10.0  Judah: Manasseh to Zedekiah and the Exile

(For an explanation of the codes used in this document, click on Explanation of Terms.) (Last revised: 11/16/99)
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10.1 The International Situation
10.2 The Situation in Judah

10.2.1 Bad Days Under Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chron. 33:1-20)
  1. Describe how Manasseh's reign differed from that of his father Hezekiah.
10.2.2 Josiah, the Boy King (2 Kings 22:1-23:30)
10.2.2.1 Josiah's Early Years
  1. Summarize the early years of Josiah as depicted in 2 Kings 22:1-23:30.
10.2.2.2 The Prophet Zephaniah (Zeph. 1:1-3:20)
10.2.2.2.1 His life
10.2.2.2.2 The book
  1. Summarize the message of Zephaniah to the southern kingdom.
  2. Describe how Zephaniah's ministry was influenced by that of Amos.


    3. 10.2.2.2.2.1 The Lord's sweeping judgment (Zeph. 1:2-6)
    10.2.2.2.2.2 The high and mighty of Jerusalem (Zeph. 1:7-13)
    10.2.2.2.2.3 The great day of the Lord (Zeph. 1:14-18)
    10.2.2.2.2.4 Hope for the righteous (Zeph. 2:1-3)
    10.2.2.2.2.5 Devastation on the nations (Zeph. 2:4-15)
    10.2.2.2.2.6 Woe to Jerusalem (Zeph. 3:1-7)
    10.2.2.2.2.7 A better day is coming (Zeph. 3:8-13)
    10.2.2.2.2.8 Jerusalem shall be restored (Zeph. 3:14-20)

10.2.2.3 Changes under Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-23:27)
  1. Describe the reform that took place in Josiah's time.


    2. 10.2.2.3.1 Finding the scroll (2 Kings 22:3-20)
    10.2.2.3.2 Covenant renewal and religious reform (2 Kings 23:1-27)
     

    1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of centralized worship in Jerusalem.
10.2.2.4 Meanwhile, in the Rest of the World
  1. Describe the international situation in the closing years of Josiah's reign.
10.2.2.5 The Death of Josiah (2 Kings 23:28-30; 2 Chron. 35:2-27)
10.3 Two Prophets and King Jehoiakim
10.3.1 Nahum: Prophet of the Lord's Vengeance on Nineveh
  1. Summarize the message of Nahum against the city of Nineveh.


    2. 10.3.1.1 The Lord is a Jealous God (Nah. 1:1-11)
    10.3.1.2 You are Doomed, Nineveh (Nah. 1:12-3:19)

10.3.2 The Reigns of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin (2 Kings 23:31-24:17)
  1. Explain how the policies of Jehoiakim differed from those of his father Josiah.
10.3.3 Habakkuk: The Philosopher Prophet
  1. Explain why Habakkuk is called the philosopher prophet.


    2. 10.3.3.1 The Man
    10.3.3.2 The Book

    10.3.3.2.1 Habakkuk's questions (Hab. 1:1-2:5)
     
    1. Describe the nature and extent of the questions Habakkuk asked God.


    10.3.3.2.2 "Woe to him" (Hab. 2:6-20)
    10.3.3.2.3 Habakkuk's prayer (Hab. 3:1-19)

10.4 Jeremiah, Zedikiah, and the Last Days of Judah
10.4.1 Jeremiah's Early Life and Call (Jer. 1:1-19)
10.4.1.1 The Call (Jer. 1:1-19)
  1. Describe the various views regarding the time and setting of Jeremiah's call.
  2. Summarize the details of Jeremiah's call from Jer. 1:1-19.
  3. Explain the meaning of the two visions in connection to Jeremiah's call.
10.4.1.2 His Early Ministry
10.4.1.3 The Book
  1. Describe the connection of chapter 36 to chapters 1-25 in Jeremiah.
  2. Describe the confusing aspects about the arrangements of the materials in the book of Jeremiah.
10.4.2 Jeremiah and Jehoiakim
10.4.2.1 The Temple Sermon (Jer. 7:1-15; 26:1-24)
  1. Summarize the circumstances and the content of the Temple Sermon of Jeremiah.
10.4.2.2 Jeremiah's Conflict with Jehoiakim
  1. Describe Jeremiah's conflict with Jehoiakim.
10.4.3 Jeremiah and Jehoiachin
10.4.4 Jeremiah and Zedekiah
  1. Summarize Jeremiah's relationship with Zedekiah.


