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Book of 2 Kings 17-18
17
Hoshea rules Israel for 9 years, and disobeys God. Assyria imprisons Hoshea after uncovering his conspiracy against them, besieges Samaria, and takes Israel away as captives. The reason for Israel’s demise is its disobedience, and its rejection of repeated warnings. Assyrians settle in Samaria, which is now characterised by a mish-mash of different religions and religious practices, including Yahwehism.
18
Hezekiah rules Judah, and obeys God, removing the high places and destroying the bronze serpent of Moses which was worshipped idolatrously. Hezekiah defies Assyria, and subdues the Philistines. Assyria takes Israel captive. Assyria takes the fenced cities of Judah. Hezekiah tries to buy peace from the Assyrians, but Assyria threatens nonetheless. Rabshekah, the general of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, delivers an insulting speech about defying the Assyrians, trusting in the Lord, and trusting in the Egyptians. He speaks in Hebrew so all can understand him.
