When House of David Really Messed Up

 Nadene Goldfoot                                 

King Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, son of Asa; descendant  of King David and  reigned (874-850 BCE). King Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of the southern Kingdom of Judah, ruling for 25 years around 873–848 BCE.  

Religious Reforms: He sought God, removed idol poles and high places, and sent priests and officials across Judah to teach the Book of the Law to the people.

National Security: He fortified cities, built up strong military forces, and appointed righteous judges throughout the land.

Divine Deliverance: When an allied army of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir invaded, Mount Seir was in the land of Edom, located in a rugged mountainous region stretching between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba in modern-day Jordan (known today as the Al-Sharat Mountains)..

Edomite Possession: It later became the home of Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, who took over the territory.
Geography: It formed a natural barrier and trade route southeast of the Kingdom of Judah and the Transjordan region.

Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and prayed. God intervened, causing the enemy forces to turn on and destroy one another without Judah needing to fight. 

Flawed Alliances: Jehoshaphat made political and marriage alliances with the wicked northern kings of Israel (Ahab and Ahaziah), which brought prophetic rebukes and the wrecking of joint trading ships.                          

                 Polytheistic Days Facing House of David, and these were of their friends, the Phoenicians;  not the Philistines.  

Spiritually, Jehoshaphat began his reign in a positive way. Second Chronicles 17:3–6 gives this commendation: “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.” In addition, Jehoshaphat sent men throughout the kingdom to teach the people the Law of God (2 Chronicles 17:7–9). (That was the responsibility of the Levites, as proclaimed by Moses. )

 Jehoshaphat was the first king of Judah to make a treaty with the  kingdom of Israel.  He strengthened the tied by marrying his son, Jerhoram, to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab of Israel.

He fought unsuccessfully with Ahab against Aram (Syria).  Then he also fought unsuccessfully with Ahab's son, Jehoram against Mesha of Moab.  

Jehoshaphat tried to revive sea-commerce, but his crafts were wrecked at Ezsion-Geber. (I Kings 22).  The Bible praises his piety.  

There is the Valley of Jehoshaphat, a place where, according to Joel 4:2, the Lord will gather all nations and plead with them for His people Israel.  From thee 4th Century, this was identified with the central part of the Kidron Valley, which contained the "Cave of Jehoshaphat" wrongly believed to be situated in the tomb-cave near "Absalom's Tomb." 

Jehoram/Joram):  was the son of Jehoshaphat and reigned from 850-843 BCE as 7th King of the House of David or 5th king of  Judah.  In  becoming the succession, he put his brothers and many of the leading men of state to death.  

Under the influence of his wife,  Athaliah, he introduced the Baal Cult into Judah.  His reign was marked by the successful revolt of the Edomites and by the invasions of Philistines and Arabs who plundered Jerusalem.  Jehoram died after a prolonged illness.   (II Kings 8 ).  

Why was he such a cruel person when raised by a good  King?  

The biblical narrative attributes the cruelty and bloodthirstiness of Jehoram, King of Judah, to a toxic mix of political insecurity, greed, and a highly corrupting marriage alliance. Despite being raised by a godly father, King Jehoshaphat, Jehoram’s reign became a dark chapter marked by extreme violence.

The Consequences of His Cruelty

Jehoram's bloodthirsty rule ended in complete ruin:

Rebellions & Invasions: The nations of Edom and Libnah successfully revolted against him. Later, God permitted Philistine and Arab raiders to sack his palace, carrying off his wealth, his wives, and killing all of his sons except his youngest.
A Gruesome Death: The prophet Elijah sent him a letter condemning him for murdering brothers "who were better than you". Elijah prophesied a severe punishment, and Jehoram ultimately died from an agonizing, incurable bowel disease at age 40.

His legacy is summed up by one of the most sobering epitaphs in the Bible: "He passed away, to no one's regret," and his subjects refused to bury him in the royal tombs of the kings.

Resource: 

AI

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

https://www.gotquestions.org/King-Jehoshaphat.html 

Netanyahu's Background In Dealing With the Best

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

       A 17-year-old Netanyahu, right, sits with a friend at the entrance to his family home in Jerusalem in 1967. Netanyahu spent his teenage years in the United States, going to high school in Philadelphia. That's how he gained a terrific command of the English language.  When he speaks, the right people listen.  Israeli Government Press Office/Getty Images 

Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in discussions and political roles with: 

• Yitzhak Shamir: Served under Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1988–1991) and later succeeded Shamir as leader of the Likud party in 1993.  Bibi learned a lot from Shamir about politics, no doubt.                                
  
