WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO THE WRONG THING BY GOD?
This is based on the N.I.V. translation of the
First Book of Kings written about 550 B.C. or 34
lifetimes ago. Quotes are from the N.I.V. Bible
and our comments are in brackets.
Elderly David couldn't keep warm in bed so a
beautiful young virgin Abishag, was appointed to
lie with, care for and keep him warm. But the
king had no sex with her.
Adonijah, (David's 4th son) decided to be king.
So he got chariots and 50 men to run before him.
He had not been disciplined by his father. Joab
and priest Abiathar gave support but not priest
Zadok, prophet Nathan, Benaiah and David's
special guard.
Adonijah sacrificed livestock near En Rogel 300
yards south of Jerusalem, inviting his brothers,
Abiathar, army commanders, royal officials but
not Nathan, Benaiah, David's guard or Solomon.
Nathan asked Bathsheba if she knew Adonijah had
become king without David knowing and advised
her to save her life and Solomon's by telling
David. While she did this, he said he'd come and
confirm it.
She did that, reminding David he had sworn by
the Lord his God that Solomon would succeed him.
"Israel waits your decision" she said, otherwise
at his death she and Solomon would be treated as
criminals. Nathan arrived and told David that,
as he spoke, Adonijah was proclaiming himself
king at En Rogel and asked David if he had
authorised this without telling him, Zadok,
Benaiah or Solomon.
David called Bathsheba in and took an oath as
surely as the Lord lives that Solomon was to be
the next king.
He called priest Zadok, prophet Nathan and
Benaiah to take Solomon on David's mule, to
Gihon about 50 yards east of Jerusalem's walls
and there anoint him king. They were to blow the
trumpet and shout, "Long live King Solomon."
From there he was to come up, sit on David's
throne and reign.
With the Kerethites and Pelethites they did as
directed. All the people shouted, "Long live
King Solomon" and went back up into the city
playing flutes and rejoicing greatly so that the
ground shook.
Adonijah and guests heard the trumpet and Joab
asked what it meant. Just then Jonathan,
Abiathar's son arrived and told them Solomon had
taken his seat on the royal throne. Also that
royal officials were congratulating David while
the king bowed in worship on his bed saying
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel who
has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my
throne to-day."
So Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and
dispersed. But he clung to the horns of the
altar in fear, asking that Solomon swear not to
kill him.
Solomon said "If he's worthy, he will live. If
he is evil, he will die." So Solomon sent men
and brought him down from the altar. He bowed to
Solomon who sent him home.
(Chapter 1)
Before David died he charged Solomon to:
-"Be strong.
-Show yourself a man.
-Observe what the Lord your God requires.
-Walk in His ways.
-Keep His written decrees, commands, laws and
requirements so that:
-You may prosper in all you do and wherever
you go.
-The Lord may keep His promise to me:
'IF YOUR DESCENDANTS WATCH HOW THEY LIVE
AND WALK FAITHFULLY BEFORE ME WITH ALL
THEIR HEART AND SOUL, YOU WILL NEVER FAIL
TO HAVE A MAN ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL.'
-Deal with Joab, who killed Abner and Amasa in
peacetime, according to your wisdom but
don't let him die in peace.
-Show kindness to Barzillai's descendants and
let them eat at your table because they
stood by me when I fled from Absalom.
-Remember Shimei, who cursed me, I swore not
to kill him, but you're a man of wisdom,
bring his grey hairs down to the grave in
blood."
So David died and rested with his fathers in the
City of David, after a 40 year reign.
Adonijah went to Bathsheba and asked if she'd
ask Solomon if he could marry Abishag (the
virgin who had cared for David). She did. (But
Solomon correctly saw this as Adonijah's way of
securing right of succession to the throne
through the royal harem). He said, "You might as
well request the kingdom for him - and for Joab
and Abiathar! As surely as the Lord lives who
has established me surely on the throne he'll
die to-day." So he had Benaiah kill him that
day.
Solomon told priest Abiathar to go back to his
fields at Anathoth (about 4 miles north of
Jerusalem). He told him he deserved to die but
was spared because he had carried the Ark and
shared in David's hardships.
When news of all this reached Joab, he fled to
the Tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns
of the altar. Solomon sent Benaiah to kill him,
he wouldn't come out and asked to die there, so
Solomon had Benaiah kill him there and bury him
on his own land in the desert. Solomon said, "He
killed two innocent better men than he was, may
the guilt of their blood rest on the head of
Joab and his descendants. But I and my father's
house are now clear of innocent blood, so may
the Lord's peace be on it forever."
Solomon put Benaiah over the army and replaced
Abiathar with priest Zadok.
He also told Shimei to build a house and live in
Jerusalem but if ever he left it and crossed the
Kidron Valley below the city walls he'd be
killed. But after three years he left, went
about 30 miles south west to Gath, found two
runaway slaves and brought them back. Called
before Solomon he said, "In your heart you know
the wrong you did my father. Now the Lord will
repay you, but I'll be blessed and David's
throne will remain secure before the Lord
forever." So the king had Benaiah kill him.
Thus Solomon's kingdom was firmly established.
(Chapter 2)
Solomon sealed an alliance with Egypt by
marrying Pharaoh's daughter and bringing her to
the City of David. He built his palace, the
Temple and city walls. Until the Temple was
built, he and the people sacrificed (at former
pagan) high places. Other than that, Solomon
showed his love for the Lord by walking
according to the statutes of David.
While offering at the most important high place
at Gibeon, (about 10 miles north west of
Jerusalem) the Lord spoke to him in a dream and
said, "Ask and I'll give you whatever you want."
Solomon answered "You've shown great kindness to
my father David who was faithful to you,
righteous and upright in heart. And continued
this in giving me the throne. But your chosen
people are too numerous to count. I don't know
how to carry out my duties. So give me a
discerning heart in governing your people and
distinguishing between right and wrong."
This pleased the Lord who said, "Because you
asked for this and not long life, wealth or your
enemies' lives, but for discernment in
administering justice, I'll grant your request
and give you a wise and discerning heart so
there'll never ever be anyone like you.
MOREOVER, I will give you what you didn't ask
for - both riches and honour. In your lifetime
you'll have no equal among kings. If you walk in
my ways, and obey my statutes and commands like
David I'll give you a long life." Then Solomon
awoke, realising he'd been dreaming.
Returning to Jerusalem he stood before the Ark
of the Covenant, sacrificed burnt and fellowship
offerings and gave a feast for his court.
Two prostitutes who lived in the same house
alone came before the king. They both had babies
3 days apart. Sleeping by its mother one baby
died at night. The woman with the live baby
accused the other of swapping her dead one for
it during the night, so she only discovered the
switch in the morning light. The other denied
this, so they argued before the king. So the
king asked for a sword and ordered the live baby
cut in two. The real mother said, "Give him to
the other." The second one said, "Cut him in
two." So Solomon said "Give the baby to the
first mother."
When all Israel heard, they held the king in awe
seeing he had wisdom from God to administer
justice.
(Chapter 3)
Solomon's officials were:
-Azariah -Priest
-Elihoreph & Ahijah -Secretaries
-Jehoshaphat -Recorder
-Benaiah -Commander in chief
-Zadok & Abiathar -Priests
-Azariah -In charge of 12
district officers
-Zabud -Priest & Solomon's
adviser
-Ahishar -In charge of the
palace
-Adoniram -In charge of forced
labour
-Twelve district officers who had to supply
provisions for the king and royal household.
Each supplied provisions for one month each
year. Their names were also listed.
