10 Oct. Jeroboam II restores the boundaries of Israel
“Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria during the fifteenth year Amaziah was king of Judah. (Amaziah was the son of Joash.).”
“Jeroboam ruled for 41 years, and he did what the LORD said was wrong. Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to sin, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash did not stop doing the same sins.”
“Jeroboam won back Israel’s border from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea. This happened as the LORD, the God of Israel, had said through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.”
“The LORD had seen how the Israelites, both slave and free, were suffering terribly. No one was left who could help Israel. The LORD had not said he would completely destroy Israel from the world, so he saved the Israelites through Jeroboam son of Jehoash.”
“Everything else Jeroboam did is written down – all his victories and how he won back from Judah the towns of Damascus and Hamath for Israel. All this is written in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.”
“Jeroboam died and was buried with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. Jeroboam’s son Zechariah became king in his place.”
(2 Kings 14:23-29)
Jeroboam II became King of Israel in 782BC. In accordance with the prophecy of Jonah from Gath Hepher near Nazareth (see Jonah 1:1), Jeroboam II fought the Arameans (Syrians) and recaptured all the land lost to the east of the Jordan during the previous century - from the gates of Hamath in the north, south to the Dead Sea. This restored the boundaries of Israel to their former extent under King David.
2 Kings Chapter 15 gives very brief biographies of a number of kings who reigned in Israel and Judah at this time. None of them served the LORD, and so we are told very little about their reigns.
In 741BC, King Jeroboam II of Israel was succeeded by his son Zechariah (who reigned from 741 to 740BC). After only six months, Zechariah was assassinated by Shallum. He, in turn, was murdered almost immediately by Menahem (who reigned from 740 to 731BC). His son Pekahiah briefly took his place, followed by Pekah, who ruled for 30 Years (see 2 Kings 15:8-31).
In the southern kingdom of Judah, Uzziah became king after the death of Amaziah in 767BC and reigned for 52 years. His son Jotham became king in his place and ruled for 16 years, 10 of these as co-regent with his father who suffered from leprosy. He, in turn, was followed by King Ahaz, who ruled from 731BC to 716BC (see 2 Kings 15:1-7. 32-38 & 16:1-2).
During this time, several Old Testament prophets spoke out about the injustices of the society they lived in:
Jonah preached a message of judgement to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, between 782BC & 741BC.
Amos and Hosea denounced social injustice in Israel between 760BC and 725BC.
Micah spoke against both Israel and Judah between 747BC and 722BC.
Isaiah prophesied the destruction of Israel and Judah between 737BC and 716BC.
The photo shows Israel from the International Space Station (NASA).
You can read more about King Jeroboam II @ https://thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney2/32-the-divided-kingdom-amp-journey-into-exile/jeroboam-ii-restores-the-boundaries-of-israel/