OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY 3

Old Testament Survey : 3
[3rd Edition – May 2008]
Page
Lesson 1 Joshua – The Book of Conquest 1
Judges – The Book of Failure through compromise 6
Ruth - The story of a woman of excellence 8
Lesson 2 1 Samuel – The Book of Change 11
Lesson 3 2 Samuel – The Book of David’s 40 year reign 19
Chronicles – The Book of the Royal Line of David 24
Lesson 4 1 Kings – The Book of Solomon and the Divided Kingdom 26
Psalms – The “heart” of the Bible 31
Proverbs – The Book of the wisdom of God 32
Ecclesiastes – The Book of the wisdom of Man 32
Song of Solomon – The Book of Love 32
Job –The Book of Blessing through Suffering 33
Lesson 5 The Book of 1 Kings, continued 34
2 Kings – The Book of Dispersion or Scattering 39
Author:
Eileen Crowhurst
Copyright © 1998 All Africa Bible College
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SBCI, P.O. Box 324, Hillcrest 3650, South Africa
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IMPORTANT
Note: The books from Genesis to Nehemiah cover the entire period of time in the Old
Testament – from creation to just before Jesus' birth.
All the books that come after Nehemiah in the Bible are either books of poetry or
books of prophecy – and were all written sometime during the history of God's
people as recorded in Genesis through Nehemiah.
From this point on in Old Testament Survey, we will study a book in accordance
with when it was written and who it was written to, rather than studying each
book in the order it appears in the Bible.
This should help you put the books of poetry and prophecy in their
correct context.
Joshua – Judges – Ruth
Lesson 1
JOSHUA – The Book of Conquest
In Deuteronomy, Moses reminded Israel of the conditions for receiving and keeping God's
promises.
However, we will see that Israel never experienced the fullness of what God had promised
them because they failed to drive out all their enemies from the Promised Land.
AUTHOR Joshua.
Joshua's name was "Hoshea" (Numbers 13:8), which means "salvation".
Because Joshua believed God would give Israel victory, regardless of the
strength of the nations in the Promised Land, Moses changed his name to
"Joshua" which means "Jehovah is salvation".
KEY VERSES Read Joshua 1:1-3
Read Joshua 11:23
PURPOSE 1. To show God's unfailing faithfulness – all He had promised was now
coming to pass.
2. To show why Israel failed to fully possess the land God had promised –
they failed to drive the entire enemy out.
They grew tired of war and settled for conquering most of their land,
not all of it.
Note: Through major military campaigns involving more than 30 enemy
armies, God's people learned a most important lesson: victory comes
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through faith in God and obedience to His Word, rather than
because of military might, numerical superiority, or ability.
OUTLINE
1. Entering the land – Chapters 1 – 5.
Read Joshua 1:1-3
Read verses 5-7
a) Surveying the land.
Read Joshua 2:1-2
Joshua had learned a lesson from Moses. Instead of sending a large group and
risking some men spreading fear, Joshua sent only two spies.
These two men went to the house where it was easiest for a man to slip in
unnoticed – the house of a prostitute, Rahab.
Read Joshua 2:6-9
And then verses 17-18 and verse 21
b) Crossing the Jordan River.
Read Joshua 3:14-17
It was the time of year when the Jordan River flooded. The people of Jericho must
have thought it impossible for the Israelites to cross.
Joshua told the priests to take up the ark and step into the Jordan and, when the
soles of their feet touched the water, it stopped flowing!
God is always doing the impossible!
Read Joshua 4:19… and verse 24
c) The Manna stopped.
Read Joshua 5:10-12
d) The Captain of the Lord.
Read Joshua 5:13-15
Joshua met a captain of the heavenly army. This was probably an angel. (Example:
Daniel 10:5, 20; 12:1.)
"Are you for us or against us?" And the angel replied, "Neither".
It is not that God is on our side, we are on His.
Joshua was commissioned to undertake the Lord's battles in Canaan, just as Moses
was commissioned to confront Pharaoh.
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e) Circumcision at Gilgal.
Read Joshua 5:2-5
Remember, circumcision was the outward sign that a man was in covenant
relationship with God. Israel could not fight in their own strength; it had to be in
God's strength.
2. Conquering the land – Chapters 6 – 12.
a) Victory at Jericho.
Read Joshua 6:1-5
Read verse 19
And now read verses 12-14
There is the danger of reading this amazing account of Israel's victory over a
heavily protected city and missing the importance of how it was won and what that
means for us today.
Just think for a moment if you had been there with Israel that day on the plains of
Moab. All the brave, young warriors are getting ready – spears are checked, swords
sharpened. The entire nation is preparing for war!
Opposite stands the huge, walled city of Jericho. These walls are so thick that
houses are built on top of them. A huge ditch surrounds the city. The people of
Jericho know Israel is coming and the city prepares to defend itself. The battle
would be fierce!
Back on the plains of Moab, all of Israel waits for Joshua to tell them God's plan of
attack. At last Joshua speaks, "Right men, here is the plan – we are to march around
the city in absolute silence for six days …. the priests, the Ark and some fighting
men in front, and all the rest behind. At times the priests will blow their trumpets,
but no one else is to make a sound".
It must have seemed an absolutely ridiculous plan!
Can you imagine the reaction of the army of Jericho? Up on the wall, their soldiers
are ready. Their leaders encourage them, "Men, I know this is the nation everyone
is so afraid of, but be brave! They are only ex-slaves! We will fight and we will
win!"
The men of Jericho adjust their weapons, ready for the great battle, as the army of
Israel comes closer. Here they come … here they come! Marching, marching,
around the city … the priests blow the trumpets and everyone is just … marching!
Then the Israelites leave! What??
Then the next day it is the same … "Here they come! Here they come! Get ready!
Get … ready …!" Once again Israel just marches … and then they leave! For six
days it is the same … march around the city, trumpets blowing, and then leave.
Make no mistake, although no one in the army of Israel was allowed to make a
sound, the men of Jericho would not have remained silent. They would have been
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shouting abuse and throwing things from the walls. They would have been
thoroughly offended by Israel's behaviour, ridiculing and mocking them. Yet all of
Israel kept silent. They kept to God's plan.
After a few days, the men of Jericho would have been convinced the army of Israel
was ridiculous.
But on the seventh day … Read Joshua 6:20!
b) Defeat at Ai.
Read Joshua 6:17-19
Now read Joshua 7:1 … and then verse 5
Read verses 20-25
There is a lesson for us here – there will never be victory if we are disobedient.
c) An amazing victory over the Amorites.
Read Joshua 10:1-2
Read verses 7-14
Read verses 42-43
Now read Joshua 11:19-20
And verse 23
3. Dividing the land – Chapters 13 – 22.
Joshua divided the land according to the tribes, with each tribe receiving a portion and
the commission to drive the remaining enemies out.
However, none of the tribes clear the enemy out completely. (For example – Joshua
13:13; 15:63; 16:10; 17:12.)
a) The Levites.
Read Joshua 13:33
b) The cities of refuge.
Read Joshua 20:2-3
c) The nation is settled in the Promised Land.
Read Joshua 21:43-45
4. Joshua's farewell to Israel.
Read Joshua 23:3-11
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And read Joshua 24:13-15
And verse 29
Genesis The promise of the land
Exodus The departure for the land
Leviticus The laws for living in the land
Numbers The wanderings outside the land
Deuteronomy The preparation for conquering the land
Joshua The conquest and possession of the land
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JUDGES – The Book of Failure through compromise
Judges begins approximately 350 – 400 years after the death of Joshua.
