" is not in the Book of Mormon or the RSV.

              In verses 4, 5, & 6 are reasons for rejoicing from vs. 3.

Vs. 4-5 - These verses refer principally to the millennial reign of the Savior and his ending the war and strife.

Vs. 6 - Scholars, who say you can't see the future say Hezekiah is the fulfillment of this verse. He is certainly a humble type

The Hebrew requires that Wonderful Counselor be read together. Christ is the everlasting father in at least four ways; 1) World Creator-(Mosiah 3:8; 2) Father of Resurrection- (Mosiah 15:8; 3) Father of our Spiritual Re-birth (Mosiah 5:7); and 4) Representative of Father (3 Nephi 11:36).

Vs. 7 - Christ ruling over the throne of David is prophesied in 2 Samuel 7:12-13.

The rest of this chapter is a warning against the Northern Tribes of Israel. It should also serve as a warning to modern day Israel as it foretells the destructions accompanying the 2nd coming of the Savior.

19:8-10:4 is subdivided into 4 sections. Each section proclaims and evil, has a warning and ends with the poetic refrain, “His arm is stretched out still.”

8-12 deals with pride   13-17 with evil leaders   18-21 talks about a lack of concern for others

20:1-4 is about social injustice

Vs. 9 - declares their pride. Ephraim is the leader of the north  and Samaria is the capital city.

Vs. 10 - They mock the prophecies of destruction, saying they will just rebuild with better stuff

Vs. 11 - Rezin is the king of Syria, a former ally of Israel. The message is that all will turn against Israel.

Vs. 12 - Israel suffered greatly from the Syrians on the East and the Philistines on the West. (See 1 Kings 20; 22; 2 Kings 6-8.

Vs. 14 - head=government leaders; tail=false prophets; branch=leaders; rush or reed=followers (see verse 15)         

Vs. 15 - The word "honorable is not in the Book of Mormon account.

Vs. 16- Is this true today?

Vs. 17 - The Lord would have to be sad when even the poor people are wicked and not deserving of his help. But, his arm is stretched out still. I don’t think this is referring to his arm of destruction, but his arm of salvation.

Vs. 18 - the wicked are here compared to worthless weeds

Vs. 19-20 - when a man doesn’t even spare his brother, we can know that things have bottomed out. The reference to cannibalism was fulfilled anciently in Jeremiah 19:9 and possible again before the 2nd coming.

Vs. 21- Manasseh and Ephraim represent the northern tribes. It appears that they will not only unite against Judah, but will be warring against themselves.

 

Old Testament 302 Day 6

Thought:  God's promise for temples - 2 Chronicles 7:14-16-"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land, Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place, for now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever; and mine yes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

Book of the Week: Isaiah-Prophet, Seer, and Poet, Victor L. Ludlow.

Micah 740-697 BC?

              33rd book of the Bible - 6th of the Minor Prophets -contemporary of Isaiah, Joel, Amos & Hosea in Judah during Hezekiah's reign -  from Moresheth-Gath-15 miles NW of Hebron - near Lachish -  

Discusses social injustice of rural Judah-rich vs. poor- may have influenced Hezekiah to social reform -poetic

Micah is often divided into 3 sections

Chapters 1-2 - prophecies of judgment on villages in Judah.

              "Micah used a literary device to pronounce an indictment against Judah (see Micah 1:8-16). He employed a pun, or play on words, to carry his idea to the people. The technique is readily apparent in the Hebrew and can be appreciated in Sidney B. Sperry's translation of Micah 1:10-14:

              weep tears at tear town(bochim),

              grovel in the dust at dust town (bethophrah)

              fare forth stripped, o fair town (saphir)!

              stir town (zaanan) dare not stir,

              bethesel.....

              and maroth hopes in vain;

              for doom descends from the eternal

              to the very gates of Jerusalem.

 

              harness your steeds and away, o horse town (lakhish)

              o source of sion's sin,

              where the crimes of Israel centre!

              o maiden sion, you must part with

              moresheth of gath;

              and Israel's kings are ever balked

              at balkton (achzib).

                             The Message of the 12 Prophets, p. 111 - OTSM p. 120

1:4 - Isaiah 64:1-2; 2 Pwrwe 3:10; D&C 49:23; 101:23-25; 133:40-41; Judges 5:4 - Melted or quaked.

