1 Kings: Solomon

United Monarchy: Saul, David, SolomonUnited Monarchy: Saul, David, Solomon

Transition of power

• Adonijah’s bid for throneAdonijah’s bid for throne– David’s failure as a father (I Kgs. 1:6)David’s failure as a father (I Kgs. 1:6)

• Nathan & Bathsheba plot (1:11ff)Nathan & Bathsheba plot (1:11ff)

• Bathsheba’s son: Solomon (1:31, 33)Bathsheba’s son: Solomon (1:31, 33)

Solomon’s beginnings

• David’s hit list (1 Kgs 2)—Joab, ShimeiDavid’s hit list (1 Kgs 2)—Joab, Shimei

• Solomon already wise before dream (2:9)Solomon already wise before dream (2:9)

• Dream at Gibeon: 3:4fDream at Gibeon: 3:4f– Solomon’s humility—child? (3:7)—how old is Solomon’s humility—child? (3:7)—how old is

Solomon?—already has a 1 year old sonSolomon?—already has a 1 year old son

– Wealth -- why?—ironic reading Wealth -- why?—ironic reading

– Long life – why? (3:14)Long life – why? (3:14)

• Solomon’s wisdom victory: 2 women (3:24)Solomon’s wisdom victory: 2 women (3:24)

Solomon’s wisdom

• Proverbs man -- (4:30ff) comparison cross Proverbs man -- (4:30ff) comparison cross cultures?—Proverbs 22cultures?—Proverbs 22

• Temple construction: (ch. 5-6) –Hiram’s helpTemple construction: (ch. 5-6) –Hiram’s help—floating cedars of Lebanon, ships—floating cedars of Lebanon, ships

• Solomon’s dedication prayer (8:27) Solomon’s dedication prayer (8:27) – on great achievements ( pride or worship) on great achievements ( pride or worship)

• Solomon’s fame: queen of Sheba (10:1, 6)Solomon’s fame: queen of Sheba (10:1, 6)

Solomon’s folly

• Solomon’s folly: Pharaoh’s daughter (3:1) + Solomon’s folly: Pharaoh’s daughter (3:1) + wives/concubines (11:1) wives/concubines (11:1) –married before king to Ammonitess???-–married before king to Ammonitess???-Rehoboam 41.Rehoboam 41.

• Is it possible to turn away? (11:4, 9), Is it possible to turn away? (11:4, 9), Is Eccles. The answer? Is Eccles. The answer?

• On wisdom and folly: reading Solomon narrative On wisdom and folly: reading Solomon narrative ironicallyironically

• Kingdom torn: 11:11f—but for David’s sakeKingdom torn: 11:11f—but for David’s sake– North: JeroboamNorth: Jeroboam– South: RehoboamSouth: Rehoboam

Kings: the Divided Monarchy

Israel: 931-Israel: 931-722722 BC BC Assyria [Nineveh] Assyria [Nineveh]

Judah: 931- Judah: 931- 586586 BC BC [Babylon] [Babylon]

The Split--1 Kgs 12

• Rehoboam’s mistake: young versus oldRehoboam’s mistake: young versus old– On advice receiving & learning to listen On advice receiving & learning to listen

(12:6ff)(12:6ff)

• Northern Kingdom = IsraelNorthern Kingdom = Israel– All bad kingsAll bad kings

• Southern Kingdom = Judah—David’s Southern Kingdom = Judah—David’s descendantsdescendants– Mostly bad: Hezekiah, Josiah some goodMostly bad: Hezekiah, Josiah some good

Kings of Israel 931-722 BC

• JeroboamJeroboam --> Nadab --> Nadab– Baasha --> ElahBaasha --> Elah

– ZimriZimri

• OmriOmri AhabAhab Ahaziah Ahaziah Joram Joram

• JehuJehu JehoahazJehoahaz Jehoash Jehoash Jeroboam II Jeroboam II

• Shallum/Menahem/Pekahiah/PekahShallum/Menahem/Pekahiah/PekahHoshea Hoshea Assyria [Nineveh] 722BC Assyria [Nineveh] 722BC

Jeroboam (931-910 BC) 1 Kgs 12-14

• Golden calves: Dan & BethelGolden calves: Dan & Bethel

Israel-whole

Jeroboam (931-910 BC) 1 Kgs 12-14

• Golden calves: Dan & Bethel 12:27ffGolden calves: Dan & Bethel 12:27ff• Epithet: taught Israel to sin Epithet: taught Israel to sin • Spectacular prophecy: 1 Kgs. 13:2 JosiahSpectacular prophecy: 1 Kgs. 13:2 Josiah

– Critical response: Prophecy post eventu Critical response: Prophecy post eventu – Short range confirmation (altar split)Short range confirmation (altar split)

