Chapter 13 "2 Kings"

"2 Kings" Elijah Ascension During the period when Ahab was king of Israel, the prophet Elijah was ordered by Jehovah to go out to seek the successor of the prophet.On the road, he saw Elisha pulling 12 pairs of oxen to plow in the field. He immediately fell in love with this young man, so he walked over and put his coat on him, expressing that he was accepted as an apprentice.After Elisha learned that the teacher who accepted him as an apprentice was the famous prophet Elijah, he was so happy that he didn’t know what to say. It took him a long time to think of a sentence: “Teacher, please allow me to go back first, so that I can be with my parents.” Farewell, and I will follow you."

Elijah said, "Okay, go and come back." Elisha went back to the village, told the news to all the villagers, and invited them to come to celebrate.He slaughtered a pair of cattle, cut off the plow and harrow for plowing the land, and cooked the meat to treat the elders of the neighbors.During the banquet, the villagers sang and danced to bless him. Afterwards, Elisha returned to Elijah and followed him all over the world.Years passed and Elisha never left Elijah.Elijah was old, and Elisha was to be tested before all his abilities were taught to him.One day, he said to Elisha, "The LORD sent me to Bethel. It's too far away. You should wait here for my return."

"As the Lord lives forever, I will not leave you." Elisha said firmly. So the two went down to Bethel.The prophets of Bethel came out to welcome them and said privately to Elisha, "The Lord is going to take your master and leave you, do you know that?" "I know, but don't tell him." Elisha whispered with a finger on his lips. Before Bethel had time to eat and drink, Elijah said, "The Lord sent me to Jericho. If you are tired, you can wait here for my return." "As the LORD lives, I will never leave you," Elisha said firmly. So they went down to Jericho.The prophets of Jericho came out to welcome them and said privately to Elisha, "The Lord is going to take your master and leave you, do you know that?"

"I know, but don't tell him." Elisha replied in a low voice. Before Jericho had time to eat and drink, Elijah said, "The Lord sent me to the Jordan River. If you are tired, you can wait here for my return." "As the LORD lives, I will never leave you." Elisha said without hesitation. So they went to the Jordan River together. Elijah's disciples on the east side heard that the master was coming, and 50 people rushed to the river to meet him, and stood far away on the other side of the river to wait.When Elijah reached the river, he rolled up his coat and held it in his hand. He drew water with the corner of his coat, and the water parted left and right, revealing a dry path for the disciples to pass through.

After crossing the river, Elijah spoke blessings to the 50 disciples who came to meet him, sent them home, and then said to Elisha: "I am leaving you now. Say." Elisha simply replied, "I want nothing more than to touch your spirit to touch me twice as much." Elijah said, "Your request is precious, but it is difficult to fulfill. If you could see me when I was taken away from you, it means that you have got what you asked for; otherwise, you will not get it." ." As they were walking and talking like this, suddenly a chariot of fire separated them, and Elijah sat on the chariot of fire and went up into the sky by the wind.When Elisha saw this scene, he was so excited that he could not express it in words. He just called out, "My father, my father! The fiery chariot of Israel!" It disappeared into the clouds without a trace.

When Elijah ascended to heaven, he threw down his clothes and left them for Elisha.Elisha picked up his master's coat and returned to the Jordan River. He followed his master's example and used his coat to draw water. The water shone;After crossing the river, Elisha returned to Jericho. The prophets of Jericho were still waiting outside the city. When they saw Elisha, they said, "The spirit that moved Elijah moved Elisha." They went up to meet Elisha, and fell on the ground before him.Elisha stayed in Jericho. The people of Jericho found him and said to him, "This city is beautiful, but the water and soil are bad, and the crops wither before they are ripe."

Elisha said to them, "It's nothing, go and get me a jar of salt in a new earthen jar." The people filled a pot of salt with new tiles and brought it to him.Elisha took the jar of salt, went to the well, and poured the salt into the well.Since then, the water has become cool and luscious.People said, "The LORD healed the water in Jericho. From then on, no one will die from the water, nor will the harvest be harvested because of the water." Elisha left Jericho to go to Bethel. Outside the city, he met a group of children coming out of the city. When they saw Elisha's bright forehead, they sang a nursery rhyme mocking the bald man: "The bald man is bright and watery; the bald man is shining brightly." ,on the hill.

Elisha got angry and cursed them, saying, "You little bastards, the LORD will send out a she-bear and tear you to pieces." That day, the group of children were playing in the woods on the outskirts of the city. Sure enough, two female bears came out of the forest and tore 42 of their children apart. (1 Kings 19:19-19:21; 2 Kings 2:1-2:24) Elisha comes back to life Elisha traveled from Bethel to Mount Carmel, and from Mount Carmel to Samaria, the capital of Israel.One day, the wife of a disciple of the prophet came to Elisha and cried, "My husband, your servant, died. He feared the Lord all his life, and he did nothing against the heavens. In order to heal his illness, we borrowed a debt. Now The creditor came to force me to take my two sons as a pledge and make them his slaves."

Elisha sympathized with the disciple's widow, and said to her, "How can I help you?" He touched his bare forehead with the palm of his hand, "Well, tell me, what else is there in your house?" "There is nothing in the maidservant's house except a bottle of oil," she replied. "You go back and borrow more empty bottles from your neighbors, as many as possible. You put all the bottles at home, close the door, pour that bottle of oil into each bottle, fill one bottle, and replace it one bottle until all the bottles are filled with oil." She followed this method, and sure enough, until all the borrowed empty bottles were filled with oil, the original bottle was still full.The next day the widow went back to Elisha and said, "All the jars are full of oil."

Elisha told her, "Go and sell the oil to pay off the debt, and you and your son can live on the rest." When the widow sold the oil, she not only paid off her debts, but also had some money left over, which she relied on to survive the famine. Let’s say that there was a young woman in Shunian City who married a rich man who was over half a hundred years old, and she did not have a child after several years of marriage.But this woman is a very kind person, and whenever she meets a passing prophet, she will be hospitable and entertain her.On that day, Elisha passed by from Shunem and also went to her house to eat.Seeing his extraordinary bearing, the woman said to her husband, "This prophet is different from ordinary prophets. He is a man of God. We can build a small building on the roof and put beds, tables, Chairs and lampstands, so that he can live in our house when he comes to Shunem."

