Who Was Jezebel?

The Jezebel Spirit

Someone once told me that heels, specifically stilettos, where part of the Jezebel Spirit. If you grew up in the church, especially if you're a woman, you've probably heard of the Jezebel Spirit. Ususally it is applied to women who seem "loose" or promiscious. It is a spirit of haughtiness and sexual immorality, said to be derived from the evil queen who ruled the Northern Kingdon of Israel for a time.[3][4]

Although sexual immorality is a sin, thus making the spirit of sexual immorality a legitimate concern, the Jezebel Spirit is often used by members of the church to attack anything that they perceive as representing female sexuality. Not only have I seen heels associated with the spirit, but jewelry and makeup, as well. While adornment and the concept of modesty are whole topics in and of themselves, they are entangled with the concept of the Jezebel Spirit. Anything that people perceive as a woman doing to seduce a man is often lumped in with the Jezebel Spirit. And while many (probably even most) woman are not thinking about men when they put on their jewelry or do their makeup, those who consider it part of the Jezebel Spirit see it as being done to beautify oneself for the purpose of seduction.

The Jezebel Trope and Racism

We know that Jezebel is often used as a slur or deragatory to refer to women, but as a black woman I also associate Jezebel with a trope that has been used to exploit black women. In media, black people are usually pigeon holed in to a handful of roles. For black women you typically have the Mamie figure (e.g., all the women in The Help), the magical Negro (e.g., Bonnie Bennett in The CW's The Vampire Diaries), the strong black woman (e.g. almost any role played by Janet Jackson or Gabrielle Union), and the Jezebel (e.g. any hip hop music video), just to name a few. In modern society, the Jezebel role is quite popular. When attributed strictly to prostitution, Halle Berry's role in Monster's Ball comes to mind first (she even won an Academy Award for the role). LisaRaye in The Player's Club also comes to mind. Usually, however, it's not outright prostitution but a hyper sexualization of the actress and character. Here, I think of many of Megan Good's roles, such as in Think Like A Man. The movie Cuties, though supposedly a commentary on hypersexuality, not only sexualizes young girls, but puts a young black girl at the forefront of this 'sexual discovery.' Nicki Minaj, in general, but specifically in the movie Barbership: The Next Cut. This topic is too large to cover here, but I did want to point out that the Jezebel Spirit is often pointed toward black women disporportionately.[9][1]

Modern Arguements Against The Jezebel Spirit

Naturally, today's society pushes back on this concept. Many people seek to redefine Jezebel and repair her damaged repuation.[5][6][7][8] Some compare the smearing of Jezebel's character by associating her with prositution to modern sexism. They argue that because she was powerful, those who opposed her countered by attacking her sexuality. Others argue that it's a case of Biblical authors being taken too literally, as sexual immorality is often used as a desciptor when talking about Israel's idolatry. So, I asked myself, "Who was Jezebel, really?"

Who Was Jezebel

The first thing I did was look up the origin and meaning of "Jezebel." In Hebrew the name is actually Izevel and it is linked to Ba'al worship. Likely it means "unexalted" or "where is the prince?"—the latter being a reference to Ba'al worship.[1][2]

The second thing I did was use the search feature in a digital Bible to find all the references pertaining to Jezebel in the Bible. To my surprise, there are actually two Jezebels mentioned in the Bible: one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.

Old Testament Jezebel

Jezebel of the Old Testament is introduced in 1 Kings 16:31 as the daughter of a king who marries Israel's king. She and her husband worship the Canaanite god Ba'al and lead Israel to do the same. The most significant things attributed to Jezebel during her life are the following:

1. Turning the people away from YHWH and toward Ba'al
2. Murder of the prophets of God (1 Kings 18:4)
3. Antagonizing Elijah the Prophet (1 Kings 19)
4. Having Naboth killed so her husband can take Naboth's property (1 Kings 21)

None of these seem related to sexual immorality, which is why people have started to quesiton the concept of the Jezebel Spirit.

There are, however, a few verses in 2 Kings 9 that seem to explain the link. Jehu says Jezebel has a cult of prostitution (and witchcraft). Also, when Jezebel sees Jehu approaching, she puts on makeup and adorns her head—eye makeup is only ever referenced in the Bible in conjunction with rebellion. This would explain why some pastors denounce makeup and jewelry as part of the Jezebel spirit, and is the only link between Queen Jezebel and sexual immorality.

While a case could be made that this is in fact the origin and root of the Jezebel Spirit, I have to point out two important things before you build a case for this as doctrine. Number one: prostitution, harlotry, and adultery are often used to describe Israel when the nation turns away from God (Hosea is the perfect example of this). Knowing that Jezebel did in fact lead Israel astray and that she is being associated with witchcraft, prostitution may not be a reference to literal prostitution and physical sex, but a statement of her treachery toward The Most High God. Number two: although Jezebel puts on makeup and adorns her head, there is no indication that she does this to seduce anyone or for sexually immoral reasons. Remember she is the queen of a nation and sees a dignitary approaching. This isn't much different than if you were to see someone approaching you door and you brushed your hair or changed into more appropriate clothes. As queen, it's likely that there was an expected look that she felt the need to convey when Jehu arrived.

New Testament Jezebel

Arguably, the Jezebel mentioned in the New Testament (Revelation 2:20-23) could actually be a reference back to Queen Jezebel of the Old Testament. The NIV, CSB, ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB all read as though the author is speaking of a woman named Jezebel. However, the CJB and NLT read as though the woman in question is being called a Jezebel.

If the woman is actually being called a Jezebel, this would be evidence that the concept of the Jezebel Spirit was present during the early church and is not a modern invention. It would also solidify the notion that it references the infamous queen of Israel. However, it is also possible that this is a woman named Jezebel who has no relation to the aforementioned Jezebel.

Either way, it is this Jezebel that is explicitly said to have committed acts of sexual immorality and led the people to commit sexual imorality. It seems to me this is where the concept of the Jezebel Spirit, specifically relating to "looseness" and "sexual immorality" gets its origin.

