Bible Chronology Timeline

5. ISRAEL’S MONARCHY

King David’s Coronation in 3156

In the year 3156 David was crowned king over Israel; he was a man of whom God declared, he is “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” (Acts 13:22). But from ancient times Moses prophesied about the Son of God, when he wrote: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah…” (Genesis 49:10). The scepter of the King of kings would come from Judah, which was the tribe of David.

By God’s providence the plan of salvation was protected by the appointment of Saul as king of Israel. Nonetheless, nothing had been prophesied in connection with Benjamin, the tribe of Saul, in regards to the Redeemer of this world. Yet, Satan had Saul’s offspring completely annihilated thinking that by doing so he was destroying all hope for the human race. But the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) was in the lineage of David. And David himself prophesied about the Son of God, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [the grave]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalms 16:10). Of whom did David prophesy? Let the word of God respond:

“Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day” (Acts 2:29).

What kind of an answer is that? Understand that David prophesied about the Son of God, Who would be born of his loins and he calls Him Lord. “For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand” (Acts 2:34).

“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell [the grave], neither his flesh did see corruption” (Acts 2:30-31).

David’s Acknowledgment of God’s Throne

God in His tender mercy would reserve the tribe of Judah for the preservation of the kingdom of David. God had assured David that from his loins the Majesty of Heaven would be born, whose kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting: “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations” (Psalms145:13). God told David: “thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Sam. 7:16). And to Solomon the promise was ratified: “Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 9:5). David prophesied about the King of kings, our Lord Jesus, Who would be born to the lineage of David’s royalty:

“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre” (Psalms 45:6).

Although the battle to conquer and overthrow God’s plan of salvation for mankind had been tough, it did not prevail against God’s design. The marvelous plan of redemption was again in jeopardy; the kingdom of David ran the risk of succumbing completely to the forces of darkness (1 Kings 11:4-8). Nevertheless, God intervened and His Word was fulfilled, so that Israel’s apostasy was dealt with and David’s royal family punished but not left in despondency, as the Lord had declared: “And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever” (1 Kings 11:39).

Notice that David was the only Hebrew king who was crowned at the age of 30, and David prefigured our Lord, Who on the day when our Father in Heaven acknowledged Him with the words: “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22), “Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age…” (Luke 3:23). Also when our Lord was about to be offered He entered Jerusalem as King, “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way” (Matt. 21:8). But the most amazing thing is that they acknowledged Jesus’ kingship:

“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matt. 21:9).

The disciples prepared for the Lord a colt of an ass that had never been ridden by anybody else, “whereon never man sat” (Mark 11:2). This was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechari

“Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matt. 21:5).

The prophet Jeremiah also ratified David’s prophecy by stating that from David’s lineage the King shall come. He proclaimed Him as follows:

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jeremiah 23:5).

Biblical chronology agrees with these Bible prophecies, and it is in essence a proof that the Lord Jesus, Who is the Son of God, is the King of kings. The word of God clarifies the prophecy of David as follows:

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Hebrews 1:8-9).

Chart of the Kings of Israel

KINGS OF ISRAEL	REIGN	CORONATION	TEXT	WORLD YEAR
Samuel and Saul	End Period of Judges	Both died in 3156	1 Sam. 25:1; 1 Sam. 28:3,7; 1 Sam. 31:4	3156
DAVID	40 years	Crowned at 30 years of age in year 3156	2 Sam. 5:5; 1 Kings 2:11 1 Chronicles 29:27	3196
SOLOMON	40 years	Crowned in year 3196	1 Kings. 11:42 2 Chronicles 9:30	3236
REHOBOAM	17 years	Crowned at 41 years of age in year 3236	1 Kings 14:21 2 Chronicles 12:13	3253
ABIJAM (Abijah)	3 years	Crowned in year 3253	1 Kings 15:2 2 Chronicles 13:2	3256
ASA	41 years	Crowned in year 3256	1 Kings 15:9,10 2 Chronicles 16:13	3297
JEHOSHAPHAT	25 years	Crowned at 35 years of age in year 3297	1 Kings 22:41,42 2 Chronicles 20:21	3322
JEHORAM	8 years	Crowned at 32 years of age in year 3322	2 Kings 8:17 2 Chronicles 21:5 2 Chronicles 21:20	3330
AHAZIAH	1 year	Crowned at 42 years of age in year 3330	2 Kings 8:24,26 2 Chronicles 22:2	3331
ATHALIA	6 years	Crowned in year 3331	2 Chronicles 22:12	3337
JEHOASH (Joash)	40 years	Crowned at 7 years of age in year 3337	2 Kings 12:1 2 Chronicles 24:1	3377
AMAZIAH	29 years	Crowned at 25 years of age in year 3377	2 Kings 14:1-2 2 Chronicles 25:1	3406
UZZIAH (Azariah)	52 years	Crowned at 16 years of age in year 3406	2 Chronicles 26:3 2 Kings 15:2	3458
JOTHAM	16 years	Crowned at 25 years of age in year 3458	2 Kings 15:32-33 2 Chronicles 27:1 2 Chronicles 27:8	3474
AHAZ	16 years	Crowned at 20 years of age in year 3474	2 Kings 16:1-2 2 Chronicles 28:1	3490
HEZEKIAH	29 years	Crowned at 25 years of age in year 3490	2 Kings 18:2 2 Chronicles 29:1	3519
MANASSEH	55 years	Crowned at 12 years of age in year 3519	2 Kings 21:1 2 Chronicles 33:1	3574
AMON	2 years	Crowned at 22 years of age in year 3574	2 Kings 21:19 2 Chronicles 33:21	3576
JOSIAH	31 years	Crowned at 8 years of age in year 3576	2 Kings 22:1 2 Chronicles 34:1	3607
JEHOAHAZ	3 Months	Crowned at 23 years of age in year 3607	2 Kings 23:31 2 Chronicles 36:2	3607
JEHOIAKIM (Eliakim)	4RD year	1st Babylonian Incursion	Daniel 1:1-4 Jeremiah 25:1	3612
JEHOIAKIM (Eliakim)	11 years	Crowned at 25 of age in year 3607	2 Kings 23:36 2 Chronicles 36:5	3618
JEHOIACHIN	3 months	Crowned at 8 years of age in year 3619	2 Kings 24:8 2 Chronicles 36:9	3619
ZEDEKIAH	11 years	Crowned at 21 years of age taken captive in year 3630	2 Kings 24:17-18 2 Chronicles 36:11 Jeremiah 52:1	3630