In the Book of Joshua, although Israel made mistakes, they were a nation who conquered the
land through trust in the power of God and obedience to His instructions.
In Judges, however, a disobedient and idolatrous people are defeated time and time again
because of their rebellion against God.
AUTHOR Unknown, but thought to be Samuel.
KEY VERSES Read Judges 2:1-3
Read Judges 2:20-23
And Judges 21:25
PURPOSE 1. To show the spiritual wanderings of Israel in the Promised Land.
Note: Israel wandered physically in the wilderness before entering
the land.
Now they wander spiritually (that is, in their relationship with
God).
2. To show that whenever we compromise God's Word, we will fail.
("Compromise" – a settlement between two opposite views which
contains parts of both; a middle road; to agree by meeting half-way;
neither one way nor the other.)
OUTLINE The events in the Book of Judges are not written in chronological order, but
are grouped according to their spiritual significance and to their geographical
area.
The purpose of war.
Read Judges 3:1-4
Israel failed to drive out the enemy.
Read Judges 1:21
Read verses 27-35
The Angel of the Lord announced God's judgment.
Read Judges 2:6 – all the way through to verse 19
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Chapter Enemy Period of Oppression Deliverer Period of Peace
1. The Southern Region:
3:7-11 Mesopotamia 8 years Othniel 40 years
3:12-30 Moab ites 18 years Ehud 80 years
Ammonites
3:31 Amalekites unknown Shamgar Unknown
(Used an ox goad – a long rod used
to direct oxen)
2. The Northern Region:
4:1-3 Canaanites 20 years Deborah 40 years
(a woman)
3. The Central Region:
6:1-10 Midianites 7 years Gideon 40 years
(trumpets and empty pitchers)
Abimelech 3 years a woman and a young man
(using a millstone – 9:53)
Tola 23 years
Jair 22 years
4. The Eastern Region:
10:1–12:7 Ammonites 18 years Jephthah 6 years
12:8 Izban 7 years
Elon 10years
Abdon 8 years
5. The Western Region:
13:1–16:31 Philistines 40 years Samson 20 years
(jawbone of a donkey, foxes, etc.)
Did you notice how God used the "weak things" to bring victory? (An ox goad, a bone,
trumpets, etc.)
6. How Israel compromised with the other nations.
They made agreements and peace treaties with them.
They married them.
They forgot God.
They worshipped the gods of the nations.
They were taken captive.
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7. The repeated cycle of sin, suffering, deliverance and peace.
Seven times, in the Book of Judges, Israel is taken captive because of their repetition of
sin.
Seven times God delivers them.
But still they do not remain faithful to Him.
8. Even the judges were not faithful to God.
Read Judges 8:22-27
Once again, you must understand that it was not the gold itself that was wrong; it was
what Israel did with the gold that was wrong.
9. The dangers of compromise.
Read 2 Corinthians 6:14
Read 2 Corinthians 7:1
Does that mean we are not to be friends with people who are not Christians?
We can and should be friends with everyone, Christians and non-Christians. Remember,
Jesus was a "friend of sinners", but He did not copy their behaviour!
How will those who do not know the truth ever hear it and how will they ever know
Jesus if we do not show them?
However, there is a big difference in being friends and in living the same way they do.
10. Israel only wanted God to help them.
Israel called out to God because they needed Him to get them out of trouble, not
because they recognized His goodness, not because they loved Him. Even when He
rescued them, they still did not remain faithful to Him.
RUTH – The story of a woman of excellence
The Book of Ruth takes place during the Book of Judges. Ruth 1:1 says, "Now it came to pass
when the judges governed …"
AUTHOR Unknown, but thought to be Samuel
KEY VERSES Read Ruth 1:16
Read Ruth 3:11
PURPOSE 1. To show a picture of grace.
There was famine in the land and so a man from Bethlehem in Judah
went to Moab with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons.
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Both sons married Moabite women – one of whom was named Ruth.
Both the father and the sons died and Naomi returned to her homeland.
Ruth went with Naomi.
Now read Deuteronomy 23:3
Read Ruth 4:13 and verse 17
Does it seem as though God is contradicting Himself?
Remember, God is building a people of faith, not a people of pure race.
Read Acts 2:21
And now read Ruth 1:16
Ruth is a "whosoever!" …. and so am I!
2. To show the beginning of the line of David.
3. To confirm that Gentiles are included in God's call.
INTERESTING There are two books in the Bible with Women's names:
NOTE
Ruth A Gentile woman who goes to live with Hebrews and marries
a Hebrew.
Esther A Hebrew woman married to a Gentile and living with
Gentiles.
Teacher's Notes
1. Read Judges 3:14-30. It is a wonderful account of conquest and it is quite humorous too!
2. Judges 3:16 – Ehud is a left-handed man with a double-edged sword – in other words,
sharp on both sides. See Ephesians 6:17; Revelation 1:16.
3. Judges 7 – Gideon starts out with 32,000 people volunteering to fight the Midianites.
When he gives those who are afraid an opportunity to leave, he is left with 10,000. Of
these, only 300 pass the test when they are brought to the water to drink – only 300 "lap"
water – that is, filling their hands with water and bringing it to their mouths, rather than
lowering their heads to the water to drink.
Does that seem a strange test? No – those who drank using their hands to bring the water
to their mouths were still alert to what was happening around them but those who
lowered their heads would only be able to see their need for water. God chose those who
were alert and aware of what was happening around them.
4. Judges 11:29-40 – Jephthah's vow is the promise of a man mistakenly assuming God was
like the gods of the nations around him.
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The history of God’s people: Genesis to Ruth
LEVITICUS
How to draw
near to God
RUTH
God’s grace to
the Gentiles
DEUTERONOMY
Remembrance
JUDGES
Compromise
1200 – 1100 BC
JOSHUA
Conquest
1400 – 1300 BC
NUMBERS
Wanderings
1450 - 1400 BC
EXODUS
Redemption
2000 – 1450 BC
GENESIS
Beginnings
4000 – 2000 BC
JOB
The sovereignty
of God
about 2000BC
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1 Samuel – The Book of Change
Lesson 2
The Books of Samuel – The Books of Transition to Monarchy. That is – from
being ruled by God to being ruled by a king
THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS AND CHRONICLES
These books overlap each other in places – that is, they repeat the same events but from
different aspects or views.
The books of Samuel and Kings, for example, tell the history of Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon
and the divided kingdom. That is, they relate the events from the historical point of view.
The books of Chronicles repeat much of what is written in 1 and 2 Samuel, but from a spiritual
point of view.
1 & 2 Samuel
Record the rise and fall of Israel's monarchy
1 & 2 Kings (A system of government with a king or queen as ruler)
1 & 2 Chronicles
SAMUEL and KINGS – Historical CHRONICLES – Spiritual Explanation
1. 1 Samuel 12:8 – Isaac's son is called Isaac's son is called "Israel".
"Jacob". (Meaning "the deceiver") (Meaning "Prince with God")
2. 1 Samuel 31 – the Philistines kill Saul 1 Chronicles 10:13 – the cause of Saul's
in battle. death is disobedience and because he
consulted a spiritist (a witch or spirit
medium).
3. 2 Samuel 6 – One chapter on the 1 Chronicles 13, 15, 16 – three chapters
recovery of the ark. on the recovery of the ark (the presence of
God).
4. 2 Samuel 6 – Uzzah was killed. 1 Chronicles 15 – why Uzzah was killed.