That being said, it is possible that yet still this isn't about literal sex. As mentioned above, the Bible intertwines the concept of idolatry and adultery (sexual immorality). Not only is the Jezebel of Revelation linked with false doctrine and idolatry by way of consuming meat sacrificed to idols, she is being discussed in Revelation, a book full of symbolism. If you step back just one chapter you will see a brillant description followed by an explanation of symbols. Sometimes in Revelation the symbol definitions are in the book (as in Revelation 1), but other times the symbols are given in other books (such as Daniel). Throughtout the Bible a woman represents a church. In Revelation we already see two women contrasted to represent the true Church and remnant (Revelation 12) versus the apostate church and antichrist powers (the Whore of Babylon). The woman spoken of in Revelation 2 could reference a splinter church or sect within the church that was teaching false doctrine. In this case, sexual immorality might not be literal but a reference to idolatry.

Conclusion

As a believer in the Most High God and a servent of the Messiah, my duty is to seek truth, not to follow the trends or what I desire to be true. My goal is to please the Father, not society and not myself. As a millennial and US citizen, my upbringing naturally biases me against the concept of The Jezebel Spirit. This is something I have to be aware of as I read the text and must constantly pray over to ensure I hear God's voice clearly. When I studied this topic, I tried to study from both points of view and in the end, I do believe there is a seductive spirit in our world. Whether this spirit should be attributed to Queen Jezebel or the false prophetess Jezebel, I'm not sure. I do not think all aspects of female sexuality should be lumped in with this spirit, either. God created both male and female as sexual beings to enjoy each other sexually (in marriage); therefore, female sexuality is natural. That being said, I do believe there are things best left for intimacy (re: strictly between a woman and her husband). My conclusion would be that each person should search themselves for motive. Do I behave this way or dress this way because it's who I am and it's comfortable, or becasue I seek attention or validation or because I'm mimicking the people I see on TV? If the Holy Spirit is convicting me, then I'm probably wrestling with a sexual spirit. However, if I pray and the Spirit does not convict me, it is not a sexual spirit (or I've grieved the Holy Spirit away and all hope is lost...but let's assume none of us are doing that!).

References

1. "Strong's H348. ". Blue Letter Bible; visited March 12, 2022
2. Mike Campbell. "Jezebel". Behind the Name; visited March 12, 2022
3. "What is the Jezebel spirit?". GotQuestions.org; visited March 12, 2022
4. Hope Bolinger. "What is the Jezebel Spirit". Christianity.com. February 7, 2022
5. Aysha Winstanley Musa. "Don’t believe The Handmaid’s Tale: the original Jezebel has been much maligned". The Conversation. July 18, 2017
6. Wednesday Martin. "Who Exactly Was the Original Jezebel?". Lit Hub. September 20, 2018
7. Nyasha Junior. "Jezebel Isn’t Who You Think She Is". Dame Magazine. November 5, 2019
8. Heather Donckels. "Book asserts Jezebel was anything but a prostitute". The Spokesman-Review. November 10, 2007
9. Janet Howe Gaines . "How Bad Was Jezebel?". Biblical Archaeology Society. March 24, 2021
10. "The Jezebel Stereotype" Ferris State University; visited March 12 ,2022
11. "Mammy, Jezebel and Sapphire: Stereotyping Black women in media". Al Jazeera. July 26, 2020

Isaiah 34-39: A Judgement and A Future

Introduction

Isaiah 34-39 details a coming judgement and the tension between Judah and Assyria. Much of it parallels the narrative given in 2 Kings about King Hezekiah's encounter with Sennacherib. reads as a proclamation of the coming judgement. Although much of this section details a specific conflict that has already occurred, there's a lot to be learned from the events in these chapters. There are also small tie ins to future prophecy that indicate it has relevance for us today as well.

Setting the Time

In Isaiah 34, Isaiah describes an event in which the heavens are destroyed. This parallels verses near the end of Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22), as well as verses from the New Testament (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1; Matthew 24:35; 5:18). Each of these verses is about the end times.

Edom/Idumea

If you're reading a more modern translation, the judgement is pronounced upon Edom, but if you're reading the KJV, it says Idumea. Idumea is another name for Edom.[1]

TL;DR

At the conclusion of Isaiah 34, he directs us to a the Word of God so that we might remember and reestablish certain things. Scholars believe Isaiah was specifically referencing the books of Moses,[2] but I think the underlying message is that we should be familiar with the Word of God. We live in the generation of tl;dr (too long; didn't read), but the tl;dr of this chapter is read the Word of YHWH. The only way to know truth from fiction today is know Whom you serve, and to know that, you have to be an avid studier of His Word.

Fear Not

Say to them that are of a fearful heart,
Be strong, fear not:
behold, your God will come with vengeance,
even God with a recompence;
he will come and save you.Isaiah 35:4 KJV

Many times we fear change, we fear doing God's work, and we fear not being worthy of the task appointed to us (re: Moses). However, we should take comfort in Isaiah 35:4, God always provides the strength, as well as a way for His people.

Seeing and Hearing for the First Time

In the end, those who previously couldn't see or hear the truth, will finally understand. The concept of being spiritually blind or deaf can seem odd, but I as you grow in Christ you see how passages begin to unravel themselves. The same passage you read 5 years ago, suddenly means so much more. This is the process of having your eyes and ears opened.

Fighting False Doctrine

Isaiah 36 parallels 2 Kings 18. It takes us to the 14th year of Hezekiah's reign when Sennacherib attacks. Sennacherib reigned over Assyria between 704 and 681bc.[4] This story means alot to me because I see how it applies to today.

Sennacherib isn't a follower of God; he doesn't have a relationship with God and doesn't know God's Word. Instead, he relies on his knowledge of false gods to dictate how he thinks the Israelites should worship God. In this, he confuses the banning of worshiping God at unauthorized altars as abandoning God. This is a lot like the people who talk about "the war on Christmas," which isn't actually about Christ (there are posts on the blog that go into more detail on this). Of corse the people don't know any better because they've been following whatever the leaders tell them too. If your faith is unstable, false doctrine sounds like real doctrine and in an instant you're doubting God. That's how Satan operates.

One thing I have to point out is that Sennacherib's messenger sounds a lot like the devil when he came to tempt Jesus. The messenger is offering them what they think is the world, just as the devil offered Jesus the world.

Hezekiah's Death Bed

Hezekiah is grieved to hear the news and immediately sends for Isaiah. Through Isaiah, God sends the message to Hezekiah not fear (the same message is given to us). God repays the general's blasphemy by causing him to about face and die in his own land.

