This week, we shall continue the
study of 2 Chronicles of the Old Testament.
(1) After 25 years of godly reign by Jehoshaphat, what kind of a king would you expect his son to be? Why?
(2) Although Jehoshaphat gave his kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn, what did he do to his other sons? (v. 3) What might his intention be? (see the precedent set by Rehoboam in 11:23)
(3) What did Jehoram do to his brothers? (v. 4) Why?
(4) Jehoram was indeed an evil king and “followed the ways of…the house of Ahab”. What was the reason given by the Bible? (v. 6)
(5) Why did the Lord not destroy Jehoram and his kingdom? (v. 7)
(6) Although the Lord did not destroy him and his kingdom, how did the Lord punish him for his rebellion? (vv. 8-10)
(7) How should he have responded to this event of chastisement? Do you think he showed any sign of repentance? (v. 11)
(8) Apart from this chastisement, what did God do in His effort to bring him to repentance? (vv. 12-15)
a. To which kingdom was Elijah’s primary ministry directed? (see 1 Ki. 17:1)
b. Why did God use Elijah to write a letter to this king of Judah?
c. What sins did Elijah point out? (vv. 12-13)
d. What warning did Elijah give? (vv. 14-15)
(9) How should Jehoram respond to this warning?
(10) How did Elijah’s prophesy against his household come to pass? (vv. 16-17)
(11) How did Elijah’s prophesy against him come to pass? (vv. 18-19)
(12) As much as Jehoram followed the sins of Ahab, how did Ahab differ from him when confronted by the same prophet Elijah? (see 1 Ki. 21:27-29)
(13) How did his funeral differ from that of Asa? (16:14)
(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) From Ahaziah’s perspective, should he know why he was made the king of Judah to succeed his father? (v. 1; see 21:17)
(2) Should his mother know why her husband and all her sons, except Ahaziah were killed?
(3) What did she encourage her son to do? Why? (v. 3)
(4) What particular counsel of “the house of Ahab” did he follow? (v. 5)
(5) Do you think that at age 22, he should be responsible for the course of action he took? Why or why not?
(6) What was his intention of visiting the wounded king of Israel? (v. 6)
(7) Why does the Bible say that this particular trip “brought about Ahaziah’s downfall”? (vv. 7-9)
(8) What did Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah do after the death of her son? (v. 10)
(9) What then was her intention of encouraging her son to act wickedly? (v. 3)
(10) Who was Jehosheba? (v. 11)
(11) What might give her the courage to save Joash?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) The Chronicler gives greater details of the account of the protection of Joash than the author of the Book of Kings (see 2 Ki. 11:4-21) which involved beyond the royal guards, but the priests and Levites (vv. 1-3).
a. What do you think was the reason that the people would support Joash and not Athaliah despite her ruthlessness and power?
b. Why was Jehoiada so committed to restoring the reign to Joash? (v. 3)
(2) In the protection details (vv. 4-7), what was the one thing Jehoiada wanted to ensure? (v. 6)
(3) What did the process of crowning involve? (v. 11)
(4) What was the significance of presenting the king with a copy of the covenant (i.e. the Law of Moses)? (see Deut. 17:18-20)
(5) What propelled Athaliah to seize the throne and kill the entire royal family in the first place?
(6) Did she ever look upon the kingdom of Judah as God’s? Why or why not?
(7) Now she cried “Treason”, was she not aware that she committed treason (and worse) in the first place?
(8) What lesson can we learn from her deeds and her end?
(9) In reestablishing a throne after David, why did Jehoiada make a covenant?
a. Was it first between the Lord and the king and people?
b. Then was it between the king and the people. (see 2 Ki. 11:17)
c. How important was each? (Deut. 17:18-20）
(10) What was the immediate result of the making of these covenants? (v. 17)
(11) How important was such an action?
(12) Joash was only seven years old when he became king (24:1). What then would be the most important thing for him to do to succeed as a godly king?
