History of Judah · CLF Church

Old Testament Prophets Southern Kingdom (Judah)

(Samuel, Nathan, Gad)

King David

King Solomon

King Solomon had been established over Israel as under King David his Father

King Solomon has a dream, He receives wisdom from God above all men on the earth

King Solomon Gets a heart to establish the Kingdom and Build the Temple of God

Deut 17:14-20

14 “When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, “I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’

15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman.

16 “Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, “You shall never again return that way.’

17 “He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.

18 “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.

19 “It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes,

20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

Solomon’s Sins

Egypt- Solomon’s first act as King towards Diplomatic Alliances id with the King of Egypt

Solomon in order to keep peace between Israel and Egypt to attain military equipment such as horses and chariots married the Princess of Egypt.

Brings the Queen to the City of David and build her a house

Solomon had a love for Horses and is said to have had 4000 horses for his chariots and 12,000 chargers for his Horsemen

Sold horses he bought from Egypt to Syria and Phoenicia for Money for Israel

Phoenicia - Kept a pack with King Hiram ( king of the Phoenicians) in order to keep trading between them for revenue.

The Phoenicians were related to the Canaanites and had established themselves as traders and sailors

The Phoenicians were known for their metalwork and glasswork, woven cloth, and fabric dyed with a color known as Tyrian purple.

Solomon also married the daughter of King Hiram as a sign of the alliance

Solomon’s Many wives

Solomon was known to be a lover of many foreign wives. (700 wives + 300 Concubines)

Solomon Built houses and places of worship for each of his foreign wives so they could worship the God of the own land (Egyptians, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Hittites)

When Solomon was around age 50 he fell from God and sponsored the heathen worship.

Ashteroth – the Goddess of the Phoenicians

Milcom (Molech) the god of the ammonites (1 Kg 11:5)

He also built high places for other forms of worship on the MT of Olives ( 1 Kg 11:7)

The Prophet Ahijah –

Prophesies against Solomon’s Sins and Idolatries to Jeroboam one of his military menThat God was anointing Jeroboam to be King over 10 tribes of Israel and Solomon’s Son would take 2 Tribes under his Ruler ship

Jeroboam –Gets impatient and tries to rally against King Solomon and is forced to leave Israel and flee to Egypt.

Jeroboam while in Egypt forms a friendship with the King of Egypt until his return after Solomon’s Death

Rehoboam – follows Solomon to the throne but rises against the people of Israel and Jeroboam splits the nations and divides the two Kingdoms.

King Solomon

( Israel ) ( Judah )

King Jeroboam King Rehoboam

Kingdom Prophets

1. Rehoboam / (bad) | | 925 BC: Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem. / Solomon’s son inherited the throne, but rejected the advice of Solomon’s counsellors, and treated the people harshly when they sent Jeroboam to negotiate for better treatment, hence the rebellion. Shemiah prophesied that Rehoboam should not fight Jeroboam. / Rehoboam adopted pagan religion wholesale. Pharoah Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the temple treasure. | 925 BC: Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem. / Solomon’s son inherited the throne, but rejected the advice of Solomon’s counsellors, and treated the people harshly when they sent Jeroboam to negotiate for better treatment, hence the rebellion. Shemiah prophesied that Rehoboam should not fight Jeroboam. / Rehoboam adopted pagan religion wholesale. Pharoah Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the temple treasure. | 925 BC: Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem. / Solomon’s son inherited the throne, but rejected the advice of Solomon’s counsellors, and treated the people harshly when they sent Jeroboam to negotiate for better treatment, hence the rebellion. Shemiah prophesied that Rehoboam should not fight Jeroboam. / Rehoboam adopted pagan religion wholesale. Pharoah Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the temple treasure. | 925 BC: Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem. / Solomon’s son inherited the throne, but rejected the advice of Solomon’s counsellors, and treated the people harshly when they sent Jeroboam to negotiate for better treatment, hence the rebellion. Shemiah prophesied that Rehoboam should not fight Jeroboam. / Rehoboam adopted pagan religion wholesale. Pharoah Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the temple treasure. | 925 BC: Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem. / Solomon’s son inherited the throne, but rejected the advice of Solomon’s counsellors, and treated the people harshly when they sent Jeroboam to negotiate for better treatment, hence the rebellion. Shemiah prophesied that Rehoboam should not fight Jeroboam. / Rehoboam adopted pagan religion wholesale. Pharoah Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the temple treasure. | 925 BC: Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem. / Solomon’s son inherited the throne, but rejected the advice of Solomon’s counsellors, and treated the people harshly when they sent Jeroboam to negotiate for better treatment, hence the rebellion. Shemiah prophesied that Rehoboam should not fight Jeroboam. / Rehoboam adopted pagan religion wholesale. Pharoah Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the temple treasure. | 925 BC: Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem. / Solomon’s son inherited the throne, but rejected the advice of Solomon’s counsellors, and treated the people harshly when they sent Jeroboam to negotiate for better treatment, hence the rebellion. Shemiah prophesied that Rehoboam should not fight Jeroboam. / Rehoboam adopted pagan religion wholesale. Pharoah Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the temple treasure.

