CHAPTER TWELVE THE KINGDOMS IN CONFRONTATION AND COOPERATION 1 Kings 14:21 to 1 Kings 16:34 The material found in 1 Kings 14:21 to 1 Kings 16:34 is perhaps the least interesting in the books of Kings. This is the case because more than half of the seventy-nine verses of this section contain edito... [ Continue Reading ]
C. HYPOCRISY UNDER ABIJAM 15:1-8 TRANSLATION (1) Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam reigned over Judah. (2) Three years he reigned in Jerusalem; and the name of his mother was Maachah the daughter of Abishalom. (3) And he walked in all the sins of his father which he h... [ Continue Reading ]
C. THE REFORMATION UNDER ASA 15:9-24 At the outset of his reign, Asa launched a national movement to bring his people back to the old paths of fidelity to God. But as time went on, Asa's religious fervor cooled. The text here briefly alludes to these two aspects of his reign: (1) Asa's exercise of... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE KINGS OF ISRAEL 15:25-16:34 (910-870 B.C.) Chronologically 1 Kings 15:25 to 1 Kings 16:34 is parallel to 1 Kings 15:9-24. To state the matter differently, the reigns of Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri and the early years of Ahab were synchronological with the lengthy reign of Asa of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
B. THE BAASHA DYNASTY 15:32-16:14 The Baasha dynasty receives the most cursory treatment from the author of Kings. Political accomplishments of Baasha are almost totally ignored, as the author has elected to focus on the prophetic curse which ultimately brought destruction to this dynasty. The mate... [ Continue Reading ]