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The Divided Kingdom from Rehoboam to Zedekiah

The Divided Kingdom from Rehoboam to Zedekiah. Historical Bible Books 1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 25 2 Chronicles 36 Prophetic Books All except Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. The Disruption. The two sections of the kingdom were united in their religion and in their allegiance to the king

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The Divided Kingdom from Rehoboam to Zedekiah

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  1. The Divided Kingdom from Rehoboam to Zedekiah

  2. Historical Bible Books 1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 25 2 Chronicles 36 Prophetic Books All except Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

  3. The Disruption • The two sections of the kingdom were united in their religion and in their allegiance to the king • Ahijah’s prophecy (1 Kings 11:29-31) • Jeroboam flees to Egypt (1 Kings 11:40) • Death of Solomon (1 Kings 11:42-43) • Rehaboam’s kingship was not automatic. He presented himself for re-election at Shechem. • Return of Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:2) • Rehoboam’s unreasonable demands. If he had acted more tactfully, would the outcome have been different?

  4. Rehoboam and Jeroboam • Rehoboam didn’t realise the seriousness of the situation. • Death of Adoniram, the forced labour chief. Rehoboam escapes (1 Kings 12:18). • Rebellion of Israel (1 Kings 12:19-20). • War averted by action of the prophet Shemaiah (1 Kings 12:22-24). • Israel and Judah separated under different dynasties

  5. Jeroboam – Israel’s First King • 1 Kings 12-14 • A New Capital – Shechem • Established a short-lived dynasty • Two new sanctuaries at Bethel and Dan to counter influence of Jerusalem and its king. • Prophecies against Jeroboam – man of God, Ahijah (1 Kings 13, 14) • Subsequent references refer to Jeroboam as the one who “made Israel to sin”.

  6. Religious Consequences • More serious in the north • The new sanctuaries encouraged idolatry (two golden calves). The calves – images of Yahweh or fertility symbols associated with the Baal cult? • Priesthood open to non-Levites. The king participated in the sacrifices himself. • Date of autumn festival changed. • As time progressed , the worship became more degenerate.

  7. Rehoboam (931-913) Abijam (913-911) Asa (911-870) Jehosophat (870-848) Jehoram (848-841) Ahaziah (841) Athaliah (841-835) Joash (835-796) Jeroboam 1 (931 -910) Nadab (919-909) Baasha (909-886) Elah (886-885) Zimri (885) Tibni (885-880) Omri (880-874) Ahab (874-853) Ahaziah (853-852) Joram (852-841) Jehu (841-814) Kings of Judah and Israel

  8. Joash (835-796) Amaziah (796-767) Azariah (767-740) Jotham (740-732) Ahaz (732-716) Jehu (841-814) Jehoahaz (814-798) Jehoash (798-782) Jeroboam II (782-753) Zachariah (753-752) Shallum (752) Menahem (752-742) Pekahiah (742-740) Pekah (740-732) Hoshea (732-723) Kings of Judah and Israel

  9. Hezekiah (716-687) Manasseh (687-643) Amon (643-641) Josiah (640-609) Jehoahaz (609) Jehoiakim (609-597) Jehoiachin (597) Zedekiah (597-587) Kings of Judah

  10. After the division, the kingdoms of Judah (south) and Israel (north) continue for 208 and 344 years respectively. The northern kingdom is conquered by the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V and its people taken into exile in 723 BC. The southern kingdom is eventually conquered by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC.

  11. The Relationship between Israel and Judah 922-876BC. A period of continued feuding. The main issue seems to have been control of Benjamin. Asa asks Syria for help. 876-842BC. The accession of Omri ended the feud and there was a period of alliance. Syria is now seen as the enemy. A marriage between Jehoram and Athaliah. After 842BC. Following the murder of Ahaziah by Jehu, relations deteriorate. “ Kings 14:8-14 records a clash between Amaziah and Joash.

  12. The Relationship between Israel and Judah Around 736BC, Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel tried to involve Jotham (and later Ahaz) of Judah in an anti-Assyrian revolt. The Syro-Ephraimite alliance placed Judah in a dangerous position. Despite Isaiah’s appeal, Ahaz calls in Assyrian help which ultimately resulted in the end of the northern kingdom. Judah had temporary relief at great expense and the loss of independence. See 2 Chronicles 28:20.

  13. Themes from Kings • The Davidic Dynasty • God’s Freedom and Sovereignty in History • God’s commitment to His Covenant people • Recurring cycles of apostasy and judgement • Human Action and their Consequences • The Prophetic Ministry – Elijah and the School of the Prophets

  14. Theological Aspects The whole period demonstrates the sovereignty of God. (This is part of its teleological purpose.) The God of Israel is in control of the affairs of empires. God is concerned about national sins, social and economic injustices. This is something that is often ignored. The abiding nature of God’s Covenant. However, this was often misunderstood in purely nationalistic terms without faithfulness

  15. International Relations Philistia Edom Moab Egypt Syria Assyria Babylon

  16. Egyptian Influence • Two main facets of Egyptian policy: • When strong, Egypt tried to dominate • When weak, Egypt sought to use Israel and Judah as buffer states against the more powerful Assyria and Babylon. • After Shishak (1 Kings 11:40; 14:25), Egypt withdrew due to internal troubles. • In 606 BC, the Egyptian king Pharoah Necho II was defeated by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. See Jeremiah 46.

