KINGDOM OF JUDAH.

      (1). Rehoboam, the first king. Solomon was succeeded by his son, Rehoboam (I. Kings, 12:43). Upon his elevation to the throne a deputation of his countrymen waited upon him, requesting relief from oppressive taxation. He forsook the counsel of the old men and followed the counsel of the young men, and refused to grant their request (I. Kings, 12:1-15; II. Chron., 10:1-15). His ungenerous treatment caused ten of the tribes to rebel against his authority. He undertook to suppress the rebellion, but was warned of God not to make war against his brethren (I. Kings, 12:16-24; II. Chron., 10:16-19). Rehoboam took up his residence in Jerusalem, built cities and fortified strongholds (II. Chron., 11:5-12). On [181] account of the apostasy of Jeroboam and Israel, the priests, Levites and other true worshippers remaining in Israel repaired to Jerusalem to worship God, and they therefore strengthened the king (II. Chron., 11:13-17). Rehoboam had many wives in violation of the law of Moses (Deut., 14:14-18; II. Chron., 11:18-23). After he established himself upon the throne, he forsook the law of the Lord and was greatly punished by Shishak, king of Egypt (II. Chron., 12:1-12). There was war between Jeroboam and Rehoboam continually (I. Kings, 15:6). He reigned seventeen years (II. Chron., 12:13) and was contemporary with Jeroboam (I. Kings, 12:1-20; 14:20).

      (2). Important fact. Shemaiah, the prophet, flourished during the reign of Rehoboam and communicated to him the command of the Lord not to go to war against the ten tribes when they rebelled against his authority (I. Kings, 12:22-24).

      (3). Abijam, the second king. Rehoboam was succeeded by his son Abijam. He walked in the ways of his father and sinned against God (I. Kings, 15:1-5). The war that had begun between the two kingdoms was continued during the reign of Abijam, and finally resulted in the defeat of Jeroboam (II. Chron., 13:1-20). During the latter part of Abijam's reign he waxed fat and married fourteen wives (II. Chron., 13:21, 22). He reigned three years contemporaneously with Jeroboam (I. Kings, 14:20; 15:1, 2).

      (4). Asa, the third king. Abijam was succeeded by his son Asa (I. Kings, 15:8). Immediately upon his accession to the throne he inaugurated a reformation; he [182] removed the sodomites out of the land; he removed all the idols his father had made; he removed his mother from being queen, and destroyed her idol. His heart was perfect toward the Lord, and the things his father had dedicated he brought into the house of the Lord (I. Kings, 15:9-15). There was war between Asa and Baasha, and success seemed to attend Baasha for a time, but finally Asa induced Ben-hadad to make a league with him which resulted in favor of Asa (I. Kings, 15:16-22). Asa greatly improved his military equipments, and greatly increased the army (II. Chron., 14:1-8). He gained a victory over the mighty host of Zerah the Ethiopian (II. Chron., 14:9-15). After this victory he was met by the servant of God who strengthened and encouraged him (II. Chron., 15:1-7). He was also greatly encouraged by Oded, the prophet, and, as a result of his words, pushed his reforms and gathered his people together at Jerusalem, where many sacrifices were offered and a covenant entered into to seek and serve the Lord (II. Chron., 15:8-19). Asa was severely rebuked by Hanani because he had relied on the Syrians to assist him in war. The prophet assured him that in this he had done foolishly, for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the earth in order to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him. The king was angry at the seer and imprisoned him, and he also oppressed some of the people (II. Chron., 16:7-10). Asa's closing years were clouded by disease and sorrow; he sought the physicians [183] and not the Lord, and he slept with his fathers, and his countrymen buried him with distinguished honors in the city of David (II. Chron., 16:11-14). Asa reigned forty-one years (II. Kings, 15:8-10), and was contemporary with seven of the kings of Israel: (a) Jeroboam two years (I. Kings, 14:20, 31; 15:1, 2; II. Chron., 12:13); (b) Nadab, two years (I. Kings, 14:20; 15:25); (c) Baasha, twenty-four years (I. Kings, 15:33); (d) Elah, two years (I. Kings, 16:8); (e) Zimri, seven days (I. Kings, 16:8-10, 15); (f) Omri, six years (I. Kings, 16:23, 28, 29); (g) Ahab, three years (I. Kings, 16:29).

