Reflection questions

1. How is your trust in God, His word and His plan?

2. When is it difficult to trust God?

The Books of Kings

• A central book that has something to do with most of the other books in the OT.
• Continues the story from the Books of Samuel and covers the period 972-560 BC.
• 40 kings: Solomon + 20 in Judah and 19 in Israel.
• But also at least 16 prophets, who are actually more important than the kings because they hold the kings accountable to the word of God. (“The Kings vs. the Prophets”)

The Age of Judges (1370- c. 1050)   

One Kingdom (c. 1050-931)

A divided kingdom (931-586)

What could they have been thinking in Babylon?

“Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off” (Ezek. 37:11)

Why hadn’t he protected his people? Why have we lost the land he gave us? Will he punish us forever? Has he abandoned us?

Are the Babylonian gods stronger since the Babylonians managed to destroy the temple?

What has happened to the promise that there would always be a descendant of David on the throne now that the king is in Babylon?

Genre: Theological/prophetic history

The selection of material is theologically motivated, and there are constant references to other sources for more historical material, e.g. 1 Kings 11:41, 14:19 and 14:29. (These “chronicles” are not 1-2 Chronicles, which were written after the exile.)

In the Books of Kings, the kings are not judged by political/military successes/defeats, but by theological criteria.

It is God’s word in the Law of Moses and through his prophets that truly governs Israel’s history.

Purpose

Explain that they are in Babylon because they broke the covenant, worshiped other gods, and did not listen to the prophets—and to awaken them to repentance. It’s not too late! There is still hope!

Deuteronomy as a backdrop

Looking back

Genesis 1-4. Understandable from what has happened

Connector

Deuteronomy

Looking ahead

The basis for understanding what is going to happen

Ex. 1: Kings were to abide by the royal law (chap. 17)

Ex. 2: The prophets refer to the covenant curses (chs. 27-28)

Theme in Deuteronomy

If they remember what God has done because of his love for them, and therefore love him and keep the law, they will be able to take possession of the land, live long in it, and be blessed.

How much trust did the kings really have in God?

The difficult chronology

1. Are the numbers always meant completely literally?

• From Jeroboam I to Jehoram: 22 – 2 – 24 – 2 – 12 – 22 – 2 – 12
• Successors of kings who receive notice of judgment on their house reign “two years” (1 Kings 15:25, 16:8, 22:51, 2 Kings 21:19)
• The last 4 kings: 3 months – 11 years – 3 months – 11 years
• Is it storytelling where kings are linked together to be reflected upon as a group?
• Must be rounded anyway (since not everyone died on the same day). A few months could then be called 2 years if it affects two calendar years.

2. Do both kingdoms count the “year of accession”? (Jer. 25:1 vs. Dan. 1:1)

3. Co-governments (2 Kings 8:16, 15:5, 15:37)

4. Different calendars: One has New Year in Nisan and another in Tishri, but who used which?

Conclusion: We cannot get hung up on chronology. The theological is more important anyway.

Themes

God is the only God: Idols are man-made and have no power. God is the creator of heaven and earth, completely separate from what he has created, yet involved in his creation. He controls nature and history (most clearly through the prophets). It is not kings who change history, but God’s will.

Consequences of sin: Even kings and prophets are punished.

God’s goodness and grace: God constantly surprises the reader’s expectations based on the Law of Moses.

Messiah: All the kings of Judah are descendants of David and the Lord’s “anointed.” They are punished, but preserved so that God’s plan may be fulfilled.

Author?

Unknown, but Jewish tradition says Jeremiah for the following reasons:

• The books of Kings mention many prophets, but not Jeremiah – although he was important. He is, however, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 35:25, 36:12 and 36:21-22 (where the return is a fulfillment of his words).
• Josiah’s reforms are not mentioned in Jeremiah.
• The last chapters of each book are almost exactly the same.
• 2 Kings 25 gives no explanation for the destruction of Jerusalem (as ch. 17 does for Israel), but we find much about this in Jeremiah.
• Jer 40:7–41:18 provides more information about 2 Kings 25:22–26.