King Solomon’s Coronation in 3196

In the year 3196 when David had come to the end of his forty year reign and the day of his death had arrived for him, Solomon his son succeeded him on the throne.

By the time of the beginning of Solomon’s reign all the people of Israel did their sacrifices to the Lord in high places because the temple had not yet been built (1 Kings 3:2). On the occasion of his ascension to the throne Solomon went to the hill of Gibeon to sacrifice; this Gibeon was the great high place (1 Kings 3:4). It was on this hill that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and made him an offer for him to ask whatever his heart wished for. Solomon’s wish was:

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9).

Solomon was a humble young man that admitted his weakness and incapacity to rein when he sat on the throne (1 Kings 3:7). Yet he was growing not only in stature but also in wisdom. Having received so much understanding and the capacity of discernment between good and evil Solomon was ready to live a holy and perfect life.

When David’s wars had ceased and he had achieved peace from all his enemies, he desired to build a house for the Lord. Nevertheless, God sent the prophet Nathan to tell him that the honour would go to his son Solomon instead. Therefore, regarding Solomon, God said: “He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Sam. 7:13).

Solomon Dedicates Temple in 3207

It was in the year 3207 that king Solomon finished and dedicated the temple to God. Remember that Solomon’s reign began in the year 3196, and the construction work for the temple began in the 4th year of his reign (2 Chronicles 3:2); therefore the house of the Lord’s foundation stone was placed in the year 3200. The House of the Lord was built on a beautiful mountain called Moriah, in Jerusalem; where God appeared to his father David (2 Chronicles 3:1). It took seven years for the Temple of Solomon to be built (1 Kings 6:38). Therefore, in the eleventh year of Solomon’s reign, the house of the Lord was completely finished (2 Kings 6:38).

When Solomon dedicated the house of the Lord, he had in mind the true house of God; the Heavenly Sanctuary. Therefore, the Holy Spirit led him to conclude:

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27).

The Ark of God’s Testament Seen in His Temple

The Heavenly Sanctuary and the Law of God are intimately associated in relation to God’s final judgment. Notice what happened at the dedication of the temple. Solomon had solemnly declared the greatness and glory of God. Under his command:

“… the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the Most Holy Place, even under the wings of the cherubims” (1 Kings 8:6).

Pay close attention at what kind of ark that was, and where in the temple it was placed, because it has to do with God’s final judgment upon the world. The Word of God explains that “there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel…” (1 Kings 8:9). It is amazing that the ark of the testament contained the Ten Commandments of God, those “two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18).

To John it was shown in vision what will take place on the Day of Judgment; he saw: “the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament” (Revelation 11:19). It was that very ark containing the Commandments of God.

Recently Satan came up with a great idea to deceive God’s people. He is teaching that the Ark of the Covenant has been found because it was hid underneath the temple and that at the crucifixion of Jesus the blood of the Lord fell on the ark and it was secretly slid into a secret chamber prepared for it at the building of the temple. This is serpent language and it teaches one of those superstitions of the heathen religions. Remember that the Lord Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem, away from the temple, as it was prophesied by Moses and explained by Paul: “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). The Lord Jesus was not crucified in the temple but “they took Jesus, and led him away” to be crucified (John 19:16).

Solomon’s Spiritual Downfall

Some time after the year 3207 when Solomon had built and dedicated the house of the Lord, he made one of his first and greatest mistakes; he married the daughter of Pharaoh, King of Egypt (1 Kings 3:1). By marrying a pagan woman Solomon brought on himself a snare that caused his spiritual downfall.

