1 Chronicles 1-2

1 Chronicles 1-2

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 1: Genealogy of Adam

The first chapter of 1st Chronicles tells us a few things. First we already know that Adam and Eve had three sons by name (Genesis 4:1-2,4:25) and many other unnamed sons and daughters (Genesis 5:4). Yet in the first opening verses we read nothing about Cain and Abel, but only of Seth. So we know that there is a more specific reason for this set of Genealogy, leaving out Cain and Abel.

                While there is much we don't know and there is a LOT MORE that I don't know I have included what I do know, with the actual verses from 1 Chronicles chapter one for your own reading and studying.

                Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth were the survivors of the flood and the sons of Noah became the basis for the family in the post-flood world.

The sons of Japheth is commonly known/supposed to have been the ones who founded the people of Europe, and northern Asia.

From Javan: the Greek Ionia

From Gomer: the Ancient Cimmerians of the Russian plains

From Madai: Medes and Persians of Iran

From Tubia and Meschech: the inhabitants of the Turkish area.

From Kittim and Rodanim: the Islands of Cyprus and Rhodes

The sons of Ham were most likely the people who populated Africa and the Far East.

From Cush: we have two divisions or branches; some founded Babylon and others founded Ethiopia.

From Mizraim: Egypt

From Put: Libya

From Canaan: Israel

The sons of Shem, from Shem we have Elam who was an ancestor to the Persian people.

From Asshur: the Assyrians

From: Lud: the Lydians

From Aram: the Arameana also known as the Syrians

From Arphaxad: the ancestor to Abram and the Hebrews.

1. Adam, Sheth, Enosh,
2. Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,
3. Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
4. Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
6. And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
7. And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
8. The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9. And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
10. And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.
11. And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
12. And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.
13. And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
14. The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,
15. And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
16. And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
17. The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.
18. And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.
19. And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one wasPeleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother’s name was Joktan.
20. And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
21. Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,
22. And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
23. And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
24. Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
25. Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26. Serug, Nahor, Terah,
27. Abram; the same is Abraham.
28. The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
29. These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
30. Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,
31. Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
32. Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.
33. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
34. And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.
35. The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
36. The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.
37. The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38. And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.
39. And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna wasLotan’s sister.
40. The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.
41. The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
42. The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.
43.  Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
44. And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
45. And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.
46. And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
47. And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
48. And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
49. And when Shaul was dead, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
50. And when Baal-hanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife’s name wasMehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
51. Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,
52. Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
53. Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
54. Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.

Chapter 2: The Sons of Israel


The descendants of Abraham.

1. These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
2. Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
3. The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord; and he slew him.
4. And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
5. The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
6. And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
7. And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.
8. And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.
9. The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
10. And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
11. And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,
12. And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,
13. And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,
14. Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
15. Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:
16. Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
17. And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.
18. And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah hiswife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.
19. And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.
20.  And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.
21. And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub.
22. And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead.
23. And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
24. And after that Hezron was dead in Caleb-ephratah, then Abiah Hezron’s wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.
25. And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.
26. Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah; shewas the mother of Onam.
27. And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.
28. And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.
29. And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid.
30. And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children.
31. And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai.
32. And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children.
33. And the sons of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
34. Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
35. And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai.
36. And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,
37. And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed,
38. And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah,
39. And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah,
40. And Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum,
41. And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.
42. Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
43. And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.
44. And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai.
45. And the son of Shammai was Maon: and Maon was the father of Beth-zur.
46. And Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez.
47. And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph.
48. Maachah, Caleb’s concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah.
49. She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.
50. These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim,
51. Salma the father of Beth-lehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader.
52. And Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim had sons; Haroeh, andhalf of the Manahethites.
53. And the families of Kirjath-jearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.
54. The sons of Salma; Beth-lehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.
55. And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Summary of 2 Kings

