Israel, Judah capture land
Land grab
Israel and Judah take land from Syria and Edom
Israel, Judah, and Moab are the big winners in a land grab. Each nation fought for control over their individual corners of the region.Assyria weakens Syria
Assyria attacks Syria, leaving it too weak to defend itself against an opportunist like Israel's King Jeroboam. Jeroboam II recovered territory Israel lost to Syria. He restores Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath in the north (about 50 miles/80 km northwest of Damascus), to the Dead Sea in the south. A prophet named Jonah, son of Amittai, said it would happen. Jonah came from the town of Gath-hepher.God helped make it happen
The LORD helped Jeroboam do these things because he saw how desperate the people had become. There was no one else willing to help them, free or slave. One more reason the LORD helped is because he promised not to let anyone erase them from the world. Those are the reasons he helped Jeroboam II, son of Jehoash.Edom and Judah gain land, too
Edom can't stop the young king of Judah, Amaziah, still in his early 20s and ambitious. After taking Edom, he challenges Israel to a battle. He loses, gets captured, and for punishment, Israel's soldiers knock down part of Jerusalem's city walls. Many citizens are taken as slaves.Moab's last stand
As for Moab, the combined armies of Judah and Israel can't break through the defenses of Moab's capital city, Kir-hareseth. Moab’s king saw he was losing the city. So, he took 700 swordsmen and tried to punch through Edom’s line and scatter the enemy. He failed and had to retreat.King sacrifices his son on city wall
Then he killed his oldest son, who would have succeeded him as king. He burned the body on top of the city wall as a sacrifice for everyone to see. Israel saw it, too. Angry and disgusted, they went home.Where to find more Bible maps
The Casual English Bible® has more than 900 Bible maps, many in 3D style. You can search for maps by place name, such as "Sea of Galilee."Dedicated Bible map search engine
But you can also search for maps by Bible book, such as searching for all the maps in the book of Joshua. In addition, you can search by country, region, or era on a timeline, such as when Israel had kings or when Jesus was on earth. Here's a link to the dedicated Map Search Engine.For more Bible features
Israel and Judah grab land
Judah picks fight with Israel
Judah picks fight with Israel
Judah picks one fight too many
Judah crushes Edom then Israel crushes Judah
Judah's king Amaziah is just 25 years old when he takes the throne in Jerusalem. Eager for glory, he crushes Edom's army. Then full of himself, the king of Judah picks a fight with Israel.Edom, first battle
The king sent his soldiers to fight the neighboring nation of Edom. Judah’s army killed 10,000 people of Edom and overran the Edom city of Sela.Israel, bad choice
Amaziah sent Israel’s King Jehoash an invitation to a fight. The message said, “Let’s settle our differences king to king on the battlefield.” Jehoash sent his reply: “You defeated Edom and you’re feeling pretty good about yourself. Enjoy the glory of victory. Why risk the agony of defeat? If you go down, so does Judah.” Amaziah pressed, so Jehoash complied. The two Israelite armies fought on Judah’s tribal land at the town of Beth-shemesh.Agony of defeat
Judah lost the battle, and their soldiers raced home. Israel’s King Jehoash captured Judah’s King Amaziah, the son of King Jehoash and grandson of King Ahaziah. Israel’s King Jehoash marched into Jerusalem and tore down 200 yards of the city walls, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. He raided treasuries of the Temple and the king’s palace. He took all the silver and gold, including the sacred utensils and furnishings in the Temple. And he kidnapped some citizens and took them back to his capital city of Samaria.Where to find more Bible maps
The Casual English Bible® has more than 900 Bible maps, many in 3D style. You can search for maps by place name, such as "Sea of Galilee."Dedicated Bible map search engine
But you can also search for maps by Bible book, such as searching for all the maps in the book of Joshua. In addition, you can search by country, region, or era on a timeline, such as when Israel had kings or when Jesus was on earth. Here's a link to the dedicated Map Search Engine.For more Bible features
Judah picks a fight with Israel
King Jehu bows to Assyria
King Jehu bows to Assyria
Assyria on the rise
King Jehu on the record bowing to Assyria
In the ancient version of a photo op, King Jehu shows up chiseled into a limestone obelisk, bowing and paying tribute to Assyrian King Shalmaneser III (reigned about 858-824 BC).Assyria's war memorial
Assyrians set up the pillar in the courtyard of a major city the king was building: Kalhu. The obelisk became a monument to commemorate the king's 31 years of knocking nations in the head during his military campaigns. He was in the business of expanding the empire from its base in what is now northern Iraq. Babylonians would later rise to power in Iraq's southland, near the Persian Gulf. They would run the Assyrians out of their capital on Nineveh, in what is now Mosul.Jehu bowing, in the British Museum
