A Divided Kingdom: The Books of I & II Kings Elijah, Moab, and Naaman II Kings Chapter 2-4

Announcements

WeekDateTopic 105 Dec 12The Bible before 2 nd Kings – A Summary 212 Dec 12Allies and Enemies: The World of the Israelites 319 Dec 12Judgment on Ahaziah: II Ki Dec 12Elijah, Moab, and Naaman: II Ki Jan 13Elisha the Prophet: II Ki Jan 13Jehu’s Revolt: II Ki 9:1-10: Jan 13After Jehu until the Fall of Samaria, Pt 1: II Ki Jan 13After Jehu until the Fall of Samaria, Pt 2: II Ki Jan 13Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 1: II Ki Feb 13Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 2: II Ki Feb 13Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 3: II Ki Feb 13Judah after the Fall of Isreal, Pt 4: II Ki Feb 13Summary of Kings II Kings

Today’s Objectives Review previous weeks lesson (II Kings 1 – story of Ahaziah’s death) Review historical maps of Israel and the region Learn about Elisha’s devotion to Elijah Learn about Elijah’s ascension into heaven Learn about the results of the Moabite war with a coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom Learn how God uses Elisha to perform several miracles early in his ministry

Previous Lesson Reviewed previous weeks lesson (I Kings 22, about Ahab’s desire to retake Ramoth-Gilead) Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region Learned about Israel’s continue spiritual decline along with their declining regional economic and military power Learned how Ahaziah injury ultimately leads to his death Learned which pagan god that Ahaziah inquires Learned how God causes Elijah to intervene in Ahaziah’s inquiry to the pagan god

Overview of I and II Kings Originally one book –Early Greek manuscripts of the OT combined the books of Samuel and Kings under the title of "kingdoms," or "reigns" –Kings was broken into two books for convenience sake because of its length (Greek translation) Authorship –Some portions of the book identical to the book of Jeremiah –Jeremiah would have personal knowledge of some contents –Evidence that Ezra was the author after the Babylonian captivity Timeline –Approximately 400 years, written between 560 B.C. and 538 B.C. –Start: Death of David in 971 B.C. –End: Jehoiachin's release from a Babylonian prison in 562 B.C.

Overview of I and II Kings Books of Samuel and Kings cover Israel's period as a nation under a king: –I Samuel: Life of Saul –II Samuel: Life of David –I Kings: Solomon and the divided kingdom –II Kings: The fall of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah Content of I and II Kings –47 chapters (I Ki – 22 chapters, II Ki – 25 chapters) –History of the Jewish commonwealth –Death of David to subjugation to Babylonians

Purpose –Imparting of great moral lessons backed up by well- known illustrations –Religious history –Focused upon kings rather than prophets Key Lesson –God does not fail His people; His people, led by their kings, have failed God –God’s covenant has the contingency of Israel’s faithfulness –Covenant also promises a return from exile those that return to God Overview of I and II Kings

Main Characters of Chapter 2-5 Elijah – Elder prophet of God, a Tishbite, does not die but is carried in to heaven on a chariot Elisha – Younger prophet of God who assumes Elijah’s ministry Jehoram – King of Israel who goes to war against Moab Jehoshaphat – King of Judah during who joined Jehoram against the Moabites King of Moab – lost against a coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom; ends up sacrificing his son

Places of Chapter 2-5 Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan River – Visited by Elijah and Elisha before Elijah’s ascension Edom – a country south and east of Judah and Israel Moab – A country east of the Dead Sea, east of Israel

Elijah’s Ascension (II Kings 2:1-13) Awareness of Elijah’s coming ascension (2:1-3) –Elijah goes to Bethel, but Elisha refuses to leave him –Elisha shows his devotion –Sons of the prophets tell Elisha of Elijah’s ascension –Would occur that day, in a “whirlwind” At Jericho and the Jordan (2:4-7) –Once at Bethel, Elijah goes on to Jericho, and tells Elisha to stay –Again, Elisha refuses –The sons of the prophets also say Elijah will be taken –Elijah is called to the Jordon, but asks Elijah to stay –Elisha refuses and moves on with Elijah

Elisha asks for a double portion (2:8-10) –Elijah divides the waters of the Jordan in order to cross –Elijah asks Elisha want he can do for him before being taken away –Elisha asks for a “double portion” of his spirit –What is a double portion? –In Jewish custom, it is the part that goes to the first son Elijah ascends into heaven –Chariot of fire appears with horses of fire representing God’s protective power –Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind representing God’s spiritual presence –Many similarities with Moses Elijah’s Ascension (II Kings 2:1-13)