One may question Solomon’s fall from integrity and loyalty to God to decadence and immorality. If Solomon knew how to discern good from evil, what went wrong with him and his wisdom? Is it possible that Solomon had forgotten how the Egyptians worshiped strange demon gods, the gods of the realm of the dead? Did he think himself wise enough not to fall into the temptation of rendering homage to pagan deities and in the end fall prostrate at the feet of false gods? Probably what happened to Solomon’s heart is that he trusted in his own wisdom and stopped depending on God for guidance in his decision-making. These things are written as examples for us. God’s Word counsels us: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Solomon continued in his wrong steps and loved many strange women (1 Kings 11:1). He made mistake after mistake even when God through His statutes had warned every Israelite concerning pagan women: "Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods” (1 Kings 11:1). Yet, Solomon succumbed to licentiousness, living in fornication and a polygamous life with seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:2). Consequently, the many women turned Solomon’s heart to worship diverse demons. He began worshipping Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:5). He built two pagan temples on the hill that is before Jerusalem: the first one for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and the second for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. So degraded was Solomon’s morality that he sacrificed to the gods of all his strange wives (1 Kings 11:7,8).

Solomon was so debased that he spent the years of his early manhood in idolatry, fornication and vice. The world and its customs had made inroad in his heart. With terror in his heart he later uttered words of remorse for his sins and evil ways. Too late he alerted others of the sorrowful state of mind resulting from the sinful and lustful lifestyle he had led:

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” Ecclesiastes 12:1.

Israel had chosen to have a monarchichal system and they reaped what they sowed. Israel’s faithfulness and loyalty to God continuously slipped into apostasy. God’s statutes and commandments were set aside for pagan customs and traditions. They wanted to be like the nations of the world, and they achieved what their evil hearts desired: they fell in idolatry and lustful desires like the rest of the nations. For the sake of stopping the advancement of idolatry God passed a drastic judgment on Israel’s monarchy:

“Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant” (1 Kings 11:11).

Although Solomon was leaving a legacy of idolatry in the midst of Jerusalem, he repented of his wickedness. Solomon’s conversion is summarized in two verses:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

“And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead” (1 Kings 11:43).

Israel’s Monarchy in Jeopardy in 3236

God sent prophet Ahijah with a message to Jeroboam, the servant of Solomon. Ahijah took off his new garment and cut it in twelve pieces and gave ten pieces to Jeroboam to signify that the kingdom of Israel was divided and ten tribes would follow Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:30-31). The reason for the schism was:

“Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father” (1 Kings 11:33).

But in the end the ten tribes would sink into further idolatry and the spiritual reforms for the people of Israel would always come from the Kingdom of Judah, as it was prophesied of Solomon’s son:

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36).

Through the monarchy’s wickedness, Satan intended to bring chaos upon Israel. The nation of Israel sank into idolatry and rebellion against God. Consequently, their apostasy was about to be visited by God’s judgments. When Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, sat on the throne with a proud and despotic heart, he realized that his father had amassed wealth not only by the many economic treaties with foreign nations and by his intermarriages with hundreds of foreign women, but also by making his subjects, the children of Israel, tributaries to the royal treasury by the taxing system. So Rehoboam’s iniquitous heart led him to impose heavier taxes on his people.

Such measure was one of Satan’s stratagems to instigate turmoil and rebellion in the kingdom of Israel to specifically destroy the kingdom of David. David’s grandson King Rehoboam was induced to reject the counsel of the old men in Israel who had advised him to speak kindly to the Israelites and to become a servant of his nation (1 Kings 12:7-8). He rather accepted Satan’s instigations through the immature and unwise counsel of his peers, the youngsters in Israel, and spoke harshly to his people, saying: “My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins” (1 Kings 12:10).

Consequently, a hot battle in the conflict of the ages was taking place in Shechem. Satan’s forces of evil were fighting for total allegiance on the part of the people of Israel and the final destruction of the kingdom of David. Thus, all the people of Israel were gathered in Shechem for the celebrations and coronation of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1). But the gathering erupted into an uncontrollable uproar. Rehoboam had earlier challenged and angered the people with his wicked policies. He even went so far as to infuriate his people with the words: “my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions” (1 Kings 12:11).

Seeing Rehoboam’s obstinacy and harshness, the people took the kingdom in their hands and rebelled against Solomon’s son and crowned Jeroboam to be king over them (1 Kings 12:20).

The ten tribes of Israel were so polluted with idolatrous practices and heathen worship that they cared less whether to adhere to the national sacred token of God’s true religion in Jerusalem, the temple and Jehovah’s true worship. Their wickedness led them to conclude: “What portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse” (1 Kings 12:16). With this last sentence, the nation of Israel declared themselves unbelievers in the true God and antagonistic and rebellious against God’s prophecies and truth. They adjudged themselves as unfit depositaries of God’s plan of salvation. Their idolatry had so hardened their hearts that they had no pleasure in the promises of God. For a long time they had forfeited God’s blessing and now they were adding a curse on themselves by rejecting the plan of salvation and the promise of a Redeemer from the loins of David.

Jeroboam Plunges Israel into Apostasy

But wicked Jeroboam rebelled against God and established his fortress in Shechem (1 Kings 12:25) from where he plunged Israel into further apostasy. To consolidate his domain and prevent his kingdom from returning to Solomon’s son, he passed a decree that Israel must comply with the new religious regulations by refraining to go and sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:27). Together with his advisers he concocted a scheme and built two calves of gold and declared them to be Israel’s gods that brought them out of Egypt (1 Kings 12:28).