In God's message to Hezekiah about the fate of the land and of the Assyrian army, he mentions a remnant bearing fruit. Later in the Bible we learn about the Fruit of the Spirit, and see many connections from fruit to actions. For the remnant of Israel to bear fruit, it means they behave in a Godly manner. It means they have taken on traits of God and are manifesting these traits in their daily lives. This is what all followers of Christ should be striving for

As God promised, the Assyrian army is defeated without any confrontation. Imagine if you have taunted the one true God and wake to find your army dead. Sennacherib fled to Ninevah, but did not escape death. Just as God foretold, now that he was back in his homeland, it was time for him to suffer his fate. He was not only killed, but killed by his own sons.

Not Ready to Die

In Isaiah 38, we find Hezekiah on his deathbed, but he is not ready to die—really though, who is? Hezekiah prays for more time and is granted 15 years. The first couple reads through this, I never understood why God let Hezekiah live. From what we're told, it seems like Hezekiah was in God's favor; that if he'd died right then, he'd be all set in the after life. However, as soon as he is granted life, he does things that upset God. I would much rather die young and righteous than live to see myself turn against God.

As I was thinking that, I realized that the reason Hezekiah begged for more time is because he had fallen in love with this world. This world is flawed; it's broken and full of pain. God's eternal kingdom will be so much better, but many of us aren't willing to leave this world behind to get there. In the end, it doesn't really matter how long we live. We're here to fulfill a purpose. That purpose may take us 90 years, or it may take 20 years. However, if we're truly walking with the Lord, when the time is up, we won't be afraid to go.

I don't know if God allowing Hezekiah more time on Earth was to teach him not to be afraid of death, for Israel's sake, or something else entirely. What I do know is that God knew what He was doing when He granted Hezekiah's wish.

Changing Time?

In Isaiah 38:8, God tells Hezekiah that he's going turn the shadow back on a sun dial as a sign. Apparently, I'm not the only person who read this and was confused.[3] I don't know if God actually set time back, or if the shadow only moved for Hezekiah. The overall point, however is that God was able to provide a miracle as proof of His promise to extend Hezekiah's life. I think it's fitting that it the promise is "sealed" for Hezekiah by turning back time. Imagine if we could do a do-over for the Garden of Eden! We could stop sickness from ever happening. There's only two ways to end death: go back in time and stop the fall, or rush forward in time when Jesus had returned, which Hezekiah was refusing to do.

Showing Off

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Randy Tarampi

In Isaiah 39 we see Hezekiah seeking approval of the world. In Isaiah 38, we saw that he wasn't ready to leave this world, so it makes sense that his weakness is fitting in. Hezekiah, despite just witnessing a miracle from God, is quick to try to impress the king of Babylon. Babylon was a potential ally against Assyria, which could be part of Hezekiah's motivation. Of course, with God as your ally, you don't need these other nations. The fact that Hezekiah is so willing to "prove" himself to the Babylonian King, shows an insecurity.

My parents used to warn me about telling all of my business. In Hezekiah's case, there's the obvious desire for acceptance or recognition, but there's also the danger that my parents were warning me about. Sometimes, in our insecurity and/or ignorance, we don't realize that what we're showing off can cause someone else to get jealous. By showing the favor that God has bestowed upon him, Hezekiah is setting himself up for scrutiny. The King of Babylon is less likely to say "this nation is more important than I thought" and more likely to think "I have to crush them before they become more powerful than me." We should be mindful of this when talking about our material wealth. Evaluating why we want to share something with someone is probably the best idea.

References

1. "Edom". Encyclopædia Britannica; visited May 2019
2. John Gills. "Isaiah 34:16 Commentary". Bible Study Tools; visited May 2019
3. "Isaiah 38:8 Commentary". Bible Hub; visited May 2019
4. "Sennacherib". Encyclopædia Britannica; visited May 2019

The Kings of Israel

An informative list of kings who reigned in Israel

Introduction

The book of kings takes us from the appointing of Saul as king, to the division of Israel, through the fall of both kingdoms. A major focus is the Israelites' constant struggle with idolatry. Idolatry has always been mankind's weakness and plays heavily in the events of the end days. The reason idolatry is so prominent, I believe, is that we are easily able to convince ourselves that things like stealing, murder, and lying are wrong, regardless of where we stand with God. However, pagan festivities (like Halloween) appear harmless and fun, which means it requires a deeper relationship with God to reject such things. However, the more we indulge in such activities, the weaker our relationship with God becomes.
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Kings of Israel

Keeping the kings of Israel straight is difficult, especially when several of them share a name. Below, I'm provide a table with information on each kings rule for reference. Estimates of the years in which each king reigned were taken are cited below and are based on E.R. Thiele's calculations.^[3] Dynasties of the northern kingdom are marked by color left of the king's name.

The United Kingdom of Israel
King		Length of Reign (years)		Estimate Time Period		Relationship with God		Notes
Saul		40		1051-1011bc		Rocky
David		40		1011-971bc		Strong
Solomon		40		971-931bc		Strong
The Southern Kingdom (Judah)					The Northern Kingdom (Israel)
King	Reign	Years	Godly?	Notes	King	Reign	Years	Godly?	Notes
Rehoboam	17	930-913bc	Relationship with God		Jeroboam	22	930-909bc	Bad
Abijah	3	913-910bc	Bad
Asa	41	910-869bc	Great		Nadab	2	909-908bc	Bad
					Baasha	24	908-886bc	Bad
					Elah	2	886-885bc	Bad
					Zimri	7days	885bc	Bad
					Tibni / Omri	5	885-880bc	-
					Omri	12	885-874bc	Very Bad
Jehoshaphat	25	872-848bc	Good		Ahab	22	874-853bc	Bad
Jehoram	8	853-841bc	Bad		Jehoram	12	852-841bc	Not as Bad
Ahaziah	1	841bc	Bad		Jehu	28	841-814bc	Not as Bad
Queen Athaliah	7	841-835bc	Really Bad
Joash	40	835-796bc	Mostly Good		Jehoahaz	17	814-798bc	Bad
Amaziah	29	796-767bc	Mostly Good		Jehoash	16	798-782bc	Bad
Uzziah/ Azariah	52	792-740bc	Mostly Good		Jeroboam II	41	793-753bc	Bad
					Zachariah	0.5	753bc	Bad
					Shallum	0.08	752bc	Bad
Jotham	16	750-732bc	OK		Menahem	0.08	752-742bc	Bad
					Pekahiah	2	742-740bc	Bad
					Pekah	20	752-732bc	Bad
Ahaz	16	735-715bc	Bad		Hosea	9	732-723bc	Not as Bad
Hezekiah	29	715-686bc	Best
Manasseh	55	696-642bc	Worst
Amon	2	642-640bc	Horrible
Josiah	31	640-609bc	Great
Jehoahaz	0.25	609bc	Bad
Jehoiakim/ Eliakim	11	609-598bc	Bad
Jehoiachin	0.25	598-597bc	Bad
Mattaniah / Zedekiah	11	597-586bc	Bad

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References

1. William MacDonald. Believers Bible Commentary, pg. 407. 1998
2. Edwin R. Thiele. "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings". Wikipedia; visited April 2017
3. "Pekah". Wikipedia; visited April 2017

2 Kings 24&25: Rebellion and Captivity

2 Kings 24 and 25 reveal the last days of the southern kingdom before it is taken captive by Babylon. Just as the last days of Earth will be for us, these days were filled with turmoil.