The people of Israel and Judah were as numerous
as the sand on the seashore. They ate, drank,
had peace and security and were happy, each man
under his own vine and fig tree.
His empire covered the territory originally
promised to Abraham and the countries brought
tribute.
His daily provisions were:
-6.6 kilolitres of fine flour.
-13 " " meal.
-10 stall fed cattle.
-20 pasture fed cattle.
-100 sheep and goats.
-Deer, gazelle, roebucks and choice fowl.
He had 12000 horses and 4000 stalls for chariot
horses.
The district officers saw that nothing was
lacking and brought quotas of barley and straw
for chariot and other horses.
God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight and
measureless understanding. His wisdom exceeded
that of the east and Egypt. No one was wiser.
His fame spread to all surrounding nations. He
spoke 3000 proverbs, wrote 1005 songs, described
plant life from the mighty cedars of Lebanon to
the tiny wall growing hyssop. He also taught
about animals, birds, reptiles and fish. Men of
all nations came to listen to him.
(Chapter 4)
Hiram king of Tyre (about 100 miles north of
Jerusalem on the Mediterranean coast) who had
always been friendly with David, sent envoys.
Solomon sent him this message:
-My father couldn't build a temple for the
name of the Lord his God until all his
enemies were defeated.
-Now the Lord my God has given me rest on
every side.
-So I intend to build a temple for the name of
the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father
when He said, "Your son that I'll put on
your throne will build a temple for my
name."
-So have cedars of Lebanon cut for me, my men
will work for you and I'll pay your men's
wages.
Hiram was greatly pleased and said, "Praise the
Lord for giving David a wise son to rule this
great nation." He sent this message:
-I'll provide cedar and pine logs, haul them
to the sea and float them on rafts to
wherever you specify.
-In payment you are to provide food for my
royal household.
So Solomon got all the logs he wanted and he
sent year after year, 4400 kilolitres of wheat
and 440 kilolitres of pressed olive oil for
Hiram's household. The Lord gave Solomon wisdom
as promised. There were treaty sealed peaceful
relations between Solomon and Hiram.
Solomon's workforce was:
-30,000 conscripted male labourers under
Adoniram's control. They were sent in shifts
of 10,000 a month to Lebanon.
-70,000 carriers.
-80,000 stone cutters in the hills making
large blocks of quality stone for the temple
foundation.
-3,300 foremen.
Solomon's and Hiram's crafstmen cut and prepared
timber and stone assisted by the men of Gebal
(about 60 miles north of Tyre).
(Chapter 5)
480 years after the Israelites left Egypt, in
the 4th year of his reign, Solomon started
building the temple. He finished it 7 years
later.
It was 27 metres long, 9 metres wide and 13.5
metres high. The front porch was the same width
as the temple (9 metres) and projected 4.5
metres. It had narrow clerestory windows.
Against the walls of the main hall and inner
sanctuary he built side rooms. The entrance to
the lowest floor was on the south side of the
temple. A stairway led to the middle and third
floors. The lowest floor was 2.3 metres wide,
the next 2.7 metres and the last 3.1 metres.
Each room was 2.3 metres high. Offset ledges
around the temple held cedar beams attaching the
side rooms to the temple (and forming their
floors and ceilings). Thus nothing was inserted
into the temple walls.
Only blocks dressed in the quarry were used and
no hammer, chisel or other iron tool was heard
at the temple site while it was being built. The
temple was roofed with beams and cedar planks.
The interior walls were lined with cedar boards
from floor to ceiling, the floor with pine
planks. 9 metres were partitioned off at the
temple rear with cedar boards from floor to
ceiling to form the inner sanctuary (equivalent
to the Tabernacle Holy of Holies) the Most Holy
Place. The main hall in front of this room was
18 metres long. Inside was cedar carved with
gourds and open flowers. No stone was to be
seen.
The inner sanctuary was for the Ark of the
Covenant of the Lord. It was 9 metres long,
wide and high. Inside was overlaid with pure
gold as was the cedar altar. Gold chains
extended across the front of the inner
sanctuary. The whole of the interior was
overlaid with gold.
A pair of cherubim overlaid with gold 4.5 metres
high made of olive wood were placed in the inner
sanctuary. Each wing was 2.25 metres long and
measured 4.5 metres from wing tip to wing tip.
Their wings touched each wall and each other in
the middle.
On all the walls of both rooms cherubim, palm
trees and open flowers were carved, the floors
were covered with gold.
2 doors of olive wood with 5 sided jambs carved
with cherubim, palm trees and open flowers and
overlaid with beaten gold were made for the
inner sanctuary.Four sided olive wood jambs were
made for the entrance to the main hall, with two
pine doors having leaves that turned in sockets.
They were also carved with cherubim, palm trees
and open flowers and overlaid with gold hammered
evenly over the carvings.
The inner courtyard of the temple of the Lord
was made of three courses of dressed stone and
one of trimmed cedar beams.
(Chapter 6)
Solomon brought Hiram, a highly skilled worker
in bronze, from Tyre.
He cast two bronze pillars 8.1 metres high and
5.4 metres around and for their tops bronze lily
shaped capitals 2.3 metres high. A network of
seven interwoven chains festooned the capitals.
Two hundred pomegranates in two rows encircled
each network. The pillars were erected in the
portico, the southern one was called Jarkin and
the northern Boaz.
He made a circular sea of cast metal 4.5 metres
from rim to rim and 2.25 metres high. Part of
the casting, below the rim were two rows of
gourds, 10 each .45 metres. The sea stood on
twelve bulls three each facing north, south,
east and west, with hindquarters toward the
centre. The sea was about 8 centimetres thick,
its rim was like that of a lily blossomed shaped
cup, and it held about 44 kilolitres (11,500
gallons).
He also made ten bronze movable stands 1.8
metres long and wide and 1.3 metres high. They
had side panels attached to uprights, all
covered with lions, bulls and cherubim. Above
and below the lions and bulls were wreaths of
hammered work. Each stand had four bronze wheels
on bronze axles.
The wheels were like chariot wheels, .675 metres
in diameter, with axles, rims and hubs of cast
metal.
Each stand had a basin resting on four supports,
with wreaths on either side. Inside was a
circular frame engraved opening .45 metres deep.
With its base work it measured .675 metres. The
panels of the stands were square. The four
wheels were under the panels and the axles were
attached to the stand.
A handle projected from each corner of the
stand. At the top was a circular band .225
metres deep. Supports and panels were attached
to the top. Cherubim, lions, palm trees and
wreaths were engraved on support surfaces,
panels and every available space. All 10 stands
were identical, being cast in the same mould.
Ten bronze basins each holding 880 litres (230
gallons) measuring 1.8 metres across were made.
Placed in the ten stands, 5 were put on the
south side of the temple and 5 on the north. The
sea was placed at the south east corner of the
temple. Basins, shovels and sprinkling bowls
were also made.
This is what Hiram made:
-Two pillars
-Two bowl shaped capitals for them
-Two sets of network work decorating them
-Four hundred pomegranates in two rows
decorating them.
-Ten stands and basins.
-One sea supported by 12 bulls.
-Pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls.
They were all burnished bronze and cast in clay
moulds between Succoth and Zarethan in the
Jordan Plain about 40 miles north east of
Jerusalem. Being so many their weight was not
recorded.
Solomon had made the:
-Golden altar
-Golden table for the Bread of the Presence
-10 pure gold lampstands (5 to the right and 5
to the left in front of the inner sanctuary)
-The gold floral work, lamps and tongs
-Pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling
bowls, dishes and censers.
-Gold sockets for the doors of the inner room
and for the doors of the main temple hall.
