S3E287 – 2 Chronicles 21-24: The Evil Queen

Transcript Executive Producer John Podcast Introduction Today is History Tuesday, and we will read 2 Chronicles 21-24. We’ll read about the murderous queen Athaliah, and how the line of king David was nearly snuffed out. I do have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “The Evil Queen.” Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Mohammad Metri on Unsplash Comments on 2 Chronicles 21-24 In these chapters, we read about Joash, and how he was saved from the evil Queen Athaliah, who killed every child of King Ahaziah, who was killed by Jehu. Every child but one. Jehosheba was the sister of King Ahaziah, and when she heard that Athaliah wanted to kill all of his children, she hid one-year-old Joash with the priests in the Temple for six years. That’s quite a story in itself, but this next part is what I find most interesting. At this point, Joash is the only living descendant of King David. Remember God’s promise to David? That there would always be one of his descendants on the throne? Yep. So God made sure that Joash was not killed.  And who else was from the house of David? Of course. None other than Jesus of Nazareth.  It would be nice if we could say that Joash grew to be a good and godly king, but such is not the case. Yes, he did right before the Lord while Jehoiada the priest was alive, but once Jehoiada died, Joash took a left turn. He turned away from God, and he and the leaders and the people of Judah began to worship false gods. God then allowed Judah to be defeated by the smaller army of the Arameans, and Joash was wounded. And then his own servants killed him on his own bed. And when he was buried, it was not in the place where the other kings were buried. A sad ending to a life that was miraculously spared by God, wouldn’t you say? The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Would that Joash had kept his eyes on God. Coming from a believing family is no guarantee. He was literally raised in the Temple, with a godly role model in Jehoiada the priest. Parents, grandparents, anyone with influence over children…it is eternally important that you impress upon your children the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 21-22 ERV; Ch. 23 NET; Ch. 24 NKJV Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file. STEVE WEBB – 0:00Don’t take it for granted. INTRO S12E293 – 0:09This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and today’s History Tuesday, and we’ll read 2 Chronicles 21 through 24. After the reading, I’ve got some comments for you. And there’s an On This Date in Church History segment, and I’ve got a comment to share with you today. I’m calling today’s episode, “The Evil Queen”. The show notes page is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e293, if you’d like to leave a comment or you can send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started. 2 CHRONICLES 21 (ERV) – 0:482 Chronicles, chapter 21. (1) Then Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son, Jehoram became the next king. (2) Jehoram’s brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. They were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. (3) Jehoshaphat gave his sons many gifts of silver, gold, and precious things. He also gave them strong fortresses in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was his oldest son. (4) Jehoram took over his father’s kingdom and made himself strong. Then he used a sword to kill all his brothers. He also killed some of the leaders of Israel. (5) Jehoram was 32 years old when he began to rule. He ruled eight years in Jerusalem. (6) He lived the same way the kings of Israel lived. He lived the same way Ahab’s family lived. This was because Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter. And Jehoram did evil in the Lord’s sight. (7) But the Lord would not destroy David’s family because of the agreement he made with David. He had promised to keep a lamp burning for David and his children forever. (8) In Jehoram’s time, Edom broke away from under Judah’s authority. The people of Edom chose their own king. (9) So Jehoram went to Edom with all his commanders and chariots. The Edomite army surrounded Jehoram and his chariot commanders. But Jehoram fought his way out at night. (10) Since that time and until now the country of Edom has been rebellious against Judah. The people from the town of Libnah also turned against Jehoram. This happened because Jehoram left the Lord God. He is the God Jehoram’s ancestors followed. (11) Jehoram also built high places on the hills in Judah. He caused the people of Jerusalem to start worshiping other gods. He led the people of Judah away from their God. (12) Jehoram received this message from Elijah the prophet: “This is what the Lord, the God your father David followed, says, ‘Jehoram, you have not lived the way your father Jehoshaphat lived. You have not lived the way King Asa of Judah lived. (13) But you have lived the way the kings of Israel lived. You have caused the people of Judah and Jerusalem to stop doing what God wants. That is what Ahab and his family did. They were unfaithful to God. You have killed your brothers, and they were better than you. (14) So now, the Lord will soon punish your people with terrible suffering. He will punish your children, your wives, and all your property. (15) You will have a painful sickness in your intestines that will get worse and worse. Your intestines will finally come out.’” (16) The Lord caused the Philistines and the Arabs living near the Ethiopians to be angry with Jehoram. (17) They attacked Judah and carried away all the riches in the king’s palace. They also took Jehoram’s sons and wives. Only Jehoram’s youngest son, Ahaziah, was left. (18) After this happened, the Lord made Jehoram sick with a disease in his intestines that could not be cured. (19) His intestines fell out two years later because of his sickness. He died in very bad pain. The people did not make a large fire to honor Jehoram as they did for his father. (20) Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king. He ruled eight years in Jerusalem. No one was sad when he died. The people buried Jehoram in the City of David, but not in the graves where the kings are buried. 2 CHRONICLES 22 (ERV) – 4:162 Chronicles, chapter 22. (1) The people of Jerusalem chose Ahaziah to be the new king in Jehoram’s place. Ahaziah was Jehoram’s youngest son. The people who came with the Arabs to attack Jehoram’s camp killed all of Jehoram’s older sons. So Ahaziah began to rule in Judah. (2) He was 22 years old when he began to rule. He ruled one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah. Her father’s name was Omri. (3) Ahaziah also lived the way Ahab’s family lived because his mother encouraged him to do wrong things. (4) Ahaziah did evil in the Lord’s sight. That is what Ahab’s family did. Ahab’s family gave advice to Ahaziah after Ahaziah’s father died. They gave Ahaziah bad advice that led to his death. (5-6) Ahaziah followed the advice of Ahab’s family and joined King Joram to fight against King Hazael from Aram. They fought near the town of Ramoth in Gilead. Joram, who was the son of King Ahab of Israel, was wounded in the battle. He went back to the town of Jezreel to heal from the wounds he suffered at Ramoth. King Ahaziah went there later to visit him. (7) God caused Ahaziah’s death when he went to visit Joram. Ahaziah arrived and went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi. The Lord chose Jehu to destroy Ahab’s family. (8) Jehu was punishing Ahab’s family. He found the leaders of Judah and Ahaziah’s relatives who served Ahaziah. He killed the leaders of Judah and Ahaziah’s relatives. (9) Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah. Jehu’s men caught him when he tried to hide in the town of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu. They killed Ahaziah and buried him. They said, “Ahaziah is the descendant of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat followed the Lord with all his heart.” Ahaziah’s family had no power to hold the kingdom of Judah together. (10) Athaliah was Ahaziah’s mother. When she saw that her son was dead, she killed all the king’s children in Judah. (11) But Jehosheba took Ahaziah’s son Joash and hid him. Jehosheba put Joash and his nurse in the inside bedroom. Jehosheba was King Jehoram’s daughter. She was also Jehoiada’s wife. Jehoiada was a priest, and Jehosheba was Ahaziah’s sister. Athaliah did not kill Joash, because Jehosheba hid him. (12) Joash was hidden with the priests in God’s Temple for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled over the land as queen. 2 CHRONICLES 23 (NET) – 06:492 Chronicles, chapter 23. (1) In the seventh year Jehoiada made a bold move. He made a pact with the officers of the units of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehochanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. (2) They traveled throughout Judah and assembled the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the Israelite family members. They came to Jerusalem, (3) and the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son will rule, just as the Lord promised David’s descendants. (4) This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors....