2 Chronicles, Part II (cont'd): A rock star king

After a leprous King Uzziah dies, Jotham takes over and—say it with me—does what is right. Unfortunately, the people continue to follow corrupt practices. And Jotham’s successor Ahaz (Jotham doesn’t get much coverage from the Chronicler) goes the same route, even going so far as to make cast images for the Baals.

“Therefore the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram,” as well as the king of Israel. The people of Israel capture 200,000 of “their kin” (presumably the citizens of Judah) and take their booty back to Samaria. The prophet Oded meets and chastises them for their excessive killings and enslavement. He concedes that Judah is wicked but urges them to send the captives home. The people of Israel agree after their chiefs point that “our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”

Despite being somewhat spared due to the God’s mercy, Ahaz turns to the king of Assyria for help. When will these guys learn to turn to God? The Assyrian king turns him down, and Judah suffers multiple attacks by other kingdoms. Eventually, the king of Assyria himself comes against Ahaz and oppresses him. “In the time of his distress [Ahaz] became yet more faithless to the Lord,” engaging in apostasy.

Ahaz is succeeded by Hezekiah, a good king who does what is right—the notes refer to him as a second David and especially a second Solomon. He has the temple cleaned and makes a covenant with God, “so that His fierce anger may turn away from us.” The people and leaders bring sacrifices and re-launch worship practices at the temple. “Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced.”

Hezekiah then attempts a reunification with Israel. He sends word that the people of Israel should come to keep the Passover at the temple. He pleads with them to return to God “so that He may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria … For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.” But many of the Israelites scorn and mock the couriers relaying Hezekiah’s message. “Only a few … came to Jerusalem.” The celebration goes well, though—so well that the people decide to extend it another week. “The Lord heard Hezekiah, and healed the people.” The Chronicler describes great joy in Jerusalem, and the notes say Hezekiah united the people in sacrificial worship, but what about all the people in Israel who didn’t rally around? If only a few came to the temple, can you really call this unity?

At any rate, I have about 10 more pages to read in 2 Chronicles. According to a list I made while reading 2 Kings, seven kings (six of them evil) will reign in those pages, leading up to the fall of Jerusalem. It’s tempting to just skip ahead to Ezra, thinking “Been there, done that,” but I will persevere.