After the tower was built, Elisha lived in it every time he came to Shunem.Elisha wanted to repay her for staying many times.Once he said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the mistress of the house." The woman came upstairs and stood before Elisha.Elisha asked her, "You have worked so hard for us, what can I do for you?" "I live in my hometown with nothing to do, and I have nothing to ask for." Elisha did not expect the woman's indifferent attitude at all, and he was speechless in a hurry.The woman said: "I mainly have no other orders, so the servant girl will go down first. Don't forget to come down for dinner later." When the woman came downstairs, Elisha's servant said, "I see that she lacks nothing but a son, but her husband is old." "There is a way, call her quickly." Elisha showed a bit of surprise. So the woman was invited upstairs by Gehazi for the second time. She went up the stairs and stood respectfully at the top of the stairs.Elisha said to her, "My lord, congratulations. By this time next year, you will have a son." "Man of God, don't tease your maid like this. My master is useless." The woman felt incredible. Not long after, the Shunam woman's doubts were dispelled because she was pregnant.At that time in the second year, the fetus was born at full term, and it turned out to be a son. The child grew up gradually, and he was already 5 years old in a blink of an eye.During the autumn harvest, the child followed his father to play in the wheat field, and while playing, suddenly hugged his head and said, "Dad, my head, my head hurts." His father hurriedly told the servant, "Quick, take him to his mother." The servant took the child home and gave it to his mother.The child lay unconscious in the arms of its mother, and by breakfast time it was dead.The mother carried the child's body upstairs, put it on Elisha's bed, turned around and closed the door of the building, and came downstairs when her husband came back from the field. The husband asked, "How is the child?" "Asleep." The wife faltered, "Quickly call a servant to bring me a donkey, and I'll hurry to get Elisha the man of God back." "Today is neither the first day of junior high school nor the Sabbath, why invite him back?" The doctor was a little puzzled. "Just to pray for safety." The wife was afraid that her elderly husband would fall ill after knowing the truth, so she had to coax him. The woman rode a donkey and ran all the way to the foot of Mount Carmel.Elisha saw her from afar and said to Gehazi his servant, "Look!Shunem's daughter Yu is here.You go and meet her. " Gehazi ran down the hill to lead the donkey for her, and when she went up the hill she hugged Elisha's feet.Gehazi was going to push her away, but Elisha said, "Let her be, for she has pain in her heart." The woman said, "I have never asked the LORD for anything. I have not asked you to ask him to give me my son. Why did you take him away when you gave it to me?" Only then did Elisha understand the reason for her visit. He told Gehazi, "Go to her house first, tighten your belt, and hold my walking stick to the child's face. Don't talk to anyone on the way. Others will talk to you. Talk to me, but don't answer. I'll come later." Gehazi went to Shunem first, and put Elisha's staff on the boy's face, but the boy did not wake up.Elisha and the woman arrived afterward, and Gehazi came downstairs and said, "The child hasn't woken up." Without saying a word, Elisha went upstairs to his room. When he saw the child lying on his bed, he closed the door behind his back, leaving him and the child in the room.Elisha knelt beside the bed and prayed, then got into bed, and bent over the child, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, hand to hand; and the child's body gradually warmed.Elisha just got off the bed, walked around the house, and then got on the bed and lay down on the child. After a while, the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.Elisha opened the upstairs door and called Gehazi, "Call the mistress of the house." The woman went upstairs, entered the room, picked up the child, and bowed three times in front of Elisha to express her endless gratitude. One year, there was a famine in Gilgal, and the people ate wild vegetables and bark. Elisha was living in Gilgal at that time, and he was no exception, eating chaff and swallowing vegetables with the people.One day, a person who went to the field to collect wild vegetables came across a wild melon tree full of fruits, so he picked a bagful and returned. He cut the melons into pieces and put them in a soup pot to make soup.When the soup was ready, it was poured out for everyone to eat. Some people shouted, "Oh, my stomach hurts. This soup is poisonous." "Wow, I feel like throwing up." "......" Seeing this scene, Elisha comforted everyone: "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Bring some noodles. " Elisha took a small bag of flour from the servant, sprinkled it in the pot, stirred it, and said to everyone, "Now, everyone, come and eat it, everything will be fine." After everyone ate those soups, no one was poisoned again. At that time, the