Introduction to 1 2 Kings 23 September 2007

Introduction to 1 & 2 Kings 23 September 2007 1

1 & 2 Kings Ø Originally one book in the Hebrew O. T. Ø Split into two books in the Greek Septuagint 2

Author of 1 & 2 Kings Ø Unknown Ø Talmudic tradition says it was written by the prophet Jeremiah – except for the last two chapters 3

3 Historic Accounts Compared Men God used Eli Samuel Saul David Solomon 19 kings of Judah 19 kings of Israel Elijah Elisha Samuel Kings Chronicles 4

1 & 2 Kings Ø Like 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings deal with the history of two kingdoms: § The northern kingdom of Israel § The southern kingdom of Judah Ø 1 & 2 Chronicles deals mainly with the southern kingdom of Judah 5

Dates of 1 & 2 Kings Ø The events of 1 & 2 Kings span approximately 425 years: § From King David confirming Solomon king around 986 B. C. § To Evil-Merodach, king of Babylon, releasing Jehoiachin, king of Judah, from prison around 561 B. C. (25 years after the destruction of the temple) Ø So 45 chapters were probably written before the 586 BC fall of Jerusalem and 2 more chapters were added afterwards. 6

Contribution to the Bible Ø Tells us about the rise, division, decline and fall of the kingdom of Israel Ø Synchronizes the histories of the monarchies of the kings of Israel and Judah Ø Gives evaluations of each king’s reign, using the reign of King David as the standard. Ø Describes the prophetic ministries of several of God’s prophets 7

Christ in Kings Ø Solomon was a type of Christ § 1 Cor. 1: 30 says Christ Jesus became for us “wisdom from God” § Solomon’s fame, glory, wealth and honor foreshadow Christ in His future kingdom on earth § In Mt. 12: 42 Jesus said, “Indeed a greater than Solomon is here. ” 8

Christ in Kings Ø Elijah was also a type of Christ § He was a bold prophet § He performed miracles § He stressed law, judgment and repentance 9

Christ in Kings Ø Elisha was a type of Christ too § He was a bold prophet § He performed miracles § He lived among the people § He emphasized grace, life and hope 10

Outline of Kings 1. The united kingdom (1 Kings 1– 11) 2. The divided kingdom (1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 17) § From Rehoboam’s foolish choice § To the deportation of Israel to Assyria 3. The surviving kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 18– 25) § From the reign of Hezekiah § To the deportation of Judah to Babylon § To the release of Jehoiachin in Babylon 11

United Kingdom (at the time of David’s death) 12

God’s Special Offer to Solomon At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you? ” Solomon said: “ … give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? ” – 1 Kings 3: 5, 6, 9 NKJV 13

God’s Promise to Solomon “Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel. ’ ” – 1 Kings 9: 4, 5 NKJV 14

Solomon’s Downfall But King Solomon loved many foreign women … from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods. ” … And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines … when Solomon was old … his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. – 1 Kings 11: 1 -4 NKJV 15

Nehemiah’s commentary Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. – Nehemiah 13: 26 NKJV 16

God’s response So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen. ” – 1 Kings 11: 9, 11, 13 NKJV 17

Rehoboam’s mistake And he they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever. ” But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him… – 1 Kings 12: 7, 8 NKJV 18

Jeroboam’s mistake And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah. ” Therefore the king … made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” – 1 Kings 12: 26 -28 NKJV 19

Divided Kingdom and its neighbors 20

Israelite Dynasties Dynasty = a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family The divided kingdom Israel Judah 9 1 No. of kings before captivity 19 19 No. of years before captivity 224 359 No. of dynasties Nation conquered by Assyria Babylon Note: Judah also had one female ruler, Queen Athaliah 21

Israelite Dynasties Year B. C. Kings of Judah Kings of Israel 933 1 Rehoboam (bad) 1 Jeroboam I 915 2 Abijah (bad) 912 3 Asa (good) 911 910 887 2 Nadab 3 Baasha 4 Elah 22

Israelite Dynasties 886 875 874 855 854 4 Jehoshaphat (good) 5 Zimri 6 Omri 7 Ahab 8 Ahaziah 9 Joram 23

Israelite Dynasties 850 5 Jehoram (bad) 843 6 Ahaziah (bad) 843 7 Athaliah (wicked) 8 Joash (good/bad) 11 Jehoahaz 12 Joash 843 820 806 10 Jehu 24

Israelite Dynasties 803 790 787 749 748 748 9 Amaziah (good/bad) 13 Jeroboam II 10 Uzziah (good) 11 Jotham (good) 14 Zechariah 15 Shallum 16 Menahem 25

Israelite Dynasties 741 738 730 726 721 12 Ahaz (bad) 13 Hezekiah (good) 17 Pekahiah 18 Pekah 19 Hoshea End of N. Kingdom 26

Israel’s Downfall So they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone. – 2 Kings 17: 16 -18 NKJV 27

Israelite Dynasties 697 641 639 608 597 586 14 Manasseh (evil, but repented) 15 Amon (bad) 16 Josiah (good) 17 Jehoahaz (bad) 18 Jehoiakim (bad) 19 Jehoiachin (bad) 20 Zedekiah (bad) End of Southern Kingdom 28

Judah’s Downfall Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the LORD and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around. Then Nebuzaradan … carried away captive the rest of the people who remained in the city. But the captain left some of the poor or the land as vinedressers and farmers. – 2 Kings 24: 8 -12 NKJV 29

Application Ø Avoid Solomon’s mistake of marrying an unbeliever Ø Avoid Rehoboam’s mistake of listening to foolish youth instead of wise elders Ø Avoid Jeroboam’s mistake of being clever and setting up idols rather than trusting God 30

Application Ø Avoid making alliances with unbelievers unless you have a well-planned exit strategy Ø Do not despise prophecies (1 Thes. 5: 20) Ø Always remember that sin has cosmic effects and influences future generations Ø Always remember that even God’s patience has limits, and He will punish nations for their sin and lawlessness – even today! 31

Bibliography Special thanks goes to the following: § Bible History Online § Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa for their information in Talk Thru the Bible § Walt Henrichsen for his wisdom and insight shared during Bible studies he has led and in books, articles and e-mails he has written § Edward Reese for his chronology and dating in The Reese Chronological Bible 32