Jeroboam did not leave Israel without a religion; but but he was blinded by Satan. Therefore, he established a new form of worship that resembled God’s true religion but that in the end warred against God’ commandments. Consequently, from the very outset of the monarchy’s split in the year 3256, he ordained a festival for sacrificing before either one of two calves placed in Dan and in Bethel respectively (1 Kings 12:29).

The feast that Jeroboam ordained resembled that of the solemn feast of God. However, it was totally opposed to God’s command, for he established it on the eighth month in the fifteenth day of the month (1 Kings 12:32). The solemn feast that Satan and Jeroboam were emulating was that of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34), which was established by God to be a holy convocation of seven days, the first and the eighth days were holy Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:39) and a perpetual statute; it fell on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:34).

Worldwide Apostasy Similar to that of Jeroboam

The Holy Scriptures warn us regarding the unnumbered dangers in emulating the world by adopting its forms of education, culture and worship styles. Satan’s liturgy is employed to bring about change in educational systems, cultural patterns and the Christian faith. Thus, in altering society’s way of thinking he uses text books, symbols, ceremonies and music. And to further subjugate the whole world, Satan employs forms of authoritarian hierarchical government where all power is vested in one man. He is an expert in uniting religion and politics through the authority of one person or a few hierarchical elites. That is why monarchies have played a major role in the world’s history, shaping societies and cultures under selfish autocratic systems. It is said that the only constant is change, but Satan’s form of selfish government does not change, it only changes its names.

In today’s societies it is a sin to speak against sin. It is the authoritarian forms of government which impose their own dogmas and enforce their rulings. They have supplanted the Commandments of God by the so called human rights. The Human Rights Manifesto defends all forms of adultery, fornication, idolatry, witchcraft, drunkenness, and heresies, which are condemned by the Word of God (Galatians 5:19-20). It proclaims with a loud voice to the four winds that liberty of conscience and expression is everybody’s right but they become infuriated when the Word of God is opened to reprove the sin in today’s society. Homosexuality laws are introduced in the nation’s parliaments; and to make things worse they are also introducing religious legislation to enforce the world’s liturgies, including compulsory Sunday worship.

Shemaiah: the Man of God Confirms God’s Judgment

Shechem had recently been the place where God executed judgment on Israel’s national apostasy. Rehoboam was upset with the outcome of his decisions; the idea of a split monarchy was not appealing at all. Therefore, he summoned Judah and his valiant men of war; a hundred and eighty thousand warriors, to fight against the ten tribes of Israel and reestablish order by bringing the kingdom under the rule of one monarch, the son of Solomon (1 Kings 12:21).

While preparations were made for the battle, God sent Shemaiah the man of God with a message for King Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:22). The message was urgent that the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and the remnant of the people (1 Kings 12:23) must remain in their places. Therefore, the man of God spoke a thus says the Lord: “Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me” (1 Kings 12:24). Consequently, Rehoboam and the remnant of the people understood that judgment had been meted out and that it was a judgment from God, so they obeyed the word of God by the mouth of his prophet (1 Kings 12:24).

King Josiah in Prophecy 358 Years before his Birth

Some time in the year 3236 as the apostate king Jeroboam was sacrificing at the pagan altar erected there (1 Kings 13:1) a man of God came from Judah to Bethel. The young prophet presented himself with the title “man of God” probably to protect his identity. Shemaiah was the name of the young prophet (1 Kings 12:22) who is mentioned fifteen times by his pseudonymous title “man of God” (1 Kings 13:1,4,5,6,7,8,11,12,14,21,26,29,31). He was coming from Judah, where he had admonished King Rehoboam about his intentions to battle against Israel’s ten tribes and overthrow Jeroboam’s kingdom.

Fearlessly, and with a vehement voice, the young prophet declared that a child would utterly destroy the works of the impious King Jeroboam. That child was King Josiah, of whom it was prophesied 358 years before his birth. Courageously he exclaimed in the hearing of King Jeroboam:

“O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee” (1 Kings 13:2).

In a frenzy of fury the wicked King Jeroboam extended his hand intending his soldiers to lay hold of the man of God and kill him (1 Kings 13:4). But God intervened and saved the man of God’s life by withering Jeroboam’s hand who could not retrieve it until the man of God besought the Lord and the king’s hand was restored to normal (1 Kings 13:4,6).

In a triumphant manner, Jeroboam thought that he could buy the favor of God or mock God’s message by inviting the man of God to accept a royal reception in his honour and offering him a costly gift (1 Kings 13:7). But the man of God remained steadfast and clung to the Word of God and replied to the perverse king that even if the offer were half his house he would not eat bread or drink water in that wicked place of Bethel (1 Kings 13:8). By the refusal of Jeroboam’s offer, the young prophet gave testimony of God’s displeasure against that place, therefore he would not partake of food or water, nor return home to Judah by the same way, for God had advised him so (1 Kings 13:9).