2. Abijah / (bad) | | During his Reigne there was Continual war between Judah and Israel. | During his Reigne there was Continual war between Judah and Israel. | During his Reigne there was Continual war between Judah and Israel. | During his Reigne there was Continual war between Judah and Israel. | During his Reigne there was Continual war between Judah and Israel. | During his Reigne there was Continual war between Judah and Israel. | During his Reigne there was Continual war between Judah and Israel. |

3. Asa / (good) | | Asa destroyed the artifacts of pagan religion, right down to the removal of the Queen Mother, who had made an Asherah pole. / Continual war with Israel: / Asa sent the recently-restored gold and silver from the temple to Ben-Hadad of Aram, persuading him to break his treaty with Israel and align with Judah instead. | Asa destroyed the artifacts of pagan religion, right down to the removal of the Queen Mother, who had made an Asherah pole. / Continual war with Israel: / Asa sent the recently-restored gold and silver from the temple to Ben-Hadad of Aram, persuading him to break his treaty with Israel and align with Judah instead. | Asa destroyed the artifacts of pagan religion, right down to the removal of the Queen Mother, who had made an Asherah pole. / Continual war with Israel: / Asa sent the recently-restored gold and silver from the temple to Ben-Hadad of Aram, persuading him to break his treaty with Israel and align with Judah instead. | Asa destroyed the artifacts of pagan religion, right down to the removal of the Queen Mother, who had made an Asherah pole. / Continual war with Israel: / Asa sent the recently-restored gold and silver from the temple to Ben-Hadad of Aram, persuading him to break his treaty with Israel and align with Judah instead. | Asa destroyed the artifacts of pagan religion, right down to the removal of the Queen Mother, who had made an Asherah pole. / Continual war with Israel: / Asa sent the recently-restored gold and silver from the temple to Ben-Hadad of Aram, persuading him to break his treaty with Israel and align with Judah instead. | Asa destroyed the artifacts of pagan religion, right down to the removal of the Queen Mother, who had made an Asherah pole. / Continual war with Israel: / Asa sent the recently-restored gold and silver from the temple to Ben-Hadad of Aram, persuading him to break his treaty with Israel and align with Judah instead.

3. Asa | 3. Asa | 3. Asa | | 911 BC | 20 since Solomon | Reigned 41 |

4. Jehoshaphat / (good) | | | A good king who compromised by allying himself with Ahab to fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. / Micaiah correctly predicted that Ahab would be killed. | A good king who compromised by allying himself with Ahab to fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. / Micaiah correctly predicted that Ahab would be killed. | A good king who compromised by allying himself with Ahab to fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. / Micaiah correctly predicted that Ahab would be killed. | A good king who compromised by allying himself with Ahab to fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. / Micaiah correctly predicted that Ahab would be killed. | A good king who compromised by allying himself with Ahab to fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. / Micaiah correctly predicted that Ahab would be killed. | A good king who compromised by allying himself with Ahab to fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. / Micaiah correctly predicted that Ahab would be killed.

5. Jehoram / (bad) | | | During his reign was Edom’s successful revolt against Judah. | During his reign was Edom’s successful revolt against Judah. | During his reign was Edom’s successful revolt against Judah. | During his reign was Edom’s successful revolt against Judah. | During his reign was Edom’s successful revolt against Judah. | During his reign was Edom’s successful revolt against Judah. | During his reign was Edom’s successful revolt against Judah.

6. Ahaziah / (bad) | | During his reign With Jehoram’s help, fought against Hazael king of Aram. | During his reign With Jehoram’s help, fought against Hazael king of Aram. | During his reign With Jehoram’s help, fought against Hazael king of Aram. | During his reign With Jehoram’s help, fought against Hazael king of Aram. | During his reign With Jehoram’s help, fought against Hazael king of Aram. | During his reign With Jehoram’s help, fought against Hazael king of Aram. | During his reign With Jehoram’s help, fought against Hazael king of Aram.

7. Athaliah / (bad) | | The mother of Ahaziah, hearing of his death, proclaimed herself queen in his stead, and put to death every remaining member of the royal family in order to strengthen her own position. / Ahaziah’s infant son Joash was hidden by his nurse, and lived in the temple for six years, thereby preserving David’s royal line. | The mother of Ahaziah, hearing of his death, proclaimed herself queen in his stead, and put to death every remaining member of the royal family in order to strengthen her own position. / Ahaziah’s infant son Joash was hidden by his nurse, and lived in the temple for six years, thereby preserving David’s royal line. | The mother of Ahaziah, hearing of his death, proclaimed herself queen in his stead, and put to death every remaining member of the royal family in order to strengthen her own position. / Ahaziah’s infant son Joash was hidden by his nurse, and lived in the temple for six years, thereby preserving David’s royal line. | The mother of Ahaziah, hearing of his death, proclaimed herself queen in his stead, and put to death every remaining member of the royal family in order to strengthen her own position. / Ahaziah’s infant son Joash was hidden by his nurse, and lived in the temple for six years, thereby preserving David’s royal line. | The mother of Ahaziah, hearing of his death, proclaimed herself queen in his stead, and put to death every remaining member of the royal family in order to strengthen her own position. / Ahaziah’s infant son Joash was hidden by his nurse, and lived in the temple for six years, thereby preserving David’s royal line. | The mother of Ahaziah, hearing of his death, proclaimed herself queen in his stead, and put to death every remaining member of the royal family in order to strengthen her own position. / Ahaziah’s infant son Joash was hidden by his nurse, and lived in the temple for six years, thereby preserving David’s royal line.

