A Divided Kingdom:The Books of I & II Kings

Fight For The Kingdom

I Kings Chapter 1 and 2

Announcements

I KingsWeek Date Topic

1 05 Sep 12 Introduction

2 12 Sep 12 Fight For the Kingdom: I Ki 1-2

3 19 Sep 12 Solomon Begins His Reign: I Ki 3-5

4 26 Sep 12 Solomon Builds The Temple: I Ki 6-8

5 03 Oct 12 Splendor of Solomon’s Kingdom: I Ki 9-10

6 10 Oct 12 Solomon’s Demise: I Ki 11

7 17 Oct 12 Division of the Kingdom: I Ki:12

8 24 Oct 12 Early History of the Kingdoms, Pt 1: I Ki 12:25-16:34

9 31 Oct 12 Early History of the Kingdoms, Pt 2: I Ki 12:25-16:34

10 07 Nov 12 Stories of Elijah: I Ki 17:1-19:21

11 14 Nov 12 War with Syria: I Ki 20:1-43

12 21 Nov 12 More Stories of Elijah: I Ki 21:1-21:29

13 27 Nov 12 Ahab’s Final Battle: I Ki 22:1-53

Today’s Objectives• Review historical context of I Kings chapter 1 and

2, especially events in II Samuel

• Study the socio-economic factors during the period

• Review historical maps of Israel and the region

• Learn about Adonijah’s attempt to become king and David’s reaction

• Learn how Solomon becomes king

• Discover David’s charge to Solomon and how they remain relevant today

• Review Solomon actions against David’s enemies

Overview of I and II Kings• Originally one book

– Early Greek manuscripts of the OT combined the books of Samuel and Kings under the title of "kingdoms," or "reigns"

– Kings was broken into two books for convenience sake because of its length (Greek translation)

• Authorship– Some portions of the book identical to the book of Jeremiah

– Jeremiah would have personal knowledge of some contents

– Evidence that Ezra was the author after the Babylonian captivity

• Timeline– Approximately 400 years, written between 560 B.C. and 538 B.C.

– Start: Death of David in 971 B.C.

– End: Jehoiachin's release from a Babylonian prison in 562 B.C.

Overview of I and II Kings• Books of Samuel and Kings cover Israel's period as

a nation under a king:– I Samuel: Life of Saul– II Samuel: Life of David– I Kings: Solomon and the divided kingdom– II Kings: The fall of the divided kingdoms of Israel and

Judah

• Content of I and II Kings– 47 chapters (I Ki – 22 chapters, II Ki – 25 chapters)– History of the Jewish commonwealth– Death of David to subjugation to Babylonians

• Purpose– Imparting of great moral lessons backed up by well-

known illustrations– Religious history – Focused upon kings rather than prophets

• Key Lesson– God does not fail His people; His people, led by their

kings, have failed God– God’s covenant has the contingency of Israel’s

faithfulness– Covenant also promises a return from exile those that

return to God

Overview of I and II Kings

Late Judges and United Monarchy

1106 B.C.Jephthah’s Judgeship

1104-1104 B.C.Samson’s Judgeship Uncertain Dates During the Time

of JudgesThe Bethlehem Trilogy

1117-1093 B.C.Minor Judges

1084 B.C.Samuel

’s Judges

hip

1051-1011 B.C.Saul’s Reign

1011 B.C.Death of Saul

David’s Reign

Begins Over Judah

- 1011-971 B.C.

David’s Reign

1004 B.C.Reign over

Israel Begins

Jerusalem Conquered

1020-1011 B.C.

David’s Exile from

Saul992 B.C.Adultery

with Bathsheba

991 B.C.Birth of

Solomon

973-971 B.C.Coregen

cy

971 B.C.Death of David

Solomon’s Coronation

931 B.C.

Death of Solomon

Kingdom

Divides

967-960 B.C.Building of the

Temple

971-931 B.C.Solomon's

Reign

Divided Monarchy – Israel's Timeline

853-852 B.C.Ahaziah

931-910 B.C.Jeroboam

798-782 B.C.Jehoash

841-814 B.C.

Jehu814-798 B.C.Jehoahaz

753 B.C.Zechari

ah

793-753 B.C.Jeroboam II

Overlapping Dates Suggest Coregencies

852-841 B.C.

Joram

874-853 B.C.

Ahab885-874 B.C.

Omri

885 B.C.Zimri

886-885 B.C.

Elah

909-886 B.C.Baasha

911-870 B.C.Asa

931-913 B.C.Rehoboam 913-911 B

.C.Abijah

910-909 B.C.

Nadab

792-740 B.C.Uzziah

873-848 B.C.Jehoshaphat

848-841 B.C.Jehoram841 B

.C.Ahazi

ah841-835 B.C.Athaliah

835-796 B.C.

Joash796-767 B.C.Amaziah

Divided Monarchy – Israel's TimelineOverlapping Dates Suggest

Coregencies

Overlapping Dates Suggest Coregencies

752-742 B.C.Menahem,752-732 B.C.Pekah

742-740 B.C.Pekahiah

732-722 B.C.Hoshea

752 B.C.Shallum

729-686 B.C.Hezekiah

696-642 B.C.

Manasseh

642-640 B.C.

Amon640-609

B.C.Josiah

609 B.C.Jehoahaz

608-598 B.C.

Jehoiakim

598-597 B.C.

Jehoiachin

597-586 B.C.

Zedekiah

750-731 B.C.Jotham 735-715

B.C.Ahaz

722 B.C.Fall of Israel

The Northern Kingdom

586 B.C.Fall of JudahThe Southern Kingdom

Returns and Restoration

538 B.C.Cyrus Liberates the Israelites

.Birth of Christ

New Testament Begins

539 B.C.Fall of Babylon

425 B.C. – 5 A.D.Silent

Transitional Period

Approximately

425 B.C.End of Old Testament

Israel

515 B.C.Completi

on of New

Temple

536 B.C.Foundations Laid

forNew

Temple

Around 474 B.C.Time of Esther

458 B.C.Ezra’s

Pilgrimage

458 B.C.Nehemia

h’s Pilgrimag

e

536 -515 B.C.

Construction ofNew

Temple

Key Events in I Samuel• God calls Samuel to prophetic service (I Sam

3:1-4:1)• Elders of Israel approach Samuel and request a

King, Saul chosen (I Sam 8:1-9, 11:12-14)• God Rejects Saul as king of Israel (I Sam

15:10-23)• Samuel Anoints David (I Sam 16:8-13)• Saul is Jealous of David (I Sam 18:1-9)• Saul confirms his hatred of David (I Sam

20:24-34)• Saul takes his own life (I Sam 31:1-13)

• David is anointed king over Israel (II Sam 5:1-5)

• God makes a covenant with David (II Sam 7:8-17)

• David moral failure (II Sam 11:1-5, 14-27)

• Absalom plots against David, David flees Jerusalem (II Sam 15:1-23)

• David returns to Jerusalem (II Sam 19:8-15)

Key Events in II Samuel

I Kings Chapter 1 and 2 Main Characters

• King David• Abishag the Shunammite – beautiful woman added to

David’s harem to nurse in his final days• Adonijah – fourth son of David, and apparently the

oldest living at the time of his death, thought he deserved to be king

• Joab – David’s sister’s son, who led his armies• Abiathar – Descendant of Eli the high priest and one of

two priests chosen to David’s royal court. Partly responsible for the incident when Uzzah died trying to keep the ark from falling. Abiathar should have made sure it was carried properly

• Zadok – Other priest with Abiathar. Also partly responsible for the incident with Uzzah

• Benaiah – One of David’s mighty men, responsible for killing a lion in a pit, killing two great warriors of Moab, and killing an Egyptian giant (2 Sam 23:20-22, 1 Chr 11:22-24)

• Nathan the prophet – brought David word from God after David committed adultery with Bathsheba.

• Bathsheba – wife of David, father of Solomon.• Solomon – youngest son of King David.• Shimei the Benjamite – one who cursed David as he

was fleeing from his son Absalom, David direct Solomon to kill him

I Kings Chapter 1 and 2 Main Characters

Adonijah Sets Himself Up As King (I Kings 1:1-27)

• David attended by Abishag (1:1-4)• Adonijah devises a plan to ascend the throne

– Assembles chariots, horses, and fifty men (1:5)– David rarely questions Adonijah’s actions (1:6)– Confers with Joab and Abiathar for support (1:7)– Zadok, Nathan, and others refuse support (1:8)

• Adonijah celebrates (1:9)– Solomon not invited (1:10)

• Nathan and Bathsheba conspire to interrupt Adonijah’s ascension to the throne (1:11-14)

Adonijah Sets Himself Up As King (I Kings 1:1-27)

• Nathan and Bathsheba hatch their plot (1:15-27)– Bathsheba informs David of Adonijah’s actions – She reminds David of his vow to make Solomon the

king (1:17)– Expresses fear for Solomon and her life (1:21)– Nathan enters and reinforces Bathsheba’s story

(1:24-27)

David Makes Solomon King (I Kings 1:28-53)

• David announces that Solomon will be king– Takes an oath (1:29)– Solomon will be king after David (1:30)– Directs Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and

Benaiah to go an anoint Solomon king (1:32-35)

• Solomon is anointed king– All the people went after him rejoicing (1:40)– At the same time as Adonijah’s party (1:41)– News of Solomon’s anointing is delivered to

Adonijah (1:43-49)

David Makes Solomon King (I Kings 1:28-53)

• Adonijah is gripped with fear– Takes hold of the horns of the altar (1:50)– Wants Solomon to swear that he will not die (1:51)

• Solomon replies– If he shows himself worthy, he will not be touched

(1:52)– Adonijah bows down to Solomon and is sent home

(1:53)

David’s Charge To Solomon (I Kings 2:1-12)

• Near death, David issues a charge to Solomon– Be strong, show yourself a man (2:2)– Observe what God requires (2:3)

• Walk in His ways• Keep His decrees and commands• Keep His laws and requirement• As written in the Law of Moses

– If Solomon did these things, God would keep the promise he made to David (2:4)

• David issues additional instructions (2:5-9)• David dies, buried in the city of David (2:10)

Solomon’s Throne Established (I Kings 2:13-46)

• Adonijah wants to take Abishag as his wife– Uses Bathsheba to get Solomon’s blessing (2:13-18)

– Bathsheba agrees, asks Solomon (2:19-22)

– Solomon is outraged, thought he still aspired to be king (2:22)

– Solomon has Adonijah put to death (2:25)

• Abiathar banished – To Anathoth, removed from priesthood (2:26-27)

• Joab is killed (2:28-34)• Shimei is confined to Jerusalem and would not be

harmed, but eventually left and was killed (2:36-46)

Review• Reviewed historical context of I Kings chapter 1 and

2, especially events in II Samuel• Studied the socio-economic factors during the

period• Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region• Learned about Adonijah’s attempt to become king

and David’s reaction• Learned how Solomon becomes king• Discovered David’s charge to Solomon and how

they remain relevant today• Reviewed Solomon actions against David’s enemies• Next week I Kings 3-5