      (5). Important fact. The prophets Azariah (II. Chron., 15:1, 2), Oded (II. Chron., 15:8), and Hanani (II. Chron., 16:7) flourished during the reign of Asa (II. Chron., 15:1-8; 16:7-10).

      (6). Jehoshaphat, the fourth king. Asa was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat (I. Kings, 15:24). He continued the work inaugurated by his father by fortifying the land and destroying the remains of idolatrous worship. He also appointed Levites to go throughout the cities of the country and teach the people the law of the Lord (II. Chron., 17:1-9). Fear fell upon the surrounding nations and Jehoshaphat's reign was one of peace (II. Chron., 17:10). He assisted Ahab in a campaign against Ramoth-gilead, which resulted in the death of the king of Israel (II. Chron., 18:1-34). The latter part of his reign was distinguished by, (a) the rebuke of the prophet on account of his association with the ungodly king of Israel; (b) the inauguration of numerous reforms for the benefit of the people [184] (II. Chron., 19:1-11); (c) a great victory over his enemies; (d) peace and unfortunate commercial operations (II. Chron., 20:1-37). Jehoshaphat reigned twenty-five years (II. Chron., 20:31), and was contemporary with Ahab seventeen years (I. Kings, 16:29; 22:41, 50, 51), Ahaziah two years (I. Kings, 22:51), Jehoram six years (II. Kings, 3:1).

      (7). Important fact. The prophets Jehu, the son of Hanani (II. Chron., 19:1-3), and Jahaziel flourished during the reign of Jehoshaphat (II. Chron., 20:14-17).

      (8). Jehoram, the fifth king. Jehoshaphat was succeeded by his son Jehoram (II. Chron., 21:1). His reign was characterized by murder, war, devastation and great trouble, and his departure caused not regret (II. Chron., 21:1-20). He reigned eight years (II. Chron., 21:1, 5), and was contemporary with Jehoram, king of Israel (I. Kings, 22:42; II. Kings, 3:1; 9:29).

      (9). Ahaziah, the sixth king. Jehoram was succeeded by Ahaziah. His reign was distinguished on account of his wickedness (II. Chron., 22:1-4). He went to Jezreel to visit Joram, king of Israel, who had been wounded in war with the Syrians, where he was slain by Jehu, the son of Nimshi (II. Chron., 22:5-9). Ahaziah reigned contemporaneously with Jehoram one year (II. Kings, 3:1; 8:24-26).

      (10). Athaliah, the usurper. As soon as the mother of Ahaziah discovered that he was dead, she attempted to destroy all the royal seed, and succeeded him as king (II. Kings, 11:1-3; II. Chron., 22:10-12). She reigned contemporaneously with Jehu about six years (II. Kings, 9:1-12; 10:36; 11:1-4).

      (11). Jehoash, the [185] seventh king. Athaliah was succeeded Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah. He was saved at the time of the destruction of the royal seed, by Jehosheba, and kept in concealment for six years (II. Kings, 11:1-3). In the seventh year, led by Jehoiada, the priest, the people made him king and slew Athaliah (II. Kings, 11:4-16). At his coronation the people destroyed and broke down the house of Baal, destroyed idols and slew the idolatrous priest (II. Kings, 11:17-21). The young king, under the instruction of Jehoiada, the priest, honored the Lord (II. Kings, 12:1, 2). The most important event in the reign of Jehoash was the repairing of the house of the Lord (II. Kings, 12:4-18; II. Chron., 24:1-4). After the death of Jehoiada, the people and king departed from the Lord. The Lord sent prophets to them, but they would not hear. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, was stoned to death (II. Chron., 24:15-22). The closing years of his reign were characterized by suffering and sorrow, and he was finally assassinated by his own servants (II. Kings, 12:20, 21; II. Chron., 24:23-26). Jehoash reigned forty years (II. Kings, 12:1). He was contemporary with Jehu about twenty-one years (II. Kings, 10:36; 12:1), Jehoahaz seventeen years (II. Kings, 13:1) and Joash about two years (II. Kings, 13:10).

