1 introduction to 1 & 2 kings 23 september 2007. 2 1 & 2 kings originally one book in the...
TRANSCRIPT
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Introduction to1 & 2 Kings
23 September 2007
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1 & 2 Kings
Originally one book in the Hebrew O.T.
Split into two books in the Greek Septuagint
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Author of 1 & 2 Kings
Unknown
Talmudic tradition says it was written by the prophet Jeremiah – except for the last two chapters
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3 Historic Accounts Compared
Men God used Samuel Kings Chronicles
Eli Samuel
Saul David
Solomon 19 kings of Judah 19 kings of Israel
Elijah Elisha
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1 & 2 Kings
Like 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings deal with the history of two kingdoms:
The northern kingdom of Israel
The southern kingdom of Judah
1 & 2 Chronicles deals mainly with the southern kingdom of Judah
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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)
So 45 chapters were probably written before the 586 BC fall of Jerusalem and 2 more chapters were added afterwards.
Dates of 1 & 2 Kings
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Contribution to the Bible
Tells us about the rise, division, decline and fall of the kingdom of Israel
Synchronizes the histories of the monarchies of the kings of Israel and Judah
Gives evaluations of each king’s reign, using the reign of King David as the standard.
Describes the prophetic ministries of several of God’s prophets
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Christ in Kings 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.”
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Christ in Kings Elijah was also a type of Christ
He was a bold prophet
He performed miracles
He stressed law, judgment and repentance
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Christ in Kings 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
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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
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United Kingdom(at the time of David’s death)
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God’s Special Offer to Solomon
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomonin 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. Forwho is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
– 1 Kings 3:5,6,9 NKJV
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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
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Solomon’s DownfallBut 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Divided Kingdom and its
neighbors
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Israelite Dynasties Dynasty = a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family
The divided kingdom Israel Judah
No. of dynasties 9 1
No. of kings before captivity 19 19
No. of years before captivity 224 359
Nation conquered by Assyria Babylon
Note: Judah also had one female ruler, Queen Athaliah
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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
2 Nadab
910
3 Baasha
887
4 Elah
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Israelite Dynasties
886
5 Zimri
886
6 Omri
875
7 Ahab
874 4 Jehoshaphat (good)
855
8 Ahaziah
854
9 Joram
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Israelite Dynasties
850 5 Jehoram (bad)
843 6 Ahaziah (bad) 10 Jehu
843 7 Athaliah (wicked)
843 8 Joash (good/bad)
820
11 Jehoahaz
806
12 Joash
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Israelite Dynasties
803 9 Amaziah (good/bad)
790
13 Jeroboam II
787 10 Uzziah (good)
749 11 Jotham (good)
748
14 Zechariah
748
15 Shallum
748
16 Menahem
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Israelite Dynasties
741 12 Ahaz (bad)
738
17 Pekahiah
738
18 Pekah
730
19 Hoshea
726 13 Hezekiah (good)
721
End of N. Kingdom
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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
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Israelite Dynasties697 14 Manasseh (evil, but repented)
641 15 Amon (bad)
639 16 Josiah (good)
608 17 Jehoahaz (bad)
608 18 Jehoiakim (bad)
597 19 Jehoiachin (bad)
597 20 Zedekiah (bad)
586 End of Southern Kingdom
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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
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Application
Avoid Jeroboam’s mistake of being clever and setting up idols rather than trusting God
Avoid Solomon’s mistake of marrying an unbeliever
Avoid Rehoboam’s mistake of listening to foolish youth instead of wise elders
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Application
Avoid making alliances with unbelievers unless you have a well-planned exit strategy
Do not despise prophecies (1 Thes. 5:20)
Always remember that sin has cosmic effects and influences future generations
Always remember that even God’s patience has limits, and He will punish nations for their sin and lawlessness – even today!
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