LOOKING FOR ISAIAH

[JLG]

Isaiah 1:27



- Jerusalem will be restored!



- After all they have done!



- But yet they won't understand!



- In fact, they never understood!



- No difference with mankind!



- It seems to be a competition for the worst!



- And Jerusalem would be restored twice and destroyed twice!



- And God knew it!



- He knew they wouldn't change!



- Poor men!

 

[JLG]

Isaiah 1:28



- If Jerusalem would be restored, rebels and sinners will pay!



- In fact, the verse starts by but which indicates that whatever may happen, there is a price to pay!



- Everyone has to pay the price according to his deeds!



- But they don't care!



- When time comes, it will be too late to care!

- They may care but it will be of no use!



- Mankind has always been short sighted!



- That's why it is strange to imagine that one day they will get perfection!



- But with God everything is possible!



- So those who will survive may see it!

 

[JLG]

Isaiah 1:29



- Can they be ashamed of their spiritual prostitution!



- Once you get corrupted!



- It is difficult to leave it for righteousness!



- Especially when you have been doing it all your life!



- That's what human history tells us!



- Paul was an exception but he was told by Jesus in a vision!



- But when you think of the apostles, they needed to be told again and again!



- And when everything is corrupted, it is even worse!

 

[JLG]

Uzziah | king of Judah


Uzziah, also spelled Ozias, also called Azariah, orAzarias, in the Old Testament (2 Chronicles 26), son and successor of Amaziah, and king of Judah for 52 years (c. 791–739 BC).

Assyrian records indicate that Uzziah reigned for 42 years (c. 783–742). His reign marked the height of Judah’s power. He fought successfully against other nations and exacted tribute from the Ammonites. Judah expanded westward with settlements in Philistia.



During the period of Uzziah’s reign, the nation prospered, and desert areas were reclaimed by water conservation. Jerusalem’s walls were reconstructed, towers were added, and engines of war were mounted at strategic points. A large army was also maintained. The nation’s prosperity under Uzziah was considered to have been a result of the king’s fidelity to Yahweh.

According to the biblical record, Uzziah’s strength caused him to become proud, which led to his destruction. He attempted to burn incense in the Temple, an act restricted to priests. When the priests attempted to send him from the Temple, the king became angry and was immediately stricken with leprosy. His son Jotham ruled for his father until Uzziah died.

 

[JLG]

History of King Jotham - SalvationCall



Father: King Uzziah, 2 Chronicles 26:23
Mother: Jerushah, 2 Chronicles 27:1
Predecessor: King Uzziah, 2 Chronicles 26:23
Succession: 11th king
Length of reign: 16 years, 2 Chronicles 27:1
Successor: King Ahaz, 2 Chronicles 27:9
Age when made king: 25 years, 2 Chronicles 27:1
Age when he died: 41
Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah
Reign: 742 BC – 735 BC
Morality: good, 2 Chronicles 27:2
Biblical history: 2 Chronicles 27:1–9; 2 Kings 15:32–37

In the second year of Pekah king of Israel, Jotham the son of King Uzziah began to reign. King Jotham was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

And he did that which was right in the sight of God, just like his father King Uzziah. However, King Jotham never entered the Temple of Solomon because of what happened to his father King Uzziah.

At the height of his power, King Uzziah became proud to his own destruction. King Uzziah transgressed against the LORD God; that is, he took matters into his own hands and went into the temple of God to burn incense upon the altar of incense – something that only the priests are supposed to do. Though the priests tried to stop him from this transgression King Uzziah would not listen, rather he took offense at the priest. And the Lord struck King Uzziah with leprosy right in the temple in the presence of the priests, and the king hurried out of the temple. So King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death.

His son King Jotham learned a lesson from what happened to his father. However, he also misinterpreted what befell his father into fear and pessimism about his going to the house of the Lord. Therefore, he never entered the house of the Lord throughout his reign.

Jotham took over from his father too early; since the time his father became leprous, he had been over the administration of the kingdom, judging the people of the land.

Though King Jotham himself was a good king, it is reported in the Bible that the people of the Kingdom of Judah still followed corrupt practices.

At the age of 41 years, King Jotham died and was buried in Jerusalem. His son Ahaz became king after him.

Achievements of King Jotham​

King Jotham built the high gate of the Temple of Solomon, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. 2 Chronicles 27:3

King Jotham built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. 2 Chronicles 27:4

King Jotham fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And that year, the Ammonites gave him 100 talents of silver, and 10,000 measures of wheat, and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years. So Jotham became mighty, because he was a pious king. 2 Chronicles 27:5, 6.

