Through Ezra 5 (page 630)

2 Chronicles 22
:7 - Jehu's anointing was to cut off the house of Ahab.  Can you imagine having that calling?


2 Chronicles 23
This chapter conveys the happenings of a priest as previous chapters told of the kings'.  Jehoiada brings watchmen over the doors and puts the people into ready-for-battle mode.


2 Chronicles 24
:2 - Joash's kingship is defined by the days of a priest
Joash wants to make it a tradition to collect money for upkeep of the LORD's house.


2 Chronicles 25
:1 - mother - Jehoaddan of Jerusalem
:18 - thistle story


2 Chronicles 26
Uzziah rules Judah
:5 - as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper - blessing is conditional
:18 - Uzziah gets in trouble with leprosy for trying to perform a priests' duty


2 Chronicles 27
Jotham rules Judah
:6 - Jotham became mighty, because he prepared (establish, stable, secure, enduring, determined, steadfast, ready, arranged, settled, furnish, order) his ways before the LORD his God http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3559&t=KJV


2 Chronicles 28
Ahaz rules Judah
:3 - he burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen ~ How could anyone become that deceived???
:9 - there is a rage that reaches to heaven
:25 - Ahaz actually created high places for false gods.  


2 Chronicles 29
Hezekiah rules Judah and brings reform.  Thank God he was different from his daddy!
And the sons...and the son...and the sons
:16 - There was uncleanness on the inside of the temple
:30 - David wasn't the only one with song-words.  Asaph the seer did also.
:34 - I wondered if this ever happened.  It was too much work for the priests to deal with all those offerings, so they had to bring in the Levites.
:35 - the service of the house of the LORD was set in order ~ needs to happen again today...spiritually


2 Chronicles 30
Hezekiah Celebrates Passover
:6 - Israel & Judah does a mailout announcing Passover
:21 - LOUD instruments for praising God.  Yea!  It's in the Bible!


2 Chronicles 31
Hezekiah provides for the priests and Levites
:4 - Give to be encouraged in the the law of the LORD
:5 - firstfruits of corn, wine, oil, and honey, increase of field, and tithe of all things


2 Chronicles 32
Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem
:6 - spake comfortably

Sennacherib = "Sin multiplied brothers" (Sin = the moon)

1) son of Sargon, father of Esarhaddon, and king of Assyria from 705- 681 BC; attacked Judah during the reign of king Hezekiah and Judah was delivered when in response to the prayer of Hezekiah an angel smote 185,000 Assyrian soldiers

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5576&t=KJV

:21 - interesting verse

:27 - Hezekiah was very rich

2 Chronicles 33
Manasseh rules Judah...wrongfully, but then repents.  
Fish gate.
Affliction brings repentance.
Amon, Manasseh's son begins to reign, but then Josiah takes over after the people make him king.


2 Chronicles 34
Josiah reigns Judah and brings reform...purges the land.
Hilkiah the high priest.
:21 - Josiah sends the priests to go inquire of the LORD for him.


2 Chronicles 35
Josiah keeps Passover
:22 - Josiah dies because he fought in someone else's battle...and the king of Egypt had the word of God!!!  King Necho.
:25 - Hello Jeremiah!  He is introduced lamenting for Josiah.


2 Chronicles 36
Jehoahaz rules Judah, then Jehoiakim, then Jehoiachin, then Zedekiah
King of Egypt changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim and made him king of Judah.  Then that King Necho took his brother (former king Jehoahaz) to Egypt.
King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) took Jehoiakim and the vessels of God's house to Babylon.
Jehoiakin, son of Jehoiakim, is taken away also by the same king that took his daddy away (King of Babylon), who then made Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
:12 - Zedekiah gets a bad rep for not being humble before Jeremiah the prophet.
:15 - God tries to warn the people against their pollution of God's house, but they won't listen to His messengers...so that the Bible said there was no remedy. (:16)
King of Chaldees was set loose on the people of God and their stuff.  Those Chaldees broke the wall of Jerusalem and burnt the temple.
:20 - reign of the kingdom of Persia ~ So different kingdoms had rule over all the other kingdoms of the world during this time.
:21 - :23 - God stirs up the heart of Cyrus, King of Persia, after 70 years to release Judah from exile in fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy.

