1 and 2 Kings

Golden Age Decline and Fall Solomon gifte by God with Wisdom and riches, power, honor and peace 1Kings 3 claims on the baby Solomon authored, Proverbs, most likely, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes and Wisdom of Solomon probably much later Constructed the Temple

Late in life Solomon worshipped idols like his pagan wives. His divided heart led to a divided nation and civil war. Under Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, Israel splits forever. 1Kings is a spiritual history, it follows the spiritual causes of the political decline of the nation. It ends with the division into 2 nations.

First Kings ends with the division into 2 nations. Second Kings is the history to and of the Destruction Chapter 1-7 traces 3 sets of Kings 1.Israel2. Judah NorthSouth AssyriaBabylon 722BCE586BCE

North There were 19 consecutive evil kings Idol worship at Bethel 9 separate dynasties

South 20 kings 8are good All from David’s line South lasts 136 years longer Temple destroyed Jerusalem destroyed Exile

During the time of the Divided Kingdom Most of the Prophets lived and taught North/IsraelSouth/Judah ElijahIsaiah ElishaJeremiah AmosJoel Obadiah Micah Zephaniah Nahum Habakkuk

Two Great Prophets Elijah, prophet like John the Baptist, fiery, passionate, ascends to heaven in a fiery chariot Elisha, prophet more like Christ ElijahElisha Lived alonelived in community Emphasis – LawEmphasis - Faith Repentance,Grace, hope, saw God’s Judgment angel’s surround Israel