When finished, he had the silver and gold and
furnishings his father had dedicated put in the
Lord's temple treasures.
It took Solomon 13 years to construct his
palace. It comprised:
-The palace of the Forest of Lebanon:
-46 metres long, 23 wide and 13.5 high.
-With 4 rows of cedar columns supporting 45
trimmed cedar beams, 15 to a row.
-Roofed with cedar above the beams.
-With windows placed high in sets of 3
facing each other.
-With rectangular framed doorways in the
front part in sets of three, facing each
other.
-With a colonnade 23 metres long and 13.5
wide.
-With a portico in front, fronted, in turn
by pillars and an overhanging roof.
-The throne hall.
-The hall of justice, where he was to judge,
covered with cedar from floor to ceiling.
-His own palace, set further back, similar in
design.
-A palace like this hall for his wife,
Pharaoh's daughter.
These structures, from the outside to the great
courtyard and from foundation to eaves:
-Were made of blocks of high grade stone.
-Had foundations of good quality large stones
some measuring 4.5 metres and some 3.6.
-Had high grade stones above and cedar beams.
-Had a great courtyard surrounded by a wall of
3 courses of dressed stone and one of
dressed cedar beams as was the inner
courtyard of the Lord's Temple with its
portico.
(Chapter 7)
Solomon summoned Israel's elders to bring the
Ark of the Lord's Covenant from Zion the City of
David, during the Feast of Tabernacles to the
new Temple.
The priests and Levites took up and carried the
Ark, the Tent of Meeting and its sacred
furnishings. Solomon and all Israel gathered
about him before the Ark, sacrificing countless
sheep and cattle. Then the Ark was placed in the
inner sanctuary of the Most Holy Place of the
Temple, beneath the wings of the cherubim. Alone
in the Ark were the two tablets of stone placed
there by Moses at Mt Sinai, where the Lord made
a covenant with the Israelites after they came
out of Egypt.
When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place,
the cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The
priests could not perform their service because
of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled
His Temple.
Solomon said, "The Lord said He'd dwell in a
dark cloud, I've built a magnificent Temple for
you, a place for you to dwell forever." The king
turned and blessed the people and said:
-Praise the Lord, Israel's God, who with His
own hand has fulfilled what He promised with
His own mouth to my father David. He said,
"Since I brought my people Israel out of
Egypt, I've not chosen a city to have my
Temple built in, but I've chosen David to
rule my people Israel."
My father David wanted to build a temple for the
name of the Lord,the God of Israel. The Lord was
pleased, but told him his son would do it. The
Lord has kept His promise for now I'm king and
have built the Temple.I've provided a place for
the Ark containing the Lord's Covenant made with
our fathers when He brought them out of Egypt.
Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in
front of the whole assembly, spread out his
hands toward heaven and said:
-"O Lord God of Israel, there's no God like
you in heaven or earth,
-You keep your COVENANT OF LOVE with your
servants who keep wholeheartedly to your
way.
-You've kept your promise to David and
fulfilled it to-day.
-Now, Lord God of Israel, keep your promises
to David that you'll always have a man to
sit before you on the throne of Israel,
-If sons carefully walk before you as I have
done.
-But will God really dwell on earth when the
heavens can't contain you? Much less this
Temple!
-Yet heed my cry, this prayer and my plea for
mercy, O Lord my God.
-May your eyes be open toward this Temple
night and day, where you said, 'My name
shall be there,' so you'll hear my prayer
toward this place.
-Hear from heaven and forgive.
-When a man wrongs his neighbour and has to
take an oath before your altar in this
Temple, hear from heaven and act.
-Judge, condemning the guilty and declaring
the innocent not guilty.
-When Israel's defeated because of sin against
you, and they,
-Turn back to you,
-Confess your name,
-Pray and supplicate in this Temple,
Then hear from heaven and forgive and bring
them back to the land you gave their
forefathers.
-When there is drought because your people
have sinned against you, and they:
-Pray towards this place,
-Confess your name,
-Turn from their sin because you've
afflicted them,
-Then:
-Hear from heaven and forgive Israel's sin.
-Teach them the right way to live.
-Send rain on the land you gave them for an
inheritance.
-When famine, plague, blight, mildew, locusts,
grasshoppers, enemy siege, whatever disaster
or disease may come,
-And when a prayer or plea is made by any of
your people,
-Aware of the afflictions of his heart,
-And spreading his hands toward this temple
-Then hear from your dwelling place in heaven
-Forgive,
-And act,
-Deal with each man according to his actions
and heart,
-So they will fear you wherever they live in
the land you gave their fathers.
-When foreigners come and pray toward this
Temple,
-Hear from your dwelling place in heaven,
-And do whatever the foreigner asks
-So all peoples on earth may
-Know and fear your name
-As do your own people Israel
-And know that this house bears your name.
-When your people go to war,
-And when they pray to the Lord toward this
city and its Temple,
-Hear from heaven and uphold their cause.
When they sin against you, and EVERYONE DOES,
and in anger you give them to their enemies
who take them captive to their own lands near
or far,
-And they have a change of heart
-And repent and plead with you
-And say, we have sinned, done wrong and
acted wickedly,
-And turn back to you with all their heart and
soul,
-And pray to you toward the land, city and
Temple then,
-Hear from heaven, your dwelling place,
-Uphold their cause,
-Forgive all their offences against you,
-And cause their conquerors to show mercy.
-For they're your people and inheritance,
-Who you brought out of Egypt, that iron
smelting furnace.
-May your eyes be open to my plea and Israel's
plea,
-May you listen to them whenever they call out
to you.
-For you singled them out from all nations as
your own inheritance,
-As you said through Moses, O Sovereign Lord,
when you brought our fathers out of Egypt."
When Solomon finished all this, he rose from
before the Lord's altar where he had been
kneeling with hands spread out toward heaven. He
stood and blessed all assembled Israel in a loud
voice, saying:
-Praise the Lord, who has given Israel rest as
promised.
-Every good promise to Moses has been
fulfilled.
-May the Lord our God be with us as with our
fathers, may He never leave or forsake us.
-May He turn our hearts to Him to:
-Walk in all His ways.
-Keep His commands, decrees and regulations.
-May the words of this prayer be near to the
Lord our God day and night,
May He uphold my cause
And the cause of His people.
-According to each day's need,
-So that the earth's people may
KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GOD ALONE.
-But your hearts must be fully committed to
the Lord our God,
-To live by His decrees and
-Obey His commands.
Then the king and all Israel offered sacrifices
to God.
Solomon offered a fellowship sacrifice of 22,000
cattle and 20,000 sheep and goats.
So king and people dedicated the Temple of the
Lord. The king consecrated the middle part of
the courtyard in front of the Temple, offering
burnt grain and the fat of fellowship offerings.
The bronze altar was too small for them.
So Solomon observed the Festival, with all
Israel. For 14 days they celebrated before the
Lord our God. Then he sent the people away. They
blessed the king and went home, JOYFUL AND GLAD
OF HEART FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS THE LORD HAD
DONE FOR ISRAEL.
(Chapter 8)
Solomon, having finished the Temple and palace
and achieving all he desired to do, the Lord
appeared to him a second time and said:
-I've heard your prayer and,
-Consecrated the Temple by putting my name
there forever.
-My eyes and heart will always be there.
-If you walk before me in integrity of heart
and uprightness as David did and
-Do all I command and observe my decrees and
laws,
-I will establish your throne over Israel
forever as I promised David.
-But if you or your sons,
-Do not observe the commands and decrees and
-Serve and worship other gods,
-I'll cut Israel off from their land and
-Reject this Temple.