***According to the preface of Ezra in my Bible, part of Ezra was written in Aramaic, Babylon's language.  I always used to think the whole Old Testament was written in Hebrew.  Wow!  This really shows how long they really were in Exile...even writing their history books in the language of their captors.  

I am really enjoying how this is putting Biblical events all together for me chronologically.  Listening to Bible stories and sermons throughout the years has given me a puzzle in a box.  I knew I had all the pieces, but I'm finally seeing them all come together!  What a beautiful picture!  (It might not be so beautiful if I didn't know it all has a happy ending!)***

Ezra 1
The LORD charged the king of Persia (not even the of His chosen people) to build God a house in Jerusalem.  Just goes to show God can speak to the head honcho-saved, holy, chosen or not- to bless His people!
Babylon even gave back the vessels of God they had stolen way back when!!!
Sheshbazzar was prince of Judah, even when Judah had no king.  And he got to be the accountant for all the stuff given to Judah to take back and build God's house!


Ezra 2

the children...the children of....and the children...

:62 - the children of the priests who married and took their wives names were put out from the priesthood because their names were not found in the register.

:70 - Nethinims = temple slaves assigned to the Levites and priests for service in the sanctuary http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5411&t=KJV


Ezra 3
Worship restoration and temple rebuilding
:13 - So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

~I think this is my favorite Scripture of all.  I am always moved to tears when I hear or read it.  Just the thought of the young ones rejoicing and the older ones remembering the old temple and crying and shouting...that they were so loud in their expression & rejoicing...I really believe that today God longs to see this kind of excitement among His people again.~

Ezra 4
Opposed by enemies...all the other kingdoms actually came together to write a letter to the new king of Babylon saying he would lose money by letting them rebuild the city.  Unfortunately, King Artaxerxes listened and ordered the rebuilding to cease.


Ezra 5
:1 - Hello prophets Haggai and Zechariah!
Finally God's children get a backbone and remind the king of the old decree of Cyrus that gave them permission to rebuild this temple.

Through 2 Chronicles 21 (page 600)

1 Chronicles 26
Geneology records for the porters (gatekeepers/doorkeepers)
:13 - They cast lots to pick the gates they would each be assigned to.  How interesting that sometimes decisions require fasting, praying, and waiting on God, and some decisions you just cast lots for (ie- coin toss or throwing dice).

1 Chronicles 27
Captains for each month named
Rulers of all the tribes named
Task leaders named


1 Chronicles 28
David calls an assembly of the princes and captains
:9 - Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. ~What a precious and wonderful advice from father to son
:11 - David gave Solomon the pattern of the porch, houses, treasuries, upper chambers, inner parlours, mercy seat, (:12) and the pattern of all that he had by the spirit
:19 - All [this, said David], the LORD made me understand in writing by [his] hand upon me, [even] all the works of this pattern.
Now I know how Solomon knew how to build God's house!


1 Chronicles 29
:3 - I have set my affection to the house of my God ~Shouldn't we all?
*Willing and upright heart offerings are reapeated often throughout this chapter
:21 - A thousand sacrificed rams offered up would be a full time job to prepare!


2 Chronicles 1
:3 - High place at Gibeon was location of the tabernacle of congregation from Moses
:7 - God tells Solomon to "Ask what I shall give thee"
:9 - "Dust of the Earth" sounds like more than "sands of the sea"


2 Chronicles 2
Solomon begins process of building God's house
:6 - heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him [God] - because He is a mighty big God!  That's why he has to live in us!


2 Chronicles 3
:4 - Gold plated porch!
:17 - the right handed pillar was named Jachin and the left handed pillar was named Boaz


2 Chronicles 4
:1 - Brass altar
:6 - the priests had to wash in the molten sea held up by 12 oxen statues
:16 - fleshhook = 3 pronged fork, sacrificial implement - from a root word meaning to draw up http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H4207
:22 - gold doors


2 Chronicles 5
:6 - Interesting that they assembled before the ark with too many sacrificial animals to count.  I am reminded of the assembly of animals by Noah's ark.
:7 - oracle = holy of holies http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1687&t=KJV
:14 - So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. ~wow!