Summary of 2 Kings

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

2 Kings 1-2:  "John the Baptist" - Elijah Prophesies the Death of Ahaziah/Elijah and Elisha 
2 Kings 3-4:   The Moabites are Defeated/Elisha Raises a Boy from Death 
2 Kings 5-6:  Naaman Washes in the Jordan River/Floating Axe 
2 Kings 7-8:  Israel Takes Spoil/Elisha Prophesies a Seven Year Famine 
2 Kings 9-10:  Jezebel Slain and Eaten by Dogs/Ahab's 70 Sons Are Slain 
2 Kings 11-12:  Jehiada Destroys the House of Baal/Jehoash (Joash) Reigns in Righteousness 
2 Kings 13-14:  Jehoahaz Reigns in Wickedness/Jeroboam Reigns in Wickedness 
2 Kings 15-16:  Israel and Judah in Wickedness/Ahaz Reigns in Wickedness 
2 Kings 17-18:  The Catholic Church?/Hezekiah Reigns in Righteousness 
2 Kings 19-20:  Hezekiah Seeks Counsel from Isaiah/Hezekiah Pleads with the Lord 
2 Kings 21-22:  Manasseh Does Evil/Josiah Reigns in Righteousness 
2 Kings 23-25: The Book of the Covenant/Jerusalem Taken by Nebuchadnezzar/The Fall of Jerusalem

Summary of 2 Kings:

The Second Book of Kings (2 Kings) is a narrative History and Prophecy of the affairs and dealings of the divided nations/kingdoms. The book was written around 550 B.C. and it's author is unknown, although it has been rumored that Jeremiah might have written it. We learn about many characters including; Elijah, Elisha, Naaman, Jezebel, Jehu, Joash, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Isaiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah and Nebuchadnezzar. Some things that we can learn or take from this book is that those who obey God, will be blessed and those who do not obey him will not be blessed and are usually cursed. Love GOD!

                In the first chapters we read about the miracles of Elijah and his apprentice of sorts "Elisha". Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind  and because of this Elisha asks God for a double portion of Elijah's spirit that he might be able to carry on with the work of the Lord as His prophet. The remaining chapters tell of the violence and wars that occurred between the kingdoms. We learn that the last evil king Hoshea, because of his evil ways he and his kingdom are taken in under the Assyrian Empire who take them into captivity!

2 Kings 23-25

2 Kings 23-25

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 23: The Book of the Covenant

                The King sent for all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem to come unto him. The King then went up into the house of the Lord and read out to them all the words of the Book of the Covenant. Then the King stood by a pillar and made a covenant there with all the elders to God that they would follow the words of the book and do good in the eyes of the Lord.

                So the King commanded everyone to take anything that belonged to the worship of Baal and burn it in a field.  In the eighteenth year of King Josiah a Passover was held to the Lord in Jerusalem.

                The King of Egypt decides to go up against the Assyrian Empire, but King Josiah went up against him and his servants carried him dead from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. The people then took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's stead. Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he began to reign and he reigned for 3 months in Jerusalem and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

                The King of Egypt; Pharaoh-nechoh put king Jehoahaz in band at Riblah in the land of Hamath that he might not reign in Jerusalem. Instead the king of Egypt put Eliakim the other son of Josiah king and renamed him; "Jehoiakim" and took Jeoahaz to Egypt where he would later die. Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he began to reign and he reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Chapter 24: Jerusalem Taken by Nebuchadnezzar

                Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon comes up and makes Jehoaikim his servant for three years. But Jehoaikim rebels against him. Jehoaikim gets some help from the Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites and the children of Ammon. Jehoaikim dies and his son Jehoiachin reigns in his stead. Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he began to reign and he reigned in Jerusalem for 3 months and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

                The King of Babylon comes and besieges the land and takes Jehoiachin and his household and also carried away all the treasures of the house of the Lord, including vessels of Gold that King Solomon had made in the Temple. The king of Babylon also took over 10,000 captive and brought them back to Babylon, he then appointed Mattaniah his father's brother, whose name was changed to Zedekiah to reign in his stead.

                Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to reign and he reigned in Jerusalem for 11 years and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Chapter 25: The Fall of Jerusalem

                In the ninth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon he came to Jerusalem and pitched against it and build forts all around the city. Because of the surrounding armies, the city of Jerusalem started to go hungry for the lack of bread.

                Here is where things really get interesting, and where the Book of Mormon can help us understand more of the story from the Bible....

                "And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees took him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass and carried him to Babylon." (2 Kings 2:25)

                According to this story all of the sons of Zedekiah were killed, however in the Book of Mormon it talks about how one of his sons... named Mulek fled and came to the Americas!

See Helaman 6:10 and 8:21.

"...the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land of the north..." (Helaman 6:10)

"And will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem?" (Helaman 8:21)

                This is something that is very interesting and really helps us to understand the purpose of both the Bible (New and Old Testaments) and the Book of Mormon. The Bible is the word of God, but with the Book of Mormon we realize that God has more to say than just what is written in the Bible and had spoken with people of the Old world (middle east) and the New world (the Americas).

                Nebuchadnezzar with the help of his captain Nebuzar-adan burnt down the house of the Lord and the houses of Jerusalem. The remnants of the people flee to Egypt. Jechoiachin is released from prison and is favored by the new king; Evil-merodach the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 21-22

2 Kings 21-22

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 21: Manasseh Does Evil

                Manasseh was 12 years old when he began to reign and he reigned for 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. Manasseh did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. Manasseh raised the high places and replaced the groves and images that his father Hezekiah had worked so hard to remove. The Lord was angered by him and caused all of Jerusalem and Judah to the same evil.

                Manasseh dies and his son Amon reigned in his stead. Amon was 22 years old when he began to reign and he reigned for 2 years in Jerusalem. But Amon also did evil in the sight of the Lord, so the servants in his house conspired against him and killed him, putting his son Josiah in as the king, who reigned in his stead.

Chapter 22: Josiah Reigns in Righteousness

                Josiah was 8 years old when he started to reign and reigned for 30 years in Jerusalem. Josiah did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, he did righteously. Josiah sent Shaphan to go to the high priest Hilkiah that he might take the tax money from the people to hire people to work on and restore the temple.

                While in the temple they find the "Book of the Law" and they take it Josiah who reads it and 

decides that they must follow the law so that they do not receive the wrath of God.

2 Kings 19-20

2 Kings 19-20

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 19: Hezekiah Seeks Counsel from Isaiah

                Hezekiah rents his clothes and covers himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. Hezekiah sends Eliakim and Shebna also covered in sackcloth to see Isaiah the son of Amoz.

                Isaiah receives word from the Lord and tells the messengers to return to Hezekiah saying; 

"...Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." (2 Kings 19:6-7)

                But the king of Assyria (after Hezekiah had heard the above words), tells Hezekiah to not put trust in his God, because the other nations that have fallen into his hands have also put their trust in their gods and they fell under his rule.

                But Hezekiah prays to the Lord asking him for deliverance to show the rest of the people roundabout that the Lord God is the ONLY God. Isaiah hears from the Lord and sends message to Hezekiah saying that his prayers would be answered. In the middle of the night an angel comes and slays 185,000 Assyrians while they slept in their camps and Sennacherib the King of Assyria flees only to be killed by his own sons (Adrammelech and Sharezer). Esarhaddon  his other son reigned in his place.

Chapter 20: Hezekiah Pleads with the Lord

                Hezekiah is on his death bed and is visited by Isaiah who tells him to set his house in order, because the Lord had told him that he will not live, but surely die. So Hezekiah pleads with the Lord to heal him and permit him more time. So the Lord tells Isaiah to deliver a message to Hezekiah that his prayers had been heard and that he would receive fifteen more years.