Israelites heard that Elisha was helping the people in the disaster area, so no one brought something to Gilgal to comfort him.A believer from Baal Salisha came to Elisha with 20 loaves of newly harvested barley and Gilgal.Elisha accepted the gifts and said to Gehazi, "Give them to everyone." Gehazi said, "How can this little food feed more than 100 people?" Elisha said, "Give it to everyone, the LORD says, when everyone is full, there will be something left over." Gehazi lowered his head to divide the pie in his pocket, and saw the pie: one became two, two became four, and more and more.Everyone was surprised and delighted, not only had their fill, but also brought a lot home. (2 Kings 4) One word cures leprosy Naaman, the commander-in-chief of Ben-hadad II, king of Aram, made great achievements repeatedly, and vibrated Canaan.The king gave him a lot of rewards, he was promoted to a noble, and he was under one person and above ten thousand. Unfortunately, luck and misfortune depended on each other, and an unfortunate thing happened to him: he got leprosy and his whole body turned white. . Earlier, Naaman fought with the Israelites, captured cities and plundered land, and captured a beautiful little girl from the Israelites. When she grew up, she became his wife.She sympathized with her husband and told him: "The prophet Elisha of the Israelites is so powerful that he can rejuvenate his hands. He lives in Samaria now. Go and see him, and he will surely heal you." Naaman went to see his master, the king of Aram, and begged him, "My lord, the king, Elisha the Israelites can cure me. Please introduce me to the king of Israel." The king of Aram said: "I will write a letter to the king of Israel for you, and he must have a way to help you." The king of Aram immediately wrote a letter in his own hand: Joram, the king of Israel, said: The person who sent the letter is my humble servant Naaman, who suffered a lot from leprosy. Dedicated to Buda. Ben Hadad, an isolated family next door, brought 10 talents of silver, 6,000 shekels of gold, and 10 sets of clothes to Samaria. He entered the palace to meet the king of Israel and presented the letter from the king of Aram.The king of Israel opened the letter and was astonished.He tore his clothes and said angrily: "I'm not a god, I have the art of bringing the dead back to life. He sent someone to tell me to cure his leprosy. Take a look, this man is not looking for trouble, but he is coming to attack again. Me." The nation of Israel was exhausted, and the war with the king of Aram was always defeated. The king was very suspicious and regarded a letter of appeal for help as a letter of challenge. When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes because of the king of Syria, he sent to him and said, "Your Majesty, do not be afraid; send that Syrian to me, and he will know the the strength of the LORD God." So the king of Israel sent Naaman and his followers to Elisha's house.Unexpectedly, Elisha didn't come out to greet him, but just asked the servant to come out and tell Naiman: "Go and bathe in the Jordan River seven times, and your skin will be restored, and it will be smooth and tender." Even the king of Israel respected Naaman a little bit. Where had he ever been slighted like this, he said angrily, "Isn't the Abana of Damascus better than the water in the river Pharphar than the water in the river of Israel? If I want to take a bath, I will come to Israel to find you?!" Naaman waved his hand, turned his horse and set foot on the road back to Aram.When he was approaching the Jordan River, one of his attendants said to him, "Although the prophet is blind and ignorant, but the Lord, the God of Israel, is with him, there may be some reason for his work. Why not try it? It takes no effort." Persuaded, Naaman dismounted from his horse and bathed seven times in the Jordan River as Elisha had told him.When he came out of the river for the seventh time, everyone saw a miracle: the marshal's skin had become smooth and tender, just like a newborn baby.The people around were amazed. Naaman brought all his followers back to the door of Elisha’s house in Samaria, knocked on the door, entered the room, and bowed down, saying: “Now I know that there is no one in the whole world except the Lord, the God of Israel. There is no other god. You are the prophet of the LORD, the LORD is with you, please take this gift to the LORD of hosts." Elisha declined and said, "As the Lord lives forever, I will never accept your gift." Naaman begged again and again, but was still refused.In the end, he had to say, "From now on, your servant will not offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to other gods, but to the LORD." Elisha said, "But the God of Israel can only come to the land of the Israelites." Naaman said, "That's all right, please give your servant some soil, and I'll bring it back on my mule." Elisha said, "Well then, you can go back in peace." Not long after Naaman bid farewell to Elisha and left, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, thought to himself, "My master is such a fool. Don't take so much money for nothing. I will