	Kings	Year	Prophets	State
1 Kg 1-11	Solomon	972-931	Nathan, Ahijah	United Kingdom
1 Kg 12-16	N: Jeroboam I – Nadab – Basha – Elah – Zimri -Omri S: Rehoboam – Abijah – Asa	931-875	Ahia, Shemaiah, Jehu, two anonymous.	Divided kingdom
1 Kg 17 – 2 Kg 10	N: Ahab – Ahaziah – Joram – Jehu S: Jehoshaphat – Jehoram – Ahaziah	875- 814	Elijah, Micah, two anonymous, Elisha, one anonymous.
2 Kg 11-17	N: Jehoahaz – Joash – Jeroboam II – Zechariah – Shallum – Menahem – Pekahiah – Pekah – Hosea S: Athaliah – Joash – Amaziah – Azariah/Uzziah – Jotham – Ahaz	841-715	(Elisha) Jonah
2 Kg 18-25	Hezekiah – Manasseh – Amon – Josiah – Jehoahaz – Jehoiakim – Jehoiachin – Zedekiah	715-560	Isaiah Huldah	Judah

Part 1 (chs. 1-11): One kingdom under Solomon (972-931 BC)

Throne struggle and inheritance intrigues (Chapters 1-2)

• Adonijah: Probably eldest surviving son (2 Sam 3:2-5, 5:13-15)
• David apparently chose Solomon (1:13, 30; 1 Chron. 22:9), although he may have been son number 10 (at least 8).
• Adonijah probably knew this, but thought David was too old to carry it out. (1:4-5, 2:22)
• David refers to the Law of Moses (Deut 11:1) in his last words to Solomon (2:3)
• Solomon secures the throne by killing Adonijah, Joab (pro-Judah), and Shimei (pro-Israel) (2:12, 46)

Solomon: Israel’s Golden Age (“gold” 34x) (Ch. 3-11)

• Loved the Lord (3:3).
• Wisdom: More than all other kings (3:12-13, 4:29-34, 10:23-24).
• Peace: Both domestically and in foreign relations (4:24-25).
• Wealth: Surpassed all other kings in wealth (10:23).
• Size: 40,000/4,000 stables, 12,000 horsemen (4:26), 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses (10:26).
• Culture: 3000 Proverbs and 1005 Songs (4:32).
• Construction projects: Built the temple, the royal palace, Jerusalem’s city wall, etc. (9:15)

Chapters 5-8

• A dwelling place for God’s name (→ Deut. 8:16), not God himself. His name represents all that he is, but even heaven is not big enough (8:27). His eyes are upon the temple (8:29), and he hears from heaven (8:30)
• The temple guarantees nothing. The law still applies (6:11-13).
• God will destroy it if they forsake Him (9:6-9)

Solomon’s Prayer (8:12-53)

Deuteronomy in the background:

v. 33-40: That God must hear prayers that come from repentance due to covenant curses.

v. 46-53: That God must hear the prayers and bring them back from exile if they repent there.

v. 54-61: Exhortation to hold on to God wholeheartedly.

But…

“Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem.” 1 Kings 3:1

Probably Pharaoh Siamun (978-959) who took Gezer (9:16), allied himself with Solomon who took over Gezer to secure his southern border and married Siamun’s daughter to seal the alliance.

The holiest of all shrines

• From the 8th century.
• Found on Judah’s southern border.
• With remains of the last incense offering Destroyed in the time of Hezekiah.

The King’s Law! (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

1. “The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them”

• Had 12,000 horses and engaged in horse trading (4:26, 10:26-29)

2. “He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray.”

• Took hundreds of foreign wives, also warned against in Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (11:1-3)

3. “He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

• So much gold that the silver was not counted as anything (10:21), surpassing all others in wealth (10:23).

4. “follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees”

• Turned to other gods and away from the Lord (11:4-10), and the people too (11:33)

This results in:

• Covenant curses (opponents) (11:14, 23-25, 26)
• Divided heart → divided kingdom (11:29-39)
• Starting to look like King Saul (11:40)

How could this happen to Solomon?

What is wisdom?

• Solomon already has a form of wisdom in 2:6 and 9, but does he use it for his own benefit? The wisdom from God is for governing well (3:28).
• “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10)
• Biblical wisdom = applied knowledge: Knowing how to live according to God’s will
• Wisdom and prosperity can therefore be linked together (10:4-7) because prosperity in the OT was a covenant blessing because one followed God’s will in the Law of Moses.
• For the readers: They would see a great contrast to their situation and should not let the wisdom of Babylon blind them (4:30, 10:23-24). Should lead to repentance.
• Do we get the impression that Solomon is completely surrendered to God and the Law of Moses?
• Wisdom can be compromised by sin, because wisdom is not intellectual but practical.

Solomon foreshadowing Jesus

• Solomon’s great kingdom of peace and prosperity points to God’s kingdom/new earth.
• Solomon surpassed all in wisdom, but Jesus is greater than Solomon and his wisdom (Matthew 12:42, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Colossians 2:3).
• Solomon built the temple, but Jesus is greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6, John 2:19-22).

Reflection

“Solomon showed his love for the Lord… except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.” (3:3).

“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women…” (11:1)

In light of what is said about Solomon, discuss this quote:

“The modern church produces passionate, empty-headed people who love a Jesus they don’t know very well.”

