A Divided Kingdom:The Books of I & II Kings

Solomon Begins His Reign

I Kings Chapter 3-5

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 last weeks lesson

• Review historical maps of Israel and the region

• Learn about Solomon’s dream (Chp 3)

• Discover the early examples of Solomon’s wisdom (Chp 3)

• Learn about Solomon’s marriage (Chp 3)

• Learn about the vast wealth and power that Solomon possessed (Chp 4)

• Explore Solomon’s early planning in building the temple and the involvement of Hiram of Tyree (Chp 5)

Last Week’s Lesson• Reviewed key events prior to I Kings

• Reviewed historical context of I Kings chapter 1 and 2, especially events in I and II Samuel

• Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region

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

• Learned how Solomon became king

• Learned about David’s charge to Solomon and how it remains relevant today

• Reviewed 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.Jehoiachi

n597-586 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.Constructio

n ofNew

Temple

Main Characters of Chapters 3-5

• Solomon – David’s youngest son and the third king of Israel

• Pharaoh of Egypt – power king of Egypt who made alliance with Solomon by giving his daughter to him in marriage

• Two harlots – Solomon wisely solved their dispute over a dead child and living child

• Hiram – King of Tyre, at the time his nation was friendly with Israel

Solomon’s Marriage (1Ki 3:1)• In 1 Ki 3:1 we see

– Solomon make a treaty with Egypt– Marry the Pharaoh’s daughter– Brings her to live in the city of David– Lives in the older part of Jerusalem until the

palace, Lord’s temple, and surrounding walls around Jerusalem are completed (not Zion)

• Great occasion– Song of Solomon and Psalm 45 are supposed to be

about this union

Solomon’s Religious Practices (1 Kings 3:2-4)

• No temple exists to worship (3:2)• People officer sacrifices in “high places”

– Like Gibeon, Gilgal, Shiloh, Hebron, Kirjath-jearim– After the temple is erected, it becomes sinful to offer

sacrifices in any other place

• Solomon loves the Lord (3:3)– Solomon walks in the ordinances of David (see Ch 2)– Sacrificed and burnt incense in high places

• Solomon sacrificed at Gibeon (3:4)– Alter that Moses erected (1 Ch 21:29)

The Lord Appears to Solomon(1 Kings 3:5-15)

• God appears to Solomon while in Gibeon (3:5-9)– Grants Solomon any aspiration – Solomon asks for wisdom in order to discern between

good and evil

• God responds (3:10-15)– He is pleased with Solomon (3:10)– Grants Solomon a wise and understanding heart (3:12)– Grants Solomon riches and honor (3:13)– Conditional – walk in His ways, keep His

Commandments (3:14)

Solomon’s Wise Ruling(1 Kings 3:16-28)

• Story of two prostitutes who petition the Solomon to resolve a dispute – Both had babies– One baby had died in the night– Mother of the dead child switched the baby

• Solomon’s decision– Cut the child in two, give a half to each mother– Actual mother spoke up and said the other mother

can keep the child– Solomon gives the child to the rightful mother

Solomon’s Wealth and Prosperity(1 Kings 4:1-34)

• Magnificence of his court (1-6)

• Regional officers who brought supplies to the king (7-19)

• Provisions for the king’s table (22-23)

• Extent of Solomon’s dominion (24-25)– See Map

• Solomon’s wisdom and fame (29-34)– Brilliant, wiser than anyone– Wrote 3000 wise sayings, 1000 songs

Preparations to Build the Temple(1 Ki 5:1-18)

• Introduced to King Hiram (5:1)– Had been a friend to David (2 Sam 5:11)– From Tyre– Sends officials to meet Solomon

• Solomon sends a message back (5:2-11)– Describes his desire to build the temple– Asks Hiram for help, in the form of cedar trees– Hiram agrees and gives all the cedar and fir

Solomon needs– Solomon repays with wheat and oil

Preparations to Build the Temple(1 Ki 5:1-18)

• Peace grows between Hiram and Solomon, a league is formed (5:12)– 30,000 men sent to Lebanon to assist in efforts to

cut and square the trees (see 5:6)– Each individual spent a month in Lebanon and two

months at home

• Other efforts (5:15-16)– 70,000 “who bore burdens” to carry stone– 80,000 that dug stones– 3,000 overseers

Review• Reviewed last weeks lesson• Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region• Learn about Solomon’s marriage (Chp 3) • Learned about Solomon’s dream (Chp 3)• Discovered the early examples of Solomon’s

wisdom (Chp 3)• Learn about the vast wealth and power that Solomon

possessed (Chp 4)• Explore Solomon’s early planning in building the

temple and the involvement of Hiram of Tyre (Chp 5)

• Next week: 1 Ki 6-8