Introduction

2 Kings 24 and 25 reveal the last days of the southern kingdom before it is taken captive by Babylon. Just as the last days of Earth will be for us, these days were filled with turmoil. Jehoiakim, who was already indebted to Egypt, falls to Babylon and is forced to be a servant to them for 3 years before he rebels against them. During his reign, he is attacked by the Chaldeans, the Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites. This was all punishment for the sins Judah has committed under Manasseh and for the innocent blood that had been spilled. Since Jehoiakim was an evil king, the Israelites had likely drifted back into idolatry at this point.
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A New King

When Jehoiakim dies, his son Jehoiachin takes over the throne. Jehoiachin is 18 years old when he begins to rule. He only reigns 3 months before taken captive by the king of Babylon. Like his father, Jehoiachin led the people to idolatry and rebelled against God's law. Perhaps if these two men had been more like Josiah, Judah would not have fallen to Babylon (and perhaps they would have lived longer, as well).
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Babylon Attacks

Prompted by the rebellion started by Jehoiakim, Babylon takes advantage of Israel's weakness and attack the city of Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem are taken captive after this siege. At least 10,000 men ranging from craftsmen to the poorest men are taken back to Babylon, including princes, soldiers, and the king's family. Wealth and stature did not exempt anyone from being taken prisoner.

After improsioning Jehoiachin, who was reigning as king, the king of Babylon appoints the brother of Jehoiakim, Mattaniah, to be king. Just as Egypt changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim, Mattaniah's name is changed to Zedekiah by the king of Babylon. In many cultures it is thought that changing someone's name gives you power over that person. In changing these kings' names, the other kings were exerting their power and claiming superiority. Note that many celebrities in our world also undergo name changes. In the Bible, we that both God and pagan kings change the names of people, which means the practice is not exclusively good or evil. We must listen carefully to discern if it is in God's will that our name change when such opportunities arise.
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The Fall of Judah

Photocredit: ShutterStock.com/Akos Nagy

2 Kings 25 discusses the capture of the southern kingdom, known as Judah. Once Judah fell, the nation of Israel ceased to be for quite some time. It is interesting to think about this because it isn't the only time the nation of Israel was eradicated then reborn. The Israelites of Judah eventually find their way back to Israel only to be dismantled by the Romans after the siege on Jerusalem in 70 ad. After almost 2000 years of being scattered, the Jews reclaimed Israel in the 1960's and created the modern country of Israel. God was true to His promise that though He would scatter them, He would always bring them back.

The final siege lasted so long it caused a famine! The king of Judah was forced to watch his sons murdered. The Temple was raided and all the wealth was taken to Babylon. In the end, Babylon releases Jehoiachin from prison and sets him up as a fake king.
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Extra Biblical Evidence

Atheists and agnostics don't view the Bible as a valid history source, though for some reason secular history sources are automatically seen as valid sources. Nonetheless, the seige and captivity of Judah is coraborated by the Babylonian chronicles. Excavations of Babylon have also turned up tablets referencing the rations of Jehoiachin, who is confirmed as the king of Judah and a captive of Babylon.^[1][2]
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References

1. "Babylonian Captivity". Wikipedia; visited February 2017
2. "Biblical Archaeology 24: Jehoiachin’s Rations". Theosophical. August 25, 2011

2 Kings 21-23: Manasseh & Josiah

These chapters follow the evil king Manasseh and the Godly king Josiah. The difference in their leadership is not only a testimony of what God expects from us, but also a testimony that our fate is not bound to those who raise us. We are free to choose (or reject) God regardless of our parentage.

Introduction

Manasseh (not to be confused with the son of Joseph), was one of the worst kings in the history of Judah, but his grandson Josiah was one of the best. The difference in their leadership is not only a testimony of what God expects from us, but also a testimony that our fate is not bound to those who raise us. We are free to choose (or reject) God regardless of our parentage.
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Manasseh Takes the Throne

After the wonderful leadership of Hezekiah, Judah falls to poor leadership once again in Hezekiah's son Manasseh, followed by his grandson Amon. Both kings stray from Hezekiah's Godly leadership.

Manasseh's sin are so great they are actually listed out. From pagan worship and idolatry to dealing with witchcraft and enchantments, Manasseh does much to incite God's wrath. In these sins, Manasseh leads Israel to do the same. He rebuilds the pagan altars and illegal altars for God, allowing the Israelites to return to their old habits. Manasseh is also a violent king as he is described as filling Jerusalem with innocent blood. Surprisingly, God allows him to reign for 55 years. However his reign is the tipping point for God's people in Judah. In 2 Kings 23:26 and 2 Kings 24:3, the blame for Israel's punishment falls on the sins that took place during Manasseh's rule.

