Seminary
Lesson 105: 2 Kings 21–25


“Lesson 105: 2 Kings 21–25,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)

“Lesson 105: 2 Kings 21–25”

Lesson 105

2 Kings 21–25

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Showing love and respect for the Lord, others, and the word of God helps you prepare to learn through the Holy Ghost.

Begin your study with prayer.

How have the scriptures affected your life? What blessings have come to you or to those you love by studying God’s word?

As you watch this video, look for the blessings one young man has received and continues to receive through studying the scriptures.

People in Your Life

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group of youth taking a picture

Write in your study journal or Notes on LDS.org a list of four or five people you spend the most time with. Briefly describe the ways in which these people might be influencing you and the influence you might be having on them.

As you study 2 Kings 21–23, look for principles that can help you understand how your choices can affect others.

Manasseh’s Wicked Influence

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youth reading scriptures

We read in 2 Kings 21:1–8 about how King Hezekiah’s son Manasseh influenced the people of Judah. He reintroduced idolatry to Judah by rebuilding heathen places of worship and placing altars for false gods within the walls of the temple. We read in verse 6 that Manasseh “made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments.” This statement likely means that Manasseh offered one of his own children as a sacrifice to one of the false gods he worshipped and that he sought and followed false prophets and prophecies.

Read 2 Kings 21:9, looking for the ways in which Manasseh’s wickedness affected his people.

What principles can we identify from Manasseh’s unrighteous influence on the people of Judah?

Our Influence on Others

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ancient pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem

One truth you may have identified from 2 Kings 21:9 is that if we make evil choices, then our actions can lead others to sin.

Read 2 Kings 21:10–13, looking for the metaphor the Lord used to describe the destruction He would eventually bring to Jerusalem because of the people’s wickedness.

Amon and Josiah

We learn in 2 Kings 21:18–26 that after Manasseh died, his son Amon became the king at the young age of 22. Amon followed his father’s example by ruling in wickedness. He was killed by his servants two years after he became king. The people then appointed Amon’s son Josiah as the next king.

The video “Josiah and the Book of the Law” summarizes King Josiah’s efforts to restore the people of Judah to the path of righteousness, as described in 2 Kings 22:1–23:3. Watch the video, looking for how Josiah’s choices affected the people of Judah. You can find this video on LDS.org. If the video is unavailable, read 2 Kings 22:1–8, 10–13 and 2 Kings 23:1–3.

The video “Josiah and the Book of the Law” summarizes King Josiah’s efforts to restore the people of Judah to the path of righteousness, as described in 2 Kings 22:1–23:3. Watch the video, looking for how Josiah’s choices affected the people of Judah. You can find this video on LDS.org.

Quiz 1

  1. According to 2 Kings 22:1–2, what choices did Josiah make as king?

    1. He sought for riches in wicked ways.

    2. He followed the Lord.

    3. He tried to conquer other nations.

  2. According to 2 Kings 22:8, what was found in the temple?

    1. The book of the law

    2. The ark of the covenant

    3. Moses’s staff

  3. What was the book of the law?

    1. The stone tables Moses received from the Lord

    2. Laws the preceding kings wrote about judging the people

    3. Scrolls that contained the Lord’s law given through Moses

  4. According to 2 Kings 22:11–13, how did Josiah respond when he heard what was written in the book of the law? Select all that apply.

    1. He was afraid of the Lord’s judgment.

    2. He rent his clothes.

    3. He commanded the book to be destroyed.

  5. Which of the following statements best summarizes the meaning of the phrase “all the people stood to the covenant” (2 Kings 23:3)?

    1. The people were angry with the king.

    2. The people agreed with the conditions of the covenant.

    3. The people were opposed to the conditions of the covenant.

Josiah’s Influence

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Bible

Read 2 Kings 23:21–25, looking for the influence Josiah’s righteous leadership and scripture reading had on his people.

What principle can you identify from Josiah’s example?

The Effect of Righteous Choices

One principle you may have identified from 2 Kings 23:21–25 is that if we make righteous choices, then our actions can lead others to turn to the Lord.