      (12). Important fact. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, the prophet, flourished during the reign of Jehoash (II. Chron., 24:15-22).

      (13). Amaziah, the eighth king. Jehoash was succeeded by his son Amaziah (II. Chron., 24:27). Amaziah's reign was a mixture of good and [186] evil, but the evil finally triumphed. He made great military preparations and defeated the Edomites in battle. Subsequently he challenged the king of Israel to war and was ingloriously defeated (II. Chron., 25:1-28). Amaziah reigned twenty-nine years (II. Kings, 12:19-21; 14:1, 2). He was contemporary with Joash fourteen years (II. Kings, 13:10; 14:1, 2) and Jeroboam II., fifteen years (II. Kings, 14:23).

      (14). Important fact. There was an interregnum of twelve years between the death of Amaziah and the succession of Uzziah (II. Kings, 14:1, 2, 23; 15:1, 2).

      (15). Azariah or Uzziah, the ninth king. Amaziah was succeeded by his son Uzziah. His reign was similar to his predecessors. He had a large standing army, and was successful in war because the Lord helped him (II. Chron., 26:1-15). On account of his great success he became disobedient to the law of God, and attempted to perform the duties of priest, and the Lord sent upon him the terrible disease of leprosy (II. Chron., 26:16-21). Uzziah reigned fifty-two years (II. Kings, 15:1, 2; II. Chron., 26:1, 3). He was contemporary with Jeroboam II., fourteen years (II. Kings, 14:3; 15:1, 2), Zachariah six months (II. Kings, 15:8), Shallum one month (II. Kings, 15:13), Menahem ten years (II. Kings, 15:23) and Pekah about one year (II. Kings, 15:27).

      (16). Important fact. The prophet Amos flourished during the reigns of Uzziah king of Judah and Jeroboam II., king of Israel (Amos, 1:1). It is thought that the prophet Joel also flourished about this time [187] (Joel, 1:1). The most important prophecy of Joel is that which relates to the beginning of the gospel (Joel, 2:28-32; Acts, 2:1-41).

      (17). Jotham, the tenth king. Uzziah was succeeded by his son Jotham whose reign was distinguished by internal improvements, and a successful contest with the Ammonites. His success is attributed to his fidelity to the Lord his God (II. Chron., 27:1-7). Jotham reigned sixteen years contemporaneously with Pekah (II. Kings, 15:27, 32, 33).

      (18). Ahaz, the eleventh king. Jotham was succeeded by his son Ahaz, whose reign was distinguished by the most appalling acts of wickedness known to the history of Judah (II. Chron., 28:1-27). Ahaz reigned sixteen years (II. Kings, 16:1, 2). He was contemporary with Pekah four years (II. Kings, 15:27; 16:1) and Hoshea four years (II. Kings, 17:1).

      (19). Hezekiah, the twelfth king. Ahaz was succeeded by his son Hezekiah (II. Kings, 18:1). He followed in the footprints of his father David (II. Kings, 18:1-3). His reign was distinguished for, (a) the destruction of high places, images, groves and the brazen serpent Moses had made (II. Kings, 18:4); (b) the opening of the house of the Lord (II. Chron., 29:1-18); (c) the subjugation of the Philistines (II. Kings, 18:8); (d) the captivity of Israel (II. Kings, 18:9-12); (e) the comfort brought him by Isaiah the son of Amoz when he was greatly troubled on account of the threats of Rabshakeh the servant of the king of Assyria, and the final throwing off of the Assyrian yoke by the destruction of the army by the [188] Angel of the Lord (II. Kings, 18:13-37; 19:1-37); (f) his miraculous restoration to health--the backward movement of the shadow on the dial (II. Kings, 20:1-11); (g) his mistake in showing his treasures to the ambassadors of the king of Babylon (II. Kings, 20:12-19); (h) the keeping of the passover of the Lord (II. Chron., 30:1-27); (i) he fortified and improved Jerusalem (II. Chron., 32:1-31). Hezekiah reigned twenty-nine years (II. Kings, 18:1, 2), and was contemporary with Hoshea about six years (II. Kings, 17:1; 18:1, 2).

