Why did God sometimes judge the entire nation for the actions of its king?

Answer

Sometimes in biblical history, an entire kingdom appears to be judged for the actions of one wicked king. For instance, 2 Chronicles 28:19 states, in part, “The LORD had humbled Judah because of Ahaz, king of Israel.” How can it be considered fair that all of Judah was judged due to King Ahaz’s transgressions?

The complete narrative reveals that the kings mentioned in these records were not the sole sinful individuals in the nation. Continuing from 2 Chronicles 28:19, the verse also explains, “For he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.” Therefore, both King Ahaz and the people of Judah were engaged in sinful behaviors, including idolatry. Ahaz had actively encouraged and enabled the sin, but the entire nation was found guilty of participating in the sin. When judgment was pronounced on a nation, it was typically directed at the king. As the leader of the nation, he was held accountable for the actions of his people.

When a righteous king emerged, we observe that his virtuous deeds also influenced the people under his leadership. For example, during the reign of the righteous King Asa of Judah, Asa took action against idolatry within his own family. Asa “deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up, and burned it in the Kidron Valley” «And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. », (2 Chronicles 15:16). He guided the nation towards righteousness and was rewarded with many years of peace (verses 18–19).

God’s Law, as given through Moses, foretold judgment upon Israel and its king if they turned away from God. Deuteronomy 28:36–37 states that if Israel failed to keep the commandments, “the Lord will drive you and the king you set over

You will be led to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. You will become an object of horror, a byword, and a subject of ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you.” God forewarned of this punishment in advance and then sent prophets to remind the kings when they erred; only after a king and his people blatantly rejected God’s ways did judgment befall them.

The kings of Judah and Israel had the power to either encourage or halt idol worship and other sinful deeds among the people they governed. When the kings promoted sin, they brought judgment upon their people. Moreover, when the king lived in sin, the people had a duty to oppose him. However, in the biblical instances of judgment against Israel’s wicked kings, the people were complicit in disobedience as well.

In essence, the king’s actions were not the sole determining factor in God’s decision to judge the nation; it is more precise to say that God’s judgment came due to the evil actions of the nation—actions endorsed by the king.

God’s judgment was meant to prompt His people to return to Him and cry out in repentance. God’s judgment was not everlasting, either. He restored the Israelites to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity in Babylon, providing yet another illustration of His faithfulness to His promises.