The Early Divided Kingdom (931-841 BC)
(1 Ki 12.1-2 Ki 9.29; 2 Ch 10.1-22.9)
1. Introductory
notes
a.
The beginning of decline—the prophetic warning
i.
From the time God establishes Israel as his covenant
people, there exists the warning against covenant-breaking disloyalty
ii.
Twin truths must be held in tension
1. God’s
people are chosen and redeemed completely unconditionally and by grace alone
2. To be
saved is not merely to be acquitted of guilt, it is a positive restoration of
fellowship with God. As such, his
people always face the real choice of choosing the way of life or
death—covenant blessings or covenant curses
iii.
More tension:
God’s covenant is both unconditional and conditional
1. Conditionally,
those who reject the covenant in unbelief will find the blessings removed from
them, individually (Lev 17.10, 20.1-6, 24.13-17) or nationally (Deut 8.1-20,
28.15-68)
2. Unconditionally,
God will not allow unbelief to frustrate his purpose in fulfilling his covenant
with Abraham and will preserve a faithful remnant (an idea that becomes
increasingly prevalent in the prophets)
iv.
From time to time, God sends his prophets to call his
people to return to him
1. Their
role is primarily ‘forth telling,’ not ‘foretelling’
a.
The prophet’s primary task was to call his original
hearers back to God, not to predict the future
i.
Their message was entirely relevant to original hearers,
even when speaking of future events
ii.
Similar to preaching the second coming of Christ today
b. ‘Now’
and ‘not yet’ aspects to their message
i.
The two are so closely tied together as to be inseparable
ii.
We must not focus solely on the future aspect of their
messages lest we miss application to our situations today
2. Bottom
line: Prophets warn that covenant
blessings cannot be enjoyed by covenant breakers
b. The
limit is reached—God holds true to his word
i.
The dramatic decline after Solomon is so obvious one has
to ask, “Why didn’t the people see it all coming and repent?” The question has two answers…
1. The
sinful human heart loves sin and resists the call to reformation / repentance
2. From
David’s glory to exile took almost 400 years.
In other words, the decline was gradual, and like today, people often
fail to look at the historical ‘big picture’ to see where they are headed.
ii.
David to exile in a nutshell
1. National
decline begins immediately after Solomon’s death with Rehoboam’s foolishness
and the rebellion / separation of the northern ten tribes
2. In the
north, Canaanite religion is mixed with true faith in a destructive / seductive
blend
3. Though
the south has the temple, the true priesthood, and the line of David, they too
fall away from the true faith, though not as far
4. In his
grace, prophets are sent and world events ‘happen’ in such a way as to remind
Israel/Judah that Yahweh is still God and gives his people time to repent
5. After
Elijah, Elisha, Amos and Hosea fail to move the north to repentance, the
Assyrians cart off Israel into exile in 722 BC (2 Ki 17). Judah fails to learn from their example.
6. After a
host of other prophets and failed attempts at reform by Hezekiah and Josiah (2
Ki 18.1-8; 22.1-20), the Babylonians deport many from Jerusalem in 597 BC (2 Ki
23.26-27) with its final destruction/exile to Babylon coming in 586 BC.
7. The
covenant curses first described in Deut 30 have now become reality…
c.
The message of the prophets—remember the covenant
i.
If not the main actors, the prophets play the most
important supporting role, appearing at critical times
1. Establishment
of the monarchy / anointing of kings (1 Sam)
2. Announcement
of Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7)
3. Moral
lapse of David (2 Sam 17)
4. Division
of the kingdom (1 Ki 11-12)
5. Challenge
of Baal in the house of Omri (1 Ki 17-2 Ki 6)
6. Wars
with Syria (1 Ki 20)
7. Threat
of Sennacherib (2 Ki 19)
ii.
The fall of the north (722 BC) is directly attributed to
refusal to heed the prophets’ message (2 Ki 17)
iii.
Underlying this narrative is the importance of covenant
1. God
entered into a covenant with his people, which had both conditional and
unconditional sides
2. Prophets
do not bring an essentially new message
3. Their
call is to the people to return to the covenant…to return to God
d. The
story is unfinished—the ‘new’ prophetic message
i.
In exile the prophets’ message points to Israel’s
continued failure to keep the covenant, however…
ii.
A new message begins to be declared…new in fullness
though not new with respect to content:
1. Israel
is incapable of true repentance
2. God
must do a new work of salvation through the coming Messiah, a new king in the
line of David
3. And the
first clear hints are given that Israel’s experiences through the exodus,
conquest, etc. are only shadows of the reality of salvation!
a.
This idea of progressive revelation is the lens through
which we have been reading the OT so far
b. The
prophetic judgment is the clearest indicator yet that full salvation has not
come
e.
One final note—the allure of Canaanite religion (i.e.
Baal worship)
i.
Baal was not the highest or most powerful
Canaanite god but was the ‘Storm God,’ the god of rain
1. Despite
his status as a lesser deity, for desert dwellers completely dependent upon
rain Baal was the most important god for completely practical reasons
2. In
order to keep the rain falling, Baal had to be appeased
ii.
