Manasseh-My Shame

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 33

From the Journals of Manasseh

Photo Courtesy

I have  been walking for last several days. My feet hurt. As king of Judah I never thought such terrible things would happen to me.

My father, King Hezekiah, loved God with all his heart, soul, and mind. I thought he was crazy for devoting his life to God.

After my dad died, I listened to my friends instead of my father's advisors and the prophets. 

My father had spent his life getting rid of the idols throughout our country. My friends, though, said we needed to bring then all back. By telling the men, women, and children to worship the same gods as those countries around us, we would win the other country's favor and be safe.

I was young and didn't know what to do. I had never loved the God my father worshiped so I listened to my friends. We rebuilt all the gods. I had them placed everywhere even in the temple and the temple courts. The people seemed happy and willing to bow down to these gods. Everything seemed fine.

Until the prophet Isaiah walked through the streets yelling something about not bowing down to the idols. I didn't worry too much. No one listened to him.

Then one day the Assyrian army attacked.  They came like a swarm of bees out of no where. We had no warning to prepare. The soldiers shoved their way into Jerusalem and captured all the important people. The very people who had been used to riding in style and dressing in the best clothes now walked the streets with their hands and feet tied.  

I hid, but it didn't do any good. The army commanders searched the city until they found me. My friends, the soldiers, no one could save me. The Assyrians took me prisoner and put a hook in my nose. It hurt so much. They put bronze shackles on me. I couldn't hardly move but the Assyrian commanders made me walk. For days. With little food.

I was alone.

The guards yelled at me.

I hurt. Was hungry. Thirsty. 

I looked at the the last of Judah's land as the soldiers dragged me away. I honestly didn't think I would ever see it again. 

This was the first time I really cried and felt totally hopeless. Everything was lost. The people of Judah had become slaves. 

And as the king, I will probably be killed. 

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1. Why did Manasseh's feet hurt?
2. Who was Manasseh's father?
3. What did Manasseh's father do with the idols?
4. What did Manasseh do with the idols?
5. What message did God give the people?

6. Did the people listen.

7. What happened to them?
8. What happened to Manasseh?

Manasseh-Learning Lessons the Hard Way

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19 and II Chronicles 32-33

From the Journals of Isaiah

Photo Courtesy

Some people just have to learn lessons the hard way.

God did punish Sennacherib as He said He would. Remember, Sennacherib was the bully who picked on King Hezekiah? 

The bully became frightened and took his army home to Assyria. 

One day, while King Senacherib was worshiping his god Nisroch in a temple made special for this idol, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer sneaked in behind him and thrust their swords into him, killing him.

Not wanting to be caught by any of their father's army, the two boys ran as fast as they could to get away. They kept running out of the city and west, to the land of Ararat. 

Their brother, Esarhaddon, took over as king of Assyria.

In the meantime, the Lord continued to send messages to Manasseh and his people to stop worshiping idols, but they wouldn't listen. I delivered every message God gave me. Trust me, He loved them very much and wanted to give them every possible chance to change from their wicked ways.

Since the people of Jerusalem and Judah kept worshipping idols and ignoring the Almighty God who had rescued them so many times, He had to give them the punishment.

The Assyrian army regrouped and marched toward Judah. They showed their power by taking the wealthy, smart, and beautiful people from Judah as prisoners. They dragged them away from their homes and forced them to walk for days to Assyria where the people of Judah became slaves. 

The Assyrian commanders took King Manasseh prisoner. They put a hook in his nose and put bronze chains on him. He had to walk in shame all the way to Assyria. Manasseh cried out, begging for mercy but the commanders didn't listen.

Many men, women, and children from Judea were also taken that day. They were frightened, but not yet sorry for disobeying God. The army was very cruel to them, pulling them away from their families, putting their hands and feet in chains, and beating them.

Not all of the men, women, and children were taken at this time. The smart, rich, and important people were taken captive at this time. The Assyrian army left the poor to take care of things.

I was sorry to see them cry, but in truth, God had warned them and they refused to listen. Hopefully they will cry out to God and say they are sorry soon. If not. They will have to wait the seventy years God said they would have to wait.