chase after him and ask for some back for my master." Gehazi hurriedly pursued Naaman on his donkey. When Naaman saw the prophet's servant approaching, he dismounted to meet him and asked him, "Is your master safe?" "Peace. My master sent me to say: Two young men, my disciples, came to me from Mount Ephraim just now. They are poor and need help. Give them: talents of silver, 2 clothes." "Please accept 2 talents." Naaman said as he motioned his attendants to take out 2 talents of silver and 2 pieces of clothing and put them into one pocket, because most of the silver was heavy and Gehazi carried it alone. Naaman sent his servants to escort him outside the city of Samaria, and Gehazi sent Naaman's men back.He took the money home and hid it, thinking that the matter was perfect and no one would know. But this did not escape Elisha's eyes.When Gehazi returned to his master, Elisha asked, "Where are you from?" "The servant isn't going anywhere." Gehazi was still trying to hide the truth. "Did the LORD close his eyes when Naaman dismounted from his horse and turned back to meet you? Is this the time to swindle money and clothing? Naaman's leprosy will surely infect you and your descendants until forever!" Gehazi was leprous and white as snow when he withdrew from Elisha's presence. (2 Kings 5) Elisha begged God to save the siege The king of Aram went to war with Israel, and he said to his servants, "I will camp somewhere." Elisha heard what the king of Aram and his servants said when he was dozens of miles away, so he sent someone to the king of Israel and said, "Beware of passing through a certain place, because the Syrians have set up a Ambush." The Israelites sent Joram to reconnaissance the place, and sure enough, they saw a large number of enemies laying a trap there, preparing to encircle and wipe out the Israeli army.The Israelites changed their marching route, and the Syrians were thrown into the air.After doing this several times, the king of Aram was surprised and puzzled. He summoned his servants and asked, "Is there a spies among us, and we have reported our information to Israel every time?" Ministers, you look at me, I look at you, and shake your heads at each other.A servant stood up and said, "My lord and king, none of us are spies, but there is a prophet Elisha among the Israelites who can hear conversations thousands of miles away. He can also hear what the king said in his bedroom. The Israelis escaped on the basis of his information." "Where is that man? Go and catch him." Wang asked. "He is in Dothan," was answered. The king of Aram mobilized his army and besieged Dothan overnight.Elisha's servant got up early in the morning and was shocked when he saw the Syrians' chariots and soldiers surrounding the city of Dothan: "Alas, my lord! How can this happen!" Elisha comforted him: "Don't be afraid, the God who is with me is much stronger than the God who is with him." Elisha raised his arms and prayed to heaven, "Lord, please open the eyes of this young man so that he may see." All of a sudden, Elisha's servant's eyes were brightened. He saw countless chariots of fire and horses surrounding Elisha. The Syrians entered the city and were not far from Elisha.Elisha prayed, "Lord, make the Syrians blind." Yahweh distracted the enemy's sight, and they could not recognize Elisha.Elisha went up to them and said to them, "You are going the wrong way; this is not Dothan." "Where is Dothan?" General Aram asked. "Come with me." Elisha replied. Elisha brought Aram into Samaria, and he prayed, "Lord, open the eyes of these people so that they can see clearly." The Syrians woke up from a coma and saw that they were in the city of Samaria, surrounded by Israeli guards, and panicked.The king of Israel asked Elisha, "My father, can I kill them?" "No, you can't kill them. You should give them a feast and send them back," Elisha replied. The Syrians went back and reported the situation to Ben-hadad.Unexpectedly, Hadane avenged him. He mobilized a large number of troops to attack Israel and surrounded Samaria for half a year.Food was exhausted in the city of Samaria, a severe famine occurred, and prices soared, even: a donkey head could be sold for 80 shekels of silver, and 2 liters of pigeon dung could be sold for 5 shekels of silver.What is even more frightening is that the tragedy of changing children and eating them occurred in the city.One day the king of Israel was passing by the wall and heard a woman calling out to him, "My lord the king! Do justice to you." "What is it, do you want to eat? The Lord will not help you, what can I do?" Wang said. "No," replied the woman, "my child was eaten for nothing. My neighbor and I made an agreement that we would cook my son today and his son tomorrow. We cooked my son the first day. , and when it was time to cook her son, she hid him." When the king heard that this happened in the city, he was so angry that he tore his clothes. He thought it was all Elisha's fault. If he had killed the Syrians who had crashed into the city, nothing would have happened now.He swore to God: "If I let Elisha's head remain on my neck today, I will swear not to be a