-Israel will be an object of ridicule among
everyone.
-This imposing Temple will be an object of
scoffing, as passers by ask "Why has the
Lord done such a thing?"
-The answer will be, "Because they have
forsaken the Lord their God, who brought
their fathers out of Egypt and embraced,
worshipped and served other gods."
Solomon gave 20 towns in Galilee to Hiram, king
of Tyre (apparently as surety) for four and a
half tons of gold. But Hiram was not pleased
with them.
Solomon used as slave labour for his building
projects, the descendants of Amorites, Hittites,
Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites remaining in
the land. No Israelites were slaves.
As well as the Temple and palace, Jerusalem's
walls and terraces, strategic cities Hazor,
Megiddo and Gezer, other towns, store cities and
towns for chariots and horses were built by
slave labour throughout the territory he ruled.
Three times annually Solomon sacrificed burnt
& fellowship offerings with incense on the altar
he built for the Lord, fulfilling Temple duties.
He built ships near Elath on the Red Sea. Hiram
sent sailors to serve in Solomon's fleet. About
16 tons of gold were brought back from Ophir to
Solomon.
(Chapter 9)
The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon AND HIS
RELATION TO THE NAME OF THE LORD. Coming to test
him with hard questions she brought spices, gold
and precious stones.
Solomon's answers, wisdom, palace, food,
officials, robed servants, cupbearers and burnt
offerings overwhelmed her. She said "I heard of
this, but had to see it with my own eyes and it
far exceeds what I'd heard. PRAISE BE TO THE
LORD YOUR GOD WHO HAS DELIGHTED IN YOU AND
PLACED YOU ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL. BECAUSE OF
THE LORD'S ETERNAL LOVE FOR ISRAEL, HE HAS MADE
YOU KING, TO MAINTAIN JUSTICE AND
RIGHTEOUSNESS."
She gave him four and a half tons of gold,
spices and precious stones. No one ever brought
more spices.
Hiram's ships brought gold, almugwood for temple
supports, lyres and harps and precious stones
from Ophir. Subsequent almugwood imports never
exceeded these amounts.
After Solomon gave her all she asked for she
returned to her own country. (Possibly
Babylonia).
Apart from gold received from trade, Arabian
kings and governors, Solomon received 25 tons of
gold each year.
He made 200 large gold shields of about 3.5
kilograms each and 600 small ones of 1.7
kilograms each for the palace.
He made a great rounded back throne with
armrests inlaid with ivory and overlaid with
fine gold. Six steps led up to it and at the end
of each step was a lion. All the king's goblets
and palace articles were gold. Nothing was made
of silver which was considered of little value.
The king had a fleet of trading ships along with
Hiram's fleet. Each 3 years it returned with
gold, silver, ivory, apes and baboons.
He was the wisest, richest king on earth. The
whole world came to hear the WISDOM GOD PUT IN
HIS HEART. They brought silver, gold, robes,
weapons, spices, horses and mules.
Solomon accumulated 1400 chariots from Egypt,
12,000 horses imported from Egypt and Cilesia
(Turkey). Chariots cost 7 kilograms of silver
and horses 1.7 kilograms. These were also
exported to Hittite and Aramean kings. He made
silver as common in Jerusalem as stones and
cedar as plentiful as sycamore trees.
(Chapter 10)
Solomon had 700 wives of royal birth and 300
concubines, foreign women, Moabites, Ammonites,
Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. The Lord had
told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry
with them because they will surely turn your
hearts after their gods." Nevertheless Solomon
held fast to them in love and as he grew old
they led him astray and turned his heart after
other gods. So he was not fully devoted to the
Lord his God as David had been. He followed
Ashtoreth the Sidonian goddess and detestable
Molech, god of the Ammonites. So he did evil in
the sight of the Lord and didn't follow the Lord
completely.
On a hill east of Jerusalem he built a high
place for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab
and for Molech. He did this for his foreign
wives who offered sacrifices to their gods.
The Lord became angry with Solomon, because his
heart had turned away and he did not keep the
Lord's command not to follow foreign gods. So
the Lord said, "Since this is your attitude I'll
tear the kingdom from you, but not in your
lifetime for David's sake. It will happen to
your son. But I'll leave him one tribe for
David's sake and for Jerusalem which I've
chosen."
The Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon,
Hadad from the royal line of Edom who when a
boy, had fled to Egypt after David's victory
over the Edomites.
Hearing of David and Joab's deaths, he returned
to Edom. Also Rezon, who fled to Damascus when
David defeated Zobah, was Israel's adversary as
long as Solomon lived. This added to the trouble
caused by Hadad.
Also Jeroboam rebelled against the king in this
way. Solomon had put him in charge of the whole
labour force of Joseph's house. On his way out
of Jerusalem, Ahijah the prophet wearing a new
coat, met him. He tore it in 12 pieces and said
to Jeroboam, "Take 10 pieces for yourself, for
the Lord, the God of Israel says 'I'm tearing
the kingdom from Solomon and giving you 10
tribes. I'm doing this because (Solomon) has
forsaken me and worshipped Ashtoreth, Chemosh
and Molech and not walked in my ways, done
what's right in my eyes, nor kept my statutes
and laws as David did. But, for David's sake, I
won't take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's
hands. Instead, I'll take it out of his son's
hands, leaving him with one tribe so David my
servant will always have a lamp before me in my
chosen city Jerusalem. But I'll take you to be
Israel's king if you:
-Do what I command.
-Walk in my ways.
-Do what is right in my eyes by keeping my
statutes and commands, as David did, I will:
-Be with you.
-Build you a dynasty as enduring as David's.
-Give Israel to you.
-Humble David's descendants but not
forever.'"
Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam but he fled to
Egypt 'til Solomon died.
Solomon reigned for 40 years, died and was
buried in the City of David. Rehoboam his son
succeeded him as king.
(Chapter 11)
He went to Shechem to be made king. In Egypt
Jeroboam heard, returned, went to Rehoboam with
all Israel and said, "Lighten Solomon's heavy
yoke and we will serve you."
Rehoboam asked them to return in 3 days for an
answer. Solomon's elders advised him to lighten
the heavy yoke. But his young friends advised
him to make it heavier, and he agreed.
So the king didn't listen to the people. For
this turn of events was from the Lord,
fulfilling God's word to Jeroboam through
Ahijah.
So all Israel refused to have him as king and he
was left ruling Judah.
He sent out Adoniram, in charge of forced
labour, but he was stoned to death. Rehoboam
escaped by chariot to Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Israel made Jeroboam king.
In Jerusalem Rehoboam mustered 180,000 soldiers
from Judah and Benjamin to fight Jeroboam. But
God spoke to Rehoboam through Shemaiah telling
him not to fight. They obeyed God's word and
each man went to his home.
Jeroboam fortified Shechem (about 50 miles north
of Jerusalem) and lived there. He feared the
people would be drawn to Rehoboam when going to
Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple,
then turn and kill him.
So he made two golden calves and put one at
Bethel (about 15 miles north of Jerusalem) and
the other at Dan (about 90 miles north east of
Jerusalem). He told the people, "Here are your
gods Israel who brought you up out of Egypt."
AND THIS THING BECAME A SIN.
He built shrines on high places, appointed
unauthorised non Levitical priests and offered
sacrifices to the calves at Bethel. He
instituted, on a date of his own choosing, a
festival on the 15th day of the 8th moon like
the one held in Judah (as competition).
(Chapter 12)
By the Lord's word a man of God came to Bethel
as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an
offering. He said, "O altar, the Lord says: A
son named Josiah will be born to David's house.