8. Joash / (good) | | Placed on the throne by Jehoida the high priest, in a well-planned rebellion against Athaliah. / In the early years of his reign, Jehoida influenced him, and he repaired the temple. / after Jehoida’s death, Joash ignored God, and had Jehoida’s son executed. / Hazael and the Arameans attacked again, and Joash appeased them by giving them the newly-restored temple treasures. / Finally, he was assassinated in revenge for the killing of Jehoida’s son. | Placed on the throne by Jehoida the high priest, in a well-planned rebellion against Athaliah. / In the early years of his reign, Jehoida influenced him, and he repaired the temple. / after Jehoida’s death, Joash ignored God, and had Jehoida’s son executed. / Hazael and the Arameans attacked again, and Joash appeased them by giving them the newly-restored temple treasures. / Finally, he was assassinated in revenge for the killing of Jehoida’s son. | Placed on the throne by Jehoida the high priest, in a well-planned rebellion against Athaliah. / In the early years of his reign, Jehoida influenced him, and he repaired the temple. / after Jehoida’s death, Joash ignored God, and had Jehoida’s son executed. / Hazael and the Arameans attacked again, and Joash appeased them by giving them the newly-restored temple treasures. / Finally, he was assassinated in revenge for the killing of Jehoida’s son. | Placed on the throne by Jehoida the high priest, in a well-planned rebellion against Athaliah. / In the early years of his reign, Jehoida influenced him, and he repaired the temple. / after Jehoida’s death, Joash ignored God, and had Jehoida’s son executed. / Hazael and the Arameans attacked again, and Joash appeased them by giving them the newly-restored temple treasures. / Finally, he was assassinated in revenge for the killing of Jehoida’s son. | Placed on the throne by Jehoida the high priest, in a well-planned rebellion against Athaliah. / In the early years of his reign, Jehoida influenced him, and he repaired the temple. / after Jehoida’s death, Joash ignored God, and had Jehoida’s son executed. / Hazael and the Arameans attacked again, and Joash appeased them by giving them the newly-restored temple treasures. / Finally, he was assassinated in revenge for the killing of Jehoida’s son. | Placed on the throne by Jehoida the high priest, in a well-planned rebellion against Athaliah. / In the early years of his reign, Jehoida influenced him, and he repaired the temple. / after Jehoida’s death, Joash ignored God, and had Jehoida’s son executed. / Hazael and the Arameans attacked again, and Joash appeased them by giving them the newly-restored temple treasures. / Finally, he was assassinated in revenge for the killing of Jehoida’s son.

9. Amaziah / (good) | | Executed the conspirators responsible for his father’s death. / Stupidly challenged resurgent Israel to a completely unnecessary war and lost, resulting in substantial damage to Jerusalem. | Executed the conspirators responsible for his father’s death. / Stupidly challenged resurgent Israel to a completely unnecessary war and lost, resulting in substantial damage to Jerusalem. | Executed the conspirators responsible for his father’s death. / Stupidly challenged resurgent Israel to a completely unnecessary war and lost, resulting in substantial damage to Jerusalem. | Executed the conspirators responsible for his father’s death. / Stupidly challenged resurgent Israel to a completely unnecessary war and lost, resulting in substantial damage to Jerusalem. | Executed the conspirators responsible for his father’s death. / Stupidly challenged resurgent Israel to a completely unnecessary war and lost, resulting in substantial damage to Jerusalem. | Executed the conspirators responsible for his father’s death. / Stupidly challenged resurgent Israel to a completely unnecessary war and lost, resulting in substantial damage to Jerusalem. | Executed the conspirators responsible for his father’s death. / Stupidly challenged resurgent Israel to a completely unnecessary war and lost, resulting in substantial damage to Jerusalem.

10. Uzziah / (good) | | (Also known as Azariah.) Suffered from leprosy towards the end of his reign, so his son Jotham was effectively reigning in his place at the end of his life. | (Also known as Azariah.) Suffered from leprosy towards the end of his reign, so his son Jotham was effectively reigning in his place at the end of his life. | (Also known as Azariah.) Suffered from leprosy towards the end of his reign, so his son Jotham was effectively reigning in his place at the end of his life. | (Also known as Azariah.) Suffered from leprosy towards the end of his reign, so his son Jotham was effectively reigning in his place at the end of his life. | (Also known as Azariah.) Suffered from leprosy towards the end of his reign, so his son Jotham was effectively reigning in his place at the end of his life. | (Also known as Azariah.) Suffered from leprosy towards the end of his reign, so his son Jotham was effectively reigning in his place at the end of his life.

10. Uzziah (Azariah) | 10. Uzziah (Azariah) | 10. Uzziah (Azariah) | | 767 BC | 164 | 52 | Isaiah (until Hezekiah)

12. Ahaz / (bad) | | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign | 732 BC: Fall of Damascus (capital of Aram) to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. / Under military pressure from the Israel/Aram alliance, Ahaz sent the gold and silver from the temple to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, asking for his aid, which came in the form of Assyria’s conquering Damascus. / This marked the effective end of Aram as a threat to Israel and Judah, but Assyria was at least as threatening a replacement. / The Fall of Israel under Hoshea’s Reign

13. Hezekiah / (good) | 13. Hezekiah / (good) | 13. Hezekiah / (good) | 13. Hezekiah / (good) | | | | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury. | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury. | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury. | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury. | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury. | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury. | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury. | Ahaz had subjected Judah to Assyria because of the joint threat of Israel and Aram. / Hezekiah tried to re-establish Judah as an independent state. / In response, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease him with the temple gold, but the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem anyway. / Isaiah prophesied that the siege would fail; and that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35) which pretty much vindicated Isaiah’s prediction. / Hezekiah was healed of a fatal illness, and lived a further fifteen years; but in that time fathered Manasseh, who was to be one of the very worst kings. / Hezekiah also sowed the seeds of Judah’s final fate by entertaining Babylonian envoys and showing them the treasury.

14. Manasseh / (bad) | | Desecrated the temple so badly that prophets proclaimed him worse than the Amorites whom the Israelites had originally driven out of the land. / He repented towards the end of his life. – / Known as the King who Martyred Isaiah. | Desecrated the temple so badly that prophets proclaimed him worse than the Amorites whom the Israelites had originally driven out of the land. / He repented towards the end of his life. – / Known as the King who Martyred Isaiah. | Desecrated the temple so badly that prophets proclaimed him worse than the Amorites whom the Israelites had originally driven out of the land. / He repented towards the end of his life. – / Known as the King who Martyred Isaiah. | Desecrated the temple so badly that prophets proclaimed him worse than the Amorites whom the Israelites had originally driven out of the land. / He repented towards the end of his life. – / Known as the King who Martyred Isaiah. | Desecrated the temple so badly that prophets proclaimed him worse than the Amorites whom the Israelites had originally driven out of the land. / He repented towards the end of his life. – / Known as the King who Martyred Isaiah. | Desecrated the temple so badly that prophets proclaimed him worse than the Amorites whom the Israelites had originally driven out of the land. / He repented towards the end of his life. – / Known as the King who Martyred Isaiah.