human being." The king immediately took a group of people to Elisha's house to arrest him. From a distance, Elisha knew that the king and his guards were coming. He said to the elders who were guests in his house: "Look, the murderer's son My head is about to be sent. Behind the murderer is the sound of his master's footsteps." While speaking, the king's envoy came first, followed by the king himself. The king said, "Now the disaster in Samaria is from the LORD. Why do we keep this prophet of the LORD?" Elisha persuaded the king, saying, "The LORD will bless you when he brings disaster to you. At this time tomorrow, in the market at the gate of the city, one measure of fine flour will be sold for one shekel of silver, and two measures of barley will be sold for one shekel." One shekel of silver." Everyone present shook their heads and curled their lips, expressing their disbelief.A military commander who supported the king said: "Even if Na Hehua opened the skylight, such a thing would not happen." Elisha said, "Tomorrow you will believe it when you see it; but you will not eat the bread." It turned out that Elisha had already announced to the Syrians: "The king of Israel has bribed the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack the Syrians." That night, the spirit of the LORD descended on the four lepers, and they discussed and said, "We were trapped in the city and died of starvation or disease; if we go out of the city and surrender to the Syrians, if they don't kill us, we can still live. " When night fell, the four of them sneaked out of the city gate and walked towards the camp of the Syrians. The sound of their footsteps was heard to the Syrians, and the LORD made them sound like the voices of thousands of horses. The Syrians said in unison, "The reinforcements of Israel are coming to surround us. Run!" The Syrians didn't have time to pack up their supplies and luggage, so they left their tents, horses, and donkeys and fled for their lives. When the four lepers saw this, they returned to the city and reported it to the king of Israel.The king of Israel led the army out of the city, took back the camps thrown down by the Syrians, and distributed food to the people, so: fine flour was sold for 1 shekel of silver, and barley was also sold for 2 shekels of silver. , fully fulfilling the words of the prophet Elisha. The hungry masses got so much food all at once, and there was a wave of food grabbing in some places.The army commander who supported the king the day before was suppressed at the city gate by the king's order, and was pushed down and trampled to death by the rioting crowd.Elisha's prophecy was once again fulfilled in him. He saw the piles of grain, but he couldn't eat any more. (2 Kings 6-7) Elisha Makes His Enemies Disorder Jehovah was with the prophet Elisha, and not only Israel and Judah worshiped him as a god, but also the people of other neighboring nations.Earlier Elisha cured the leprosy of the Syrian commander Naaman with a word, and the Syrians believed that Elisha had extraordinary powers. Shortly after the Syrians lifted the siege of Samaria and Elisha marched to Damascus, King Ben-hadad of Syria fell seriously ill.He was told, "Elisha the man of God is in Damascus." Ben-hadad ordered his servants, "Bring some gifts to Elisha the man of God, and entrust him to ask the Lord whether I will be cured or not." So Ben-hadad's favorite minister, Hazael, used 40 camels, carrying all kinds of treasures from Damascus as gifts, to meet Elisha.Hazael found Elisha and said to him, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you to ask you to ask the LORD if he will recover from his illness." After Elisha prayed to the LORD, he said to him, "Go back and tell your master that his illness is all right and he can be cured; but he will still die, but not from illness." Elisha looked at Hazael intently, and looked at him with embarrassment.At this moment, Elisha burst into tears. Hazael was puzzled and asked, "Why is my lord crying?" "Because I see your face, murderous intent. You will kill the Israelites, burn their safehouses, smash their babies to death, and cut open the belly of their pregnant women." Elisha looked over Hazael's shoulder , as if seeing scenes of tragedies that were bound to happen. "What is your servant Haxel? He is just my king's dog, how could he have done such a great job?" Haxel concealed his excitement, his cheeks flushed. "The LORD has told me that you will be king of Aram." Elisha stood up from his seat and said, stroking Hazael's head. Hazael understood, and went back to meet his master, the king of Aram.The king of Aram asked him, "What did Elisha say?" "He said His Majesty's illness would soon be cured," said Hazel, looking down at the ground. The next day it was Hazael's turn to serve the king.Seeing that there was no one around, he soaked a quilt in the water and covered Ben Hada's head, suffocating him to death.In this way, under the hint of Elisha, Hazael usurped the throne of Ben-hadad II and became the king of the kingdom of Aram. King Joram of Israel wanted to take advantage of the chaotic coup d'etat in Damascus to join