Sigh. If only they had listened and obeyed God.

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1. Who is Sennacherib?
2. What was Sennacherib doing in the temple?
3. What did his two sons do?
4. Why did his sons run away?
5. What was going on in Judah (What was God doing?)

6. What didn't the people of Jerusalem do? (God asked them to do this)

7. What happened to them?

Hezekiah-The Bully Walked Away in Silence

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19, Isaiah 37

From the Journals of Hezekiah

I have seen God's amazing power in action. Since I am one of His creations, I don't think it bothers God too much when I am surprised at what He can do.

I have faith He can do anything. But sometimes, I am just so blown away when I see what He's done. My heart pumps hard and I feel a bubbly happiness inside. 

God sent Isaiah to tell me He would take care of the problem with king Sennacherib of Assyria.

And He did!

Last night God sent the angel of the Lord to Sennacherib's army camp and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand of their men. This was not all of their army. There were plenty more soldiers.

When the remaining soldiers and Sennacherib woke the next morning and found the dead bodies he ordered the remaining soldiers to break camp and go back home.

He didn't say anything.

He didn't yell at those of us watching from the city walls.

He didn't cry out, raise his fist, or say any more mean things.

Instead, he and his men left in silence....ashamed.

He and his army returned to Nineveh, their home, and stayed there. They didn't gather new troops to come back and attack. They just stayed home.

Word spread about what the Almighty God did, and how powerful He is. Countries all around us brought gifts to the people of Jerusalem and offerings to present to the Lord. 

For the rest of my days as king, the nations all around us respected Judah and our God.

A while back I was very sick. I cried to the Lord for healing. He said I could live fifteen more years. That time has come to an end. I am thankful for the extra time to help Jerusalem walk in the ways of the Lord and hope that I have please Him.

Praise and glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Almighty One.

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1.  Who did God send to give Hezekiah a message?
2.  What was the message?
3.  What did God do?
4.  What did Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem see the next morning?
5.  What did Sennacherib and his men do?
6.  What did the nations around Jerusalem do?

Hezekiah-God's Promise to Punish the Bully

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19, Isaiah 37

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Last time I told you about the mean things Sennacherib had done. He is the king of Assyria.

That guy is such a bully. And when bullies yell mean things, nothing can be said back. If anyone tries to say anything back, the bully works very hard to say even meaner things.

I walked away from him and went to the temple where I prayed to God.

In my day, God sent messages to people through his prophets. The prophet Isaiah lives here and loves the Lord with all his heart. 

Isaiah came to my chamber and said God had a message for me. God said, "I have heard your prayers about Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and have said these things against him:

"Who are you to insult Jerusalem? Your insults are really against me, the Holy One of Israel.

You have sent messengers who have shouted cruel things against me.

You brag about things you have done to frighten the people of Jerusalem.

What you didn't know is I had planned for you to succeed in those very things.

I even know where you live and when you come and go 

and how you are so angry against me.

Because you have been so angry, I will force you to go back to your homes 

and end the battles."

God then said to me: "This year, Hezekiah, you will eat what grows by itself from the crops, and next year too. But the third year, plant seeds and reap a harvest. A group of people from Judah will stand strong like the crops. There will be survivors staying in Jerusalem."

This made me feel better. I knew then that we would be able to stay.

Isaiah finished telling me God's message by saying what would happen. "Sennacherib will not enter Jerusalem. He won't shoot an arrow here. He won't bring his army or his weapons. He will go back home and not enter Jerusalem.

"I will defend this city and save it for my sake and for the sake of David my servant."

I must admit. I felt so much better knowing God would take care of the bully.

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1. Bullies sure can cause us to feel bad. What was the first thing Hezekiah did to stop the bully?
2. In the days that Hezekiah lived, what is one way God sent messages to people?
3. Describe the prophet Isaiah.
4. God said not to worry. The bully meant their mean words against ___________
5. What did God say he would do to the bully?
6. What did God say would happen to Jerusalem?

