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Reign of Solomon (2 Chr. 1:1 - 9:31). 8:1-18 Solomon’s Accomplishments Solomon’s use of Canaanite as forced labor (7-8) Solomon moves Pharaoh’s daughter out of Jerusalem (11). Cf. 1 Kgs 11:1-3 Solomon’s dedication to temple worship (12-16) Gold from Ophir: 17 tons.
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Reign of Solomon (2 Chr. 1:1 - 9:31) • 8:1-18 Solomon’s Accomplishments • Solomon’s use of Canaanite as forced labor (7-8) • Solomon moves Pharaoh’s daughter out of Jerusalem (11). Cf. 1 Kgs 11:1-3 • Solomon’s dedication to temple worship (12-16) • Gold from Ophir: 17 tons
Reign of Solomon (2 Chr. 1:1 - 9:31) • 9:1-12 Visit of the queen of Sheba • Location of Sheba? • Compare Matt. 12:42 • 9:13-31 The greatness of Solomon • Wisdom of Solomon “which God had put in his mind” (23) • Extent of his rule (26) • “The rest of the acts of Solomon... (29) • What is missing in the closing account?
Judah during the Divided Kingdom 10:1-28:27 • More balanced between positive and negative events (unlike David & Solomon) • Contrasting scenarios between obedience & disobedience; blessing & judgment • Events of the North are omitted except as they touch life in Judah
General Outline • Early kings: judgments & increasing blessings • Rehoboam (10:1--12:16) • Abijah (13:1--14:1) • Asa (14:2--16:14) • Jehoshaphat (17:1 -- 21:3)
General Outline • Northern Corruption in Judah • Jehoram (21:4 -- 21:20) • Ahaziah (22:1-9) • Athaliah (22:10 -- 23:21) • Joash (24:1-27)
General Outline • Half-Hearted Obedience in Judah & Increasing Judgments • Amaziah (25:1-28) • Uzziah (26:1-23) • Jotham (27:1-9) • Ahaz (28:1-27)
Patterns • Every reign has at least one episode of Judah’s involvement with the North • In the early kings, each king remains distinct from the North, though there are failures • Separation from Israel is deeply corrupted in the second phase • The third phase has Judah becoming like Israel
Patterns • Every reign has at least one battle narrative in which God helps Judah, answering prayers • Judah’s response to prophetic utterances determine God’s blessings and judgments • The number of soldiers in Judah’s army rose with the reigns of the kings (180,000 - 1,160,000)
Reign of Rehoboam (931-913) • Two great sins of Rehoboam are presented but he is blessed when he responds to the prophets • 10:1-19 Foolishly listens to his peers • How can we avoid Rehoboam’s mistakes? • “forsaking the counsel of the old men” (13) • “turn of affairs brought about by God” (15) • 11:1-12 Listens to the prophet, does not attack Israel, & is blessed
Reign of Rehoboam (931-913) • 11:13-17 Priests & Levites abandon Israel & strengthen Judah • 11:18-23 Rehoboam serves the Lord for 3 years & is blessed • 12:1-16 Rehoboam’s rebellion • Egyptian invasion (1-4) • Blessed because of a positive response to Shemaiah (5-13) • Vs. 8 Serving God vs. serving the nations • Summation of his reign (14-16)
Reign of Abijah (913-911) • 13:3-12 Abijah’s “evangelistic” speech to Israel • They are out-numbered by Israel • God gave the throne to David & descendants • Jeroboam rebelled; worthless scoundrels joined him (7) • You think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord? (8) • We are faithful in worship & have not forsaken the Lord (10)
Reign of Abijah (913-911) • 13:13-22 God’s victory to Abijah • “They cried to the Lord” (14) • “God defeated Jeroboam” (15) • “500,000 chosen men fell of Israel” (17) • “Men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the Lord” (18) • “Abijah grew mighty...” (21)
Reign of Abijah (913-911) • Evaluation of Abijah in the Kings (1 Kgs 15:3-5) • “Abijah” vs. “Abijam” (1 Kings) • Abijah = “my father is Yahweh” • Abijam = “my father is Yam” (West Semitic god of the sea)
Reign of Abijah (913-911) • Vs 7 alternate reading: “Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him (Reho) and he (Jero)rebelled against Rehoboam when he (Reho) was young & indecisive & not strong enough to resist them.”
Reign of Asa (910-869) • 14:1-7 Asa’s goodness & God’s blessings • “commanded Judah to seek the Lord” (4) • 14:8-15 Asa’s battle with the superior Ethiopians • “Asa cried to the Lord” (11) • “The Lord defeated the Ethiopians” (12) • “they were broken before the Lord & his army” (13) • “much plunder” (14-15)
Reign of Asa (910-869) • 15:1-7 Words of Azariah the prophet: service to the Lord will be rewarded • 15:8 Asa’s response & reforms • 15:9-19 Asa gathers the people for worship & reform • they entered a covenant to seek the Lord (12) • “Swore an oath...” (14-15) • Queen mother removed (16)
Reign of Asa (910-869) • 16:1-14 Asa’s sins in not relying on the Lord • Relied on Ben-hadad king of Syria to get relief from Baasha, king of Israel (1-5) • Did not respond to Hanani the prophet (6-10) • Asa’s diseased feet; “yet he did not seek the Lord” • Summation: Chronicler presents a contrast of Asa’s reign - blessed when relying on God, cursed when he ceased to trust God