On you he will sacrifice the priests now making
offerings here. This is the sign the Lord has
declared, the altar will split apart and the
ashes on it poured out."
King Jeroboam stretched out his hand and said,
"Seize him!" But the hand shrivelled, he
couldn't pull it back. And the altar split apart
and its ashes poured out.
Jeroboam said to the man of God, "Intercede to
the Lord your God and pray my hand be restored."
He did and it was.
The king asked him home for food and a gift. But
he refused and said, "God's word commanded me
'You must not eat or drink or return the way you
came.'" So he left by another road.
There was an old prophet living in Bethel who
heard what happened. So he rode his donkey,
found the man of God and persuaded him, by
lying, to return with him for food and drink. At
the table, God's word for the man of God came to
the old prophet, "You have defied the word of
the Lord and not obeyed His command not to come
back, eat and drink, therefore you won't be
buried with your fathers."
When the man of God was finished eating and
drinking the old prophet sent him off on his
donkey. But a lion killed him. The old man
heard, he brought his body back on the man of
God's donkey. The lion had not mauled the body
or the donkey. Then he buried it in his own
tomb.
He told his sons to bury him next to it for,
"The message he declared by the word of the Lord
against the altar of Bethel will surely be
fulfilled."
But Jeroboam did not change his evil ways. He
again appointed anyone who wanted the job as
priests. THIS WAS THE SIN OF THE HOUSE OF
JEROBOAM THAT LED TO HIS DOWNFALL AND
DESTRUCTION FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
(Chapter 13)
Jeroboam's son became ill, so he sent his wife
in disguise to prophet Ahijah at Shiloh (about
20 miles north of Jerusalem). Aged Ahijah
couldn't see but the Lord told him why she was
coming. Hearing the footstep he said, "Come in
Jeroboam's wife. I've got bad news. Tell
Jeroboam the Lord the God of Israel says:
-'I made you leader.
-I tore the kingdom from David,gave it to you,
-But you've done more evil than all before
you,
-Making other gods - idols and
-Made me angry and
-Thrusting me behind your back.
-Therefore I'll bring disaster on you by:
-Cutting off every male in Israel.
-Burning your house.
-Having dogs eat your descendants that die
in the city and birds get those dying
in the country.'"
Then he said to Jeroboam's wife, "When you set
foot in the city the boy will die. Israel will
mourn and bury him. He will be the only one
belonging to Jeroboam to be buried because he is
the only one in whom the Lord, the God of
Israel, has found anything good.
The Lord will:
-Put a new king over Israel who will cut off
Jeroboam's family.
-Strike Israel because of Jeroboam's sins.
-Uproot Israel because of sins Jeroboam caused
her to commit.
-Scatter them beyond the river,
Because they angered the Lord by making Asherah
poles (symbols of goddess Asherah)."
Jeroboam's wife returned home. Coming through
the door her son died. They buried him and
Israel mourned as the Lord had said. After a 22
years' reign Jeroboam died and his son Nadab
became king.
Rehoboam, Solomon's son reigned 17 years in
Jerusalem over Judah. Judah did evil in the
Lord's eyes, making Him jealously angry because
they set up:
-High places.
-Sacred stones.
-Asherah poles on every high hill and under
every spreading tree.
-Male shrine prostitutes.
And engaged in all the detestable practices of
the nations the Lord had driven out before them.
In the fifth year of his reign, Shishak, Egypt's
king, attacked Jerusalem and took temple and
palace treasures, including Solomon's gold
shields. Rehoboam made bronze shields for the
palace guards. After continual warfare with
Jeroboam he died and was buried in the City of
David. His son Abijah succeeded him as king.
(Chapter 14)
Abijah reigned 3 years, committing the same sins
as his father, his heart not being fully devoted
to the Lord his God. But, for David's sake, God
gave him a son to succeed him and made Israel
strong. War with Jeroboam continued, he died and
was buried in the City of David, succeeded by
son Asa.
Asa reigned as Judah's king in Jerusalem 41
years, doing right in the Lord's eyes. He:
-Expelled male prostitutes.
-Got rid of all idols.
-Deposed his grandmother as queen mother,
-Cutting down her Asherah pole and burning it
in the Kidron Valley.
-Brought into the Temple of the Lord silver
and gold dedicated by himself and his
father.
Though he didn't remove the high places, his
heart was fully committed to the Lord all his
life.
There was war with Baasha king of Israel, who
fortified Ramah about 7 miles north of Jerusalem
to stop entry and exit to Judah. So Asa sent the
silver and gold left in temple and palace
treasuries to King Aram at Damascus to
make a treaty with him and break his treaty with
Baasha.
King Aram agreed and conquered several
Israelite towns. So Baasha stopped building
Ramah and Asa removed the timber and
stones from there to build up nearby Geba and
Mizpah. In old age his feet became diseased, he
died and was buried in Jerusalem and son
Jehoshaphat became king.
Jeroboam's son Nadab became Israel's king, did
evil in the Lord's eyes and after 2 years was
killed by Baasha who became king. He killed all
Jeroboam's family. This was according to the
Lord's word through Ahijah because Jeroboam had
made the Lord, the God of Israel angry through
his sins and the sins he caused Israel to
commit. Baasha reigned 24 years in Tirzah, did
evil in the Lord's eyes and warred with Judah's
king Asa.
(Chapter 15)
The Lord told Baasha through Jehu that, "I made
you leader of my people Israel but you caused
them to sin and destroyed Jeroboam's family
making me angry. So I'll consume you and your
family. Dogs and birds will feed on their dead
bodies in city and country." Baasha died and was
buried, his son Elah succeeded him as king.
Elah reigned for 2 years in Tirzah about 40
miles north of Jerusalem. While drunk in the
home of Azra (who was in charge of the palace)
Zimri (who commanded half his chariots and had
plotted against him) came, killed him and became
king.
Then he killed all Baasha's family, fulfilling
the Lord's word through prophet Jehu because of
Baasha and Elah's sins and the sins they caused
Israel to commit making the Lord, the God of
Israel, angry by their worthless idols.
Zimri reigned 7 days. When Israel's army heard
he'd become king they proclaimed their commander
Omri king, came and besieged Tirzah and Zimri
went into the royal palace citadel, set it on
fire and died. This was because of his sins,
doing evil in the Lord's eyes and causing Israel
to sin.
Israel then split into those following Omri and
the rest following one Tibni. Omri proved
stronger and Tibni died. Omri reigned 12 years,
bought the hill of Samaria and built a city on
it calling it Samaria. He did evil in the Lord's
eyes, sinned more than all before him and caused
Israel to sin angering the Lord the God of
Israel by their worthless idols. Buried in
Samaria, son Ahab succeeded him.
Ahab reigned 22 years and was more evil than all
his predecessors. Considering sin trivial, he
married Jezebel and served and worshipped Baal.
He built a temple and altar to Baal, made an
Asherah pole and angered the Lord the God of
Israel more than all his predecessors. In Ahab's
time Hiel laid Jericho's foundations at the cost
of his firstborn son and its gates at the cost
of his youngest. This fulfilled the Lord's word
to Joshua. (Joshua Chapter 6 verse 26. "At this
time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: 'Cursed
before the Lord is the man who undertakes to
rebuild this city Jericho:
At the loss of his firstborn son
will he lay its foundations;
At the loss of his youngest
will he set up its gates'").
(Chapter 16)
Elijah told Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of
Israel lives, whom I serve, there'll be no dew
or rain for coming years except at my word."