forces with King Ahaziah of Judah to take back Ravi, the city of Gilead that had been robbed by Aram.But Yoram was wounded in a battle, so he went back to Jezreel to heal his wounds, and handed over the military power to the general Nahu.Soon, the king of Judah also went to Jezreel to visit the wounded Joram.In this way, the military power is completely in the hands of that household: people. The followers of Yahweh hated Joram because he was the son of Ahab, who had started the worship of the golden calf.The prophet Elisha decided to take advantage of Joram's injury and oust him from power.He told one of his disciples, "Gird your loins, and take this jar of ointment and go to Ravi Gilead. Call Jehu, who is in charge of the army, to a secluded place, and anoint him king." The disciple was ordered to come to the camp of the Israelites outside the city of Ravi, while the commanders of the besieging army were in a meeting.Elisha's disciples asked to see Nahu, and Jehu immediately summoned him. The disciples went into the tent where the general was sitting and said, "General, I have something to say to you." Jehu asked, "Everyone here is a general. Who are you going to talk to?" The disciple replied, "General, I want to speak to you." Jehu stood up and followed him into another large tent with no one else in it.Then Elisha's disciples stood before Jehu and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anoint you king over Israel, and you will kill all the house of Ahab your master, that you may shed the blood of the prophets, For the blood of all the servants of the LORD, avenge the blood of Jezebel." After saying these words, the disciple put anointing oil on Jehu's forehead again, then turned around and went out, leaving the camp quickly. When the generals saw that the commander-in-chief had left for a while, he came back, and someone asked, "Are you all right! What does that man need from you?" "You all know him. He is Elisha's disciple. What good things can he say?" Jehu hesitated. "No, you're not telling the truth. You're going to tell us the truth." Several generals insisted. "It's nothing. That's a madman. He said he has anointed me king of Israel." Jehu said this as if he was talking about what kind of breakfast he just had. His generals were very excited when they heard this. They spread their clothes on a step, let Jehu sit on it, and then blew the horn and shouted in unison: "Long live my king, long live!" Thus Jehu became king of Israel.He told all the generals under his command: "Don't let a single person desert and run away, lest someone escape and report to Jezreel." Jehu hurried to Nasreel with his army.The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu leading a group of people coming from a distance, so he sent someone to report to Joram, "Jehu and his men are coming this way." "Send someone on horseback to meet them and give my regards to General Jehu," Joram ordered. The man on horseback went up to meet him and said to the household: "General, the king asked me to send you my greetings." "Do I have anything to do with him? Don't go back, follow me." Jehu's men looked at the man. The watchman sent another message to King Joram, saying, "Your Majesty's envoy has arrived at Jehu, but he has not returned." Yoram said, "Send another man and say hello to him." After a while, a message came from the lookout post for the third time: "The second person has gone and has not come back. They are now speeding up, and the car is driving faster and faster." King Yoram ordered: "Take the car, and I will go and see for myself." Jehoram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out of the city in their own chariots to meet Jehu, and met Jehu's men and horses near the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.Joram said, "Your Jehu, don't you come in peace?" Unexpectedly, Jehu began to say: "Your mother Jezebel practiced so many fornications and sorcery, how can there be a peaceful day?" When Joram heard the words hidden in the knife, he turned to Ahaziah and said, "Rebellion, rebellion, Jehu is rebellion. Run!" Turning the car around, he was about to run away.Jehu drew his bow fully, and shot an arrow, which hit Joram in the back, and the arrow pierced through his heart.Yoran fell back onto the car with a "boom". When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he rode his horse and fled desperately.Jehu ordered his men, "Follow him and let him die in the chariot." Jehu’s cavalry pursued Ahaziah for a long distance. The horses pulling the cart were exhausted, and when they encountered an uphill road, the speed of the chariot became slower and slower. Jehu’s cavalry finally approached Gur in Ibraim. Fang caught up with him and slashed him in the back.The chariot dragged him for a long distance, and he didn't die until Megiddo. Queen Jezebel was a woman of some character. When she heard that Jehu had conspired to kill the kings of Israel and Judah, she knew that she would also be doomed, so she simply put on makeup and dressed up elaborately.Jehu entered the harem of Jezreel and surrounded Jezebel's house.Jezebel went to the window, poked her