      (20). Important fact. The prophets Isaiah, Hosea, Micah and Nahum flourished during the reigns of the last three or four kings (Isa., 1:1; Hos., 1:1; Mic., 1:1; Nah., 1:1). (a) The chief events in the life of Isaiah were, the beginning of his public ministry in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, by the denunciation of the wickedness of Judah and Israel (Isa., 1:1-31); he predicted that the word of the Lord should go out from Jerusalem, and that finally the nations would beat their implements of war into implements of peace and learn war no more (Isa., 2:1-4); his vision of the glory of God (Isa., 6:1-12); he comforted Ahaz, the king of Judah, and assured him that a virgin should conceive and bring forth a son whose name should be Immanuel (Isa., 7:1-16); he predicted the birth of Jesus Christ and the triumphs of his kingdom (Isa., 9:1-7); he predicted the gathering again of Israel (Isa., 10:20-27; 11:11-16; 14:1-3); he predicted the downfall of Babylon, (Isa., 13:1-22); he predicted the destruction of Moab [189] (Isa., 15:1-9; 16:1-14); he predicted the downfall of Damascus (Isa., 17:1-3); he predicted the downfall of Egypt (Isa., 19:1-25); he comforted Hezekiah, and predicted the overthrow of the Assyrians (II. Kings, 19:6-37; Isa., 37:6-38); his prediction respecting the sickness and restoration of Hezekiah and the sign given him (II. Kings, 20:1-11; Isa., 38:1-8); he condemned Hezekiah for showing his treasures to the ambassadors of the king of Babylon and predicted the captivity of the people of Judah (II. Kings, 20:12-19; Isa., 39:1-8); he predicted the coming of the harbinger of the Lord (Isa., 40:1-8); he predicted the restoration of the captives and the rebuilding of the temple under Cyrus (Isa., 44:28; 45:1-13); he predicted the humiliation and sufferings of the Messiah (Isa., 53:1-12); he predicted the call of the Gentiles (Isa., 54:1-4; 60:1-11); he heard with prophetic ear the glorious invitation of the gospel (Isa., 55:1-5; Matt., 11:28-30); he predicted the giving of the new name (Isa., 62:1-4; Acts, 11:1-26); he described the conquering march of the Messiah (Isa., 63:1-9). (b) The most important feature of Hosea's prophecy is his denunciation of the sins of his countrymen and the cause of all their troubles--the lack of knowledge (Hos., 4:1-6). (c) Micah predicted the proclamation of the word of the Lord from Jerusalem and the destruction of the implements of war (Mic., 4:1-5); and also predicted the birth of Messiah at Bethlehem (Mic., 5:2). (d) Nahum predicted the destruction of Nineveh (Nah., 1:1-15; 2:1-13; 3:1-19). [190]

      (21). Manasseh, the thirteenth king. Hezekiah was succeeded by his son Manasseh (II. Kings, 20:21). The early part of this reign was distinguished by the restoration of the idolatrous practice that had been destroyed by Hezekiah (II. Chron., 33:1-10). As a punishment the Lord allowed the king of Assyria to carry Manasseh a prisoner in fetters into Babylon. During his sojourn there he became humble in sight of God, and He heard him and restored him to his throne, and the latter part of his reign was an honor to himself and the Lord (II. Chron., 33:11-20). Manasseh reigned fifty-five years (II. Kings, 21:1).

      (22). Amon, the fourteenth king. Manasseh was succeeded by his son Amon, who reigned in wickedness two years (II. Kings, 21:18-22; II. Chron., 33:20-24).

