1. Conquest and Exile Chapter 13 The fall of the south

2. After Rehoboam • The North had fallen into the hands of the Assyrians • South is left with Rehoboam’s descendants • Hezekiah takes over the throne of David after the North was conquered • All that’s left of the 12 tribes is Judah and Benjamin 1

3. Prophet Isaiah Advises • Hezekiah was advised by God’s prophet Isaiah • He is completely different from his father Ahaz • Ahaz was an evil king who burned one of his sons as an offering to a false god 2

4. Hezekiah the Good • Hezekiah was a good king • Reformed the liturgy • He had the Levites cleanse the temple of the anything unclean • Lead the people in holiness • Tore down foreign idols 3

5. Manessah takes the throne • When Hezekiah died his son Manessah took the throne • Manessah built altars to foreign god’s into the Temple • Burned one of his son’s in an offering to a pagan god • Persecuted worshipers • Worshiper of God had to go underground to be safe 4

6. Assyria attacks the South • Assyria attacks Jerusalem and Manessah is carried off in chains • He had a conversion and God sent him back • In Jerusalem he tore down the pagan altars • Offered thanksgiving in the Temple as required • Lived longer than any king 5

7. Manesssah’s Grandson • Manessah’s son was assassinated for paganism • His grandson Josiah is a great reformer. • He found the book of Deuteronomy which had been hidden when the priests were being killed under Manessah’s rule • He read the law aloud and everyone swore to uphold the law • He burned the pagan altars, expelled cult prostitutes, etc. 6

8. Josiah’s descendants • Son’s led people back to paganism • Each son was carried away by other kings • Zedekiah, the youngest remained king in place for Babylon • Jeremiah warned him that he could not succeed in overthrowing Babylon 7

9. Prophet Jeremiah • Warns the king that Judah is about to fall • Destruction so terrible it will seem to “undo” God’s creation • Jer 4:23-36 - I looked on the earth and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light • He is describing Israel to look like the world before God created 8

10. The fall of Israel was simply God’s punishment for their lack of faithfulness • He is going to preserve a remnant • Jer 31:31-34 • God says he will make a new covenant unlike the old covenant • The law will be on their hearts instead • He will restore his unfaithful bride, Israel 9

11. Final destruction of Israel • Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, burned down the city of Jerusalem • Temple and palace destroyed • Jeremiah hides the Ark of the Covenant from “looters” • Ark is lost • Jeremiah as well as the rest of the Jews were dragged back to Egypt 10

12. The Exile • Lost the promised land • Lost the temple • Many became slaves • They lived among the evil of Babylon • Remember who the Babylonians are the descendants of… • Tower of Babel 11

13. Israel’s Conversion • While in exile in Babylon the people begin to experience conversion • It was their sin that made the kingdom fall • They begin to desire to worship God as he deserves once again 12