The downfall of Judah

Today, we finish the history of Judah. I will summarize her history from the death of Queen Athaliah, daughter of Ahab who reigned for 7 years in Judah.
Jehoash was 7 years old when he began to reign. He reigned for 40 years and he was a good king in the eyes of Deuteronomist historians, but the high places for idol worship were not removed. People continue to sacrifice there (2 Kings 11:21-12:3).
Amaziah was 25 years old when he began to reign. He reigned for 29 years and he was also a good king for like Jehoash, he did not remove the high places (2 Kings 14:2-3).
Azariah (Uzziah) was 16 years old when he began to reign. He reigned for 52 years and he was not totally good like his father Amaziah (2 Kings 15:2-4).
Jotham was 25 years old when he began to reign. He reigned for 16 years and he was not totally good (2 Kings 15:34-35).
Ahaz came next. He began to reign at the age of 20 and he reigned for 16 years. He followed the idolatry of the kings of Israel (2 Kings 16:2-3).
Hezekiah began to reign at the age of 25. He reigned for 29 years. He was considered good because he removed the high places (2 Kings 18:2-4).
Manasseh was 12 when he began to reign. He reigned for 55 years and he was very bad. He worshipped idols and even burned his son as sacrifice (2 Kings 21:1-6).
Amon was 22 when he began to reign but he reigned for 2 years only. He was bad (2 Kings 21:19-20).
Josiah was 8 when he began to reign and he reigned for 31 years. He was good and began religious reforms in Judah (2 Kings 22:1-28).
No king after Josiah was considered good in the eyes of the Deuteronomists.
Jehoahaz was 23 when he began to reign but he was bad. He was able to reign for only 3 months and Pharaoh Neco captured him and carried him to Egypt to demand a ransom from Judah. Jehoahaz died in Egypt (2 Kings 23:31-34).
Jehoiakim, the brother of Jehoahaz was 25 when he began to reign and he reigned for 11 years. He was bad (2 Kings 23:36-37).
Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim, was 18 when he began to reign. The second book of Chronicles had him 8 instead of 18 (2 Chronicles 36:9). He was bad and reigned for only 3 months when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquered Judah and carried him and the elites of the land to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-16). This was the first Babylonian Exile.
Zedekiah, the last king of Judah was the uncle of Jehoiachin. He was 21 when Nebuchadnezzar made him a puppet king in Judah. He was as bad as Jehoiahim and was able to reign for 11 years (2 Kings 24:18-19).
When he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, it brought the final destruction of Judah. He was captured. His sons were killed before his eyes. Then the Babylonians put out his eyes, bound him in fetters and carried him away to Babylon (2 Kings 24:20-25:7). The Babylonians burned down the Temple and carried away all the bronze and vessels to Babylon (2 Kings 25:9-17).
And in the 37^th year of the first exile, Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, freed Jehoiachin from prison. From that day on, Jehoiachin was able to dine at the king's table everyday as long as he lived (2 Kings 25:27-30).
From the king list above, we see that bad kings can reign both long (Manasseh 55 years) and short (Jehoiachin 3 months). There is no causal relation between longevity and virtues. The Bible does not say how old Jehoiachin was when he died but he must have been over 55. Therefore, we should not entertain the mentality of Pharisees to see evil people perish. Didn't Jesus drink and dine with sinners? Be good and try our best to do God's will. Suffer patiently until God vindicates you.

My Advocate, my heart is too narrow. I really desire to see Your justice done. But You are always so patient and merciful. Allow us to live in Your mercy all the days of our life. Amen.