  17. Syria Ion reigns of Jeroboam and Baasha (922-877), the two states was equally powerful. During the dynasty of Omri (877-842), Syria gradually became dominant. This continued as Israel became weaker during Jehu’s dynastry (2 Kings 10:32f; 13:3, 7). From 805-734BC Syria’s position was weakened by Assyrian attacks allowing Israel to recover captured towns (2 Kings 13:25). From 734 onwards, Israel and Syria both come under threat from Assyria

  18. Assyria The ninth century marks the expansion of the Assyrian empire in the west. Ashur-nasir-pal III subdued Hamath and Phoenicia. An alliance between Israel and Tyre sealed with Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel. In 853 BC, Shalmanezer III fought an indecisive battle against a coalition of 10 kings at Qatqar. The Assyrian annals report that king Ahab of Israel supplied 2,000 chariots and 10,000 infantry to the coalition.

  19. Assyria In a further campaign in 841 BC, most of the states including Israel were made tributary. The coalition broke down when Jehu killed Jezebel. Jehu pays tribute, but is called a son of Omri! 2 Kings 13:5 is a possible reference to the Assyrian king Adad-nirari III who campaigned against Syria in 805-803BC. Menahem pays tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III (2 Kings 15:18-20). A little later, Pekah is defeated and loses cities to TP III.

  20. Assyria Judah also became tributary to Assyria at this time (2 Kings 16:8). Pekah’s successor Hoshea (the last king of Israel), prompted by Egypt, rebelled against Assyria by withholding tribute. The result was a campaign by Shalmanezer V. Hoshea was imprisoned and, after a three year seige, Samaria fell to the next Assyrian king,Sargon II. Sargon deported 27,290 inhabitants and replaced them with deportees from elsewhere. 2 Kings 17:6, 23; 18:11

  21. The Assyrian Menace • The fall of Samaria occurred in 723BC. The king of Judah at that time was Hezekiah. • Some years later, another Assyrian king, Sennacherib, attacked Judah. Although the country was laid waste, he failed to capture Jerusalem. • Following threats from the Assyrian king, Hezekiah turns to prayer. Isaiah prophesied Jerusalem’s deliverance. The Assyrians lost 85,000 men possibly as the result of bubonic plague.

  22. Origin of the Samaritans • Following the deportation of the Israelites from the Northern Kingdom, Israel was resettled with people from different parts of the Assyrian Empire. • They formed an ethno-religious group who later claimed their worship was the original religion of the Israelites prior to the exile. • They opposed the restoration activities of the returning exiles including Ezra and Nehemiah.

  23. Babylon Until 622, Babylon was under Assyrian control. In 605 BC, the Babylonians won the battle of Carchemish, defeating the Egyptians and the remnants of the Assyrian army. In a series of military campaigns, Israel was invaded by Nebuchadnezzar and its last kings deposed. The fall of Jerusalem in 587BC ended the Davidic dynasty. The last kings of Judah were seduced to revolt by Egypt and incurred Babylonian revenge.

  24. The Prophets of 1 & 2 Kings There is a clear interplay between the prophet and the king. Ahijah Shemaiah Elijah Elisha Micaiah Isaiah Apart from Isaiah, their main work was in the northern kingdom.

  25. Elijah • Religious life in Israel reached an all-time low in Ahab’s 22-year reign. He and his wife Jezebel of Tyre introduced the worship of the Phoenician god Melqart (Baal). • This brings him into conflict with Elijah who predicted a drought. Three yours later, there was a conflict on Mount Carmel. • Elijah escapes to Sinai, calls Elisha, brings about changes of dynasty. Dramatic taking up to heaven.

  26. Significance of Elijah • An important point in the history of monotheism. • Challenge to Idolatry • School of the Prophets • Among the Gentiles • James 5:13-18 – Elijah as a powerful example of faith and prayer. • Eschatological significance of Elijah • A forerunner of John the Baptist • With Jesus in the Transfiguration

  27. Revival Kings of Israel • Judah had 20 kings – 8 were good and of these 5 are known as the Revival Kings. • They were raised up by God to bring periods of revival and reformation to the nation. • Their activities are described in Chronicles which gives a theological history. 2 Chronicles, particularly, is a book of revivals.

  28. Revival Kings of Israel • The revival kings were: • Asa – 1 Kings 15:9-24; 2 Chron 14-16 • Jehosophat – 1 Kings 22:41-50; 2 Chron 17:1 – 21:3 • Joash – 2 kings 12; 2 Chron 24 • Hezekiah – 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chron 29-32 • Josiah – 2 Kings 22:1-23:30; 2 Chron 34-35 • However, even these “revival” kings couldn’t stop the downward decline of the nation. Something new was needed.

  29. Epilogue • The writer of Kings states that the fall of the northern kingdom is “because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God” (2 Kings 17:7). • Similarly, the fall of Jerusalem was “according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh” ( 2 Kings 24:3). • 2 Chron 36:16 is similar. God had sent his prophets “until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy” • The ending of 2 Chronicles contains a note of hope with a reference to Jeremiah’s prophecy of the return in 70 years time. (Jer 25:1-14; 29).

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