The obelisk was rediscovered in 1846 and it went on on display in the British Museum, in London. Scholars were delighted to find archaeological evidence of an Israelite king. Evidence like that is rare.Where to find more Bible maps
The Casual English Bible® has more than 900 Bible maps, many in 3D style. You can search for maps by place name, such as "Sea of Galilee."Dedicated Bible map search engine
But you can also search for maps by Bible book, such as searching for all the maps in the book of Joshua. In addition, you can search by country, region, or era on a timeline, such as when Israel had kings or when Jesus was on earth. Here's a link to the dedicated Map Search Engine.For more Bible features
Jehu bows to Assyria
Syria steal’s Israel’s land
Syria steal's Israel's land
When Israel owned the East Bank
Israel on both sides of the Jordan River
When Joshua led the Hebrew ancestors across the Jordan River, into the river valley near the city of Jericho, they already owed the ground behind them. They captured it from nations that attacked them as they traveled. But after almost a millennium, they began to lose it. Syria steals Israel's land.Three tribes lose their homeland
The LORD began breaking off pieces of Israel and giving them away. Syria’s King Hazael defeated Israel in one location after another. He kept what he won. He won the sprawling territory of Gilead along with the tribal lands of Gad, Reuben, Manasseh, all east of the Jordan River. He took that entire stretch of land, from the town of Aroer by the Arnon river in the south, to the territories of Gilead and Bashan in the north. (2 Kings 10:32-33, Casual English Bible). This cut Israel in half, not only by splitting the nation down the middle, along the Jordan River, but by taking half the land mass.Where to find more Bible maps
The Casual English Bible® has more than 900 Bible maps, many in 3D style. You can search for maps by place name, such as "Sea of Galilee."Dedicated Bible map search engine
But you can also search for maps by Bible book, such as searching for all the maps in the book of Joshua. In addition, you can search by country, region, or era on a timeline, such as when Israel had kings or when Jesus was on earth. Here's a link to the dedicated Map Search Engine.For more Bible features
Syria steals Israel's land
Moab’s last stand
Moab's last stand
MOAB’S LAST STAND
Moab stops paying Israel
King Mesha of Moab bred sheep. When King Ahab was alive and Israel was powerful, Mesha had to pay him to live in peace. Mesha gave Ahab 100,000 lambs and wool from 100,000 sheep. But Ahab was dead now. So, Mesha was done with that. He declared his independence by refusing to make those payments.Israel declares war
King Joram mustered his army, pulling fighters in from all over Israel. They marched out of Samaria. Along the way, Joram sent a message to King Jehoshaphat in Judah: “Moab’s king has rebelled. Will you join the battle with me and fight Moab?” Jehoshaphat said, “I will. We are one. My people are your people. My horses are your horses. 8Which way should we go?” Joram said, “We’ll attack from the south, from Edom’s desert.” Israel, Judah, and Edom joined forces against Moab. Armies of Israel and Judah marched around the southern tip of the Dead Sea, into Edom territory. It was a seven-day march through badland territory, with no water to drink.Israel and Judah overrun Moab cities
Israel’s coalition army overran Moab’s cities, filled the plowed fields with rocks, plugged every spring of water they found, and cut down every tree worth the trouble. Only one city remained unconquered: Kir-hareseth. Israel surrounded that town with mobile artillery: slingers firing rocks at Moab’s defenders. Moab’s king saw he was losing the city. So, he took 700 swordsmen and tried to punch through Edom’s line and scatter the enemy. He failed and had to retreat. Then he killed his oldest son, who would have succeeded him as king. He burned the body on top of the city wall as a sacrifice for everyone to see. Israel saw it, too. Angry and disgusted, they went home.For more Bible features
Elijah’s chariot of fire
Elijah's chariot of fire
Elijah's walk into the wind
Elijah didn't die, according to Bible writers. He was carried away on the wind while his colleague, Elisha, watched as "horses of fire pulling a chariot of fire charged at the men—driving between them and separating them. Then a powerful wind knocked Elijah off his feet and carried him into the sky" (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha started screaming, “Father! Father! Israel’s chariots and calvary!” (2 Kings 2:12).Experts try to explain what happened
Scholars don’t agree about how to explain what just happened. Was it a theophany—a physical expression of a spiritual or celestial event? Or was it physical and literal—horses that could toast a hotdog? Was it physical and metaphorical—lightning and a tornado or maybe an intense thunderstorm associated with a powerful dust storm? Or was it a vision of heaven’s military carrying Elijah away.Did Elijah die?