Part 2 (1 Kg 12 – 2 Kg 17) – Divided kingdom (931-722 BC)

Jeroboam I of Israel (931-911) (12:1 – 14:20)

• Originally an overseer of the forced labor of Ephraim (11:28, 5:15-18). The northern tribes will serve Rehoboam if he eases this labor (which Judah may have been spared off) (12:3-4).
• Divided into Israel and Judah. The kingdom seems somewhat divided already under Saul and David (12:16 repeats 2 Sam 20:1).
• Creates an alternative religion for the Northern Kingdom, mixes in Canaanite religion (12:28-33). He also builds houses of worship on the high places. He did not trust the prophet Ahijah (11:31-39).
• Most of the kings after him are commented on whether they continued in his sins. “Doing evil” in this book is primarily idolatry, but with all that follows from this.

Baal worship

• The bull was a Canaanite motif of fertility and strength. It is often associated with the fertility god Baal.
• Symbolized a god or a god’s pedestal. Jeroboam may have thought that the calves carried the presence of Yahweh, yet this is religious syncretism.

Jeroboam I of Israel (931-911) (12:1 – 14:20)

• Similarities between the previous “golden calf incident”:
• Egypt mentioned (12:2)
• Rehoboam is hardened (as Pharaoh) (12:15)
• Oppression increases first (in theory) (12:11)
• Jeroboam is a kind of Moses (liberator), who becomes Aaron who makes new golden calves. 12:28 is almost exactly the same as Exodus 32:4.
• History repeats itself. God’s people commit old sins and even resemble Egypt.

Rehoboam of Judah (931-915) (1 Kgs 14:20-31)

• Mother of Ammon, for whom Solomon built a high place. Mentioned in both v. 21 and v. 31.
• The campaign of Pharaoh Shishak (Sheshonq I) in 925 is confirmed by an inscription.
• Covenant Curse: Defeated by enemies (Deut. 28:25, 2 Chron. 12:2)
• First, but not the last time the temple is robbed (15:18, 2 Kings 14:14, 16:8, 18:15-16, 24:13, before the decisive one in 2 Kings 25).
• It is rapidly declining as they worship other gods. The golden age has already been reduced to bronze. (v. 27)
•  

Omri of Israel (886-875) (1 Kgs 16:23-28)

• Make Samaria the capital of the Northern Kingdom
• Israel’s second longest dynasty: Omri — Ahab — Ahaziah — Jehoram (45 years).
• External evidence suggests that Omri and Ahab made the Northern Kingdom internationally important. They are also the first two kings mentioned in other texts. The Assyrians called Israel “Samaria” and “Omriland” as late as 722.
• The worst king so far (v. 25) and gets little space in the Books of Kings.

The Mesha Stele (c. 840)

“Omri was king of Israel, and he oppressed Moab for many days when Chemosh was angry with his land.”

“Mesiah king of Moab was a sheep raiser. He used to pay tribute to the king of Israel with a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.” (2 Kings 3:4-5)

Ahab of Israel (875-853) (1 Kgs 16:29 – 22:40)

• The worst king of the Northern Kingdom (16:30-33, 21:25-26). Reintroduces Baal worship (not mentioned since before Saul in 1 Sam 7).
• Married to Jezebel, princess of Sidon (Phoenicia). Probably because of her that Baal worship was introduced. (16:31, 21:25)
• Great population growth in the 8th century, and Samaria, Megiddo and Hazor became much larger.
• Gets many chapters because of Elijah. Seems to emphasize the danger Israel faced under Ahab.

Baal worship

• Baal was one of the most important gods in the ancient Middle East. The name means lord/owner/husband. Also called Hadad.
• God of fertility, storms and rain.
• The worship involved self-harm, ritual prostitution—even child sacrifice (Jer. 19:5, 32:35).

The main characters in 1 Kings 17-22

• The Wicked King Ahab
• The Even More Evil Queen Jezebel
• The Prophet Elijah

Elijah (1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 2)

1. Foretells drought for about three years. Both a covenant curse and to show that Baal does not control the rain (ch. 17).

2. Performs a miracle of bread for a widow in Sidon (ch. 17).

3. Awakens her dead son (ch. 17).

4. Challenges the Baal prophets on Carmel and puts an end to Baal worship—so that rain comes (ch. 18).

5. Gives Ahab the judgment that his dynasty will end (ch. 21).

6. Foretells the death of King Ahaziah due to idolatry and fire from heaven falls on Ahaziah’s men — the king must not think he can command God’s prophet (2 Kings 1).

7. Crossing the Jordan (2 Kings 2).

8. Taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2).

Elijah at Horeb/Sinai (1 Kgs 19)

1. Was he afraid (most translations, LXX), or “did he see it”? (MT, KJV, WEB, ASV) (Heb: Ambiguous without vowel points). Why be afraid after the victory in ch. 18?