Major events during the reign of King Jotham​

King Jotham fought a war against the Ammonites and prevailed. Then he made them pay heavy tribute to him yearly.

King Jotham’s relationship with his contemporaries​

There was enmity between Jotham and the king of Ammon, whose real name was not mentioned. King Jotham fought against him and prevailed.

Jotham became king in the 2nd year of King Pekah of Israel, but King Pekah outlived Jotham into the reign of Jotham’s son, King Ahaz. Rezin was king of Syria in Jotham’s time. King Pekah and King Rezin became allies against King Jotham, for the Bible testifies that during the reign of King Jotham, God began to send King Rezin and King Pekah against the Kingdom of Judah for war (2 Kings 15:37). However, King Jotham never fought a war against these two kings. It appears that during the reign of King Jotham, the animosity and the tendency of war between the allies and King Jotham was heightening, but it did not get to where they would fight a war. King Jotham’s son King Ahaz came to fight the allies.

Categories to which King Jotham belongs.​

He is counted among kings who peacefully took power from their predecessors.
He is counted amongst kings who died of natural causes, not by assassination.
He is counted among the kings who did right in the sight of the Lord.

 

[JLG]

Ahaz | king of Judah



Ahaz, also spelled Achaz, Assyrian Jehoahaz, (flourished 8th century BC), king of Judah (c. 735–720 BC) who became an Assyrian vassal (2 Kings 16; Isaiah 7–8).

Ahaz assumed the throne of Judah at the age of 20 or 25. Sometime later his kingdom was invaded by Pekah, king of Israel, and Rezin, king of Syria, in an effort to force him into an alliance with them against the powerful state of Assyria. Acting against the counsel of the prophet Isaiah, Ahaz appealed for aid to Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria, to repel the invaders. Assyria defeated Syria and Israel, and Ahaz presented himself as a vassal to the Assyrian king. Not only was Judah’s political situation unimproved but Assyria exacted a heavy tribute and Assyrian gods were introduced into the Temple at Jerusalem.

 

[JLG]

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hezekiah





Hezekiah, Hebrew Ḥizqiyya, Greek Ezekias, (flourished late 8th and early 7th centuries BC), son of Ahaz, and the 13th successor of David as king of Judah at Jerusalem. The dates of his reign are often given as about 715 to about 686 BC, but inconsistencies in biblical and Assyrian cuneiform records have yielded a wide range of possible dates.


Hezekiah reigned at a time when the Assyrian empire was consolidating its control of Palestine and Syria. His father had placed Judah under Assyrian suzerainty in 735 BC. Hezekiah may have taken part in a rebellion against King Sargon II of Assyria (reigned 721–705 BC), which the Assyrians apparently crushed in the year 710. At the accession of Sennacherib (705–681 BC), further rebellions broke out all over the Assyrian empire. Hezekiah may have been the leader of the rebellion in Palestine, which included the city-states of Ascalon and Ekron and gained the support of Egypt. In preparing for the inevitable Assyrian campaign to retake Palestine, Hezekiah strengthened the defenses of his capital, Jerusalem, and dug out the famous Siloam tunnel (2 Kings 20:20, 2 Chronicles 32:30), which brought the water of the Gihon springs to a reservoir inside the city wall.


Sennacherib finally put down the rebellion in 701 BC, overrunning Judah, taking 46 of its walled cities, and placing much conquered Judaean territory under the control of neighbouring states. While Sennacherib was besieging the city of Lachish, Hezekiah sought to spare Jerusalem itself from capture by paying a heavy tribute of gold and silver to the Assyrian king, who nevertheless demanded the city’s unconditional surrender. At this point Jerusalem was saved by a miraculous plague that decimated the Assyrian army. This event gave rise to the belief in Judah that Jerusalem was inviolable, a belief that lasted until the city fell to the Babylonians a century later. Contradictory dates for Sennacherib’s invasion are given in the Book of Kings, and he may possibly have invaded Judah a second time near the close of Hezekiah’s reign.


In his religious reforms, Hezekiah asserted Judah’s inherited Hebrew traditions and practices against imported cults of the Assyrian gods. He thus tried to achieve both political and religious independence for Judah, but the catastrophe of 701 BC left among his people an unmistakable yearning for an ideal king who would restore the golden age of David.

 

[JLG]

- As we can see, Uzziah ended badly!

