Our reading today begins with the reign of Jehoahaz in Israel (13:1). His father, Jehu, destroyed the line of the unbelieving Ahab, and ended Baal worship in the Northern Kingdom. Because of this, God promised that his sons would reign to the fourth generation (10:30). Jehoahaz is the first generation. However, Jehoahaz, and all of Israel, were still disobedient, and God used the nation of Syria to punish them (v. 3). Notice that verses 3-6 are a microcosm of the time of the Judges. Sin, punishment, repentance, restoration, repeat. The big picture is this: Israel failed under the judges, so they wanted a king (remember the whole Saul thing?). Now, the monarchy has failed in Israel. They are no better off than they were under the Judges. We will see that God will now intervene by sending His prophets to call Israel to repentance. That won’t work, either…

We see this utter failure of the monarchy in Israel with the cycle of kings in the next few chapters. There is nothing special about them, they are all the same. Jehoahaz dies, and Jehoash (second generation) reigns (vv. 9-10). He is evil, too (v. 11). So he dies and Jeroboam II (third generation) reigns (v. 13). He was evil (14:24), and died (14:28), and Zechariah (fourth generation) reigns (14:29). He was evil (15:9), and was killed (15:10). God kept His promise to Jehu of his house reigning to the fourth generation (15:12). But now a new dynasty takes the throne in Shallum (15:13), who is evil (15:10, 15) and also killed (15:14), and whose murderer, Menahem, establishes a new dynasty (15:17). He is also evil (15:16, 18), and dies (15:22), and his son Pekahiah reigns in his place (v. 23). And (surprise, surprise) he is evil (15:24). And (surprise, surprise) he is killed the throne usurped (15:25). His murderer, Pekah, reigns (15:27), and he is evil (v. 28). The cycle would be absurd in a work of fiction…

But there is more going on in this narrative against the backdrop of continual wickedness in Israel. Let’s back up. During Jehoash’s reign, note that the enmity between the Northern and Southern kingdoms is back (13:12). Also, the prophet Elisha dies during his reign (13:20). Jehoash (alternate spelling: Joash) comes to Elisha while he is on his deathbed (v. 14). Note his honoring Elisha by attributing to him what Elisha attributed to Elijah. Even near death, Elisha is still the prophet of Israel, and he predicts victory against their Syrian persecutors (v. 17) even though the picture of Jehoash’s weakness means it will be a temporary victory (vv. 18-19). We see that even in death, the body of Elisha has miraculous power (v. 21). In verses 22-25, we see that Judges-esque cycle. God delivers Israel (according to Elisha’s final prophecy) and restored land to them. It won’t last long.

Chapter 14 begins with the reign of Amaziah in Judah (14:1). He was righteous like his father Joash (v. 3). A contrast is being drawn between Judah and Israel. We see that Amaziah enlarged the borders of Judah (v. 7). Note the similarity to David in his defeat of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt (see 2 Sam 8:13). But his ambition leads to his downfall. He declares war on Israel (v. 8) which was forbidden by God (1 Kings 12:24). And he, and Judah, suffer for his folly (vv. 12-14). So they depose him (v. 19) and put his son Azariah on his throne (v. 21).

During the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel, we see the cycle of the Judges repeat again (vv. 25-27). Note also that a new prophet is mentioned: Jonah the son of Amittai. God has begun sending the prophets to call Israel to repentance and pronounce judgment. Not unrelated is the start and end of the hostilities between Assyria and Israel (15:19-20, 29). We will see that the prophet Jonah is sent to Assyria to preach repentance, and that Assyria reacts properly (for a time), whereas Israel does not. It is a conviction of Israel. God treats both nations the same, and Israel is the nation that doesn’t repent.

Chapter 15 begins with the reign of Azariah in Judah (15:1). He was another good(ish) king (vv. 3-4). He was personally righteous, yet did not lead his people in the same righteousness. In verse 5, we see that God is beginning to judge Judah for their continued sin of worship in the high places. Meanwhile, in Israel, Assyria was assuaged for a time (v. 20), but God uses them as the final judgment against Israel. They capture much of Israel’s land (v. 29) and sent many of the Israelites into captivity (the ultimate curse for sin – see Deut 28:36-57). God will bring this to completion in 17:6. But not before He graciously offers one last chance for repentance, which we will see He does through the prophets Amos and Hosea.