2 Chronicles 6
:1 - Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. This is so powerful to me...that God would surround himself with darkness, being the Light.
:17 - Asking God to verify His word.
:24-25 - And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers. ~This reminds me of the passage we quote often from 2 Chronicles 7:14
*It is good to pray specifically and with details.  He always says hear from the heavens


2 Chronicles 7
:12 - God verifies to Solomon that he chose the place for a house of sacrifice


2 Chronicles 8
:14 - And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded. ~Rituals begin.


2 Chronicles 9
Queen of Sheba's [southern Arabia] visit is recounted
:29 - Where are these books?  Book of Nathan the Prophet, Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, Visions of Iddo the Seer


2 Chronicles 10
:4 - servitude
Ask for a lighter yoke.  Less servitude.  And you might just get more.


2 Chronicles 11
Civil war between Judah, Benjamin, and Israel
:21 - 28 sons and 60 daughters.  Lots of work!


2 Chronicles 12
:13 - mother of Rehoboam - Naamah an Ammonitess
:14 - More books mentioned not in Scripture:  Book of Shemaiah, Iddo the seer


2 Chronicles 13
:2 - Michaiah - daughter of Uriel of Gibeah is Jeroboam's (king of Judah) mother
:5 - covenant of salt
Abijah vs. Jeroboam - Abijah (king of Judah) and Judah win because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers (:18)
:21 - 14 wives, 22 sons, 16 daughters...thank God for the year and generation of 2010!!!


2 Chronicles 14
No wonder the land was quiet!  King Asa took down the high places...unlike so many other kings of Judah and Israel.


2 Chronicles 15
:7 - Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. ~My new ministry mantra
:15- Judah swears  with  all her heart to seek God with their whole desire


2 Chronicles 16
Oops...Asa requests the king of Syria to break their loyalty to Israel and fight for Judah, so God gets upset.
:7- Hanani the seer.  We don't hear much teaching on seers.


2 Chronicles 17
:2- Jehoshaphat puts back up the protection (garrisons) in the land that his father had taken away.
:6 - Somewhere between when Jehoshaphat's father, Asa took down the high places, and J. beginning to reign, they came back again because here we see him taking them back down.
:9 - Priests teach the people
:13 - having much business is in the Bible!
Men of war and mighty men of valour (300,000) captains are listed


2 Chronicles 18
:3 - 3 part friendship covenant:  I am as thou art, My people thy people, together in war
:7 - King of Israel has to admit to King of Judah that he hates the prophet of the LORD because he never  prophesies good to him. (Micaiah = who is like God) This cracks me up!!!


Shall there be reunion of Israel and Judah?


Hilarious!  So they send for this Micaiah prophet, and when he tries to say what the king wants to hear, the king knows it and makes him tell him the truth...which of course is bad as usual.
:16 - Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return [therefore] every man to his house in peace.
:20 - Suddenly we become a fly on the wall in  God's house where a spirit comes out and stands before the LORD and offers to entice Ahab by becoming a lying spirit in the mouth of all the prophets...and the Lord tells him to go and that he will have success. Hard to think of this  for too long without "losing your salvation," so to speak.  How can God send a lying spirit to intentionally deceive a king?  The same way He does everything. Supernaturally.
:23 - a prophet slaps another prophet in the face asking why God's spirit left him and went to the other guy to prophecy.  Wow!  Who knew? What a reality show that would have made.
Sometimes, you can be the minority in the office of prophets having the true Word of God...and all the  others could have a lying spirit sent also from God.


2 Chronicles 19
Jehoshaphat sends judges to every city, commissioning them that they are judging not  for man, but for God, who is with them in  judgment (:6)
:7 - for [there is] no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. ~ commonly heard expression 


2 Chronicles 20
:3- king proclaims a fast throughout the whole kingdom! Can that still be accomplished today?
:15 - Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's. ~ I am gaining such an appreciation for the story behind all these wonderful scriptures people quote frequently in messages and songs.  God speaks this to Judah only after they swear wholeheartedly to serve God and come into a community fast.
:16 - cliff of Ziz
:17 - stand ye [still], and see the salvation of the LORD with you
:19 - They stood up to shout to praise God!  Yes!
:20 - Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. ~this chapter is full of these great quotes!
:21 - Appointed singers/praisers were sent before the army, and then God sent ambushments against Judah's enemies so that by the time they saw something in their watchtower, all their enemies were dead bodies on the  ground!  Were these actual people armies from some other land?  Or warring angels?  Both???  Oooo I am taking a praise break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:31 - mother Azubah, daughter of Shilhi