- When Jotham was king, people followed corrupt practices!
- Ahaz didn't listen to Isaiah and looked for Assyria's help instead of God!

- Assyrian gods were introduced into the temple at Jerusalem during Ahaz's reign!

- Hezekiah was defeated by Assyria!
- We can see how corruption penetrates everywhere!

- Same with mankind!

- And people get used to it!

- It becomes normal!

- They get away from God!

- Today they speak about modernity!

- In the past they probably said the same!

- But instead of modernity we should say corruption!

- It started after Jesus' death!

- It kept growing with the apostles' death!

- Imagine how it is today!

 

[JLG]

- To understand better what was on with these four kings of Judah, we have to go back to 2 Chronicles!

- In 2 Chronicles 26, we are told about Uzziah starting verse 16:

But when [Uzziah] grew powerful,
וּכְחֶזְקָת֗וֹ (ū·ḵə·ḥez·qā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2393: Prevailing power

his arrogance
גָּבַ֤הּ (gā·ḇah)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1361: To soar, be lofty, to be haughty

led to his own destruction.
לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית (lə·haš·ḥîṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

He was unfaithful
וַיִּמְעַ֖ל (way·yim·‘al)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4603: To cover up, to act covertly, treacherously

to the LORD
בַּיהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

his God,
אֱלֹהָ֑יו (’ĕ·lō·hāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

for he entered
וַיָּבֹא֙ (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the temple
הֵיכַ֣ל (hê·ḵal)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple

of the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

to burn incense
לְהַקְטִ֖יר (lə·haq·ṭîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the altar
מִזְבַּ֥ח (miz·baḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4196: An altar

of incense.
הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃ (haq·qə·ṭō·reṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7004: Smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense


- Powerful / arrogance / own destruction / unfaithful

- And he is supposed to be a righteous king!

- Apparently he didn't understand anything!

- Power corrupts all humans without exceptions!

- You can't find any king who stays faithful till his death!

 

[JLG]

- 2 Chronicles 26:17

Then Azariah
עֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ (‘ă·zar·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5838: Azariah -- 'Yah has helped', the name of a number of Israelites

the priest,
הַכֹּהֵ֑ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

along with
וְעִמּ֞וֹ (wə·‘im·mōw)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

eighty
שְׁמוֹנִ֖ים (šə·mō·w·nîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 8084: Eighty, eightieth

brave
חָֽיִל׃ (ḥā·yil)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

priests
כֹּהֲנִ֧ים ׀ (kō·hă·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

of the LORD,
לַיהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

went in
וַיָּבֹ֥א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

after him.
אַחֲרָ֖יו (’a·ḥă·rāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part
- On the one hand, Uzziah: Powerful / arrogance / own destruction / unfaithful
- On the other hand, 80 courageous priests oppose him!

- Uzziah is supposed to be a righteous king!

- Quite strange because he knew he couldn't mix politics and religion but he did!

- Away from reality!

- That's the problem when you get used to doing things you know you mustn't!

- Gradually it becomes normal!

- That's the principle of corruption!

- Once you started you can't stop it!

- You get deeper and deeper!

- And you become your own shadow!

- The priests, on the contrary, knew what they were doing!

- They were connected to reality!

- They stuck to what they were!

- And they were on God's side!

 

[JLG]

2 Chronicles 26:18


They took their stand
וַיַּעַמְד֞וּ (way·ya·‘am·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

King
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Uzziah
עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ (‘uz·zî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5818: Uzziah -- 'my strength is Yah', the name of several Israelites

and said,
וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Uzziah,
עֻזִּיָּ֗הוּ (‘uz·zî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5818: Uzziah -- 'my strength is Yah', the name of several Israelites

you have no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

right to offer incense
לְהַקְטִיר֙ (lə·haq·ṭîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

to the LORD.
לַֽיהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Only
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the priests,
לַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים (lak·kō·hă·nîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

the descendants
בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Aaron,
אַהֲרֹ֛ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

are consecrated
הַמְקֻדָּשִׁ֖ים (ham·qud·dā·šîm)
Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

to burn incense.
לְהַקְטִ֑יר (lə·haq·ṭîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

Leave
צֵ֤א (ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

the sanctuary,
הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ (ham·miq·dāš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you have acted unfaithfully;
מָעַ֔לְתָּ (mā·‘al·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4603: To cover up, to act covertly, treacherously

you will not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

receive honor
לְכָב֖וֹד (lə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the LORD
מֵיְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

God.�
אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative




- The priests tell the king he can't do that!