5. 2 Samuel 7 – David not allowed to build 1 Chronicles 17 – why David could not
the temple. build the temple.
6. 2 Samuel 11-12 – David's sin of adultery. Chronicles – no reference to David's sin.
David repented. God forgives and forgets.
7. 2 Samuel 24 – David sins by counting 1 Chronicles 2 – Satan tempted David to
Israel. sin by counting Israel.
8. 1 Kings 11:1 – Solomon's sin No reference to it.
During the period of being ruled by kings, the nation goes from rule by:
SAUL DAVID SOLOMON DIVIDED KINGDOM CAPTIVITY
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THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL
1 SAMUEL From the birth of Samuel Israel's last judge
To the death of Saul Israel's first king
2 SAMUEL David's 40 year reign as king
1 SAMUEL – The Book of Change
From leadership by God – to leadership by man.
From the birth of Samuel: High Priest, Israel's last judge and first in the office of a prophet –
until the death of Saul: Israel's first king. A period of about 94 years.
God had called Israel into a unique relationship – He was their king. However, because of their
disobedience, the people had brought punishment upon themselves.
Now they blamed their circumstances on the fact that they did not have a visible human king
like other nations had. Rather than look to themselves and their own sin, they preferred to
believe the other nations were stronger because they had kings.
AUTHOR Samuel, Nathan and Gad
KEY VERSE Read 1 Samuel 13:13-14
Read 1 Samuel 15:22-23
PURPOSE 1. To establish the United Kingdom of Israel.
2. To establish the tribe of Judah and the house of David, as the
Messianic line.
3. To give an example of bad character in leadership and good
character in leadership. (Eli – Samuel) (Saul – David)
OUTLINE:
1. The decline of the judges – Chapters 1 – 7.
a) The first change of leadership: Eli to Samuel – Chapters 1 – 3.
i) The birth of Samuel.
Once again, we see the remarkable child of a barren woman.
Read 1 Samuel 1:1-2 … and verse 11
Read verses 12-17
Eli mistakes Hannah's fervent prayer for drunkenness.
Read 1 Samuel 1:20 … and 24-28
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ii) Hannah's prophetic prayer.
Read 1 Samuel 2:1-3
Now read 1 Samuel 2:21
iii) From Eli to Samuel.
Read 1 Samuel 3:1
Read verses 7-13
And read verses 19-21
b) Samuel leads as Israel's Judge – Chapters 4 – 7.
i) Israel is defeated and the Ark is captured.
Read 1 Samuel 4:1-11
Israel was so backslidden in its relationship with God that they believed God
lived within the Ark … and, since God would never allow Himself to be
captured; surely they would win the battle.
They treated the Ark like some sort of "good luck charm"! They forgot that
God does not live inside a wood and gold box!
Their behaviour reflected the heathen belief of the nations around them that
God is identified with the symbol of His presence, and that God's favour
could automatically be guaranteed if they had the symbol with them.
Old Testament New Testament
Israel brought the symbol Many people wear a cross around
associated with God, their their neck, or make the sign of the
Deliverer, to the battlefront. cross over themselves – especially
in times of trouble.
But they had no Wearing a cross will not save
relationship with Him . anyone – only God saves.
Read 1 Samuel 4:11
Read verses 18-22
"The glory of God has departed from Israel … "
ii) The Ark caused problems for the Philistines.
Read 1 Samuel 5:2-4 … and verses 9-12
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iii) The Ark is returned.
Read 1 Samuel 6:1-2
Read verses 7-12
Notice that the Philistines were looking for proof of the reality of the God of
Israel – they looked for the supernatural to happen.
"Supernatural" means "above the natural".
Let us look more closely at what happened:
· The Philistines took two cows which had never been attached to a
harness of any kind.
What is the behaviour of a full-grown cow when a harness is put on it?
It certainly doesn't walk calmly and obediently. However, these two
cows, both new to halters and bridles, were yoked together and they
pulled the cart along a straight path!
· These were two cows with calves – and their babies were taken away
from them.
What would the usual behaviour of cows be in a situation such as this?
Yes! They would jump and kick and run to their calves.
However, they did not! They went straight towards Beth-Shemesh, a
strange land … yet they knew the right direction to follow.
· They were "lowing" as they went. The soft, sad "moo" sound cows
make.
Old Testament New Testament
The Philistines looked for The unsaved look for supersupernatural
proof of God natural proof of the reality of
in the behaviour of the cows. God in the behaviour of you
and I in our daily lives.
The cows overcame their You and I need to overcome
circumstances. our circumstances too.
iv) The Ark is taken to Kiriath-Jearim.
Read 1 Samuel 7:2
2. The rise of Kings – Chapters 8 – 31.
a) The second change of leadership: Samuel to Saul – Chapters 8 – 15.
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Read 1 Samuel 8:1-7
Read verses 11-20
Is it not the same today? For example, this portion of Scripture sounds very much
like the income tax and sales taxes of today! Nothing has changed – rule by man is
costly.
i) Saul is chosen as Israel's first King.
Read 1 Samuel 9:1-2
Now read 1 Samuel 13:1
Read verses 5-14
Samuel had promised to make these offerings (10:8) and had told Saul to
wait for his arrival and instruction.
The foolish and sinful act of Saul was that he thought it more important to
keep all his soldiers than it was to follow the instructions of God's prophet,
Samuel.
"Your kingdom will not endure" – Saul's kingdom would not pass to his sons.
ii) The courage of Jonathan.
Read 1 Samuel 14:1-10
Notice that Jonathan chose a very ordinary sign – that the Philistines, who
were high up on the other side of a deep ravine (valley), would say to
Jonathan and his armour bearer "Come over here and say that!"
It was very unlikely that the Philistines would have climbed down the steep
cliff to the valley and climbed all the way up the other side just to fight one
man and his unarmed companion.
Jonathan's suggestion, "Perhaps the Lord will work for us, for nothing can
stop the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few", shows the
tremendous faith he had in God.
And God responded! Read verses 14 and 15
iii) Saul disobeyed again.
Read 1 Samuel 15:1-3 … and verses 8-15
And verses 17-23
b) The third change of leadership: Saul to David – Chapters 16 – 31.
i) David anointed King.
Read 1 Samuel 16:1 and verses 6-7
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Where does God look? At the heart!
Read verses 11-13
ii) David defeats Goliath – Chapter 17.
The Philistines came to fight Israel. Saul's armies camped opposite them.
One of the Philistines was a huge warrior named Goliath, 3 metres tall!! (10
feet)
His armour and weapons were impressive:
· his armour weighed 55 Kilograms (125 lbs) (verse 5)
· the point of his spear, 7.5 Kilograms (15 lbs) (verse 7)
Read 1 Samuel 17:8-11
Read verse 16
Now read verses 20-26
Goliath came against Israel trusting in his own great strength, but David
immediately recognized that by trying to fight God's people, Goliath was
actually fighting God!
Goliath was not in covenant relationship with God – and no matter how big
he was, he was no match for the God of Israel!
Read about the reaction of David's brothers in verses 28-33
Sometimes, when you and I experience what looks impossible to overcome,
this is the same reaction we receive from those around us.
David was just a youth, trained to keep sheep, not to fight. Never were two
warriors more unequally matched.
Read verse 37 and then verse 40
David was not relying on his own strength.
Saul gave David his armour and weapons, (in other words, the normal, usual
method of fighting), but David did not use them.
Read verses 42-51
How God delights to use the insignificant things in life to accomplish His
purposes!!
iii) The Covenant between David and Jonathan.