2 Chronicles 21
I am so disappointed that Jehoshaphat's kids broke the great legacy of their Dad.
:15, :19 - having your bowels fall out as judgment from God

~~It is so hard breezing through the Bible like a book!  I want to savor it like a wonderful steak...but that would take more than one year to complete!~~

Through 1 Chronicles 25 (page 570)

1 Chronicles 4
Sons of Judah record
Begat, begat, begat....Pharez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, Shobal, Jahath, Ahumai, Lahad...and so and so had 2 wives...this is the way I thought the book of Numbers was going to be.
:10 - the famous "Jabez Prayer" - And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep [me] from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.


1 Chronicles 5
Sons of Reuben record
:1 - Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he [was] the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
* If he knew that for all eternity his family tree would be labeled with this sin, I wonder how good that bowl of meat would really taste.


1 Chronicles 6
Sons of Levi record
:31 - people whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord 
:48 - Levites appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God
:49 - Aaron and sons gave the offerings and were appointed for all the work of the most holy place and to make atonement for Israel
:54 - castles in the Bible!


1 Chronicles 7
Sons of Issachar record
Sons of Benjamin record
Ephraim's record is presented as a story (:22)


1 Chronicles 8
Back to Benjamin's record
:9 - Jobab (pronounced Jo-Bob)
:40 - mighty men of valour


1 Chronicles 9
:1 - First Egypt, then Babylon becomes the punishing place
son of...son of....son of...
:21 - Zechariah = gatekeeper of the tabernacle
:24 - Gatekeepers were at every direction, N, S, E, W
:33 - the singers were free
begat...begat...begat...


1 Chronicles 10
Death of Saul
:13-14 - Consulting familiar spirits (the dead, spirit of a dead one) http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H178&t=KJV instead of God caused the Lord to kill him and turn the kingdom over to his son

1 Chronicles 11
:7 - The city of David was named so because David lived in the castle there
:23 - a cubit is a forearm length, about 1.5 feet...so 5 cubits would be (5 x 1.5ft=) 7.5 feet tall!
 http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H520&t=KJV  That is one giant Egyptian!!!


1 Chronicles 12 
:2 - ambidextrous fighters
:32 - How nice to be recorded as men that had understanding of the times to know what [they] ought to do


1 Chronicles 13
:3 - David wants to get the ark of God back
:11 - I understand David's frustration.  He knows God's law, and yet he hears Uzza's heart.  He just wanted to keep the ark from falling to the ground.  It was as if it was just a protective instinct. And then he was killed for it.  This is what happens when you see both perspectives on a matter (when there's just 2).  And it is a good story to remember when life seems unfair for whatever reason.  
:13 - I can also understand why David didn't want the ark of God in his city after this.  Great risk and great responsibility.  But Obededom got that blessing!


1 Chronicles 14
Recap of David's reigning experiences.


1 Chronicles 15
:13 - we sought him not after the due order - What is God's due order for today?
A greater amount of description here of what happened before David danced.


1 Chronicles 16

:3 - Everyone got blessed with a loaf of bread, a good piece of meat, and a bottle of wine after the ark made it to the city of David where he had prepared a place.

:7 - David writes a psalm
:22 - Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
:29 - Give unto the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.  Here giving an offering is part of worship.
:33 - Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.  Happy trees!


