So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord

Just after asking Jeremiah to enquire of the Lord, Johanan and his forces received the Word from God to not go into Egypt. Although they started as if they seek the Lord for direction and willing to obey, they decided not to follow God's instructions of not going to Egypt. Hence Johanan took his forces and the remnant that had gathered in Judah, and went towards Egypt. They accused Jeremiah and also taken him and Baruch with them.

When they went as far as Tahpanhes, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah to give him another prophecy. Tahpanhes was a place of royal residence for Pharoah. The Lord told Jeremiah that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will invade Egypt and set up his throne in Tahpanhes, symbolically destroying the power of Egypt. Babylon would also conquer and destroy Egypt. There will be many lives lost in Egypt, others will be taken captive by the Babylonians, and the cities will be burned.

God did not have to warn Jeremiah and Johanan, but He did it to help his people. But their own disobedience caused them to walked straight into the danger that God wanted to protect them from..


Jeremiah 43
Jeremiah Taken to Egypt

1 Now it happened, when Jeremiah had stopped speaking to all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words, 2 that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.’ 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon.” 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces, and all the people would not obey the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Judah. 5 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to dwell in the land of Judah, from all nations where they had been driven— 6 men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7 So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they went as far as Tahpanhes.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 “Take large stones in your hand, and hide them in the sight of the men of Judah, in the clay in the brick courtyard which is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes; 10 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden. And he will spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 When he comes, he shall strike the land of Egypt and deliver to death those appointed for death, and to captivity those appointed for captivity, and to the sword those appointed for the sword. 12 I[a] will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captive. And he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment, and he shall go out from there in peace. 13 He shall also break the sacred pillars of Beth Shemesh[b] that are in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians he shall burn with fire.”’”

Amaziah the War Monger

History repeated itself for Amaziah who reigned after his father as king of Judah. Like his father Joash, Amaziah started of well by following God and did what was right. However his deeds has shown that perhaps he was a bit of a war-monger.

One of the first thing he did was to execute the servants who murdered his father, even though they did so because of the evil of Joash. The next thing Amaziah did was to prepare for war by organizing his own people and hiring mercenaries from Israel. After the advice of a prophet, Amaziah abandoned the mercenaries, and attacked the Edomites at Seir. Having defeated them, Amaziah murdered a further 10,000 of them. Meanwhile the dissatisfied mercenaries raided Judah and killed 3,000 people.

There was no mention that Amaziah was concerned about the raid on his own people. Instead, Amaziah brought back the gods of the Edomites and started to worship the idols. He was warned by a prophet that God would seek his destruction.

Once again, Amaziah deliberately started another war, this time with Israel. He even invited Joash, the King of Israel to fight against him, while the Joash warned him that he would be defeated. Amaziah started the fight anyway at Beth Shemesh and lost. Joash took Amaziah to Jerusalem, broke down the walls, took the treasures and hostages back to Samaria.

Amaziah was allowed to live and outlive King Joash for fifteen years. Amaziah again turned away from the LORD, and a group of conspirators chased Amaziah to Lachish and killed him.




2 Chronicles 25

Amaziah Reigns in Judah

 1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
3 Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king. 4 However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin.”[a]

The War Against Edom
 
5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers’ houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow.”
9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?”
And the man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.” 10 So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
11 Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his people, he went to the Valley of Salt and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir. 12 Also the children of Judah took captive ten thousand alive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were dashed in pieces.
13 But as for the soldiers of the army which Amaziah had discharged, so that they would not go with him to battle, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed three thousand in them, and took much spoil.
14 Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15 Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?”
16 So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?”
Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

Israel Defeats Judah
 
17 Now Amaziah king of Judah asked advice and sent to Joash[b] the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face one another in battle.”
18 And Joash king of Israel sent to AmaziahEdomites, and your heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?”
20 But Amaziah would not heed, for it came from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash king of Israel went out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent. 23 Then Joash the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—four hundred cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom, the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

Death of Amaziah
 
25 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, indeed are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28 Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.

Ark Returned to Israel

Having captured the Ark of God, the Philistines found that they had great misfortunes including many men struck with tumors and boils. The Philistines were knowledgeable enough to suspect that it is the God of Israel who was displeased with them having the Ark. So they tried to get rid of them.

Very interesting that even when they had decided to get rid of the Ark, they had enough fear and honour of the Ark of God, that they did not just discard by the countryside. Instead they sought for the correct way to return or at least send the Ark way in a respectful way. Very funny and ironic that the sworn enemy of Israel had so much respect and fear of the Ark.

So the Philistines asked their pagan priests of how to send the Ark away. Again surprisingly, the pagan Philistine priest knew a thing or two about trespass offering. Although the priests did not get the content of the trespass offerings correct, (in Israel, offerings usually consist of rams, bulls, lamb, grain, etc, while the Philistine priests suggested five golden tumors and five golden rats), nevertheless perhaps God would not be too angered by their ignorance, since they were putting an effort.

The Philistines also knew the Exodus story as the priest warned the Philistines not to go against the will of God, and should return the Ark instead. The final plan was to send the Ark along with the offerings on a cart to be led by two cows. The test was to led the cows take the cart down the road and if they turned to Beth Shemesh, then they would know that God was responsible for the misfortunes to the Philistines but if the cows turned the other way, then it wasn't God after all. As it turned out, the cows and the cart when to Beth Shemesh, thus confirming for the Philistines that God was responsible.

The city of Beth Shemesh appeared to belong to Israel because the people were happy to see the Ark, and they had Levites there to take the Ark down. However, perhaps because the Ark was not meant to reside there permanently, so even the Israelites had done wrong in wanting to keep it. Consequently, God struck over fifty thousand males there. Finally, they called for people from Kirjath Jearim to take possession of the Ark, perhaps they knew that that was the rightful place.


1 Samuel 6

The Ark Returned to Israel

 1 Now the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”
3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”
4 Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”
They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart? 7 Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. 8 Then take the ark of the LORD and set it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go. 9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”
10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they set the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors. 12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15 The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth ShemeshEkron the same day.
17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; 18 and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
19 Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men[a] of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.

The Ark at Kirjath Jearim
  
20 And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you.”