1 Kings 12-2 Chronicles 36

1 Kings 12-2 Chronicles 36 The Divided Kingdom

Purpose of 1 and 2 Kings • 1 Kings 1-11 record the events of Solomon’s life and reign • 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 25 record the dividing of the kingdom following Solomon’s death • This book clearly reveals that God is faithful to His word in judging His people for their disobedience and idolatry • Both Israel and Judah were taken captive by foreign nations in this book, illustrating that what God had warned about in Leviticus and Deuteronomy would indeed take place

Key Words and Dates 1 Kings 2 Kings • Key Chapter-12 • Dividing of the Kingdom • Key word- Division • Key Date- 931 BC • Years Covered- 125 • Characters • Solomon • Rehoboam • Jeroboam • Ahab • Jezebel • Elijah • Asa • Jehoshaphat • Key Chapters • 17- Records the fall of the Northern Kingdom • 25- Records the fall of the Southern Kingdom • Key Dates-721 BC,605 BC,586 BC • Key Word- Captivity • Years Covered 256 • Characters • Elisha • Jehu • Jeroboam II • Hezekiah • Manasseh

1 and 2 Kings in Contrast 1 kings 2 kings • Begins with King David • Opens with Solomon’s Glory • Begins with blessing of obedience • Traces the progress of apostasy • Shows how kings failed to rule God’s people • Introduces Elijah • Emphasizes the Patience of the Lord • Ends with the king o Babylon • Closes with Jehhoiachin’s shame • Ends with cursing for disobedience • Closes with the burning of the temple • Describes the consequences of apostasy • Depicts consequences of that failure • Introduces Elisha • Confirms the Lord’s sure punishment for sin

Comparison of the Two Kingdoms Southern Kingdom of Judah Northern Kingdom of Israel • Jeroboam • 10 • 209 years • 9 • 20- not one Godly king • Samaria • Assyria • 721 BC • Hoshea • Rehoboam • 2 • 345 years • 1 • 20- 5 revival kings • Jerusalem • Babylonia • 586 BC • Zedekiah • First King • # of Tribes • Duration • Dynasties • # of Kings • Capital • Conquered By • Conquered in • Last King

The Dividing of the Kingdom • It came about at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak ; and both of them were alone in the field. Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve pieces. He said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces ; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes (but he will have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel ), • 1 Kings 11:29-32

Rehoboam went to Shechem • He was the oldest, and perhaps the only son of Solomon, and had been, doubtless, designated by his father heir to the throne, as Solomon had been by David • The incident here related took place after the funeral obsequies of the late king and the period for public mourning had past • When all Israel came to make him king, it was not to exercise their old right of election ( 1 Samuel 10:19-21 ), for, after God's promise of the perpetual sovereignty to David's posterity, their duty was submission to the authority of the rightful heir; but their object was, when making him king, to renew the conditions and stipulations to which their constitutional kings were subject ( 1 Samuel 10:25 )

Jeroboam comes to Rehoboam • The splendor of Solomon's court and the magnitude of his undertakings being such, that neither the tribute of dependent states, nor the presents of foreign princes, nor the profits of his commercial enterprises, were adequate to carry them on • He had been obliged, for obtaining the necessary revenue, to begin a system of heavy taxation • The people looked only to the burdens, not to the benefits they derived from Solomon's peaceful and prosperous reign • The evils from which they demanded deliverance were civil oppressions, not idolatry, to which they appear to have been indifferent or approving

Israel revolts and makes Jeroboam King • The revolt was accomplished, and yet so quietly, that Rehoboam remained in Shechem, fancying himself the sovereign of a united kingdom, until his chief tax gatherer, who had been most imprudently sent to treat with the people, had been stoned to death • This opened his eyes, and he fled for security to Jerusalem • Rehobaom retained rule over Judah and Benjamin • Jeroboam ruled the northern 10 tribes

Jeroboam and the Golden Calves • The Golden calves themselves were probably not to be seen as pagan idols but as the animals on whose back stood the invisible god, unseen by the eyes of the worshipers • A calf was placed at both Dan and at Bethel to make worship more convenient for the people • Jeroboam also instituted a non-Levitical order of priests and a new feast in the 8th month that rivaled the Feast of Tabernacles • 2 Chronicles 11:27 records that these spiritual reforms caused a mass exodus of true priest and believers south to Judah

Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah • Ahab was an evil King, the worst of all • 1 Kings 16:30,32-33 • He marries Jezebel • Jezebel’s name means “where is the prince”(Baal) • Elijah predicts drought-1 Kings 17:1-24 • Elijah is fed by ravens • Elijah and the widow of Zarephath • Elijah raises the widow’s son

Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah • Elijah reproves Ahab- 1 Kings 18 • Contest on Mt Carmel against the priests of Baal • Elijah prays for rain • Elijah flees from Jezebel – 1 Kings 19 • Jezebel was upset about the slaying of the priests of Baal • Elijah is ministered to by the Angel of the Lord • The Call of Elisha- 1 Kings 19:19-21 • Elijah pronounces Ahab's Doom-126 Kings 21:17 • Death of Ahab- 1 Kings 22:29-40

Elijah and Elisha • Elijah and Elisha ministered as prophets of God during these dark days in the Northern Kingdom • The Northern Kingdom not only worshipped the Golden Calves but also began worshipping Baal, under the influence of Ahab and Jezebel The life of Elijah and Elisha are found throughout 1 and 2 Kings

Elijah and Elisha • Between them, Elijah and Elisha prophesied for 50-80 years • Elijah means "Yahweh is my god” • Elijah prophesied while Ahab was king and Jezebel was queen • Baal was thought to be the god of rain but when Elijah proclaimed a drought, Baal was found to be impotent • Ravens fed Elijah twice a day during the drought • Poor people were fortunate to eat one meal a day • Zarephath in Sidon was deep in Baal country (Jezebel was also from Sidon). • In a patriarchal society, widows were particularly vulnerable, but when Elijah asked her for help, she was willing to oblige • When the widow's son died, Elijah prayed and God restored him

Elijah and Elisha • Ahab and his servant were out looking for grass for their cattle, when the servant met Elijah • Ahab's servant had hidden 100 of Yahweh's prophets from Ahab • Ahab blamed the drought on Elijah, calling him a troublemaker for Israel. • Elijah proposed a contest between Yahweh and hundreds of Baal's best prophets • Mount Carmel was about 17 miles away from Jezreel • The people in attendance were very confused, not knowing which god to follow • When Baal didn't answer his prophets, Elijah mocked him, saying maybe he was sleeping and they should yell louder • Elijah doused his altar with water: he didn't want anyone to think it happened spontaneously • Yahweh answered Elijah's simple prayer without the need for incantations or rituals • Part of Elijah's prayer was that the people would be converted, that they would see and follow the true God • In this "winners take all" contest, Baal's prophets were killed

Elijah and Elisha • Following this demonstration of Yahweh's power, the drought ended • Elijah raced Ahab home, so convinced was he that the "war" was over • Elijah misjudged Jezebel's anger and resolve, so he ran for his life to Beersheba in the southern part of Judah, out of the land under Ahab's control • Exhausted and afraid, Elijah was ready to die • The Lord had other plans and sent an angel to feed him -- twice. • It took him forty days to get from there to Horeb • He still complained, however, that he was the only one left to worship the Lord • God refused to accept his resignation as prophet • God's response was to give him three directives • Anoint a new king of Syria • Anoint a new king of Israel • Anoint Elisha as his own successor • Elijah only completed the third task, though even here he did not anoint Elisha, but gave him his mantle

Elijah and Elisha • Elisha was out plowing with twelve men and oxen • A statement indicating great wealth • After Ahab stole Naboth's property, Elijah was commissioned to pronounce judgment on him and Jezebel • When it was time for Elijah to go, Elisha refused to stay behind • First they went to Bethel, then Jericho, then Jordan • At each point, groups of prophets prophesied that Elijah would leave • With his cloak, Elijah also parted the waters of the Jordan and he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground • Elisha was very upset when Elijah was carried up to heaven in a whirlwind • There is no parallel or precedent for this happening to anyone else in the Bible • Elisha's father and locale were known • Elisha means "my God saves" • Elisha used Elijah's cloak to part the waters of the Jordan River, just like Elijah had done.

Elijah and Elisha • The two stories that follow illustrated to Elisha that he was being offered a choice between good and evil. • The people of the city needed fresh water - they got it. • Young boys taunted Elisha; they were punished. • Elisha acted as theological advisor for Jehoram in the battle against Moab. • He only agreed to help because the Judahite king was also involved. • The successful battle further established his credentials as Elijah's successor.

