Today's portion ends Second Kings and details the end of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. After the death of Hezekiah, his son Manasseh begins his reign in Judah. Manasseh is as evil or more evil that Ahab. He even sacrifices one of his own sons (21:6) in worship of untrue gods. He slaughters innocent people. He destroys the Temple and raises shrines to every idolatrous god there is. His wickedness motivates God to prophecy the destruction of Jerusalem and Israel.
After his death, and the death of his son Amon, who reigns wickedly too, Josiah becomes king in Judah and is the last king pleasing to God. Josiah, though righteous and loved of the people and the prophets, only delays the inevitable destruction. The people have gone too far and have tried the patience of the Lord too many times. Finally, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonian attacks and utterly destroys the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. The enormity of the loss and destruction is not understated. Israel had sinned and now, they would pay for it with exile and dominion by idol worshiping kings.
All of Solomon's Temple is destroyed. All of the post, the gold, the brass, the wood, everything is gone. The people are carried off into foreign lands. The land of Israel is desolate and occupied by unbelievers. All of this because of sin and unbelief and the desire of the people to live under a king instead of the leading of God.
Second Kings completes the fourth book of history in a series of six book. The following two books are a retelling and chronicling of the kings as originally told in the books of Samuel and Kings.
May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.
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