Then the Lord told Elijah to leave, go east
across the Jordan (about 25 miles), hide in the
Kerith Ravine, drink from the brook and be fed
by ravens.
He obeyed and ravens brought bread and meat
morning and evening.
The brook dried up because of the drought and
the Lord told him to "Go, stay at (the coastal
town) Zarephath (about 75 miles to the north
west). I have commanded a widow to supply
you with food." He went,at the town gate found a
widow gathering sticks, called and asked "Would
you bring me a little water to drink?" As she
went to get it he called, "And please, a piece
of bread."
"As surely as the Lord your God lives," she
replied, "I have none - only a handful of flour
in a jar and a little oil in a jug. These few
sticks are to make a last meal for myself and my
son before we die."
Elijah said "Don't fear. Go and do as you said.
But first make a small cake of bread, bring it
to me, then make something for yourself and your
son. For the Lord, the God of Israel says 'The
jar of flour won't be used up nor the jug of oil
run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the
land.'"
She obeyed and there was food every day for
Elijah, the woman and her family. The flour
wasn't used up and the jug of oil didn't run
dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken
by Elijah.
Later, the son grew ill, got worse and died. She
said, "What have you got against me, man of God?
Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my
son?"
Elijah said, "Give me your son." Taking him from
her arms he carried him upstairs, put him on his
bed and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God,
have you brought tragedy on this woman?" He
stretched himself out on the boy three times and
cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this
boy's life return to him!"
The Lord heard, life returned, Elijah picked up
the child and took him down to his mother and
said, "Look your son is alive."
The woman said, "Now I know you're a man of God
and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is
the truth."
(Chapter 17)
After 3 years, the word of the Lord came to
Elijah, "Go to Ahab and I'll send rain." Elijah
obeyed.
As famine was severe in Samaria, Ahab summoned
Obadiah, his palace chief, so they could look
for grass to keep their horses and mules alive.
So they set off, each in different directions.
(Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.
While Jezebel was killing the Lord's prophets,
he had hidden 100 prophets, 50 in each of 2
caves and supplied them with food and water).
Elijah met Obadiah as he walked who bowed to the
ground and said "Is it really you my lord
Elijah?"
"Yes" he replied. "Tell your master 'Elijah is
here.'"
"What have I done to deserve this? Ahab will put
me to death, he's looked everywhere for you. If
I tell him you are here how do I know where
the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I
leave you. If I tell him and he doesn't find
you, he will kill me. I've worshipped the Lord
since my youth. You've heard how I saved 100
prophets? Now you tell me to tell Ahab 'Elijah
is here.' He will kill me."
Elijah said, "AS THE LORD ALMIGHTY LIVES, WHOM I
SERVE, I WILL SURELY PRESENT MYSELF TO AHAB
TO-DAY."
So Obadiah told Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.
He said to Elijah "Is that you Israel's
troubler?"
"Not me" said Elijah, "It's you and your
father's family. You've abandoned the Lord's
commands and followed the Baals. Summon Israel's
people to meet me on Mount Carmel and bring 450
prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah,
who eat at Jezebel's table."
Ahab did this. And Elijah said to them there:
-"HOW LONG WILL YOU WAVER BETWEEN TWO
OPINIONS?
-IF THE LORD IS GOD, FOLLOW HIM;
-BUT IF BAAL IS GOD FOLLOW HIM."
BUT THE PEOPLE SAID NOTHING.
Then Elijah said:
-I'm the only one of the Lord's prophets left.
-But Baal has 450.
-Get two bulls.
-Let them cut one up, put it on the wood but
not light it.
-I'll do the same with the other.
-Then you call on the name of your god.
-And I'll call on the name of the Lord.
-The God who answers by fire HE IS GOD.
All the people agreed.
Elijah said to Baal's prophets:
-Choose and prepare your bull first since
there are so many of you.
-Call on your god's name, but don't light the
fire.
-They called on Baal's name from morning 'til
noon.
"O Baal, answer us!" they shouted.
-But there was no response, no answer.
-And they danced around their altar.
At noon Elijah taunted them.
-"Shout louder.
-Surely he is god.
-Perhaps he is
-Deep in thought,
-Or busy,
-Or travelling
-Or sleeping and needs waking up."
So they shouted louder and slashed themselves
with swords and spears, as was their custom,
until their blood flowed. Midday passed and they
continued their frantic prophesying until the
time for the evening sacrifice. But
-There was no response.
-No one answered.
-No one paid attention.
Then Elijah said to the people,
-"Come here to me."
-They came and he repaired the ruined altar of
the Lord.
-He took 12 stones, one for each tribe to whom
the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Your
name shall be Israel."
-With the stones he built an altar in the name
of the Lord.
-He dug a trench around it large enough to
hold 15 litres of seed.
-He arranged the wood, cut the bull up and
laid it on the wood.
-Then he said to them
-"Fill four large jars with water,
-And pour it on the offering and the wood."
-"Do it again," he said and they did.
-"Do it a third time," he ordered and they
did.
-Water ran down and even filled the trench.
At the time of the sacrifice, Elijah stepped
forward and prayed:
-"O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
-Let it be known to-day that you are God in
Israel
-And that I am your servant
-And have done all this at your command.
-Answer me, O Lord.
-Answer me, so these people will know
-That you, O Lord, are God
-And that you are turning their hearts back
again."
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the
sacrifice,
-The wood,
-The stones and soil,
-And also licked up the water in the trench.
When the people saw this,they fell prostrate and
cried, "THE LORD HE IS GOD! THE LORD HE IS GOD!"
Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of
Baal. Let none escape." They did, and Elijah had
them brought down to the Kishon Valley and
slaughtered (according to Moses' law Deuteronomy
13:13-18; 17:2-5).
Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink for
there is the sound of heavy rain." Ahab obeyed,
but Elijah
-Climbed to the top of Carmel.
-Bent down on the ground and
-Put his face between his knees.
-"Go and look toward the sea," he told his
servant.
-"There's nothing there" he said.
-Seven times Elijah said, "Go back."
-The seventh time the servant reported,
-"A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising
from the sea."
So Elijah said, "Tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your
chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'"
Meanwhile the sky grew black with clouds, the
wind rose, a heavy rain came and Ahab rode off
to Jezreel (perhaps about 10 miles away). The
Lord's power came upon Elijah and, tucking his
cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all
the way to Jezreel.
(Chapter 18)
Ahab told Jezebel who sent Elijah the message
she would kill him within 24 hours.
Afraid, Elijah ran for his life (80 miles south)
to Beersheba, sat under a broom tree and prayed
to die. "I have had enough, Lord, take my life,
I'm no better than my ancestors." He lay under
the tree and fell asleep.
An angel touched him and said "Get up and eat."
By his head was a cake of bread baked over hot
coals and a jar of water. He ate, drank and lay
down again.
The angel touched him a second time and said
"Get up, eat for the journey is too much for
you." He got up, ate and drank. Strengthened, he
travelled 40 days and nights (250 miles south)
to Horeb the mountain of God (probably Mt
Sinai). He spent the night in a cave.
God said, "What are you doing here Elijah?"
He replied, "I've been very zealous for the Lord
God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your
covenant, destroyed your altars and killed your
prophets. I'm the only one left and they're
trying to kill me too."
The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the
mountain, in the Lord's presence, for the Lord
is about to pass by."
Then
-A great powerful wind tore the mountains
apart and shattered the rocks before the
Lord,
-But the Lord was not in the wind.
-After the wind, an earthquake,
-But the Lord was not in the earthquake.
-After the earthquake, a fire,
-But the Lord was not in the fire.
-And after the fire came a GENTLE WHISPER.