Why did Elisha curse the youths that made fun of him? • First, the King James Version has done us a disservice by translated the term as “children” • The Hebrew word can refer to children, but rather more specifically means "young men" • The NIV, quoted here, uses the word “youths” • Second, the fact that the bears mauled 42 of the youths indicates that there were more than 42 youths involved • This was not a small group of children making fun of a bald man • Rather, it was a large demonstration of young men who assembled for the purpose of mocking a prophet of God • Third, the mocking of “go on up, you baldhead,” is more than making fun of baldness • The baldness of Elisha referred to here may be • Natural loss of hair • A shaved head denoting his separation to the prophetic office • An epithet of scorn and contempt, Elisha not being literally bald • The phrase “go up” likely was a reference to Elijah, Elisha’s mentor, being taken up to Heaven earlier in 2 Kings chapter 2:11-12 • These youths were sarcastically taunting and insulting the Lord’s prophet by telling him to repeat Elijah’s translation

Why did Elisha curse the youths that made fun of him? • In summary,2 Kings 2:23-24is not an account of God mauling young children for making fun of a bald man • Rather, it is a record of an insulting demonstration against God’s prophet by a large group of young men • Because these young people of about 20 years of age or older (the same term is used of Solomon in1 Kings 3:7) so despised the prophet of the Lord, Elisha called upon the Lord to deal with the rebels as He saw fit • The Lord’s punishment was the mauling of 42 of them by two female bears • The penalty was clearly justified, for to ridicule Elisha was to ridicule the Lord Himself • The seriousness of the crime was indicated by the seriousness of the punishment • The appalling judgment was God’s warning to all who would scorn the prophets of the Lord

Elijah and Elisha • Like Elijah, Elisha encountered a widow who needed help. • That she was able to fill pots with oil without Elisha even being present only heightened his authority • Elisha's promise that the Shunammite woman would have a son echoed God's promise to Abraham and Sarah • When that son died, the woman had complete faith in Elisha, telling him (against all evidence to the contrary) "it is well" • But she also complained that he gave her a son only to deceive her (compare the mother's complaint against Elijah in 1Kings 17:18) • Elisha's servant could not restore the child. • Like Elijah, Elisha also lay upon the child, and prayed, and the child was restored

Elijah and Elisha • The third in this series of life-giving miracles was when Elisha overcame "death in the pot" during a famine • People were able to eat freely. • Lastly, Elisha multiplied twenty loaves of bread to feed over 100 men • The incident with Naaman (captain of the host of the king of Syria) brought international stature to Elisha • Naaman was used to dealing with top-level people so he went to the king of Israel first for healing for his condition of leprosy • The king of Israel had nothing to offer and immediately "rent his clothes" (a typical sign of mourning), thinking there would be retribution • Elisha took pity on the king and offered to help. • When Naaman appeared at his door, he sent out a messenger with a simple message - go wash in the Jordan seven times • This was humiliating because the Jordan was considered to be a "lesser" river • Nonetheless, when he was obedient, Naaman was cleansed of leprosy • Elisha refused Naaman's generous offer to pay him • Unfortunately, Gehazi did not

Elijah and Elisha • Unlike many of the other parallels in the life of Elisha, he is the only one in the Bible who "made iron float" (See 2 Kings 6:1-6) • Because of Gehazi's earlier misconduct in taking payment from Naaman, it is not known which servant was with Elisha when the Syrian army surrounded him • In the face of overwhelming odds and immediate danger, Elisha told his servant "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16) • Almost immediately the Syrian army was struck blind, and Elisha led them to Samaria - the capital of the northern kingdom • Elisha insisted that the Syrian army, though captive, be treated well, fed, and allowed to return home. "And they warred no more against Israel" • The treaty, however, was short lived • Shortly thereafter, the Syrians instituted a siege against Samaria • When all seemed lost and the king was about to kill him, Elisha predicted it would end "tomorrow“ • It did, The Syrians vanished without a fight.

