Things are getting bad in Israel. Kings follows king , assassinations and intrigues, invasions and threats from powerful neighbours are taking their toll on the land. But according to the prophets, it’s going to get much worse.
Another vision
Amos 8:1-3
Israel’s doom
Amos 8:4-14
The Lord’s judgements
Amos 9:1-10
Jeroboam’s death
2 Kings 14:28-29
The Lord’s accusation
Hosea 4:1-11
Pagan worship condemned
Hosea 4:12-19
Zechariah
2 Kings 15:8-12
Shallum
2 Kings 15:13-15
Menahem
2 Kings 15:16-18
Assyrian invasion
2 Kings 15:19-20
Uzziah’s intrusion
2 Chronicles 26:16-18
Uzziah’s leprosy
2 Chronicles 26:19-21, 2 Kings 15:5
Amos has a nightmare vision: “Many, many bodies— flung everywhere! Silence!” This underlines how serious Israel’s situation is. They occupy a strategic area of fertile lowland, and the big empires to the north and south have always coveted it. If God removes his protection, they will be crushed.
There is instability in Israel after Jeroboam II dies, and three kings follow in rapid succession. Menahem is strong enough to resist another coup, but not strong enough to resist the Assyrian empire without paying a heavy tribute.
Meanwhile in Judah, Uzziah, who had started so well as a young man, let his pride get the better of him when he grew up. He was smitten with leprosy, and isolated for the rest of his life. His son Jotham did a lot of his duties. The fear of the Lord was still alive and well in Judah.
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