Satan was infuriated against God and wanted by all means to spoil the message and lead Israel to disregard the prophecy. Therefore, he moved an old prophet from Bethel to go and entice the man of God (1 Kings 13:11,14). The old man found the young prophet resting under the shade of the oak and offered him food (1 Kings 13:15). The old prophet deceived the man of God, assuring him that he was a prophet also and that an angel had spoken to him to bring the man of God and eat bread and drink water; so he went back to the old man’s house (1 Kings 13:18,19). While they were eating at the old man’s table, the old prophet uttered God’s judgment against the man of God that because he disobeyed the commandment of God, his body would not be buried in the tomb of his fathers (1 Kings 13:20-22).

Judgment was visited upon the man of God who after mounting a borrowed donkey from the old prophet, was slain by a lion outside the city (1 Kings 13:24). The sad news reached the old prophet who declared that the corpse laying in the way was the man of God who was disobedient to God (1 Kings 13:26).

People question God’s dealings in this episode, but the death of that young prophet was an object lesson for the wicked people of Israel. The message given by the man of God was a matter of life and death. It was a very serious message, to the extent that God would not have eaten in that place, as Israel had not found favor in God’s sight. By eating in Betthel, the strong message would lose its power. Remember that the Lord wants to eat with us (Revelation 3:20). But we need to find favor with the Lord, just as the patriarch Abraham did who pleaded with God: “My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant” (Genesis 18:3).

The old prophet arrived at the scene and took the man of God’s body and buried him in his own grave, and mourned bitterly over him as he uttered his fateful words: Alas my brother! (1 Kings 13:30). The old prophet gave strict command to his sons, saying: “When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulcher wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones” (1 Kings 13:31). He assured his children that the prophecy, concerning the destruction of the altar and the high places built by Jeroboam, would certainly be fulfilled (1 Kings 13:32).

The Shocking Scenes in Samaria’s Siege in 3315

The scenes in Samaria are proof that idolatry and the rejection of the statutes of God will inevitably result in moral decadence and selfishness to the point of committing murder just to survive.

It happened in the year 3315, the 18th year of Jehosaphat King of Judah, while Joram the son of Ahab reigned in Samaria (2 Kings 3:1; 2 Kings 8:16) and Elisha, who also dwelt in Samaria (2 Kings 5:3), was the anointed prophet (2 Kings 3:11). At that time Benhadad king of Syria besieged Samaria (2 Kings 6:24); the palace city of the ten tribes of Israel. God had warned the Israelites: “And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me, then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat” (Leviticus 26:27-29).

During that siege the king of Israel was shocked to hear what was happening inside his palace city. The curses spoken by Moses (Deuteronomy 28:45) were fell upon the wicked city of Samaria and its inhabitants. Because of the famine, they committed outrageous deeds to the point that even the mothers practiced cannibalism by eating their own babies (2 Kings 6:28-29). Then King Joram blamed the prophet Elisha for the condition of Israel, and he swore to behead the prophet (2 Kings 6:31).

The problem with idolatry is that it blinds people to the fact that sin brings its own retribution. Joram blamed Elisha when he had nothing to do with the day of payback for Israel’s sin. Moses had prophesied about the dire effects of idolatry when the sanctuary message is rejected and a worldly system of humanistic worship is accepted.

Moses declared that even the delicate woman would turn an evil eye against her husband, her son and her daughter (Deuteronomy 28:56), and would eat her newborn baby in secret (Deuteronomy 28:57). And the real culprit for this calamitous situation was the idolatrous person who ventured to despise God’s Law; God had warned them of the dire consequences “If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD” (Deuteronomy 28:58).

Amos Condemns the Symbol of their Star in 3406

Around the year 3406, in the days of King Uzziah; two years before a great earthquake (Amos 1:1), God sent his prophet Amos to reprove Israel’s wickedness and deliver a message of judgment against Israel because they had fallen into all kinds of idolatry. The Jews had made themselves a symbol, the Star of David, as it is called today. It had its origins in the days of prophet Amos and he reproved Israel because of that hexagram when he said: “But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves” (Amos 5:26).

Assyria Threatens Israel in the Days of Isaiah in 3504

It was in the year 3504, the 14th year of King Hezekiah (Isaiah 36:1), when “Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them” (Isaiah 36:1). The Assyrian king reproached Hezekiah (Isaiah 36:4) because he did a great reform in Israel and ridiculed him with these words: “…if thou say to me, we trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away…?” (Isaiah 36:7). With such a reproach Satan tried to shake Israel’s faith, mocking them for their spiritual reform and creating doubts in their minds regarding God’s holy statutes. Satan intended to push Israel into a state of hopelessness, because the enemy knows that “despondency may shake the most heroic faith, and weaken the most steadfast will”.

Satan intended to make Israel feel as if God was displeased with them for having eradicated from their worship ceremonies the visible images which are nothing but a mockery and an affront against the Creator. Yet the Word of God was in the mouth of Isaiah, a word of hope as he said: “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5). Furthermore, the prophet admonished Israel that God had forsaken them for many reasons (Isaiah 2:6). Isaiah continued:

“Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made” (Isaiah 2:8).

Sennacherib, on the other hand, also reproached Israel, this time for trusting in the Creator God. His words were: “...Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you” (Isaiah 36:14), “Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria” (Isaiah 36:15).