• He goes to the “mountain of God,” where God had revealed himself in a powerful way in the book of Exodus.

2. Is he tired of life, or is he frustrated that the people never listen to the prophets? (vv. 4, 10)

• His response (vv. 10, 14) is in any case excessively negative in light of 18:30-32 and 39.

3. Does he hear “a gentle whisper” (NIV), “a still, small voice” (KJV), or “a whistling of a gentle air.” (DRA)? (Sound/voice — same word in v. 12)

Elijah at Horeb/Sinai (1 Kgs 19)

What does God really want to convey?

1. Elijah is asked to stand before the Lord, which is an expression he himself uses in 17:1 (“serve”). He is raised up again to his calling.

2. Although God has done great things in chapter 18 and in Exodus (in the same place), He does not always show Himself in the spectacular.

3. God asks a question (twice), he does not rebuke. It does not sound like Elijah needed to go (vv. 13, 15). Did he act based on 17:3?

4. The solution to Israel’s apostasy is political (= quietly) rather than miraculous: Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. (vv. 15-16) Elijah himself will not see it happen.

5. Elijah is not alone, as he may think, but there are 7,000 more (= the silence) (v. 18). These are worth fighting for. Elijah needed to see things from God’s perspective and get a glimpse of the whole picture.

Tricky Text No. 1: Micah and the 400 Prophets (1 Kings 22:1-28)

1. Are these true or false prophets?

“brought together the prophets” (v. 6): This expression is otherwise used only in 18:20 (and 2 Chron. 18:5), where the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah are spoken of.

The 400 Asherah prophets never show up at Carmel! These are probably the same 400. It also doesn’t make sense that the idolatrous (yet repentant) Ahab had so many genuine prophets around him.

The prophets first use ‘Adonai’ (v. 6), and perhaps Jehoshaphat is puzzled and requests a prophet of Yahweh (v. 7).

2. Why does God send “a deceiving spirit” into the mouths of the prophets? (vv. 22-23)

Because it is God’s will that Ahab die in this war (v. 20). (Ezek. 14: If anyone with idols in his heart asks Yahweh for advice, he will not answer. But he can still entice a false prophet to come with a message to judge both.)

3. Why does Ahab go to war anyway?

Because 400 to 1 have said he will win, and this one has said two contradictory things and always comes with negative messages anyway.

4. Why is he disguised?

He’s probably planning to brace himself in case Mika is right, and he thinks a disguise will prevent him from being killed.

He is nevertheless killed (vv. 34-35).

John the Baptist (Luke 1:17, Matthew 11:14) and Elijah

John dwells in the wilderness (Matthew 3:1) “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.” (Matthew 3:4)

• Elijah wanders in the wilderness for 40 days (chap. 19).
• Elijah “had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.” (2 Kgs 1:8)

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” (Malachi 4:5)

Elijah and Jesus

1. Elijah performs a miracle of bread for a widow in Sidon.

• Jesus meets a woman from Sidon and talks about bread (Matthew 15). Performs great bread miracles in the same context (Matthew 14-15).

2. Elijah resurrects the widow’s dead son.

• Jesus raised a widow’s dead son and “gave him back to his mother” (Luke 7:15, 1 Kings 17:23).

3. Elijah walks 40 days in the desert and meets God at Horeb (Sinai)

• Jesus walks 40 days in the desert (Matthew 4) and meets Elijah on a high mountain (Matthew 17).

The Transfiguration (Matthew 17/Mark 9/Luke 9)

• Moses on Sinai (Exodus 33): God passes by Moses and shows his glory, but covers Moses’ face.
• Elijah at Horeb/Sinai (1 Kings 19): God passes by Elijah, but Elijah covers his face.
• They finally see the face of God when they see the glorified face of Jesus.

Elijah and Elisha’s Itineraries

Elijah (and Elisha): Gilgal — Bethel (2:2) — Jericho (2:4) — Jordan (2:6)

Elisha: Jordan — Jericho (2:18) — Bethel (2:23) — Carmel (2:25) – Samaria (2:25).

• Elisha goes back the same way. He meets the same people as Elijah as God’s prophet. Badly received in 2:23-24.
• Goes to the place where Elisha met the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18) to continue this fight (1 Kings 19:16-18). Then he goes to the capital.

