As for the king himself, this is what I, the Lord God of Israel, say: You listened to what is written in the book, and you repented and humbled yourself before me, tearing your clothes and weeping, when you heard how I threatened to punish Jerusalem and its people. I will make it a terrifying sight, a place whose name people will use as a curse. But I have heard your prayer…
Please here my prayer, Father. And I’m listening…
…the punishment which I am going to bring on Jerusalem will not come until after your death. I will let you die in peace.”
Josiah took this to mean you had “carte blanche” but no (2 Kings 23:29). Do not put your Lord to the test (Matthew 4:5-7).
Joahaz… became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for three months. …King Neco made Josiah’s son Eliakim king of Judah as successor to Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Joahaz was taken to Egypt by King Neco, and there he died.
Joahaz had to have seen the writing on the wall after Israel’s defeat (2 Chronicles 35:20-24).
This happened at the Lord’s command, in order to banish the people of Judah from his sight because of all the sins that King Manasseh had committed, and especially because of all the innocent people he had killed. The Lord could not forgive Manasseh for that.
Like Saul (2 Samuel 21:1-14), Manasseh’s life continued to curse long after his death. May my life be the opposite, Lord: a blessing even after I’ve passed from the scene (Genesis 22:15-18).
…the Babylonian army, commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar’s officers, marched against Jerusalem and besieged it. During the siege Nebuchadnezzar himself came to Jerusalem, and King Jehoiachin, along with his mother, his sons, his officers, and the palace officials, surrendered to the Babylonians. In the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign he took Jehoiachin prisoner…
Jehoiachin did exactly what he should have (Jeremiah 38:17). Nebuchadnezzar’s coming in person was proof of his good faith.
Nebuchadnezzar… carried off to Babylon all the treasures in the Temple and the palace. As the Lord had foretold, Nebuchadnezzar broke up all the gold utensils which King Solomon had made for use in the Temple.
As foretold (2 Kings 20:16-18). It will be like Solomon never existed: all his “things” were taken away. May my life leave more than that, Lord (Hebrews 11:4)!