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) The Bible says, “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest” (v. 2).
a. How did Jehoiada seek to help the king in his relationship with the Lord? (see 2 Ki. 12:2 in particular)
b. Why did Jehoiada choose to take two wives for Joash? (v. 3; Deut. 17:17)
(2) Joash’s zeal for the temple of the Lord (vv. 4-14)
a. What happened to the temple of the Lord before the reign of Joash? (v. 7)
b. What did Joash tell the priests and Levites to do in order to restore the temple of the Lord? (v. 5)
c. Why did the Levites not act at once? (see the reason explained in 2 Ki. 12:7-9)
d. What new instruction did he give them in v. 8?
e. How did the people respond to the king’s proclamation? (vv. 9-10)
f. Apart from simply giving the priest a mandate, Joash wisely implemented something very practical, transparent and with check and balance to ensure that the priests would follow through with his instruction (vv. 11-12):
- How should the money be collected?
- Where would this chest be placed?
- Who would count the money? Why did it involve two people? (see 2 Ki. 12:10)
- Who would replace the priests to supervise the repair work of the temple and handle the payment to the tradesmen? (see 2 Ki. 12:11-12)
- Would such a decree by Joash threaten the livelihood of the priests? Why or why not? (v. 14 and 2 Ki. 12:16)
(3) What are the principles that can still be used when it comes to the handling of money in the church or Christian ministry?
(4) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
24:15-16—The death of Jehoiada
(1) Spend a moment reviewing the life of Jehoiada: How would you remember his life?
24:17-27—The Latter Years of Joash
(2) If you have not read the latter part of the life of Joash, what would you expect of him after the death of Jehoiada? Why?
(3) Why did these officials of Judah choose to come to Joash and pay homage to him after the death of Jehoiada? (v. 17)
(4) Why did the king listen to them and make a 180 degree turn in his relationship with the Lord? (vv. 18-19)
(5) What kind of political pressure might he face with the visit of these officials?
(6) The faithful priest (vv. 20-22)
a. Who was Zechariah?
b. To whom was his message directed?
c. Who was responsible for his death?
d. How could a seemingly godly king who once had great zeal for the Lord’s temple turn into a murderer of God’s servant? What was the only explanation you can have?
(7) How did the invasion by the army of Aram clearly serve as God’s punishment for the sins of Judah and its king? (v. 24)
(8) How did Joash die and how was he buried?
(9) Was it a fitting end to the life of Joash?
(10) If you were to write an epitaph for Joash, what would you say about him?
(11) What is the main message to you today, and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Can you recall the latter part of the life of Joash and how eventually he died? (2 Ki. 12:19-21; 2 Chr. 24:15-27)
(2) What kind of a successor do you expect him to have?
(3) As much as Amaziah did not follow the Lord whole-heartedly, what might have accounted for his difference from his father Joash, who even killed Zechariah the priest who rebuked his sin? (24:20-22)
(4) Why did the Bible choose to emphasize that he did not kill the children of the assassins of his father? (Deut. 24:16)
(5) In his effort to strengthen the military power of Judah, what did Amaziah do? (vv. 5-6)
(6) Why did God use a man of God to ask him to send away the mercenaries from Israel? (vv. 7-8)
(7) What response would you have expected from Amaziah?
(8) How did Amaziah respond to the command of the Lord? (v. 9a)
(9) What was God’s reply? (v. 9b)
(10) Are you surprised that Amaziah obeyed the command of the Lord? Why or why not?
(11) The result of his obedience was two fold:
a. What happened to his battle with the men of Seir (i.e. the Edomites)? (vv. 11-12)
b. What did it mean to Amaziah?
c. What happened to the mercenaries he dismissed? (vv. 10, 13)
d. While the Bible is silent about Amaziah’s reaction to this, what impact do you think this incident would have on him and his people?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
25:14-16—The Aftermath of the Battle with Edom
(1) Do you think Amaziah’s decision to bring back the gods of the people of Seir came after or before the incident of the raid by the mercenaries in v. 13?
(2) Since the gods of the people of Seir could not protect the Edomites, why would he choose to worship them instead of the God who empowered him to victory?
(3) How did Amaziah respond to the rebuke of the prophet? (v. 16)
(4) What might have caused Amaziah to turn away from the Lord?
25:17-24—The Defeat by the King of Israel
(5) What did the victory over the Edomites lead to? (v. 19)
(6) Perhaps Jehoash had heard of the prophecy of v. 16. In any case, what was the meaning of his parable? (vv. 18-19)
(7) Why did Amaziah end up with such a complete defeat? (v. 20)
(8) Although Amaziah outlived his adversary by 15 years, what kind of death did he meet with eventually? (v. 27)
(9) What is the main lesson you have learned about Jehoshaphat and how may you apply it to your life?