Comparison between Elijah and Elisha

Elijah (1 Kings)

1. Predicts drought for about three years (to show that Baal does not control the rain).

2. Performs a miracle of bread for a widow in Sidon.

3. Awakens her dead son (ch. 17).

4. End Baal worship so that rain will come (chap. 18).

5. Gives Ahab the judgment that his dynasty will end (chap. 21).

6. Foretells the death of King Ahaziah due to idolatry (2 Kings 1).

7. Crossing the Jordan (2 Kings 2).

8. Taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2).

Elisha (2 Kings)

1. Crossing the Jordan (ch. 2).

2. Gives Jericho fresh water (ch. 2).

3. The Bears (chap. 2).

4. Perform a water miracle and promise victory (chap. 3).

5. Performs a miracle of oil for a widow (ch. 4).

6. Promises the woman of Shunem a son (ch. 4).

7. Awakening her dead son (ch. 4).

8. The food in the pot is cleaned (ch. 4).

9. Performs a bread miracle (chap. 4).

10. Heals Naaman (ch. 5).

11. The servant’s skin disease (chap. 5).

12. The axe floats up (chap. 6).

13. The servant’s spiritual eyes opened (ch. 6).

14. Victory over the Arameans by blindness (ch. 6).

15. Warns of seven years of famine (ch. 8).

16. His bones make a dead man alive (ch. 13).

Shows that Elisha takes on Elijah’s service — as with Jesus & Peter and Peter & Paul.

Tricky Text No. 2: Elisha and the Bears (2 Kings 2:23-24)

1. “Little boys”? (na’ar qatan) Used of Solomon (1 Kings 3:7) and Hadad (11:17). “Yeled” of Rehoboam’s young advisors (1 Kings 12:8-14). They may have been over 42 teenagers who behaved threateningly.

2. He turns around: They appear to be coming out of Jericho, which he has just helped get fresh water. This response is the exact opposite of what it should be. They do not want God’s prophet in their city.

In chapter 1, Elijah is commanded to “come down.” Here, Elisha is told to “go up.” The fire (chap. 1) strikes twice – here two bears come.

Regardless of age, this attitude is the reason Israel fell: “But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.” (2 Chronicles 36:16)

The Mesha Stele (c. 840)

“Omri was king of Israel, and he oppressed Moab for many days when Chemosh was angry with his land.”

“Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to pay the king of Israel a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.” (2 Kings 3:4-5)

Tricky Text No. 3: What happened after the Messiah’s sacrifice? (2 Kings 3:27)

The text does not say whose anger it is, which has led to different interpretations:

1. God’s wrath: But why would God go against his own word of victory over the Moabites (v. 18) because of this?

2. Chemosh’s Wrath: The sacrifice worked, and Chemosh intervened. But both Deuteronomy and Kings have emphasized that these other gods do not exist.

3. The anger of the Moabites: They were stirred up by this and made a counterattack. But if this led to victory, it means that God’s will was not done (v. 18).

4. The Israelites’ anger: They were so shocked, and perhaps afraid of something supernatural, that they retreated. This makes the most sense.

Comparison between Elisha and Jesus

Elisha (2 Kings)

1. Receives a double portion of the spirit of Elijah (1:10)

2. Makes bad water fresh (2:19-22)

3. Perform a miracle of loaves (with leftover bread) (4:42-44)

4. Makes an axe float out of the water (6:1-7)

5. His bones make others alive (13:21)

Jesus

1. Is greater than John (John 1:27, 3:30)

2. Has living water (John 4:10, 7:38)

3. Perform miracles with leftover bread (Matthew 14-15)

4. Walking on water (Matthew 14)

5. His death gives life to others

Hazael of Aram (842-796) (Chap. 8)

• 8:7-15: Elisha probably comes because of 1 Kings 19:15 and Hazael becomes the new king of Aram (to punish Israel).
• Israel and Judah attack Hazael (8:28). Jehoram of Israel is wounded, returns to Jezreel, and is therefore not present when Jehu is anointed as the new king.
• God also uses Hazael to stir up Israel to repentance many times later. God is very patient and saves Israel when they repent, but they still do not stop sinning. (10:32, 13:3-5, 22-23)
•  

Jehu of Israel (841-814) (2 Kings 9-10)

• Gets longest dynasty in the north (91 years) with four descendants on the throne (10:30).
• Destroying the house of Ahab as the Lord had said (10:17, 30), but seems to go too far in v. 11? (Hos. 1:4) Perhaps also v. 12-14 could be included in this.
• Puts a temporary end to Baal worship (10:28) (until Manasseh in Judah 150 years later)
• Starts well, but does not follow the Lord wholeheartedly and leaves the golden calves standing (10:29-31). Still the most godly king in the Northern Kingdom.

“The lookout reported, ‘He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.'” 2 Kings 9:20

History so far (c. 800 BC)

All three that God mentioned to Elijah in 1 Kings 19 have come on the scene:

1. Elisha has become a new prophet and continues Elijah’s duties

2. Hazael has become the new king of Aram and is used time and again to wake up Israel

3. Jehu has become the new king of Israel and has put an end to the wicked house of Ahab and eradicated Baal from Israel.