                Isaiah prophesies about the Babylonian captivity of Judah and Hezekiah dies and is buried. His son Manasseh reigns in his stead. 

2 Kings 17-18

2 Kings 17-18

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 17: The Catholic Church?

                In the twelfth year of Ahaz the king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign over Samaria in Israel for nine years. Hoshea did evil in the sight of the Lord. Hoshea became a servant to Shal-maneser the king of Assyria. Every year Hoshea would give the king of Assyria a present, but one year he gave a present to the king of Egypt and not him, so he had Hoshea bound and taken to prison. Shal-maneser also took Israel under his control and we learn that because Israel was not righteous and feared other gods, they were put into bondage. This because they worshiped false gods, idols and images!

                The Lord even sent messengers to tell them of their bad ways; 

"...the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God." (2 Kings 17:13-14).

God has always sent prophets, but the people always reject them. See Amos 3:7. God has restored his church on the earth today, and he did so by using an instrument (a prophet) by the name of Joseph Smith to restore his church and that very same church has a living prophet today!

                Israel would not hearken and because they did not hearken nor follow in the commandments that the Lord had set for them they were captives under the Assyrian Empire and only when they leave behind other gods and images will the Lord hear them.

Chapter 18: Hezekiah Reigns in Righteousness

                In the third year of the reign of Hoshea, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz reigned as the king of Judah. Hezekiah was 25 years old when he began to reign and he reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah. Hezekiah was righteous and did good in the eyes of the Lord by removing the high places and breaking the images and cutting down the groves and break into pieces the serpent that Moses had made. Hezekiah listened to the counsel of the Lord and followed his commandments. He prospered where ever he went and he rebelled against the king of Assyria.

                During this time the King of Assyria did carry away Israel into Assyria because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord. In the 14th year of the reign of Hezekiah, Assyria came to Judah and besieged them and took them. But Hezekiah sent to the King of Assyria and told him to put whatever offense on him. So the king of Assyria asked for three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. So Hezekiah took all the silver out of the house of the Lord and also took Gold off the temple and gave them to the king of Assyria. The King of Assyria wants the people of Judah to pay tribute to him and not follow Hezekiah, he warns that their Lord will not save them... because the gods of all the other lands did not save them from the Assyria Empire.

2 Kings 15-16

2 Kings 15-16

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 15: Israel and Judah in Wickedness

                In the twenty seventh year of the reign of Jeroboam, reigned also Azariah the son of Amaziah in Judah. Azariah began to reign when he was only 16 years old and reigned for 52 years! Azariah did right in the eyes of the Lord, but became a leper until the end of his life 2 Chronicles 26 tells us more about that. Jotham was over the land and did the judging for Azariah until he died and was buried with his fathers.

                The 5 Kings over the Kingdom of Israel:

Zechariah reigned over Israel in Samaria for 6 months, in which time he did evil in the sight of the Lord, making Israel to sin! Jabesh conspired against him, and Shallum the son of Jabesh killed him in front of the people and reigning in his stead. Shallum reigned for 1 full month, before Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and struck Shallum dead. Mehahem was very wicked he went into Tirzah and killed everyone and ripped open all the pregnant women there. Menahem reigned for 10 years! During his reign he gave Pul a thousand talents of silver so that Israel could in tribute to the Assyrian Empire!

                After his reign, Pekahiah, the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria. He reigned for 2 years and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. In the 52nd year of Azariah, king of Judah the son of Remaliah (Pekah) became king over Israel in Samaria. Pekah's reign lasted for twenty years! In the days of Pekah, Tiglath-Pileser the king of Assria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gildead, and Galilee, which is all the land of Naphtali and carried them captive into Assyria. Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against the king of Assyria and killed him, taking his place.

                Jotham dies and his sons Ahaz reigns in his place. 

Chapter 16: Ahaz Reigns in Wickedness

                In the 17th year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Ahaz was only twenty years old when he became a king and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, he did evil.

