Lesson 4 - Kings after the division

 Lesson 4 

KINGS AFTER THE DIVISION 



Portion to read: 2 Chro. 12 - 26, 1 Kings 12 -22, 2 Kings 1 -25

Memory Verse: Psalm 2: 10 -12

Objective: To understand from the history of various kings that God honors those who honor Him and despises those who desire Him. 

THE DIVISION 

Though King Solomon was wise and blessed, having wealth and fame, unrest was also constantly increasing. Solomon imposed more taxes and worked on people to increase his personal comfort. From the time of Joshua, the tribe of Ephraim was at the forefront, leading Israel. But when David became the Kin, the tribe of Judah became the leader. So naturally, Ephraimites grow jealous against the tribe of Judah, and the enmity grew all the way. Soloman's pompous life, pride, idolatry, and sinfulness have come to its zenith, and God's judgment became inevitable. Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, rebelled against King. Soloman sought to kill him, but he fled to Egypt. All the Israel came to Shechem to appoint Rehoboam as the King after the death of Soloman. Jeroboam, who came to know about this in advance, came back to Israel and went to Rehoboam with a small group to ask him to reduce the taxes and work imposed upon them by Solomon. But Rehoboam, after consulting with young men, decided to increase their tax and work. Following this, ten tribes rebelled against Rehoboam and separated themselves under the leadership of Jeroboam as a separate north nation (Israel). The tribe of Judah and Benjamin stood with Rehoboam as the south nation (Judah). Thus the one country was divided into two because of the sins of the kings and people. But Christ will unite Israel and reign as their King in the future. 

After the division, 20 kings reigned over Judah and 19 kings reigned over Israel. Most of these kings were evil and they encouraged idolatry. The capital of Israel was in Samaria, and that of Judah was in Jerusalem. The period of reign of each king is given below. All the kings of Judah were the descendants of David. But the kings of Israel were not the descendants f Jeroboam. Most of them came to power, by using forces and deception. (some of the kings were God fearing and good. Their name in red color. Some kings were very famous .Their names are in blue color. some other served God partially. Their names are in Orange color. 


Kings of Judah                Period (B.C)

Rehoboam                       933 - 916 
Abijah                             915 - 913
Asa                                  913 - 873
Jehoshaphat                     873 - 849
Jehoram                           849 - 842
Ahaziah                           842
Queen Athaliah               842 - 837
Joash                                837 - 800
Amaziah                          800 - 783
Uzziah                             783 - 742
Jotham                             742 - 735
Ahaz                                735 - 715
Hezekiah                         715 - 687
Manasseh                        687 - 642
Amon                              642 - 640
Josiah                              640 - 609
Jehoahaz (shallum)         609
Jehoiakim                        609 - 597
Jehoiachin                        597
Zedekiah                          597 - 586
Jerusalem' destructiion    586



Kings of Israel         Period (B.C)
Jerboam  I                 922 -901
Nadab                       901 - 900
Basha                        900 - 877
Elah                          877 - 876
Zimri                        876
Omri                         876 - 869
Ahab                         869 - 850
Joram (Jehoram)       849 - 842
Jehu                           842 - 815
Jehoahaz                    815 - 810
Joash                          810 - 786
Jeroboam - II             786 -  746
Zechariah                  746 - 745
Shallum                     745
Menahem                   745 - 738
Pekahiah                    738 -  737
Pekah                         737 - 732
Hoshea                       732 - 724


Both the nations desired the prophecies and exhortation God had given them through various prophets and went serving other gods. Therefore God delivered Israel to the Assyrian King Shalmaneser carried Israel to Assyria on BC 721 But Judah stood for some more years. God spoke through Jeremiah that Judah will be delivered to Babylon and they will serve there 70 years and it happened in BC 586 when Nebuchadnezzer came to Jerusalem and destroyed the temple and took some of them as captives to Babylon. They were in exile for 70 years in Babylon.

God raised many prophets during the periods of Kings; to make his will. Elijah was prophet, during the reign of King Ahab. Eligah's follower Elisha was also a prophet, mightier than Elijah. Prophets who were raised before Babylon exile were Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isiah, Micah , Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Jeremiah respectively. But the people never gave heed to their words and God delivered them to enemies. We should be alert to God's word and guick in obeying Him.
                                 






 

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