1 Chronicles 17
Recap of David's desire to build God a house.
:5 - God declares contentment in moving from tent to tent.  


1 Chronicles 18
:8 - brasen sea =Sea, the Molten:

the great laver made by Solomon for the use of the priests in the temple, described in 1Ki 7:23-26; 2Ch 4:2-5. It stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court. It was 5 cubits high, 10 in diameter from brim to brim, and 30 in circumference. It was placed on the backs of twelve oxen, standing with their faces outward. It was capable of containing two or three thousand baths of water (2Ch 4:5), which was originally supplied by the Gibeonites, but was afterwards brought by a conduit from the pools of Bethlehem. It was made of "brass" (copper), which Solomon had taken from the captured cities of Hadarezer, the king of Zobah (1Ch 18:8). Ahaz afterwards removed this laver from the oxen, and placed it on a stone pavement (2Ki 16:17). It was destroyed by the Chaldeans (25:13).  http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?type=GetTopic&Topic=Sea,+the+Molten&DictList=2#Easton's

1 Chronicles 19
David vs. Ammon and his kids


1 Chronicles 20
David stays home from battle during the time kings normally went out to fight.  And the giants of Gath killed his nephew, Jonathan.


1 Chronicles 21
:1 - Satan stood up and provoked David to number Israel
:8 - David repents already.  This shows Satan suggesting an act that had previously been ordered by God, but was not a current order of God.  I always wondered before why it was such a bad thing for David to do, since it had been done so many times before.  All I needed was verse 1 to know why.  Amazing how much it helps to just read the Bible.  Just read it like a book. Cover to cover.  In order.  Together.
:12 - Choice of punishment:  1) 3 years famine, 2) 3 months being destroyed by enemies or 3) 3 days sword of the LORD, pestilence, and angel of the LORD destroying throughout Israel
:13 - He chooses option 3...rather to be in the LORD's hand than man's.
:15 - Another angel standing by a threshingfloor - this time by Ornan, the Jebusite

Threshingfloor picture reference

:24 - David refused to take something that was offered to him for free...but to pay full price.  Imagine that.  These days everyone is looking for the deal!
:27 - Angel had to be commanded to put the sword back into the sheath


1 Chronicles 22
:5 - David actually started collecting materials to build God's house before he died to help his son Solomon do the job
:8 - God would not let David build God's house because of all the blood he shed on the earth
:9 - God prophesied that Solomon would be a man of rest


1 Chronicles 23
:5 - The same number of people were doormen as were musicians - 4000
:29 - They had fried things


1 Chronicles 24
Sons of Aaron records
Sons of Levi records


1 Chronicles 25
Service of Asaph's sons - records
:1 - prophesy with [musical instruments] is mentioned 
...he and his sons and his brethren were twelve... [Repeat 23 times]

Through 1 Chronicles 3 (p. 540 in my Bible)

Bonus:  Names of God! (Some of them)

• El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
• El Elyon (The Most High God)
• Adonai (Lord, Master)
• Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
• Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
• Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
• Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
• Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
• Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
• Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
• El Olam (The Everlasting God)
• Elohim (God)
• Qanna (Jealous)
• Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
• Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm#link1


2 Kings 10
:1 - Ahab has 70 sons!
:7 - heads in baskets sent to Jezreel
:27 - Baal's house became the outhouse, thanks to Jehu!
:32 - Hazael was used to cut Israel short


2 Kings 11
:2 - Joash was hid as a baby from the slaying of the royal offspring - reminds me of Moses
:7 - Assignments for keeping watch - including over the Lord's house
:16 - and they laid hands on her Not in a good way.
Jehoiada is the priest that commandment watch to be kept over the anointing of Joash as king.  Sometimes it is hard to distinguish all these Hebrew names.
:20 - Athaliah was almost doomed from the beginning just because Jezebel was her mama


2 Kings 12
:7 - Good for King Jehoash.  He stood strong to make the priests fix the leaks in God's house!
:9 - No doubt a system some places still use to collect money.  A chest on the right side as you enter with a hole on top to put in money.
:13 - Money was taken away from decorating God's house with precious gold and silver to pay the workmen fixing the house.
:16 - trespass & sin money = similar to penance.  Some piano teachers use this principle with their students.  Every time they miss a note, they have to put a penny in the jar!
:19 - King Jehoash, King over Israel; King Joash, King over Judah.  Parallel accounts of their kingships.