                Ahaz walked in the way of the many kings that had gone before him. He did not worship God properly. Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the king of Israel went to war with Jerusalem and they attacked Ahaz, but could not overcome him. But Ahaz was not cocky he immediately sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser to make a treaty with him.

                Ahaz perverts the worship at the temple by designing an altar that he saw in Damascus. This was done to please the Assyrian Empire. Ahaz also directs the renovation of the temple court to give it preference to the new altar. Ahaz made the altar, ruled over the people and was a priest of his own design... not something that God would have.

2 Kings 13-14

2 Kings 13-14

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 13: Jehoahaz Reigns in Wickedness

                In the 23rd year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, his reign lasted 17 years. While Jehoahaz reigned in did so in wickedness. Because of this wickedness, the Lord was angry and caused that all of Israel fell into the hands of Hazael the king of Syria. Jehoahaz  hearkened unto the Lord and because of this the Lord caused a savior to arise among the Israelites and lead them out from underneath the Syrians. Because of their past wickedness Jehoahaz was left with a very small army of men.

                Jehoahaz dies and is buried with his fathers. Elisha falls sick and is on his death bed. Joash comes to visit him and cries over him. Elisha tell him to grab a bow and some arrows and point to the window and tells Joash to shoot out the window, and he does. Elisha tells him that the arrow he shot symbolizes the deliverance of the Lord and that he would have victory over the Syrians. So Elisha tells him to shoot into the ground some more... so Joash shoots three times and then stops, but before Elisha dies he tells him that he should have shot 6 or more times, because that is how many times he would have victory over the Syrians.

                One of the more bizarre things of the Bible happens in verse 21, where they lower another dead man into Elisha's tomb and when the man touches the bones of Elisha he revives and stands up! The verse does not give any more details, and the reader is left to wonder why Elisha's bones would make some re-live? Maybe it is to honor this great prophet?

                Hazael, the king of Syria oppresses Israel... but the Lord was gracious unto them because of the covenant that He had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and would not destroy them. Hazael the king of Syria died and his son, Ben-hadad reigned in his place.

Chapter 14: Jeroboam Reigns in Wickedness

                In the second year of the reign of Joash, reigned Amaziah in Judah. Amaziah was only 25 years old when he began to reign and he reigned for a total of 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan.

                Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Once, however he came to power he slew the servants who had killed his father. But he did not kill the children of the murderers. The reason he did not do this, is because it was written in the "Book of the Law of Moses" that

                "...The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin." (2 Kings 14:6)

                There are a few things that I can say about this...

                First; "The book of the Law of Moses" could very well be referring to one of the five books of Moses that we know of today as the first 5 books of the Bible. However, more likely than not this verse is referring to a book that we do not know about currently TODAY. The Bible is not complete, because there were at least 10 times as many books that should have or could have been part of the Bible and 10 times is a LOW number. We know that the Bible is not complete, because the Bibe refers often to books that DO NOT EXIST today. So we must accept that the Bible (while very important book, and I personally believe to be the WORD of God) is not a complete WORD of God, but not doubt words from God.

                Second; It mentions that we are not responsible for the sin of our parents. So if we are to assume that Adam and Eve are our first parents (which all human life according to the Bible stems from) then why would we be held accountable for their sin? What exactly am I talking about? I am talking about the "Original Sin". I know that there might be other religions that believe in this, but I know for a fact that the Catholic church does believe this. Now, I am not going to tell anyone how to worship... we are all free and we all were given agency to do as we please. I believe that everyone has a right to worship God in any way that they see fit. However, I do not understand why a baby (whose life has just begun) could possibly be a sinner!  This is why babies are baptized. But in my personal opinion it is a great abomination before the Lord. We are not responsible for our parents sins... so why are we being held accountable for something that Adam and Eve did? We must be baptized when we gain faith in Jesus Christ and want to change our lives to follow him... which means we have to repent of our sins. How can a baby possibly repent? A baby cannot. Therefore should not be baptized. This is a doctrine that is unique to the LDS church (the Mormons) that a person should not be baptized until the age of accountability (which we know, through modern revelation is 8 years old.)

