Old Testament Survey From the Division of the

Old Testament Survey: From the Division of the Kingdom to the Fall of Israel The Divided Kingdom and Israel’s Fall

Division of the Kingdom • When Solomon died, his son, Rehoboam, became heir to the throne of Israel. • The elders petitioned the young king to lighten the people’s tax burdens. • He rejected their advice and accepted that of the younger advisers, increasing their burden. • Kingdom divided--ten tribes to the North (under Jeroboam); two tribes (Judah and Benjamin) to the South (under Rehoboam). • Israel = ten tribes • Judah = two tribes (1 Kings 12)

Kings of Israel and Judah Israel • Jeroboam (22 years) 931— 909 B. C. • Nadab (2 years) 910— 908 B. C. • Baasha (24 years) 908 -884 B. C. • Elah (2 years 884— 886 B. C. Judah • Rehoboam (17 years) 931— 913 B. C. • Abijam (3 years) 913— 910 B. C. • Asa (41 years) 910— 869 B. C.

Kings of Israel and Judah Israel • Zimri (7 days) 885 — 884 B. C. • Tibni (4 -5 years) 885— 880 B. C. • Omri (12 years) 884 -873 B. C. • Ahab (22 years) 874— 853 B. C. . Judah • Jehoshaphat (25 years) 870— 848 B. C. • Jehoram (8 years) 848— 841 B. C. • Ahaziah (1 year) 841 B. C. • Athaliah (6 years) 841— 835 B. C.

Kings of Israel and Judah Israel • Ahaziah (2 years) 853— 852 B. C. • Jehoram (12 years) 852— 841 B. C. • Jehu (28 years) 841— 813 B. C. • Jehoahaz (17 years) 813— 798 B. C. Judah • Joash (40 years) 835 — 796 B. C. • Amaziah (8 years) 848— 841 B. C. • Ahaziah (29 years) 796— 767 B. C. • Uzziah (52 years) 767— 739 B. C.

Kings of Israel and Judah Israel • Jehoash (16 years) 798— 781 B. C. • Jeroboam II (41 years) 781— 753 B. C. • Zechariah (6 mos) 753— 752 B. C. • Shallum (1 month) 752 B. C. Judah • Jotham (16 years) 739— 731 B. C. • Ahaz (16 years) 731— 715 B. C. • Continue in next lesson

Kings of Israel and Judah Israel • Menahem (10 years) 752— 741 B. C. • Pekahiah (2 years) 741— 739 B. C. • Pekah (20 years) 740— 731 B. C. • Hoshea (9 years) 732 – 722 B. C. Israel falls— 722 B. C. Judah • Continue in next lesson

Civil War • Jeroboam and ten tribes fought against Rehoboam and two tribes; lasted for 50 years. • Shortly after taking office, Jeroboam arranged for worship in Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12: 25 -33). • The kings who followed did not stop the departure from God’s law, so the apostasy continued. • During Rehoboam’s reign in Judah, the Egyptian Pharaoh sacked the temple. • The northern kings became progressively more evil.

Ahab and Jezebel • Ahab married the daughter of the king of Sidon— Baal worship was introduced. • Jezebel sought to stamp out the Jewish religion in Israel (1 Kings 16: 29 -34). • She erected a Baal temple in Samaria and began to put God’s prophets to death. • Elijah prophesied that there would be a threeyear drought in the land (1 Kings 17: 1). • God used ravens and a widow woman to feed Elijah miraculously (1 Kings 17: 2 -24).

Elijah at Mount Carmel • Elijah called the prophets of Baal and God’s people to Mount Carmel. • Ahab accused Elijah of troubling Israel—not so; it was Ahab (1 Kings 18: 17 -19). • Elijah suggests a test to determine the true God (1 Kings 18: 29 -34). • 450 prophets of Baal against God’s prophet, Elijah (1 Kings 18: 20 -24). • Baal’s prophets called on him from morning to evening—no answer (1 Kings 18: 26 -29). • Elijah called on God, and He lit the fire under the altar (1 Kings 18: 30 -39).