Chapter 2- Social injustices

    vs. 1 - People who lay awake in bed thinking of bad thigns to do

    vs. 2- land grabbers

    vs. 12-13 - foretells a future gathering

 

Chapters 3-5 - Denunciations of leaders

              3:1-3- Leaders compared to cannibals

              4:1-2- Sound familiar?- (Isaiah 2)

              5:2 foretold the place of the birth of the Savior. See Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:1-20 AND John 7:40-43.

              5:8-15 - when Christ appeared to the Nephites, he quoted this prophecy of Micah (3 ne. 21:12-21) to stress the power that would be upon Israel as the Lord gathered them out from all the nations and by them purified those gentiles who would hear his word. Those who would not hear his word and opposed his work would be cut off and trodden down.

 

Chapters 6-7 - Call for repentance

              6:6-8 - Summary of what the lord requires of man. "Rabbi Simlai lectured: 613 commandments were handed down to Moses; 365 of them are prohibitions, corresponding to the days of the year; 248 of them are laws of action, corresponding to the bones and limbs of man. Rabbi Hammuna said: when David came, he reduced the commandments to 11, for we read in Scripture [he then quoted Psalm 15]… When Isaiah came, re reduced the commandments to six; Isaiah 33:15-16. When Micah came, he reduced the commandments to 3: Micah 6:8 (Ogden p. 166-7)

              7- The righteous are the proud and the few -" one grape on a vine."

2 Kings 14-20

Chapter 14 - It appears that two religious and political factions vied constantly with each other in positioning and patronizing the kings; as a result, orthodox and apostate religions alternated, parallel to the political changes. (Ogden p. 65)  See vs.

Vs. 8 -"Let us look one another in the face," appears to be a challenge to go to war.

Vs. 25-Apparently Jonah prophesied in Israel before being sent to Nineveh.

Vs. 27-Though Jeroboam II was a wicked king of Israel, God used him to give Israel another chance.

Chapter 15 - Hosea, Amos, Hosea and Isaiah all prophesied  all pleaded with Israel to repent to avoid destruction and being carried captive.

Vs. 1-6- Azariah is also called Uzziah.

Assyrian kings: Tiglath-pileser III-called Pul, (745-727) is often called the father of the Assyrian Empire. He began the policy of exporting captive people from one part of the empire to another. He was first to invade Israel.        Shalmaneser V (727-722) laid siege to "Samaria for 3 years. He died before Israel was fully conquered.     Sargon II (722-705) deported Israel.

Chapter 16-  See Isaiah 7.

Chapter 17 - See Ch. heading

Vs. 1-6- Hosea was the last king of Israel. He allied with Egypt and Assyria acted quickly.

By the time of the captivity the tribes had lost their individual identity. Many of the 10 tribes had moved into Judah. There is no point, then, in indicating that exactly "ten" tribes were carried away. It is now 215 years since they split off from Judah after the death of Solomon.

Chapter 18 - Hezekiah is my favorite Old Testament King. He 1) Ordered the temple cleansed, 2) Renewed the Passover celebration, 3) Encouraged tithes, 4)Had the Priests and Levites return to their orders and service, 5)Put down the groves, 6) Destroyed Moses' brass serpent, 7) freed his nation from Assyrian oppression, 8) Drove the Philistines out, 9) Fortified Jerusalem's walls, 10) Built an underground water  tunnel 1/3 of a mile long.

Vs. 13-37- Sennacherib destroyed 46 of Judah's fortified cities (vs. 13), exacted a mighty tribute (vs. 14-16), and sent people to demand a surrender.

Chapter 19 - 

Vs. 1- I love Hezekiah's response

Vs. 6-7- It is great to have a prophet and a king who will listen to him. (Bad deal for Sennacherib)

Vs. 19 & 20 - The king and prophet and the Lord work together.

Vs. 32-37 - I love this!

Chapter 20 - My favorite story about my favorite king.

Chapter 21- Hezekiah's son and grandson. Not chips off the old block.

Chapter 22- Hezekiah's great-grandson. My 2nd favorite king in the Old Testament.

Chapter 23 - Josiah is a man of action!

Chapter 24- Josiah-Killed by Necho (31years)- Jehoahaz-Prisoner to Egypt (3 months)-Jeohoiakim-Died in Jerusalem (11 yrs.)-Jehoiachin-Prisoner to Babylon (3 months)-Zedekiah -prisoner to Babylon (11 yrs.)