Read 1 Samuel 18:1-3
iv) David marries Saul's daughter.
Read 1 Samuel 18:25-30
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And 1 Samuel 19:8-10
Now see Psalm 59
David wrote Psalm 59 during the time of 1 Samuel 19, when Saul was trying
to kill him.
Read verses 1-4 and 16-17
v) David 's time in exile – as he fled from Saul.
David went to Nob, to a priest called Ahimelech.
Because there was nothing else to eat, the priest gave David the bread which
was to be used as an offering to God, (1 Samuel 21:6), and he gave David
Goliath's sword.
David wrote Psalm 52 at this time.
David then went to Gath, where he had to act as if he was insane in order to
save his life.
He wrote Psalm 34 and Psalm 56 in Gath.
Read Psalm 34:1-3 and verse 18
Read Psalm 56:3-4 and verse 9
Next David went to Adullum.
Read 1 Samuel 22:1-3 and then verse 5
David wrote Psalm 57, 63 and 142
Read Psalm 63
Saul chases David
Read 1 Samuel 23:14
David wrote Psalm 54
(Read this Psalm if you have time)
vi) David spares Saul's life.
Read 1 Samuel 24:1-5
Read verses 8-15
Note that David refused to fight Saul, even though by this time David had
been anointed king in Saul's place.
We see the character of David, a man God said who understood God's heart,
as he trusts God to judge and refuses to take any action himself.
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vii) Saul resorts to witchcraft. (1 Samuel 27:3 – 28:19)
This section of Scripture tells us what happened when the Philistine armies
came to fight Israel.
By this time, Saul's relationship with God was non-existent. 1 Samuel 28:6
says that when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him.
In a panic, Saul tried to find out what to do by resorting to witchcraft!
The Bible says this is a false way of finding out God's will. The important
thing to remember is that God said Saul's kingdom would not last.
Regardless of who the woman at Endor was, or what sort of spirit was called
up, Israel's defeat in battle and Saul's death was God's will – the result of
Saul's sinful behaviour.
viii) Saul and his sons are killed by the Philistines.
Read 1 Samuel 31:1-6
These events are described again in 1 Chronicles 10.
Read 1 Chronicles 10:13-14
Memory Verse
Psalm 56:9b and verse 11, "This I know, that God is for me … In God I have put my trust, I
shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Teacher's Notes
1. 1 Samuel 6:19
Remember, Israel knew very well that only the Levites were to touch the Ark. This was
a presumptuous act of these men.
In a spiritual sense, to look inside the Ark was to look at the Law… and the letter of the
Law kills.
2. 1 Samuel 16:14, "Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from
the Lord terrorized him". That is, God gave permission for an evil spirit to harass Saul.
As a cross reference, read Job 2:1-6.
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2 Samuel – The Book of David's 40 Year
Reign
Lesson 3
After Saul's death, Abner, the commander of Saul's army, proclaimed one of his sons,
Ishbosheth, king. Ishbosheth reigned over part of the kingdom for two years.
The tribe of Judah however would only accept David as king.
When Ishbosheth died the kingdom should have passed to one of Jonathan's sons, named
Mephibosheth, but all of Israel knew that David was God's anointed successor to Saul.
AUTHOR Nathan and Gad
KEY VERSES Read 2 Samuel 7:11-16
PURPOSE 1. To establish the Davidic Covenant, the "Seed of David," his throne
and kingdom.
Read 2 Samuel 7:1-3
David wanted to build a house for God, a place for His presence.
Read Matthew 6:33
Read 2 Samuel 7:10
Read 2 Peter 2:5
2. To record the reign of David – both his triumphs (victories) and his
failures.
OUTLINE
1. David's victories – Chapters 1 – 10 – 20 years of blessing.
David always had victory because of his faith in God.
a) David rules over Judah for 7 years – Chapters 1 – 4.
b) David rules over all Israel for 33 years – Chapters 5 – 10.
Read 2 Samuel 5:1-5
c) The return of the Ark.
Remember that the Ark had been captured by the Philistines. A series of plagues
broke out in their country and the Philistines sent the Ark back … on a cart, pulled
by two cows. (Do you remember that?)
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Read 1 Chronicles 13:1-4
Read verses 7-10 (This is also written in 2 Samuel 5)
Read verses 13-14
Now read 1 Chronicles 15:1-3
Read verses 12-13
And verses 15-16
Read verses 25-29
Read 1 Chronicles 16:1
d) David's worship.
David worshipped God in a way that no one had before him.
4,000 Musicians and singers were appointed to worship.
He invented many new musical instruments.
For the first time people lifted up their voices in joy. There was jubilant (excited)
praise, as people abandoned themselves to what pleased God.
The priesthood was divided into teams, praising God 24 hours each day.
People sang thanksgiving to the Lord.
David started a ministry of praise and a ministry of psalms.
For the first time there was clapping of hands, shouting, dancing, lifting hands up,
bowing down, spinning around in dance and, also for the first time, people said
"Amen" (Amen, means "so let it be").
David wrote Psalms 15, 24, 96, 105 and 106 about bringing the Ark, representing
the presence of God, to Zion.
Notice that he brought it to Zion, a place the Ark had never been before.
Zion, often called "The City of David", is opposite Mount Moriah, the mountain
where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac.
e) The response of Michal, David's wife.
Read 1 Chronicles 15:29
Michal despised (hated) David's behaviour as he sang and danced before God with
great joy.
Read 2 Samuel 6:14-16
Read verses 20-23
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Remember
Old Testament New Testament
Michal despised David's Today there may be those who do not
behaviour, as he enthusiastically like others praising God by lifting their
praised God. She thought his hands or dancing, etc. This attitude
behaviour was not "dignified". brings spiritual barrenness – inability to
Michal was barren. produce spiritual fruit which is acceptable
to God.
f) God Covenants with David.
Read 1 Chronicles 17:1-4
Read verses 11-14
And read David's response in verse 16
g) David's victories.
He defeated the Philistines 2 Samuel 8:1
He defeated Moab verse 2
He defeated the land of Zobah verse 3 David wrote Psalm 60
And also the Arameans verse 5
"And the Lord helped David wherever he went"… verse 6
Read 2 Samuel 8:15 He wrote Psalm 108
2. David's failures – Chapters 11 – 24.
a) The turning point.
Read 2 Samuel 11:1-5
The first thing to notice is that David was not where he was supposed to be. He was
not with his army, he was at home.
Verse 2 says that "when it was evening, David arose from his bed". In other words,
he was taking life very easy, almost carelessly.
Read 1 Peter 5:8-9
Houses were built with flat roofs. Shelters were sometimes put on the roof so that
one could enjoy the cool evening air. Bathing in the cool of the evening would not
therefore be very unusual.
This act of David's (sending for another man's wife), would end up with David
breaking the sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth commandments. (Exodus 20:13-17)
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[Be certain you understand that David's sin was not just to commit adultery – he
tempted Uriah to compromise his integrity, David committed pre-meditated murder
(planned) and he attempted to deceive those around him.]
Bathsheba told David she was pregnant and left the next step up to him. They both
knew that the Law required that they be put to death.
Read 2 Samuel 6:11-15
Read verses 22-24
Now read verse 27
b) God's response to David's sin.
Read 2 Samuel 12:1-6
God sends Nathan, the prophet, but David is so sure that he has got away with his
deception, that he does not even feel any guilt until Nathan points out that he is the
man.
Read verses 7-14
Old Testament New Testament
God would not allow You and I will never benefit from
David to keep the "fruit" our sin either. The "fruit" (that is,
of his sin – the child. the results) of sin is death.