How did this all play out in Canaanite theology?
1. Asherah
/ Ashtoreth was Baal’s female counterpart
a.
In theory, the mother goddess of fertility and the sea
b. In
practicality / popular theology, the goddess of sex
2. Temple
prostitutes were a vital part of worship as ‘worshipers’ showed their devotion
to Asherah
3. As a
voyeur, if Baal was pleased with temple fornication, he sent life-giving rain
to Canaan
iii.
Without a doubt, Canaanite religion demonstrates what
kind of ‘gods’ man will create on his own—’gods’ whose actions, desires, etc.
are much the same as fallen humanity’s
2. The
House Divided
a.
Solomon dies and Rehoboam ascends to the throne at age 41
(1 Ki 12,1-24; 14.21-29; 2 Ch 10.1-11.23)
b. First
request of the people shows growing dissatisfaction with Solomon’s rule
c.
In the foolishness of his youth, Rehoboam tries to assert
his rule and make a name for himself
d. As a
result, the north revolts and ten tribes unite against Judah (and Benjamin)
e.
As Jeroboam plans to crush the rebellion, God sends
Shemiah to inform him that this division is a God-sent consequence
3. King
Jeroboam of Israel (1 Ki 12.25-14.20)
a.
In almost every aspect, Israel faced better circumstances
than Judah
i.
Controlled the best farmland
ii.
Access to the Mediterranean and its trade routes
iii.
Major coastal and inland land routes (roads)
iv.
Larger population
v.
Judah had the (only) the wealth of Jerusalem and the
temple
b. God
made a covenant with Jeroboam during the reign of Solomon (cf. 1 Ki 24-40)
i.
Foretold the division of the kingdom as consequence to
their covenantal infidelity
ii.
Promises to be with him as with David if he walks
faithfully with God
iii.
From the beginning, Jeroboam is unfaithful to God
c.
Jeroboam establishes an alternate worship centers at
Bethel and Dan
i.
Golden calves…again (cf. Ex 32.4-8)
ii.
Appointed his own priesthood
iii.
Acted as high priest
4. King
Rehoboam of Judah
a.
A promising beginning after a rocky start
i.
Early military strengthening (2 Ch 11.1-12)
1. God
prevents him from reuniting the kingdom by force
2. Defends
fortresses and cities throughout Judah
ii.
Spiritual fidelity (2 Ch 11.13-17)
1. Levites
defected from Israel
2. Three
years of faithfully following God
b. Quickly
falls away from following God
i.
Forsakes the Law when his rule was ‘established and he
was strong’ (2 Ch 12.1)
ii.
Led the people to abandon God also
iii.
As consequence, God sends Pharaoh Shishak to plunder
Jerusalem (1 Ki 14.25-28; 2 Ch 12.1-10) during the fifth year of his reign
1. All the
gold of the temple taken
2. Confirmed
by extra-biblical sources (cf. temple in Thebes, Egypt)
3. Shishak
also plundered Israel, as confirmed by extra-biblical sources
c.
God’s first ‘wake up call’ comes five years after the
kingdom was divided
i.
Kings turned away from God once they felt secure
ii.
The people followed the kings’ example
iii.
First prod of grace comes thru the military might of
another nation (vs. the prophetic voice from within)
5. King
Asa of Judah
a.
Another promising start…
i.
Visited by the word of God immediately after taking the
throne (2 Ch 15.1-7)
ii.
Faced massive invasion force from Ethiopia numbering ‘a
million men and 300 chariots’ (2 Ch 14.9-15)
1. Asa
cried to God in faith for help
2. God
routed and smashed the invading force, giving victory to Judah
iii.
Initiated sweeping religious reformation (1 Ki 15.9-15; 2
Ch 15.8-19)
1. God
granted peace to the land
2. Reforms
were incomplete
b. International
strife
i.
Continual battles (probably border skirmishes) with
Israel
ii.
Second stream of deserters from the north (2 Ch 15.9)
prompted Baasha to close the border between Israel and Judah
iii.
Instead of relying on God, Asa relies on his treasury,
paying off Syria to invade Israel…with three consequences
1. Syria
conquered several cities in Israel, creating interest in the south that would
last for generations
2. Israel
neglects southern border, allowing Judah to fortify the boundary
3. God
withdrew his support of Asa, since Asa had failed to trust him (2 Ch 16.7-10)
c.
Asa’s allegiance to God is a things of the past
i.
Last 26 years of his reign are written of as largely
unremarkable
ii.
God has made his point in the narrative!
6. King
Omri of Israel
a.
Scriptural accounts mention several noteworthy things
i.
Purchases and fortifies land…moves capital in Samaria
ii.
Most wicked king to date, leading Israel to idolatry and
provoking God’s wrath
b. Extra
biblical records give us additional info and corroborate biblical account
i.
Assyrian armies march into northern Syria and Phoenicia
1. Assyria
demands tribute from nations but not from Israel
2. Assyrian
records refer to Israel as the ‘house of Omri’ for next 200 years
ii.
