1 and 2 Kings

Question 1

What may be argued about I Kings as literature?

Answer 1

It may be argued that this is the earliest genuine historiography in world literature

Question 2

From what point of view is Israel’s past presented?

Answer 2

Israel’s past is presented from a prophetic and theological point of view not a political one.

Question 3

Is the book of I Kings a book about history? Why or why not?

Answer 3

It is not an exhaustive history of ancient Israel as many historic details are left out.

Kings is a history of Israel’s Kings to illustrate the two paths in life between which all of us must choose.

Question 4

What kind of events are included in I Kings?

Answer 4

Only events that have universal redemptive qualities are included.

Question 5

How does each event recorded in I Kings apply to us today?

Answer 5

Therefore we can read each event as having something to do with our spiritual walk with God

Question 6

Describe the process followed by the editors of I Kings as they assembled the book.

Answer 6

The editors went through the list of Israel’s kings carefully and systematically, with the goal of critiquing each one’s faithfulness to God’s covenant.

Question 7

What does the book of I and II Kings trace?

Answer 7

The books trace the consequences of sin and the benefits of obedience.

Question 8

What does I and II Kings share in common with I and II Samuel?
Why is this important?

Answer 8

Retribution Theology
As with 1 and 2 Samuel, the overriding concern in the Books of Kings is the theology of retribution based on the Sinai covenant, especially as expressed in Deuteronomy.
Importance:
The curses of Deut. will be shown through all books.

Question 9

What is “salvation history”?

Answer 9

It is the divine revelation of historical events recorded in Scripture to promote faith.

Question 10

During which king did Israel become”…a major player in the arena of international power politics”?

Answer 10

Solomon

Question 11

What ruined Israel’s brief period of strength and prestige during Solomon’s reign?

Answer 11

Solomon’s religious apostasy.

Question 12

At what time in Israel’s history was the territory promised to Abraham actually under Israeli control?

What theological principle does this fact demonstrate?

Answer 12

Under Solomon’s reign

even with God’s promise through a covenant to his people, (this particular one was unconditional to Abraham) God’s people must walk in faith and obedience to him in order to receive all the blessings of those promises and covenants

Question 13

What symbol is associated with Solomon’s reign?

Answer 13

the messianic age.

Question 14

If Moses contributed the Law, and David contributed the Psalms, what did Solomon contribute to Israelite religion?

Answer 14

wisdom was Solomon’s contribution to Israelite religion.

Question 15

Solomon’s life includes ‘tragedy’ that even though he saw the Lord on 2 separate occasions, he still fell away from God. How would you describe the phrase “Seeing is believing” in light of this tragedy?

Answer 15

Even though Solomon had been visited twice by God, still his faith wavered.
This shows that even seeing God doesn’t guarantee faithfulness.

Question 16

How many dynasties did the northern Kingdom of Israel have during the period of the divided kingdoms?

Answer 16

9 dynasties

Question 17

How many dynasties did the southern Kingdom of Judah have in this period? Can you name them?

Answer 17

The southern Kingdom of Judah had only one dynasty; The Dynasty of King David.

Question 18

In a sentence, describe the function of the prophet.

Answer 18

Prophets were God’s instruments of warning to the king and the nation.

Question 19

Describe the function of prophecy for King Ahab.

Answer 19

a form of magic in which the prophet manipulated God.

The professional prophets merely repeated the king’s desire in the form of prophecy in an attempt to ensure the desired outcome.

Question 20

Describe the function of prophecy for King Jehoshaphat.

Answer 20

mouthpiece for God.

The word of the prophet made the will of God known to humans, regardless of the king’s desires (v.8).

Question 21

What did Samuel help to establish in II Kings?

Answer 21

Samuel established the future role of the prophet as the messenger from God who held the king in check.

Question 22

Matching

KING PROPHET
David Elijah
Hezekiah Isaiah
Ahab Nathan

Answer 22

David=Nathan
Hezekiah=Isaiah
Ahab=Elijah

Question 23

Describe the function of prophecy in Israel among the nations of the Ancient Near East.

Answer 23

It was unique

Question 24

How did the prophets of other nations conduct their work?

Answer 24

Other peoples had prophets, but they were clairvoyants whose purpose was to appease or manipulate the deities.

Question 25

Describe the work of the prophets of Israel.

Answer 25

Israel's prophets were messengers of God who confronted the king and the entire society with his holy word.

Question 26

Why were the prophets unique when compared with prophets from nations?

Answer 26

Nowhere else in the world could a reigning monarch be held accountable to such a prophetic voice.

Question 27

How much of II Kings is devoted to the ministry of Elisha? - Why is it important? - What does it tell us about the author's purpose for II Kings?

Answer 27

Has to 2/5 of the book. Important bec. he is not a King author's purpose. He wanted to write not a just a survey of the events as they happened, but an explanation for the destruction of both kingdoms

Question 28

What do the Books of Kings tell us is the greatest single cause for the failure of Israel and Judah?

Answer 28

the policies of their kings and their lack of obedience to the prophetic word.

Question 29

Which kings were praised by the author of II Kings? | Why?

Answer 29

In 2 Kings, the author praises only Hezekiah and Josiah, because of their high regard for the word of God. All the other kings were neglectful at best, and evil at worst.

Question 30

What is the point of the Elijah-Elisha narratives?

Answer 30

The point of the Elijah-Elisha narratives, then, is that the kingdom succeeded when it followed the leadership of the prophets. Failure and destruction resulted when the kings rejected the word of God offered through the prophets.

Question 31

What is the author's purpose for outlining Israel's tragedy in II Kings 17?

Answer 31

The nation did not fall simply because it had a smaller army. Israel broke the Lord's statutes and commandments (vv. 15-16). They “followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless” (v.15). Ultimately it was God who was responsible for Israel's fall (vv. 18,20, 23).

Question 32

What group resulted from the mixtures of peoples under the policies of Assyria?

Answer 32

The mixtures of peoples produced the what would be called the Samaritans, who would become future enemies of Judah. The Samaritans and their religion continued into New Testament times (John 4:9, 19-20).

Question 33

What scripture reference shows this group and their religious practices lasting over 700 years?

Answer 33

(John 4:9, 19-20).

Question 34

What are the 2 most important themes of I & II Kings?

Answer 34

The Deuteronomistic History. | The Role of Prophecy.

Question 35

What do the books of Kings teach us about personal covenant faithfulness and obedience to God?

Answer 35

It is the ONLY measure of successful living.