15. Amon / (bad) | | Such an evil king that his own officials assassinated him, and made his son king in his place. | Such an evil king that his own officials assassinated him, and made his son king in his place. | Such an evil king that his own officials assassinated him, and made his son king in his place. | Such an evil king that his own officials assassinated him, and made his son king in his place. | Such an evil king that his own officials assassinated him, and made his son king in his place. | Such an evil king that his own officials assassinated him, and made his son king in his place. | Such an evil king that his own officials assassinated him, and made his son king in his place.

The Chaldean / Babylonian Empire

After the fall of Assyria, Babylonia enjoyed 70 years of independence. The Chaldeans, a little-known Semitic people, became the ruling class of the New Babylonian, or Chaldean, Empire. The most famous of their kings was Nebuchadnezzar II, who rebuilt Babylon. They made great progress in science–particularly astronomy and mathematics–and strongly influenced the Greeks. From the towering ziggurat temples, astrologer-priests read the stars. They could even predict eclipses.

Nebuchadnezzar II carried his conquests to the border of Egypt, though the days of his empire were numbered. Cyrus, king of Persia, advanced into Babylonia, and one city after another surrendered to him. Babylon itself, capital of the Chaldean Empire, was taken without fighting in 539 BC and became part of the mighty Persian Empire (see Persia).

The Persian Empire lasted more than two centuries, until the conquests of Alexander the Great.

BABYLON. On the Euphrates River, in the land that is now Iraq, ruins of the world’s first great city stand alone in the desert. The city bore the proud name Bab-Ilu, meaning “gate of the gods.” The Hebrews called it Babel.

A Babylonian ruler, Nabopolassar, ended Assyrian rule (625 BC) and joined the Medes in the capture of Assyria’s capital, Nineveh (612 BC). His son Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians at the great Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, and a new Babylonian Empire, sometimes called the Chaldaean Empire, was formed. It included Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Cilicia. These were the days of legendary Babylonian glory when the Hanging Gardens were built. It was during this period that the Jews were deported from Judah to Babylon (the Babylonian Captivity). Cyrus the Great of Persia began his attacks on Babylonia around 547 BC and Babylon fell to the Persian Empire in 538 BC.

God of Babylon, Marduk, to first place among the deities. Scholars rewrote old Sumerian myths and gave Marduk, rather than Enlil, credit for creating the universe. The Babylonians’ chief female deity was the ancient mother goddess Innini of Uruk, renamed Ishtar.

As goddess of fertility, Ishtar could grant her worshipers crops, lambs, or children. In the hot midsummer month named for her son Tammuz, vegetation dried up and people fasted until he rose from the dead to make the earth green again. The worship of Ishtar (also called Astarte) and Tammuz spread over southwestern Asia and reached Egypt in the myth of Isis and Osiris. Later the deities appeared in Greece as Demeter and Persephone

/ 16. Josiah / (good) / / | | 612 BC: Nineveh falls to Babylon, in accordance with Nahum’s prophecy. / The last good king, / only eight years old at the start of his reign. At the age of 26, he instigated repairs for the temple, in the course of which the book of the law was rediscovered, precipitating a reaffirmation of the covenant and wide-ranging reforms. / Died in the must stupid of circumstances: the Assyrian empire was crumbling, and the Egyptians marched through Judah to aid the remaining Assyrians against the Babylonians. Josiah insisted on fighting the Egyptians - against the Pharoah’s will - and was killed in battle. | 612 BC: Nineveh falls to Babylon, in accordance with Nahum’s prophecy. / The last good king, / only eight years old at the start of his reign. At the age of 26, he instigated repairs for the temple, in the course of which the book of the law was rediscovered, precipitating a reaffirmation of the covenant and wide-ranging reforms. / Died in the must stupid of circumstances: the Assyrian empire was crumbling, and the Egyptians marched through Judah to aid the remaining Assyrians against the Babylonians. Josiah insisted on fighting the Egyptians - against the Pharoah’s will - and was killed in battle. | 612 BC: Nineveh falls to Babylon, in accordance with Nahum’s prophecy. / The last good king, / only eight years old at the start of his reign. At the age of 26, he instigated repairs for the temple, in the course of which the book of the law was rediscovered, precipitating a reaffirmation of the covenant and wide-ranging reforms. / Died in the must stupid of circumstances: the Assyrian empire was crumbling, and the Egyptians marched through Judah to aid the remaining Assyrians against the Babylonians. Josiah insisted on fighting the Egyptians - against the Pharoah’s will - and was killed in battle. | 612 BC: Nineveh falls to Babylon, in accordance with Nahum’s prophecy. / The last good king, / only eight years old at the start of his reign. At the age of 26, he instigated repairs for the temple, in the course of which the book of the law was rediscovered, precipitating a reaffirmation of the covenant and wide-ranging reforms. / Died in the must stupid of circumstances: the Assyrian empire was crumbling, and the Egyptians marched through Judah to aid the remaining Assyrians against the Babylonians. Josiah insisted on fighting the Egyptians - against the Pharoah’s will - and was killed in battle. | 612 BC: Nineveh falls to Babylon, in accordance with Nahum’s prophecy. / The last good king, / only eight years old at the start of his reign. At the age of 26, he instigated repairs for the temple, in the course of which the book of the law was rediscovered, precipitating a reaffirmation of the covenant and wide-ranging reforms. / Died in the must stupid of circumstances: the Assyrian empire was crumbling, and the Egyptians marched through Judah to aid the remaining Assyrians against the Babylonians. Josiah insisted on fighting the Egyptians - against the Pharoah’s will - and was killed in battle. | 612 BC: Nineveh falls to Babylon, in accordance with Nahum’s prophecy. / The last good king, / only eight years old at the start of his reign. At the age of 26, he instigated repairs for the temple, in the course of which the book of the law was rediscovered, precipitating a reaffirmation of the covenant and wide-ranging reforms. / Died in the must stupid of circumstances: the Assyrian empire was crumbling, and the Egyptians marched through Judah to aid the remaining Assyrians against the Babylonians. Josiah insisted on fighting the Egyptians - against the Pharoah’s will - and was killed in battle.