And mockingly Sennacherib added: “Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? And have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?” (Isaiah 36:19). Samaria had fallen under the yoke of Assyria because of their unrepentant attitude against God’s statutes. But Hezekiah “rent his cloths and covered himself with sackcloth, and went to the house of the Lord (Isaiah 37:1). Moreover, he sent “the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet…” (Isaiah 37:2), to whom Isaiah said: “… Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me” (Isaiah 37:6). “Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour…” (Isaiah 37:7). The rumour was that the angel of the Lord went to the Assyrian troops and killed 185,000 of the Assyrians “and when they [the Israelites] arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses” (Isaiah 37:36).

Fifteen more Years for Hezekiah in 3504

In the year 3504, shortly after Sennacherib (who was the right arm of Satan at that time), had threatened to exterminate Israel, “in those days was Hezekiah sick unto death…” (Isaiah 38:1). And God sent His prophet Isaiah who told the dying monarch: “Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live” (Isaiah 38:1). But, because Hezekiah prayed to the Lord (Isaiah 38:3), “then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, go and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father…I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city” (Isaiah 38:5-6).

Did you notice that the Lord Almighty identifies and differentiates Himself from all other false gods? He is the God of David, who was a son of Israel from the bloodline of Isaac the son of Abraham. The only true God gave Hezekiah a sign (Isaiah 38:7) as a token of His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises for Hezekiah: “Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees… ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down” (Isaiah 38:8).

 3504     The 14th year of King Hezekiah’s reign
  +  15    God gives Hezekiah fifteen more years to live
 = 3519  Year when King Hezekiah died and Isaiah received his last vision

How impressive to see that the Word of God is consistent and trustworthy throughout the centuries! The entire Bible’s historical data in more than three and a half millennia, up to the days of Isaiah, coincides with the perfect biblical chronology which began in the Garden of Eden. Did you notice that the Bible’s chronological year 3504 corresponds to the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign in Israel? If not, review the chronological charts and you will also be amazed to see that the extended fifteen year lifespan for Hezekiah also corresponds to the total reigning period for the monarch, which ended in 3519. Such wonderful data fits nicely together in these chronologies of the mysteries of God.

Hezekiah recovered from his illness, just as God had promised, but he committed a grievous sin, when he displayed all the palace treasures to the envoy of Baladan King of Babylon (Isaiah 39:1). For that reason Isaiah said to him:

“Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 39:6).

Isaiah Prophesies From 3458 - 3519

Gradually Israel had fallen into further idolatry as they had despised God’s statutes and judgments and embraced the heathen practices of their neighboring enemies. In those dangerous times God sent prophet Isaiah who ministered by reproving monarchs, magnates and the common Israelite. The first vision was probably given to Isaiah in the year 3458 when King Uzziah died, and he continued during the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1). Isaiah continued in his ministry until the year 3519. He had a son called Shearjashub with whom he ministered and confronted the monarchs. The two certainly went together to meet Ahaz (Isaiah 7:3).

Isaiah’s wonderful vision of God’s throne was given him in the year 3458 as the prophet wrote: “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). In the year 3490 when king Ahaz died, Isaiah had another vision to reprove Palestine (Isaiah 14:28-29). Part of the message was: “I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant (Isaiah 14:30). Isaiah also prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem in the same year when Ahaz died.

Isaiah Prophesies About the Persian King Cyrus

Sometimes when God reveals a prophecy it is with the purpose that the sanctuary message be upheld. Isaiah prophesied about Cyrus even two centuries in advance. He wrote about Cyrus: “He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid” (Isaiah 44:28). Not many monarchs are given a more honorable title from God, than that given to the Persian king, Isaiah said: “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus” (Isaiah 45:1).

Notice that the Creator is addressing a monarch who was to come into existence more than two hundred years in the future. King Cyrus was from the land of Persia located in what is modern Iran, he was appointed by the Lord God “to subdue nations before him…” (Isaiah 45:1). Cyrus was the king who would conquer the kingdom of Babylon located in what is modern Iraq. Now notice that both Iran and Iraq have in relatively recent history adopted Islam as their national religion; that is, what they call the Islamic faith of Ishmael. But when Isaiah prophesied regarding the Persian King Cyrus, he spoke of this monarch as one who would be serving the God of Israel; he spoke of the Hebrew’s faith, which is the faith of Isaac. What is more, God differentiates Himself from all other gods when He addresses Cyrus:

“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel” Isaiah 45:3.

The God of Israel! He really knows how to differentiate Himself from all other self-appointed gods. He tells Cyrus:

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me” (Isaiah 45:5).

At this point allow me to ask this question: Is it possible that all religions worship the same God? If your response is a yes, the God of Israel who spoke directly to Isaiah holds a contrary view. He says “…there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:6). Who is this God who addresses a Persian king? How do we know that the God of Israel is the true God? Well, He is the Creator, you see, that is the BIG difference! He says: “I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens and all their host have I commanded (Isaiah 45:12). Only the God of Israel has the sanctuary message of redemption for the salvation of this world, as the Word of God says:

“Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it” (Isaiah 45:8).

