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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