Thursday, October 29, 2009

Israel: Leading Kings



Passing by Israel's  kings which seem to be of less importance, we study some kings of the Northern Kingdom which stand out for various reasons.

1. Omri and Ahab

Omri founded the third dynasty, and building the city of Samaria, transferred his capital to that stronghold. A vigorous soldier and an unscrupulous king, Omri strengthened and extended the Kingdom, but did much to corrupt the people.

In order to cement the alliance between himself and the king of Sidon, he brought about the marriage between his son Ahab and Jezebel, a daughter of the Sidonian king. Succeeding to the Kingdom, Ahab, dominated by the wicked and idolatrous Jezebel, proceeded to introduce into Israel all manner of idolatrous worship. At this crisis, and under these distressful conditions, the great prophet, Elijah, came upon the scene and waged mighty warfare for the true God against the idolatries of Israel.

2. Jehu

Jehu, the tenth king of Israel and founder of its fifth dynasty, was a picturesque and powerful figure. Jehu was anointed king by one of the sons of the prophets and with the utmost promptness and vigor he dashed across the plain, slew Jehoram the king with his own hand, ordered the destruction of Jezebel and proceeded to establish himself in Samaria as king of Israel. By a stratagem he assembled the leaders of idolatrous worship, the priests and prophets of Baal, in the vast temple which Ahab had erected in Samaria and caused them to be slain. Pushing forward the work thus begun, Jehu did not cease until he had destroyed utterly the Baal worship which had so blighted the nation. The reformation thus wrought in zeal and blood does not seem to have produced lasting fruits.

3. Jeroboam II

While he walked in the ways of the first Jeroboam in that he kept up the idolatry of the golden calves, yet did much to strengthen and extend the Kingdom. Under his reign the people increased in wealth and power and enjoyed a prosperity which reminds one of the glorious days of David and Solomon. Idolatry, drunkenness and licentiousness were rampant, however, prophet Amos and other prophets were sent to denounce the sins of the day and to call the people back to the worship of Jehovah.

4. Hoshea

Hoshea, the last of the kings of Israel, was somewhat better than his predecessors, but the doom long threatened was hastening apace. The Assyrians under Sargon reduced Samaria, 722 B.C. and carried the unhappy Israelites away into a captivity from which they were never to return.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

ISRAEL, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM


The Two Kingdoms stood side by side for 259 years. After the fall of Israel, Judah continued 135 years longer.

(1) Jeroboam, Israel's first king

So deeply did Jeroboam impress himself upon the life of Israel, a clear conception of his life and character will shed light on all the history which comes after.

Coming to the throne of the new Kingdom, Jeroboam evinced no concern for the higher religious welfare of Israel. One ambition possessed him—the firm establishment of the Kingdom in his own hand. To this one thing he was willing to sacrifice all other things. Believing that his own interests and the permanency of his throne would be imperiled if his people continued to go for sacrifice and worship to Jerusalem, the heart and capital of the Southern Kingdom, he set up idols, golden calves, in imitation of those worshiped in Egypt. These he placed in Dan, an extreme Northern city, and Bethel, an ancient shrine situated on the border between Israel and Judah.

This folly of Jeroboam never departed from Israel. No one of all the long line of kings which followed Jeroboam ever had the courage to destroy these idol shrines.

(2) Leading kings

Passing by the kings which seem to be of less importance, we study some kings which for various reasons stand out in some distinctness.

Omri and Ahab—Omri founded the third dynasty, and building the city of Samaria, transferred his capital to that stronghold. A vigorous soldier and an unscrupulous king, Omri strengthened and extended the Kingdom, but did much to corrupt the people.

In order to cement the alliance between himself and the king of Sidon, he brought about the marriage between his son Ahab and Jezebel, a daughter of the Sidonian king. Succeeding to the Kingdom, Ahab, dominated by the wicked and idolatrous Jezebel, proceeded to introduce into Israel all manner of idolatrous worship. At this crisis, and under these distressful conditions, the great prophet, Elijah, came upon the scene and waged mighty warfare for the true God against the idolatries of Israel.

Jehu, the tenth king of Israel and founder of its fifth dynasty, was a picturesque and powerful figure. Jehu was anointed king by one of the sons of the prophets and with the utmost promptness and vigor he dashed across the plain, slew Jehoram the king with his own hand, ordered the destruction of Jezebel and proceeded to establish himself in Samaria as king of Israel. By a stratagem he assembled the leaders of idolatrous worship, the priests and prophets of Baal, in the vast temple which Ahab had erected in Samaria and caused them to be slain. Pushing forward the work thus begun, Jehu did not cease until he had destroyed utterly the Baal worship which had so blighted the nation. The reformation thus wrought in zeal and blood does not seem to have produced lasting fruits.

