THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH I. JUDAH AND ASSYRIA (722-612 BC) A. Hezekiah (715-686 BC) and the Invasion of Sennacherib1. Hezekiah’s cultic reforms (2 Ki 18:1-8; 2 Ch 29-31)a. Initiates cultic reforms: limited sacrifice to Jerusalemb. High Places (cult centers) outside Jerusalem remained2. Hezekiah desired to rebel from Assyrian dominationa. Warned against joining Ashdod rebellion by Isaiah (Is 20); rebellion crushed bySargon of Assyria (714)b. Revolts at Sargon’s death (705) against Isaiah’s advice3. Sennacherib ascends Assyrian throne amid major revolts4. Hezekiah prepared for invasion (Jerusalem tunnel; fortifications) (2 Ki 20:20; Is 22:8-11; Siloam inscription)5. 701 BC - invasion of Sennacherib (2 Ki 18:13-19:37; 2 Ch 32:1-23; Is 36-37; Assyriantexts)a. Sennacherib defeats Egyptian army; ravages Judahb. 46 fortified cities taken (Assyrian texts; 2 Ki 18:13-14a; Is 36:1; 2 Ch 32:1; Micah 1:8-16)c. Jerusalem spared, but Hezekiah pays heavy tributed. Miraculous deliverance (2 Ki 19:32-37; Is 37:33-38)6. Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery (2 Ki 20:1-11; 2 Ch 32:24)7. Hezekiah receives an embassy from Babylon (2 Ki 20:12-21)B. Manasseh (686-642)1. Bible: most evil king of Judah2. Loyal vassal to Essarhaddon, Assurbanipal of AssyriaII. THE FALL OF ASSYRIA AND JOSIAH’S REFORMSA. Assurbanipal (668-627) ruled Assyria at its heightB. Widespread revolts at his death in 627, including Josiah of Judah C. Babylonians and Medes attack a weakened Assyria1. 614: Medes take religious capital Assur2. 612: military capital Nineveh sacked (Nahum)D. Josiah (640-609 BC)1. Religious reformsa. Book of the Law found in the temple (2 Ki 22)b. Removed high places outside of Jerusalem (2 Ki 23:4-20)1) High places destroyed2) Priests of high places deposedc. Passover kept (2 Ki 23:21-23)d. Mediums and wizards “put away” (2 Ki 23:24-26)Kingdom of Judah page 22. Territorial advances3. Bible: the best (most righteous) king since DavidE. The Rise of Babylon (Neo-Babylonian Empire)1. Babylon moves to claim territory formerly held by Assyria2. Egypt tries to reestablish supremacy in the Near East3. 609 BC: Josiah killed at Megiddo trying to stop Necho II of Egypt (2 Ki 23:29-30;2 Ch 35:20-27)a. Necho going to N. Syria to oppose the Babylonian advanceb. Defeated and returning home to Egypt, Necho deposes Jehoahaz; replaces himwith Jehoiakim, who rules as an Egyptian vassal (2 Ki 23:30-35; 2 Ch 36:1-4)4. 605 BC: Battle of Carchemish (Jer 46:2-12)a. Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar soundly defeats Egyptiansb. Nabopolassar dies; Nebuchadnezzar (crown prince and general of army) went back toBabylon to claim his thronec. Jehoiakim of Judah becomes a Babylonian vassal (2 Ki 24:1)III. THE SEVENTH-EARLY SIXTH CENTURY PROPHETS IN JUDAH[in Judah, message to Judah: Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk]A. Zephaniah1. Setting: 7th century BC Judah; reign of Josiah (1:1)2. The propheta. Not much known, lineage traced to Hezekiah (1:1)b. Earlier contemporary of Jeremiah3. Message/contentsa. Imminent judgment (1:2-3:7): the Day of the Lordb. Ultimate deliverance (3:8-20)B. Jeremiah1. Settinga. 7th - early 6th century BCb. Southern kingdom of Judah: 627-585 BCc. Babylonian crisis2. The propheta. of Anathoth, N of Jerusalemb. son of Hilkiah, a priest3. Contentsa. Not chronological, difficult to outlineb. Theological ideas1) Old and new covenants (31:31)2) Personal, genuine faith4. The role of Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribeC. Habakkuk1. Late 7th centurty BC Judah: Babylonian crisis2. Content/messagea. Problem (1:1-4): God has not judged Judah’s sinb. Answer (1:5-11): Babylon will judge themKingdom of Judah page 3c. Problem (1:12-17): How can God use Babylon to punish a nation (Judah) morerighteous than theyd. Answer (2): The righteous shall live by faith (2:4)e. Habakkuk’s response (3)[against enemies: Nahum and Obadiah]D. Nahum: Judgment on/fall of Nineveh (612 BC)E. Obadiah: ca. 586 BC; oracles against Edom for hostility to Judah[in exile: Ezekiel]F. Ezekiel (see below)Kingdom of Judah page 4IV. THE BABYLONIAN CRISIS: LAST DAYS OF JUDAH (612-587 BC)A. Jehoiakim rebels against Babylon (c. 601 BC; 2 Ki 24:1)1. Relied on Egyptian help (2 Ki 24:7)2. Local Babylonian vassals harass Judah (2 Ki 24:2)3. Babylon invades (Dec. 598 BC)4. Jehoiakim dies, succeeded by Jehoiachin (2 Ki 24:6-10)5. 16 March 597 BC: Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalema. Jehoiachin surrenders city (2 Ki 24:10-16; 2 Ch 36:9-10)b. 1st deportation (upper class) to Babylon (2 Ki 24:14-16)c. Zedekiah placed on throne (2 Ki 24:17; 2 Ch 36:10)B. Destruction of Jerusalem and the temple1. Zedekiah rebels against Babylon c. 589 BC (2 Ki 24:18-20)2. Jeremiah opposed the rebellion (2 Ch 36:12)a. Warnings to Zedekiah (Jer 27:12-22)b. Hananiah’s false prophecy (Jer 28)c. Jeremiah’s arrest (Jer 32:1-5)d. Jeremiah preached judgment (1-25) and restoration (30-33)3. Judah ravaged (Lachish letters); Jerusalem besieged4. 587/586 BC: Fall of Jerusalem / Destruction of the temple (2 Ki 25:3-10)a. Zedekiah and the army fled the city; captured in Jerichob. Jerusalem and the temple systematically looted, burned5. 2nd deportation in 586 BC (2 Ki 25:11-21; Jer 52:15-30)6. Lamentations: Dirge over the city; acrostic form; part of WritingsC. Gedaliah placed on throne; rules from Mizpah (2 Ki 25:22-26)1. Gedaliah assassinated by Ishmael (2 Ki 25:25; Jer 40-41)2. Many Jews fled to Egypt (2 Ki 25:26; Jer 41:17-43:7)3. 3rd deportation in 582 BCV. THE EXILE (587-539 BC) AND ITS PROPHETSA. Deported Jews settled as communities in and around Babylon1. Psalm 137, etc.2. Jehoiachin in exile (2 Ki 25:27-30; Jer 52:31-34; Babylonian text)B. Ezekiel1. Setting: 593-571 BC; in exile in Babylon2. The propheta. Son of Buzi; of priestly family (1:3)b. Probably of Jerusalem; taken into exile in 597 BC3. The booka. Judgment on Israel (1-24)b. Judgment on the nations (25-32)c. Restoration of Israel (33-48)Kingdom of Judah page 5C. Daniel: possibly taken into exile 605-604