2 Kings, Chapter 16
Synopsis: This whole chapter is about Ahaz, King of Judah. An evil king, even sacrificing his own son and other "detestable" practices. Two rival kings, Rezin from Aram and Pekah from Israel, march to fight Ahaz but can't beat him but do take land. King Ahaz teams up with the Assyrian King, pays him treasure, and gets rescued. Ahaz see's false god temples in Assyria and has them reproduced in Judah.
It isn't clear to me how these historical passages should be written. I need to think about how they instruct. It is obvious that Ahaz wasn't a good guy, but yet he survives attacks and reigns sixteen years. Interestingly, Gemini offers this up:
Practical Application: The "Thematic" Approach When you encounter these lists of names, battles, and architectural changes to the temple, try organizing your thoughts around these themes:
The Object of Trust: Who is the protagonist trusting? (In this case, Assyria vs. Jehovah).
The Purity of Worship: How is the holiness of God being respected or defiled?
The Word of the Lord: Are there prophets mentioned? (Though not in this specific chapter, Isaiah was active during this time, warning Ahaz).