Hezekiah-What to Do When the Bully Comes Back

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and II Chronicles

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo courtesy

Sennacherib, king of Assyria was an evil man. He has been bullying my people. This king told the people of Jerusalem that God couldn't help them. He also said they should surrender to him and he would take good care of them. Of course he wasn't telling the truth.

God sent a message to me, Hezekiah, king of Judah and loyal servant of the Almighty God, saying not to be concerned. He would punish Sennacherib.

Sennacherib heard that the king of Egypt was marching across the land to fight him. After hearing the report he sent messengers to me again. Can you imagine that?

I am not afraid of him because God said He would take care of the problem. 

Still I will tell you what Sennacherib said, "Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them? The gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar. Where are all those kings? You will end up like them.

I did not answer him.

Instead I went up to the temple of the Lord and laid the papers with the message out before the Lord. I prayed these words: 

"O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, O Lord, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. 

"It is true, O Lord that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire an destroyed them, for they were not god but only wood and stone, made by men's hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand so that all the kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord are God."

Come back next time to see what God said. 

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1. What lies did Sennacherib tell the people of Jerusalem?
2. Even after he heard the king of Egypt was marching against him, Sennacherib did what?
3. Did Hezekiah listen to the bully's words?
4. What did Hezekiah do?

Hezekiah-God Comforts When Bullies Are Mean

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and Isaiah

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

I couldn't handle the horrible news Eliakim, Shebna and Joah brought to me. 

As king of Judah, it is my duty to lead my people. They all heard Sennacherib's cruel words about the Almighty God. 

I could handle him saying lies about me, but when he said, "How can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand." He made fun of the power of God. Big mistake.

Yes, I know God can easily take care of Sennacherib, but I love God and would not want anyone to speak evil of Him. 

I felt embarrassed to even speak to the prophet Isaiah about the problem so I sent Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah to tell him my thoughts:

"This day is a terrible day, One where cruel and mean things are said by the bullies surrounding us. It's like having no strength to give birth. It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria has sent to make fun of the living God. And when He hears those words He will punish Sennacherib for what he has done. Isaiah, please pray for those from all Israel that still survives."

Isaiah sent a message back to me. "This is what the Lord says. Do not be afraid of what you have heard. Every word the king's helpers said against me I have heard. The words are not against you. Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report he will return to his own country, and there I will have Sennacherib put to death.

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1. Why was King Hezekiah upset?
2. King Hezekiah tore his clothes and wept. He went to the temple. Why didn't he talk to the prophet Isaiah?
3. What message did he send to the prophet?
4. What did message did God give to Isaiah to say to Hezekiah?

Hezekiah- Bullies Like to Lie

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

As king of Judah and a man who loves to serve God, hearing men say mean things about God really hurt my heart.

I didn't like listening to Sennacherib's official shouting lies to the people of Jerusalem. They said them so loud, all my soldiers and citizens standing on the wall heard them. 

I looked at the people's faces and saw their strength drain from them. They were listening to the bullies. 

After my official Eliakim, Shebna and my field commander, Joah asked the Assyrians to speak in the Aramaic language, the bullies refused and shouted  louder in Hebrew, the language our people understood.

The Assyrians said, "Do you think we only want Hezekiah and you to hear our message? No we want the soldiers and the citizens to hear. They need to know we will conquer and force them to have nothing to eat."

The commander stepped away from the officials and set his hands by his mouth to help his voice go farther. "Hear the word of the great king of Assyria. People of Jerusalem, do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He can't save you from us. Don't let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord. We will conquer Jerusalem. 

"Don't listen to Hezekiah. Make peace with us and come join us. Every person who surrenders will have plenty to eat and drink. You will be taken to a land like Jerusalem. A land of bread and vineyards, olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death."


I wanted to cover my ears. I have served God as king of Judah and tried to teach the people to always worship Him. I wish I could make the bullies stop shouting. I wish the people of Jerusalem couldn't hear them. But the bullies didn't stop.

The official shouted again. "Don't listen to Hezekiah. He is misleading you when he says the Lord will deliver you. Has the god of any nation ever delivered them from our hands? Where are their gods now? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"


I can't even write any more of the horrible things the officials said. They called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem standing at the wall just to scare them in order to capture our city. They even insulted our God by saying the God of Jerusalem was the work of men's hands. I couldn't stop my tears. The Almighty God, our creator, should not have to hear such words.