• Short range verifying long range prophecyShort range verifying long range prophecy– Son dies 14:12 fulfilling short prophecy Son dies 14:12 fulfilling short prophecy

guarantees long—line will endguarantees long—line will end

Ahab (874-853 BC) I Kgs 16:29ff

• Omri (Ahab’s father) moved capital to Samaria, Omri (Ahab’s father) moved capital to Samaria, Mesha & Moabite stone (830 BC) mentions him Mesha & Moabite stone (830 BC) mentions him as do Tiglathpileser’s annals in Assyria (732 BC) as do Tiglathpileser’s annals in Assyria (732 BC) “house of Omri”“house of Omri”

• Son, Ahab marries Jezebel and Baal worship Son, Ahab marries Jezebel and Baal worship grows in Israelgrows in Israel

• King’s denial cycleKing’s denial cycle– God’s judgmentGod’s judgment– Prophets blamed/killed/beat up//false prophets tell what Prophets blamed/killed/beat up//false prophets tell what

king wants to hear king wants to hear – No facing God’s judgmentNo facing God’s judgment

• Elijah the troubler of Israel (I Kgs 18:17f) Elijah the troubler of Israel (I Kgs 18:17f) – Projection: my problem projected onto othersProjection: my problem projected onto others

Israel-whole

Jezreel Valley

Elijah Prophets of Baal

• On Mt. Carmel--stormsOn Mt. Carmel--storms

• Elijah’s call for a decision (18:21)Elijah’s call for a decision (18:21)

• Baal: rain god (Ugarit) Baal: rain god (Ugarit)

• Is sarcasm ever appropriate?Is sarcasm ever appropriate?– 18:27 yes18:27 yes

• Why did they cut themselves?Why did they cut themselves?

• Greatest victory of his lifeGreatest victory of his life

Jezebel’s power over Elijah

• Her threatHer threat• His (Elijah’s) flight I Kgs 19:2His (Elijah’s) flight I Kgs 19:2• On a godly man (19:5) On a godly man (19:5)

– Depression? On highs and lowsDepression? On highs and lows– Wishing for death?Wishing for death?– Existential aloneness 19:10fExistential aloneness 19:10f

• Elijah’s 3 anointings to do: Hazael, Jehu, Elijah’s 3 anointings to do: Hazael, Jehu, ElishahElishah

Naboth’s vineyard (I Kgs 21:1-16)

• Do good guys always win? -story lineDo good guys always win? -story line

• Religious evil (21:10, 24-25)Religious evil (21:10, 24-25)

• God’s judgment (21:19)God’s judgment (21:19)

• Ahab repents (1 Kgs 21:27-29)Ahab repents (1 Kgs 21:27-29)

• Grace notesGrace notes

Dates to know

• David 1000 BCDavid 1000 BC

• Israel Deported/scattered to Assyria 722 BCIsrael Deported/scattered to Assyria 722 BC

• Judah Deported to Babylon 586 BCJudah Deported to Babylon 586 BC

• Return and End of OT Return and End of OT (Ezra/Nehemiah/Malachi) 400 BC (Ezra/Nehemiah/Malachi) 400 BC

Elisha stories (2 Kgs 6-7)

• Translation of Elijah (2 Kgs 2)Translation of Elijah (2 Kgs 2)• Not twice as much -- on mentors 2:9Not twice as much -- on mentors 2:9• Chariots of fire –translation of Elijah 2:11Chariots of fire –translation of Elijah 2:11• ““Children” at Bethel (2 Kgs 2:23f)Children” at Bethel (2 Kgs 2:23f)• 2 Women each according to her need2 Women each according to her need

– Multiplying oil (4:1-7) used what she hadMultiplying oil (4:1-7) used what she had– son given, woman’s pleading & boy raised 4:18-son given, woman’s pleading & boy raised 4:18-

3737

Elisha Stories (cont.)

• Healing of Naaman the Syrian Healing of Naaman the Syrian – Gehazi’s greed (2 Kgs 5)Gehazi’s greed (2 Kgs 5)

• Do angels really drive chariots (6:17)Do angels really drive chariots (6:17)• On Culture and revelationOn Culture and revelation• Syria and kindness to your enemies (2 Kgs. Syria and kindness to your enemies (2 Kgs.

6:22) POWs6:22) POWs• Cannibalism (2 Kgs 6:28) Cannibalism (2 Kgs 6:28)

– Bible and reality PG-13? Bible and reality PG-13?

Summary of Israel 931-722 BC

• All bad facing major enemies:All bad facing major enemies:– Sins of Jeroboam followed – golden calvesSins of Jeroboam followed – golden calves– Two forces moving history: Two forces moving history:

• Sin – Consequences (repentance)Sin – Consequences (repentance)

• Prophecy -- FulfillmentProphecy -- Fulfillment

– Syria: Damascus Syria: Damascus – Assyria: Nineveh rising powerAssyria: Nineveh rising power

• Israel carried away to Nineveh 722 BC Israel carried away to Nineveh 722 BC

Founding of the Samaritans

• 10 Tribes scattered; poor left in land, 10 Tribes scattered; poor left in land, foreigners hauled in to intermarry = foreigners hauled in to intermarry = Samaritans. “Fear of God” in 2 Kgs. 17Samaritans. “Fear of God” in 2 Kgs. 17