Day 70 Reading Schedule: 2 Kings 23-25, 1 Chronicles 1-2

2 Kings 23: King Josiah's Reforms and Passover Ceremony
[Overview]
This chapter contains the full-scale reforms of Josiah. The reading of the Book of the Covenant (verses 1-3), Josiah's religious reform movement (verses 4-20), Passover observance (verses 21-23), the destruction of various idols (verses 24-25), repeated predictions of Judah's destruction (verses 26-27), Josiah's end (verses 28-30), the deeds of Jehoahaz (verses 31-35), and Jehoiakim's accession to the throne (verses 36-37) The great reforms that Josiah brought about were carried out based on the Deuteronomic principle that "if you absolutely obey God's commandments and His words, you will be blessed." First, Josiah, as a political leader, not only acted honestly before the Lord, but also brought about a great revival in Judah by spreading the religious reforms that removed all foreign altars to southern Judah and northern Israel.  This was a blessing given by God's grace for restoring the Passover feast that God had commanded. However, Josiah also died by God's will, and the destruction of Judah was slowly progressing through the wickedness of his son Jehoahaz.
[Explanation]
King Josiah, who discovered the Book of God's Law and repented, gathered the people and renewed the covenant before God. He carried out reforms to destroy the idols in Judah and Israel and celebrated the Passover. However, God did not withdraw His wrath against Judah because of the sins of the ancestors of Judah, but judged them as He had promised. This judgment began when King Josiah was killed in the Battle of Meniddo.

2 Kings 24: The Reign and Fall of the Kings of the Last Days of Judah
[Summary]
This chapter begins with the time when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced into Palestine around 605 B.C. and shows the history of Judah up until the year Nebuchadnezzar died.  The kings recorded in this chapter are the last kings of Judah, and they represent the fulfillment of the prophecy of Judah's destruction. The first invasion of Babylon (verses 1-4), the death of Jehoiakim (verses 5-7), the ascension of Jehoiachin (verses 8-9), the second invasion of Babylon (verses 10-17), and the ascension of Zedekiah (verses 18-20) are recorded. This chapter is consistently marked by betrayal from the beginning to the end, and this betrayal of Judah was due to God's providence, and God allowed such betrayal in order to use Nebuchadnezzar as a rod of judgment. The destruction of Judah was the result of this betrayal, and this betrayal was disobedience to God's command, which also means idolatry.
[Explanation]
After King Josiah died, the kingdom of Judah began to fall. Despite King Josiah's reform policies, the kings who succeeded him abandoned God's will and committed crimes by following the evil deeds of their ancestors.  They did not believe in the prophecies of God's prophets and tried to maintain their own monarchy by relying on neighboring countries. However, God judged Judah by bringing down His wrathful judgment on the kings who did not walk completely before God.

2 Kings 25: The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Situation Thereafter
[Summary]
This chapter is the last chapter of this book and deals with the destruction of Judah. ​​It shows that 136 years after the destruction of Samaria (722 B.C.), the southern kingdom of Judah was also completely destroyed. At this time, the third invasion of Babylon was used as a tool of God's judgment. The third invasion of Babylon (verses 1-7), the fall of Jerusalem (verses 8-17), the slaughter of the people of Judah (verses 18-21), Gedaliah, the governor of Judah (verses 22-26), and Jehoiachin, who received mercy (verses 27-30) are recorded separately.  In this way, all the symbols of religious, social, and military life in Judah were completely destroyed. Through the tragic fate of God's chosen people, we can further confirm that God is in control of all history in this world.
[Explanation]
During the reign of King Zedekiah, God's wrathful judgment came upon Judah, Jerusalem and Judah were destroyed, and the inhabitants were taken to Babylon. God judged Judah through King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and the temple and walls of Jerusalem were completely destroyed and the temple articles were taken to Babylon. This symbolized the departure of God's glory from Israel.

1 Chronicles 1: Genealogy from Adam to Jacob
[Summary]
This chapter is an important source of evidence that proves that the history in which genealogy is recorded is not general history but the history of God's people. The genealogy from Adam to Noah in Genesis 5 is recorded (verses 1-4).  Following this, as in Genesis 10, it is recorded that the earth was filled with people again after Noah (verses 5-23). ​​Also, as in Genesis 11, there is a genealogy from Shem to Abraham (verses 24-28), and a genealogy of Ishmael's descendants and Abraham's descendants through Keturah (verses 29-35). The last part is about the descendants of Esau (verses 36-54). This is based on the genealogy of the ancestors of Israel already recorded in Genesis, and it is intended to reveal that Israel is the people chosen by God.
[Explanation]
This chapter lists the genealogy from Adam to Jacob. The genealogy, which is divided into the first and second half, is based on Genesis. Chronicles was written to the Israelites who were discouraged after returning from the Babylonian captivity and going through difficult trials, to recall the things God had done for the chosen people in the past. And further, it was written to encourage them and restore their lost faith. 

1 Chronicles 2: Genealogy of the Shop of Judah

[Overview]
This chapter introduces the genealogy of the descendants of Judah among the sons of Israel. Since the author of this book records the genealogy according to the context of redemptive history, this chapter introduces the names of the tribe of Judah according to the genealogy of the Messiah, which reveals that the author of this book records the genealogy of the people of Israel according to spiritual purposes. The first half records the genealogy from Israel (Jacob) to David (verses 1-17), the middle half records the descendants of Hezron (verses 18-41), and the latter half records the descendants of Caleb (verses 42-55).
[Explanation]
This chapter lists the names of the twelve sons of Israel and the genealogy of the descendants of Judah. ​​In particular, the name of the tribe of Judah is introduced according to the genealogy of the Messiah. The reason the tribe of Judah is mentioned first among the twelve tribes of Israel is because the legitimacy of the covenant people and the flow of redemptive history are directly connected through them.