The Kings of Israel & Judah

Lesson 14:

Divided Kingdom – Ahab

Introduction

• Who was Ahab? (1 Kgs 16:29)• How long did he reign? (1 Kgs 16:29)• Reign: 871-849 BC• Character? (1 Kgs 16:30)

Saul (1051-1011 BC)

David (1011-971 BC)

Solomon (971-931 BC

)

Rehoboam

(931-914 BC)

Abijah (914-911 BC

)

Jeroboam (931-909 BC)

Kings of Israel & Judah

Israel

Judah

Nadab (909-907 BC)

Asa (911-870 BC

)

Baasha (907-883 BC)

Elah (883-881 BC)

Zimri (881 BC)

Om

ri (877-871 BC)

Jehoshaphat (870-845 BC)

Ahab (871-849 BC)

Ahab’s Sins

• Explain 1 Kgs 16:31• Baal (Ba’al, Bel)

– [The ba’als] were made the symbols of the reproductive power of nature, and thus their worship ministered to sexual indulgences, which it at the same time legalized and encouraged. (“Ba’al and Ba’al Worship.” Jewish Encyclopedia)

– Further, there was placed side by side with the Ba'al a corresponding female symbol, the Ashtoreth and the relation between the two deities was set forth as the example and the motive of unbridled sensuality. (“Ba’al and Ba’al Worship.” Jewish Encyclopedia)

Ahab’s Sins

• How far did Baal worship go? (vv. 32-33)

• Results? (v. 33)

Drought and Famine

• Elijah’s message? (1 Kgs 17)• Reason?• Result? (18:2)• What became of Elijah?• How does Ahab refer to Elijah? (v. 17)– Are Christians ever considered “troublers”?

Elijah’s Challenge

• Which commandment(s)? (1 Kgs 17)• What was Elijah facing? (vv. 19, 22)– Are Christians ever outnumbered by the

ungodly?

• What was the challenge?• Outcome for the prophets of Baal? (vv. 25-

29)• Extra measures taken by Elijah?(vv. 32-25)

Elijah’s Challenge

• Baal’s prophets’ approach vs. Elijah’s approach (vv. 26, 36-37)

• Baal’s response vs. God’s response (vv. 26, 29, 38)

• How did the people respond? (vv. 39, 40)

The Drought Is Broken

• What was Elijah doing in v. 42?• How many times did his servant check

for rain? (v. 43)• What did the servant finally see? (v.

44)• What came from it? (v. 45)

Elijah’s Life Threatened

• By whom? (vv. 1-2)• Elijah’s state of mind?• Lesson from vv. 11-13?• God’s message for Elijah?

Wars with Syria (Aram)

• King of Syria? • First war (1 Kgs 20:1-25)– Ben-hadad’s demands?– Ahab’s response to the challenge (v. 11)– Odds against Ahab? (vv, 1, 15, 13)–Why did God give Israel the victory?–Message for Ahab? (v. 22)–Message for Ben-hadad? (vv. 23-25)

Wars with Syria (Aram)

• Second war (1 Kgs 20:26-30)–Why would Syria be defeated? (v. 28)– Extent of Syria’s losses? (vv. 29-30)– Ben-hadad’s life spared (vv. 31-43)• In what way were Ahab and Ben-hadad brothers?• Price for Ben-hadad’s life? • Explain vv. 39-43• Why was sparing Ben-hadad a sin?• Ahab’s response to the rebuke? (v. 43)

Naboth’s Vineyard

• Why did Ahab want it?(v. 2)• What was offered? (v. 2)• Why did Naboth decline? (v. 3)• Ahab’s reaction? (v. 4)• Why should Ahab possess it? (v. 7)• Jezebel’s plot? (vv. 8-13)

Naboth’s Vineyard

• Elijah confronts Ahab (vv. 17-26)– Ahab’s end? (v. 19)– House of Ahab? (vv. 21-24)– Sins of Ahab? (vv. 25-26)

• Ahab’s response (vv. 27-29)

Third Syrian War & Death of Ahab

• Ahab’s reason for going to war? • Whom did he recruit? (v. 4)• Message of prophets of Ahab? (vv. 6,

11-12)• Micaiah’s initial message? (v. 15)• True message? (vv. 17-23)• Prophecy fulfillment? (v. 38; 21:19)