When Manasseh dies, his son Amon picks up where he left off. Amon is just as evil as his father and continues to lead Israel down a sinful path. During Amon's reign, his servants rise up against him. Thus Amon on reigns for two years before he is assassinated. The people punish those who conspired against Amon and place his son Josiah on the throne. Unlike the northern kingdom, where assassinators often took the throne after successfully killing the king, the scepter never leaves the House of David in Judah (Genesis 49:10).
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Josiah

Josiah is placed on the throne at a very young age, like King Jehoash (also spelled Joash); he is only 8 when takes over the throne. Josiah reigns for 31 years and brings Godliness back to the throne. I find it interesting that Josiah takes up where his great grandfather left off despite having an ungodly father and grandfather. Josiah would never have met Hezekiah. This proves that though our parents may shape our views on God based on how they raise us, they aren't the ultimate factor in our relationship with God. Josiah was able to find his way to God despite the bad examples around him. The Bible doesn't tell us if this came from the influence of advisors, priests, or a call from God Himself, but it does show us that we aren't lost just because our parents are.
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Fix the Temple

Once again, the Temple needs repairs. Since the Israelites had been using the wealth of the Temple to pay off enemies, it isn't surprising that it was deteriorating. While ungodly kings would have prioritized their resources elsewhere, Josiah orders that the money in the Temple be used to pay workers for repairs to the Temple. When the scribe speaks with the priest, he learns that they have found the book of law (i.e. the books of Moses).
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The Book of Law

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Pellinni

It is unclear at what point the Israelites stopped using the Book of Law, but God had instructed them to read the law aloud every year and apparently they had not been doing so. Scholars believe that the actual book of law had not been lost but had been hid from idolatrous kings. Likely some of the law had been preserved in the nation while other parts had been lost, and the reopening of the book shed light on this fact.^[5]

When Josiah reads the book, he humbles himself before the LORD and makes haste to get Israel on the right track. Josiah knows that God must be angry at them for forsaking the laws, so they consult a prophetess of the Lord to hear God's thoughts. Note that this is proof a woman can receive messages from God.

God shows mercy towards Josiah because he has heeded God's Word. Josiah had been doing his best, but was ignorant of parts of God's law. When he learned the truth he was quick to restructure his life to please God. For this, God promised that judgment and destruction would not come during Josiah's lifetime. We should remember this example. When we don't know any better, God is not pleased, but he is not as angry as He would be had we known we were in the wrong. Once we learn the truth, however, it is up to us to align ourselves with God.

Josiah has the law read to the people and the nation is quick to renew their covenant with God. It isn't just enough to say the words, however. We see a real change in Josiah's heart as he works to rid Judah of ungodliness. Josiah disbands pagan priests, defiles illegal altars, and evicts the sodomites. When we truly come to God, our actions will mirror the confession we've made with out heart.
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Cleansing the Nation

Josiah doesn't stop at cleansing Judah; he travels into the northern kingdom's territory and begins to cleanse cities there as well. He defiles the pagan altars there with human remains. While doing this, he discovers that a prophet had already prophesied these actions. Recognizing the holiness of such a person, Josiah orders that the prophet's bones not be disturbed.

A major difference in Josiah's handling of this cleansing and the cleansing that occurred in the northern kingdom under Elijah is the lack of slaughter. Josiah recognized that the people had been led astray and that was as much the fault of leadership as it was their own doing. Instead of killing everyone, Josiah works to bring everyone back to God. Similarly, when we proclaim the word of God, we should be careful not to push people away with harsh judgments. Elijah was a great leader, and while God did not condemn Elijah's act of murdering pagan priests, Elijah himself felt bad. God did not create us to delight in tearing others down. Our primary mission is to bring others to God in love.
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The Name Josiah

Josiah is also a popular name in the US today; it ranks at #57 in popularity, which means you probably know at least 1 person named Josiah. The name means "YHWH supports."^[1] Famous Josiah's of today include R&B singer Josiah Bell, and reality TV star Josiah Duggar.^[2][3] Minister and activist Josiah Henson was also named for the Biblical king.^[4]
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More Bad Kings

God was pleased with Josiah's actions, but Judah still had to be punished for the actions it had taken up until that point. Each action we take has consequences, and although God may forgive us, that doesn't mean we won't endure those consequences. Israel never fully repented and those tribes were scattered forever. Judah, on the other hand, was able to regroup after their exile. It is also likely that the people of Israel did not share the same zeal Josiah did. This would explain why they were so easily swayed back to idolatry under the next set of kings. God knew that the hearts of the people where still drenched in idolatry.
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Jehoahaz

Josiah dies in battle with Egypt and his son Jehoahaz is crowned king (there had previously been a king named Jehoahaz in the northern kingdom, as well). Jehoahaz takes the throne when he is 23, but only reigns for 3 months. Unlike Josiah, he does evil. He is captured by the pharaoh of Egypt and forced to pay tribute. The king of Egypt places Jehoahaz's brother Eliakim on the throne and renames him Jehoiakim.

Jehoiakim / Eliakim

Jehoiakim was actually the elder brother and begins his reign at the age of 25. It is unclear why he wasn't made king first. Although the pharaoh allowed Jehoiakim to take the throne, he was still only a vassal king and forced to pay tribute to Egypt. Josiah's son's were clearly unable to hold on to the zeal Josiah had introduced for following God. Nonetheless, Jehoiakim reigns for 11 years.
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References

1. Mike Campbell. "Josiah". Behind the Name. 1996
2. LeeAnn Chisolm. "5 Reasons to Fall in Love with Josiah Bell". Blavity. October 2016
3. "19 Kids and Counting". Wikipedia; visited February 2017
4. Biography.com Editors. "Josiah Henson". Bio. April 13, 2016
5. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 674. 2014

2 Kings 18-20: Hezekiah

King Hezekiah was on of the Souther Kingdom of Israel's God-fearing kings. Although he is not perfect, he takes great strides to turn Israel back to the Lord.

Introduction

Hezekiah takes over as king of Judah during the 3rd year of Hoshea. During his reign, Judah watches Samaria and the northern kingdom be taken captive by Assyria. Meanwhile, Assyria was clamoring to conquer Judah next. I imagine the atmosphere was much like that of countries across Europe during World War II. The question for the citizens would not have been if Assyria attacked, but when would Assyria attack. With God on their side, Judah would have been able to defeat any enemy that came it's way, but Judah wasn't immune to the idolatry that had plagued the northern kingdom. Luckily, Hezekiah was one of the kings who trusted in God and led the people toward righteousness. Unlike the kings before him—including those who had followed God—Hezekiah destroyed the pagan and illegal altars that were being used in the kingdom.
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A Peace Treaty

Hezekiah's obedience to God may have earned him a pass in giving much of the Temple's wealth to Assyria in exchange for peace. Hezekiah is neither praised nor condemned for this action, so it is unclear if God accepted this or expected Hezekiah to coalesce an army to fight for their land. God would have known that Judah would eventually fall to Babylon, but it isn't obvious whether Hezekiah's actions contributed, if only even the tiniest bit, to God's anger toward Judah. A sign that God may not have been pleased with the way the matter was handled is the fact that the treaty doesn't last.
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Taunting God

The king of Assyria shows up at Jerusalem's gates to taunt the Israelites. He sends a message to Hezekiah attempting to derail the Israelites' faith in the walls of Jerusalem. Assyria's argument was that Hezekiah had angered God by tearing down the illegal places of worship. He also claims that God cannot save the people, but the messengers do not respond to this disrespect.