What remains of the story is the teaching that Elijah never died. Jews today set a cup of wine out for Elijah at every annual Passover meal known as a seder. Some teach that Elijah will come before the Messiah comes, as one prophet seemed to predict (Malachi 4:5). Jesus later taught that John the Baptist fulfilled that prophecy (Matthew 11:14).Elisha's request
Before the windstorm, while still on the walk, Elisha asked if he could take Elijah's role as the lead prophet: “Please, let me be the one to inherit the position you’re leaving behind" (2 Kings 2:9). And that's what happened. A group of prophets in Jericho said so: “The ministry of Elijah now rests on Elisha’s shoulders” ( 2 Kings 2:15).Elisha's ministry
The Hebrew word for “ministry” is ruah, which has many meanings: breath, wind, spiritual essence of a person, spirit being. In the context of the story, the prophets seemed to recognize that Elijah’s ministry as Israel’s leading prophet had just fallen to Elijah’s apprentice, Elisha.For more Bible features
Boss of Edom, Moab
Boss of Edom, Moab
Bosses of the Promised Land
Kings of Israel and Judah controlled their neighbor countries of Edom and Moab for part of the era of Israelite kings. Moab had apparently lived under the dominance of Israel since David conquered the nation (2 Samuel 8:12). This likely meant, in part, that they paid annual tribute to Israel’s king—essentially tax payments. This marks a turning point in the history of the northern Jewish kingdom, the beginning of the end of their empire.2 Kings 1-4, Israel's king, about to die
"1When King Ahab of Israel died, Moab decided to declare its independence from Israel. 2Israel’s King Ahaziah fell through the latticework of an upper window in Samaria. Injured, he wanted to know if he would recover. So, he sent messengers to ask Baalzebub, god of the people in the city of Ekron. 3But a messenger from the LORD told Elijah, a prophet from the town of Tishbe, to go and intercept the king’s people. Elijah was to say, “Tell me this, why are you going to Ekron to consult Baalzebub? Don’t we have a God here in Israel? 4Take this message as a reminder that we do. Tell the king the LORD says this: ‘You won’t leave your sickbed. You’ll die there.’” Elijah delivered that message."2 Kings 2:1-9, Moab declares independence
Israel declares war
1King Ahab’s son, Joram, became king of the northern Jewish nation of Israel. By that time, Jehoshaphat was into his 18th year as king of Judah. Joram reigned a dozen years.
2In God’s eyes, Joram was a poor excuse of a king. But Joram wasn’t as wretched and evil as his parents, Ahab and Jezebel. Joram tore down the Baal pillar [1] his father built. 3Still, he continued King Jeroboam’s long tradition of sinning.
Moab stops paying Israel
4King Mesha of Moab bred sheep. When King Ahab was alive and Israel was powerful, Mesha had to pay him to live in peace. Mesha gave Ahab 100,000 lambs and wool from 100,000 sheep. 5But Ahab was dead now. So, Mesha was done with that. He declared his independence by refusing to make those payments.Israel declares war
6King Joram mustered his army, pulling fighters in from all over Israel. They marched out of Samaria. 7Along the way, Joram sent a message to King Jehoshaphat in Judah: “Moab’s king has rebelled. Will you join the battle with me and fight Moab?” Jehoshaphat said, “I will. We are one. My people are your people. My horses are your horses. 8Which way should we go?” Joram said, “We’ll attack from the south, from Edom’s desert.”Moab's last city refuses to fall
Israelites defeat much of Moab's army and finally surround the last city, where Moab's king reigns. He sacrifices his son on the city wall, and Israelites give up and go home. The writer doesn't say why.
For more Bible features
Map of Israel, Judah, Moab, and Edom
Jezreel insurrection
Jezreel insurrection
Chariot commander leads insurrection at Jezreel
The is what happened when one of Israel's chariot corps commanders, on a mission to crown himself king, leads an insurrection in the city of Jezreel, the king's getaway palace."At Jezreel, a guard in the city tower saw a group of people coming. He said, 'We’re about to get company.' ...
Joram said, 'Get my ride.' They brought his chariot and he rode out to meet Jehu. Judah’s King Ahaziah came, too, in his own chariot. The kings met Jehu on the property of Naboth, who lived in Greater Jezreel, outside the walls. Joram asked Jehu, 'Is it going to be peace, Jehu?' And Jehu said, 'Peace? How can there be peace when our people worship idols and practice sorcery, which your mother Jezebel brought here?'