Psalm 51 – was written by David after he had sinned with Bathsheba.
Read Psalm 51:1-4
Read verses 10-11
Now read 2 Samuel 12:24-25
c) Trouble in David's house.
God had said that He would stir up opposition against David from his own
household.
i) David's son Amnon rapes David's daughter, Tamar. (2 Samuel 13)
Amnon was David's oldest son, whose mother was Ahinoam. Tamar and
Absalom were children from David's wife, Maacah. Perhaps more than any
of his other children, David loved Absalom.
ii) Absalom murders Amnon. (2 Samuel 13:22-29)
iii) Absalom is exiled. (2 Samuel 13:37-39)
iv) Absalom tries to overthrow David and make himself king. (2 Samuel 15)
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v) David flees from Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 16)
vi) Absalom takes David's wives.
Read 2 Samuel 12:11-12
Read 2 Samuel 16:21-22
Psalm 3 – Read verses 1-3
Psalm 41 and Psalm 55
vii) Absalom is murdered. (2 Samuel 18)
viii) David returns to Jerusalem.
d) Trouble in the Kingdom.
i) Trouble in the army. (2 Samuel 20)
ii) There is famine in the land. (2 Samuel 21)
iii) The Lord delivers David.
Read 2 Samuel 22:11-14
This is Psalm 18
Read verses 17-20
iv) David sins by counting his army – that is, he counts his own strength.
(Up to now David has relied on God's strength.)
Read 2 Samuel 24:1-4
Read 1 Chronicles 21:1-4
Read 2 Samuel 24:10-17
e) David buys the threshing floor belonging to Araunah.
Read 2 Samuel 24:18-25
This threshing floor was on top of the mountain where Abraham had been willing
to sacrifice Isaac, Mount Moriah, opposite Zion.
This is the place where Solomon would later build the magnificent temple.
NOTICE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH THIS FAR:
1. Genesis 3:15 "the seed of woman" He would be a human saviour.
Mankind was not going to be saved by an
earthquake or angels, etc.
2. Genesis 12:7 "the seed of Abraham" From Abraham's descendants, the nation
of Israel.
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3. Genesis 49:10 "the sceptre shall not The tribe of Judah.
depart from Judah"
4. 2 Samuel 17:16 "your throne shall be From the family of David.
established forever"
Therefore, by the time David died, Israel knew that their Messiah would be from the nation
of Israel, the tribe of Judah, and the family (descendants) of David!
Israel’s first kings
Date King Saul King David King Solomon
1043 BC anointed king by Samuel
1025 BC anointed king by Samuel
1015 BC hostile towards David fleeing from Saul
1010 BC killed by the Philistines king over Judah only
reign of Ishbosheth
1003 BC reign over all Israel
1000 BC ark brought to Jerusalem
995/992 BC sins with Bathsheba
980/979 BC rebellion of Absalom
970 BC dies becomes king
969 BC begins work on temple
959 BC begins work on own house
946 BC completes his house
931 BC dies
CHRONICLES – The Book of the Royal Line of David
AUTHOR Most likely Ezra, the Scribe
KEY VERSES Read 1 Chronicles 17:11-14
Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-19
PURPOSE 1. To outline the royal line of David.
2. To trace the spiritual importance of David's righteous reign.
OUTLINE 1. Genealogy from Adam to David. Chapters 1 – 9
2. David's reign. Chapters 10 – 29
Note: Chapters 10 to 29 cover a 33 year period of time.
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Teacher's Notes
1. 2 Samuel 9 is a perfect example of covenant relationships as David offers the covenant
he made with Jonathan to Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth accepts the
terms of the covenant and as a result takes his place at the king's table.
2. 2 Samuel 11:4 – Bathsheba "had purified herself from her uncleanness" explains her
condition at the time of her sexual relations with David. She was ceremonially clean
(Leviticus 15:28-30) – that is, 7 days after her monthly menstrual period. The importance
of this is to make it clear that she was not already pregnant by her own husband when
David took her.
3. 2 Samuel 13:15 – Amnon hated Tamar after he had raped her, proving that his "love" for
her was nothing more than lust.
4. David's army was tremendously powerful. God had helped David turn men who were
"discontent" (1 Samuel 22:2) into strong warriors.
5. The names of David's "mighty Men" show us they were all just ordinary men, but God
used them to do extraordinary things!
For example:
Shammah Loss Elika God has rejected
Helez Strength Ira Watchful
Zalmon Dark Maharai Quick
Heleb Fat Hezro Beautiful
Zelek Shadow Naharai To snore (!)
The family line of David:
Boaz & Ruth
Jesse
Zeruiah David Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah,
(David’s sister) Nethanel, Raddai, Ozem
(David’s brothers)
David’s wives:
Michal (Saul’s daughter), Ahinoam, Abigail,
Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, Bathsheba
David’s children:
Amnon, Daniel (not the same Daniel as in the
book of Daniel), Absalom, Tamar (David’s only
daughter), Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Solomon
(plus three other sons – 9 more sons of David are
given in 1 Chronicles 3:6-8)
Zeruiah’s children:
Abishai (a commander in David’s army)
Joab (Leader and supreme commander of the army. He killed Abner in revenge for his brother
Asahel’s death. He killed Absalom, David’s son, and Amasa, the son of David’s nephew)
Asahel (a commander in David’s army. He is killed by Abner – 2 Samuel 2:23)
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1 Kings – The Book of Solomon and the
Divided Kingdom
Lesson 4
IMPORTANT: The Books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings relate a continuous story of
the history of the Hebrew nation called "Israel".
The books of 1 & 2 Chronicles repeat the information given in Samuel and
Kings, but from the spiritual history of Israel.
AUTHOR Written by Jeremiah, perhaps with Nathan and Gad
TIME The book of 1 Kings covers about 120 years.
It begins with the last days of David, covers the life of Solomon and ends
with the rule of Jehoshaphat, one of the kings of Judah.
After Solomon died, the nation was divided into a northern kingdom and a
southern kingdom – each ruled by their own kings.
KEY VERSES Read 1 Kings 8:10-11
Read 1 Kings 9:4-5
Read 1 Kings 11:11-13
… and read verses 26-39 (although it is not a "key verse" it does show that
God did, in fact, give the kingdom to one of Solomon's servants)
PURPOSE 1. To give the history and the glory of the united kingdom.
2. To give the history of the break-up of the kingdom into two nations
of disobedient people with two lines of kings.
OUTLINE
1. The united kingdom – Chapters 1 – 11.
The united kingdom lasted for 112 years, from 1043 to 931 BC
The key dates are: 970 BC David's death
Solomon was made king
931 BC The kingdom divided into:
The northern nation of "Israel"
The southern nation of "Judah"
a) The establishment of Solomon as king – Chapters 1 – 2.
i) Adonijah's attempt to gain the throne.
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Read 1 Kings 1:5-8
Read 1 Kings 1:32-35
Read verses 50-53
By running to the tabernacle and holding onto the altar, Adonijah was
seeking to place his life under the protection of God.
ii) David's advice to Solomon.
Read 1 Kings 2:1-6
And now read verse 11
iii) Adonijah's second attempt to gain the throne.
Read 1 Kings 2:13-17
Abishag was a young girl David took as a "concubine" – a woman not given
the same legal position as a wife.
Remember, anyone trying to take the king's wife or concubine, was trying to
take the throne.
Read 1 Kings 2:22-25
iv) Joab killed.