Read the following statement from For the Strength of Youth, looking for how you can influence others for good:

“As you strive to live the gospel, you will encourage your friends to do likewise. Set an example of keeping the commandments, participating in Church activities, preparing to serve the Lord throughout your life, and remaining worthy to attend the temple.

“Invite your friends of other faiths to your Church meetings and activities. Help them feel welcome and included. Many people have joined the Church through the example and fellowship of their friends. Also make a special effort to reach out to new converts and to those who are less active” (For the Strength of Youth [booklet, 2011], 17).

1. Answer the following questions:

  • In what ways have you been blessed because of the righteous choices of others?

  • When have you been able to help someone by setting a good example or by reaching out to him or her?

Josiah’s Righteous Influence

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scriptures

Read 2 Kings 23:24–25 again, looking for what helped Josiah turn to the Lord with all his heart and put away the evil influences from his people.

What principle can you identify from the account of Josiah about what can help us turn to the Lord and put away evil influences?

Blessings of Scripture Study

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youth reading scriptures

One principle you might have identified from Josiah’s example is that studying the scriptures can help us turn to the Lord with all our heart and put away evil influences.

2. Answer one or both of the following questions:

  • How has studying the scriptures helped you turn to the Lord more completely or overcome evil influences?

  • How has studying the scriptures helped you better know and love the Savior and become more like Him?

The Next Four Kings

As we learn from 2 Kings 23:26–24:20, after King Josiah died, two of his sons and one of his grandsons ruled in wickedness and led the people again into idolatry. Jehoiachin, Josiah’s grandson, had reigned for only three months when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came against Jerusalem and eventually defeated it.

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map of the new Babylonian Empire and the Kingdom of Egypt

Find Babylon on the accompanying map. Ancient Babylon was east of Jerusalem and approximately 60 miles (100 km) south of modern-day Baghdad, Iraq. The Babylonians took many wealthy, educated, and skilled people back to Babylon as captives. The Babylonians also took with them most of the king’s riches and fine things and the temple’s sacred and precious items.

Nebuchadnezzar then appointed a new king named Zedekiah to rule in Jerusalem and pay tribute (taxes) to Babylon.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

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destruction of Jerusalem

We learn in 2 Kings 25:1–21 that King Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon. Because of this rebellion, Zedekiah’s sons were put to death and Zedekiah was blinded. The walls of Jerusalem were torn down, the temple was burned, and most of the remaining people were carried away to Babylon.

Zedekiah in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

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Bible and Book of Mormon

You might recognize the name Zedekiah from 1 Nephi 1:4 in the Book of Mormon. Lehi and his family lived in Jerusalem during the reign of Zedekiah but were commanded to leave before the city was destroyed.

One of Zedekiah’s sons, Mulek, also escaped the destruction of Jerusalem. The Lord directed Mulek and others to the promised land in the Americas sometime after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem. Hundreds of years later, some of Lehi’s descendants found the descendants of Mulek and joined with them in Zarahemla. (See Omni 1:12–19; Mosiah 25:2; Helaman 8:21.)

Important Truths

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group of youth

The following truths were identified in today’s lesson:

  • If we make evil choices, then our actions can lead others to sin.

  • If we make righteous choices, then our actions can lead others to turn to the Lord.

  • Studying the scriptures can help us turn to the Lord with all our heart and put away evil influences.

Consider what you can do to continue growing closer to the Lord and to help others do the same.

Doctrinal Mastery Review

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youth taking the sacrament

Quiz 2

  1. Fill in the blanks to complete the following key statement of doctrine (found in paragraph 7.7 in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document [2018]): God gives the conditions for , and we agree to ; God then promises us .

    1. the covenant; do what He asks us to do; certain blessings for our obedience

    2. repentance; be baptized; eternal life

    3. our righteous desires; have faith in Jesus Christ; the companionship of the Holy Ghost

  2. Fill in the blanks to complete the doctrinal mastery passage that supports the preceding key statement of doctrine: “If ye will … and , then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me … and an holy nation” (scripture reference: ).

    1. have clean hands; a pure heart; Psalm 24:3–4

    2. be of one heart; of one mind; Moses 7:18

    3. obey my voice; keep my covenant; Exodus 19:5–6

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) b; (2) a; (3) c; (4) a, b; (5) b

Quiz 2: (1) a; (2) c