2 Kings 13
:9, 13 - When kings' death are recorded, it is said that they "slept with their fathers."  This is not said of the prophets' deaths.
:19 - Elisha was still prophecying for God on his deathbed
:21 - Elisha's bones in the grave raised someone from the dead


2 Kings 14
:2 - Ahaz became king when he was only 20 years old, which seems even younger considering how much longer they lived back then.  Also, mother's name is mentioned:  Jehoaddan
:13 - Jehoash, Israel's king, took gold, silver, and vessels out of the house of the LORD from Amaziah, king of Judah
:21 - Azariah became king at 16 when his dad, Amaziah, was murdered.  16!!
:27 - God saved Israel from his own wrath by the hand of Jeroboam, Joash's son


2 Kings 15
:1 - Another 16 yr old king!  And his mom's name is mentioned - Jecholiah
:5 - This king Azariah became a leper by the smiting of God.  God did it to him.  Perhaps in retribution for his father's murder and the way he became king?  It is clear that God has always enforced His own order.
:8 - Zachariah only got to be king for 6 months before he got assasinated


2 Kings 16
:3 - made his son to pass through the fire - clearly a heathen abomination to subject your own child to torture 
:8 - King Ahaz gave away treasures from God's house as a gift to another king!
:10 - King Ahaz had a replica built of an altar he saw in Damascus, a trading city of Syria http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1834&t=KJV


2 Kings 17
:9 - Secret disobedience towards God?  How can that exist?
:17 - Again, forcing children to hurt themselves by passing them through the fire is not something that pleases God
:18- Israel is first removed from God's sight, leaving only Judah, who is not far behind in being removed herself
God allows Israel to be encamped by the Assyrians (different from Syrians).  They get attacked by lions God sent because they didn't fear Him.  So Assyria's King asks for Israel to send priests to teach their people how to fear God!  Too bad the teaching didn't last.


2 Kings 18
:4 - Finally, King Hoshea removes the high places (idol worship altar places)  The children of Israel had actually named and started worshipping the snake Moses had made for them to look upon and be healed in the wilderness.  They named it Nehushtan = a thing of brass http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5180&t=KJV

picture reference

:6 - First king that it is said "clave to the LORD"
:17 - fuller's field = laundry field
:21 - King of Assyria describes Egypt & Pharoah = bruised reed that will pierce you if you lean on it 
:27 - that they may eat their own dung and drink their own piss with you - a timeless, descriptive, effective insult
:35 - Finally, obedience.


2 Kings 19
:2 - Putting on sackcloth is such a foreign tradition to me.  When I searched it out, the consensus is that putting on sackcloth is a way of penance, as it is not very comfortable to wear.  

:5 - Hello Isaiah!
:14 - King Hezekiah spreads the threatening letter before the Lord
:28 - Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. What if God said this to us?
:35 - the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand (185,000).  A death angel sent with no Passover salvation given


2 Kings 20
:1- Doesn't it seem like prophets of God should always prophecy life instead of death?  I am amazed by how often prophets had to give such morbidly bad news.
:6 - Is it really a comfort to know you have 15 more years?  I guess you still don't know exactly when the Lord will give you your last breath...
:7 - a lump of figs healed the boil.  Figs heal.

To find out more about fig health benefits:  http://www.elements4health.com/figs.html
:11 - God turned back time 10 degrees to prove to Hezekiah he would live
Hezekiah showed off all his material goods to the King of Babylon, which got him into trouble.  


2 Kings 21
:1 - Manasseh became king at 12 and got Israel in trouble again.
:24 - The people chose for themselves at times who would be king...or they would speed up the lineage/next-in-line process.


2 Kings 22
:1 - Josiah - an 8 year old king!!!  Jedidah was his mom.
:14 - a woman prophetess I have just heard of for the first time = Huldah
:20 - She gets to prophecy another death, but this time it is presented as a good thing-an escape from witnessing the evil that will come
*God's anger was stirred up again in this chapter because the people refused to fix the breaches (leaks) in His house.


2 Kings 23
:10 - Topheth = where children were passed through fire.  One of the places King Josiah did away with.
:25 - No one like Josiah.  Good job!