Moabite stone describes the reconquering of Moab by Israel,
filling in gaps in the biblical history
iii.
Archaeology reveals that Omri was more important in the
region than Scripture indicates
1. Why
would God omit such info from the biblical accounts? Several thoughts…
2. Material
accomplishments of evil kings often ignored…Scripture is more concerned with
spiritual matters and painting the picture of the continued apostasy of the
north
3. God has
described this division from the beginning as a consequence of sin, not the
natural outworking of international politics
4. God is
giving us accurate history, but it is history with a point!
7. Kings
Ahab (Israel) and Jehoshaphat (Judah
a.
Ahab of Israel
i.
The worst of the worst (1 Ki 16.29-34)…relatively
1. Married
Jezebel, a Phoenician (pagan)
a.
Tried to exterminate prophets of God (1 Ki 18.3-4)
b. Had
Naboth murdered because he refused to give up his vineyard to Ahab
2. Formally
sanctioned Baal worship
3. In
response to this evil, God raised up Elijah (see below)
ii.
The strongest of the strong…relatively
1. Early
in his reign was not terribly strong diplomatically or militarily
a.
During this time Moab breaks free from Israel’s control
(cf. 2 Ki 3)
b. Described
on the Moabite Stone (in the Louvre, see copy at SBTS)
2. Battles
with Syria
a.
Syria sieges Samaria (1 Ki 20.1-21)
i.
God sends a prophet to reassure Ahab (1 Ki 20.13-14)
1. Gracious
preservation of his people
2. Testimony
to apostate Ahab that ‘I am the LORD’
ii.
Israel is victorious
iii. Ultimately
fails to draw Ahab back to God
b. Syria
lures Israel into fighting next on the plains (1 Ki 20.22-30)
i.
Syria thought Israel’s God was god in the mountains
(remember the triangle of relationships?)
ii.
God again sends a prophetic message
1. Gracious
preservation
2. More
testimony to Ahab
iii. Israel
is victorious
1. Ahab
lets Syria’s king (Ben-hadad) go free, in direct defiance to God
2. He is
rebuked and judged by the prophet
iv. Ahab
fails to return to God…see a trend?
c.
Battles with Syria described on the Syrian Melqart Stele,
corroborating the biblical accounts
3. Battle
of Karkar (853)
a.
Important as one of the largest battles of antiquity and
first contact between Assyria and Israel
b. Assyrian
records credit Ahab with fielding 2,000 chariots and 10,000 soldiers, the
second largest army in the region
c.
Assyria claims victory but conquers no land and receives
minimal tribute from defeated armies
d. Ahab
had become evil in God’s eyes but was a powerful force in the region
e.
Not even mentioned in Scripture, why?
4. Battle
of Ramoth-Gilead (see below)
5. Politically
/ internationally, likely the most powerful king in Israel or Judah after
Solomon
a.
Not really brought out in Scripture
b. Lots of
extra biblical testimony
c.
Why?
6. Ministry
of Elijah (1 Ki 17-19)
a.
His call was to confront the king (ministry of
confrontation)
i.
Probably ministered during the end of Ahab’s reign (last
four years?)
ii.
Cannot be dated with precision
b. The
drought is a direct affront to Baal, the storm god who sends rain
i.
Baal’s impotence reflects poorly on his servant, Ahab
ii.
One logical conclusion for the people was that Ahab had
fallen into Baal’s disfavor
c.
Yahweh’s superiority over Baal is clearly demonstrated at
Mount Carmel
i.
After the people’s confession of the true God, rain comes
ii.
Elijah’s escape to Horeb (Sinai) demonstrates that the
God of Horeb is the God of Sinai
d. Elijah
is also used internationally to accomplish God’s purpose (1 Ki 19.15 ff.)
i.
Actually carried out by Elisha (2 Ki 8.7-15)
ii.
Anoints Hazael, the king who will be used as judgment
against Israel…more later
b. Jehoshaphat
of Judah
i.
Ruled at the same time as Ahab
ii.
Married his son (Jehoram) to Ahab/Jezebel’s daughter
(Athaliah) (2 Ki 8.18)
1. Created
an alliance with the north
2. Began
decline in Judah, eventually resulting in their complete inferiority to Israel
iii.
Battle of Ramoth-Gilead (1 Ki 22.29-40; 2 Ch 18)
1. After
but in the same year as the Battle of Karkar
2. Alliance
of Judah and Israel against Syria
3. Micaiah
prophesies Ahab’s defeat and death in battle, in contrast to the false prophets
(cf. 2 Ch 18)
4. Jehoshaphat
dresses like Ahab as a decoy (probably not by choice!)
5. Despite
Ahab’s schemes, Israel fails to capture Ramoth-Gilead and he is killed
iv.
Began to reform politics and religion in Judah (2 Ch 17)
1. Fortified
cities and garrisons in Judah
2. Walked
in the ways of David
3. Did not
follow Baal
4.