16. Josiah | 16. Josiah | 16. Josiah | | 640 BC | 291 | 31 | Prophet Zephaniah, / Jeremiah

17. Jehoahaz / (bad) | | Reigned for only three months before the Egyptians, having invaded in the wake of Josiah’s death, deported him, replacing him with his brother Eliakim who they renamed Jehoahaz. | Reigned for only three months before the Egyptians, having invaded in the wake of Josiah’s death, deported him, replacing him with his brother Eliakim who they renamed Jehoahaz. | Reigned for only three months before the Egyptians, having invaded in the wake of Josiah’s death, deported him, replacing him with his brother Eliakim who they renamed Jehoahaz. | Reigned for only three months before the Egyptians, having invaded in the wake of Josiah’s death, deported him, replacing him with his brother Eliakim who they renamed Jehoahaz. | Reigned for only three months before the Egyptians, having invaded in the wake of Josiah’s death, deported him, replacing him with his brother Eliakim who they renamed Jehoahaz. | Reigned for only three months before the Egyptians, having invaded in the wake of Josiah’s death, deported him, replacing him with his brother Eliakim who they renamed Jehoahaz.

Babylonian Captivity

Babylonian Captivity, (~ Exile) (Captivity) Name of important periods in the history of Israel and the Roman Catholic church.1. In the history of Israel, the mass deportation of prominent Jews to Babylon, following Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple (586 BC) [2 Kings 24-25]. When Cyrus the Great overthrew the Babylonian Empire (c538 BC), he allowed the Jews to return. Many thousands, but not all of them, did so. The end of the 70-year captivity prophesied in the Bible was marked by completion of the new temple (516 BC). [2 Chron 36; Ezra 1; Isaiah 40-48; Daniel 6]

Throughout much of that period, Babylon continued to be regarded as a center of learning and culture, even by its conquerors. The last of the Assyrian rulers of Babylon, Ashurbanipal, died in 627 BC.

When Assyria declined, Babylon rose once more to wealth and imperial power under Nebuchadnezzar II (604-561 BC). This king is remembered in the Old Testament for his destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish people. In Babylonia he was celebrated as the builder who made Babylon the most splendid city in the world.

18.Jehoiakim | | Was reigning during the fall of Assyria to Babylon, rebelled against nebechadnezzar and was carried off into Exile – Daniel was carried off to Babylon / Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar, c630-562 BC. King of Babylon (605-562 BC), successor to his father, Nabopolassar. In 586 BC, he destroyed Jerusalem while putting down a revolt there and exiled most of its inhabitants to Babylon (Babylonian | Was reigning during the fall of Assyria to Babylon, rebelled against nebechadnezzar and was carried off into Exile – Daniel was carried off to Babylon / Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar, c630-562 BC. King of Babylon (605-562 BC), successor to his father, Nabopolassar. In 586 BC, he destroyed Jerusalem while putting down a revolt there and exiled most of its inhabitants to Babylon (Babylonian | Was reigning during the fall of Assyria to Babylon, rebelled against nebechadnezzar and was carried off into Exile – Daniel was carried off to Babylon / Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar, c630-562 BC. King of Babylon (605-562 BC), successor to his father, Nabopolassar. In 586 BC, he destroyed Jerusalem while putting down a revolt there and exiled most of its inhabitants to Babylon (Babylonian | Was reigning during the fall of Assyria to Babylon, rebelled against nebechadnezzar and was carried off into Exile – Daniel was carried off to Babylon / Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar, c630-562 BC. King of Babylon (605-562 BC), successor to his father, Nabopolassar. In 586 BC, he destroyed Jerusalem while putting down a revolt there and exiled most of its inhabitants to Babylon (Babylonian | Was reigning during the fall of Assyria to Babylon, rebelled against nebechadnezzar and was carried off into Exile – Daniel was carried off to Babylon / Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar, c630-562 BC. King of Babylon (605-562 BC), successor to his father, Nabopolassar. In 586 BC, he destroyed Jerusalem while putting down a revolt there and exiled most of its inhabitants to Babylon (Babylonian | Was reigning during the fall of Assyria to Babylon, rebelled against nebechadnezzar and was carried off into Exile – Daniel was carried off to Babylon / Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar, c630-562 BC. King of Babylon (605-562 BC), successor to his father, Nabopolassar. In 586 BC, he destroyed Jerusalem while putting down a revolt there and exiled most of its inhabitants to Babylon (Babylonian

1st Captivity - In 606 BC The Babylonians defeated the Assyrians and The Egyptians. They immediately claimed all of their territory including Judah under King Jehoiakim’s Reign.

Nebuchadnezzar went straight to Jerusalem and forced the loyalty of Judah

To assure the Loyalty he took favored young men to Babylon including The Prophet Daniel

2nd Captivity-

3 Years later Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylon and refused to pay loyalty so Nebuchadnezzar hired certain bands of raiders from the ammonites, Moabites, Syrians, and Chaldeans to plunder Jerusalem.