  Here Shamir on right talking with Ronald Reagan,  They often split on diplomatic paths. Reagan pushed for a comprehensive peace framework (such as the 1982 Reagan Peace Plan / September 1 Initiative), while Shamir strongly rejected international peace conferences and preferred direct bilateral negotiations. A notable friction point occurred in March 1988, when Shamir resisted the U.S. Middle East peace initiative proposed by Secretary of State George Shultz.  In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair—which involved secret U.S. arms sales to Iran with Israeli middlemen and the diversion of funds to Nicaraguan rebels—strained communications, prompting Reagan to send a conciliatory letter stressing ongoing U.S. friendship with Israel.  
  Yes, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir strongly disagreed with U.S. President Ronald Reagan on several major foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives, despite maintaining a robust and friendly strategic alliance overall. Their primary disagreements centered on the following points:

  1. The 1982 Reagan Peace Plan

  The most glaring policy rift occurred over the "Reagan Plan" introduced on September 1, 1982.

  The Plan: Reagan proposed a settlement freeze in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, calling for Palestinian self-government in federation with Jordan.
  Shamir's Rejection: As Foreign Minister (and later Prime Minister), Shamir flatly rejected it. He fiercely argued that Washington had "markedly deviated from Camp David" and claimed the initiative was "an attempt to bend and subjugate Israel" while treating the U.S. as no longer an honest broker. He fundamentally opposed the "territory-for-peace" formula.
Yitzhak Rabin & Shimon Peres: Led the political opposition as head of Likud against the Labor-led governments of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Prime Minister Shimon Peres, strongly opposing the Oslo Accords during the mid-1990s. 
U.S. and International Officials Prior to 1996: Worked as Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations (1984–1988) and engaged with various American and international diplomats during his tenure as a diplomat, deputy foreign minister, and opposition leader.

Mentorship and Rise: Shamir—who served as Israel's prime minister from 1983–1984 and 1986–1992—promoted a young Benjamin Netanyahu, appointing him as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations in the 1980s. 
The Madrid Conference (1991): During the Madrid Peace Conference, Shamir headed the Israeli delegation and chose Benjamin Netanyahu (then Deputy Foreign Minister) as the main English-speaking spokesperson and face of the delegation. This platform helped catapult Netanyahu into national prominence. 
Ideological Convergence vs. Personal Tensions: While both shared a hard-line, nationalist opposition to major territorial concessions and the creation of a Palestinian state, Shamir reportedly viewed Netanyahu with deep suspicion regarding his personal ambition, media-heavy style, and reliability. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has interacted with, negotiated with, or faced opposition from a wide range of prominent international figures, world leaders, and diplomats across his multiple terms in office.

Key World Leaders and U.S. Presidents

Bill Clinton – 42th U.S. President, who engaged Netanyahu during his first term in office regarding the Wye River Memorandum and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Barack Obama – 44th U.S. President, with whom Netanyahu had strained relations, particularly over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and Israeli settlement expansion.
Donald Trump – 45th U.S. President, and 47th President,  known for moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing the Golan Heights, and brokering the Abraham Accords.

Joe Biden – 46th U.S. President, with whom Netanyahu managed a complex wartime alliance and public policy disagreements over Gaza and Lebanon.
Emmanuel Macron – President of France, who has frequently engaged Netanyahu regarding Middle East ceasefires, Lebanon, and French opposition to certain Israeli military actions.
Viktor Orbán – Prime Minister of Hungary, a close European ally and nationalist leader who has frequently backed Netanyahu within the European Union. 

Middle Eastern and Regional Counterparts

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani – Prime Minister of Qatar, involved in extensive indirect hostage and ceasefire negotiations mediated by Qatar. 
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – President of the United Arab Emirates, with whom Israel normalized ties under the Abraham Accords, though relations have faced strain amid subsequent regional conflicts. 
Ali Khamenei – Supreme Leader of Iran, Netanyahu's primary regional adversary who frequently exchanges hostile rhetoric and strategic warnings regarding Iran's nuclear and proxy ambitions. 
President of Syria:  is Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took office as interim president in January 2025, AKA Jolani, the Terrorist. They have negotiated through indirect security channels and proxy discussions regarding key regional flashpoints: Citizens report he's still a terrorist in dealing with them, want to get rid of him.  
•    Security Arrangements and De-Escalation: The two sides have engaged in indirect or unofficial talks—including-backed security coordination—aimed at a partial de-escalation agreement. 
   The Buffer Zone and Golan Heights: Jolani has repeatedly demanded that Israel withdraw from the UN buffer zone and the Golan Heights, warning Israel to halt airstrikes and military incursions inside Syria. Netanyahu has rejected ceding military options or withdrawing from key positions like Mount Hermon and expanded Golan settlements. 
   Hezbollah and Border Threats: Jolani has vowed to prevent Syria from being used for anti-Israel attacks or as a transit route for weapons to Hezbollah, aligning with regional goals pushed by U.S. mediation, though Netanyahu has expressed skepticism about Jolani's rising boldness and domestic control.  He is correct in thinking this.  