Elijah and Elisha • Elisha was further validated through a second party conversation between Gehazi and the king • Just as he was telling the king about the Shunammite woman's son, she walked in and confirmed everything. In return, she was blessed because the king restored her land to her • Elisha fulfilled Elijah's commission to anoint Hazael as king of Syria • He wept as he did so, because he could foresee the pain and suffering Hazael would inflict on the people of Israel • Next he sent a messenger with oil to anoint the head of Jehu as king over Israel (Elijah's second commission) • It was Jehu who brought the dynasty of the House of Omri to an end, as well as the demise of Jezebel • On his deathbed, Elisha gave prophetic signs regarding the course of events with Syria - they would win some early battles, but eventually they would be defeated by the Assyrians • As soon as Elisha passed on, the bands of Moabites invaded the land • Even in his death, Elisha had one more life-saving act to perform • When a corpse was also thrown into Elisha's grave, he was restored to life the minute his body touched Elisha‘s

The Godly King Hezekiah2 Kings 18:1-20:21 • Following the death of wicked King Ahaz his son Hezekiah ascended the throne in Jerusalem • The new monarch introduced comprehensive religious reform and introduced substantial policy changes • Hezekiah renewed the full-scale worship of the God following a lengthy period in which idol-worship had taken root in the city • "He abolished the shrines and smashed the pillars and cut down the sacred post. He also broke into pieces the bronze serpent which Moses had made, for until that time the Israelites had been offering sacrifices to it "(2 Kings 18:4) • At the same time he renewed the tradition of the Passover pilgrimage in its full scope, and for the first time since the kingdom had split, under Rehoboam son of Solomon, the remnants of the tribes of Israel, those who had not gone into the Assyrian exile, were invited to take part in the most sumptuous festival which had been seen for many generations • Hezekiah took advantage of the festival to consolidate his religious reforms and to return the people to the worship of God • "A great crowd assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great congregation. They set to and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they removed all the incense stands and threw them into WadiKidron...There was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for since the time of King Solomon son of David of Israel nothing like it had happened in Jerusalem" (2 Chronicles 30:13, 26)

Wicked King Manasseh2 Kings 21:1-26 • King Manasseh came to the throne at only 12 years of age, when his father, the good King Hezekiah, died • Manasseh made it his mission to undo the good reforms instituted by his father, and to do a great deal of evil • Hezekiah had destroyed shrines of pagan worship throughout the land; Manasseh rebuilt them, adding also shrines to Baal and Asherah • He desecrated the LORD's temple by putting altars for idol worship in it • He sacrificed his own sons, burning them to death in worship of the idol Molech. Manasseh murdered so many people that the historian wrote that he “filled Jerusalem from one end to the other” with innocent blood • The LORD sent prophets to warn of the disaster that would come because the people followed Manasseh in his great sins — Judah would be destroyed by their enemies, but king and people ignored the warnings • Late in Manasseh's 55-year reign, Assyria attacked Jerusalem, captured Manasseh, and placed him in a prison 1,000 miles away • Humiliated and powerless, he sat in his cell and remembered his father's days • He began to pray, confessing his sin and asking the LORD's help • The LORD heard Manasseh's prayer, freed him, and returned him to his throne in Jerusalem • Back in power, Manasseh was a new man • He destroyed all the idol shrines he had built, removed his desecrations from the LORD's temple, and restored the temple worship • Unfortunately, Manasseh's conversion came too late to have any lasting impact on his kingdom. When Judah fell, the LORD blamed it on the sins of Manasseh.

Godly King Josiah2 kings 23:31-25:30 • King Josiah was Judah's last gasp — the last good thing that happened to the Israelites before their kingdom was destroyed • Josiah became king as a child of only eight, and soon took an interest in the LORD, contrary to his father King Amon • Early in life he instituted reforms and took steps against idol worship. • At 25 years of age, Josiah decided to rebuild the LORD's temple, deteriorated with age • As the workers were cleaning, they found an obscure book that no one had ever heard of — the Book of the Law, forgotten by previous generations • This was most likely a copy of the Pentateuch • As the king listened to his secretary read the book, he was struck with grief and terror, certain the LORD was furious with Josiah and his people for their disobedience • Immediately, Josiah set upon a sweeping program to eliminate pagan worship and renew the ancient covenant of the LORD • He toured the land, destroying pagan shrines, and celebrated the Passover for the first time in decades • The revival was wonderful • But as soon as Josiah died, the people returned to their evil ways, and before his sons reached middle age, the LORD's judgment for centuries of evil practices came, and Judah was no more