This is much like the actions of today. Many people don't actually understand the true relationship with God we are to have so participate in pagan practices. When those practices are threatened, they side against God to protect the pagan tradition. Every day people fall for the enemy's claim that God will be angry at us for turning back to His law. If we are not strong in our relationship with God, we would fall for Assyria's claim that God sent them to punish Hezekiah for doing what was actually the right thing. God often sent armies from other nations to attack the Israelites due to his anger towards the Israelites, so it's easy to see how the Israelites would be quick to believe their king was in the wrong when their peace shattered. When the Israelites take the message they've been given back to Hezekiah they rent their clothes, proving that despite their stoic lack of response to the king of Assyria, his words had brought them despair.
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Consulting God

When Hezekiah hears the despair of his people, he is saddened and seeks counsel from God. The prophet of Hezekiah's time was Isaiah, and Hezekiah wisely trusted his counsel. In this situation, Isaiah tells Hezekiah not to be afraid of the Assyrian king's blasphemous threats. God has promised that not only will He take care of Judah, but the Assyrians will fall on their own sword.
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A Powerful Prayer

Hezekiah's prayer to God is quite powerful. I think it is a beautiful example of true faith; it states all of the basics about how we should view ourselves and God. First, Hezekiah acknowledges that God is the Creator of all things and the only God. Second, he asks God to intercede in the situation. Hezekiah admits that Assyria is powerful and has defeated the gods of the surrounding nations, but Hezekiah also proclaims that those gods were not real. This is a reiteration of Hezekiah's statement that God is the only God. Hezekiah ends the prayer with his request for God to defeat Assyria. Even though this is beneficial to Judah, Hezekiah actually asks for God to show Assyria what the true God of the world is capable of and give testimony to the world that the God of Israel is the supreme God. Essentially, Hezekiah is asking God to take advantage of the situation to spread His glory and remind the world who is in charge. This may be part of the blessings Israel was provide the rest of the world.

Naturally, God agrees to use this moment to showcase His power and protect the city of Jerusalem. God also sets forth a task for the people to stir their faith. God instructs them to eat only that which grows voluntarily for the next two years. On the third year they could sow the land again. This is similar to the Year of Jubilee, which was commanded by God and written in the Books of Law. Whether it was actually the Year of Jubilee, or not, was irrelevant; God assured them that these uncultivated fruits and herbs would be enough for the people (and it was).
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The Battle

When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, camps outside of Judah to prepare for the attack, God springs into action. That night, God smites their army such that they are forced to return to Assyria. Some time after their retreat Senacherib is killed by two of his sons while praying to a pagan god. A third son of his presumes the throne.

Sennacherib was king of Assyria from 705 - 619 bc
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Sickness

Possibly during this whole ordeal, Hezekiah falls ill. Isaiah tells Hezekiah that God has confirmed his death. Given this information, Isaiah also instructs Hezekiah to get his house in order (i.e. choose a successor). Hezekiah pleads with God for a cure. In his plea, Hezekiah reminds God that he has walked in perfect faith and he weeps at his fate. God, being the merciful God He is, hears Hezekiah's plea and chooses to extend Hezekiah's life by 15 years.

God instructs them to place a fig on Hezekiah's boil, which was likely what was endangering his life, and the boil is miraculously healed. A quick search over the internet confirms that figs are often considered a home remedy for healing or soothing boils.^[2] This knowledge likely stems from God's revelation of the cure to Isaiah for Hezekiah's benefit. In addition to these instructions, God gives Hezekiah a sign, at Hezekiah's request, that he will be healed.
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Downfall

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Manuel De La Pena

Some time after Hezekiah is healed, a prince of Babylon visits seeking an alliance. Hezekiah shows off all of his wealth to this prince. Although we are not told that pride is what motivated Hezekiah's actions, Hezekiah is condemned by God for this action, which implies pride was involved.

Most of us are taught at an early age that it is not a good idea to show off wealth. If we are showing off our wealth to those who are less fortunate, it comes across as bragging. Furthermore, it places you as a target for theft. If people don't know what you have, there's more of a risk in attempting to steal from you—imagine getting caught after breaking in to an apartment that was completely empty. In Hezekiah's case, he was showing off the wealth of the nation. The U.S. is currently interested in the middle east because that's where most of the oil in the world is; the land itself is of value to us. However, we don't see the US entangled in what's happening in 3rd world countries such as Haiti. Why? Because in the U.S.'s mind, there is nothing there for us. If we tried to conquer a country like Haiti, we would only take on a financial burden. Similarly, when Hezekiah showed this Babylonian prince the wealth that was found in Israel, he tipped Babylon off that Israel was a country worth conquering.

This proves true in God's punishment decree. God declares that the Babylonians will take all that Hezekiah has shown them and that his sons would be eunuchs in Babylon instead of kings of Judah. Strangely, Hezekiah accepts this news as "good. " It is unclear whether he accepts this punishment because he knows he was in the wrong, or if he is merely happy that the effects will occur after his death.^[3]
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The Name Hezekiah

Used almost exclusively in the Black community, Hezekiah is a popular name today. The name itself means "YHWH strengthens." The name ranked 678th in US popularity in 2015.^[4] One famous Hezekiah of our day is gospel singer Hezekiah Walker.^[5]
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References

1. Henry W.F. Saggs. "Sennacherib". Encyclopæpdia Britannica. October 24, 2007
2. Joe Willis and Elsa Willis. "Wounds and External Ailments". Amazing Health. August 27, 2009
3. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 672. 2014
4. Mike Campbell. "Hezekiah". Behind the Name. 1996
5. "Hezekiah Walker". Wikipedia; visited February 2017

2 Kings 16&17: The Northern Kingdom Captured

The fall of the northern kingdom to Assyria, and the dependency of the southern kingdom on the same Assyria is covered in 2 Kings 16 and 17. The struggles of both kingdoms are direct results of their abandoning of the covenant they made with God.