head out and cursed: "You son of Jehu, you vicious dog who committed a crime, one day, you will definitely be punished!..." She repeated the curse over and over again. , The household was upset by the scolding, and raised his head and shouted to the window: "Israelites in the palace: The LORD has anointed me as king to kill the foolish king who betrayed him. I am doing justice for the heavens, who of you surrenders to me today? " after awhile.Two or three eunuchs peered out from other windows. Then Jehu said, "Throw that mad woman down from the upstairs, and you will atone for your past sins." The eunuchs couldn't help but walk over to pick Jezebel up, some grabbed her hands, some raised her feet.Jezebel struggled and resisted desperately, yelling nonsense and cursing even more, but there was nothing she could do. How could a woman be against an ordinary man?The eunuchs threw her down from the window, and she landed on the ground with her head down and her feet up. Her head was blooming on the ground, and the blood splashed on the foot of the wall and on Jehu's mount; her limbs lay down in a "big" shape.Jehu took the lead in trampling Jezebel's body with his horse, and his soldiers followed suit until the body became a puddle of flesh. Then Jehu swaggered into the main hall.Host a banquet to comfort the ministers, eat and drink until late at night.Early the next morning, Jehu ordered people to bury Jezebel’s body, because she was a princess and queen after all, but those who carried out the order only found 1 skull, 2 palms and 2 soles, and the rest of the flesh and blood Eaten by dogs.This is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the previous prophet Elijah. Ahab's 70 sons still live in Samaria.Jehu wrote to their tutor and said: "Since you have your master's sons, chariots, equipment, and strong city, after receiving this letter, you can choose a worthy man from among your master's crowd. When it is fitting, let him sit in his father's place, and you may fight for your master." This is obviously an irony, and the princes were terrified after reading this letter. They said to each other: "The two former kings couldn't hold back in front of him, let alone us? Isn't this a matter of intentionally letting us kill our heads?" It's better to return quickly." The king’s housekeeper, eunuchs, elders, and princes’ tutors in the city of Samaria jointly wrote a letter of loyalty to the new king Nahu, and wrote in the letter: “We are your servants, and whatever you command us都必遵行。我们不立谁作王，您看怎么好，就怎么办吧？" 耶户回信道："既然承蒙厚爱，愿意尊我为大，请你们明天这个时候带你们主人众子的首级来见我。" 于是城中的达官显贵们就把故主的70个儿子杀死，割下他们的首级，用筐抬着送到耶斯列耶户那里，那户吩咐："将首级在城门口分成两堆，搁到明天。" 第二天早晨，那户出来，对围观的市民们说："你们都是正义的。亚哈家的人背叛了耶和华，所以人民自发地起来把他们杀了。 我杀了我的主人，也是替耶和华办事嘛。 " 随后，耶户率军向撒玛利亚开拔，在路上他碰到了犹大王亚哈谢的42个兄弟，他们还不知道以色列发生的一切，正在向撒玛利亚方向前行，要到那里去作客。耶户把他们抓住，并统统杀死在路边的一一个坑里。 耶户进入首部撒玛利亚，受到全城权贵们的热烈欢迎。但是他并没有把这些热情的人们都看成朋友，其中凡是曾在亚哈王朝担任过职务的人、王族的密友、宫廷的祭司，一个也没有漏掉，全部予以清洗。 清除了政治上的反对分子后，耶户再着手消除异教力量。耶户在撒玛利亚向全国发出通告："寡人要在加冕时给巴力献祭，务请全体巴力祭司、光知和崇奉巴力的信徒届时到撒玛利亚参加祭礼，否则格杀勿论。"殊不知，这是一个毒辣的圈套。那一天，全国崇拜巴力的人都来齐了，他们进入巴力神庙中，挤满了巨大的庙堂。耶户吩咐管礼服的人说："拿出礼服来，给一切拜巴力的人穿。耶和华的信徒不得混入。" 然后，那户一本正经地献了平安祭和燔祭，与此同时，他早在神庙四周布下80名刀斧手，待他献祭完毕，这些人冲进神庙把里面的人全部杀死。他们又把巴力庙中的柱像抬出来一把火烧了；拆毁了巴力庙，把它变成一个拉屎撒尿的大茅房。就这样，耶和华教恢复了在以色列的国教地位。但是耶户干得并不彻底，他没有毁掉伯特利和但城的金牛犊，惹怒了拥立他为王的先知们。耶和华就让在大马色自立为王的哈薛破坏约但河以东的以色列土地。耶户作以色列王28年，死后由他的儿子约哈斯接续他作王。 约哈斯在位16年。（王下8:7一10:36） 犹大女王亚他利雅 亚他利雅是犹大王亚哈谢的母亲，也是以色列王亚哈与王后耶洗别生的公主。她继承了母亲的泼辣和坚强，犹大国在她的影响下，对巴力的崇拜逐渐胜过了对耶和华的崇拜。在所罗门圣殿里，外神的祭司和香客络绎不绝。 耶户在耶斯列发生政变的那一年，亚他利雅获悉儿子被杀，便发动了流血政变，剿灭了王室成员，自己登基作了女王。但是她不敢杀死亚哈谢的妹子约示巴，因为她是权威巨大的祭司长耶何耶大之妻，约示巴把亚哈谢不到1岁的儿子约阿施从被杀的王子中偷偷救出来，把他和他的乳母藏在家里，躲过了亚他利雅的毒手。约阿施在姑母的庇护下生活了6年，到他7岁那年，大祭司耶何耶大暗中打发人串通御林军的各位百夫长，把他们召集到所罗门圣殿中来，指着先王幼子约阿施说："这是先王的遗孤，应当继承王位的是他，而不是他奶奶，""大祭司，您的意思是……"有一个机敏的将军见机问道。 "耶和华说，要废除僭位者，扶立王储即位。"台下的将军们屏息临听着，"明天是安息日，你们当班的部队，三分之一要看守王宫；三分之一要在苏珥门把守；三分之一要把持军械库。你们一定要严格把永不许任何闲人出入。安息日不当班的人全都要到耶和华大殿来执行任务，要带上你们的武器。" 安息日那天，各位百夫长按照耶何耶大的命令行事，士兵们手拿兵器来到所罗门圣殿，把大殿层层围起来。耶何耶大领王子约阿施出来，给他戴上工冠，将律法书交给他，膏他作王，在场的大臣，将军和士兵拍掌山呼，"吾王万岁，万万岁！" 亚他利雅听见圣殿里传来不寻常的声音，从王宫中跑到圣殿里来，看到约阿施头戴王冠，坐在宝座上，百大长们和号角手们分立左右。她撕裂衣服，喊叫道："反了！反了！" 耶何耶大吩咐一个百夫长说："不要在殿里杀死她，把她赶出去，在街上处决她和跟随她的人。" 亚他利雅转身向殿外逃跑，守殿的卫兵纷纷闪开，为她让路。 有个百夫长跟着她，在街上把她杀死。 耶何耶大与国王和犹大人立纵专乙侍奉耶和华，不再恃奉其他的神。耶何耶大派人捣毁了巴力神庙，打碎了那里的坛和神像，还杀死了巴力神的大祭司玛但。 这一年，约阿施才7岁。年幼的国君即位，大权实际上掌握在大祭司耶何耶大手中，所以全国上下，耶和华的教非常盛行。这期间，所罗门圣殿因年久失修，很多地方已经朽坏，约阿施决定修复圣殿。但这需要很多钱，他把征收银两，筹积财物的任务交给祭司们。但是到了约阿施23年，修理圣殿的工程仍来开始，约阿施怀疑祭司们侵吞了修殿的财物，他把大祭司耶何耶大及其他有头有脸的祭司召来，对他们说："以后百姓募捐银两财物，不可交给私儿交给他们认识的祭司，而是要交给指定的专门机构。以后，我要派一个书记专管这件事，"于是，耶何耶大制作了一个募捐柜，在柜顶上钻一个窟窿，后面开一个取银子的门，安上铜锁。幕捐柜放在大殿门边，朝圣的人要捐献钱财，就从盖上的窟窿里投进去。看守圣殿的祭司见柜里银于多了，就叫来书记和大祭司，在他们的监督下，当众清点，记好帐，如数交给负责修理圣殿的监工。这样，很快就开始了修复圣殿的工程。 耶何耶大到130岁那年死去。他死以后，约阿施在犹大贵族们的影响和压力下放弃了耶和华的信仰，而崇奉巴力。耶何耶大的儿子撤迦利亚出来怒斥约阿施高经叛道，约阿施不仅不听，反而下令把他杀了。撒迦利亚被众人用石头砸死在耶和华圣殿的外院中。撒迦利亚临死时说："耶和华会为我伸冤，惩罚你们的。" 刚过一年。亚兰王哈薛就来攻打犹大，他攻陷了迦恃，扬言将踏平耶路撒冷。约阿施将祖上传下来的宝物和自己收敛的宝物都拿出来献给哈薛，哈薛才退了兵。 约阿施丢尽国宝，丧尽国威，失去了百姓的支持。耶和华的信徒乘约阿施重病不起之机，起来反叛，把他杀死在宫中的床上。 约阿施作犹大工共40年，死后由他的儿于亚玛谢继位。（王下II一12；代下22：11；24） 以色列的衰亡 耶户同亚兰王哈薛的关系非常恶劣。耶户在世的时候，哈薛多次进攻以色列，夺取了约但河以东的基列和巴珊全地。耶户死后，他的儿子约哈斯执政17年。那时候，以色列国力已经非常衰弱，亚兰人经常闯进境内，烧杀抢掠，如入无入之境。约哈斯只得屈服，成为亚兰的属国。哈薛只让约哈斯保留50个骑兵、10辆战车、10000名步兵，作为王宫自卫的武装。 约哈斯死后，他的儿子约阿施继承了王位。约阿施是一个智勇双全的战将。他在位的日子里，先知以利沙年龄太大，衰老得快要死了，约阿施去他的住地看望他，脸伏于地，痛哭着说，"我父啊，我父啊！