2 Chronicles Contrasting Regions: Northern Israel vs. Southern Judah Quotes

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Quote #7

A letter came to him from the prophet Elijah, saying: "Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or in the ways of King Asa of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, as the house of Ahab led Israel into unfaithfulness […] the Lord will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions." (2 Chronicles 21:12-14, NRSV)

There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab […] with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods. (2 Chronicles 21:12-14, KJV)

King Jehoram started following the idolatrous practices of the northern kingdom, likely because he married another daughter of King Ahab of Israel. Marriages to foreign women even caused trouble for Solomon, although we don't hear too much about it in 1 Chronicles. The Israelite daughters were especially bad influences, apparently.

Quote #8

Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done; for after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his ruin. He even followed their advice, and went with Jehoram son of King Ahab of Israel to make war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. (2 Chronicles 22:2-5, NRSV)

Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counselors after the death of his father to his destruction. He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead. (2 Chronicles 22:2-5, KJV)

Remember that marriage pact between Jehoshaphat and Ahab? Here's where it all goes wrong. Ahab's daughter grew up in Israel, so naturally, she's wicked to her core. Now she's in Judah influencing the kings there to turn away from God. Ahab is the poster child for idolatry; his whole family's tainted.

Quote #9

King Joash of Israel went up; he and King Amaziah of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. Judah was defeated by Israel; everyone fled home. King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh; he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, a distance of four hundred cubits. He seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, and Obed-edom with them; he seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages; then he returned to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 25:21-24, NRSV)

Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also and returned to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 25:21-24, KJV)

It's explained in an earlier verse that it was God's doing to have Joash defeat Amaziah because of Amaziah's decision to build altars to pagan gods. You have to wonder about the appeal of these other gods to kings who've been given their throne by Yahweh and still can't stay away from Baal and company. Better parties, maybe?