Elijah, the Rain, and Jezebel • Elijah kills the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18: 40). • Rain again falls in Israel (1 Kings 18: 41 -46). • Jezebel places a price on Elijah’s head, and he flees (1 Kings 19: 1 -8). • God reminds Elijah he is not alone— 7, 000 others stand with him! (1 Kings 18: 9 -18). • Jezebel orders Naboth’s death so she can give his vineyard to Ahab (1 Kings 21: 1 -16). • Elijah foretells the deaths of Ahab and Jezebel and the end of Ahab’s house (1 Kings 21: 17 -29).

Ahab’s Dynasty • Israel and Judah become allies to invade Syria (1 Kings 22). • Intermarriage between Ahab’s family and Judah brings more wickedness into Judah –Jehoram, king of Judah, marries Jezebel’s daughter (2 Kings 8: 18). • He slew all of his brothers who might have claim to his throne (2 Chronicles 21: 4). • Following Ahab’s death, Ahaziah is king; lasts a year and is killed by Jehu during the overthrow of Ahab’s dynasty (2 Chronicles 22: 8).

God’s Prophets • Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, daughter of king Omri, killed all heirs of the throne except Joash, who was an infant hidden by the priest (2 Kings 11: 1 -3). • Athaliah usurped the throne. She was the only person outside David’s lineage to occupy the throne in Judah. • Elisha prophesied during the reigns of Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah in Israel, and Joash in Judah. • He saw Elijah being taken up in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2: 11 -15).

Elisha • Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2: 9). • He performed many miracles. – – – Used a small amount of oil to pay a widow’s debts. Raised the Shunammite woman’s dead son. Made a poisonous portion of pottage nontoxic. Healed Naaman’s leprosy. Smote a large band of soldiers with blindness

Conditions in Judah • In Judah, the kingdom continued to degenerate. • King Amaziah become an ardent worshipper of the Edomite gods (2 Chronicles 25: 14). • Uzziah attempted to burn incense in the temple (2 Chronicles 26: 18 -21). • Ahaz erected an altar in Jerusalem like one built by king of Assyria. Closed the doors of the temple so none could worship there. (2 Kings 16: 15)

Righteous Kings in Judah • Judah had several righteous kings who reformed the corruption of the evil kings • Kings Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoash, Uzziah, and Jotham were considered good kings in Judah. • Influence of such men corrected many of the evils introduced by the wicked kings.

Terrible Conditions in Israel • Brief period of glory during reign of Jeroboam II. • His son, Zechariah, reigned for only six months before being murdered by Shallum, who sought to usurp the throne. • Shallum lasted one month before Menahem murdered him—he reigned for ten years. • His son, Pekahiah, lasted two years before his captain, Pekah, murdered him. • Assyria was a growing power, and Israel was divided ever whether to pay her tribute. Only one of Israel’s last six kings died a natural death!

Terrible Conditions in Israel • Pekah reigned 20 years in Israel. He sought to stand fight Assyria. • Allied himself with Rezin, the king of Syria. Forced Ahaz of Judah to help them. • Assyria attacked Syria and crushed her and Israel. • Hoshea formed a conspiracy and killed Pekah, becoming king in his place. • In battle with Assyria, many Jews were taken captive.

Hoshea, the Final King • Hoshea reigned nine years. During the first part of his reign, he payed tribute to Assyria. • In the sixth year of his reign, he sought to form an alliance with Egypt to fight Assyria. • Assyria besieged Samaria for three years and finally destroyed her in 721 B. C. • Assyria carried the ten northern tribes into captivity and brought others from various nations to occupy the land of Israel.

God Seeks to Avoid Captivity • God did everything He could to stop Israel from rejecting His law. • He sent the writing prophets--Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Micah--as well as other prophets. All called on Israel to REPENT! • True proverb Proverbs 14: 34 • Judah and Benjamin alone are left in Judah. • Israel followed Moses’ prediction (Deut. 28, 29). • Assyrian Captivity marked the end of Israel’s national existence.