This biblical chronology proves that the God of Israel is the God of Adam, the father of all races. Therefore, the God of Isaac is the One of Whom it is written: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Now ask yourself another question: If all the earth worships the same God, would not the world’s religions keep the Law of the God of Adam? Only one of the Ten Commandments identifies the true God, the Creator (Exodus 20:8-11). If the world’s major religions wish to worship the Creator they would keep the day of the Lord holy. The day of the Lord as given to Adam was and is the seventh day of the week, Sabbath (Saturday); that is the day which identifies God as the Creator. Read Genesis 2:1-3 and you will find that the God of Isaac and Moses is the God of Abraham and of Adam. Therefore, the God Who “blessed the seventh day, and sanctified” (Genesis 2:3), gave to Adam and to Abraham the seventh day of the week to worship the Creator... “Because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 3:2).

Reader if you are a Muslim, consider for a moment what the Creator God said to King Cyrus. He revealed Himself as the God of Israel. You may ask: But what is the day of the Creator? The correct answer is the Sabbath! Then why is that in the lands of King Cyrus Muslims are taught to keep the sixth day of the week Friday? Well… What does the Holy God of Israel command? Reader, the Holy God of Israel will reveal to you which day of the week is the day of the Lord, in His fourth commandment He says: “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God…” (Exodus 20:10). If the world wants to wander after other gods, the Lord has just one sentence, as Isaiah said: “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!” (Isaiah 45:9). Bear in mind that in the Word of God the days of the week do not have a name but a number; only the seventh day has a name. Notice what the evangelist Matthew says: “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher” (Matt. 28:1).

Isaiah Prophesies About the Savior of the World

The essence of the sanctuary message is God’s pouring down of righteousness and salvation on earth (Isaiah 45:8). You see, the altar of sacrifice and the sprinkling of blood in the Holy Place have significance only if such symbols will lead you to the Savior Who was symbolized by the sanctuary ceremonies.

Reader, if you are a sincere Jew, consider the writings of Isaiah, he prophesied about the Savior of the world; the God of Israel, and he wrote God’s declaration:

“I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Savior” (Isaiah 43:11).

Notice that of all the gods in the world there is only One Who can save us, the only One Who is the true God, He says: “For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior…” (Isaiah 43:3). Moreover, the God of Israel says: “…all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:26). Then the Almighty God of Abraham spoke about the Redeemer: “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God (Isaiah 44:6).

Friend, if you are a Jew or a Muslim or a true seeker of truth, consider the person of Whom Isaiah wrote in his book, because he wrote about the Redeemer and Savior, the God of Israel. The Lord says: “…thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 60:16). The person of whom Isaiah wrote as Redeemer, Daniel identifies as the Messiah. But either as Redeemer or Messiah, that Holy God of Israel fulfills the same role.

You may have many questions regarding the role of the Redeemer. To address that matter let us consider this question: What is the purpose of God’s redemption? Let the Word God respond:

“Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalms 130:7-8).

Notice that the Redeemer is God who alone is able to forgive sins. Now, the following revelation by the prophet Isaiah may be astonishing, but the Redeemer or Messiah, is also a rejected servant, despised and rejected of men. Let the word of God explain this:

“Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee” (Isaiah 49:7).

Isaiah further presents the sanctuary message in his famous chapter 53 of his book. He presents the Redeemer as a lamb to the slaughter, bringing the altar of sacrifice to remembrance as the Servant Who would be sacrificed in order to achieve redemption. Of Him it is written:

“He is despised and rejected of men…” (Isaiah 53:3), “he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4). “He was wounded for our transgression; he was bruised for our iniquities…” (Isaiah 53:5). Moreover, “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6), and “for the transgression of my people was he stricken” (Isaiah 53:8), yet, “…he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9), “…he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter…” (Isaiah 53:7), “yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin…” (Isaiah 53:10).

Notice that the Redeemer of Israel is the One who is offered in sacrifice for the remission of sins. He purged our iniquities and transgression because only God can take away the sins of the world. The people of Samaria exclaimed: “…Now we believe… for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (John 4:42). Of Him Peter exclaimed:

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:30-31).

When Isaiah and Daniel prophesied about the Messiah, they were conscious of the fact that God intended His children to understand the chronologies leading towards the fulfillment of such Messianic prophecies. But Satan has tried to obliterate the Word of God from off the face of the earth. On the contrary Isaiah prophesied: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

Prophecy of Josiah’s Reform Fulfilled in 3594

King Josiah fulfilled the prophecy which 358 years earlier had been proclaimed by Shemaih (the man of God who was killed by a lion). It was the year 3594 the 18th year of King Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22:3), when by God’s providence the King sent Shaphan to the temple to request of the high priest Hilkiah to count the silver that had been gathered to repair the breaches in the house of the Lord and give it to the workers (2 Kings 22:4,5).

A great reform was about to be made in the nation of Israel. But king Josiah’s concern for the repairs to the temple was about to be preceded by a great spiritual reform. In response to Josiah’s request, Shaphan appeared at the temple when the high priest Hilkiah revealed the awesome news that he had found in the temple the book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8). Shaphan read the book carefully and brought a report to King Josiah, telling him that the money gathered for the repairs of the house of the Lord had been delivered to the workers (2 Kings 22:9). In addition, he explained how Hilkiah the priest had found the book of the Law which he had handed on to him. He then read it to the king (2 Kings 22:10).