以色列的战车战马啊！您死了，我该怎么办？" "孩子，把你的弓箭取来--"以利沙的声音细弱，却显然另有主张。 约阿施从臣仆手中取过弓箭，以利沙又吩咐："用手拿好这约阿施用手握紧弓把，以利沙把手按在他手上，说："你打开朝东的窗户。 " 约阿施打开东墙上的窗户，以利沙吩咐："射箭吧，朝打开的窗户向外射。" 约阿施拉满了弓，"嗖"地放出一技箭。这时，以利沙说："这是耶和华的得胜箭，就是战胜亚兰人的箭；因为你必在亚弗攻打亚兰人。直到灭尽他们。"歇了一会儿，以利沙又说，"再取几枝箭来，"约阿施又取了几枝箭来，以利沙吩咐他："朝地上射吧。" 约阿施朝地上射了3箭，就停住了。以利沙感到很失望，他说："你应当射5、6次，这样才能打败亚兰人，直到把他们灭绝。 现在你只射了3次，只能挫败他们3次，而不能从根本上消灭他们。 " 以利沙死了，门徒和群众正在安埋他的骸骨，另外有一家也死了人，抬着尸体朝同一个坟场走来。突然，有一群摩押入杀来，那家人就把自家的死人抛在放着以利沙尸体的坟坑里，匆匆逃跑。 那死人一碰着以利沙的尸体就复活站了起来。 不久，亚兰王哈薛病死，约阿施乘他们举国服丧之机，一连3次出击，打败了他们，夺回了他父亲丢弃的全部领土。 约阿施为王第二年，犹大王子亚玛谢登基。亚玛谢懂些兵法。 盐谷一仗，杀死了10000名以东人，又攻取了西拉城，改名为约贴。亚玛谢头脑发热，打发使者去向约阿施邀战。约阿施劝他，同族之间不要相互残杀，要以和为贵，但这些劝告不过如风过耳。以色列和犹大之间终于爆发了战争。结果以色列大败犹大，约阿施生擒了亚玛谢，打进耶路撒冷，拆毁了一段城墙，把圣殿和王宫中所藏的金银和器皿全都掳去。不过约阿施没有废除亚玛谢，只是把喽收为藩属。 看来，以色列似乎有称雄迦南的实力了。但是好景不长，不久约阿施去世，继位的儿子耶罗波安行耶和华以为不义的事，再次使以色列入陷入罪孽的深渊，国内外危机四伏。 耶罗波安在位41年后死去，他的儿子撒迦利雅登基刚六个月，就被大臣沙龙杀死。沙龙结束了耶户王朝，自己作起国王来。 但沙龙的国王痛只过了1个凡就被大臣米拿现杀死。米拿现作了10年以色列王，他在位的时候，亚述王普勒攻破了以色列国境，米拿现献给他1000他连得银子，请他退兵；并请喽帮助自己巩固王权。米拿现为了筹借这笔银子，只好向富户征收，因为以色列平民已经一无所有了。这引起了国内动荡。米拿现死后，他的儿子比加辖接替王位刚刚2年，就被手下的将军比加所杀。比加的政权勉强地维持了20年。他在位的时候，亚述王提革拉毗列色攻陷了以色列的以云、亚伯伯玛迦、亚挪、基低斯、夏琐、基列、加利利和拿弗他利全儿将这些地方的居民掳到亚述作奴隶。比加同亚兰王利汛结盟，反对亚述。但以亚联盟仍不是亚述的对手，他又想拉当时的犹大王亚哈斯入盟，遭到拒绝。他们就以武力压迫亚哈斯，发兵包围了耶路撒冷。亚哈斯整天向神祈祷，甚至把自己的儿子也献为燔祭，全国各地，邱坛上、山冈上、松树下，到处都是献祭烧香的人。但是这也无济干事。于是，亚哈斯只得向亚述王提革拉毗列色求援，他写了一封信给亚述王，对他说，"我是您的仆人、您的儿子。现在亚兰工和以色列王攻击我，求您救我脱离他们手，"亚哈斯将耶和华圣殿里和王宫府库中所有的金银都送给亚述19作为礼物，亚述王应允了他，以迅雷不及掩耳之势直捣大马邑杀了利汛王，把居民掳到吉珥。 后来，比加的臣子何细亚背叛他，把他杀死，篡夺了王位，作以色列王4年。他行耶和华眼中看为恶的事情，亚述王撒缦以色上来攻击何细亚，何细亚只得服侍他，成了亚述的藩属，给他进贡。但是，随着时间的推移，反亚述集团在埃及的支持下，在以色列朝廷中占了上风，向何细亚施加压力。何细亚在埃及王的支持下，背叛了亚述，不照往年的惯例向撒缦以色进贡。撒缦以色立即发兵镇压，把以色列打得落花流水，生擒了何细亚井把他装进囚笼，打入大牢。 剩下的以色列部队退到撒玛利亚固守，撒缦以色围困了撒玛利亚3年，才攻了下来。亚述人把以色列人掳到亚述，把他们安置在哈腊与歌散的哈博河边以及玛代等地。亚述王又把巴比伦、古他、亚瓦、哈马和西法瓦音等地的人迁入以色列。就这样，以色列国再也不存在了，以色列民族12个支派中的10个支派也从此消声匿迹，（王下10：32一10：33：王下13一17） 巴比伦之囚 回过头再说犹大，那个重修耶和华圣殿的约阿施被杀后，他的儿子亚玛谢接续喽作王。他曾击溃以东儿又与以色列交战，兵攸被擒，犹大成为以色列的附属国。后来，耶路撒冷发生宫廷政变，骚乱中，亚玛谢逃到拉吉：叛党派人追到那里，把他杀了。这一年他54岁，在位29岁。他的儿子亚撒利雅（又名乌西雅）就位时，年龄刚满16岁。少年的国王年龄虽不大，治理国家却很有方略，他废除了朝廷对异神的崇拜，恢复了耶和华的教的正统地位，只是没有拆去异教的邱坛。亚撒利雅发兵攻打非利士人，攻克迦特、雅比尼城和亚实突城，还征服一些好战的亚拉伯（阿拉伯）部族和亚扪人，使他们向耶路撒冷进贡纳税。他大力加强国防，扩大军队，加固城墙。又鼓励农业和畜牧业。一时间，犹大国富民强，颇有中兴的气派。亚撒利雅渐渐地心高气做起来，他竟不经过祭司，直接向耶和华进香，祭司们劝阻他，他不但不听，还大发脾气。耶和华就使他额上忽然发出大麻疯的白斑。他不得不离开耶略撒冷，住进别宫里，他的儿子约坦代替他管理家事，治理国民，直到他死在别宫。 亚撒利雅在位52年，他死以后，由他的儿子约但继承王位。 他继续奉耶和华为官方的神灵，但无力禁止全国普遍盛行的异教崇拜。约坦在位10年，其问曾重修耶和华大殿的上门，井在全国各地建筑了许多营寨和高楼。他曾打败亚桐人，使亚扣人连续3年进贡100他连得银子，10000歌珥小麦，10000歌珥大麦。 约但死后，他的儿子亚哈斯继位。亚哈斯背离了他祖父和父亲的道路，崇拜巴力神像，他在位16年，其问可谓内忧外患迭起。 业兰入和以色列入三番五次地攻击犹大，他被围困在耶路撤冷，甚至把自己的儿子献为燔祭，倾尽全部国库乞求亚述出战援助。以法莲入细基利，带兵杀入犹大，掳去犹大人20万，幸亏有几位德高望重的以法莲忠厚的长老出来劝阻，细基利才没有把这些人带回去作奴隶。 亚哈斯死后，他的儿子希西家接续他作犹人上。希西家在位的时候，撒玛利亚沦陷。这在犹大引起了恐慌，希西家总结以色列亡国的教训，大胆改革朝政，恢复耶和华的独尊地位。他任命厂一大批利未人的后裔担任祭司。祭司们打开封尘己久的圣殿大门，花了半个月时间才完成对神殿的清洗洁净工作。然后，希西家按照惯例在圣殿中举行厂献祭礼。他打发驿卒向全国发布通告，要大家到耶路撤冷来过逾越节，他甚至写信给以法莲和玛拿西儿请他们也守逾越节，但却遭到那里的人们的讥笑。不过来耶路撒冷朝觐的人仍然很冬其中包括许多以法莲、玛拿西人。这次大规模的朝觐活动以后。希西家下令废去邱坛，毁坏往像，砍下木偶，甚至打碎了摩西所造的铜蛇，化为铜块，因为那时以色列入成群结队地围绕铜蛇侥香。耶和华教在犹大的复兴无疑是对迦南霸主亚述的挑战。希西家15年，刚刚取得以色列的亚述王业拿基立发兵侵入犹大，阉困一切坚固的城邑，将城攻取，只剩下耶路撒冷一座孤城。希西家一方面施缓兵之计，派使者去拉吉见亚述王说："我有罪了，求您离开我；凡您罚我的，我必承当。"亚拿基立罚他银子300他连得，金子30他连得，希西家为了凑齐如数的金银，把耶和华殿和工宫府库里所有的银子都拿出来，甚至把圣殿和上宫里包门和柱子的金子也刮了下来充数。另一方面，希西家动员全体人民起来抗战。军民同心，塞住了耶路撒冷城外的一切泉源和流向城里的小问，使侵略者得不到水喝。希西家还指浑百姓修筑了所有拆毁的城墙，高与城楼相齐；在城外又筑了第二道围墙。 西拿基立得到那么多金银，没有立即派兵攻打耶路撒冷，他只是打发臣仆拉伯沙基从拉吉来到耶路撒冷城外，对希西家，和耶路撒冷的犹大人说，"我王西拿基立如此说：你们靠什么来抵挡我们呢？西希家诱骗你们说，耶和华必救你们脱离亚述王的手。亚述三向列国列邦所行的，你们又不是没有看见。我们灭了这么多国，歌散、哈兰、利色和伊甸，还包括耶和华庇护的以色列。这些国家的神，何尝能救自己的国脱离我们的手呢？难道你们要依靠埃及人吗？他们是压伤的苇杖，人若靠这杖，就必刺透他的手，"亚述使者拉伯沙基的这些话传到犹大人耳朵里，扰乱了民心。 希西家和先知以赛亚因此向耶和华呼叫，耶和华就差遣一个使者，进入亚述营中，把所有大能的勇士和官长、将帅尽都灭绝，留下185000具尸体。亚述王满面含羞地回到本国，住在尼尼微。一天，他在他神尼斯洛的庙堂里潜心祷告时，他亲生的儿子亚得米勒和沙利从背后用刀把他捅死。耶路撒冷因此得救，希西家继续执政，恢复了秩序，四境平安。百姓一致崇奉耶和华，每逢安息日，通往耶路撒冷的路上香客络绎不绝。 不久，希西家得了重病，奄奄一息，他向耶和华苦苦哀求，耶和华让先知以赛亚行神迹，以一块无花果饼贴在希西家的疮口上·治愈了他的病，并为他增加15年寿数。 巴比伦王巴拉但的儿子比罗达巴拉但听见希西家病而痊愈，就派使者送书信和礼物给他，想趁机打探犹大国的虚实。希西家对此没有戒备，听从了来使的话，把室库中的金子、银子、香料、贵重的膏油和武库中的一切兵器都展示给他们看。耶和华因此离开他，决意使他的后代落入巴比伦的手。耶和华让以赛亚去对希西家说，"你要听耶和华的话。日子必到，凡你家里所有的，井你列祖积蓄到如今的，都要被掳到已比伦去，不留下一样。这是耶和华说的。并且从你本身所生的众子，其中必有被掳去，在巴比伦王官里当太监的。"希西家对以赛亚说，"你所说耶和华的话甚好。若在我的年日中，有太平和稳固的景况，岂不是好么？" 希西家除了他的战功之外，还有挖地，挖沟、引水人城等业绩。他在耶路撒冷作王29年后死去，他的儿子玛拿西接替他作犹大王，玛拿西即位时12岁，大权旁落，国内异教重新占了上风。 希西家毁坏的邱坛再度修复，又为已力筑坛，塑亚舍拉神像，还敬拜事奉天上的日且星辰。他在耶和华圣殿中为天上的万象筑坛，把自己的幼子献为播祭，占星术、交鬼术等巫术横行。玛拿西还残酷地镇压异己力量，流许多无辜人的血，恐怖笼罩着耶路撒冷。 耶和华警戒玛拿西，他却不听，所以耶和华使亚述玉的将帅来攻击犹大，用铙钩住玛拿西，用铜链锁住他，带到巴比伦去。玛拿西在尼尼微过了几年幽禁生活：这可怕的遭遇使他回心转意，重新信仰耶和华。他恳求耶和华宽恕他，帮助他回到耶路撒冷。耶和华就允准他的祈求，垂听他的祷告，使他获得自由，返回那路撒冷。复位后的玛拿西竟成了偶像崇拜不共戴天的敌儿变得一心虔信耶和华。 玛拿西执政55年后死去，他的儿子亚们接续他作犹大王。亚们背离他父亲的道路，掌权不到两年就被耶和华的信徒谋杀。 亚们死后，他的儿子约西亚接续他作王。约西亚登基的时候才8岁，因为扶持他上台的大臣是耶和华的虔诚信徒，所以朝廷一心一意要恢复耶和华神的权威，但一直迫于亚述的威胁不敢有大的动作。终于时机来临，亚述国遭到高加索地区新兴的斯基福部族的攻击，几乎灭国，从此一蹶不振。约西亚乘机大力从事宗教政治改革，一心"洁净犹大和耶路撒冷"，除掉国内听有的邱坛。 木偶、柱像。这场洁净运动从约西亚12年开始，到18年才结束。 约西亚又开始了修复耶和华圣殿的工作。在翻修过程中，发生了一件使全体耶和华教民深为激动的事：工人们在圣殿的一个角落里发现了一卷被遗忘了的律法书。大祭司把它交给约西亚的书记，书记向王宣读。律书中说，要严惩那些违背摩西戒律的人。约西亚听完，就撒裂衣服，发誓要代列祖列宗受过，女先知户勒大肯定了该书的真实性，但她安慰约西亚说，书中所说的惩罚不涉及他，因为他是忠于耶和华的。接着，国玉又在圣殿外院里当着众人的面宣读了圣书，凡忠于耶和华的人都发誓要遵守诫命、法度、律例，成就书上所记的约言。 曾几何时，闪族人的国家在非洲兴起，他们攻占并摧毁了尼尼微。亚述军退到迦兰，顽强抵抗。迦勒底王尼布甲尼撒定都已比伦并在亚述的废墟上奠定了迦勒底王朝（又叫新巴比伦王朝）的基础。埃及法老注视着这个新兴的帝国，深知这是日后的大患，便不顾平日跟亚述的世仇，决定发兵援助退守伯拉河边迦基米施城的亚述军队。约西亚因为要看宿敌亚述人的好戏，派兵阻挡了埃及军队经过迦南的道路。不料，在米吉多平原一战中，约西亚被打得一败涂地，中箭身亡。约西亚的遗体被运到耶路撒冷，与列祖同葬。 约西亚的儿子约哈斯继承犹大王位，在耶路撒冷只当了3个月国王。前去增援亚述军的尼哥被尼布甲尼撤的人打得大败，在往回撤的路上，便顺路攻入耶路撒冷，把约哈斯劫持到埃及，又罚犹大国银子100他连得，金子1他连得。尼哥立约哈斯的哥哥以约雅敬为王，改名为约雅敬。犹大被捆上