                Amaziah with his new found power as king goes and kills ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela and renamed is Joktheel. Amaziah with his cocky winning streak decided to send a letter to Jehoash the king of Israel and told him to battle against him. But Jehoash writes back and tells Amaziah to glory in his victory, but to stay home and not come up to battle against him, because he would essentially destroy him. But Amaziah does not listen and goes to battle anyways... and just like Jehoash said, Judah was defeated and the men ran back to their tents. As a result of their defeat the king of Israel takes Amaziah as prisoner and also takes all his gold and silver along with the gold and silver of the treasuries of God. He had lost not only personal belongings, but that which also belonged to the children of the Lord.

                Jehoash dies and his sons Jeroboam reigns in his place. Amaziah lived for 15 more years after the death of Jehoash before he too passed away. The people arise and form a conspiracy against Jehoash and end up killing him and burying him in the City of David and put Azariah the son of Amaziah in charge.

                Jeroboam the second, the son of Joash became king in Samaria and reigned for 41 years. But did so wickedly. Jeroboam recaptured many parts of Israel. He died and his son Zechariah reigned in his place.

2 Kings 11-12

2 Kings 11-12

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 11: Jehiada Destroys the House of Baal

                When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead she went off to destroy all the royal heirs. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, who was also the sister of Ahaziah took Joash the sons of Ahaziah and took him and hid him away so that he would not be murdered. He was hidden with her for six years while Queen Athaliah reigned over the land. In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the captains of hundreds as body guards and escorts and brought them into the house of the Lord. There he made a covenant with them and made them take an oath that they would take 1/3 of them to come on duty during the Sabbath, that they might keep watch over the kings house, 1/3 at the gate of Sur and the other 1/3 at the gate behind the escorts. All of them are to watch out for the king and anyone who comes within range of the king shall be put to death. Jehoiada then gave the captains of the hundreds spears and shields that  had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of the Lord.

                Joash is crowned King. Athaliah the queen (after hearing the commotion) came to see what was going on, and when she found that Joash was no crowned king and the people were shouting for him... she stripped off her clothes and shouted "Treason! Treason!" Jehoiada then commanded the captains to take her outside under guard and slay whoever follows after her, they then took her to the entrance of the kings house and killed her there. Jehoiada then made a covenant with the Lord, the king and the people that they would be the "Lord's" people.

                All of the people of the land therefore came to the temple of Baal and tore it all down! Then they broke the altars and the images and killed Mattan the priest before the altars. Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

Chapter 12: Jehoash (Joash) Reigns in Righteousness

                Jehoash and Joash are only different spellings of the same name.

                Jehoash reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheeba. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord with the help and instruction of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoash takes all the money and asks for more money to reconstruct the temple and any parts of the temple that was starting to fall apart.

                After several years of no construction or very minimal restoration work... King Jehoash calls in the priests and tells them that they are taking too much money in their salaries and not enough is going to restore the temple. So they agree and take less money, the money is to be put into a chest then when the chest is full they are to empty the chest, count the money and then give the money out to those who are working on the temple, all of the workers, carpenters etc. Those who worked on the project dealt fairly and needed no management or Administration to get the job done with the money they had, because they all dealt fairly.

                Hazael the king of Syria went up and fought against Gath and was able to take it in battle. Hazael with his victories then set his mind toward Jerusalem. Jehoash the king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah had dedicated, his own sacred tings and all the gold in the treasuries and sent them to Hazael the king of Syria, which causes Hazael to go away from Jerusalem.

                The servants of Jehoash formed a conspiracy against him and they killed Joash in the house of Millo. Jehoash was murdered and was buried in the City of David. Amaziah, his son reigned in his place.