Jeroboam II, while he walked in the ways of the first Jeroboam in that he kept up the idolatry of the golden calves, yet did much to strengthen and extend the Kingdom. Under his reign the people increased in wealth and power and enjoyed a prosperity which reminds one of the glorious days of David and Solomon. Idolatry, drunkenness and licentiousness were rampant, however, prophet Amos and other prophets were sent to denounce the sins of the day and to call the people back to the worship of Jehovah.

Hoshea, the last of the kings of Israel, was somewhat better than his predecessors, but the doom long threatened was hastening apace. The Assyrians under Sargon reduced Samaria, 722 B.C. and carried the unhappy Israelites away into a captivity from which they were never to return.

(3) Prophets

The prophets were close students of political as well as religious problems, and as the advisers of kings, they often wielded a decisive influence in the affairs of state.

Elijah and Elisha, who prophesied in Israel during the dark days of Ahab and his successors, battled mightily against the Baal worship which Ahab and Jezebel had introduced into Israel. Elijah, a Gileadite of picturesque grandeur, suddenly appeared before Ahab’s court and denounced the prevailing idolatry. By stern word and mighty miracle he did much to restore the worship of Jehovah. As notable among the events of his life may be mentioned: (a) his challenge to the priests of Baal and Ashtoreth and Jehovah’s signal vindication on Mt. Carmel; (b) his subsequent failure and flight; (c) his denunciation of Ahab in connection with the murder of Naboth, and his prediction of the overthrow of that wicked king.

Elisha, more polished and of milder temperament, wielded through his long career a strong influence both on the court and among the people. Among the many miracles which he wrought, the following are of special interest: (a) the multiplying of oil which enabled a prophet’s widow to pay her debts; (b) the raising to life of the child of the Shunammite; (c) the recovery of Naaman from his leprosy; (d) making the borrowed ax-head to swim; (e) smiting with blindness the Syrian forces which were sent to capture him in Dothan.

Amos and Hosea—Born in Tekoa of Judah, Amos was called to prophesy in Israel. At Bethel he denounced the prevailing sins and predicted the Assyrian captivity at a time when outward prosperity made the prediction extremely improbable.

Hosea was contemporary with Amos and continued his labors through the reigns of Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem and Pekahiah.

(4) Into Captivity

Hoshea, the last of Israel’s kings, pursued a weak and vacillating policy in his attitude toward the great opposing powers of the day, Egypt and Assyria.

The Assyrian forces, at first under Shalmaneser and later under Sargon, laid siege to Samaria, the capital of Israel, and after a desperate struggle lasting three years, the city was taken, 722 B.C., and Hoshea and his people were carried away captive into Assyria, being there lost to history.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

The Kingdoms Relations to Each Other

How the two kingdoms related to each other:

(1)    Hostility

Sixty years of Hostility.  Rehoboam, king of Judah, was warned through a prophet that the rending of the Kingdom was of God, and he was directed to submit.  In spite of this clear injunction, Rehoboam and his successors through a period of almost sixty years, persisted in their unsuccessful efforts to subdue Israel, waging a ceaseless petty warfare.


(2)    Alliance


Thirty years of alliance.  In the days of Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah, the reigning families were bound together in a friendly alliance against foreign foes, especially the powerful kingdom of Syria.


(3)    Renewed hostility


One hundred and sixty-nine years of renewed hostility.  When Jehu came to the throne of Israel he destroyed the house of Ahab and severed forever the ties which bound the Two Kingdoms.  From this time to the fall of Israel, in 722 B.C., there was ceaseless strife between Israel and Judah.


(4)    Both loved of Jehovah


God seems to have made little difference between the Two Kingdoms, regarding them alike as his erring children.  To them alike he sent prophets to warn and exhort, while in both he laid bare his arm in wonderful deliverances.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

THE KINGDOMS COMPARED

Comparasion of the Kingdoms are as follows:

The northern kingdom:
Israel, Kingdom of
(B.C. 975-B.C. 722). Soon after the death of Solomon, Ahijah's prophecy (1Ki 11:31-35) was fulfilled, and the kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents (1Ki 12:2, 3). Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten the burdensome taxation and services which his father had imposed on his subjects (1Ki 12:4), and the rebellion became complete. Ephraim and all Israel raised the old cry, "Every man to his tents, O Israel" (2Sa 20:1). Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem (1Ki 12:1-18; 2Ch 10), and Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem, Judah and Benjamin remaining faithful to Solomon's son. War, with varying success, was carried on between the two kingdoms for about sixty years, till Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with the house of Ahab.
Easton's Illustrated Dictionary