Introduction

The fall of the northern kingdom to Assyria, and the dependency of the southern kingdom on the same Assyria is covered in 2 Kings 16 and 17. The struggles of both kingdoms are direct results of their abandoning of the covenant they made with God. Kings Ahaz and Hoshea of Judah and Israel respectively mark a tragic low in the history of the Israelites.
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Ahaz

Ahaz becomes king of Judah during the 17th year of Pekah. Ahaz begins his reign at 20 years old. He reigns for 16 years. Unlike many of Judah's kings, Ahaz does not follow God's word and is a sinful king. He even commits the crime of child sacrifice. Without God's support, Ahaz looses major battles with both Syria and Israel. The Syrians are able to take over the city of Elath. 2 Kings 16:6 gives us the first mentioning of the word Jew, which is the name given to the Israelites living in the southern kingdom of Judah (later Judea).
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Pact with Assyria

When Ahaz is in danger of losing to Syria and Israel, he sends wealth from the Temple to the king of Assyria to buy their alliance. Interestingly, when these kings use foreign aid, they always pay with God's money instead of calling on God. The king of Assyria obliges and defeats Judah's enemies. While meeting with the king of Assyria in Damascus, Ahaz takes a liking to a pagan altar and requests the priests to mimic it back home. God always makes it clear that we are to be set apart from the world, so you can bet He didn't want His altar to be like the pagan one.
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Defiling the Temple

Ahaz places this pagan altar in the house of God and moves God's altar, giving reverence to the pagan Assyrian god. Ahaz also removed the Sabbath canopy and closed the kings entry because the king of Assyria did not like them. While my study Bible suggests it is unknown why he was offended by these two things, I think it is quite obvious. Both are reminders who the true king of Judah is. The Sabbath is a reminder of who created the Earth (Exodus 20:10-11) and who delivered the Israelites from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:14-15). The king's entry was a reminder that God appointed David's lineage, including Ahaz, to be king. The king of Assyria wanted that power and reverence for himself.
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Interesting Thought

I find it interesting that on the verge of the northern kingdom being taken captive by Assyria, the king of the southern kingdom was essentially selling his soul to the Assyrians. When people who don't have faith become fearful, they will do anything to preserve their own well being. While Jehoshaphat had been adamant that the Israelites of the north were the same people as those of the south and thus was determined to fight with them, Ahaz completely abandoned his brothers in the north. Ahaz even abandons God because he thinks Assyria is a better option. This may have worked in his favor in the short term, but long term, God is always the best option.
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Hoshea

Hoshea becomes king of Israel during Ahaz's 12th year. Evidenced by his coup, he is an evil king, though he is not considered as bad as the other kings. His rule lasts for 9 years.

During Shalmaneser's reign as king of Assyria, Hoshea bows to him, becoming his servant and giving him presents. Just as Ahaz was buying his time as a "free" king, Hoshea was doing the same. It was the illusion of keeping the throne as opposed to outright defeat that inspired kings to take this option.

At some point, Hoshea rebels against this tradition, however. Shalmaneser decides that Hoshea is conspiring against him when Hoshea sends messengers to Egypt as though to form an alliance and does not send tribute to Assyria. This is the reason Assyria attacks Israel. After he defeats Israel, Shalmaneser binds Hoshea in prison.

The siege Shalmaneser unleashes on Israel lasts 3 years. At the end of the siege, the king of Assyria takes the people of Israel into Assyria fulfilling God's curse to displace the Israelites. These 10 tribes are never truly recovered; they assimilated into the Gentile population. God gave the Israelites plenty of warnings and sent his prophets to testify to Israel, but the Israelites continued to do evil and would not repent. When the northern kingdom crumbles, all that is left is the tribe of Judah.

Shalmaneser of the Bible is likely Shalmanese V, the son of Tiglath-pileser III.^[1]
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Samaria

Photocredit: By Deror_avi, via Wikimedia Commons

The king of Assyria replaces the Israelites with his own people in the city of Samaria. These are the people who will eventually become known as the Samaritans. Initially they do not fear God, but He send lions to attack them. When they report this to the king, he allows one of the priests to return and teach the new inhabitants the ways of the Lord. The Samaritans didn't give up their gods, though they claimed to fear God; instead they created a blended religion just like Israel had before. Archeologists have found a Samaritan Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible, which deal with the law).^[2] Scholars believe it to be authentic.^[3] This book was likely created with the help of the priest sent to teach them the ways of God.
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References

1. Editors of the Encyclopædia Britannica. "Shalmaneser V: King of Assyria and Babylon". Encyclopædia Britannica. July 20, 1998
2. Ben Outhwaite. "Samaritan Pentateuch (MS Add.1846)". University of Cambridge Digital Libray; visited February 2017
3. "Samaritan Pentateuch". Wikipedia; visited February 2017

2 Kings 13-15: Elisha's Death & 8 Kings of Israel

A consequence of this disloyalty to God is the instability of their throne. There is a constant struggle for the throne as worldly ideas pollute the people of Israel. Instead of being content to appoint God's heir to the throne, they vie for power and kill for what they desire.

Introduction

2 Kings 13-15 details the succession of many kings in the northern kingdom. Although Judah also struggled to be faithful to God, Israel remained in sin without God-fearing kings for majority of it's existence. A consequence of this disloyalty to God is the instability of their throne. There is a constant struggle for the throne as worldly ideas pollute the people of Israel. Instead of being content to appoint God's heir to the throne, they vie for power and kill for what they desire.
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Jehoahaz

Jehu's son, Jehoahaz, becomes king of Israel during the 23rd year of Judah's king Ahaziah. He continued to lead Israel down evil paths during his 17 year reign. Because of this, God allows Syria to over take Israel. Eventually Jehoahaz calls on God for aid. Per God's covenant that He would never completely abandon them, He sends a savior, but Israel does not repent or return to God.

God's decision to rescue Jehoahaz and the northern kingdom when they called on Him, despite knowing that they would not truly repent should remind us that we are never wrong to seek out God. God wants us to come back to Him and will always give us that chance, no matter what we have done. Of course, when we choose to seek out God, we should also choose to repent and follow God from then on out (unlike Jehoahaz).
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Jehoash

Once again, we find a king that shares his name with another king. This makes it crucial that when reading Kings and Chronicles, we pay close attention to determine who is being discussed. Jehoash of Israel not only shares a name with Jehoash of Judah, but their reigns overlap. Jehoash of Israel reigns for 26 years and is caught up in the re-ignition of the war with the southern kingdom. He is challenged by Jehoash of Judah's son Amaziah, and although he is reluctant to go to battle, eventually Jehoash delivers a crushing blow to Judah.