- And they give him the reason!

- And they tell him to leave the temple!

- And they tell him he has acted against God!

- Thus they will be consequences!

 

[JLG]

2 Chronicles 26:19



Uzziah,
עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ (‘uz·zî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5818: Uzziah -- 'my strength is Yah', the name of several Israelites

with a censer
מִקְטֶ֖רֶת (miq·ṭe·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4730: Something to fume, in, a coal-pan

in his hand
וּבְיָד֥וֹ (ū·ḇə·yā·ḏōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

to offer incense,
לְהַקְטִ֑יר (lə·haq·ṭîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

was enraged.
וַיִּזְעַף֙ (way·yiz·‘ap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2196: To boil up, to be peevish, angry

But while he raged
וּבְזַעְפּ֣וֹ (ū·ḇə·za‘·pōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2196: To boil up, to be peevish, angry

against
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the priests
הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

in their presence
לִפְנֵ֤י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

in the house
בְּבֵ֣ית (bə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

before
מֵעַ֖ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the altar
לְמִזְבַּ֥ח (lə·miz·baḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4196: An altar

of incense,
הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃ (haq·qə·ṭō·reṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7004: Smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense

leprosy
וְ֠הַצָּרַעַת (wə·haṣ·ṣā·ra·‘aṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6883: Leprosy

broke out
זָרְחָ֨ה (zā·rə·ḥāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2224: To irradiate, to rise, to appear

on his forehead.
בְמִצְח֜וֹ (ḇə·miṣ·ḥōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4696: Brow, forehead

- Uzziah's attitude is nothing new!

- He gets angry at the priests!

- And all at once he is struck by God with leprosy!

- That's what we call a righteous man!

- Think about Job, Daniel, Samuel, Abraham, Moses and others!

- He is only a king!

- Proud of himself!

- His mind is corrupted like others!

 

[JLG]

- What about Jotham?

- Let's have a look at 2 Chronicles 27:2



And he did
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

[what was] right
הַיָּשָׁ֜ר (hay·yā·šār)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

in the eyes
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

just as
כְּכֹ֤ל (kə·ḵōl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

his father
אָבִ֔יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

Uzziah
עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ (‘uz·zî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5818: Uzziah -- 'my strength is Yah', the name of several Israelites

had done.
עָשָׂה֙ (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

In addition,
רַ֕ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

he did not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

enter
בָ֖א (ḇā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the temple
הֵיכַ֣ל (hê·ḵal)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

But the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

still
וְע֥וֹד (wə·‘ō·wḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

behaved corruptly.
מַשְׁחִיתִֽים׃ (maš·ḥî·ṯîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin
- On the one hand, we get a righteous king!

- On the other hand, we get a corrupt people!

- So there is corruption as usual!

- A mixture ofbad and good or good and bad!

- At the end everything gets corrupted!

- What does Jotham do to fight corruption?

 

[JLG]

2 Chronicles 27:6

So Jotham
יוֹתָ֑ם (yō·w·ṯām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3147: Jotham -- 'the LORD is perfect', three Israelites

grew powerful
וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֖ק (way·yiṯ·ḥaz·zêq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

because
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he ordered
הֵכִ֣ין (hê·ḵîn)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

his ways
דְּרָכָ֔יו (də·rā·ḵāw)
Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

before
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

his God.
אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ (’ĕ·lō·hāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative




- Apparently Jotham is successful because he follows God's ways!

- The question is does he do it from beginning to the end of his reign?

- Moreover, he is supposed to be the king!

- And his people is corrupt!

- Thus we may discuss the kind of righteousness!

- We know that with Israel and Judah righteousness is always relative!

 

[JLG]

- 2 Chronicles Chapter 26: this chapter about Uzziah's life contains 23 verses!

- 2 Chronicles 27: this chapter about Jotham's life contains 9 verses!

- Only 9 verses for a supposed righteous king!

- When we are told that his people is corrupt, it makes everything relative!

- What a leader who is supposed to be righteous and who doesn't do anything to reduce corruption!