The focus has been on Israel for about 100 years, since 1 Kings 15. Judah comes more into the picture again from now on.

2 Kg 11-13

Ch. 11: Athaliah of Judah (841-835), mother of Ahaziah, takes over as queen of Judah. Does she destroy the entire royal line to maintain power, or to make Judah part of Israel, since she was of the house of Omri (8:18, 26)? Jehoiada the priest hides Joash for 6 years, before Athaliah is deposed and Joash is made king. The temple of Baal is torn down.

Ch. 12: Joash of Judah (835-796) turns Judah around and there is the longest continuous line of good kings (4). But the people still sacrifice on the high places. Restored the temple.

Chapter 13: Jehoahaz of Israel (814-806) asks the Lord for favor and is saved from Hazael, but still continues with idolatry. His son Jehoash (806-791) respects Elisha and is promised victory over the Arameans.

Adad-Nirari III of Assyria (811-783) (797 BC)

“I received 2,000 talents of silver, 1,000 talents of copper, 2,000 talents of iron, 3,000 pieces of embroidered linen—the treasure from Mari—of the land of Damascus. I received the treasure from Joash the Samaritan, the ruler of Tyre, and the ruler of Sidon.”

2 Kg 14-15

Ch. 14: Amaziah of Judah (796-776) is a good king, but the high places are not taken down. He kept the law of Moses and did not kill the children for the sins of the fathers. He took back Edom, which his great-grandfather Jehoram lost (8:20-22). He should not have attacked Israel and the temple was robbed again. Jeroboam II of Israel (791-750) regains a large lost territory (because Assyria had weakened Aram), as the prophet Jonah said, because the Lord saw that they had no one to help them and because he would not destroy them. This leads to a new era of greatness in Israel.

Ch. 15: Azariah/Uzziah of Judah (776-736) is good, but leaves the high places standing. Got a skin disease because he entered the temple (2 Chron 26). The last kings of Israel are Zechariah (6 months), who is killed by Shallum (about 1 month), who is killed by Menahem (10 years), his son Pekahiah (2 years), who is killed by Pekah (20 years). Jotham of Judah (750-735) is good, but the high places remain.

Uzziah of Judah (776–736)

King Uzziah, who ruled Judah in the 9th century BC, was known for his building projects. When he died, he could not be buried in the royal tombs because he was a leper. About seven hundred years after his death, during the Second Temple period, Jerusalem expanded, and Uzziah’s tomb had to be moved outside the new city limits. This Aramaic epitaph was erected to mark the king’s new burial site. It reads: “Here were brought the bones of Uzziah, king of Judah. Do not open them!”

Ahaz of Judah (735-715) (2 Kgs 16)

• Compares to the kings of Israel without being intermarried but is even worse. Sacrificed his son (v. 3) and took omens (v. 15). Both accept Deut. 18:10.
• Attacked by Aram and Israel (735), but Isaiah says God will protect Jerusalem (Isa 7).
• But instead of trusting in this, he uses the silver and gold from the temple to get help from Assyria. Also copies the altar in Damascus.

Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria (Pul) (745-727 BC)

• One of the most expansive kings who ever lived, he laid the foundation for the Assyrian Empire that dominated the Middle East until Babylon took over.
• Replaced kings with a new Assyrian-friendly ruler and received tribute. If there was a rebellion, he suppressed it and turned it into a vassal state.
• If the rebellion continued, he abducted the elite and introduced “weaker” people from other peoples.
• 735: King Ahaz allies with him and pays tribute to get rid of Pekah (Israel) and Rezin (Aram). (2 Kings 16:5-9, Isa 7-8).
• 732: Invaded Aram and the northernmost part of Israel, carried off many captives and received tribute (2 Kings 15:29). According to himself, he installed Hoshea as vassal king when Pekah was deposed.
• The Arameans cease to be a state and are not mentioned again.

Northern Kingdom taken by Assyria (722)

Political reason: Shalmaneser V of Assyria (727-722) demands tribute from Hoshea (725). Hoshea tries to get away by allying with Pharaoh Osorkon IV and stops paying tribute. Besieges Israel for three years. (vv. 3-5)

Sargon II (722-705 BC) takes Samaria and the Northern Kingdom in 722 (v. 6)

“At the beginning of my reign, in the first year of my reign… I carried away 27,290 people from Samaria. I selected 50 chariots as my royal equipment. There I settled people from the lands I had conquered. I set my official over them as governor. I imposed taxes on them like the Assyrians.”

