1 Kings 15 - Introduction

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 editorial introductions, epilogues, and comments on the reigns of the various kings.

These verses cover the first six decades of the Divided Monarchy, from 931-870 B.C. The contents of this section can be diagrammed as follows:

From the time of the schism in 931 B.C. the two kingdomsIsrael and Judahhad hostile relations one with the other. The state of belligerency lasted until the great diplomat Omri ascended the throne of Israel in 885 B.C. At that point Israel and Judah became closely allied through marriage. During the course of the Omri dynasty, Northern and Southern kings joined together in both commercial and military ventures. In this unit of the text, the sacred historian treats the kings of Judah whose reigns cover the years 931 to 870 B.C. He also treats five complete reigns of the Northern kings covering the years 910-874 B.C. At the conclusion of chapter 16 he introduces the reign of Ahab about whom he will have much more to say in subsequent Chapter s.

REVIEW OF CHAPTER TWELVE

I. FACTS TO MASTER

A. How do each of the following places figure in the events of this section?

1. Brook Kidron

5. Geba

9. Dan

2. Ramah

6. Mizpah

10. Abel-beth- maachah

3. Damascus

7. Gibbethon

4. Tirzah

8. Samaria

B. Three important women are mentioned in this section. Identify them.

1. Naamah

2. Maachah

3. Jezebel

C. What role did each of the following men play in this section?

1. Hiel

4. Shishak

7. Abiram

2. Arza

5. Benhadad

8. Segub

3. Tibni

6. Shemer

9. Ethbaal

D. Two prophets are mentioned in this section. How were the prophecies of each of these men fulfilled?

1. Ahijah the Shilonite

2. Jehu son of Hanani

E. Memorize the ten kings mentioned in this section and one significant fact about each.

KINGS OF JUDAH

KINGS OF ISRAEL

1.Rehoboam

1. Jeroboam

2. Abijam

2. Nadab

Asa

3. Baasha

4. Elah

5. Zimri

6. Omri

7. Ahab

II. QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.

Suppose you were plotting a graph of spiritual highs and lows during the first sixty years of the Divided Monarchy. How would that graph appear for Israel? For Judah?

2.

Why was Baal worship so attractive to Israel throughout its history?

3.

Describe the history of the relationship between the two kingdoms during the first sixty years of their independent existence.

4.

What were the great contributions of the reign of Omri? Why is so little attention devoted to him by the sacred historian?

5.

What episode from the reign of Abijam illustrates that he was a hypocrite? (This episode is mentioned only in II Chronicles).

6.

Several of the kings are said to have provoked God to anger. How did they do this? How do we provoke God's anger?

7.

How can you account for the political tumult and turbulence in the Northern Kingdom and the comparative calm in Judah?

8.

Why did Omri make Samaria his capital?

9.

What role does Damascus play in the political affairs of the first half-century of the Divided Monarchy?

10.

Omri has been called the David of the North. What parallels do you see between the reigns of these two great kings?

Lessons in Living

THE MAN FOR WHOM GOD IS LOOKING

Text: 2 Chronicles 16:9

Background: Words of Hanani to Asa
I. The Intensity of God's Search

For the eyes of the LORD rove (continuous action, Hebrew participle) to and fro throughout the world ...

A. God's Search is Continuous
B. God's Search is Universal

II. The Object of God's Search

... those whose hearts are completely His.

A. Like King Asa, Men of Conviction

B. Like King Asa. Men of Courage

III. The Purpose of God's Search

... that He might show Himself strong on the behalf of those whose hearts are completely His.

IV. The Disappointment of God's Search

You have acted foolishly in this. From this day forward you shall have wars.

Asa the man who once served God with a perfect heart, failed the Lord in his later years.

Drawing by Horace Knowles from the British and Foreign Bible Society