Beginning Ministry of Elisha (II Kings 2:14-25) Elisha follows Elijah’s path (2:14-15) –He asks where the God of Elijah is –God shows him through a miracle –Like Joshua, God enables Elisha to divide the water –Elisha would have similar blessings to that of Elijah Search for Elijah (2:16-18) –50 men, for three days, but did not find him Elijah heals the waters of Jericho (2:19-22) –The men of Jericho realize Elisha’s blessing –Ask Elisha to renew (heal) the water –Elisha renews the water, allowing to be consumed

Judgment upon the youths of Bethel (2:23-25) –Youths from the city mock Elisha –Hebrew word for youth translates to young men in a very general sense – like Joseph (at age 39) in Gen 41:12 or Absalom as an adult in 2 Sam 14:21. –Elisha pronounces a curse of them –The youth are mauled by two female bears Beginning Ministry of Elisha (II Kings 2:14-25)

Three Kings Gather Against the Moabites (II Kings 3:1-10) Summary of Jehoram’s reign (3:1-3) –Son of Ahab and king over Israel at Samaria –Reigned 12 years –Did evil, but put away the pillars of Baal Moab’s rebellion (3:4-5) –Moab was a country east of Israel/Dead Sea, where Jordon is now –Initially subject to Israel, but grew stronger as Israel grew weaker after Ahab dies –Moab revolts against Israel Israel and Judah join to fight the Moabites (2:6-8) –Jehoram asks Jehoshaphat of Judah for help –Jehoshaphat agrees and they decide to proceed through Edom (south of Moab across the Jordon)

Armies are stranded in the desert (3:9-10) –Israel and Judah march for seven days on a southern route –They ran out of water –Jehoram, king of Israel, thinks God has set a trap Three Kings Gather Against the Moabites (II Kings 3:1-10)

Jehoshaphat seeks God’s guidance (2:11-12) –Asks for a prophet –Discovers that Elisha is there –They travel to meet Elisha Elisha agrees to speak to the three kings (2:13-15) –Elisha is upset with Jehoram’s worship of false gods, does not want to see him; however, –Elisha respects Jehoshaphat and agrees to speak to him –Elisha then seeks Gods word on the matter Word of God through Elisha(2:16-19) –Dig ditches in the valley –By a miracle of God, the valley floor will fill with water –He will deliver the Moabites into their hands Three Kings Gather Against the Moabites (II Kings 3:11-19)

Moabites are Defeated (II Kings 3:20-27) God meets their needs (3:20) –Water comes in the morning and fills the valley –From Edom Moabite attack the camp (3:21-25) –Hear about the impending attack –Moabites see the Israelites/Judahites/Edomites –Also see the water, which shows red like blood –They think they have killed one another –Moabites attack and are defeated –Continue their attack into Moab

King of Moab gets desparate (3:26-27) –Took 700 men to break through the Edomite line –But they could not –He took his eldest son and offered him as a burnt offering to no avail –Parallel history of the Moabite battle is recorded on the Moabite Stone Moabites are Defeated (II Kings 3:20-27)

Moabite Stone

God’s Miracles Through Elisha (II Kings 4 and 5 in brief) 2 Kings 4 –Miracles connected with a widow (4:1-7) Widow is about to loser her sons to slavery Appeals to Elisha for God’s help Elisha asks her to bring containers in which to place oil Elisha directs the woman to keep pouring oil from a perfume- size bottle It continues to pour until she runs out of vessels in which to pour oil (measure of faith) –Son of a barren woman Woman prepares a room for Elisha to sleep Elisha asks what he can do for her Woman answers that she wants a son, even though her husband is old The women conceived and bore a son one year later Son later dies and Elisha raises him from the dead

Miracles connected with provision of food (4:38- 44) –Elisha purifies a stew for the sons of the prophets Multiplication of loaves (4:42-44) –Man brings 20 loaves of bread to Elisha –Man was in disbelief that it would feed 100 men –God through Elisha enables the loaves to feed the 100 men God’s Miracles Through Elisha (II Kings 4 and 5 in brief)

Story of Naaman (5:1-23) –Naaman served as commander of the Syrian army –Was a leper –A young Israeli captive suggested seeking Elisha –Naaman goes to see Elisha –Naaman is healed by bathing seven times in the Jordan –Elisha refuses Naaman’s reward Story of Gehazi (20-27) –Gehazi was Elisha’s servant –He was shocked by Elisha’s refusal of the reward –Misled Naaman into giving him the reward –Gehazi then hid the reward –God inflicts Gehazi with Naaman’s leprosy God’s Miracles Through Elisha (II Kings 4 and 5 in brief)

Review Reviewed last weeks lesson (II Kings 1, story of Ahaziah’s death) Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region Learned about Elisha’s devotion to Elijah Learned about Elijah’s ascension into heaven Learned about the results of the Moabite war with a coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom Learned how God uses Elisha to perform several miracles early in his ministry