Colleyville Presbyterian Church - Adult Sunday School

Overview of the Old Testament: 1 & 2 Kings

March 20, 2016

Summary: 1 & 2 Kings are the books of the Decline of Israel (key passage is 1 Kings 9:3-9). 1 & 2 Kings
begin with the reign of Solomon and the flourishing of Israel as God keeps his covenant promises (1
Kings 4:20-34), which culminates in Gods presence descending on the temple built by Solomon (1
Kings 8:10-11). However, Solomon is not the righteous king promised in Dt. 17, and through his sin of
taking many wives and concubines, he leads Israel into idolatry and tears apart the kingdom (1 Kings
11:11).

After the division of the kingdom in 930 BC, the kings of the northern tribes (Israel) embrace
syncretism and idolatry and despite the ministry of the prophets, the nation is taken into exile by
Assyria in 722 BC. Judahs kings are only intermittently (and partially) faithful, and their nation is
taken into exile by Babylon in 586 BC after the destruction of Jerusalem. However 2 Kings ends with
the Davidic line continuing even in Babylon.

! I. The Reign of Solomon (1 Kings 1-11)

! ! a. Solomon becomes King (ch. 1 - 2)
b. Israel flourishes as Solomon rules as a wise, though flawed King (ch. 3 - 11)
! ! !
! ! ! Key chapters: 3 (wisdom), 4 (covenant blessings), 5-8 (temple)
!
! II. The Kingdom is Divided and Israel is exiled by Assyria (1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings 17)
! ! !
a. Rehoboams folly divides the kingdom (ch. 12 - 14
! !
b. Despite the faithfulness of prophets Elijah and Elisha, Israel is exiled (ch. 15 - 2 K 17)

! Key chapters: 1 K 18 (Elijah & Baal), 21 (Naboth), 2 K 2 (Elisha), 4-5 (Elishas

ministry), 9 (Jehu), 11 (Joash), 17 (Exile)
!
! III. Despite Hezekiah and Josiahs reforms, Judah follows Israel into exile (2 Kings 18-25)
! ! a. Hezekiahs faithfulness and fall (ch. 18 - 20)

b. Josiahs reforms (ch. 21 - 23)

! !
! ! c. Judahs final days (ch. 24 - 25

! ! 1 & 2 Kings Key Theme: God is faithful to his covenant with Israel at Sinai as well as his
! ! ! ! ! covenant with David. Exile comes but it is not the end of the story.

! !
! !
Timeline:

1050 - Sauls Reign

1010 - Davids Reign

970 - Solomons Reign

930 - The Kingdom is Divided

722 - Northern Kingdom Destroyed by the Assyrians - (Time of Isaiahs ministry to Judah, prophecy
of Cyrus in Is 44, 45)

605 - Nebuchadnezzar subjugates Jerusalem, Daniel and others taken in Exile (Dan. 1)

597 - Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem again, Ezekiel and others taken in Exile

586 - Nebuchadnezzar sacks Jerusalem, destroys Temple, Jeremiah exiled to Egypt