Israel’s persistence in disobedience: Yahweh’s judgment against the kings of Israel is repetitive because their sin is repetitive: “He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them” (2 Kings 13:2; see also 13:11; 14:24; 15:9, 18, 24, 28). Despite the clear indications that this false religion through the two golden calves in Dan and Bethel was invented by the mind of Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:26-33), despite the clear judgment by Yahweh against Jeroboam for his idolatry (1 Kings 13:1-10; 14:1-14; 15:29-30), despite Yahweh’s clear judgment against other Israelite kings for continuing these practices (1 Kings 16:1-4, 12-13, 19) and despite His clear judgment against all Israel for participating in the same (1 Kings 14:15-16), the kings of Israel obstinately practice the institutionalized sins of their predecessor. Like uncontrollable weeds, rooted sin persists in protecting its turf and in spreading further. Like uncontrollable weeds, this sin will not be eradicated without decisive action.
Judah’s persistence in disobedience: Although the people don’t submit to the established religion of the two calves, they nevertheless devote themselves to idolatry: “The high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places” (2 Kings 14:4; see also 15:4, 35). Their sin accelerates during Ahaz’s reign. He makes changes in the temple to incorporate the latest pagan fashions (2 Kings 16:10-18). Even worse than this: “He walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel” (2 Kings 16:3). The sacrifice of a son to a pagan god in itself is an abomination, but it is especially offensive when it is a possible candidate to reign on the throne of David through Yahweh’s covenant. It is difficult to conceive of an act of rebellion against Yahweh more worthy of condemnation.
Yahweh’s patience and grace in the midst of Israel’s sin: “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. Then
Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw
the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them”(2 Kings 13:3-4). “He [Jeroboam II] restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the sea of Arabah… for the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 14:25-27).
The approach of a new threat: The Assyrians appear for the first time. They are a new empire centered in the north of Mesopotamia near the Tigris River and based on military conquest through extreme violence and intimidation and an insatiable desire to make all peoples submit to them. They practice forced resettlement and exile of entire ethnic groups to ensure submission. Their conquests have grown progressively closer to Israel during this period, and they appear in the Bible for the first time in 2 Kings 15:19 when Menahem pays them to confirm his reign on the throne of Israel. A very dangerous relationship has begun. Already by 2 Kings 15:29 the Assyrians have taken the northern part of Israel and for the first time sent a part of Yahweh’s people into exile. Then in 2 Kings 16:7-9, King Ahaz of Judah repeats the error by putting his trust in the Assyrians for his security. They defeat the longtime enemies of Yahweh’s people, Syria. But what has happened to placing trust and finding security in Yahweh?