NOV 4. READ 1 CHRONICLES 13-17

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1 Chronicles 13:1-14 David has the ark brought to Jersualem from the Kiriath-jearim where it has been for 20 years or more.Eli and Phinehas, the wicked sons of Eli the high priest, carried it in battle with the Philistines and it was captured. When the ark caused plagues in the Philistine cities and made Dagon fall over, they returned it to Israel, but 70 looked inside the ark and were killed so the ark ended up at Kiriath-jearim for at least 20 years or more. But they carried the ark on a cart from Kiriath-jearim instead of with poles and on the way to Jeruslem the oxen stumbled and Uzzah grabbed the ark. God killed him. David was angry and left the ark in the house of Obed-edom for 3 months but his house was blessed as a sign that David could continue.

14:1-7 David’s family enlarged. He took several wives at Hebron and now he takes more wives at Jerusalem. He ends up with 8 wives and several concubines and at least 16 named sons.

14:8-17 The Philistines attacked David’s men twice and he defeated them. Both times he “inquired of the Lord” and the Lord told him he would win and what strategy to use. David is feared by all nations around him.

15:1-29 The ark is brought correctly on to Jerusalem. David has the Levites safely carry the ark on poles as directed by Moses from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem. There were all kinds of instruments, trumpets, singing, and sounds of joy as it arrived in Jerusalem. David’s wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, saw David celebrating and despised him in her heart.

16:1-7 The “tabernacle of David”. David made a special tent for the ark once it arrived in Jerusalem (called the tabernacle or tent of David). The historical tent of meeting (the tabernacle of Exodus) built under Moses—along with the bronze altar and sacrificial system—remained at Gibeon (about 6 miles northwest of Jerusalem). Priests such as Zadok continued to offer regular sacrifices and burnt offerings there. The two structures remained separated throughout David’s reign and the early years of Solomon’s reign, until Solomon finished building the First Temple in Jerusalem and transferred the original tabernacle structure and its furnishings into the new temple complex.

16:8-36 David’s psalm of thanksgiving. Read and meditate on this psalm. It is full of praise, thanksgiving, worship, and history of what God did with Israel. All the people said “Amen” (“so be it, that is truth, I agree) and praised the Lord.

16:37-43 Worship before the ark in David’s tent in Jerusalem and in the tabernacle at Gibeon. The text notes that David appointed Levites (singers and musicians) to minister before the Ark in Jerusalem (they did not enter David’s tent where the ark was), while the actual sacrificial priesthood (including Zadok the priest) remained stationed at the traditional Mosaic tabernacle and bronze altar in Gibeon.

17:1-15 God’s covenant with David. David was not allowed to build the temple but his son Solomon would. Instead, God promised David that his kingly line would be established forever. That was fulfilled when Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God on a spiritual throne over a spiritual kingdom, the church. Luke 1:30 “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

17:16-27 David’s prayer in response. David very humbly thanked God for His promise. He did not complain about not being allowed to build the temple.

NOV 3 READ 1 CHRONICLES 8-12

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1 Chronicles 8 picks up with the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin, but specifically with Saul the son of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin: 8:33 Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and [m]Eshbaal. 34 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.” Merib-baal is another name for Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathon that David took care of after Jonathon died.

1 Chronicles 9 begins: 9:1:So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon for their unfaithfulness.” It then goes on to give the genealogies of exiles, priests, Levites, and gatekeepers who returned from Baylonian exile in 536 BC. These genealogies of the returned exiles was important. Ezra 2:61 Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name. 62 These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. 63 The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim.” This passage has significant importance, not just for the Jews, but for Jews and Gentiles. The genealogy of the Messiah was predicted in the Old Testament. Any Jew claiming to be the Messiah had to be able to prove that he was of the correct family tree as predicted. It is obvious in Matthew 1 that the genealogical proof of Jessu being of the right family tree was critical.

1 Chronicles 10 begins a review of the major events of the United Kingdom. It is better just to give those events instead of telling what each chapter is about. We have already studied these events in 1,2 Samuel and 1,2 Kings, so just a recap.

1) 10:1-8 Defeat and death of Saul and his 3 sons on Mt Gilboa. The Philistines fastened his head in the house of Dagon.

2) 10:9-14 The men of Jabesh-Gilead (the city Saul rescued from having their right eyes put out by the Ammonites) retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons and bury them in their city. God killed Saul b/c of his disobedience and turned the kingdom over to David.

3) 11:1-3 David is made king and shepherd of all 12 tribes at Hebron after ruling over only Judah for 7 years. He would rule over all 12 tribes for 33 more years after that.

4) 11:4-9 David captures the city of Jerusalem and makes it his capital. David’s nephe Joab kills the first Jebusite from Jerusalem and is made the commander of David’s army. Jerusalem is called the “city of David”.

5) 11:10-47 David’s 30 mighty men. A couple of them killed 300 of the enemy single handed. 3 men risk their lives to go into the Philistine camp at Bethlehem to get David water but he pours it out and won’t drink it, saying he is unworthy to drink it.

6) 12:1-22 David’s army grows as men come to him at Ziklag (the city the Philistine king gave him) to fight with him against Saul. His army grew to 600 men as he fled from Saul for 10 years.

7) 12:23-40 A total of 336,100 armed fighting men gathered at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to David. They celebrated a feast for 3 days and there was great joy.

Again, a lot of recapping stories we have already studied, so just enjoy the recap.

NOV 2 READ 1 CHRONICLES 3-7

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Follow the key verses as you read and skim through the rest of it.

1 Chronicles 1:1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 4 Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth. 24 Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27 Abram, that is Abraham.” This is the same genalogies found in Genesis 5 and 11. This is the seed line of Jesus starting with Adam to Abraham. 34 Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel (Jacob will be called Israel here in 1 Chronicles). 2:1 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

2:3 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan and Shelah; these three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanitess. And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, so He put him to death. 4 Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.” (This was the events in Genesis 38 where Tamar dressed up as a prostitute b/c Judah failed to give his 3rd son in the Levirate marriage to Tamar: his first son was her husband but died childless. Judah had sex with Tamra, as a supposed prostitute, and Tamar had twins: Perez and Zerah. Perez came into the seed line of Jesus. Tamar is in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1). The other twin, Zerah, was the 2:5 The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 2:9 Now the sons of Hezron, who were born to him were Jerahmeel, Ram and Chelubai. 2L10 Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, leader of the sons of Judah; 11 Nahshon became the father of Salma, Salma became the father of Boaz, 12 Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse; 13 and Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, then Abinadab the second, [x]Shimea the third, 14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; 16 and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abshai, Joab and Asahel. 17 Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.”

So trace the main genealogy: Judah, Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salma, Boaz (who married the widow Ruth as Naomi’s kinsman redeemer and Ruth is in the genealogy in Matthew 1), Obed, Jesse, David.” Interesting tidbit: David had a sister named Zeriuah whose 3 sons were Abshai, Joab, and Asahel. So Joab, the commander of David’s army, was the nephew of David! We read a lot about Joab and his 2 brothers in the events of David’s life, but this is the first time we learn that Joab was David’s nephew. So it had to be sad for David to have to order Solomon to kill Joab b/c Joab supported Adonijah trying to take his throne.

3:1 Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second was Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess; 2 the third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith; 3 the fifth was Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth was Ithream, by his wife Eglah. 4 Six were born to him in Hebron, and there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. 5 These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four, by Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel; 6 and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg and Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet, nine. 9 All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.”

So the genealogy continues from David to Solomon. Notice the different sons by different wives (David had 8 wives and many concubines). His son Amnon raped his half sister Tamar (who was the full blooded sister of Absalom. David’s son Absalom’s mother was Maacah, the daughter of a king of Geshur, a pagan nation that the Israelites were supposed to destroy but didn’t. After Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon for raping Tamar, he fled to Geshur and lived with his grandfather King Talmai for three years (2 Samuel 13:37). Adonijah the son of Haggith was the son of David who tried to take throne from Solomon as David was on his deathbed. Bathsheeba was the wife of Uriah whom David committed adultery with and got pregnant. She lost that child as part of David’s punishment but had Solomon and 3 other sons. David would pass his throne down to Solomon. Bathsheeba is in the seed line of Jesus in Matthew 1.

The genealogy continues with the descendants of Solomon which would be the kings of Judah: 3:10 Now Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 The sons of Josiah were Johanan the firstborn, and the second was Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16 The sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. The Babylonians recognized Jeconiah as the last rightful king of Judah, carried him to Babylonian ezile but released him after 37 years of exile and treated him well. They placed Zedekiah as king after Jeconiah and Zedekiah was king when Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC. Interesting: Zerubbabel in 3:19, the grandson of Jeconiah, was the Zerubbabel who led the 1st return from Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple in 536 BC.

Chapters 4 and 5 give the detailed genealogies of several of the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel). Chapter 5 ends with the reference to the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom, Israel which consisted of 10 tribes. 10:25 But they (the 2 1/2 tribes that settled east of the Jordan River) acted treacherously against the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away into exile, namely the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara and to the river of Gozan, to this day.

Chapter 6 gives special attention to the genealogy of the priestly tribe Levi. Several key characters: 6:1 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar became the father of Phinehas…” Israel would come out of Egyptian bondage in the 4th generation and did: Levi/Kohath/Amram/Moses. Aaron became the first high priest of the nation of Israel. 2 of his sons, Nadab and Abihu, were killed by fire from God for offering “strange fire”. Aaron’s son Eleazar became high priest after Aaron died. After the death of Aaron’s older sons, Nadab and Abihu, the high priesthood initially flowed through the elder surviving son, Eleazar (whose descendants included Phinehas). Phinehas was the one who stopped the plague at Peor (where Balaam got his money from Balak the king of Moab by getting the Israelite men to have sex with the Moabite women) by running his spear through an Israelite man and a Moabite woman having sex. At some point, the office of the high priest crossed over into the younger son of Aaron, Ithamar, beginning with Eli. Five high priests descended from Ithamar, including Eli, Ahimelech, and Abiathar. This line came to an end due to the corruption of Eli’s sons (Hophni and Phinehas) and subsequent divine judgment. King Solomon deposed Abiathar (the last high priest from Ithamar’s line) and replaced him with Zadok—who belonged to the elder line of Eleazar—permanently returning the high priesthood to Eleazar’s descendants. King Solomon banished the priest Abiathar because Abiathar supported the failed coup of Adonijah to seize the throne of Israel instead of recognizing Solomon as the rightful king. , the Zadok in 1 Chronicles 6:8 is the exact same Zadok who served as high priest during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. He was the first high priest to serve in the newly built First Temple in Jerusalem, and his descendants (the “sons of Zadok”) remained prominent throughout the history of the Jerusalem priesthood. The high priesthood would continue through Eleazar’s descendants until the Hasmoneans took over in the 2nd century BC. Notice that 1 Chronicles 6 doesn’t give the genealogy of Aaron’s youngest son Ithamar even though the high priesthood fell to Ithamar and a few of his descendants. Probably b/c the rightful high priestly line was only through Aaron’s son Eleazar, not Ithamar. Interesting: 6:15 and Jehozadak went along when the Lord carried Judah and Jerusalem away into exile by Nebuchadnezzar.” So Jehozadak, descendant of Eleazar, was high priest when Judah was carried into Babylonian captivity in 586 BC. I wonder how he coped with being high priest in Babylon without a temple, without a most holy place to enter and sprinkle blood on the ark of the covenant on the Day of Atonement each year, etc. What duties did he try to do as high priest while in Babylon? The primary known son and descendant of the High Priest Jehozadak (also spelled Jozadak or Josedech) was Jeshua (also known as Joshua the High Priest), who returned from the Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem, working alongside with the “governor” Zerubbabel (who was from the kingly line of Judah).

The high priesthood and the first high priest Aaron would come through Levi’s son Kohath and then his son Amram (the father of Moses and Aaron), but the rest of Levi’s sons Gershom and Mearari and their descendants would serve with other duties in the tabernacle and temple. 6:31 Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order.” 48 Their kinsmen the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.” But the duties of the priests and high priest were reserved for Aaron (the first high priest) and his descendants. 49 But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 50 These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.” The Levites would be given 48 cities with pasture land scattered throughout the 12 tribes in Canaan.

Chapter 7 continues with the genealogies of 6 more of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Wow, that’s pretty technical but that’s 1 Chronicles! The genealogies were very important to Israel, just as your family genealogies are probably important to you. Have you ever tried to trace your genealogies of your family? A cousin of mine did and we were astonished at how many old records mentioned our family members from many years ago. It’s also kinda fun to see how many of the names we remember from our study in 1, 2 Samuel and 1,2 Kings. Chapter 8 will get into more history with the reign of Saul of the genealogy of Benjamin.

NOV 1 READ 2 KINGS 23-25; 1 CHRONICLES 1-2

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Judah #16 Josiah (continued). 2 Kings 22:1-23:30. Reigned 31 years.
2 Kings 23 Josiah had the book read in all Judah. He celebrated the Passover like had not been celebrated in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet nor any of the kings of Israel. Unfortunately, in 609 BC when Neco king of Egypt was coming to Carchemish on the Euphrates to help what was left of the Assyrians (Ninevah had fallen to Babylon in 612 BC) to battle the rising Babylonians (Neco and the Assyrians would be defeated at Carchemish, the new Assyrian capital, in 605 BC, rendering Egypt and Assyria powerless for the future), Josiah felt for some reason that he just had to fight and stop Neco even though Neco told him that God did not want Josiah to interfere with Neco’s mission. Josiah disguised himself in the battle with Neco but was fatally wounded and died. Josiah reigned 31 years.

Life Lesson: Josiah was about 26 when he did his major reforms. He would have been in the gen Z age group today from 18 to 29 years old. We see a lot of homosexual advocacy among gen Z but we also see a lot of conservative gen Z who reject LGBQT as was seen with the Charlie Kirk rallies on college campuses. So there is hope for the US but gen Z need to step up and the lead in defending the Scriptures as the Word of God. If you are a college student or recent graduate of college I hope you will read this and take a stand when you have the opportunity. God’s Spirit is moving on college campuses today. Kinda like the Billy Graham “crusades for Christ” back in the 60’s. Young people are disallusioned and depressed with life and need God’s word.

Nahum the prophet prophesied during the reign of Josiah and predicted the final destruction of Ninevah, the capital of Assyria, (it had been spared in the book of Jonah) which fell to the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and Medes in 612 BC due to Assyria’s ruthless military violence and arrogance (ch 3). 605 BCE: Crown prince Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon decisively defeated the remaining Egyptian-Assyrian forces at the Battle of Carchemish, securing undisputed Babylonian dominance over the Near East.The sack of No-ammon (Thebes of Egypt) in 663 BC had already occurred when Nahum was written. Ninevah was besieged for 2 years and its devastation so complete that 200 years later Xenphon passed by its ruins without being able to get the name of the city from the local inhabitants.

Zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of Josiah, king of Judah, possibly spurring on the reforms of Josiah. He predicts a day of judgment soon on Judah b/c of her sins (1:7) of idolatry and trusting in riches. Josiah did many reforms and found the book of the Law, but the evil of his grandfather Manasseh (687-742) BC was too ingrained to overcome.

Josiah is one of the last 5 kings of Judah just before the deportations to Babylon.

Judah #17 Jehoahaz. 2 Kings 23:31-33. Reigned 3 months. Pharoah Neco of Egypt imprisoned him and he died in Egypt.

Judah #18 Jehoiakim. 2 Kings 23:34-24:5. Reigned 11 years. Neco made Jehoiakim king and Jehoiakim at first payed much tribute to Neco and was controlled by Neco. But later he became the servant of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for 3 years. After defeating Egypt in 605 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar II marched on Jerusalem and forced King Jehoiakim to pay tribute. He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzaar. 2 Kings 24:7 The king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates.” Nebuchadnezzar took some captives during the reign of Jehoiakim. Rather than a mass deportation of the general population, the Babylonians took select members of the royal family and nobility—traditionally including Daniel and his companions—to Babylon as political hostages to guarantee loyalty. This was in 605 BC. While many historians and biblical timelines count the major mass deportation in 597 BCE (under Jehoiachin) or 586/587 BCE (under Zedekiah) as the main exiles, the 605 BCE event marks the initial subjugation and first wave of captives. We will call this the “first deportation” of Judah to Babylon in 605 BC. Jehoiakim is the king who shredded the prophesies of Jeremiah and burnt them.

Habakkuk the prophet was a contemporary of Jeremiah and prophesies just before the 1st deportation of Jews by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 607 BC, the 2nd deportation in 597 BC, and the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
He asks 2 questions and God answers him. 1) Why does the evil in Judah go unpunished after punishment had been predicted for so long? Answer: God will punish the evil of Judah using the Babylonians. 2) Why will God use the more wicked (Babylon) to punish the less wicked (Judah). Answer: Chaldea (Babylon) is greedy, cruel, and idolatrous and God will punish them also after he uses them to punish Judah. God sent the Medes/Persians to destroy Babylon in 536 BC. Habakkuk closes asking God “in wrath remember mercy”. He concludes that “the righteous will live by faith” (2:4). His faith remains unwavering even after asking these questions.

Judah #19 Jehoiachin. 2 Kings 24:6-16. Reigned 3 months. He was carried captive to Babylon along with thousands of others by Nebuchadnezzar. All the officials, men of valor, craftsmen, etc. were carried to Babylon, leaving only the poor in Jerusalem. We will call this the “second deportation” to Babylon in 597 BC. The prophet Ezekiel was also carried to Babylon in this deportation. Ezekiel would begin his prophesying in Babylon. The Babylonians actually considered Jehoiachin to be the last rightful king of Judah. They treated King Jehoiachin of Judah with kindness after 37 years of imprisonment. In 562 BC, the new Babylonian king, Evil-Merodach (Amel-Marduk), released him from prison, elevated his seat above all other captive vassal kings, gave him royal clothes, and provided a daily food allowance at the royal table for the rest of his life.

Judah #20 Zedekiah. 2 Kings 24:17-25:30. Reigned 11 years.
 Zedediah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and relied on Egypt for help. Nebuchadnezzar sieged Jerusalem for 2 1/2 years before destroying the city, temple, and taking the remaining people, except Jeremiah and the poor in 586 BC. That would be the “3rd deportation” of Judah to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes and then put out his eyes! Gedaliah was appointed governor, but was murdered by Ishmael who flees to Egypt taking Jeremiah by force. Judah would be in Babylon for 70 years until Cyrus the Persian defeated the Babylonians, allowed them to return.

Jeremiah prophesied beginning in the 13th year of King Josiah in 627 BC. He prophesied up to the destruction of Jerualem in 586 BC and even prophesied for 10 more years after the destruction till 576 BC, but was never carried captive to Babylon.

Maybe 845 BC or maybe after 586 BC

Obadiah the prophet: The theme is the fall of Edom b/c she did violence to her brother Jacob (Israel or Judah?) and standing aloof when foreigners entered Jerusalem and carried off her wealth. But when? 1) Obadiah was contemporary with Elijah (1 Kings 18:1-16), so Edom is condemned for gloating over a Philistine attack on Israel under Jehoram. 2) Jeremiah 49:7-22 parallels Obad 1-9, so Edom is condemned for gloating over the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

1 Chronicles 1-2 Genealogies of Adam, Abraham, the 12 sons of Jacob, and David. Nothing there to discuss.

OCT 31 READ 2 KINGS 18-22

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Judah #13 Hezekiah. 2 Kings 18:1-20:21 Reigned 29 years.
2 Chron 29-32; Isaiah 36-39. He celebrated the Passover for 7 days with joy as had not been done since Solomon, even extending the celebration for 7 extra days (2 Chron 30). He destroyed the high places and Asherim, and reformed the Levitical service (2 Chron 31). He rebelled against Sennacherib, the king of Assyria about 8 years after the fall of Samaria in 722 BC, and Sennacherib took 46 cities of Judah (the prism of Sennacherib tells of the siege of Lachish) in the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign. Hezekiah stopped up the water outside the city and built a tunnel from the spring of Gihon into the city (560 yards long), tried to bribe Sennacherib with silver and gold from the temple but he sieged the city anyway and sent Rabshakeh to the city walls to scare the people into surrendering. Rabshakeh mocked the God of Israel, saying Jehovah could not save them any more than the gods of the nations that the Assyrians had defeated (2 Chron 32). Hezekiah took the threatening letter of Rabshakeh and spread it out before God. Isaiah came, telling him that the Assyrians would be destroyed for mocking God. That night 180,000 Assyrians died and Sennacherib returned to Assyria, assassinated later by his own people (2 Kings 19).


1 Kings 20: Hezekiah became mortally ill with boils, and God told him that he was going to die. He prayed and wept, and God gave him 15 extra years. God gave him a sign of the sun dial shadow going backwards 10 steps (2 Kings 20). He became proud (2 Chron 32:25) and foolishly showed all the treasures of the temple to the messengers from the king of Babylon who were sent to inquire about the miracle of the sun dial. God was testing him to see what was in his heart (2 Chron 32:31). God then told him that Judah would be carried to Babylon in captivity, but not in his lifetime (2 Kings 20).

Life Lesson: Hezekiah received that life threatening letter from Rabshakeh and spread it out before God in the temple. He humbly acknowledged the hopeless situation he was in with 180,000 Assyrians sieging Jerusalem. I’m sure he was having a panic attack. But he led a humble prayer, trusting God. Have you ever got a letter like that? Maybe a letter. giving you some terrible news? Telling you about a bad medical diagnosis, about a lawsuit facing you, about being fired, about accusations from a sibling, about some financial matters? I have, and I felt hopeless and depressed when I got some of those type letters. My first reaction to such letters is to start figuring out how to deal with the bad situations. What I should do is to take that letter and spread it out before God and ask Him to show me how to deal with the situation, trusting Him to do whatever is best. This is all about who and what you put your trust in. Do you trust in your own resources and ability or do you trust in God.

Another Hezekiah life lesson is about prayer. He prayed for extra years when God told him that he was about to die. His prayer actually changed what God was planning to do. Prayer can actually change God’s mind. We tend to think that God’s will is something that can’t be changed, but it can be changed. But then be careful what you ask for. He prayed and received 15 extra years. He was about 40 years old when he received those extra years, so I can see how he felt cheated about dying at the age of 40. But it was during those 15 extra years that Hezekiah was lifted up with pride and showed the Babylonians his treasures and was given the captivity to Babylon prediction. It says God was testing him to see what was in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31). God sees the heart. God is always testing us to see what is in our hearts, to see if we are humble, to see if we trust Him or if we trust our own resources and strength. David said in Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.” Are you really ready to ask God to do that with your heart? If you do, then the Spirit of God will help you get rid of all the negative thoughts and emotions in your heart. The Spirit will help you fulfill James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

We have a lot of archaeological proof of these events in history.

Judah #14 Manasseh. 2 Kings 21:1-18 Reigned 55 years. Hezekiah reigned 29 years. God knew that idolatry was so ingrained in Judah that even 29 years of reforms by Hezekiah would not last. His son Manasseh would follow him and would be the most evil king of Judah for 55 years, worshipping Baal, making Asherim, worshipping the hosts of heaven, passing his sons through the fire to Molech, and practicing witchcraft and sorcery (2 Chron 33). Manasseh would be carried off to Babylon captive with hooks, but he humbled himself, prayed to God (the Prayer of Manasseh in the Apocrypha), and was returned to Jerusalem and served God faithfully, destroying all the idols. There is a great lesson there. We saw a few really good kings of Judah like Asa, Uzziah, and Hezekiah whose lives ended in pride and disaster. Ironically, the worst king of Judah was very evil for most of his 55 year reign but at the end he humbled himself, did reforms, tried to undo the evil he had done, and died in favor with God. God’s grace was more than sufficient to save him. We don’t know the eternal consequences for Asa or Uzziah. Don’t ever “write someone off” as being unworthy of salvation. God can take “the chief of sinners” like Paul and save him. God’s grace was more than sufficient for Paul’s sins of killing and persecuting Christians (1 Timothy 1:12-17). John Newton was a sinful slave trader when he found the grace of God and wrote the words to the song “Amazing Grace” that tell of his spiritual journey.

Judah #15 Amon. 2 Kings 21:19-26 Reigned 2 years and was killed by his servants.

Judah #16 Josiah. 2 Kings 22:1-23:30. Reigned 31 years.
2 Chron 34-35. He began reigning at 8, began to remove all the idols in Judah at age 12. At age 26, he repaired the temple (imagine how it looked after 55 years of the evil reign of Manasseh and 2 years of Amon). In the process, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the Law (the Pentateuch) and gave it to Shaphan the scribe to take to Josiah. As Shaphan read it to the king, Josiah tore his clothes and inquired of Huldah the prophetess what to do. She told him that b/c “your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God” that the captivity of Judah would not be in his lifetime. God had commanded that all kings have a personal copy of the Law of Moses books, but obviously Josiah did not have a copy. The 55 evil years of Manasseh had apparently destroyed most of the copies of the Law. It’s’ not like every person in Judah had his own copy back then. But just b/c you have several Bibles in your house doesn’t mean that you read your Bible, that you study it and depend on it to guide you. Maybe you need to “find your Bible” that you have closed and not really studied for a long time. You might be shocked at what you read.

There is a lot more about Josiah but we stop for now after 2 Kings 22 since today’s reading stops there..

OCT 30 READ 2 KINGS 13-17

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Israel #11 Jehoahaz. 2 Kings 13:1-9 Reigned 17 years. Hazael kills many in Israel just as Elisha had predicted.

Israel #12 Jehoash (Joash). 2 Kings 13:10-14:16 Reigned 16 years.

Elisha Miracle #14: A Moabite corpse comes to life after being thrown in the grave of Elisha. A fitting end to the life of the great prophet Elisha. Take time to review all the miracles that Elisha did in the chart above. As Elisha was dying of some sickness, he told King Joash of Israel to strike the ground with arrows as a sign of how many times Joash would defeat the Arameans who were continually raiding and killing Israelites, but he only struck the ground 3 times. Elisha told him that meant that he would only defeat the Arameans 3 times and that he could have had a more complete victory if he had struck the ground 5 or 6 times.

Judah #9 Amaziah. 2 Kings 14:1-20 Reigned 29 years. He killed all the men who killed his father King Joash of Judah. He defeated the Edomites and became proud, challenging King Jehoash of Israel to battle, and was defeated by Jehoash. Jehoash captured Amaziah and took gold from the temple. Amaziah was later released and murdered back in Jerusalem.

Israel #13 Jereboam II. 2 Kings 14:23-29 Reigned 41 years. He was evil but God used him to keep Israel from being “blotted” our completely at this tie (later God would allow Israel to be taken in to captivity in Assyria in 722 BC. The prophet Jonah of Amittai predicted his victories. Jonah prophesied for many years during that period of time. That is the same prophet Jonah as in the book of Jonah so that dates the book of Jonah during the reign of Jereboam II of Israel (793-753 BC).
Amos the prophet was a sheepherder and cultivator of sycamore trees, lived in Judah, but mainly spoke to Israel from Bethel during Jereboam II (Israel #13, 790-748 BC). He told them God hated their hypocritical worship and sacrifices at Bethel (4:4-5; 5:21-24). He predicted exile for Israel for their indulgence and lack of grief over sins of greed, dishonesty, trampling the poor.
Hosea the prophet had a long ministry from 760-725 BC to Israel during Jereboam II (Israel #13) and a contemporary of Amos a short time and several years with Isaiah and Micah. He condemned Israel’s apostasy, idolatry, murder, stealing, violence, and deception (ch 4). He predicted Israel would be taken into Assyrian exile b/c of their sins (ch 11).

Judah #10 Azariah (Uzziah). 2 Kings 15:1-7. Reigned 52 years.
1. He began reigning at 16, and did right in the days of Zechariah the prophet. God helped him become very powerful, defeating all his enemies, with an elite army of 307,500 men and engines of war (catapults).2. But when he became strong, he heart was so proud that entered the temple and burned incense which only the priests could do. Azariah the priest rebuked him and he was enraged. 3. God struck him with leprosy on the spot, he died a leper. Reigned 52 years. It is sad to see a good king like Uzziah end up his reign in pride and failure. He had served God faithfully most of his 52 year reign. It is a reminder to those of us who have served God most of our lives that we can be lifted up with pride in our latter years and fall away from God. Many of us older Christians (I am 76) have material strength and assets like Uzziah that tend to make us forget God and think that we have aattained wealth and health by our own doing.

This is a good place to show the pattern used in 1,2 Kings. Uzziah reigned over Judah 52 years, so after giving all the events in his 52 years the author will then go over to the northern kingdom and cover all the kings of Israel during that 52 years before going on to the next king of Judah, Jotham.

Israel #14 Zechariah. 2 Kings 15:8-12. Began his reign in the 38th year of Uzziah’s reign. Reigned 6 months and was killed by Shallum.

Israel #15 Shallum. 2 Kings 15:10-15. Began his reign in the 39th year of Uzziah’s reign. Reigned 1 month and was killed by Menahem.

Israel #15 Menahem. 2 Kings 15:14-22. Began his reign in the 39th year of Uzziah’s reign. Reigned 10 years. He bribed Pul the king of Assyria with silver to keep Pul from attacking Israel and it worked.

Israel #16 Pekahiah. 2 Kings 15:22-26. Began his reign in the 50th year of Uzziah’s reign. Reigned 2 years and was killed by Pekah.

Israel #17 Pekah. 2 Kings 15:27-31. Began his reign in the 52nd year of Uzziah’s reign. Reigned 20 years. In the days of Pekah, Tiglath-Pilesar king of Assyria invades and captures cities in Israel.

Having caught up with all the kings of Israel during Uzziah’s 52 year reign, that author goes back to the next king of Judah, Jotham, who started his reign in the 2nd year of Pekah.


Isaiah prophesied to both Judah and Israel from 740-722 BC, and then to Judah only from 722-687 BC during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (all kings of Judah). He condemned the sins and hypocritical worship of Judah (1:10-23; ch 5).


Micah the prophet was a contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah in the days of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, but he preached to both Judah and Israel, usually referring to them by the names of their capital cities (Israel/Samaria and Judah/Jerusalem). He condemned their greed, idolatry, and oppressing the poor (ch 1).

Judah #11 Jotham. 2 Kings 15:32-38. Reigned 16 years.

Judah #12 Ahaz. 2 Kings 16:1-20. Reigned 16 years. He was very evil and made his sons to pass throug the fire to the god Molech. Rezin king of Aram (Syria) and Pekah king of Israel attached Ahaz and Ahaz bribed Tigleth-Pilesar king of Assyria to attack and kill Rezin, which he did. AI: “While visiting Damascus to meet the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III, Ahaz saw a pagan altar that caught his interest. He sent a sketch and detailed blueprints of the altar to Uriah (Urijah) the priest in Jerusalem, who built an exact replica before Ahaz returned. Upon his return, Ahaz offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings on the new altar, moving the original bronze altar of the Lord to the side. Worshipping the Gods of Damascus: 2 Chronicles 28:23 explicitly states that Ahaz sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, reasoning that because the gods of Aram helped their kings, he should sacrifice to them as well.”

Israel #18 Hoshea. 2 Kings 17:1-6. Reigned 9 years and was carried captive to Assyria in 722 BC by Shalmaneser king of Assyria. Hoshea was the last king of the northern kingdom of Israel before the fall of Samaria (after a 3 year siege) and the Assyrian captivity of Israel in 722 BC. Hoshea refused to pay tribute to the Assyrians and relied on Egypt for help. The Assyrians carried tens of thousands from Israel into captivity. Assyria brought in foreign populations from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to repopulate the land. At first they did not fear the Lord and God sent lions to kill many of them. They brought in a priest from the captives to teach them how to obey Yahweh the God of Israel, but they also worshipped their false gods. Over time, these groups intermarried with the remaining Israelites to form the Samaritans. A significant number of northern Israelites fled south ahead of the Assyrian advance, integrating into the remaining Kingdom of Judah. Israel was sent into captivity b/c of their sins and idol worship. Several times it says that they refused to listen to the warning of God’s servants the prophets.

Because the northern tribes were scattered and never received an edict to return (unlike the later Babylonian exile of Judah), they became known in tradition as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Most mainstream historians and traditional consensus agree that the tribes were reabsorbed into history rather than surviving as distinct entities. Numerous global groups—including communities in Africa, Asia, and the Americas—have historically claimed descent from the lost tribes. British-Israelism: Popularized heavily from the 19th century onward (and explored in texts like Origin: Lost Ten Tribes in the West), this ideology proposed that the Anglo-Saxon and Western European peoples are literal physical descendants of the lost tribes. traditional British Israelism (also called Anglo-Israelism) most commonly teaches that Great Britain is Ephraim and the United States is Manasseh although some reverse that due to the preiminence of the US.Mainstream historians and geneticists dismiss this as a pseudohistorical narrative used to justify imperial or nationalist identity. Mormons believe that the lost 10 tribes will be regathered in the last days.

Wow, that gets us to a great stopping point on the readings up to 2 Kings 17 and the captivity of Israel in 722 BC. The rest of 2 kings will focus on the last kings of Judah only.

OCT 29. READ 2 KINGS 8-12

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Israel #9 Jehoram continued. 2 Kings 3:1-9:25 Reigned 12 years.

1 Kings 8 Let’s give the evil Jehoram a little credit. Elisha told the Shunammite woman whose son Elisha raised from he dead to go to Philistia for 7 years during the famine. When she came back to Israel, she requested that she be given her house and land back that she had left. Let’s give leprous Gehazi a little credit also. He told Jehoram about the woman and the miracle, and Jehoram gave the women her house and land. Kudos to Jerhoram and Gehazi!

Elisha later came to Damascus when Ben-hadad was sick. Ben-hadad sent Hazael to ask Elisha if he would recover. Elisha wept as he told Hazel that Ben-hadad would die. Hazael asked why he wept. Elisha wept b/c he knew that Hazael would be the next king of Syria and would kill many of the Israelites in the future. Hazael went back to Ben-hadad and told him that Elisha had said that he would recover (which was a lie). On the next day Hazael suffocated Ben-hadad and became king.

Judah #5 Jehoram 2 Kings 8:16-24 Reigned 8 years. He did evil b/c he was married to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. 2 Chronicles 21 tells us that he killed all his brothers when he became king. He died of diseased bowels b/c of all the evil he did. Notice this is another Jehoram other than the Jehoram king of Israel. A little confusing when reading.

Judah #6 Ahaziah. 2 Kings 8:24-9:29 Reigned 1 year. His mother was the evil. Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.

Here is a great slide showing the intermarriage of Athaliah with Jehoram king of Judah, the son of Jehoshaphat, and her interaction with Jehoram’s descendants.

Israel #10 Jehu. 2 Kings 9:1-10:36 Reigned 28 years. Elisha had Jehu anointed as king specifically to kill Ahab, wipe out the house of Ahab, and kill Jezebel. Jehu began a series of assassinations just as God commanded him.

He chased down Jezebel. She painted her eyes and adorned her head before Jehu had her thrown out a window and she died. The dogs all all of her except her skull, feet, and palms of her hand just as Elijah had predicted. God rewarded Jehu with 4 of his sons later becoming kings of Israel. All of the kings of Israel were bad but at least he obeyed God in those assassinations.

Judah #7 Athaliah. 2 Kings 11:1-20 Reigned as queen 6 years. She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. She was a usurper of the throne and obviously not on the line of Judah kings as were the other kings of Judah. Summary: 1. She counseled her son Ahaziah (6th king of Judah) to do wickedly and he was killed by Jehu.2. When Ahaziah died, Athaliah seized the throne and destroyed all the royal offspring of Judah. 3. Jehoshaba, king Jehoram’s (5th king of Judah) daughter hid Joash the infant son of Ahaziah for 6 years and in the 7th year Jehoida the priest (Jehoshaba’s husband) overthrew and killed Athaliah. She “reigned” 6 years.

Judah #7 Joash. 2 Kings 11:1-12:21 Reigned 40 years. More details are given in 2 Chronicles 22-24.
1. Joash began reigning at age 7 and with the guidance of Jehoida the priest he repaired the temple. 2. But when Jehoida died at 130 years old, Joash gave in to the officials of Judah and the people worshipped the Asheriim and idols. 3. God sent prophets but the people would not listen (24:19). 4. Zechariah (Mt 23:35) the son of Jehoida rebuked Joash, but Joash murdered him 5. His own servants assassinated him. Joel the prophet probably prophesied during the reign of King Joash of Judah. He predicted the locust plague as punishment for Judah’ sins but also predicted the pouring out of the miraculous Spirit in the last days of the Jewish nation (30-70 AD).

I hope you like the format I am using for the divided kingdom. If you pay attention to the years in which each king began to reign, you will see that pattern that I described for reading the divided kingdom.

OCT 28. READ 2 KINGS 3-7

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Israel #9 Jehoram. 2 Kings 3:1-9:25 Reigned 12 years.

1 Kings 3-4 Five of Elisha’s miracles.

Elisha Miracle #4 2 Kings 3 Filling the valley with water and deceiving the Moabites to think it is a valley of blood. A sad thing occurred when a desperate King of Moab offered his oldest son who was to reign after him as a burnt offering.

Elisha Miracle #5 2 Kings 4 Widow’s oil multiplied during the drought, only limited by the number of vessels that she brought to be filled. Life Lesson: Apparently she could have found many, many more vessels and they would have been filled with oil but she wasn’t thinking about maximizing the oil. She was satisfied with the vessels that she filled, and then the miraculous oil supply stopped. Isn’t that the way it is with our spiritual blessings. If you ask, the Lord will fill your vessel (you) with innumerable, limitless, spiritual blessings. Ask, seek, knock and it will be given to you. Luke 6:38: Jesus teaches a principle of reciprocity, stating that giving to others results in a return that is “pressed down, shaken together, and running over”, echoing ancient market practices where merchants compacted grain inside a measure to maximize the amount poured into a buyer’s garment. Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Don’t be satisfied with just a minimal amount of spiritual blessings, with just going to church or saying a prayer now and then or singing praise and worship one day a week. There are so many more spiritual blessings that you can have if you ask for the.

Elisha Miracle #6 Shunemite woman given a child, as a reward for her hospitality to Elisha, giving him a place to stay, but he dies later and Elisha raised him from the dead 2 Kings 4 We see signs of weakness in Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, b/c he would not raise the child. Elisha had to come and stretch out on the child to raise him from the dead. Life Lesson: This woman was blessed for her hospitality. Often the New Testament speaks of Christian hospitality. The Bible commands and encourages hospitality as an active expression of love for strangers, fellow believers, and those in need. Hebrews 13:2 (ESV): Encourages showing hospitality to strangers, noting that some have entertained angels unaware. 1 Peter 4:9 (ESV): Advises believers to show hospitality to one another without complaining. Romans 12:13 (ESV): Calls for contributing to the needs of the saints and pursuing hospitality. When is the last time you invited someone to a meal in your home, someone who doesn’t have the resources to repay you by inviting you to their home.

Elisha Miracle #7 Poisonous stew made edible 2 Kings 4. Be careful what herbs and plants you put in your stew!

Elisha Miracle #8 Barley loaves multiplied 2 Kings 4 to feed 100 prophets. An Old Testament multiplying of the loaves.

Elisha Miracle #9 Healing Naaman’s leprosy. 2 Kings 5.
Naaman was captain of the army of the king of Aram (Syria). He had leprosy. A captive Israelite girl suggested he go to the prophet in Israel. Elisha told Naaman to dip in the River Jordan 7 times to be healed. Naaman was furious, expecting Elisha to just wave his hand and cure him; and weren’t the rivers in Damascus better than the Jordan? His servants encouraged him to just humbly do what Elisha said, and he did and was healed. Naaman makes a great confession: “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel”. Naaman offered Elisha a reward but he refused it. Naaman asked Elisha for permission to bow in the house of Rimmon his master when he returns to Syria (apparently a duty he has to perform) and Elisha grants him permission, which seems unusual. Some suggest that Elisha is not really giving permission but Others note that Elisha does not explicitly grant a formal “permission” to sin, but instead leaves Naaman in God’s hands to work out his new faith amidst a complicated pagan culture. Either way, we wish we knew how Naaman’s spiritual life went after he returned to Syria. Did he tell the king about his healing? Did he try to convert other Syrians to the one true God of Israel? Were any of his servants who were with him and encouraged him to do what Elisha said ever converted to Yahweh after seeing the miracle?

Life Lesson: Jesus said, Matthew 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” The first step to becoming a child of God is humility. It is acknowledging that you can’t be saved by your works or your goodness. Naaman was not humble at first. Once he humbled himself, he was ready to do what Elisha said whether it made sense to him or not, whether it appealed to his prideful way of how he thought Elisha should have healed him. Then he dipped 7 times and was healed. This is a lesson about humility and trusting God’s word. There is a lot of discussion about water baptism in the conversion process in the New Testament. Is it essential to salvation? Does it have to be immersion? Can babies be baptized? I think the New Testament is pretty clear about that. The Greek word for “baptism” is to dip, immerse, submerge. Someone could argue, “what difference does it make if Naaman got sprinkled with water or immersed?” It makes a difference b/c Elisha told him to “dip” in the Jordan. It wasn’t the water that saved him or the amount of water (dipping as opposed to sprinkling). It was humbly obeying the word of God. It isn’t the water of baptism or the amount of water (immersion not sprinkling) that saves us, it is obeying the command, Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of sins”. It certainly appears in Acts 2:38 that baptism comes before receiving the remission of sins (being saved) and other New Testament passages bear that out also. Baptism was for believers: Mark 16:6 “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved”. Babies can’t believe. Babies do not inherit Adam’s sin as the Catholics and others taught, so babies don’t need to be baptized to get rid of Adam’s sin to begin with. Nor are there any babies baptized in the New Testament. I’m not saying that baptism is just a test of our humility, of our willingness to, like Naaman, obey the commands on how to be saved. It is more than that. It is a beautiful burial in water to be raised born again with new spiritual life, just as Jesus was buried and raised (Romans 6:1-6). It is not a “work” but an act of faith (Colossians 2:12). Naaman said that Elisha could have just come out and made a big public cleansing of his leprosy without the dipping, and that is true. Jesus and the apostles could have preached salvation by grace through faith without any water baptism at all, but they didn’t. They included baptism as an essential part of saving faith.

Elisha Miracle #10: 2 Kings 5 Gehazi struck with leprosy.
Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, caught up with Naaman, lied to him about 2 men just arriving who needed silver and clothes, and Naaman gave that to Gehazi. Elisha found out what Gehazi did, and gave Naaman’s leprosy to Gehazi. A great lesson on the danger of doing God’s work for money, which is what most televangelists do today. Greed can corrupt any good ministry, and often does.

Elisha Miracle #11 Lost axe head floats 2 Kings 6. When a prophet was clearing trees a borrowed axe head fell in the water. Elisha made it float and they recovered it.

Elisha Miracle #12 Syrian army blinded 2 Kings 6.Elisha warned Jehoram about Ben-hadad’s plans to kill him on several occasions and saved Jehoram’s life. Benhadad sent his army to Dothan to kill Elisha, surrounding the city. Elisha’s servant was very afraid. Elisha prayed for God to open his eyes to be able to see the Lord’s army of chariots of fire and horses in the mountains. Elisha then struck the Syrian army blind. He carried them into Samaria, and opened their eyes, but told Jehoram not to kill them. They fed them and sent them back to Syria. The marauding bands of Arameans did not come to Israel again after that.

Elisha Miracle #13: Besieged Samaria’s salvation predicted 2 Kings 7. Later, Benhadad besieged Samaria during a famine. A donkey’s head sold for 80 shekels of silver and a pint of dove’s dung sold for 5 shekels. 2 women were arguing b/c one broke their agreement to eat one of their babies on one day and the other the next. Jehoram blamed Elisha for all this (6:31), and sent to kill him. Elisha predicted that by the next day flour and barley would be very inexpensive in Samaria and the city would be spared. He also said that the royal officer, who doubted Elisha’s prediction, would die and not eat of the food. Meanwhile, 4 lepers, who normally lived outside the city on scraps, were desperate and decided to go into the Syrian camp, either to be spared or to die.
God caused the Syrians to hear a sound of chariots of a great army and they fled, leaving food and everything. The lepers came into the camp and found the army gone, and started feasting on the food. But then they felt guilty, and decided to tell the people in Samaria. Jehoram thought it was a trap and that the Syrian army was just hiding. They checked it out and saw that what the lepers said was true. The people went out and plundered the camp, trampling the royal officer in the process just as Elisha had predicted.

Life Lessons: Don’t ever doubt what God can do. You might even hear someone predict or expect God to do some great thing and you scoff b/c it just seems irrational or unbelievable. With God, all things are possible. As William Carey, the father of modern Protestant missions, said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God”. Also, something the 4 lepers said to one another when they entered the deserted Syrian camp and found all the food they left: “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” I kinda feel that way about the church today. We continuously feed on the word of God with Bible classes, small groups, and sermons. But there are millions of people out there in the world starving for the word of God, for a Bible in their own language, for children’s Bible story books. Organizations like Eastern European Missions (and others) are like the 4 lepers trying to share our rich resources here in the US with those starving people. Or maybe its the clean water that we take for granted in the US, that we waste often, that we continuously water our lawns, that we fill and refill our pools at our homes, etc. But in many foreign countries, people walk miles to get dirty water that animals also infiltrate b/c that’s all they can find. They continuously have water borne diseases and any of their children die young. How concerned are we about that? We don’t have to quit enjoying our seemingly abundant endless supply of water, but we can send money to organizations like Healing Hands (out of Nashville) who drill wells for clean water in Africa, literally saving people’s lives. But churches spend 80% of the money they collect on staff and buildings instead of using most of that money to print Bible, drill wells, and feed the poor.

OCT 27 READ 1 KINGS 20-22; 2 KINGS 1-2

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Israel #7 Ahab continued. 1 Kings 16:22-22:40. Reigned 22 years.

1Kings 20 The two Aramean (Syrian) battles. You cn read about these two battles. Even though Ahab was evil, God did not want the arrogant Arameans destroying Israel at this time. They blasphemed when they said that the God of Israel was a god of the mountains (the first attack by Benhadad kiing of Syria with 31 generals) but not a god of the plains (the 2nd attack by Benhadad). Both battles they were defeated soundly, killing 127,000 Arameans in the 2nd battle). But Ahab for some reason felt like Benhadad was a “brother” and let him go free instead of killing him. In return, Benhadad returned cities in Israel that he had captured. Then a prophet gave an object lesson. He told a fellow prophet to strike him but he didn’t, so he told him that a lion would kill him, and that happened. He then told another prophet to strike him, which he did. The prophet then told Ahab that he should have killed Benhadad when he had the chance like God had told him to do. Ahab would be punished for not obeying. Ahab went to his house in Samaria, sullen and vexed. Life Lesson: Don’t play politics with God’s word. If the word of God is obvious, then obey it. We have a serious issue with the LGBTQ in the country and even in the church. Don’t try to be “buddies” and compromise the truth with LGBTQ advocates. Don’t let them “escape” without being shown in love the clear Biblical commands on homosexuality.

1 Kings 21 Ahab covets Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab tried to buy Naboth’s vineyard but he didn’t want to sell it. Ahab went to his house “sullen and vexed” (again as in 1 Kings 20:43) and quits eating!. Ahab pouts a lot and gets angry when he doesn’t get his way! So Jezebel arranged false witnesses who said Naboth had blasphemed God and they stoned Naboth to death. Ahab got Naboth’s vineyard after all. Elijah told Ahab that the dogs would lick his blood at the same place they licked Naboth’s blood. He also predicted that the dogs would “eat” Jezebel in Jezreel. Ahab was evil but mainly b/c because Jezebel his wife incited him. So Ahab fasted despondently but apparently humbled himself for God to delay his punishment and put it on his son. 1

1 Kings 22 The 3rd Aramean battle 3 years after the 2nd one. Ahab persuaded King Jehoshaphat (son of King Asa) of Judah to go to battle with him with the Arameans at Ramoth-Gilead. Ahab’s 400 false prophets told him that he would be victorious in the battle. Jehosphaphat required that a true prophet of Yahweh be consulted. Micaiah at first mockingly went along with the false prophet’s prediction and said Ahab would be victorious, but Ahab knew was just mocking the false prophets. Kinda like Micaiah saying in a sacrastic voice, “Sure you just go on into battle and be victorious. You just go right ahead.” Ahab knew he was not really saying what God had told him to say. Micaiah then said that Ahab would be killed in the battle. Micaiah then said that it was deceiving spirits in the false prophets who predicted victory. So Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to battle. I don’t understand why Jehoshaphat asked for a true prophet who predicted defeat in the battle but then he went ahead with Ahab into the battle. AI suggests: “Jehoshaphat had already formed a close bond with the northern kingdom of Israel through a political alliance and a royal marriage (his son Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter Athaliah). Having already pledged his support to Ahab before consulting any prophets, he felt he could not back out without causing a major diplomatic rift. Jehoshaphat was generally known as a God-fearing king of Judah, but his weakness lay in making ungodly alliances with the wicked kings of Israel. In this moment, his desire to please Ahab, maintain solidarity, and avoid conflict with his neighbor outweighed his caution regarding Micaiah’s prophecy. Jehoshaphat even goes along with Ahab’s suggestion that Ahab disguise himself as a regular soldier and Jehosphaphat wear kingly robes, hoping to avoid Micaiah’s prediction that he would did in the battle. But God intervened and spared Jehoshaphat. A God-guided, random arrow pierced Ahab’s armor, mortally wounding him. He died that evening and the dogs licked his blood in Samaria.

Judah #4 Jehoshaphat. 1 Kings 22:41-50 Reigned 25 years. He began to reign back in the 4th year of Ahab’s 22 year reign so this is one of those “catching up” of kings from the southern kingdom who began their reigns during Ahab’s reign before the author goes on to give the events of the next king of Israel after Ahab. Overall Jehoshaphat was a righteous king excess for his alliance with Ahab.

Israel #8 Ahaziah. 1 Kings 22:40 – 2 Kings 1:18. Reigned 2 years. Served Baal. Ahaziah fell and was injured. He sent messengers to inquire off Baal-Zebub as to whether he would recover or not. Elijah then told him that he would not recover.

Elijah Miracle #6: 2 groups of 50 men killed with fire. Ahaziah sent 3 captains each with 50 money to arrest or kill Elijah, but the first two groups were consumed by fire from God. The 3rd captain begged for him and his men to be spared: “Hey, I’m just the messenger!” Jehoram (not a son of Ahaziah) will become king after Ahaziah died.

2 Kings 2 Elijah ascends and Elisha takes his place. Elijah had already anointed Elisha as his successor and Elisha was sticking close to him before he ascends. I don’t know if Elisha was expecting Elijah to ascend like he did.

Elijah Miracle #7 Dividing of the Jordan. They both crossed over the Jordan. Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of Elijah’s miraculous powers. Many say that Elijah did 14 miracles and Elisha did 28, but by my count Elijah did 7 miracles and Elisha did 14. Elijah’s mantle fell to him as Elijah ascended on a chariot of fire and horses of fire. The next time we will see Elijah is when he appears on the Mt of Transfiguration with Jesus (Matthew 17).

1 Kings 2 Elisha’s miracles begin.

OCT 26 READ 1 KINGS 15-19

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We begin the divided kingdom.

Many find it difficult to read 1st and 2nd Kings b/c it goes back and forth between the northern kingdom (10 tribes) and the southern kingdom (2 tribes). But there is a pattern. The author will start with a king in one of the two kingdoms and tell the events of his entire reign. Let’s suppose a king (king A) reigns 20 years. If at the end of his reign a new king has not begun to reign in the other kingdom, then the author will go to the next king after king A and give the events of his reign. But if at the end of the reign of king A a new king has begun to reign in the other kingdom, then the author will skip to the other kingdom and give the events of that king to his death. The process continues in this manner.

For example: 1 Kings 15:8 Asa became king of the southern kingdom. The author then gives all the events of the 40 year reign of Asa to his death (1 Kings 15:24). But during his reign, in the 2nd year of his reign, Nadab the son of Jereboam became king over the northern kingdom and reigned over Israel 2 years. Then Baasha reigned over Israel 24 years. Ela then became king over Israel and reigned 2 years. Then Zimri became king over Israel and reigned 7 days. Then Omri became king of Israel and reigned 12 years. Then Ahab became king over Israel and reigned 22 years. 1 Kings 16:29 says that Ahab became king in the 38th year of the 40 year reign of Asa king of Judah. Notice that the author has covered the reign of 5 consecutive kings of Israel who reigned over Israel during Asa’s 40 year reign. He then gives the events of the next king of Israel, Ahab, up to his death (1 Kings 22:40) which extends 20 years past the reign of Asa in Judah. BTW that means that 1 Kings 16-22 are all about the reign of Ahab. 1 Kings 22:40 mentions that Ahaziah becomes king of Israel after Ahab dies but doesn’t give the events of Ahaziah’s reign yet. Instead, during the 22 year reign of Ahab a new king, Jehoshaphat, arose in Judah in the 4th year of Ahab’s reign and reigned 25 years. So at the death of Ahab the author skips from the northern kingdom and reign of Ahab over to the southern kingdom and the reign of Jehoshaphat. During Jehoshaphat’s 25 year reign, in the 17th year of his reign at the death of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Israel so the author at the death of Jehoshaphat will skip back to the northern kingdom and give the events of the 2 year reign of Ahaziah up to the death of Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:17). So now you are even more confused, right? I do think this is the pattern used in 1st and 2nd kings to cover all the kings of the two divided kingdoms. I hope that helps. When I am studying or teaching just the kings of Judah, I always use 2 Chronicles 10-36 b/c that only covers kings of Judah consecutively and not the kings of Israel, so it is not as confusing as using 1 and 2 Kings. It will mention kings of Israel when they are involved in the reigns of any of the kings of Judah, but it does not cover the reigns of any of the kings of Israel like 1 and 2 Kings does.

So in our continued reading of 1 and 2 Kings, let’s use this pattern to go back and forth between the 2 kingdoms.

Judah #1 Rehoboam 1Kings 12-14 Reigned 17 years.

Judah #2 Abijam 1 Kings 15:1-7 Reigned 3 years. He did evil but for the sake of David God kept the kingly line going.

Judah #3 Asa 1 Kings 15:8-24 Reigned 41 years.

Israel #2 Nadab. 1 Kings 15:25-27 Reigned 2 years. Assassinated by Baasha who killed all of the rest of Jereboam’s household..

Israel #3 Baasha. 1 Kings 15:28-16:7 Reigned 24 years.

Israel #4 Elah. 1 Kings 16:6-14 Reigned 2 years. Zimri assassinated Elah and killed all of his household.

Israel #5 Zimri. 1 Kings 16:9-20 Reigned 7 days. Zimri also killed all of the rest of Baasha’s household. Committed suicide by burning himself in a house.

Israel #6 Omri. 1 Kings 16:15-28 Reigned 12 years. Built the city of Samaria to be the capital of the northern kingdom.

Israel #7 Ahab. 1 Kings 16:28-22:40 Reigned 22 years. Worshipped Baal and Asherah.

1 Kings 17 begins the work of Elijah the prophet. We will number and record the miracles of Elijah;

Elijah Miracle #1: He predicted a famine to last 3 1/2 years. James 5:17-18 mentions this. Ravens fed Elijah at a brook.

Elijah Miracle #2: Flour and oil for the widow at Zarepheth. She was about to prepare her last flour and oil for her and her son to eat and then die, but by faith gave it to Elijah. He gave her flour and oil during the famine. Luke 4:25-27 mentions this widow.

Elijah Miracle #3: Raised son of the widow when he died. He stretched out on him 3 times and he came to life.

1 Kings 18 begins with the prophet Obadiah who hid 100 prophets from Jezebel who had killed prophets of the Lord. Elijah got him to arrange a meeting for him and Ahab, which Obadiah reluctantly did. Elijah met with Ahab and challenged his prophets to a test on Mt Carmel . 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, all verses Elijah the true prophet of God.

Elijah Miracle #4: The defeat of the prophets of Baal and Asherah at Mt Carmel. They tried all day to call down fire from their false gods to consume the altar and Ellijah mocked them. Elijah then drenched the altar 3 times and called down fire that consumed the offering and the the altar. He then had the 450 prophets of Baal killed.

Elijah Miracle #5: He prayed and ended the drought. James 5:17-28

1 Kings 19 Elijah’s depression. Jezebel was furious when she heard that Elijah had milled 450 of her prophets of Baal. She swore to kill Elijah within one day. Elijah is obviously depressed. He goes to Mt Horeb (Mt Sinai) for 40 days and nights. Twice God asked him, “19:“What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”” As He did with Moses, the Lord passsed by but he was not in the violent wind, earthquake, or fire. Instead he was in a gentle breeze. God then told him to quit feeling sorry for himself and get back to his work as a prophet, to anoint Hazael of Syria (who would kill many in Israel), Jehu (who would kill Ahab and Jezebel), and Elisha (who would take Elijah’s place). He also told him that he was not alone in serving God, that He still had 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal. That’s not a lot percentage wise of the Israelites, but God has always been in the remnant business.

Life Lesson: Do you struggle with depression and self pity? Do you ever feel like you are the only one trying your best to do God’s will? Does it bother you when the wicked seem to have the upper hand in our society? Does it bother you when God doesn’t react to evil in some forceful way (the wind, the earthquake, the fire) but instead He just gently continues to work among men? Does it bother you when evil leaders and dictators all around the world kill God’s people and nothing happens to them? Are you running from your problems or staying and fighting, trusting in God? If so, maybe you need to go to an isolated place (like Mt Horeb) and spend some time meditating on God’s power and working, renewing your courage to get back in the fight. Get back to work using your gift to serve the Lord and let the Lord take care of vengeance.