2 Kings 15:1-12
A Line of Kings
Read the passage
1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah.
2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.
3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
6As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
7And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.
8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months.
9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
10Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place.
11As for the rest of the acts of Zechariah, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
12So the word of the LORD spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Azariah becomes king of Judah and reigns fifty-two years. He does what is right in the sight of the LORD, though the high places remain and the people continue sacrificing there. The LORD strikes the king with leprosy, and he lives in a separate house while his son Jotham has charge of the palace and governs the people.
The account does not explain the illness in this short summary, so we should not invent a cause. It records a long reign, a positive evaluation, an unfinished reform, and a significant limitation to the king's public life.
In Israel, Zechariah reigns only six months before Shallum conspires against him, kills him in front of the people, and takes the throne. Zechariah is the fourth generation of Jehu's sons to reign. His death brings that dynasty to an end.
The word of the LORD about Jehu's sons sitting on Israel's throne to the fourth generation is fulfilled. Fulfillment of a promise does not make the surrounding violence admirable. It shows the narrator tracing God's word through unstable human rule.
Questions
1 How long does Azariah reign?
AnswerAzariah reigns over Judah in Jerusalem for fifty-two years before his son Jotham succeeds him as king.
2 What happens to Azariah's public role?
AnswerThe LORD afflicts him with leprosy. He lives in a separate house while Jotham takes charge of the palace and governs the people.
3 How long does Zechariah reign?
AnswerZechariah reigns over Israel in Samaria for six months before Shallum kills him and takes the throne.
4 What promise to Jehu has now been fulfilled?
AnswerThe LORD promised that four generations of Jehu's sons would sit on Israel's throne. Zechariah is the fourth, and the promise has been kept.
What This Means for Us
Fifty-two years on the throne and six months on the throne make very different stories, but neither length tells us whether a king is faithful. Kings judges these men by their response to the LORD. Our families also need a better measure than how long someone has served or how much influence they have.
God's word to Jehu holds true through these troubled reigns. That does not excuse the murders or the false worship. We can trust God to keep his word while naming the wrong that people do.
Prayer
Lord, your word stands when rulers come and go. Teach us to judge leadership by faithfulness to you. Help us recognize wrong without losing confidence in your promises. Amen.