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over
his face, went out and stood at the mouth of the
cave.
A voice said, "What are you doing here Elijah?"
He replied as before. (Showing he was still
problem instead of God focussed).
The Lord said, "Go back the way you came to the
desert of Damascus. There anoint Hazael Aram's
king, Jehu Israel's king and Elisha to succeed
you. Jehu will kill any escaping Hazael and
Elisha any who escape Jehu. YET I RESERVE 7000
IN ISRAEL - ALL WHOSE KNEES HAVE NOT BOWED DOWN
TO BAAL AND WHOSE MOUTHS HAVE NOT KISSED HIM."
Elijah obeyed, found Elisha ploughing with a
yoke of oxen and threw his cloak around him.
Elisha left his oxen, ran after Elijah and asked
to kiss his mother and father good-bye before
following. Elijah agreed. Elisha slaughtered his
oxen, burned the ploughing equipment to cook the
meat and gave it to the people. Then he followed
as Elisha's attendant.
(Chapter 19)
Ben-Hadad, Aram's king, besieged Samaria and
demanded of Ahab his silver and gold, wives and
children. He agreed so more was demanded. Ahab
refused after consulting his elders. Ben-hadad
threatened to flatten Samaria. Ahab answered,
"One who puts on his armour should not boast
like one who takes it off." So they prepared to
attack.
Meanwhile, a prophet told Ahab, "The Lord says
you'll defeat their vast army to-day, then
you'll KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD." Ahab asked who
would do this. The prophet's reply was, "The
young provincial commander's officers." Who will
start the battle?" Ahab asked. The prophet
replied, "You will."
So Ahab attacked with 232 provincial commanders
and 7000 men at noon while Ben-Hadad and 32
allied kings were in their tents getting drunk.
The young officers went first (where was Ahab?).
Ben-Hadah's scouts reported. He said "Take them
alive."
The Israelites won and Ben-Hadad escaped on
horseback.
Afterward, the prophet told Ahab to strengthen
his position because the king of Aram would
attack again next spring.
Meanwhile, the king of Aram devised a strategy
to fight Israel on the plains because, "Their
gods are gods of the hills." So next spring he
attacked at Aphek (east of the Sea of Galilee
and about 60 miles north east of Jerusalem). The
Arameans covered the countryside while the
Israelites camped opposite like two flocks of
goats.
The man of God told Ahab, "The Lord says:
'Because the Arameans think the Lord is a God of
the hills and not a God of the valleys, I will
deliver this vast army into your hands and YOU
WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.'"
They camped opposite for 7 days and on the 7th
day joined the battle and Israel won, inflicting
100,000 casualties on foot soldiers in one day.
The rest escaped to Aphek where a wall collapsed
on 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad hid there in an
inner room.
Believing Ahab would be merciful, the king's
officials dressed with sackcloth around their
waists and ropes round their heads, went and
begged for the king's life. Ahab reacted
favourably so they brought Ben-Hadad out and
Ahab had him come up into his chariot.He offered
to return the cities his father had captured
from Israel and let them set up their own market
areas in Damascus. So Ahab made a treaty and let
him go.
God spoke through a son of a prophet who asked
his companion to strike him with his weapon. He
wouldn't so the prophet said, "Because you've
not obeyed the Lord, after you leave me a lion
will kill you." And it did.
The prophet found another man who, as requested,
struck and wounded him. Then the prophet
disguised himself with a headband over his eyes
and stood by the road waiting for the king. He
called out to the king as he went by, "In the
thick of the battle, I was asked to guard a
captive with my life, but he escaped." The king
said, "You've pronounced your own sentence."
(His life for yours).
The prophet removed his disguise and said "The
Lord says, 'You have set free a man I have
determined should die. So it's your life for
his.'" Sullen and angry the king returned to
Samaria.
(Chapter 20)
Ahab's palace was in Jezreel (about 60 miles
north of Jerusalem) and he wanted his neighbour
Naboth's vineyard for a vegetable garden. But
Naboth said, "The Lord forbid I should exchange
or sell the inheritance of my fathers."
So Ahab went home, sullen and angry, lay on his
bed sulking and refusing to eat, and told
Jezebel the problem.
She said, "Is this the way for Israel's king to
act? Get up, eat, cheer up, I'll get the
vineyard."
She wrote letters in Ahab's name and ordered the
elders of Naboth's city to proclaim a fast day,
seat Naboth prominently, have two scoundrels
falsely accuse him of cursing God and the king
and have him stoned to death.
They did that and told Jezebel who told Ahab to
possess the vineyard which he did.
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, "Go to
Ahab in Naboth's vineyard and say 'The Lord
says, you've murdered a man and seized his
property, so the Lord says: Where the dogs
licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your
blood - yes, yours!'"
When Ahab saw Elijah he said, "So you've found
me, my enemy."
"I've found you," he answered, "because you sold
yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord (the
Lord says), 'I will bring disaster on you
consuming your descendants and cutting off every
last male. Your house will be like Jeroboam's
because you provoked me to anger and caused
Israel to sin.' And the Lord says: 'Dogs will
devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' Dogs
will eat those belonging to Ahab, dying in the
city, and birds, those dying in the country."
There never was a man like Ahab who did evil in
the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his
wife, behaving in the vilest manner by going
after idols like the Amorites.
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his
clothes, put on sackcloth, fasted, lay in
sackcloth and went around meekly.
Then the Lord's word came to Elijah "Because
Ahab humbled himself, I won't bring disaster in
his day but in his son's."
(Chapter 21)
Ahab asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah for help to
recapture Ramoth Gilead (about 80 miles north
east of Jerusalem, east of the Jordan River)
from the king of Aram. But Jehoshaphat said
"First seek the counsel of the Lord."
So Ahab asked his 400 prophets who all said,
"Go, the Lord will give it into your hand."
But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of
the Lord we can ask?"
Ahab answered, "There's one man, Micaiah, whom I
hate because he never prophesies anything good
about me, only bad."
"You shouldn't say that" Jehoshaphat replied.
So Ahab called for Micaiah.
Both kings dressed in royal robes, sat on
thrones by the entrance gate of Samaria, with
all the prophets prophesying before them.
Zedekiah made iron horns and said, "The Lord
says you'll gore the Arameans with these and
destroy them." All the other prophets agreed.
The messenger who summoned Micaiah suggested he
do the same.
But Micaiah said, "AS SURELY AS THE LORD LIVES,
I CAN ONLY TELL HIM WHAT THE LORD TELLS ME."
Arriving, Ahab asked his advice.
He answered, (apparently sarcastically), "Attack
and win."
Ahab (recognising this) said, "How often must I
make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth
in the name of the Lord?"
Micaiah replied, "I saw Israel scattered on the
hills like sheep without a shepherd and the Lord
said, 'They have no master, let each go home in
peace.'"
Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "What did I tell you?"
Micaiah continued, "Hear God's word: I saw the
Lord sitting on His throne, with all heaven's
host standing around Him on His right and left.
And the Lord said 'Who will entice Ahab into
attacking Ramoth Gilead and being killed there?'
One suggested this, another that. Finally a
spirit stood before the Lord and said 'I will
entice him.'
'How?' the Lord asked.
'By being a lying spirit in the mouths of his
prophets' he said.
'You'll succeed.' said the Lord, 'Go and do it.'
So the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths
of these prophets of yours. He has decreed
disaster for you."
Zedekiah slapped Micaiah in the face and asked,
"Which way did the spirit from the Lord go when
he went from me to speak to you?" (If I'm a liar
so are you).
