While Judah enjoyed stability under the longevity of their
good kings, Israel was swapping monarchs hand over fist. In Judah, Azariah (that is, Uzziah), Jotham
and Ahaz ruled for a combined period of over 8 decades. Meanwhile Israel
endured Jereboam II, Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah and Hoshea,
along with the violent upheavals which accompanied several of the transitions
of power there. The contrast is not coincidental. Israel was base and astray
morally and spiritually. Judah wasn't perfect, but they were still
comparatively righteous (as a nation).
The proof that the northern kingdom was crossing a Rubiconic
line is the introduction of the Assyrians onto the scene here. Syria had been
troubling Israel for decades, but now Assyria (the empire) was a threat. It
started with money taken by Pul (II Kings 15:19-20) and progressed (or
digressed) to land and people taken by Tiglathpileser (II Kings 15:29).
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