CH 21: Mannasseh was 12 yrs old when he became king of Jerusalem, and reigned 55 yrs. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He rebuilt all the pagan shrines and idols that king Hezekiah had gotten rid of. He even built pagan altars inside the Temple of the Lord. The Lord spoke to His prophets and told them that He would allow Judah and Jerusalem to be destroyed to the extent that other nations who will hear of it, their ears would tingle from the extent of the horror of it all. King Mannasseh eventually died and his son Amon became the next king and he also did what was evil. King Amon was assassinated by his own men, but the people actually rebelled against the assassinators and instituted Amon's son Josiah as king (king Amon only reigned 2 yrs). Nahum was the prophet of this time frame (fyi).
CH 22: Josiah was only 8 yrs old when he became king and he reigned Jerusalem for 31 yrs. He actually did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight! The king collected monies and had the Temple rebuilt as well. While it was being restored, Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law (written by Moses) in the Temple!! It had been lost for years. He gave the scroll to Shaphan the court secretary, and he read it, who then told of it to the king and read it to the king.
The king was very distressed after hearing the Law and tore his clothes in despair. He then ordered that all his top officials read the scroll and speak to the Lord for him because the king understood the anger of the Lord against the people for not following the Law at all. The officials then went and spoke to the prophetess Huldah who told them "The Lord has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true..." vs16
But!! Then the prophet told them this: ...This is what the Lord says: You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and it's people- You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance and I have heard you so I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace... (paraphrased from vs 18-20)
CH 22: Josiah was only 8 yrs old when he became king and he reigned Jerusalem for 31 yrs. He actually did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight! The king collected monies and had the Temple rebuilt as well. While it was being restored, Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law (written by Moses) in the Temple!! It had been lost for years. He gave the scroll to Shaphan the court secretary, and he read it, who then told of it to the king and read it to the king.
The king was very distressed after hearing the Law and tore his clothes in despair. He then ordered that all his top officials read the scroll and speak to the Lord for him because the king understood the anger of the Lord against the people for not following the Law at all. The officials then went and spoke to the prophetess Huldah who told them "The Lord has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true..." vs16
But!! Then the prophet told them this: ...This is what the Lord says: You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and it's people- You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance and I have heard you so I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace... (paraphrased from vs 18-20)