Finally Jehoiakim dies and his son becomes king (Jehoiakin)

Three months into Jehoiakin’s reign Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem and Takes Jehoiakin and his family and 10,000 leading citizens to Babylon leaving mostly poor in Jerusalem.

The Prophet Ezekiel was among these men taken in the 2nd Captivity.

19. Jehoiachin / (bad) | | 597 BC: second Babylonian invasion. Many Jews, including Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon. / Frankly, I get the impression that he never had a clue what was happening. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded again, he was deported to Babylon, where he was at least treated well. His uncle Mattaniah was made king in his place, and his name changed to Zedekiah. | 597 BC: second Babylonian invasion. Many Jews, including Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon. / Frankly, I get the impression that he never had a clue what was happening. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded again, he was deported to Babylon, where he was at least treated well. His uncle Mattaniah was made king in his place, and his name changed to Zedekiah. | 597 BC: second Babylonian invasion. Many Jews, including Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon. / Frankly, I get the impression that he never had a clue what was happening. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded again, he was deported to Babylon, where he was at least treated well. His uncle Mattaniah was made king in his place, and his name changed to Zedekiah. | 597 BC: second Babylonian invasion. Many Jews, including Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon. / Frankly, I get the impression that he never had a clue what was happening. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded again, he was deported to Babylon, where he was at least treated well. His uncle Mattaniah was made king in his place, and his name changed to Zedekiah. | 597 BC: second Babylonian invasion. Many Jews, including Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon. / Frankly, I get the impression that he never had a clue what was happening. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded again, he was deported to Babylon, where he was at least treated well. His uncle Mattaniah was made king in his place, and his name changed to Zedekiah. | 597 BC: second Babylonian invasion. Many Jews, including Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon. / Frankly, I get the impression that he never had a clue what was happening. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded again, he was deported to Babylon, where he was at least treated well. His uncle Mattaniah was made king in his place, and his name changed to Zedekiah.

3rd Captivity – Jerusalem Destroyed –

Zedekiah Josiah’s son is made ruler in Judah Reigned 11 years

The prophet Jeremiah was the main prophetic voice of the day but Zedekiah would not respond and he was an Evil King.

Zedekiah also rebelled against the Babylonians thinking Egypt would help.

Nebuchadnezzar immediately attacked the city and starved the city until they surrendered.

Zedekiah and his army ran and left the city unprotected but was caught in the plains of Jericho/

He and his sons were taken to Babylon and his sons were killed in front of him and then he was blinded and left to die in prison.

Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and plundered the temple and palace of the kings. He burned the city with fire as well.

He took 25,000 people to Babylon and left the poorest people in Judah.

The prophet Jeremiah was able to stay by choice in Jerusalem

Jerusalem was destroyed and remained that way for the next ½ century

Judah at this point ceases to exist under Babylonian rule.

20. Zedekiah / (bad) | | 587 BC: Final fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Subsequent invasion of remains by Edom. / Zedekiah, learning little from his predecessors and nothing from the prophet Jeremiah, rebelled against Babylon. / The response this time was the total destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of all the remaining people except for some of the very poorest, who were left behind | 587 BC: Final fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Subsequent invasion of remains by Edom. / Zedekiah, learning little from his predecessors and nothing from the prophet Jeremiah, rebelled against Babylon. / The response this time was the total destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of all the remaining people except for some of the very poorest, who were left behind | 587 BC: Final fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Subsequent invasion of remains by Edom. / Zedekiah, learning little from his predecessors and nothing from the prophet Jeremiah, rebelled against Babylon. / The response this time was the total destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of all the remaining people except for some of the very poorest, who were left behind | 587 BC: Final fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Subsequent invasion of remains by Edom. / Zedekiah, learning little from his predecessors and nothing from the prophet Jeremiah, rebelled against Babylon. / The response this time was the total destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of all the remaining people except for some of the very poorest, who were left behind | 587 BC: Final fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Subsequent invasion of remains by Edom. / Zedekiah, learning little from his predecessors and nothing from the prophet Jeremiah, rebelled against Babylon. / The response this time was the total destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of all the remaining people except for some of the very poorest, who were left behind | 587 BC: Final fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Subsequent invasion of remains by Edom. / Zedekiah, learning little from his predecessors and nothing from the prophet Jeremiah, rebelled against Babylon. / The response this time was the total destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of all the remaining people except for some of the very poorest, who were left behind

Egypt, Babylonia, and Assyria were many centuries old when a vigorous people appeared on the eastern border of the ancient civilized world.

| | 539 BC: Babylon falls to the Medes. The Medes, by the 6th century BC, had built a large empire (see Medes). They ruled the Persians to the east and the Assyrians to the west. In 550 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered the Medes, then pushed on to further conquests. His warriors, both Medes and Persians, were fine horsemen, skilled with bow and arrow. They relied upon speed and sharp attack. Before heavily armored enemy troops could come close, the Persians overwhelmed them with arrows. / By conquering the Medes, King Cyrus acquired Assyria, which the Median King Cyarxes had taken in about 612 BC. Next Cyrus conquered Lydia, ruled by King Croesus (see Croesus). This victory gave him possession of the Greek seaboard cities of Asia Minor. In 539 BC proud Babylon, capital of the Chaldean Empire, surrendered without a fight. With Babylon Cyrus acquired Palestine. He allowed the Jews to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. / / / 537 BC: Cyrus of Persia sends the first batch of exiles back from captivity with Zerubabel; the rebuilding of the temple begins. / Cyrus the Great / Cyrus the Great, d. 529 BC. Persian king (c550-529 BC), founder of the Persian Empire. He overthrew the Median king Astyages (c550 BC), conquered Lydia (c546 BC) and Babylonia (538 BC), and extended his empire into Asia. He freed the Jews in Babylonia, ending the Babylonian Captivity.