Theological reason:

• They feared other gods and followed the customs of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites (vv. 7b-8).
• They built high places in all their cities (v. 9).
• They set up pillars and Asherah poles everywhere (v. 10).
• Also did many other evil things (vv. 11, 17).
• Defying what God had said (v. 12).
• Would not listen to all the prophets God sent to bring them back to the Mosaic Law (vv. 13-14a, 23).
• They did not believe (in) God and rejected the Law of Moses (vv. 14b-16) and broke the covenant (18:12).
• They became like the nations, against God’s will (v. 15b).
• They made golden calves and worshipped all the hosts of heaven and Baal (vv. 16, 22).
• They practiced child sacrifice, used omens, practiced divination (v. 17).

Israel after 722

Being scattered throughout Assyria (17:6), mixed with the people there and never returned to the land.

Other conquered peoples are placed in the Northern Kingdom (17:24), mix with those remaining there (2 Chron. 34:9, Jer. 41:5) and are eventually called “Samaritans.”

The promises of Amos and Hosea that they would return are interpreted by the apostles as fulfilled when the Gentiles came to believe in Jesus.

Part 3: Judah (722-560 BC)

Hezekiah of Judah (715-687) (2 Kings 18-20)

• First to lay down the sacrificial mounds! (18:4)
• Unrivaled in trusting in the Lord (18:5)
• Adhered to God’s law (18:6)
• Revolts against Assyria (18:7), as do many other states (18:21) after Sargon’s death in 705. (The visit from Babylon in 20:12-13 may indicate that the revolt was coordinated and may have occurred earlier (20:6).)
• Sennacherib of Assyria takes 46 fortified cities in Judah (18:13). Hezekiah trusts in God’s protection and Jerusalem is the only city that is not taken. An important story also told in 2 Chronicles and Isaiah.

The Taylor Prism

• Contains the campaigns of the Assyrian king Sennacherib from his accession to power in 705 to his final war against Babylon.
• Lists treasures from Hezekiah, king of Judah, in 701.
• From Nineveh

Assyria’s siege of Lachish

“The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field.” 2 Kings 18:17

Sennacherib (705-681)

“As for Hezekiah the Jew, who did not submit to my yoke, I besieged 46 of his fortified cities, as well as the small towns around him, which were countless, by leveling them with battering rams and by setting up siege engines, by attacking and storming on foot, by mines, tunnels and quarries. 200,150 people, great and small, men and women, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, cattle and sheep without number, I carried away from them and counted as spoil. He himself I shut up in Jerusalem, his royal city, like a bird in a cage… As for Hezekiah, he was overcome by the awesome splendor of my majesty, and the Urbies [Arabs] and his mercenaries whom he had brought to strengthen Jerusalem, his royal city, deserted him.”

Why did Assyria retreat?

The defeat is not mentioned in the Assyrian version (Sennacherib’s Prism). However, Jerusalem is the only city mentioned as besieged on Sennacherib’s stela, without mentioning the victory. Assyrian sources also say that they had to break up.

19:7-9: He hears of an attack by Egypt’s Kushite (future) Pharaoh Tirhakah and ends the siege.

How did 185,000 die in one night?

• The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BC) writes that the Assyrians were attacked by mice (possibly plague via mice) when they attacked Egypt. Is this a different story, or did he see the siege of Jerusalem as part of the attack on Egypt?
• Josephus (1st century AD) interprets it as a plague.
• Modern suggestion: An epidemic, cholera, etc. due to water shortage.

Manasseh of Judah (687-642) (2 Kings 21:1-18)

• Actively advocates idolatry and goes far! Rebuilds the high places, reinstates the cult of Baal, makes an Asherah pole, worships all the “host of heaven,” builds idol altars in the Lord’s temple, sacrifices his son, practices occultism (vv. 3-7).
• Leads the people to become worse than the nations that were driven out (vv. 9, 16)
• Causes judgment on Judah to be unavoidable (vv. 10-15, 23:26-27, 24:3-4)

Josiah of Judah (640-609) (2 Kings 22:1–23:30)

• As Hezekiah, he rises to the level of David (22:2)
• Like Joash, he was young when he became king, and he wants to repair the temple. “A scroll of the law” is found—perhaps the book of Deuteronomy.
• Leads to a reform in 622: Idol objects are burned, idol priests are deposed, spirit mediums are removed, child sacrifices are abolished for good, etc. The sacrificial mounds are taken down – even in the Northern Kingdom!
• Unique in its submission to the Law of Moses (23:25). And the last good king in Judah.

Josiah of Judah (640-609) (2 Kings 22:1–23:30)

Josiah may have had control over large parts of the northern kingdom, probably because Assyria was weakened after the death of Ashurbanipal around 631.

• Babylon breaks loose in 626, allies with Media in 614 and destroys Nineveh in 612. Takes over more of Assyria’s territories from 609.

609: Pharaoh Necho II (610-595) moves to help Assyria against Babylon and Media. Josiah dies trying to stop him. Judah falls under the control of Egypt (23:33-34).

