Study Notes bible.cod Ed Underwood 1 Kings 12-2 Kings

The Divided Kingdom Era

The Lord announced, “I will also spurn Judah, just as I spurned Israel. I will reject this city that I chose—both Jerusalem and the temple, about which I said, ‘I will live there’” (2 Kings 23:27).

The fourth major unit within the seventeen Historical Books is referred to as the Divided Kingdom Period. The Books of Kings record the reigns of kings of Israel and Judah following David. The United Kingdom of Israel reached the zenith of its power and influence early in Solomon’s 40-year reign (1 Kings 1-11). It began to decline because of Solomon’s divided heart for God.

The books of Kings cover the 431 years of Israel’s history from Solomon’s coronation (973 B.C.) to Jehoiachin’s release from Babylonian exile (561 B.C.). The focus is on the 387 years from Solomon’s coronation to the destruction of the temple in 586 B.C. It begins with the Temple being built and ends with the Temple burnt. I believe it was written primarily by the prophet Jeremiah and finished by Ezra or Ezekiel with some final editing by unknown editors. It was written to the remaining kingdom of Judah before and after its Babylonian exile. It is at once an explanation for the Babylonian captivity and a warning to learn the lessons of history. “...1, 2 Kings present Israel’s history as a series of events that describe how and why the nation fell from the heights of national prosperity to the depths of conquest and exile. More specifically, [these books] explain how and why Israel lost the land it fought so hard to win in Joshua and worked so hard to organize in Judges, and 1, 2 Samuel.” (Paul R. House, 1, 2 Kings, pp 15, 28)

The nation divides in 1 Kings 12 when the ten northern tribes set up their own king, their own capital, and their own place of worship. The narrative becomes the story of two nations failing to heed the warnings of the Law and the prophets. Choosing idolatry rather than Temple worship and immorality rather than justice and morality, Israel and Judah decline and eventually dissolve. Israel is captured and dispersed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Just over 150 years later in 586 B.C. Judah is led off to Exile in Babylonia. God has been patient with His people, pleading with them through the prophets. Both kingdoms’ failure to fulfill their covenantal responsibilities resulted in God’s loving but severe discipline:

The story of the Divided Kingdom era is that Israel went into exile, but the plot is Israel went into exile because of its unfaithfulness to God. (Paul House, 1, 2 Kings, pp. 61-62) During the period of the Divided Kingdom each king is evaluated by his faithfulness to the covenant rather than by the grandeur of his reign.

I. THE CONTEXT OF 1 AND 2 KINGS: The critical turning point in the Kings is 1 Kings 12 when Israel divided into two kingdoms. The narrative transitions from the story of one king, one nation, one capital, and one religion to two kings, two nations, two capitals, and two religions.

A. DATES TO REMEMBER: The history of the kings revolves around these key dates:

1. 973B.C.Solomon’scoronationasco-regentwithDavid

2. 931 B.C. The kingdom divides between Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom)

3. 722B.C.AssyriancaptivityofIsrael

4. 586B.C.BabyloniancaptivityofJudah,destructionofthetempleinJerusalem

1 Kings 12-2 Kings (Divided Kingdom):

God loves His people too much to let them get by with their sin!

1. 90 YEARS OF TURMOIL: Solomon’s divided heart is reflected in the division in the nation and the attitude of successive kings. The voices of the prophets, used by God to judge sin, reach their climax in Elijah. (1 Kings 12-22)

   1. DIVISIONOFTHEKINGDOM:Rehoboam,Solomon’sfoolishson,rejectstheadviceofwise counselors and taxes the people heavily. Rebellion and civil war divides the country. Jeraboam from the tribe of Ephraim establishes a rebel nation from the ten northern tribes. He sets up a new system of worship, which sets the apostate pattern for the wicked rule, which will characterize the northern kings. (12-16)

   2. AHABBATTLESELIJAH:Astheprophetsbegintospeak,ElijahconfrontswickedAhabwith God’s judgment of drought. Then, in a climactic demonstration of YHWH’s power, the prophets of Baal lose their lives enraging the wicked Queen Jezebel. (17-19)

   3. AHAB BATTLES SYRIA: The closing chapters of 1 Kings focuses attention upon the reign of wicked Ahab, king of Israel. Though God is patient (1 Peter 3:9, 15) giving Ahab victory over Syria, Ahab spurns God’s love and disobeys. He dies rebelling against the God who loved him (20-22).

2. 131 YEARS OF DECLINE BEFORE ISRAEL IS DISPERSED BY ASSYRIA: Israel rejects the ministry and messages of Elisha. (1-8) God preserves Joash of the line of David who restores the temple and serves God. Despite God’s blessing in the northern kingdom under the reign of Jeraboam II, the unbroken line of wicked kings and idolatrous people leads to Israel’s over throw by Assyria. (2 Kings 1-17)

3. 155 YEARS OF DECLINE BEFORE JUDAH IS DEPORTED TO BABYLONIA: Whereas the northern kingdom had 19 unrighteous kings who gained power by murdering their predecessor, Judah had only one dynasty and 8 of its 20 kings were righteous. Despite the efforts of righteous kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah, the last four kings of Judah invite judgment by their unfaithfulness to the covenant and wickedness. Discipline comes in three deportations to Babylonia. The last deportation, lamented by the prophet Jeremiah (Lamentations), occurs in 586 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple. Still, due to God’s faithfulness to His unconditional covenants, the book ends in hope with God preserving a remnant for Himself. (2 Kings 18-25)

II. The Divided Kingdom and You: God’s message to His people during the period of the Exile in Babylonia and afterward encourages them to place their trust and hope in Him regardless of the circumstances of life. God’s sovereign and loving control of worldwide events during the divided kingdom era teach us to see His hand in these specific aspects of life as we follow Jesus Christ His Son:

1. We see God’s hand in our history. He moved world powers to achieve His purposes in the lives of His people—Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia. (Romans 8:28)

2. We see God’s hand in our discipline. He loved His people too much to allow them to continue in the sin of idolatry. The Babylonian Captivity slapped the idolatry out of Israel. (Hebrews 12:1-13)

3. We see God’s powerful and personal care for those who were living for Him in a decadent culture— Elijah, Elisha, Hezekiah, Joash. (Hebrews 6:9-12)