THE SINGLE KINGDOM: THE END OF JUDAH FROM JEHOIAKIM TO ZEDEKIAH

We are coming to the end of a great journey in the history of Israel. We have traveled so far, observing mistakes and successes in the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah. We have seen what happens when the leader gets closer to God and when he moves away.’

We have confirmed that obedience brings freedom and that disobedience brings imprisonment. The kingdoms of the North and South suffered the consequences of their choices, so they could not resist, because they were alone, and they chose to stay that way. In this last lesson we must learn this truth: “If you will obey the voice of the Lord your God, all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you […] do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, either to the right or to the left, or go after other gods to worship them” (Deuteronomy 28.2,14).

And since the kingdoms of the North and South forgot this word, the end had come.

NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL (2 Kings 23.35-25.1-26; 2 Chronicles 36.5-21)

In a battle against the Egyptians, Josiah is killed, thus, the reign is assumed by his son Jehoahaz. A lightning-fast government, only three months, enough to directly confront the Lord: “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23.32). In the book of Chronicles, we learn that the people took Jehoahaz and made him king in his father’s place, that is, he was placed there. Jehoahaz was taken captive to Egypt. Pharaoh Necho leaves him imprisoned and even collects taxes from Judah. As if being imprisoned were not enough, Pharaoh also makes Eliakim, his brother, king in his place, and changes his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz dies in the land of the foreigner (2 Chronicles 36.4).

Upon taking his brother’s place, Jehoiakim “did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23.37). When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, invaded Judah, Jehoiakim was subject to him for three years, and during that time he collected taxes of silver and gold from his own people in order to deliver what was imposed on him by Egypt. Consequently, idolatry once again became part of the people’s lives, and they became subject to and served Egypt. Here, the people began to lose their freedom and independence and surrendered themselves completely to the Babylonians. When Jehoiakim died, his son Jehoiachin began to reign, and thus reigned for three months: “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done” (2 Kings 24.9)

After he besieged the city of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiachin and his queen mother captive and takes them to Babylon, “accompanying them into captivity in Babylon, along with officials, palace executives, artisans and all the leaders of the community[1]” and all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and he also establishes Zedekiah, his brother, as king over Judah (2 Chr 36.9,10). In other words, Nebuchadnezzar takes charge of Judah, which was on the verge of exile.

Zedekiah, whose name was Mattaniah and was changed when he was placed king of Judah, reigned for a little over a decade, but “he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke to him on behalf of the Lord” (2 Chr 36:12). Zedekiah did not change at all; he continued to allow the worship and adoration of other gods and when all was lost, he rebelled against Babylon. Not being accepted by the Babylonian king, they besieged the city of Jerusalem and the people, with no way out, suffered famine. Zedekiah, cowardly, left the people alone and fled through the opened wall in the city of Jerusalem, however, he was captured, his eyes were gouged out and before he could see his sons being killed, the main cities were burned, the temple and the king’s house were destroyed also, and the walls that surrounded the city of Jerusalem are torn down. The most well-known and powerful king of the Babylonian empire was “Nebuchadnezzar”[2] who, in a strategic and peculiar way, overcame the Assyrian empire and, with that, was largely responsible for taking the last caravan of Jews into exile (605 BC) in Babylon[3]. The population that was taken captive was very large and “[…] among them were Daniel and his friends” (Daniel 1:1-7)[4]. Nebuchadnezzar, intelligently, laid siege to Jerusalem for a period of approximately two years, destroyed the stupendous temple of Solomon in 586 BC and, in the meantime, began the 70 years of Babylonian captivity[5].

Israel was God’s people, there is no doubt about that, but because they did not obey the Lord or listen to His voice through the prophet, on the contrary, they persecuted and killed the prophets that God sent to guide them. God used the pagans to teach His people. 70 years have passed far from their land, living without freedom and completely dependent on the pagans.

TIME TO GO HOME (2 Chronicles 36.22,23)

God exhorted the people to live true worship, and if they did not obey, they would be enslaved to the pagans, and that is exactly what happened.

It is also true that, at a certain point, God would restore the fortunes of his people. He said he would preserve them out of love for himself and his servant David. Despite the harsh discipline and a very long time as captives in the hands of the Babylonians, God brought the people back. “God’s discipline, however, is not for the destruction, but for the restoration of his people. The Babylonian captivity had a set date to end”[6]. After 70 years the people returned home.

Curiously, God used the pagans to discipline his people, and the same pagans were used to free the nation, “King Cyrus issued a decree allowing the exiles to return to Jerusalem, but it was God who moved his heart”[7]. King Cyrus recognized that it was the Lord who gave him all the kingdoms of the earth (2 Chronicles 36:23).

Jesus has arrived. Our king and liberator, a king who did everything right before the Father, a king who loved his people to the point of giving himself up for them. A king who did not have a crown of gold, but rather a crown of thorns, but who was the only king capable of uniting all saints. I would like to say the last words before concluding that Jesus is the only king and rules this world, everything will be under his lordship, as Rev. Hernandes Dias Lopes said: “In the fullness of time, the Messiah came to establish his kingdom. He lived, died and rose again. He redeemed his people from sin, triumphed over the devil and killed death. He returned to heaven and is seated on the throne. He will come in power to establish his kingdom of glory. His kingdom is eternal, and his throne will never be shaken”[8]. In this kingdom there is only one king, he never surrendered to the world, the devil and idols, he conquered death, paid the price of our slavery and redeemed us completely.

The exiles returned home and rebuilt everything. They started a new life full of peace and hope. Jesus is the king, mediator and agent of reconciliation. Let us tell the world this, our King is the greatest, our King does not lose battles and, therefore, we do not fear bad days. Glory to Him, forever, amen.

CONCLUSION

God is in control of everything. We have reached the end of these lessons and learned some great truths from all of this:

1) God chose a holy people.

2) God requires exclusivity.

3) God disciplines all those he loves.

4) God uses whomever he wants to do his will.

5) God has a time for everything and restores our lives at the right time. How good it is to rest in the promises of the Lord, to know that, despite the punishment we receive because of our sins, this happens because he loves us and wants to restore us. Our God does not take pleasure in punishing us, his delight is in purifying us, that is why he sent his Son to free us definitively so that we will never again be slaves of the pagans.

Take pleasure in God!

Be obedient to his Word, know that he will discipline you when you deserve it, but he will seek your restoration.

Obs: Este texto é uma tradução e adaptação para o inglês da lição 13 da Revista Compromisso da Editora Convicção Ano CXIX, no. 473, para fins de uso didático em sala de Escola Bíblica Dominical.

[1] SCHULTZ, 2009, p. 264.

[2] In the Bible, we find many references to this name in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah and Daniel.

[3] LÓPEZ, Nimrod. O que aconteceu entre o Antigo Testamento e o Novo Testamento? Disponível em < https://coalizaopeloevangelho.org/article/o-que-aconteceu-entre-o-antigo-testamento-e-o-novo-testamento/> Acesso em 25 de março de 2025.

[4] LÓPEZ, ditto.

[5] LÓPEZ, ditto.

[6] LOPES, Hernandes Dias. É hora de voltar para casa. Disponível em Acesso em 25 de março de 2024.

[7] LOPES, ditto.

[8] LOPES, ditto.

Obs: Este texto é uma tradução e adaptação para o inglês da lição 13 da Revista Compromisso da Editora
Convicção Ano CXIX, no. 473, para fins de uso didático em sala de Escola Bíblica Dominical.