(Esther) | (Esther) | (Esther) | | 478 AD: The Jews’ enemies in Persia destroyed. / Esther becomes Xerxes’ queen. Xerxes, the son of Darius, ruled from 486 to 465 BC. He was a weak and tyrannical king who began his reign by quelling rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, then gathered a huge force to overwhelm Greece. It seemed as if the mighty empire must conquer the small, disunited Greek city-states. Yet Xerxes met disaster at Salamis and Plataea, and his great army was driven back into Asia (see Persian Wars). This defeat marked the first sign of decay in the Persian Empire. Her cousin Mordecai discovers a plot against the king and saves his life, for which he goes unrewarded. When, later, he refuses to worship an official called Haman, Haman’s revenge is a plot to wipe out all the Jews throughout the Persian empire. Encouraged by Mordecai, Esther resolves to plead for her people with the king. But in the mean time, the king remembers Mordecai and honours him; so that when Esther presents her request, the King grants it and has Haman executed; and the Jews are authorised to fight and kill the enemies who attempt to wipe them out. Persian Wars; Darius and his successor Xerxes failed in their attempt to subjugate the Greeks, though Persia continued to influence affairs of Greek city-states in subsequent years.486-465 BC Xerxes I reigned; lost Persian Wars and fell into dissolute life at Susa; decline of empire began; Xerxes assassinated. | 478 AD: The Jews’ enemies in Persia destroyed. / Esther becomes Xerxes’ queen. Xerxes, the son of Darius, ruled from 486 to 465 BC. He was a weak and tyrannical king who began his reign by quelling rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, then gathered a huge force to overwhelm Greece. It seemed as if the mighty empire must conquer the small, disunited Greek city-states. Yet Xerxes met disaster at Salamis and Plataea, and his great army was driven back into Asia (see Persian Wars). This defeat marked the first sign of decay in the Persian Empire. Her cousin Mordecai discovers a plot against the king and saves his life, for which he goes unrewarded. When, later, he refuses to worship an official called Haman, Haman’s revenge is a plot to wipe out all the Jews throughout the Persian empire. Encouraged by Mordecai, Esther resolves to plead for her people with the king. But in the mean time, the king remembers Mordecai and honours him; so that when Esther presents her request, the King grants it and has Haman executed; and the Jews are authorised to fight and kill the enemies who attempt to wipe them out. Persian Wars; Darius and his successor Xerxes failed in their attempt to subjugate the Greeks, though Persia continued to influence affairs of Greek city-states in subsequent years.486-465 BC Xerxes I reigned; lost Persian Wars and fell into dissolute life at Susa; decline of empire began; Xerxes assassinated. | 478 AD: The Jews’ enemies in Persia destroyed. / Esther becomes Xerxes’ queen. Xerxes, the son of Darius, ruled from 486 to 465 BC. He was a weak and tyrannical king who began his reign by quelling rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, then gathered a huge force to overwhelm Greece. It seemed as if the mighty empire must conquer the small, disunited Greek city-states. Yet Xerxes met disaster at Salamis and Plataea, and his great army was driven back into Asia (see Persian Wars). This defeat marked the first sign of decay in the Persian Empire. Her cousin Mordecai discovers a plot against the king and saves his life, for which he goes unrewarded. When, later, he refuses to worship an official called Haman, Haman’s revenge is a plot to wipe out all the Jews throughout the Persian empire. Encouraged by Mordecai, Esther resolves to plead for her people with the king. But in the mean time, the king remembers Mordecai and honours him; so that when Esther presents her request, the King grants it and has Haman executed; and the Jews are authorised to fight and kill the enemies who attempt to wipe them out. Persian Wars; Darius and his successor Xerxes failed in their attempt to subjugate the Greeks, though Persia continued to influence affairs of Greek city-states in subsequent years.486-465 BC Xerxes I reigned; lost Persian Wars and fell into dissolute life at Susa; decline of empire began; Xerxes assassinated. | 478 AD: The Jews’ enemies in Persia destroyed. / Esther becomes Xerxes’ queen. Xerxes, the son of Darius, ruled from 486 to 465 BC. He was a weak and tyrannical king who began his reign by quelling rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, then gathered a huge force to overwhelm Greece. It seemed as if the mighty empire must conquer the small, disunited Greek city-states. Yet Xerxes met disaster at Salamis and Plataea, and his great army was driven back into Asia (see Persian Wars). This defeat marked the first sign of decay in the Persian Empire. Her cousin Mordecai discovers a plot against the king and saves his life, for which he goes unrewarded. When, later, he refuses to worship an official called Haman, Haman’s revenge is a plot to wipe out all the Jews throughout the Persian empire. Encouraged by Mordecai, Esther resolves to plead for her people with the king. But in the mean time, the king remembers Mordecai and honours him; so that when Esther presents her request, the King grants it and has Haman executed; and the Jews are authorised to fight and kill the enemies who attempt to wipe them out. Persian Wars; Darius and his successor Xerxes failed in their attempt to subjugate the Greeks, though Persia continued to influence affairs of Greek city-states in subsequent years.486-465 BC Xerxes I reigned; lost Persian Wars and fell into dissolute life at Susa; decline of empire began; Xerxes assassinated. | 478 AD: The Jews’ enemies in Persia destroyed. / Esther becomes Xerxes’ queen. Xerxes, the son of Darius, ruled from 486 to 465 BC. He was a weak and tyrannical king who began his reign by quelling rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, then gathered a huge force to overwhelm Greece. It seemed as if the mighty empire must conquer the small, disunited Greek city-states. Yet Xerxes met disaster at Salamis and Plataea, and his great army was driven back into Asia (see Persian Wars). This defeat marked the first sign of decay in the Persian Empire. Her cousin Mordecai discovers a plot against the king and saves his life, for which he goes unrewarded. When, later, he refuses to worship an official called Haman, Haman’s revenge is a plot to wipe out all the Jews throughout the Persian empire. Encouraged by Mordecai, Esther resolves to plead for her people with the king. But in the mean time, the king remembers Mordecai and honours him; so that when Esther presents her request, the King grants it and has Haman executed; and the Jews are authorised to fight and kill the enemies who attempt to wipe them out. Persian Wars; Darius and his successor Xerxes failed in their attempt to subjugate the Greeks, though Persia continued to influence affairs of Greek city-states in subsequent years.486-465 BC Xerxes I reigned; lost Persian Wars and fell into dissolute life at Susa; decline of empire began; Xerxes assassinated.