Read 1 Kings 2:28-35
b) The reign of Solomon – Chapters 3 – 10.
i) Solomon's marriages.
Read 1 Kings 3:1-3
ii) Solomon's request for wisdom.
Read 1 Kings 3:7-14
iii) An example of Solomon's wisdom.
Read 1 Kings 3:16-28
iv) The wisest of men.
Read 1 Kings 4:29
Read verse 32
These "proverbs", or wise sayings, are contained in the Book of Proverbs.
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v) The Temple – Solomon's greatest achievement.
Read 1 Kings 6:1
Read verse 7
These events are repeated in 2 Chronicles:
Read 2 Chronicles 3:1
Read 2 Chronicles 5:2
Then read verses 13-14
Keep your place in 2 Chronicles and turn back to 1 Kings:
Read 1 Kings 8:62-63
Now go back to 2 Chronicles 7:1-3:
The Temple Solomon built was a magnificent, huge building, ten times larger
than the Tabernacle of Moses.
It was built of fine materials that David had gathered for its construction. All
the articles used were of fine gold.
It took 30,000 men, put into forced labour by Solomon; 70,000 men to
transport materials; 80,000 stone workers; as well as 3,300 overseers 7 years
to construct the Temple.
vi) Solomon's own house.
Read 1 Kings 7:1
After building the Temple, Solomon spent almost twice as much time
building his own magnificent house.
vii) God repeats His Covenant with David.
Read 1 Kings 9:1-9
viii) The visit of the Queen of Sheba.
Read 1 Kings 10:1
Now read verse 6
Read verse 10 and then verse 13
Please note, there is no place in the Bible that gives any indication that
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba ever had a sexual relationship and therefore
neither did they have children.
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ix) The wealth of Solomon.
Solomon surrounded himself with gold – gold shields covered the walls of
his palace; a huge throne of ivory, overlaid with gold was where he sat; all
his drinking vessels were of gold.
Solomon "made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem" and beautiful,
imported wood as plentiful as the wood used for fires. (1 Kings 10:27)
c) The decline of Solomon's kingdom – Chapter 11.
Keep your place in 1 Kings and read 2 Chronicles 9:25
Read 1 Kings 11:1-3
Read verses 5-8
Now read verses 11-13
Now listen to what Deuteronomy 17:15-17 says,
"… when you set a king over you … he shall not multiply horses for himself …..
neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he
greatly increase silver and gold for himself…
Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write
for himself a copy of this law on a scroll … and it shall be with him, and he shall
read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God …."
We can see that Solomon, although he was wise in other things, did not use
wisdom in his own personal life, nor did he obey God's instructions.
d) God took the kingdom from Solomon – Chapter 11.
God raised up two adversaries: Hadad of Edom and Rezon of Aram.
There is almost continuous warfare with both Edom and Aram from this point on –
both with Israel in the north and with Judah in the south.
Read 1 Kings 11:26 and then verses 29-33
Remember, God said He would tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give it
to one of his servants.
Ahijah was a prophet. Not all the prophets in the Bible wrote books.
Verse 33:
"Ashtoreth" Canaanite goddess of sexual lust and fertility.
"Chemosh" This is another name for "Molech", the false fire-god, whose
worship involved human sacrifice, especially of young children and
infants.
"Milcom" Another "fire-god" to whom the people of Ammon sacrificed their
children, burning them before his image.
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e) God gave the kingdom to Jeroboam.
Read 1 Kings 11:37-40
2. The divided kingdom – Chapters 12 – 22.
It is important to make clear two names which are very similar:
"Jeroboam" The young servant of Solomon, whom God chooses to rule the kingdom.
"Rehoboam" Solomon's oldest son.
Read 1 Kings 12:1-5
Continue with verses 6-8
Read verse 11
And now read verses 19-20
A SHORT CHARACTER STUDY:
David Solomon Rehoboam
Served God with his whole Compromised: Built Did not even seek God’s
heart. the Temple and many counsel.
temples for false gods.
Problem with sexual lust Problem with lust: 700
and adultery. wives and 300 concubines.
But, also wrote many "wise
sayings", some of which were
addressed to his son.
Hypocrisy!
Read Proverbs 1:8
Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonite
who worshipped the horrible god Milcom! (1 Kings 11:43)
Read Proverbs 5:18 – yet Solomon had 1000 women.
Rehoboam saw how his
father lived and
rejected what he said.
The lesson we can learn:
It is what you and I do in our daily life that determines what those around us believe. It is not
our words people see but our actions. How we live … that is what is important.
Those of us with children need to remember that children do not learn with their ears … they
learn with their eyes!
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The Books of Poetry – books which
express worship, prayer and wisdom
Psalms Worship, prayer and praise
Proverbs The wisdom of God
Ecclesiastes The wisdom of man
Song of Solomon The book of love
Job Blessing through suffering
PSALMS – The "heart" of the Bible
The word "psalm" means "a song of praise", which is accompanied by a musical
instrument.
AUTHORS The Psalms have been written by several authors:
DAVID 73 ASAPH 12
SOLOMON 2 SONS OF KORAH 10
MOSES 1 HEMAN 1
ETHAN 1 UNKNOWN 50
KEY VERSES Read Psalm 150:1-6
Read Psalm 29:2
PURPOSE The early church used Psalms as their hymn book for praise and worship.
1. To preserve in poetry form, the fundamental doctrines of God and
man.
2. To show what acceptable praise and worship is – and to show
God's judgement of the unrighteous who reject Him.
3. To present right attitudes and ways of praise and worship.
Psalm 22 This Psalm gives us a clear picture of the crucifixion of Jesus.
If you have time, compare Psalm 22 with the Scriptures on the right.
Psalm 22 verse 1 Matthew 27:46
verses 6-7 Luke 23:35-36
verses 12-13 Matthew 27:36, 44
verse 28 1 Corinthians 15:23-24
verses 14-15 Psalm 69:20-21
verse 16 Luke 23:33
verse 18 Matthew 27:35
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PROVERBS – The Book of the Wisdom of God
AUTHOR Solomon
KEY VERSE Read Proverbs 1:7
PURPOSE The Book of Proverbs is a practical guide to daily life.
ECCLESIASTES – The Book of the Wisdom of Man
AUTHOR Solomon
KEY VERSES Read Ecclesiastes 2:11
Read Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
PURPOSE The book of Ecclesiastes is a dramatic autobiography of Solomon's
experience and reflections while he was out of fellowship with God.
Solomon was wise, but he did not follow his own wisdom.
It is important to remember that Ecclesiastes has its origin in Solomon's
tragic sin of forsaking God and seeking satisfaction and meaning to his life in
everything "under the sun".
In other words, he looked for meaning and fulfilment in material possessions,
in intellectualism, knowledge and accomplishments.
The message of Ecclesiastes is that apart from God, life is full of weariness
and disappointments, and is totally meaningless.
SONG OF SOLOMON – The Book of Love
(Sometimes called Song of Songs)
AUTHOR Solomon
SUMMARY 1. Literal Glorifies marriage and married love.
2. Mystical Shows Jehovah's love for His people.
3. Prophetically Shows Christ's love for the Church, His Bride.
4. Devotional Shows us Christ's love for you and me.
Christ is seen in Song of Songs as the King of Peace, the Bridegroom.
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JOB – The Book of Blessing through Suffering
Note: Job is a very old book and does not have an exact date of writing. It was probably
written during the time of Abraham or before. However, since it is a book of poetry,
we will include it in this section of our study.
