The Rise and Fall of Israel: A Tale of Kings and Prophets

1. Unit 3Chapter 2 The Kingdom Falls Mr. Young Literature of the Bible

2. Essential Question • Why do governments rise and fall?

3. Chapter Objectives • Read to discover what happened to the kingdom of Israel under David’s successors • Discuss the religious and political roles of the prophets Elijah and Elisha • Examine the causes of division that left Israel vulnerable to invasion

4. BellRinger Activity • Imagine God came to you in a dream and offered you anything that you asked of Him. What would you ask for and why?

5. Succeeding David • David appoints Solomon to be the new king • God came to Solomon in a dream and told Solomon whatever he asked would be given to him • Solomon asked for Wisdom

6. The Wisdom of Solomon • Solomon’s most prized characteristic was wisdom • 1 Kings 3:16-28 tells a story of two women fighting for a baby they claimed to be their son

7. Wisdom Cont • Each woman lays claim to the baby, and Solomon decides to cut the baby in half • The real mother begs Solomon to give the baby up, and Solomon returns the favor by giving the mom the baby back

8. Solomon and Baby • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxQw-qslc4s • 7:05 min • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_az3eNb0fI • 3:30 min

9. The House of the Lord • Solomon’s reign was at first both peaceful and prosperous • Solomon built the first temple • He had help from Hiram, king of Tyre • Built temple without God’s command, but validated the building

10. House of the Lord Cont. • The temple served as the center of Israelite life and worship for over 400 years • The ark of the covenant stood in the center of the holy of holies

11. Dimensions of the Temple

15. Solomon and Sheba • Supposedly from Sub-Saharan Africa, modern-day Ethiopia • She comes looking for and to test Solomon about wisdom • Wisdom could also be translated as the soul’s thirst for God

16. Solomon and Sheba

17. Solomon and Sheba

18. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGKJ9MgCOQ • Arrival of Sheba by Handel • 3:30 min

19. Unwise Choices • Solomon did not remain faithful to the covenant • Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines • He built temples for each of them to worship their own gods, and began to turn away

20. 1 Kings 11:4 • For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not true to the Lord his God, as was the hear of his father David.

21. Solomon offers to idols by Vos

22. The Kingdom Divided • Because of Solomon’s religious infidelity, the Kingdom of Israel was divided after his death. • Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, took over as king and treated them more harshly than Solomon

23. 1 Kings 12:14 • My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father flogged you with whips, but I will flog you with scorpions.

24. Kingdom divided Cont. • The Kingdom split over Rehoboam and the 10 tribes of the north left and took Jeroboam as their king • Judah will now be in the south, Israel will be in the north

25. Elijah • Providential Care*- A term that describes how God leads and protects the people of Israel as recounted in the Hebrew Scriptures • When Israel was at one of its lowest, God sent the prophet Elijah of Tishbite

26. Felix Mendelssohn Elijah • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s77R9-bF4gE • 3:23 min.

27. Elijah cont. • In control of Israel was King Ahab and his Phoenician Queen Jezebel • Jezebel brought the idol Baal to the people of Israel • Elijah told Ahab there would be no more rain until he said so.

28. Read Passages: • 1 Kings 17: 1-6- Elijah feed by ravens • 1 Kings 17: 7-24- Elijah with the widow and her son • 1 Kings 18: Elijah on Mt. Caramel • 1 Kings 19: Elijah flees from Jezebel

29. Elijah Cont. • God sent a raven to feed Elijah at a brook during the drought. • When it dried up, Elijah went to live with a widow and her son • After three years without rain, Elijah had a showdown with him and the prophets of Baal

30. Elijah Cont. • 450 prophets of Baal went against Elijah and after several days of prayer, Baal did not call down fire • Elijah called down fire and it consumed not only the sacrifice but water as well. • He then killed the prophets

31. Elijah on Mt. Caramel • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79sQ72ML07Y • 2:02 Min

40. Elijah Cont. • Jezebel then threatened to kill Elijah, who fled the country • He met with God at Mt. Horeb and God spoke to him in a still, small voice • Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire, and handed the reings to his disciple Elisha

41. Read 2 Kings 2: 23-25

42. Swing Low Sweet Chariot • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyZ128zVEr4 • Johnny Cash (2 min) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYbRwSjAir4 • Etta James (3 min) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY3XiM7oGj0 • Chariots of Fire (3:34 min)

43. Jezebel’s Fate (2 Kings 9:31-37 • She outlives both Ahab and Elijah • She is tossed out a balcony window, trampled by horses and the dogs eat everything but her skull, feet and hands • Elijah’s prophecy of her dramatic death comes true

44. The Final Fall • The Northern tribes were tired of paying tribute and revolted against the Assyrians, who crushed the revolt and exiled 10 tribes of Israel, known as the Lost Tribes • Only Judah and Benjamin would survive • Judah would finally fall to the Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar • They destroyed Jerusalem, burnt the temple to the ground, and carried the exiles to Babylon • When they cam back, no longer known as Israelites, but as Judeans, or Jews