  • It began in 931 b.c. and lasted 210 years.
  • The first ruler was Jeroboam.
  • The last ruler was Hoshea.
  • The total number of kings was nineteen. Not one was righteous.
  • It consisted of ten tribes.
  • Its capital later became Samaria.
  • It was captured by the Assyrians in 721 b.c.
  • There was no return from captivity.
The southern kingdom:
Judah, Kingdom of
When the disruption took place at Shechem, at first only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David. But very soon after the tribe of Benjamin joined the tribe of Judah, and Jerusalem became the capital of the new kingdom (Jos 18:28), which was called the kingdom of Judah. It was very small in extent, being only about the size of the Scottish county of Perth.
For the first sixty years the kings of Judah aimed at re-establishing their authority over the kingdom of the other ten tribes, so that there was a state of perpetual war between them. For the next eighty years there was no open war between them. For the most part they were in friendly alliance, co-operating against their common enemies, especially against Damascus. For about another century and a half Judah had a somewhat checkered existence after the termination of the kingdom of Israel till its final overthrow in the destruction of the temple (B.C. 588) by Nebuzar-adan, who was captain of Nebuchadnezzar's body-guard (2Ki 25:8-21).
The kingdom maintained a separate existence for three hundred and eighty-nine years. It occupied an area of 3,435 square miles. (See ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF.)
Easton's Illustrated Dictionary

  • It began in 931 b.c. and lasted 326 years.
  • The first ruler was Rehoboam.
  • The last ruler was Zedekiah.
  • The total number of rulers was twenty: nineteen kings and one queen. Eight of the twenty were righteous.
  • It consisted of two tribes (Judah and Benjamin).
  • Its capital remained Jerusalem.
  • It was captured by the Babylonians in 606 b.c.
  • There were three separate returns from captivity.
(1)    Area

The Northern Kingdom Israel comprised almost three times as much territory, 9,500 (9,375) square miles as her Southern neighbor, Judah, with 3,500 (3,435) square miles.

In contrast with the kingdom of Judah is that of Israel.
(1.) "There was no fixed capital and no religious centre.
(2.) The army was often insubordinate.
(3.) The succession was constantly interrupted, so that out of nineteen kings there were no less than nine dynasties, each ushered in by a revolution.
(4.) The authorized priests left the kingdom in a body, and the priesthood established by Jeroboam had no divine sanction and no promise; it was corrupt at its very source." (Maclean's O. T. Hist.)
Easton's Illustrated Dictionary

(2) Resources

The land embraced in the territory of Israel was on the whole vastly more productive, including, as it did, many fertile plains such as Esdraelon and the Jordan valley.
Judah
Advantages.—The kingdom of Judah possessed many advantages which secured for it a longer continuance than that of Israel. A frontier less exposed to powerful enemies, a soil less fertile, a population hardier and more united, a fixed and venerated centre of administration and religion, a hereditary aristocracy in the sacerdotal caste, an army always subordinate, a succession of kings which no revolution interrupted; so that Judah survived her more populous and more powerful sister kingdom by 135 years, and lasted from b.c. 975 to b.c. 536.—Smith's Bible Dictionary

(3) Population

Isreal's advantage in the matters of area and resources was no greater than her advantage in the matter of population.  Her fertile lands sustained a numerous and open-minded people.


Israel

The prophet Ahijah of Shiloh, who was commissioned in the latter days of Solomon to announce the division of the kingdom, left one tribe (Judah) to the house of David, and assigned ten to Jeroboam. 1 Kin 11:31, 35 These were probably Joseph (= Ephraim and Manasseh), Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Gad and Reuben; Levi being intentionally omitted. Eventually the greater part of Benjamin, and probably the whole of Simeon and Dan, were included as if by common consent in the kingdom of Judah.—Smith's Bible Dictionary

The whole population may perhaps have amounted to at least three and a half millions.—Smith's Bible Dictionary

Judah

Population.—We have a gage as to the number of the people at different periods in the number of soldiers. If we estimate the population at four times the fighting men, we will have the following table:
King
Date (b.c.)
Soldiers
Population
David
1056-1015
500,000
2,000,000
Rehoboam
975-957
180,000
720,000
Abijah
957-955
400,000
1,600,000
Asa
955-914
500,000
2,000,000
Jehoshaphat
914-889
1,160,000
4,640,000
Amaziah
839-810
300,000
1,200,000
—Smith's Bible Dictionary




(4) Capitals

In one point Judah was especially favored; Jerusalem with its political and religious associations, with its memories of David and Solomon, with its magnificent Temple--Jerusalem was a might asses for Judah.  While Israel's capital was often shifted, and Samaria, its chief seat of government, was associated with idolatrous rites, Jerusalem, Judah's capital, was hallowed by the Temple and made sacred by glorious memories and noble associations.

Shechem was the first capital of this kingdom (1Ki 12:25), afterwards Tirza (1Ki 14:17). Samaria was subsequently chosen as the capital (1Ki 16:24), and continued to be so till the destruction of the kingdom by the Assyrians (2Ki 17:5).