AUTHOR Unknown
KEY VERSE Read Job 1:21
Read Job 42:1-6 and verse 10
PURPOSE 1. To show that suffering can be reconciled with the justice, goodness and
love of God.
2. To set forth Job as an example – both of patience under suffering and
of self-righteousness that leads to a dangerous attitude of "demanding
our rights" from God.
God uses affliction to reveal our true character, to expose areas of
weakness and to build strength.
JOB'S FRIENDS Eliphaz "Comforted" Job by trying to convince him that his
Bildad suffering was punishment sent by God because he
Zophar had probably sinned.
Elihu He had a little more understanding – he thought Job's
suffering was sent to purify Job.
Then God spoke:
Job's suffering was designed first of all as a trial in which Job could prove himself in
opposition to Satan, no matter how difficult the circumstances.
Job did not pass that test; therefore what happened had the effect of purifying him.
In the end, Job was blessed with twice as much as he had before.
An important lesson:
There is a very thin line between living in faith – that is, living according to the Word of God,
by loving those who are not easy to love, giving when it seems if we do so we will have
nothing for ourselves ……. and a demanding attitude – that attempts to confront God with
the justice due us. That kind of attitude will produce the same results as it did with Job.
Read Job 38:1-4
And 40:1-5
Let us now return to our study of the Books of History ……
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The Book of 1 Kings, continued
Lesson 5
Saul David Solomon Rehoboam DIVIDED KINGDOM
REHOBOAM
After the death of his father, Solomon, the people came to Rehoboam and said, "Your father
made our yoke heavy …"
Remember, Solomon had used 30,000 men as forced labour in his building projects, besides
80,000 stone workers and 13,000 other labourers.
But when asked to lighten the burden, Rehoboam arrogantly replied that he would make the
burden on the people even heavier.
He did not seek God for a solution to the problem, nor did he pay any attention to the wise
counsel of his father's leaders, but instead listened to the advice of his young friends.
As a result, he lost the ten tribes of Israel forever, ruined himself and the people he wanted to
rule.
He reduced Israel's strength amongst the nations – instead of being a strong powerful nation as
it had been under David and Solomon’s rule; the nation was now much weaker.
JEROBOAM
Although God had given the kingdom to Jeroboam, he was afraid the people would return to
Rehoboam, and so turned the nation from worshipping God in Jerusalem and led them into
idolatry.
He set up golden bulls in Bethel and Dan, allowed anyone to act as a priest, made new dates for
the feasts, and changed the centre of worship from the Temple in Jerusalem to Samaria.
Eighteen kings after him continued his idolatry, eventually resulting in the entire northern
nation of Israel being taken captive by Assyria, from which they never returned.
THE DIVIDED KINGDOM
"ISRAEL" The Northern Kingdom 10 tribes It lasts for 210 years
Capital city – Samaria
"JUDAH" The Southern Kingdom Judah, Benjamin It lasts for 346 years
and Levi longer than the
Capital City – Jerusalem northern kingdom of
Israel.
Scripture clearly puts the blame for the division of the nation onto Solomon (1 Kings 11:11).
The history of the nation after Solomon, its decline in power, the corruption of morals and at
times almost total forgetfulness of God, resulted from practices introduced by Solomon.
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MAP OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We are
not going to look at each king
in detail.
We will study the general history
of The Northern Kingdom of Israel,
its kings and prophets, as an outline.
Then we will study the Southern
Kingdom of Judah, its kings and
prophets.
IT IS IMPORTANT when you are reading, that you are clear which king and which
kingdom you are reading about – the north (Israel), or the south (Judah).
And to make it more complicated, several kings, completely different individuals, have
exactly the same name.
For example: There is a Jehoram who rules in Judah. He is Jehoshaphat’s son. But, there is
also a Jehoram in Israel, a son of Ahab.
Furthermore, some kings have two names! Jehoram of Israel is also called “Joram”, and king
Uzziah of Judah is also called “Azariah”.
This may seem unusual at first, but think how many people you know who have the same name
– John, Sipho, Raj … or that have the same last name – Smith, Naidoo, etc. There are many
people with the same name.
Therefore, as you can see, it is very important to pay attention to which kingdom, and which
king, a passage is referring to.
Turn to 1 Kings 14 God instructed a prophet named Ahijah to go to Jeroboam.
Read 1 Kings 14:7-16
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Remember this prophecy, for as we continue, we will see exactly what God said here,
come to pass.
Read verse 30
THE KINGS OF THE NORTH, "ISRAEL"
1. JEROBOAM I 931 BC 22 years (1 Kings 14:20; 2 Chronicles 10:2)
Jeroboam was a wicked king, who ruled for 22 years.
"He caused Israel to sin", by setting up idol worship in the northern kingdom.
During his reign, Nathan and Ahijah were prophets.
Read 1 Kings 14:10
Read 2 Chronicles 13:1-4
Abijah, king of Judah, came to fight Jeroboam of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Read 2 Chronicles 13:8-10
Read verses 12-15
And now read verses 17-20
This first king of the northern kingdom is called "Jeroboam I" or Jeroboam the First,
because there was another Jeroboam, who would rule Israel 138 years later.
2. NADAB 910 BC 2 years (1 Kings 15:25)
Nadab was Jeroboam's son. He also did evil.
He ruled for 2 years until Baasha, from the tribe of Issachar, killed him.
3. BAASHA 908 BC 24 years (1 Kings 15:28)
Baasha ruled for 24 years, but was an evil man.
Read 1 Kings 15:29
In the 50 years following the death of Solomon up to the time of Baasha's death, Israel
was progressively weakened through political instability and wars.
Parts of Upper Galilee were devastated by the Syrians and most of the land of Benjamin
in the south was taken by Judah.
4. ELAH 886 BC 2 years (1 Kings 16:6)
Elah was the son of Baasha. He was an evil king and ruled for 2 years.
Zimri, his servant, killed him.
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5. ZIMRI 886 BC 7 days (1 Kings 16)
Zimri killed Elah and then the entire household of Baasha, but Zimri only ruled for 7
days! Israel rejected Zimri's rule and so he locked himself in his house and burnt it down
with himself in it!
6. OMRI 885 BC 12 years (1 Kings 16:22)
Omri ruled for 12 years.
He built the city of Samaria and encouraged Israel to sin by practicing idolatry.
Once in power, he tried to regain Solomon's policy of peace with the surrounding
nations. He sealed a political alliance with the Phoenicians by marrying his first son,
Ahab, to the daughter of the king of Tyre and Sidon, cities in Phoenicia.
Later Ahab would follow his father's example, by marrying his daughter, Athaliah, to
Judah's prince and next in line to the throne, Jehoram.
7. AHAB 874 BC 22 years (1 Kings 16:29 – 22:40; 2 Chronicles 18)
Read 1 Kings 16:30-33
Ahab, Omri's son, was the most wicked king of Israel. He ruled for 22 years.
He married Jezebel, a daughter of the king of Tyre and Sidon, and he worshipped Baal,
the god of Sidon as well as Asherah, the goddess of fertility.
Not only did he worship Baal, he forced all Israel to do the same and persecuted the
people of God.
THE PROPHET ELIJAH
Read 1 Kings 17:1
Read 1 Kings 18:1-2
Read verses 17-20
a) The God who answers by fire.
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest.
They were to offer a sacrifice to their god and Elijah would make the same
sacrifice to his God.
The god who answered with fire coming down and consuming the sacrifice would
be proven to be the real God.
Read verse 24
i) Baal's response.
Read verse 26-30 – verse 29 … "no one paid any attention".
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ii) The God of Elijah answered.
