The reign of Hezekiah

The reign of Hezekiah probably should be from 729 to 686 BC, some 43 years. The offset reignal years come about probably because the personalities (kings, prophets, priests, scribes) which play a part in the biblical and secular (Assyrian) records may have used more than one name for a given person. Thus Sargon / Sennacherib are the same king, Azuri of the records of Tiglath-Pileser III and Shalmaneser V = Uriah, high priest, of the Bible; Yatna-Yamani of the records of Sargon II/ Sennacherib = Shebna of Isaiah 22; and Akhi-Miti of the records of Sennacherib = Eliakim of Isaiah 22, 2.Kings 18.

The Reign of Josiah

During the reign of King Josiah (638-607 BC), who became king at the age of 8 years, Judah had a prophetess by the name of Huldah (2.Kings 22:14-20; 2.Chron. 34:20-28). It is interesting that Huldah was consulted even though the prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah were living at the same time.
When Hilkiah, the priest, found a copy of the law in the debries he saw to it that it would be shown to the king and read. "In the reformation that followed, the king turned his attention to the destruction of every vestige of idolatry that remained. For, "... And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us." 2.Kings 22:11-13. When Josiah sent a messenger to Hulda, the Prophetess, she told Shaphan that their king was right and that God was displeased with how they were living, especially with their idol worship. When Josiah asked her concerning the will of God, she prophesied judgment and disaster upon Jerusalem and its people but this judgment was not to come in the days of Josiah. Then she related to them the words recorded in 2.Ki. 22:17, and God gave Josiah His promise we read in 2.Ki. 22:18-20 that his eyes were not to see the evil because he humbled himself before the Lord.
After Josiah called all the people together at the temple to have the law read to them, they promised to take care of the matter according to what the law said.
What is the lesson for us today? Are there divine truths to be rediscovered today which we must adhere to in order for the Lord to be working for His people? Since we know that Christ cannot work in the same heart which follows the councils of Satan, we know that reforms must include complete returning to the law of God.
In the days of Josiah Israel committed terrible sins, they sacrificed children to the gods Molech and Baalzebub, 2.Ki. 1:2,6. Do we have comparable sins among us today? We read, "Children are not to be trained to be the devotees of society. They are not to be sacrificed to Molech, but they are to become members of the Lord's family. Parents are to be filled with the compassion of Christ, that they may work for the salvation of the souls that are placed under their influence. They are not to have their minds all engrossed in the fashions and practices of the world. They are not to educate their children to attend parties and concerts and dances, to have and attend feasts, because after this manner the Gentiles walk." {CG 181.3}.
As parents become willing, cooperative believers in Christ, children will be safe from Molech's insatiable appetite. "Children will be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They will be educated and trained, not to be society devotees, but members of the Lord's family. They will not be sacrificed to Moloch. Parents will become willing subjects of Christ. Both father and mother will consecrate themselves to the work of properly training the children given them. They will firmly decide to work in the love of God with the utmost tenderness and compassion to save the souls under their guidance. They will not allow themselves to be absorbed with the customs of the world. They will not give themselves up to parties, concerts, dances, to give feasts and attend feasts, because after this manner do the Gentiles." (NL No. 29, p. 2; 2BC 1039.2). - For cursed is the path that leads to Endor or to Ekron; map of Ekron.(Joshua 17:11; 1.Sam. 28:7; Ps. 83:10)

Tafel 1: View from the top of Eanna-ziggurat in Warka to the SW.
T. 3: a) The long ascending stairway to the `White Temple' in Ururk and b) the inner sanctuary with the altar.
T.14: a) An aerial view of the traces of the city wall of Uruk. b) A B&W reconstruction drawing of the entrance gate to the temple oval of Chafadji.
T. 15: a) An aerial view of the completely excavated location of Chafadji. b) A great B&W drawing of the recosntructed Temple oval of Chafadji.
T. 57: An aerial view of the ruins of the ziggurat of Urnammu in Ur.
T. 59: A philological cuneiform text of the `Isin-Larsa Period' from Nippur.
T. 74 & 83: Base of a throne with Tukulti-Ninurta I from Assur.
T. 75: Two B&W drawings of a total aerial view of the Anu-Adad Temple in Assur and standing in its court. From the time of Shalmaneser III.
T. 84 & 86: A stele and reliefs of Ashurnasirpal II from Kalak.
T. 91: A relief of Shamsi-Adad in fair condition with some damage to the face of the king.
T. 93: A good quality relief of Sargon II of Assur from Dur-Sharrukin.
T. 94: a) An artists B&W drawing of Assur with its main cultic gate opening up to the quay of the Tigris River. b) An interesting B&W photo of the rising quader bastion of Sennacherib in Assur.
T. 95: a) The facade of the Temple of Sin at Dur-Sharrukin. b) An artist's reconstruction drawing from an above view of the entire complex of the same temple.
T. 98: An image of the good quality victory relief of Esarhaddon from Sinjirli.
T. 105: The readable cuneiform inscribed stele of Ashurbanipal carrying a wicker basket.[10]

01) 586 BC, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem, conquer Judah and install Gedaliah as governor who rules from Mizpah. According to archaeologists, Gedaliah rebuilds the town on a grander level as his administrative center. But the continued use of four room houses, according to archaeologists, is at odds with the biblical report that only the poorest remained behind during the exile. [BAR, Sep/Oct 1997, p. 34.]
02) Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry in 627 BC. Josiah's reforms took place in 622 BC. Sadly they were reforms in outward conformity, without inward change.
03) According to our Judith article, the time of Judith is around 700 BC.

[10] H. Schmoekel, `Ur, Assur und Babylon', Stuttgart, 1958. See page/plate numbers above.