Israel’s Kings & the Fall of Samaria
Category: Failure of covenant obedience
Could endure: Keep God’s commandments and lead the people in covenant faithfulness.
“The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees.’” (2 Kings 17:13)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 28:1–2; Hosea 14:1.
Chose wrongly: Followed sins of Jeroboam, worshiped idols.
“They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, ‘You shall not do this.’” (2 Kings 17:12)
Cross-Refs: 1 Kings 12:30; Hosea 8:5–6.
Endured (negatively): Assyrian conquest and exile.
“So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.” (2 Kings 17:23)
Cross-Refs: Amos 5:27; Acts 7:43.
Why (wrong motive): Rebellion, imitation of nations, unbelief.
“But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors.” (2 Kings 17:14)
Cross-Refs: Nehemiah 9:29; Romans 1:25.
Result: Northern kingdom destroyed, ten tribes scattered.
“So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.” (2 Kings 17:18)
Cross-Refs: Hosea 9:3; 2 Chronicles 36:16–17.
Ahaziah (King of Israel)
Category: Failure of trust in God
Could endure: Seek the LORD for healing and guidance.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart.” (Proverbs 3:5)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 37:20; Psalm 20:7.
Chose wrongly: Sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub.
“Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” (2 Kings 1:2)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 20:3; Jeremiah 2:13.
Endured (negatively): Rebuke from Elijah, death without recovery.
“You will certainly die! So he died, according to the word of the LORD.” (2 Kings 1:16–17)
Cross-Refs: 1 Samuel 28:6–7; Hebrews 9:27.
Why (wrong motive): Unbelief, idolatry, lack of reverence.
“Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub?” (2 Kings 1:3)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 10:10; James 1:6–7.
Result: Died without heir, remembered as wicked.
“And because he had no son, Joram succeeded him as king.” (2 Kings 1:17)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 10:7; Psalm 37:35–36.
Hezekiah’s Pride
Category: Failure of humility & wisdom
Could endure: Remain humble after God’s deliverance.
“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death… but he prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.” (2 Kings 20:1–6)
Cross-Refs: 2 Chronicles 32:24; Psalm 34:6.
Chose wrongly: Showed Babylonian envoys all his treasures.
“Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses… there was nothing in his palace that Hezekiah did not show them.” (2 Kings 20:13)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 39:2; Proverbs 27:2.
Endured (negatively): Prophecy of Babylonian exile.
“The time will surely come when everything in your palace… will be carried off to Babylon.” (2 Kings 20:17)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 39:6–7; Daniel 1:2.
Why (wrong motive): Pride and shortsightedness.
“But Hezekiah rejoiced in the report, and said, ‘Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?’” (2 Kings 20:19)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 16:18; Philippians 2:3.
Result: Immediate peace, but future generations suffered exile.
“Nothing will be left, says the LORD.” (2 Kings 20:17)
Cross-Refs: Lamentations 1:1–2; 2 Chronicles 36:17–19.
Manasseh (King of Judah)
Category: Failure of covenant leadership
Could endure: Follow David’s example in serving the LORD.
“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully… I will establish your royal throne.” (1 Kings 9:4–5)
Cross-Refs: 2 Chronicles 7:17–18; Psalm 119:33.
Chose wrongly: Rebuilt high places, practiced sorcery, shed innocent blood.
“He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations.” (2 Kings 21:2)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Jeremiah 7:30–31.
Endured (negatively): Led Judah into greater sin than the nations.
“Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.” (2 Kings 21:9)
Cross-Refs: 2 Chronicles 33:9; Romans 1:32.
Why (wrong motive): Rebellion, lust for evil, rejection of God.
“Manasseh… bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.” (2 Kings 21:3)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 19:5; Romans 1:21–23.
Result: Sealed Judah’s fate; Jerusalem destined for destruction.
“I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish.” (2 Kings 21:13)
Cross-Refs: 2 Kings 24:3–4; Jeremiah 15:4.
Zedekiah (Last King of Judah)
Category: Failure of obedience & courage
Could endure: Submit to God’s word through Jeremiah and surrender to Babylon.
“If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared.” (Jeremiah 38:17)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 21:8–9; Proverbs 29:25.
Chose wrongly: Rebelled against Babylon and ignored God’s prophet.
“He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.” (2 Kings 24:19)
Cross-Refs: 2 Chronicles 36:13; Jeremiah 52:2–3.
Endured (negatively): Sons killed, eyes gouged out, Jerusalem destroyed.
“They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.” (2 Kings 25:7)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 39:6–7; Ezekiel 12:13.
Why (wrong motive): Fear, stubbornness, rebellion.
“He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 36:13)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 17:5; Hebrews 3:15.
Result: Final exile of Judah, temple burned, city destroyed.
“He burned the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem.” (2 Kings 25:9)
Cross-Refs: Lamentations 2:1–9; Micah 3:12.