But, thanks be to God, the people of Jerusalem kept silent and said nothing back to the bullies. I had commanded them not to answer anything the bullies said. 

When the officers came back inside the city and told me the rest of the mean things the bullies said about us and God, we fell to our knees and tore our clothes. We put on sackcloth and went to the temple of the Lord and cried out to Him.

Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  Who were the bullies?
2.  The bullies said mean things about Jerusalem, king Hezekiah, and God.  What did the people do?
3.  Did any of the people from Jerusalem rush out accept the gifts from the bullies?
4. When the officials came back in the city and told king Hezekiah the rest of the message, what did they all do?

Hezekiah - Sennacherib the Bully

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

A few days after we finished rebuilding Jerusalem and preparing for war, I received a message from Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Like I've said before, this man is a bully. 

He sent his supreme commander, his chief officer, and his field commander with a large army to deliver the message. Did he really have to send that many people?

I sent my officers out to meet with them.

The field commander from Assyria delivered this message:

"Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king of Assyria said: 'What makes you think you can be so confident? You say you have strategy and military strength, but your words mean nothing. Who are you depending on to give you the power to rebel against me? Look. You are depending on Egypt to save you.

"And if you say to me, 'We are depending on the Lord our God'--isn't he the one whose altars you removed? Didn't you say to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem"? 

"When you say, 'The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' you are  misleading your people. You want them to die of hunger and thirst.

"Don't you know what my fathers and I have done to all the peoples of other lands? Did the god of those nations deliver them from my hand? Were any of the gods from other lands able to save their country from me?

"Listen to my advice, people of Jerusalem. Don't let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Don't believe him because no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver you from my hand! I'll give you a chance. Make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I'll give you two thousand horses, that is, if you can put riders on them. Hah.

"How can you turn me down by depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? You know I have come to attack and destroy this land without any word from your God. The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it." This ended his message.

My officials were quite concerned. The Assyrian messengers shouted their words loud enough for our soldiers on the walls to hear. The words sounded right, even though they were wrong. We didn't know how many of our soldiers would surrender to that bully Sennacherib.

My officials, Eliakim and Shebna and my field commander, Joah said to the Assyrian officials, "Please speak to your men in Aramaic since we understand it. Don't speak in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall."

Do you think they spoke quieter?  Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  Who was the bully?
2.  Who did the bully pick on?
3.  This bully lied. He said ___________ could not help them because no other god had helped any other land.
4.  Why did Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah ask the Assyrians to speak in Aramaic instead of Hebrew?

Hezekiah- Using Water to Win a War

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

The king of Assyria invaded Judah. He attacked several of our fortified cities and threatened Jerusalem. Sennacherib, king of Assyria wanted these cities for himself.

When I heard he planned to attack Jerusalem, I called together my officials and military staff.

"Gentlemen, I have an idea. Let's block off the water from the springs outside the city. If Sennacherib doesn't have water for his army, he will have to leave. And why should he have access to our water?"

The men agreed with me. And we went to work.

We called for a large force of men to help. Together we blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land outside the city. 

We moved our workforce to the city walls. Night and day we worked to repair broken areas where the enemy could get through. We built new towers for watch keepers. Next, for added protection, we built a second city wall outside the first one. The men put supports on the terraces while another group made a large number of weapons and shields.

I appointed military officers over the people and called them all together in the city square near the gate after we finished our work and said: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of  the vast Assyria army. There is a greater power with us than with him. The king os Assyria only has the arm of flesh, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."

All the people cheered with these words.

We were ready to see what God would do for us.

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1.  What king invaded Judah?
2.  What country was he king of?
3.  What did king Hezekiah choose to do first?
4.  What did he do second? (what did he fix)
5.  What did Hezekiah order third?
6.  What did Hezekiah have made fourth (it was a second one)?
7.  What did Hezekiah make to protect themselves?
8.  What encouraging words did Hezekiah say to the people?