2 Kings 24
Nebuchadnezzar,king of Babylon - Jehoiakim birthed Jehoiachin - Mattaniah changed his name to Zedekiah


2 Kings 25
:3 - famine strikes
:5 - army of the Chaldees - also Chaldeans, inhabitants of Babylonia associated with astrology and magic http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3778&t=KJV
:11 - Nebuzaradan
:27 - Evilmerodach - king of Babylon, son of Nebuchadnezzar. If this were my name, I would change it.  However, he acts better than his name suggests when he shows kindness to the king of Judah, giving him a daily allowance 


1 Chronicles 1
family records from Adam to Abraham, Ishmael and Keturah's family records, Esau's Family record


1 Chronicles 2
Judah's family record
begat, begat, had another wife, which bare him


1 Chronicles 3
David's sons, Solomon's family record

Through 2 Kings 9 (p.510 in my Bible)

1 Kings 14
:6 - You can fool man, but you can't fool God.
:24 - sodomites = male temple prostitutes http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6945&t=KJV
:28 - You can steal from man, but not from God.

Such a shift from Solomon to Rehoboam & Jeroboam.

1 Kings 15
Abijam becomes reigning king.
:2 - Mother is soley named for genealogy purposes.  Very rare.
:4 - God honors David even unto his great grandchildren.
:10 - Same mother is mentioned as in vs.2 - Maachah, daughter of Abishalom.
:9 - Asa becomes reigning king.  He was Abijam's brother.
:24 - GREAT KING JEHOSAPHAT!
:31 -  Now the rest of the acts of ______and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?  This is stated multiple times in Kings books.  We have so much to look forward to in Chronicles!


1 Kings 16
This chapter makes me want to look at family trees of the kings.  Here are a couple I found.  I also found another Bible site with many translation options.  logos.com  I still prefer blueletterbible.org.

http://www.logos.com/media/blog/biblical_people_zeruiah.png

:21 - Now not only do we have the Judah - Israel split, but now Israel is split in 2.
:31 - Jezebel marries into the family.  Here comes trouble.  Even her name = Baal exalts, Baal is husband to, unchaste http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H348&t=KJV
Baal = lord, supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites, a Reubenite, the son of Jehiel and grandfather of Saul http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1168&t=KJV


1 Kings 17
HELLO ELIJAH!

picture reference

What an uncomfortable way of living.  Being fed by ravens, wandering in the wilderness, just waiting for the next "Thus saith the Lord".  And yet, such a great life!
 :12 - You know, unless that widow woman were outside gathering sticks, Elijah would not have seen her to call out to her and give her the miracle.


1 Kings 18
Elijah - Ahab - Obadiah
:4 - Prophets had to hide 50 people in a cave and eat old time prison food - bread and water.
:24 - and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. Good call.

Was it the 450 prophets of Baalim against 1 prophet of God, Elijah?
:43 -  It was Elijah's servant that saw the cloud in the shape of a mans' hand after going up to the top of Carmel 7 times
:46 - Ahab was riding (horse or camel or carriage, we don't know) but Elijah beat him to Jezreel running himself.


1 Kings 19
I have always chuckled at the thought that Elijah wanted to quit it all after being threatened by a woman.
:3 - Elijah left his servant to go on and pray.  Maybe later that's why he expects Elisha to stay when he tells him to.
:6 - Upgraded from ravens to angels
:9 - He went into the cave, but that isn't where God's provision would come from this time, like it did with Obadiah
:11-12 - Wind, earthquake, fire, then still small voice
:19 - Elisha was plowing with 24 oxen in front of him!  A yoke is a pair, so 12 yokes = 24 oxen.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6776&t=KJV

:21 - What people ate the oxen they slew?


1 Kings 20
Benhadad - King of Syria is named, but King of Israel is not.
:11 - What an answer/expression.  Other translations call it armor instead of harness.  So it does make sense that the one to boast should be the one taking it off, obviously because he lived through the battle.  The armor worked.  The one just putting it on is just beginning the fight.


1 Kings 21
Ahab - Naboth
This is an example of "bearing false witness against thy neighbor" if I ever saw it!  Lying to get someone killed so you can inherit their property.  Must have been some vineyard.
:24 - Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.  A common curse.
:27 - Part of Ahab's repentance includes walking softly.  A wonderful expression.  I believe I will try that also. 
:29 -  Does it make things better as a parent to know that God has spared his wrath against you but that your children have to suffer instead?  Perhaps this will be a motivation to teach the children how to humble themselves before God in the same way so that judgment continues to pass from their household.