Captivity of Northern Kingdom • The captivity of Northern Kingdom began in 721 BC • The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian monarchs, Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul) and Shalmaneser V • The later Assyrian rulers Sargon II and his son and successor, Sennacherib, were responsible for finishing the twenty-year demise of Israel's northern ten-tribe kingdom • Sennacherib also invaded some parts of the Southern Kingdom of Judah • He records forty-six fortified towns captured from Judah, and presumably carried away into Assyria • Jerusalem was besieged, but not taken • The tribes exiled by Assyria later became known as the Ten Lost Tribes

Captivity Southern Kingdom • The Babylonian captivity (or Babylonian exile) was the period in Jewish history during which the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah were captives in Babylon • There were three deportations of Jews to Babylon • The exile of King Jeconiah, his court and many others in Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year 605BC • Jeconiah's successor Zedekiah and the rest of the people in Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth year 597 BC • A later deportation in Nebuchadnezzar's twenty-third year 588

Closing of 1 and 2 Kings • 1 and 2 Kings clearly reveals that God is faithful to His word in judging His people for their disobedience and idolatry • Both Israel and Judah were taken captive by foreign nations, illustrating that what God had warned about in Leviticus and Deuteronomy would indeed take place

1 and 2 Chronicles • Authorship • Jewish tradition assigns authorship to Ezra • It has been suggested that Chronicles and Ezra were actually on large historical document • Chronicles was actually compiled from as many as 10 different sources • 1 Chronicles 9:1; 2 Chronicles 12:15 • Time of writing • Probably around 450 BC

1 and 2 Chronicles • Purpose of the Book • Complimentary to 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings • It was intended to strengthen the remnant of the nation that had made it through the Babylonian captivity • Israel needed to be reminded that God was still with them and they still had a wonderful and glorious future because God was faithful to His covenants

1 and 2 Chronicles • Chronicles covers the same time frame as the foundational books Samuel and Kings but view it from a different perspective • Samuel- Kings emphasizes the throne • Chronicles emphasizes the Temple • Chronicles focuses on the Southern Kingdom of Judah and it’s Godly Kings • Samuel-Kings views both kingdoms

The Genealogoies1 Chronicles 1:1-9:44 • A detailed and extensive list traces the lineage of Israel is given in these chapters • They begin with Adam and end with the Babylonian Captivity • They reveal the hand of God at work during those years • They show Him selecting certain people to fulfill His prophecies • This genealogy is important in tracing the line of the Messiah

Reign of the Kings • The reign on Saul – 1 Chronicles 10:1-4 • The unfaithfulness of Israel’s first king is given to contrast with God’s true choice for a king, David

Reign of the Kings • Reign of David over the United Kingdom-1 Chronicles 11:1-29:30 • David is seen welding the nation of Israel together and making it a powerful force for the Lord • Emphasis is placed on David’s desire to make Jerusalem the religious capital of Israel and David’s desire to build a temple for the Lord • David brought rest to the land through his military might but was not allowed to build the temple • David is seen making many preparations fro building the Temple

Reign of the Kings • Reign of Solomon over the United Kingdom- 2 Chronicles 1:1-9:31 • The history of Solomon in Chronicles center around two visions he received • One at Gibeon- 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 • Solomon is given unusual wisdom from God • This enables him to build the temple and lead Israel in righteousness • The other at Jerusalem- 2 Chronicles 7:12-22 • God promised blessing and prosperity for obedience, but discipline for disobediance

Reign of the Kings • The divided kingdom- 2 Chronicles 10:1-32:23 • This section focuses on the Godly kings of Judah who reigned after the Solomon in the Southern Kingdom during the times of the divided and single kingdoms • The Emphasis is on the following Kings of Judah • Asa- Chapters14-16 • Jehoshaphat-Chapters 17-20 • Joash – Chapter 24 • Hezekiah –Chapters 29-32 • Josiah- Chapters 34-35

Closing of Chronicles • The last chapter of 2 Chronicles is significant because it describes the fall of Jerusalem and the taking of the Southern Kingdom into the Babylonian Captivity • IT also indicates why the captivity would last for 70 years • Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon ; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete. 2 Chronicles 36:20-21

1 Kings 12-2 Chronicles 36