A Divided Kingdom:The Books of I & II Kings

Elijah, Moab, and Naaman

II Kings Chapter 2-4

Announcements

Week Date Topic

1 05 Dec 12 The Bible before 2nd Kings – A Summary

2 12 Dec 12 Allies and Enemies: The World of the Israelites

3 19 Dec 12 Judgment on Ahaziah: II Ki 1

4 26 Dec 12 Elijah, Moab, and Naaman: II Ki 2-4

5 02 Jan 13 Elisha the Prophet: II Ki 5-8

6 09 Jan 13 Jehu’s Revolt: II Ki 9:1-10:28

7 16 Jan 13 After Jehu until the Fall of Samaria, Pt 1: II Ki 11-14

8 23 Jan 13 After Jehu until the Fall of Samaria, Pt 2: II Ki 15-17

9 30 Jan 13 Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 1: II Ki 18-19

10 06 Feb 13 Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 2: II Ki 20-21

11 13 Feb 13 Judah after the Fall of Israel, Pt 3: II Ki 22-23

12 20 Feb 13 Judah after the Fall of Isreal, Pt 4: II Ki 24-25

13 27 Feb 13 Summary 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