1 Kings 22
:16 - Looks like the king is having a hard time believing that they can actually take Ramothgilead.
:23 - Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.  God can make prophets lie.  Wow.  I know that's true because of all the false prophecy that happened about Y2K.  I remember being shunned when I wouldn't store water after the advice and warning of the so-called charismatic "prophets."
:39 - Ahab made an ivory house
Jehoshaphat = Jehovah has judged.  He was the king of Judah and had his blood licked up by the dogs, in fulfillment of the curse.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H3092
Ahab = father's brother.  He was the king of Israel.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H256


2 Kings 1
:4 - What a job...to have to deliver a message from God that someone will die
:13 - What would it be like as that third captain of 50?  2 captains with 50 men each had been sent before him and had all been consumed by fire.  Would that be like being struck by lightning?  I watched a special on that where it was said that anything struck close enough by lightning would be disintegrated.  Thank God that 3rd captain bowed the knee in humility.  Saved his life...but not the king's.


2 Kings 2
:4 - Was it disobedient or honorable to disobey Elijah and follow even when he said to stay?  Maybe both?  Maybe a test?
:3 - Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head = head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7218&t=KJV
:7 - 50 Comes up frequently when speaking of groups of men
:15 - Schools of Prophets were certainly different back then.
:17 - I don't remember this part...that the 50 men were sent to look for Elijah and couldn't find him 3 days after the whirlwind took him.  

abstract picture reference url - click to view online

classical picture reference - click to view online

picture reference

:21 - Salt heals

picture reference

:23 - 24 - Children made fun of Elisha's baldness and he cursed them in the name of the Lord, AND God sent 2 female bears to rip up those 42 kids.

2 Kings 3
minstrel = to play or strike strings, play a stringed instrument http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5059&t=KJV
:15 - Strength came to Elisha when the minstrel played


2 Kings 4
:7 - Oil pays the bills.
:13 - Shunammite woman requires no restitution for making Elisha his own room in her house
:14 - Wonderful for someone to be so moved to bless you that they are looking for what you want even when you won't tell them.  Also, I love the name Gehazi = valley of vision http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1522&t=KJV  
*A very cool feature here is the pronunciation box in the upper right.  You can click on the little play arrow, and it lets you hear the correct way to say the Hebrew or Greek word!

picture reference

:26 - The lady tells Gehazi that it is well, even when clearly it is not.  Her son is dead.

"It is Well" by Mahalia Jackson-click to listen on youtube

Elisha really had to work at this miracle.  Sending his servant to put the staff on the child's face did not raise him up.  Laying upon the child mouth on mouth, eyes on eyes didn't work until he did it the 2nd time...and Elisha paced about praying in between those 2 times.  Did God tell him to do this or was he in divine faith?  Had he seen Elijah do it that way?  
:41 - Flour heals.
:42 - Firstfruits = a) the first of the crops and fruit that ripened, was gathered, and offered to God according to the ritual of Pentecost  b) the bread made of the new grain offered at Pentecost  c) the day of the first-fruits (Pentecost) http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1061&t=KJV
:43 - Elisha feeds a multitude from a gift of firstfruits with 20 loaves of bread and corn


2 Kings 5
:11 - Naaman had a picture of how God's prophet should pray for him.  He must not have heard the story about the child Elisha stretched over to raise from the dead.  Since it didn't line up to his imagination, he wouldn't do it.  Thank God he changed his mind.  Thank God he listened to his servants and humbled himself to just do what God said.
:25 - How can a servant of a prophet think he can get away with lying to the prophet???


2 Kings 6

:17 - Chariots of fire appear again

2 Kings 7
:2 - [if] the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be  Expressing disbelief because of the current state of famine.

"The Windows of Heaven are Open" - Click to listen to this oldie but goodie gospel song

Another "Windows of Heaven" song new to me, but great! Click to listen!

2 Kings 8
Joram - Ahaziah - Athaliah - Hazael


2 Kings 9
:10 - Wow - Elisha gives a child of the prophets (student in the "school of the prophets" of their day) quite a task when he has to deliver the message that dogs shall eat Jezebel.  I would run away after giving that message, too!