The Captivity Begins

By Mary Vee
II Kings, 15, I Chronicles 5

From the Journals of a Captive Man

Photo Courtesy

I was working in my field.

We had no warning. 

I lived on the east side of the Jordan and am from the tribe of Reuben. 

I looked up at the horizon and saw a vast army marching toward my land. It didn't take long for me to figure out the army came from Assyria because of their weapons, chariots, and number. 

Pekah, our king of Israel, said he would protect us, but he has failed. All three tribes, the Gadites, half tribe of Manessah, and Reubenites, living on the east side of the Jordan were at risk to be taken captive.

Our brave warriors could not stand up to the power of the Assyrians. This is our own fault. We have not worshipped God as we should. Rather we all worshipped the gods from the people who lived near us. God warned us with the prophets, but we didn't listen.

My children and wife cried when the soldiers captured us and tied us to a rope. We had to march away from our home and leave everything behind. Our feet hurt and there was a chill in the night air, but still the soldiers made us march.

The army took us and our brothers from our land in Reuben, Gad, and Manessah to their Assyrian towns. We were assigned to live and be slaves in either Halah, Habor, or the river Gorzon.

I don't know if we will ever be able to go home.

************************************************
1. What three groups of Israelites were taken in this first captivity?
2. What army captured them?
3. Why did God allow them to be captured?
4. Where did they take the Israelites?
5. How long will they be in captivity?