With trembling heart King Josiah tore his clothes when he heard the words of the book of the Law (2 Kings 22:11). He immediately summoned the high priest Hilkiah, Shaphan and his son Ahikam and Achbor the son of Michaiah to inquire of the Lord for him and for all Judah (2 Kings 22:12-13).

So the high priest Hilkiah and the other leaders went to a prophetess of the Lord, a lady called Huldah and gave Josiah’s message to her (2 Kings 22:14). Huldah prophesied to them and told them that God’s judgment was soon to be executed on the nation of Israel, and that God would bring evil on that place, because they had forsaken the Lord and had burnt incense to other gods (2 Kings 22:16,17). But God’s judgment was to be deferred because Josiah humbled himself and had a tender heart (2 Kings 22:19).

Israel’s Genuine National Reform in 3594

In a solemn manner and with urgency King Josiah summoned the elders of Judah and Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:1) and made a covenant before the Lord to keep God’s commandments, testimonies and statutes with all their heart and all their soul (2 King 23:3). Immediately the execution of Josiah’s command was carried out.

Josiah ordered to utterly burn the vessels dedicated to Baal which had been placed in the house of the Lord (2 Kings 23:4). He also sent to kill the idolatrous priests who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon and the host of heaven (2 Kings 23:5). Then, he brought out the grove from the house of the Lord and burned it to ashes and poured the ashes on the graves of the people (2 Kings 23:6).

Josiah’s reform of purging Israel of sinful practices, customs, rituals and idolatrous worship styles was unstoppable. He destroyed the houses of the Sodomites that were by the temple (2 Kings 23:7). He defiled and broke down the high places from Geba to Beersheba (2 Kings 23:8). Josiah went to the valley of the children of Hinom and defiled Topheth, so to stop the wicked practice of passing their children through the fire (2 Kings 23;10). He also took away the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun and burned the chariots of the sun (2 Kings 23:11).

With earnest zeal for God Josiah endeavored to eradicate from Israel the culture of apostasy introduced by his predecessors, the kings before him. Therefore, he destroyed the altars on the upper chamber of Ahaz and burned the altars which Manasseh had built in the house of the Lord (2 Kings 23:12). He also destroyed the high places on the mount of corruption where Solomon had built altars to Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom (2 Kings 23:13) He broke in pieces the images, and cut down the groves and filled their places with bones of men (2 Kings 23:14).

The Man of God’s Tomb Honored in 3594

In order that the prophecy given three and a half centuries earlier by the man of God should be fulfilled, Josiah broke down the altar that Jeroboam had built in Bethel, burned the high place and the grove (2 Kings 23:15). When he noticed the sepulchers built on the mountain he exhumed their bones and burned them upon Jeroboam’s altar, exactly as Shemiah, the man of God had prophesied 358 years earlier (2 Kings 23:16).

In his zeal for God, King Josiah walked up and down the pagan cemetery, desecrating and exhuming the bones of the idolatrous priests. He noticed a particular tomb in which there was a strange epitaph: “The man of God”. The king stopped in front of it and asked: “What title is that that I see?” (2 Kings 23:17). The locals of Bethel replied immediately that it was the sepulcher of the man of God, who came from Judah and prophesied about King Josiah and his reform by cleansing Israel’s idolatry and destroying the pagan altar of Bethel (2 Kings 23:17). In solemn respect Josiah commanded his men to leave that sepulcher untouched and not to exhume the bones of prophet Shemiah (the man of God); they also left untouched the bones of the old prophet whose bones also remained in the same tomb (2 Kings 23:18).

All other sepulchers were desecrated and their remains exhumed; all except the one tomb having the epitaph bearing the title “The Man of God.” This gravestone’s inscription bore testimony to God’s truthfulness. There lay the remains of two prophets who had condemned the idolatrous practices in Israel and had hoped for the day of retribution and national cleansing through the execution of judgment (1 Kings 13:32).

The Grand Passover of 3594

In that same year 3594, the 26 year old King Josiah proclaimed throughout Israel that national apostasy should be countered and stopped by a national repentance. Therefore he commanded that a Passover ceremony be held. So magnificent was that Passover that it had no comparison with any other, because neither in the period of the judges nor that of any of the kings before Josiah had a Passover of such magnitude ever been celebrated (2 Kings 23:22). Moreover, of Josiah it is written:

“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him” (2 Kings 23:25).

But the day of retribution against Judah was still pending. The Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, as His anger was kindled against Judah because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him with (2 Kings 23:26).

While Josiah was converted to the Lord with all his heart, and no other king compared to him in his zeal for God, yet his grandfather Manasseh had doomed Judah to future punishment. Manasseh had introduced unnumbered forms of idolatrous worship styles in Judah; “he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them” (2 Kings 21:3). Moreover, “he built altars in the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 21:4); “he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 21:5). In his unstoppable delusion and sin “he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger (2 Kings 21:6). The children of Israel rejected the Lord and hardened their hearts to hear the Law of God “and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel (2 Kings 21:9). He also “shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another…” (2 Kings 21:16). He also killed the prophets.

Although Manasseh was converted to the Lord, the seed of his evil belief system and practices would spring up as soon as conditions would permit. Therefore, God was about to punish them because of their wickedness.

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