    2. 10.4.4.1 The Vision of the Figs (597) (Jer. 24:1-10)
    10.4.4.2 True and False Prophets: The Sign of the Yoke (Jer. 27:1-28:17)
     

    1. Summarize Jeremiah's accusations against the false prophets in Jerusalem.


    10.4.4.3 The Letter to the Exiles (Jer. 29:1-32)
     

    1. Summarize the contents of Jeremiah's letter to the exiles from Jer. 29:1-32.


    10.4.4.4 The Babylonian Invasion (Jer. 34:1-7)
    10.4.4.5 False Dealings with the Slaves (Jer. 34:8-22)
    10.4.4.6 Jeremiah in Prison (Jer. 37:6-21)
    10.4.4.7 Purchasing the Field at Anathoth (Jer. 32:1-44)
     

    1. Describe the symbolism of Jeremiah's purchase of the piece of property at Anathoth.


    10.4.4.8 Zedekiah's Last Warning (Jer. 38:1-28)
    10.4.4.9 An Then There Were None: Jerusalem Falls (Jer. 39:1-10; 52:1-34; 2 Kings 25:1-21)
     

    1. Describe how the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians.


    10.4.4.10 The Fate of Jeremiah (Jer. 39:11-40:6)
    10.4.4.11 After the Fall (Jer. 40:7--44:30)
     

    1. Explain what happened to Jeremiah when the city of Jerusalem fell.
    2. Explain the relationship of Baruch to Jeremiah over the duration of Jeremiah's ministry.
10.4.5 The Oracles of Jeremiah
10.4.5.1 Early and Mixed Oracles
10.4.5.1.1 Early oracles (Jer. 2:1-6:30)
10.4.5.1.2 Mixed oracles (Jer. 8:4-10:25)
10.4.5.1.3 Common Themes
10.4.5.1.3.1 Israel, the unfaithful wife
10.4.5.1.3.2 The worship of idols
10.4.5.1.3.3 The foe from the north
  1. Discuss the various understanding of the meaning of the "foe from the north."
10.4.5.2 The Confessions and Other Oracles (Jer. 11:-1-20:18)
10.4.5.2.1 The prophet's frustrations: The denial of family life
  1. Explain how Jeremiah's family life differed from that of Hosea.
10.4.5.2.2 The prophet's frustrations: The confessions
  1. Summarize the content and thrust of Jeremiah's confessions.


    2. 10.4.5.2.2.1 The first confession: Save me from those who would kill me, O Lord! (Jer. 11:18-12:6)
    10.4.5.2.2.2 The second confession: Why do you treat me this way, Lord? (Jer. 15:10-21)
    10.4.5.2.2.3 The third confession: Heal me, O Lord (Jer. 17:14-18)
    10.4.5.2.2.4 The fourth confession: Let them have it, Lord! (Jer. 18:18-23)
    10.4.5.2.2.5 The fifth confession: You have made a fool of me, Lord (Jer. 20:1-13)
    10.4.5.2.2.6 The sixth confession: Why was I ever born, Lord? (Jer. 20:14-18)
    10.4.5.2.2.7 The significance of the confessions

10.4.5.2.3 The prophet as optimist: The parable of the potter (Jer. 18:1-17)
10.4.5.2.4 The prophet as optimist: The oracles of consolation (Jer. 30:1-32:40)
10.4.5.3 Oracles against Foreign Nations (Jer. 46:1-51:64)
10.4.5.3.1 Against Egypt (Jer. 46:2-28)
10.4.5.3.2 Against Philistia (Jer. 47:1-7)
10.4.5.3.3 Against Moab (Jer. 48:1-47)
10.4.5.3.4 Agains Babylon (Jer. 50:1-52:64)
10.4.6 The Importance of Jeremiah 52
  1. Explain why chapter 52 is important for the dating of the book of Jeremiah.
10.4.7 Evaluation of Jeremiah
  1. Describe your impressions of Jeremiah as a prophet of God.