Micaiah replied, "You'll know on the day you go
to hide in an inner room."
Ahab ordered Micaiah be taken back to Amon the
ruler of the city and Joash the king's son,
"imprisoned and given only bread and water until
I return safely."
Micaiah said, "If you return safely, the Lord
hasn't spoken through me." He added, "Mark my
words all you people."
So both kings attacked Ramoth Gilead. Ahab said
to Jehoshaphat, "I'll be in disguise but you
wear royal robes."
Aram's king ordered his 32 chariot commanders to
only fight Israel's king. When they saw
Jehoshaphat in his robes they thought it was he
and attacked, but when he cried out they
realised it wasn't and stopped the pursuit.
But a random arrow hit Ahab between the sections
of his armour. He told his chariot driver to
wheel around and get him out of the battle. He
was propped in his chariot facing the Arameans
all day long as the battle raged. His blood ran
onto the chariot floor and at evening he died.
At sunset the cry went out "every man to his
town or land."
So the king died, was returned to Samaria and
buried. His chariot was washed at a pool where
the prostitutes bathed and dogs licked up his
blood as the Lord had declared. His son Ahaziah
succeeded him as king.
Jehoshaphat became king of Judah at 35 and
reigned 25 years. He did right in the Lord's
eyes. But the high places were not removed, the
people continued to offer sacrifices and burn
incense there. He was at peace with Israel. He
rid the land of the rest of the shrine
prostitutes. He built a fleet of trading ships
to go to Ophir for gold but it was wrecked at
Ezion Geber. He was buried in Jerusalem.
Ahaziah reigned over Israel for 2 years. He did
evil in the Lord's eyes and served and
worshipped Baal, making the Lord angry.
(Chapter 22)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM I KINGS.
1. Maintain a close first hand daily
relationship with God by listening to Him in
prayer and from His word and talking to Him.
Then you/God will be in control of your
daily living. If not, like David, your
indeciviseness will mean events will direct
you instead of you directing events.
(Chapter 1)
2. For the greatest life you can possibly have,
find God's will for it daily and do it. Get
your priority straight like Solomon did and
you literally CANNOT go wrong.
Jesus said this at Matthew 6:33 "But seek
first His kingdom (doing His will - letting
Him rule 100%) and His righteousness and all
these things (all your material needs) will
be given to you as well."
(Chapter 2)
Solomon's wisdom and knowledge resulted
directly from his real and close personal
relationship with God. Therefore you have
the potential to be even wiser and more
knowledgable.
(Chapter 3)
3. At the centre of God's relationship with you
is His love for you. It is protective,
positive and permanent. So if His will, His
word, His spirit is not in line with yours,
remember His love alone which always wants
the best for you motivates His will for you.
Solomon got this right when he spoke of
God's covenant of love to His people. If you
see His commandments as negative and
restrictive on your "freedom," or the
current in phrase, "your rights," your
relationship with Him will suffer. A
grudging fearful obedience to God's will
shows your relationship with Him is
defective. You'll be susceptible to the
devil's con (that worked with Eve) that God
is holding out on you and on the threshold
of sinful disobedience.
4. You sin as everybody does but it's crucial
to quickly confess it to God (and not
rationalise or cover it up). He will forgive
and forget so all His resources for the
day's living become yours again.
5. Be conscious that, (for all practical
purposes) all your problems and the world's
are due to sin against God - not doing
everything His way. This will make you look
immediately to Him for the problem's cause
and solution. If you don't get this right
you'll be a walking advertisement for, and
dispenser of, - BAND-AIDS.
6. Ask God to give you a true understanding of
ALL of Israel's history. It's His story laid
out so you can learn from it and avoid their
mistakes which all came from not doing
things the best way, i.e. His way.
7. Meditate before God on Solomon's prayer and
seriously ask His help to understand and
apply Chapter 8 verses 50 to 61.
8. If your relationship with God is right you
will be a joyful and glad person secure in
His love and full of praise to Him for it.
People will be attracted to you and
therefore to Him and so saved from the
alternative to having Him at the centre of
their lives. This is self which is death to
life on earth and hereafter.
(Chapters 7, 8, 9 & 10)
9. NEVER EVER "rest on your laurels" in your
relationship with God. It has to be kept "on
the top line" - free of sin EVERY DAY. Be
warned by Solomon. How could he have had it
so right in Chapters 8 & 9 and "blow it"
completely in Chapter 11?
One of your life's great certainties is that
the devil, your adversary and tempter WANTS
YOU DEAD and will always be dangling some
delectable sinful morsel before your mind
and eyes. The devil used women to destroy
Solomon.
(Chapter 10)
10. Sin, like a virus, spreads, pollutes and
destroys starting with those closest to you.
(Chapters 11 to 15)
11. Can a "man of God" lead you to sin by lying?
You'd better believe it! Listen to and obey
God only.
(Chapter 12)
12. God is right there in the worst possible
situation. With the nation spiralling to
total destruction like a Jumbo Jet with a
dead pilot, who did God put in the cockpit -
Elijah!
13. Being God's man involves (no apologies to
feminists)
-Laying it "straight on the line" no matter
to whom.
-Trusting God 100% for "survival rations"
-Food and water.
Therefore obeying His directions no matter
how "impractical." No one in his "right
mind" would have gone into a desert in a
drought and expected to survive. But
Elijah did - such was his RELATIONSHIP
with God. And yours MUST BE the same.
(Who ever heard of ravens bringing food
from the supermarket!!
And was a widow with no food a problem?
No way - not for God's man!
-With a dead son? - No problem!).
If YOUR RELATIONSHIP with God IS REAL YOU
will be an Elijah!
-Walk on the water? No problem!
-Feed 5000? Why not!
-Tell all Australia's religious experts
they've totally lost the plot?
Unless they can bring fire down on the
altar -
Of course!
Ridiculous? - Always will be!
-Being totally fearless.
-You only have to fear disobeying God.
-Men ? - or Ahab? You're joking!
-You'll find the Ahabs OBEYING YOU!
-Make clear, like Elijah, life's central
issue.
"If the Lord is God follow Him."
"If not - follow your particular
Baal."
-And put your "reputation" on the line.
But it's really God's reputation so
there can only be one outcome.
-Show to all the world the utter futility
of man centred religion.
We all know it doesn't work.
So PUBLICLY EXPOSE its total
uselessness.
-And show the world PUBLICLY God's total
adequacy, His mighty power in contrast
to man made religion.
-So that our land may be saved from
INEVITABLE destruction - so that people
may turn back to the REAL God.
-Breaking a drought by a prayer?
"A piece of cake!"
(Chapters 16 to 18)
14. And when you've won a great victory be
prepared for an all out assault by the
devil.
Could the Elijah of Chapter 17 be the same
man cowering in self pity and disbelief in
Chapter 18?
You'd better believe it!
And be prepared!
As we said before, EVERY DAY be 100%
fortified and right with God.
If Elijah had done that he would have told
Jezebel where to go
-With confidence!
15. But if you "blow it" and you will!
-Listen for God's STILL SMALL VOICE.
-God will provide some food and drink when
you've given up.
-DON'T give in to self pity. It shows you've
lost touch with God.
-Don't run from the opposition.
-God will be very near.
(Chapter 19)
16. God perseveres with non believers. Ahab just
wouldn't act on God's miraculous help in his
battles.
(Chapters 20 & 21)
17. Though you "blow it" you can always confess
and get it right again.
The Elijah of Chapter 21 is again like that.
18. Only pass on what the Lord tells you. Don't
compromise. Don't tell "powerful people"
what they want to hear.
(Chapter 22)
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