Jerusalem became the capital of the new kingdom (Jos 18:28), which was called the kingdom of Judah. It was very small in extent, being only about the size of the Scottish county of Perth.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

CAUSES OF THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM

Rough Draft Last - Updated 10/4/09

Causes of the Divided Kingdom (982-722 B.C.) 1 Kings 12

In a little more than one hundred years, the Kingdom arose, attained its zenith and went into decline. Under David and Solomon, the seeds were sown which were destined to yield disaster. When Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, came to the throne the Northern tribes raised the standard of revolt, set up a rival Kingdom and for about two hundred and fifty-nine years Two Kingdoms, Israel and Judah, stood side by side.

(1) Tribal jealousy

Ephraim means Double fruitfulness ("for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction"). The second son of Joseph by his wife Asenath, born in Egypt (Gen 41:52; Gen 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (Gen 48:10; Compare Gen 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, "guiding his hands wittingly." Before Joseph's death, Ephraim's family had reached the third generation (Gen 50:23).—Easton's Illustrated Dictionary

The two formed two of the tribes of Israel, There are really 13 tribes but the number twelve was preserved by excluding that of Levi when Ephraim and Manasseh are mentioned separately (Num 1:32-34; Jos 17:14, 17; 1Ch 7:20).

Different Philosophies:

During the Conquest: We can see the differing points of view between Judah and Ephraim. Judah chose obedience to God by driving the Canaanite out of the land. In contrast, Ephraim was content to exact tribute from and dwell with the Canaanites, Even though they had the military strength to obey God.

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. Judges 1:28-29 (KJV)

Change in Influence and Honor:

From the settlement of Canaan till the time of David and Solomon: Ephraim had held the place of honor among the tribes.

The portion of Ephraim (Jos 16:1-10) was large and central, and embraced some of the most fertile land in all Canaan. It extended from the Mediterranean across to the Jordan, north of the portions of Dan and Benjamin and included Shiloh, Shechem, etc. A range of mountainous country, which runs through it, is called "the mountains of Ephraim," or "mount Ephraim." This extends also farther south into the portion of Judah, and is there called "the mountains of Judah." Samaria, the capital of the ten tribes, being in Ephraim, this latter name is often used for the kingdom of Israel, Isaiah 11:13; Jeremiah 31:6; 50:19.
The tabernacle and the ark were deposited within its limits at Shiloh where it remained for four hundred years.

During the time of the judges and the first stage of the monarchy this tribe manifested a domineering and haughty and discontented spirit. "For more than five hundred years, with its two dependent tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, exercised undisputed pre-eminence.
Joshua the first conqueror, Gideon the greatest of the judges, and Saul the first king, belonged to one or other of the three tribes.
Ephraim (tribe of Joseph) became jealous over the growing power of Judah. I believe Ephraim as a tribe took God’s Blessing for granted.

But now when Jerusalem became the capital of the kingdom, and the centre of power and worship for the whole nation of Israel, Ephraim declined in influence.

67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. 70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds Psalms 78:67-70 (KJV)

Why was Judah chosen?

8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Gen 49:8-12 (KJV)


Judah saved Joseph’s life

26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Gen 37:26-27 (KJV)

When the ark was removed from Shiloh to Zion the power of Ephraim was humbled."

Ephraim envied Judah; and Judah vexed Ephraim… Is 11:13
The discontent came to a crisis by Rehoboam's refusal to grant certain redresses that were demanded (1Ki 12).

For seven years, at the close of Saul's reign, Ephraim supported the house of Saul while Judah rallied to the scepter of David. The influence of David, and after him that of Solomon, was strong enough to hold the tribes together. Now that these influences had passed and new conditions had arisen, the old feeling leaped into a flame and the Ten Tribes were glad for a pretext to break away and set up a government for themselves.

(2) Worldly policies

Because Solomon had failed to reign according to the will of Jehovah, and had turned his heart away after other gods; God decreed the dissolution of his Kingdom. Already in Solomon's day, the prophet Ahijah had been sent to Jeroboam with the prediction that that prince should reign over the ten tribes of Israel.

1 Kings 11:1-43

(3) Heavy taxes

While gold and silver and precious treasures had flowed in abundance into the coffers of the king, the people themselves had been sorely oppressed and burdened. Groaning beneath their burdens, they assembled in Sheechem and pleaded that their taxes should be reduced.

1 Kings 12:1-7

(4) Rehoboam's folly

Apparently all of these difficulties might have been overcome but for the consummate folly of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Instead of conciliating the people and reducing their burdens, he answered them roughly; "My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins." Thereupon the northern tribes revolted and set up a separate Kingdom.

1 Kings 12:8-24