2 Chronicles 35 says he should not have gone out, and God’s plan to judge Assyria happened anyway (cf. Nahum, Zeph 2, Isaiah 10 and 14).

The exile will come anyway (23:26-27). A cleansing of the people was necessary for the Messiah to come.

2 Kings 23:31 – 24:16

Jehoahaz (609): reigns for 3 months before Egypt replaces him with his brother Eliakim/Jehoiakim.

Jehoiakim (609-597): Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar defeat Egypt in 605 (24:7) and take over Judah as a vassal state. Some of the royal family and aristocracy are deported to prevent rebellion and to benefit them in Babylon (Dan. 1:1-4). Jehoiakim remains as a vassal king, but rebels after 3 years (probably because of an alliance with Egypt (Jer. 46:2)).

Jehoiachin (597): Due to Jehoiakim’s rebellion, the Babylonians return and take him into exile after only 3 months, along with the country’s elite, 10,000 prisoners, and the treasures in the temple of the Lord and the king’s palace. Only the poorest of the country remained. Replaced by his uncle Mattaniah/Zedekiah.

The Babylonian Chronicle for 605-595

Official document with important events in the life of Nebuchadnezzar between 605 and 595 BC.

Mentions the capture of Jerusalem and the surrender of Jehoiachin in 597.

The temple is destroyed (2 Kings 24:17–25:21)

Zedekiah (597-586) is also wicked. In alliance with Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt (Jer. 44:30), he rebels against Babylon, but Egypt is not enough (Jer. 37:5-10). A year and a half of siege finally leads to the capture of Jerusalem and the taking of Zedekiah to Babylon.

The temple, the king’s palace, all the houses and palaces are burned down. The city wall is torn down and the people are taken away. Only the poorest remain. (vv. 9-12)

25:13-17 describes the objects in the temple, and one remembers all this from when Solomon built the temple. Now it is being dismantled.

“So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.” 2 Kings 17:18-20

The Jehoiachin Ration Tablet describes the oil rations of King Jehoiachin and his sons as prisoners in Babylon.

Epilogue 2 Kings 25:27-30

King Jehoiachin, a descendant of David, is released from prison in Babylon after 37 years.

“Is there hope?”

“Can the Messiah still come?”

For that to happen, they had to repent.

(Did the books of Kings help to bring about repentance in exile so that God’s plan could continue?)

Tim Mackie and Whitney Woollard

The quotes has been translated:

“Suffice it to say that these books make us long for a godly king from the line of David who will keep the word of God. We need a prophet who will speak the word of God and a king who will keep it. If only the two did not disagree!

In Jesus, the offices of king and prophet meet. But it is not in confrontation like the kings and prophets of 1 and 2 Kings. Rather, it is in harmony in a perfect prophet/king figure. He is both the prophet like Moses (and Elijah!) who speaks the authoritative word of God, and the king greater than Solomon who upholds that word.

If the constant clash between the kings and prophets in 1 and 2 Kings makes you long for something or someone better, you are on the right track. It prepares you for the coming of Jesus, the perfect prophet-king.”

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.” Isaiah 11:1-5

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” Isaiah 42:1-4

Jesus in the Books of Kings

All the prophets point to, and are surpassed by, him who is the very incarnation of the Word of God. “Hear him!” (Deut. 18:15, Matt. 17:5)

None of these kings were God’s final solution. After this, Jesus is the next descendant of David to be called a king in the Bible. He is David’s Lord (Psalm 110:1) and greater than Solomon (Matthew 12:42). He is the King of Kings.

He is also greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6), the place where God meets with people (John 1:14, Col. 2:9). His body was also “destroyed” and “raised” again (John 2:19-21).

He is the fulfillment of the story in the books of Kings because he is the one everything points to (Luke 24:44).

What does the Book of Kings mean to us?

God will never leave or forget us but is faithful to His covenant with us even if we stray, mess up, or accidents happen. There is always hope after repentance, and God always keeps His promises and is always trustworthy.

The Bible is historically reliable. It mentions 5 Assyrian kings and 4 Babylonian kings, and this has been proven to be true (also for Sargon II and Belshazzar who were not mentioned anywhere else for a long time except in

Isa 20:1 and Dan 5). Also 14 of the kings of Israel and Judah, 5 Egyptian pharaohs, 4 Persian kings and 6 other kings. Then we can also trust that things match with those who are not mentioned, such as Solomon.

The Bible is God’s prophetic word to us, and His Spirit is in it (2 Timothy 3:16). His word still makes things happen.

Reflection questions

1. Which image of God in the Book of Kings do you find to be challenging in our time?

2. Which image of God in the Book of Kings do you feel resonates in our time?