3. =The third decline and revival.= 1.) The reforms of Hez-e-ki'ah were short-lived, for his son Ma-nas'seh was both the longest in reigning and the wickedest of the kings, and his late repentance did not stay the tide of corruption which he had let loose (2 Kings 21. 10-17; 2 Chron. 33. 1-18). The wickedness of Ma-nas'seh's reign was the great moral cause of the kingdom's destruction, for from it no reform afterward could lift the mass of the people. 2.) Jo-si'ah, the young reformer, attempted the task, but his efforts, though earnest, were only measurably successful, and after his untimely death the kingdom hastened to its fall (2 Kings 23. 29). 4. =The final decline and fall.= 1.) The political cause of the destruction of the kingdom was the rise of Bab'y-lon. The old As-syr'i-an empire went down about B. C. 625, and a struggle followed between Bab'y-lon and E'gypt for the supremacy. Ju'dah took the side of E'gypt, which proved to be the losing side. 2.) After several chastisements and repeated rebellions Je-ru'sa-lem was finally destroyed by Neb-u-chad-nez'zar, king of Bab'y-lon, and the kingdom of Ju'dah was extinguished, B. C. 587. Blackboard Outline I. =Gen. Asp. Kin. Jud.= 1. Terr. Tri. Jud. 3,435 m. 2. Gov. mon. 3. Rel. 1.) Jeh. 2.) Idol. II. =Dur. Kin.= 1. Ret. sit. 2. Un. peo. 3. Conc. Jer. 4. Rev. Ho. Dav. 5. Pur. rel. III. =Per. Hist.= 1. Fir. dec. rev. 1.) Dec. Reho. Abi. 2.) Rev. As. Jehosh. 2. Sec. dec. rev. 1.) Dec. 200 y. 2.) Rev. Hez. 3. Thi. dec. rev. 1.) Dec. Man. 2.) Rev. Jos. 4. Fin. dec. fal. 1.) Ris. Bab. 2.) Des. Jer. Review Questions What was embraced in the kingdom of Ju'dah? What was its area? How was it governed? What was its religion? What was associated with the worship of Je-ho'vah? What was the religious tendency of the people? How long did the kingdom of Ju'dah last? What were the causes of this duration? What were the periods in its history? Under what kings was the first decline? Who led in a revival and reformation? Who was the greatest of the kings of Ju'dah? What took place during the second decline? Who was the usurping queen? What did this queen try to do? Who wrought the second great reformation? What was the character of this king? What great destruction of Ju'dah's enemies took place at this time? Which reign was both longest, wickedest, and most evil in its results? Who attempted a third reformation? What was the result of his endeavor? What was the political cause of the fall of Ju'dah? By what nation and by what king was Je-ru'sa-lem finally destroyed? FOURTEENTH STUDY The Captivity of Judah PART ONE I. We must distinguish between the =Captivity of Is'ra-el= and that of =Ju'dah=.