(Ezra) | (Ezra) | (Ezra) | | 458 BC: the return of the second group of exiles with Ezra. / The altar is rebuilt and sacrifices offered; then the foundation of the new temple is laid before opposition from the new inhabitants of the land inhibits further progress. But fifteen years later, the new Persian king, Darius, gives his support to the Israelites, and encouraged by the prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah, they finish rebuilding the temple. / Sixty years later, Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He deals with the problem of intermarriage with the people of the land, and consequent idolatry. | 458 BC: the return of the second group of exiles with Ezra. / The altar is rebuilt and sacrifices offered; then the foundation of the new temple is laid before opposition from the new inhabitants of the land inhibits further progress. But fifteen years later, the new Persian king, Darius, gives his support to the Israelites, and encouraged by the prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah, they finish rebuilding the temple. / Sixty years later, Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He deals with the problem of intermarriage with the people of the land, and consequent idolatry. | 458 BC: the return of the second group of exiles with Ezra. / The altar is rebuilt and sacrifices offered; then the foundation of the new temple is laid before opposition from the new inhabitants of the land inhibits further progress. But fifteen years later, the new Persian king, Darius, gives his support to the Israelites, and encouraged by the prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah, they finish rebuilding the temple. / Sixty years later, Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He deals with the problem of intermarriage with the people of the land, and consequent idolatry. | 458 BC: the return of the second group of exiles with Ezra. / The altar is rebuilt and sacrifices offered; then the foundation of the new temple is laid before opposition from the new inhabitants of the land inhibits further progress. But fifteen years later, the new Persian king, Darius, gives his support to the Israelites, and encouraged by the prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah, they finish rebuilding the temple. / Sixty years later, Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He deals with the problem of intermarriage with the people of the land, and consequent idolatry. | 458 BC: the return of the second group of exiles with Ezra. / The altar is rebuilt and sacrifices offered; then the foundation of the new temple is laid before opposition from the new inhabitants of the land inhibits further progress. But fifteen years later, the new Persian king, Darius, gives his support to the Israelites, and encouraged by the prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah, they finish rebuilding the temple. / Sixty years later, Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He deals with the problem of intermarriage with the people of the land, and consequent idolatry.

(Nehemiah) | (Nehemiah) | (Nehemiah) | | 445 BC: the return of the third group of exiles with Nehemiah. / On hearing news of the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah prays that God will restore it. God hears, and the Persian king Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah back to Jerusalem with instructions to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, which is achieved in just fifty-two days despite the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah, and the apathy and inconsistency of the Jews. At the people’s request, Ezra reads the law, resulting in a renewal of the covenant. | 445 BC: the return of the third group of exiles with Nehemiah. / On hearing news of the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah prays that God will restore it. God hears, and the Persian king Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah back to Jerusalem with instructions to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, which is achieved in just fifty-two days despite the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah, and the apathy and inconsistency of the Jews. At the people’s request, Ezra reads the law, resulting in a renewal of the covenant. | 445 BC: the return of the third group of exiles with Nehemiah. / On hearing news of the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah prays that God will restore it. God hears, and the Persian king Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah back to Jerusalem with instructions to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, which is achieved in just fifty-two days despite the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah, and the apathy and inconsistency of the Jews. At the people’s request, Ezra reads the law, resulting in a renewal of the covenant. | 445 BC: the return of the third group of exiles with Nehemiah. / On hearing news of the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah prays that God will restore it. God hears, and the Persian king Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah back to Jerusalem with instructions to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, which is achieved in just fifty-two days despite the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah, and the apathy and inconsistency of the Jews. At the people’s request, Ezra reads the law, resulting in a renewal of the covenant. | 445 BC: the return of the third group of exiles with Nehemiah. / On hearing news of the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah prays that God will restore it. God hears, and the Persian king Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah back to Jerusalem with instructions to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, which is achieved in just fifty-two days despite the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah, and the apathy and inconsistency of the Jews. At the people’s request, Ezra reads the law, resulting in a renewal of the covenant.

Pre-Exile Prophets Exile Prophets Post Exile Prophets

Isaiah 1. Daniel (1st Captivity) 1. Haggai

Micah 2. Ezekiel (2nd Captivity) 2. Zechariah

Obadiah 3. Lamentations of Jeremiah 3. Joel

Nahum 4. Malachi

Zephaniah

Habakkuk

Jeremiah

The Contemporary Prophets of Judah:

This is a general list of the prophets who were alive

and Ministering at the same time frames in Judah or Babylon

(Warnings of approaching fall of Israel & Judah)

1. Isaiah

2. Micah

(Warnings of Judah’s destruction - attack of Babylonian Empire)

1. Obadiah

2. Zephaniah

3. Nahum

4. Habakkuk

5. Jeremiah

(Prophesying to the Jews In Babylon after 1,2,3 Captivities)

1. Daniel

2. Ezekiel

3. Jeremiah (book of Lamentations sent to the Babylonian Jews)

(Restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem)

1. Haggia

2. Zechariah

3. Malachi