International Institutions and Legal Figures

International Criminal Court (ICC) Officials – The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, binding member states to enforce them.
Delegates and Envoys at the United Nations – During sessions of the UN General Assembly, dozens of national delegations—including representatives from 77 countries across Arab, African, Asian, Latin American, and European nations—have staged walkouts or boycotts during Netanyahu's addresses in protest of Israeli military policies in Gaza and Lebanon

Abijam, 2nd King of Judah of the House of David and His Son, King Asa

Nadene Goldfoot               

David---Solomon---Reheboam + Maacah----Abijam----Asa

Abijam or Abijah who was king from his father Reheboam's death in 917 to 915 -875 BCE, for only three years, had to engage in continuous warfare with Jeroboam, king of the divide that kept the name of Israel. His opposition became king during his own 18th year as king of Israel.   (I Kings 15); ( II Chron. 13).  Abijam's mother was Maacah, daughter of  Abishalom.  

Abijam reigned for 3 years in Jerusalem. He went in the way of all the sins of his father that he had done before him;  and his heart was not whole with Hashem, his (G-d), as his heart of his ggrandfather David had been.   It was only for David's sake that G-d had given him dominion in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jeusalem , because David had done what is proper in the eyes of G-d, and did not veer from all that He had commanded him all the days of his life except for the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

There was warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijam's life.  Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, and gathered together the House of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 choice warriors, to fight against the House of Israel, to return the kingdom to Rehoboam.   The rest of the deeds of Abijam and all that he did---are recorded in the Book of chronicles of the Kings of Judah.  There was warfare between Abijam and Jeroboam.  Abijam lay with his forefathers and they buried him in the City of David. 

 Asa, his son, reigned in his place.  In  the 20th year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah.  He reigned in Jerusalem for 41 years, and his grandmother's name was Maacah, daughter of Abishalom.  Asa did what was proper in the eyes of G-d, like his gggrandfather, David.  

He removed the prostitutes from the land, and removed all the idols that his forefathers had made.  And even his grandmother Maacah, he deposed from being a queen for she had made an abomination unto an Asherah-tree.                        

“Asherah” was a Canaanite goddess associated with fertility and prosperity. The word can also refer to the sacred poles or objects connected with her worship. Unfortunately, Asherah worship became a recurring problem throughout Israel’s history. Involving “Asherah” in worship was a direct violation of the Torah.

“You are not to plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Adonai your God.” (Deuteronomy 16:21)

It’s interesting and significant that Asherah promised many of the things Israel was supposed to trust God to provide: from blessing and fertility to prosperity and security.

 Asa chopped up the abomination and burned it in the Kidron Valley.  But, they did not take away the high places nevertheless.  Asa's heart was whole with Hashem all his days.  He brought in the consecrated goods of his father and his own consecrated goods to the Temple of Hashem-----silver and gold and articles.                                     

                                 Continued Warfare

There was warfare between Asa and Baasa, the king of Israel, for all their days.  Baasa, king of Israel, attacked Judah and built up Ramah, Ramah means "height" or "high place" in Hebrew and most commonly refers to an ancient city in the territory of Benjamin located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Jerusalem. in order to prevent  Asa, king of Judah, from leaving or entering. 

 Ramah was the birthplace, home, judicial center, and burial site of the prophet Samuel.  It served as a gathering place for Israel's elders when they asked for a king (where Saul was anointed), a stop near Deborah's headquarters, and a refuge for David when fleeing Saul.  King Baasha of Israel fortified Ramah during border conflicts with Judah, though it was later dismantled by King Asa.

 Asa then took all the silver and gold remaining in the treasuries of the Temple of Hashem and the treasures of the king's palace and placed it in the hands of his servants.  King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, the king of Aram (Syria) who dwelled in Damascus, saying, "There is a treaty between  me and you, between my father and your father.  Behold, I have sent you an inducement of silver and gold;  go, annul your treaty with Baasa, King of Israel, so that he will depart from me.  

Ben-hadad heeded King Asa, and he sent the officers of his soldiers against the cities of Israel.  He struck at Ijon, Dan and Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole Chinneroth area, together with the entire land of Naphtali.  When Baasa heard this he ceased his building of Ramah, and he settled in Tirzah.

And King Asa called together all of Judah---no one was exempt---and they  carried away the stones of Ramah and its wood, with which Baasa had built, and with them King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.  All the rest of the deeds of Asa and all his heroic acts and all that he did and the cities that he built---behold, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah.  Only in his old age, his legs ailed.  Asa lay with his forefathers and was buried with his forefathers, in the city of David his forefather;  

Although this feud is taken in rabbinic literature as evidence of Asa's religious zeal, the rabbis censure him for his uncharitable attitude toward Judah's northern neighbors.    

Resource:

The Stone Edition, The Torah, (II Chronicles 11)

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia