History of the Old Testament

1. History of the Old Testament The Divided Monarchy in the 9th Century 1 Kings 12-22; 2 Chronicles 10-20

2. The Monarchy Divides(1 Kings 12-14; 2 Chronicles 10-12) • Rehoboam to the Throne • no immediate rivals to challenge Rehoboam’s ascension to throne • Jeroboam (former overseer of forced labor), returned (cf.. 1 Kg. 11:26-40).

3. Jeroboam’s Request: relief! from heavy taxation & forced labor

4. Rehoboam’s Taunt: 1 Kg. 12:1-19; 2 Chr. 10 • The Secession: • control the crowd! • sent current master of forced labor • but … “To your tents, O Israel!”

5. Jeroboam Crowned • only Judah remained loyal to Rehoboam • Rehoboam attempts to invade • Shemaiah stopped him: divine judgment (1 Kg. 12:20-24; 2 Chr. 11:1-4; cf. 1 Kg. 11:29-33) • Benjamites divided (1 Kg. 12:20): between • Judah vs. • northern tribes of secession

6. Jeroboam Crowned • only Judah remained loyal to Rehoboam • Rehoboam attempts to invade • Shemaiah stopped him: divine judgment (1 Kg. 12:20-24; 2 Chr. 11:1-4; cf. 1 Kg. 11:29-33) • Benjamites divided (1 Kg. 12:20): between • Judah vs. • northern tribes of secession

7. Major Religious Repercussions 2 Rival Shrines Established: • Dan, in use since the Tribal League ... and ... • Bethel, ancient holy place (Jacob’s dream) cf. Ge. 29)

8. Northern Religious Syncretism (1 Kg. 12:25-33) • religious syncretism • rejected God's covenant w/David (1 Kg. 12:25-33) • Prophet’s Prediction: doom upon Jeroboam's Bethel shrine(1 Kg. 13; 2 Kg. 23:15-18) • Ahijah’s Pronouncement: eventual exile to Mesopotamia, upon the dynasty of Jeroboam Canaanite paganism (1 Kg. 14:1-20)

9. Rehoboam Fortifies Defense Cities • Levites & priests from the north flee to the south (2 Chr. 11:5-23) • Early on:faithful to YahwehLater:snare of syncretism • Shishak of Egypt: invades Judah from the south, creating a vassal state (1 Kg. 14:21-31; 2 Chr. 12)

10. Troubled Early 9th Century(1 Kings 15-16; 2 Chronicles 13-16) Evaluation of the Kings: • South“Judah” • North“Israel” or “Ephraim” • South Compared to David & Jeroboam

12. North • All were evil without exception; followed Jeroboam’s syncretism South: • remained loyal to the covenant & to the dynasty of David North: • rejected rejected the covenant of David; saw the rise & fall of 8 dynasties

13. 2 Histories of National Israel First: Samuel and Kings Second: Chronicles First: follows both north & south; evaluates in light of the code of Deuteronomy Second: follows only the south

14. 2 Histories of National Israel First: faults of kings Second: • good qualities • plays down their sin • concerned w/the temple in Jerusalem, its officials, and its place in the history of the southern kingdom

15. Kings of Judah: a Mixed Bag(1 Kg. 15:1-24; 2 Chr. 15-16) • Abijah: • continued in Rehoboam's sins, though successfully weakened northern nation by warring under the banner of religious purity • Asa (son): • attempted reforms, not fully • eventually apathetic toward God (1 Kg. 15:1-24; 2 Chr. 15-16).

16. Kings of Israel: a Royal Mess (1 Kg. 15:25--16:34) • Nadab (Jeroboam's son): • assassinated by Baasha. • Elah (Baasha's son): • assassinatedby Zimri, • seven-days suicide • Small civil war: Tibni & Omri • Omri, the new king, • succeeded by his son Ahab(1 Kg. 15:25--16:34)

17. Elijah & the Omri Dynasty(1 Kings 17-22; 2 Chr. 18) • Floodgates of Religious Syncretism • Violation of the Deuteronomic Code: • Ahab, 2nd king: • floodgates of religious syncretism opened wide in open & flagrant violation of the Deuteronomic code

18. TheLORDis my God Elijah

19. Elijah’s Confrontation ... a la Moses & Pharaoh Confrontation #1 (1 Kg. 17) • challenged the nation with a 3-yr drought • God preserved his life . . . • by ravens • by a widow in Syria

20. Confrontation #2 (1 Kg. 18) • challenged Ahab & Canaanite prophets at Mt. Carmel to a divine contest • deity who answered by fire God!! • prayed, calling fire out of heaven to consume the sacrifice • executed all the false prophets

21. CONFRONTATION #2 (1 KG. 18)

22. Confrontation #3 (1 Kg. 19) • Elijah fled to Mt. Horeb (Sinai) to touch the very roots of his Deuteronomic faith.

23. Meanwhile, back at the ranch ... • Ahab: cont’d violating Deuteronomic code-requirements of holy war (1 Kg. 20) • Jezebel: • stole a free Israelite's property • murdered him • dynastic death sentence (1 Kg. 21) • historian's evaluation: There was never a man like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife (1 Kg. 21:25).

24. Meanwhile, back at the ranch ... • Ahab: cont’d violating Deuteronomic code-requirements of holy war (1 Kg. 20) • Jezebel: annexed a free Israelite's property after having him murdered dynastic death sentence (1 Kg. 21) • historian's evaluation: There was never a man like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife (1 Kg. 21:25).

25. Reforms of Jehoshaphat(1 Kg. 22:41-53; 2 Chr. 17, 19-20) Reforms attempted to continue reforms initiated by Asa... • sent teaching priests into Judah to explain the Torah (1 Kg. 22:41-50; 2 Chr. 17) • appointed magistrates to judge civil cases in accord with the Torah (2 Chr. 19) • sought Yahweh re Moab and Ammon in the ancient manner of holy war. God gave victory (2 Chr. 20)

26. Not Far Enough (2 Chr. 19:1-2; 20:35-37) • commendation marred • censured (2xs) for making alliances with northern Israel, a spiritually bankrupt nation