Now read 1 Kings 18:30
And verses 33-40
b) The rain returned.
Read 1 Kings 18:41-46
c) Elijah fled from Jezebel.
Read 1 Kings 19:1-8
Old Testament New Testament
Immediately after such a wonderful It is after similar times of great victory
victory, when 850 prophets of that you and I must be aware that
Baal and Asherah are defeated spiritual depression can follow.
and killed, Elijah ran away and Especially when we are tired, having
just wanted to die! worked hard in God's work, that is when
we are more vulnerable and may even feel
like giving up.
d) The wars with Aram.
Note: Aram and Syria are the same country. Damascus was its capital. Therefore
the "king of Damascus" or the "king of Aram" or the "king of Syria", are all the
same.
During his reign, the Arameans (as the people who lived in Syria were called)
attacked Israel, driving deep all the way to the capital city. However, Ahab won a
great victory over them.
The following spring, the Syrians were back. Once again Ahab won the battle, but
instead of killing Ben-Hadad, the Syrian king, Ahab made a covenant with him.
Read 1 Kings 20:34-43
The peace with Syria did not last. Ahab renewed the war but, even though he
strengthened Israel's military forces by asking Jehoshaphat of Judah to join him,
they were not successful and Ahab was killed.
e) The deaths of Ahab and Jezebel prophesied.
Read 1 Kings 21:17-19 … and then verse 23
Now turn to 2 Chronicles 18:1-2
Read verses 28-29 … and verses 33-34
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8. AHAZIAH 853 BC 2 years (1 Kings 22:40; 2 Kings 1:1)
Ahaziah was Ahab's son. He followed his father and mother's example and served Baal.
He ruled for 2 years during Elijah's prophetic ministry.
Please note: There is also another king Ahaziah of Judah, who ruled in 841 BC.
2 KINGS – The Book of Dispersion or Scattering
Our study of the kings of the divided nation continues into the second book of Kings.
AUTHOR Jeremiah
TIME A period of about 300 years from Judah's king Jehoshaphat and Azariah, king of
Israel, right through to the captivity of both kingdoms.
KEY VERSES Read 2 Kings 17:7-14
Read verses 22-23
Read 2 Kings 23:27
PURPOSE
1. To continue the tragic history of the two kingdoms.
Every king that ruled in Israel was evil. (There were 19 kings)
Judah lasted 136 years longer than the northern kingdom because of the relative goodness
of eight of its kings, but judgment came to both kingdoms because of their idolatry,
immorality and disunity
2. To show that during the 457 year period from David's reign until the captivity of Judah,
there were great shifts of world power. Egypt and Assyria both exert power over Israel
and Judah. Assyria rises to rule the known world, then declines and is finally conquered
by Babylon.
OUTLINE 1. Chapters 1 – 17: Cover 131 years, from King Ahaziah of Israel to the
Assyrian captivity in 721 BC.
2. Chapters 18 – 25: 155 years from the beginning of Hezekiah's reign
until Judah is defeated by Babylon.
THE KINGS OF ISRAEL, continued …
9. JEHORAM (also called “Joram”) 852 BC 12 years (2 Kings 3:1; 2 Chronicles 22:5-9)
Jehoram succeeded his unfortunate brother, who fell from a second story window.
In a curious coincidence, Judah also had a king called Jehoram during this time, and both
kings are also sometimes called "Joram".
He ruled for 12 years, during the ministry of Elisha.
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The country of Moab rebelled against Israel, withholding the annual tribute of wool and
lambs.
a) Jehoram's first agreement with Judah.
Read 2 Kings 3:4-7
Read verses 11-14
Now read verses 16-18
Read verses 22-27
b) God was not pleased with Israel.
Part of God's judgement against Israel was a terrible famine.
Read 2 Kings 6:24-29
Read 2 Kings 7:1-7 and verse 16
c) The end of Elijah's Ministry – The beginning of Elisha's Ministry – 852 BC.
Read 2 Kings 2:9
Elisha received a "double portion" – that is, twice the anointing that Elijah had.
Twenty miracles are attributed to Elisha – twice as many as Elijah.
However, the nation continued to plunge to its doom.
d) Jehoram's second agreement with Judah.
Read 2 Kings 8:25-29
Read 2 Kings 9:1-3
Read verse 7
Now read verse 24 … and verse 27
10. JEHU 840 BC 28 years (2 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 22)
Jehu ruled for 28 years. Elisha prophesied during his reign.
Jehu killed Jehoram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah king of Judah, and had Jezebel thrown
down from her house to the street, where she died.
At the beginning he seemed to follow God, because he destroyed Baal worship, but he
was not a Godly king and chose to worship the golden calves Jeroboam I had set up in
the cities of Bethel and Dan.
Read 2 Kings 10:11
Read verses 26-29
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The entire nation of Israel was affected by the extreme level of violence of Jehu's revolt
against the house of Ahab.
Damascus (the capital of Syria, or Aram) was growing in power again. Hazael, its king,
decided to take advantage of the disorder in Israel and exerted such pressure that Jehu
very unwisely appealed to Assyria for help.
Assyria seized the opportunity to invade without facing the combined forces of Israel and
Syria, but did not succeed in capturing Damascus.
Trouble back in Assyria removed the Assyrian army.
Now the king of Syria turned and sent his army all the way through the land of Gilead,
Gad, Reuben and Manasseh. (2 Kings 10:32-33) The Syrians were now in an ideal
position to attack Judah.
2 Kings 12:18 tells us that the king of Judah (also called Jehoash) sent all the gold he
could get his hands on, including the gold from the house of the Lord, to buy Aram
(Syria) off.
11. JEHOAHAZ 815 BC 17 years (2 Kings 10:35)
Jehoahaz (the son of Jehu), was a wicked king. He ruled for 17 years, during the ministry
of Elisha.
Because of the war his father had fought and lost with Syria, Jehoahaz had an army of
only fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand footmen.
The attacks from Syria continued, but Jehoahaz pleaded with God to help. The Lord
listened to him and delivered the nation of Israel … but, after they defeated Aram, they
returned to their golden calf worship.
12. JEHOASH 798 BC 16 years (2 Kings 13:10; 2 Chronicles 25:17)
This is Jehoahaz' son. He is also called "Joash".
Again, be very careful as you read about the different kings of Israel and Judah. When
king Jehoahaz ruled in Israel, a man named "Joash" began to rule in Judah.
He was an evil king and ruled for 16 years. During his reign, Elisha the prophet, died.
(2 Kings 13:20-23)
Jehoash accepted a challenge of war from the king of Judah.
Read 2 Chronicles 25:22-24
Jehoash then attacked Syria, won the battle and greatly reduced its military threat.
13 JEROBOAM II 793 BC 41 years (2 Kings 14:16)
Jeroboam II, was Jehoash's son. He ruled Israel for 41 years. He was also an evil king.
Israel prospered during his reign, even taking back some land they had lost in war.
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However, although economic and military circumstances were wonderful, prosperity
only increased their immorality, injustice and desire for material possessions.
It is during this time that the nation of Assyria began to rise in power again.
However, for the moment, they were not yet a serious threat to Israel.
The people of Israel were confident that all was well, but it was only 30 years until
their downfall!
Note: Do not confuse the country "Syria" with the country "Assyria". These are two
separate countries, two different nations.
Teacher's Notes
After the Hebrews conquered Jericho under Joshua, there was a prophecy that the city
would never be rebuilt except at great cost. Read Joshua 6:26. Now read 1 Kings 16:34.