ISRAEL’S KING SHOT IN THE HEART
Joram turned his horses around and yelled, 'Traitors, Ahaziah!' Jehu raised his bow and shot an arrow into Joram’s heart. The king collapsed in his chariot.Jehu told an officer named Bidkar, 'ump his body here on Naboth’s land. Remember back when we rode with his father Ahab, and we heard that prophecy from the LORD against him? ‘The LORD says that for the murder of Naboth and his sons, Ahab would pay for it on this plot of land.’ So, roll him out of the chariot and leave him here, since the LORD said it would happen this way.'
JUDAH’S KING SHOT DEAD
Judah’s King Ahaziah saw what Jehu did, and he raced away in the direction of Beth Haggan. Jehu followed and told his men, 'Shoot him, too!' They shot him as his chariot started to make the climb to Gur, near the town of Ibleam. Wounded, he rode to Megiddo and died there. Some of his soldiers carried his body back to Jerusalem in a chariot. His people buried him in the City of David among his ancestors.Ahab’s son Joram was in the eleventh year of his reign in Israel when Ahaziah became king of Judah." 2 Kings 9:14, 7-22, Casual English Bible
For more Bible features
Jezreel Insurrection
Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna)
Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna)
Painting of ridgetop city of Jerusalem
with Hinnom and Kidron Valleys
Two Israelite kings in Jerusalem sacrificed a son in Hinnom Valley. That's the name in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament. In the Greek language of the New Testament, the name is Gehenna Valley.Ahaz
"Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king. He lived in Judah’s capital city of Jerusalem. He was not a good king in God’s eyes because he didn’t follow in the footsteps of his ancestor, David, who obeyed the LORD. Ahaz lived like the idol-worshiping kings of Israel. He even burned his son as a sacrifice, which is despicable to God. Other nations used to do that, too, but God drove them off the land. Ahaz sacrificed at shrines set up on hilltops and under shade trees in the valleys" (2 Kings 16:2-4, Casual English Bible).Manasseh
King Hezekiah’s boy, Manasseh, was 12 years old when he became king of Judah. He reigned 55 years. [1] His mother was Hephzibah. 2Manasseh was a poor excuse of a king, in God’s eyes. Manasseh reverted to some of the old, pagan religions of nations God drove off the land. This king practiced repulsive worship rituals. Jesus later used the valley as a metaphor to describe God's punishment for sin. English translators of the Bible coined a word for that metaphor: Hell. When Jesus spoke of a place translated as "hell," he was more literally referring to the valley that apparently later became the city dump.... Manasseh sacrificed his own son and burned the body on an altar. [6] He consulted sorcerers, wizards, fortunetellers, along with mediums who tried to contact the dead. [7] These sins made the LORD angry" (2 Kings 21:1-2, 6, Casual English Bible).For more Bible features
Jerusalem with Hinnom, Kidron Valleys
Ahab’s palace at Jezreel
Ahab's palace at Jezreel
Jezebel kills for vegetables
AHAB TRIES TO BUY A VINEYARD
Naboth owned a vineyard in Jezreel, next to King Ahab’s getaway palace. Ahab met with Naboth and told him, “I’d like to buy your vineyard and use it to grow vegetables, since it’s so close to my palace. I’ll give you a better vineyard for it, or I’ll pay you whatever it’s worth.”AHAB DEPRESSED OVER VEGETABLES
Naboth said, “Heavens no. I can’t give you the land that has been in my family for so many generations.” Ahab went home bummed, depressed, and mad because Naboth wouldn’t give up his inherited land. The king lay in bed and sulked. He refused to eat. His wife, Jezebel, came in and said, “What’s going on here? What has you pouting like this and refusing to eat?” He said, “Oh, it’s that Naboth. I offered to buy his vineyard outright or upgrade him to a better vineyard. He wouldn’t take either offer. He said, ‘No. You can’t have my vineyard.’” Jezebel said, “Is this how a king get things done here in Israel? Get out of bed, eat, and cheer up. I’ll get Naboth’s vineyard for you.”JEZEBEL ORDERS NABOTH STONED
Jezebel wrote letters to each of Jezreel’s city leaders. She sealed the messages closed by using the king’s royal seal. She told them, “Declare a time of fasting. I don’t want anyone to eat anything until you call a meeting and seat Naboth in front of everyone. 10Seat two men across from him—men who will do whatever you say. Tell them to say this: ‘Naboth curses God and the king. We’ve heard him do it.’ Then take Naboth outside and stone him to death.” 1 Kings 21:1-10For more Bible features
Stephen M. Miller's website , The Casual English Bible, and Bible YouTube channelAhab's palace at Jezreel