Bible Commentary

The Reign of Hezekiah The chapter begins with the introduction of King Hezekiah, who ruled over Judah. It is recorded that he began his reign in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. Hezekiah is immediately praised in the text as a righteous […]

The Reign of Hoshea and the Fall of Samaria The chapter opens with the reign of Hoshea, the final king of the northern kingdom of Israel. It is recorded that he began to rule in the twelfth year of King Ahaz of Judah and reigned for nine years in Samaria. The text notes that he

The Reign of King Ahaz The chapter begins by introducing King Ahaz of Judah. It is recorded that he was twenty years old when he began to reign, and his reign lasted for sixteen years in Jerusalem. This period is placed chronologically within the seventeenth year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah, the

Azariah’s Long Reign in Judah Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah became king in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign and ruled for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem, indicating his connection to the capital city’s established

Amaziah Becomes King of Judah Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah in the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign and ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem, indicating his connection to the capital

Jehoahaz’s Reign and Israel’s Oppression Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria in the twenty-third year of Joash king of Judah. He reigned seventeen years over the northern kingdom, continuing the dynasty that his father had established through divine appointment. His reign was marked by both spiritual failure and military weakness. Jehoahaz

Joash’s Early Righteous Rule Joash began to reign in the seventh year of Jehu’s rule over Israel and reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba, indicating his connection to the southern region of Judah. The length of his reign demonstrated God’s blessing on the restored Davidic dynasty. Joash did what

Athaliah’s Seizure of Power and Massacre When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal seed. This unprecedented action by a queen mother represented an attempt to seize absolute power by eliminating all legitimate heirs to the throne of Judah. Her murderous rampage targeted her

Jehu’s Letters to Samaria’s Leaders Jehu wrote letters to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab’s children in Samaria. These letters were sent to test the loyalty of the city’s leadership and to complete the destruction of Ahab’s dynasty. The recipients included seventy sons of Ahab who were

Elisha Commissions a Young Prophet Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets and gave him a crucial mission. The prophet instructed the young man to take a flask of oil and go to Ramoth Gilead where the army was stationed. This mission would initiate God’s judgment on the house of Ahab. The young