      (23). Josiah, the fifteenth king. Amon was succeeded by his son Josiah (II. Kings, 21:26). Many years before his birth, the prophet of the Lord had predicted that he would be a reformer (II. Kings, 13:1, 2). Josiah lived and worked in strict obedience to the law of God. In the eighteenth year of his reign he began to repair the house of the Lord. During the work Hilkiah, the priest, discovered the book of the law and Shaphan, the scribe, read it before the king, who, upon hearing it, expressed with great emphasis his sorrow over the condition of Israel and his fear of the judgments of God. The Lord however gave him assurance that he should live and die in peace (II. Kings, 22:3-20). After this Josiah pushed the work of reformation with great zeal and [191] success, and he finally destroyed the altar at Bethel and burned the bones of the priests according to the predictions of the prophet of the Lord (II. Kings, 23:1-20). After the land had been purged of idolatry, Josiah kept the feast of the passover (II. Chron., 35:1-19). Josiah was killed in a battle with Pharaoh-nechoh the king of Egypt and he was buried in Jerusalem amid great mourning and lamentation (II. Kings, 23:29, 30; II. Chron., 35:20-27), Josiah reigned thirty-one years (II. Kings, 21:26; 22:1).

      (24). Important fact. The prophet Zephaniah flourished during Josiah's reign (Zeph., 1:1); and it is thought that Habakkuk flourished also at this time (Hab., 1:1).

      (25). Jehoahaz, the sixteenth king. The people of the land made Jehoahaz king in his father's place. He reigned three months after which he was dethroned by the king of Egypt (II. Chron., 36:1-3).

      (26). Jehoiakim, the seventeenth king. Jehoahaz was succeeded by Jehoiakim whose wicked reign lasted eleven years. He was finally taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon (II. Chron., 36:5-8).

      (27). Jehoiachin, the eighteenth king. Jehoiakim was succeeded by Jehoiachin, whose wicked reign lasted three months and ten days, after which he was carried into captivity by the king of Babylon (II. Chron., 36:9, 10).

      (28). Zedekiah, the nineteenth king. Jehoiachin was succeeded by his brother Zedekiah who reigned in wickedness eleven years. He made a unsuccessful attempt to throw off the Babylonish yoke. The corruptions that had prevailed for [192] centuries culminated in the destruction of the house of the Lord and the captivity of his people (II. Chron., 36:11-21).

      (29). Important fact. The prophets Jeremiah and probably Obadiah flourished during the closing years of the kingdom of Judah (Jer., 1:1-3; Obad., 1:1). (a) The chief events of the life of Jeremiah were, he was called to the prophetic office in the days of Josiah (Jer., 1:1, 2); he denounced Jerusalem and Judah on account of their sins (Jer., 2:1-37; 3:1-10); he announced to the people the Lord's willingness to receive them if they would repent (Jer., 3:11-25); he was cast into prison by Pashur (Jer., 20:1, 2); he announced to Zedekiah his impending doom (Jer., 21:1-10); he predicted the coming of a righteous king (Jer., 23:5, 6); he foretold the seventy years' captivity (Jer., 25:11, 12); he fled from Jehoiakim to Egypt (Jer., 26:12-21); he condemned the false prophet Hananiah (Jer., 28:1-16); he predicted the restoration of Judah and Israel (Jer., 30:1-3); he predicted the establishment of the new covenant (Jer., 31:31-34); he was imprisoned by Zedekiah (Jer., 32:1-12); he predicted the captivity of Zedekiah (Jer., 34:1-7); his rescue from the dungeon by Ebed-melech (Jer., 38:1-13); the downfall of Jerusalem according to his own prediction (II. Chron., 36:11-21; Jer., 39:1-10); he was kindly treated by Nebuzar-adan (Jer., 39:11-14; 40:1-5); he departed into Egypt with a few of his countrymen (Jer., 43:5-7); he predicted the overthrow of Egypt by the king of Babylon, and the destruction of all the jews who went into Egypt [193] except a small remnant (Jer., 43:8-13; 44:1-28); he predicted the downfall of Babylon (Jer., 50:1-46; 51:1-64). (b) The burden of the prophecy of Obadiah was against Edom (Obad., 1:1-21).

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