It is sad to read that while Syria and Assyria were battering the people of God, they were battling themselves. This problem occurs throughout the world on so many levels it's impossible not to see how this problem relates to today. A house divided cannot stand, but in almost every case you can think of, the house is divided. The U.S. allows division between race or political affiliation to incite violence and dictate possibly the worst election in the history of the United States. Our churches split because of in house fighting. This is not the way to build a strong body for Christ. While sometimes these divisions may be unavoidable because those we are divided with are truly against God, we have to remember that these divisions will inevitably leave us vulnerable to attack, so we should prepare for the worst.
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Elisha's Death

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Iddo Tal

The second of the 2 major prophets discussed throughout Kings, Elisha dies of an illness during Jehoash of Israel's reign. Fortunately Jehoash is able to consult with him about the fate of the northern kingdom before he dies.

Elisha uses a bow and arrow to prophesy that Israel will conquer Syria in Aphek. Elisha instructs the king to smite the ground with the arrows. When the king only does so 3 times, Elisha is upset. Elisha says that now they will only smite Syria 3 times, whereas if he had smote the ground more times, they would have utterly defeated them.

As Elisha has prophesied, Jehoash smites Syria 3 times. During this time Syria's king, Hazael, dies and his son Benhadad becomes king. Something tells me he named his son Benhadad before he killed the previous king Benhadad—though it is possible he did so after out of guilt.

After Elisha dies, Moabites also begin attacking Israel. During this battle a deceased soldier is dumped with Elisha's bones. When the body touches Elisha's bone, the soldier is revived. This last miracle is performed in death and a testament to how truly miraculous God is.
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Jeroboam II

After Jehoash, Jeroboam II takes over as king. Although he is not a direct descendant of Jeroboam I, nor referred to as Jeroboam II, many people refer to him as such to differentiate bettwen the two king's of the northern kingdom.

Jeroboam reigns for 41 years, possibly the longest reign for a king in the northern kingdom, despite his evil ways. Jonah, the famous prophet, served during this era. One accomplishment of Jeroboam II is the expansion of the kingdom, though he does not reclaim all of what Solomon had. His son Zachariah takes over after he dies.
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Zachariah

During the 38th year of Azariah's reign, Zachariah is made king of Israel; however, his reign only lasts 6 months. He is killed by Shallum, the son of Jabesh, and Shallum takes over as king. Like most kings of Israel, Zachriah does evil in the sight of the Lord.
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Shallum

By using the information given, we know that Shallum begins his reign during Azariah's 38th or 39th year, depending on when during Azariah's 38th year Zachariah becomes king. The text, however, tells us that Shallum began reigning during Uzziah's 39th year. The name Uzziah is used interchangeably for Azariah in both 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, implying that they are the same person.^[2] Reading verses like 2 Chronicles 26:1 confirms this. Although it seems odd that the authors used different names for the same king, I think this is cultural. Imagine if someone 3000 years from now, who had no knowledge of Latin based languages, and particularly not English, heard the names Charles and Chuck. They would assume these were distinct names with no relation to each other. However, as native speakers of the language, we know that Chuck is a nickname for Charles, thus if you introduce us to a Charles then begin referring to him as Chuck, we will know you are still referring to Charles. The audience of the writers of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles would have known these names were referring to the same person and may have even called the king by both names (think P. Diddy vs. Puff Daddy).
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Menahem

Menahem enters into power by killing people in a city called Tiphsah. Apparently they did not welcome him, and his temper got the best of him. We know he was a ruthless person because he even killed the pregnant women of the city in his anger. Menahem sets up a power base in Israel's old capital of Tirzah, which probably made the people of Tirzah quite happy. Once the capital moved from their city to Samaria, they probably felt abandoned and possibly suffered economic losses. Their rallying power was enough to gain Menahem the crown to rule over all Israel from Samaria. Menahem reigns in Samaria for 10 years. Although it is not stated, I'm sure the people of Tirzah were disappointed Menahem didn't bring the capital back to them. In the same way Donald Trump has abanndoned his rallying cry for middle America, Menahem probably just used the people at Tirzah to gain power.

During Menahem's reign a king of Assyria named Pul invaded. Menahem gives Pul 1000 talents of silver, which allows him to keep his throne. Menahem taxes the people of Israel 50 shekels of silver each to give to Pul so that Pul will not attack them. This is further proof that the people were not in tune with God. God promised a self-sufficient nation, not one that had to buy their freedom.

Pul is the same as the historical Tiglath-pileser III who ruled Assyria from 745 to 727bc. It is thought that Pul or Pulu was either his personal name or a Babylonian name, as he uses this name when he takes over the throne of Babylon in about 729bc.^[1]
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Pekahiah

In Azariah's 50th year, Menahem's son Pekahiah becomes king of Israel. Pekiah only reigns for 2 years and continues in the sins of Israel's previous kings. The son of one of Pekahiah's captains conspires against him and kills him in the palace. We are given the name of the lead conspirator (Pekah), as well as 2 of his followers—Argob and Arieh. Together, they take 50 Gileadites to overwhelm the king. After his death, this rebel is crowned king.

Pekah

Pekah takes the throne during the 52nd year of Azariah.

Notice that at least 4 different kings have come and gone during Azariah's reign. When we follow God, we inherit longevity in all things. Many people abandon God for power, money, or fame, but whatever they accomplish is short lived. Think of all the celebrities that die young and athletes who file for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, there are local singers in your churches and coaches at your high school who are just as great in these roles. However these people are enjoying long happy lives because they followed God's path. That's not to say you can't be in a high position of power, because clearly Azariah was also a king. However, it is to say you must be following God's Will and God's Way to hang on to any power you receive. In our world today, it is less likely that the position of power you want and God's Will will be compatible.

Pekah reigns for 20 years and continues the trends of the other kings of the northern kingdom, leading Israel further into sin. During Pekah's reign Pul comes back, this time identified as Tiglath-pileser. He begins to carry away people as captives of Assyria. This is the beginning of the coming exile that caused the tribes of the northern kingdom to be lost "forever." This may also be the source of dissatisfaction in Israel that causes Hoshea, the son of Elah, to rise up and kill Pekah. As expected, Hoshea takes the throne of Israel in his stead.
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References

1. Donald John Wiseman. "Tiglath-pileser III: King of Assyria". Encyclopædia Britannica. December 1, 2000
2. W. Shaw Caldecott. "Uzziah (Azariah)". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online; visited February 2017