2 Kings 15:28
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
And he did evil
This phrase indicates a moral and spiritual failure. The Hebrew word for "evil" is "רַע" (ra), which encompasses not only wickedness but also calamity and adversity. In the context of the kings of Israel, doing evil often meant idolatry and leading the nation away from the worship of Yahweh. This phrase sets the tone for the king's reign, highlighting a continuation of disobedience to God's commandments.

in the sight of the LORD
This phrase underscores the omniscience of God, who sees all actions and judges them according to His righteous standards. The Hebrew word for "sight" is "עֵינַיִם" (einaim), meaning "eyes." It emphasizes that nothing is hidden from God, and He is the ultimate judge of human actions. This serves as a reminder that earthly actions have divine consequences.

as his fathers had done
This phrase points to a generational pattern of sin. The Hebrew word for "fathers" is "אָבוֹת" (avot), which can refer to ancestors or predecessors. It suggests a failure to break away from the sinful practices of previous generations, highlighting the importance of personal responsibility and the need for repentance and reform.

He did not turn away
The phrase indicates a stubbornness or unwillingness to repent. The Hebrew root "שׁוּב" (shuv) means "to turn back" or "to return." This word is often used in the context of repentance, suggesting a missed opportunity for spiritual renewal and transformation. It serves as a cautionary note about the dangers of hard-heartedness.

from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat
Jeroboam's sins are a recurring theme in the narrative of the kings of Israel. The Hebrew word for "sins" is "חַטָּאוֹת" (chataot), which refers to offenses against God's law. Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom, established idol worship as a state religion, leading Israel into sin. This phrase highlights the long-lasting impact of his actions and the failure of subsequent kings to correct this course.

who had caused Israel to sin
This phrase emphasizes the responsibility of leadership. The Hebrew word "חָטָא" (chata) means "to miss the mark" or "to sin." Jeroboam's actions set a precedent that led the entire nation astray. It serves as a sobering reminder of the influence leaders have over their people and the importance of leading in accordance with God's will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Pekahiah
The king of Israel during this time, who continued in the sinful practices of his predecessors.

2. Jeroboam son of Nebat
The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, known for leading Israel into idolatry.

3. Israel
The northern kingdom, distinct from Judah, often led astray by its kings into idolatry and sin.

4. The LORD
The God of Israel, who consistently calls His people to righteousness and faithfulness.

5. The Sins of Jeroboam
Refers to the idolatrous practices initiated by Jeroboam, including the worship of golden calves.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Leadership
Leaders have a profound impact on the spiritual direction of their people. Pekahiah's failure to turn from sin highlights the importance of godly leadership.

The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry is a recurring sin in Israel's history, demonstrating the human tendency to replace God with lesser things. Believers today must guard against modern forms of idolatry.

The Call to Repentance
Despite Israel's repeated failures, God's desire is for His people to turn back to Him. Repentance is a continual call for believers.

The Legacy of Sin
The sins of Jeroboam had long-lasting effects on Israel. This serves as a warning about the enduring impact of sin if not addressed.

Faithfulness to God's Commands
Obedience to God's commands is crucial for maintaining a right relationship with Him. Believers are called to uphold God's standards in all areas of life.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the leadership of Pekahiah reflect the spiritual state of Israel during his reign?

2. In what ways can modern believers identify and avoid the "sins of Jeroboam" in their own lives?

3. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that we are not led astray by ungodly influences?

4. How does the account of Israel's idolatry and eventual exile serve as a warning for contemporary Christians?

5. How can we cultivate a heart of repentance and obedience in our daily walk with God, in light of Israel's example?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 12:26-33
Provides background on Jeroboam's establishment of idol worship in Israel, which set a precedent for future kings.

2 Kings 17:21-23
Discusses the consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry, leading to their eventual exile.

Exodus 20:3-4
The Ten Commandments, which explicitly prohibit idolatry, highlighting the gravity of Israel's sin.

Hosea 13:1-3
A prophetic critique of Israel's idolatry, emphasizing the fleeting nature of their false worship.
Some Lessons from the History of KingsD. Thomas 2 Kings 15:1-38
People
Abel, Ahaz, Amaziah, Amram, Aram, Argob, Arieh, Azaliah, Azariah, David, Elah, Gadi, Gileadites, Hoshea, Jabesh, Jecholiah, Jecoliah, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jerusha, Jotham, Maacah, Menahem, Naphtali, Nebat, Pekah, Pekahiah, Pul, Remaliah, Rezin, Shallum, Tappuah, Tiglathpileser, Tirzah, Uzziah, Zachariah, Zadok, Zechariah
Places
Abel-beth-maacah, Assyria, Damascus, Galilee, Gilead, Hazor, Ibleam, Ijon, Janoah, Jerusalem, Kedesh, Samaria, Syria, Tirzah
Topics
Aside, Caused, Commit, Depart, Departed, Didn't, Evil, Jeroboam, Jerobo'am, Nebat, Sight, Sin, Sins, Turn, Turning, Wherewith
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 15:1-38

     5366   king

2 Kings 15:27-28

     8739   evil, examples of

Library
The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean!
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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