 

[JLG]

- 2 Chronicles 28:1

Ahaz
אָחָ֣ז (’ā·ḥāz)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 271: Ahaz -- 'he has grasped', two Israelites

was twenty
עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (‘eś·rîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth

years old
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

when he became king,
בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ (bə·mā·lə·ḵōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

and he reigned
מָלַ֖ךְ (mā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

in Jerusalem
בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (bî·rū·šā·lim)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

sixteen
וְשֵׁשׁ־ (wə·šêš-)
Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

years.
שָׁנָ֔ה (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

And unlike David
כְּדָוִ֥יד (kə·ḏā·wîḏ)
Preposition-k | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

his forefather,
אָבִֽיו׃ (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

he did not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

do
עָשָׂ֧ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

[what was] right
הַיָּשָׁ֛ר (hay·yā·šār)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

in the eyes
בְּעֵינֵ֥י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel
- It is quite clear from the beginning: Ahaz is a bad king!

- When you take into account that the people is corrupt it is easy to understand!

- If you want to understand something with Israel and Judah you need to think of relativity!

- You must always remember that God made a covenant with them because Abraham was called God's friend!

- That's all!

- Nothing more!

- Of course, we can say the same with mankind!

- The only difference is a covenant which is a big difference!

 

[JLG]

2 Chronicles 28:2



Instead, he walked
וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in the way
בְּדַרְכֵ֖י (bə·ḏar·ḵê)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of the kings
מַלְכֵ֣י (mal·ḵê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and even
וְגַ֧ם (wə·ḡam)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

made
עָשָׂ֖ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

cast images
מַסֵּכ֛וֹת (mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4541: A pouring over, fusion of metal, a libation, league, a coverlet

of the Baals.
לַבְּעָלִֽים׃ (lab·bə·‘ā·lîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1168: Baal -- a heathen god
- Yes, spiritual prostitution!

- An imitation of Israel and other nations!

- We may remember what God told Israel before they entered into the promised land!

- As usual they didn't listen!

- And they got what they deserved!

- Today it is the same!

- We are in such a mess, it is necessary to live it to believe it!

- And tomorrow we will see more and more!

- That's what they call a superior animal!

- What a joke!

- it is the circus!

 

[JLG]

2 Chronicles 28:3



Moreover, Ahaz
וְה֥וּא (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

burned incense
הִקְטִ֖יר (hiq·ṭîr)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

in the Valley of Hinnom
בְּגֵ֣יא (bə·ḡê)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1516: A valley

and sacrificed
וַיַּבְעֵ֤ר (way·yaḇ·‘êr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

his sons
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

in the fire,
בָּאֵ֔שׁ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

according to the abominations
כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ (kə·ṯō·‘ă·ḇō·wṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

of the nations
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

whom
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (ha·šêm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

had driven out
הֹרִ֣ישׁ (hō·rîš)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

before
מִפְּנֵ֖י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the Israelites.
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son
- Here we have a good image of the corruption and the spiritual prostitution!

- Ahaz sacrificed his children in the fire!

- When you hear that, you know there is no limit to the corruption and the spiritual prostitution!

- Then you may understand the feelings of God for Israel and Judah!

- So far away from God!

- Human history!

 

[JLG]

2 Chronicles 28:4

And he sacrificed
וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ (way·zab·bê·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice

and burned incense
וַיְקַטֵּ֛ר (way·qaṭ·ṭêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

on the high places,
בַּבָּמ֖וֹת (bab·bā·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1116: An elevation

on
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the hills,
הַגְּבָע֑וֹת (hag·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1389: A hillock

and under
וְתַ֖חַת (wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

green
רַעֲנָֽן׃ (ra·‘ă·nān)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7488: Verdant, new, prosperous

tree.
עֵ֥ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood
- Apparently it goes beyond the limits!

- Should I say exploring the limits?

- Or mastering the limits?

- In a way to provoke God?

- Do you understand why God compare Israel and Judah to Sodom and Gomorrah?

- They tried to compete with the other nations to prostitute themselves!

- Thus you may understand who Moses why and why he was the only one who could prevent God from exterminating twice Israel from the earth!

- The question is: do people really read the Bible?

 

[JLG]

- In the rest of the Chapter, Ahaz kept acting badly!

- As a consequence, God gave Ahaz in the hand of the king of Syria who defeated him and took many captives!

- God gave him also in the hand of the king of Israel and 120,000 men were killed in one day and took 200,000 captives!

- But they freed them because a prophet of God told them to do so!

- And the Edomites andv the Philistines attacked Judah!

- And Assyria attacked Judah too!

- But Ahaz acted more unfaithfullytoward God!

- He sacrificed to the God of Damascus!

- And he kept worshipping other gods in all the cities of Judah meaning the population did the same!