Week 9: Divided Kingdoms - The North (1 Kings, 2 Kings, Amos, Hosea)

Question 1

What is the primary source for the history of Israel during the period of the Davidic Monarchy?

Answer 1

1 Kings

Question 2

Solomon (970-931 BCE)

Answer 2

1 Kings is the primary source for the history of Israel during the period of the Davidic Monarchy. In the first book of Kings, the first couple chapters involve David getting old. His son, Solomon, is considered to be wise.

High context material)…
1 Kings 5: King Hiram of Tyre offers Solomon building materials and human labor to build the Temple n Jerusalem. When Solomon accepts Hiram’s offering, it shows Solomon is willing to make international agreements and alliances to grow and develop his kingdom.

Solomon conscripts his own people to build the Temple (he is exploiting the people). We were warned about his by the prophet Samuel (1 Sam 8: here is what a King is going to do for you, he will exploit you…).

When the biblical authors were writing that portion of Samuel (long after the events of Samuel itself), the writer embedded a criticism of the monarchy exploiting people into the story. This is a literary device known as vaticinium ex eventu: prophecy after the fact.

Question 3

Solomon’s Name

Answer 3

Solomon: “peace”

Question 4

Solomon: Reputation

Good King: 1 Kings 1-11

Answer 4

• Comes to power, with Bathsheba’s (his mother) help, by ruthless strategies to oust his brothers.
• He did not fight wars as David had.
• He strengthened bureaucratic, administrative, and international aspects

1. Reorganized Tribal Boundaries.
2. Formed International Alliances: trade & marriages
3. Initiated Building Projects: fortified cities, palace, Temple, millo (all requiring conscripted labour)

Question 5

Solomon: Reputation

Bad King: 1 Kings 11:1-11, 11:26-43, 12:1-17

Answer 5

The Verdict on Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-11)…

King Solomon loved many foreign women. The disapproval of Solomon is expressed in the marriage metaphor, sex and the idea of false worship.

Idolatry and Adultery are very closely connected.

The high place is where pagan shrines for other gods are and became a code for idolatry, and Solomon goes to the high place which is a result of his international trade and relationships with foreign women.

God expresses his anger toward Solomon…but we have a problem, because we have royal theology; we have a promise of an eternal dynasty…

12-13: God will not punish Solomon in his lifetime, but there will be a punishment for the future of Judah, he will tear the Kingdom away from Solomon, which foreshadows the next event.

When God makes a promise, the promise stands; God’s promises are never broken
There has to be justice that maintains the eternal covenant.

Question 6

Jeroboam’s Rebellion (1 Kings 11:26-43)

Answer 6

• The captain of a laborguard and one of Solomon’s administrators
• Solomon ran his government in an Egyptian style where he had many levels of administration and labor crews
• A lot of information is given about Jeroboam; this is high-context and tells us we need to pay attention to Jeroboam

Regnal Formula: e.g. Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, rebelled against the king. (we always see this when a king is introduced)

Question 7

The Story of Jeroboam and the Prophet Ahijah (garments) → Kings 11:29-40

Answer 7

Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah found him on the road. Ahijah had clothed himself with a new garment. The two of them were alone in the open country when Ahijah laid hold of the new garment he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.

Ahijah’s new garment symbolizes the new beginning that is this united Kingdom.

David united all of the tribes together; this whole kingdom is like a piece of fabric, and Ahijah rips the fabric into 12, giving 10 to Jeroboam, and 1 to the descendents of David [missing 1 to Benjamin]).

The 10 pieces of fabric given to Jeroboam symbolize the 10 Northern tribes of Israel; this power will stay in the power of the Northern Kings. He says that Jeroboam will be the King of the Northern tribes, if he stays, and Solomon will stay King of the South.

Jeroboam flees to Egypt, but later we will see that he comes back out of Egypt and rescues his people from slave labor (he is like a New Moses): he goes from being a labor leader to freeing laboring slaves.

The official break between the two kingdoms takes place in 922 BCE. This is a strange episode where prophet Ahijah tells Jeroboam he will be King, and Jeroboam flees to Egypt.

Question 8

Division of the Kingdoms: Date

Answer 8

~922 BCE (lasted late 10th to Early 8th Centuries BCE)

Question 9

Division of the Kingdoms: Reason

Answer 9

When Solomon’s successor Rehoboam dealt tactlessly with economic complaints of the northern tribes, in about 922 BCE (there are differences of opinion as to the actual year) the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah split into two kingdoms.

The United Monarchy ended and was replaced by two separate kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south.

Question 10

What is the reason for the division of the Kingdoms in 922 BCE, according to the biblical perspective?

Answer 10

Biblical Perspective: The Deuteronomistic Historians understood this division as divine punishment. The biblical story says that the split of the two kingdoms is God’s doing as a way of punishing Solomon because of Solomon’s lavish lifestyle and exploitation of the people (it finds theological meaning)

Question 11

What is the reason for the division of the Kingdoms in 922 BCE, according to the historical perspective?

Answer 11

Historical Perspective: Historically and politically, Solomon was treating the people badly, and the northern tribes realized that it was optional for them to be a part of the monarchy, since they were not themselves connected to the monarchy, and could pull out anytime, and since they were being treated poorly, they left the kingdom

Question 12

King Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1-17)

Answer 12

Rehoboam is Solomon’s son, and Rehoboam becomes the King of Israel.

Under him, it divides into two: 
The North (Israel) - led by Rehoboam
The South (Judah) - led by Jeroboam

Question 13

King Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1-17)

Answer 13

Rehoboam is Solomon’s son, and Rehoboam becomes the King of Israel.

The North (Israel) - led by Jeroboam
The South (Judah) - led by Rehoboam

Question 14

Why does Jeroboam lead the Northern tribes to separate from Rehoboam and the Southern Kingdom of Judah?

Answer 14

King Rehoboam knows the people are dissatisfied. When you are yoked, you have been enslaved and are at the will at someone else.

1 Kings 16 narrates the birth of the Northern Kingdom: the ten Northern tribes, led by Jeroboam, revolt.

In ~922 the Northern Kingdom (10 tribes of Israel), led by Jeroboam separates from Judah → “we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse”

This begins a process where we have two kingdoms which are moving in parallel with each other.

Sometimes, even though they are distinct, they will work together (e.g. band together in mutual defence), btu it is always at the request of Israel, who is going to control the relationship → it is like a Father-Son relationship.

Question 15

The Northern Kingdom vis-a-vis the Southern Kingdom

Answer 15

The Northern Kingdom is much bigger, more powerful with more resources and a coastline
The Southern Kingdom of Judah is smaller, but Judah has two things that Israel does not have:
( 1 ) The Temple where God dwells
( 2 ) The promise of an eternal dynasty from God
God’s glory resides over the Ark in the Temple in Jerusalem, so Judah has God’s presence

Question 16

The Sin of Jeroboam

Answer 16

The people in Kingdom of the North want to be in the South, because the Temple is in Jerusalem. King Jeroboam must address this, so he puts shrines in Tyre (the very north) and Bethel (the very south) of the Northern Kingdom (he puts statues of calves in the shrines…but since he puts two calves, people are critical of polytheism).

So during this time, we begin to see the condemnation of all shrines. Those trying to enforce a monolatry (Yahweh alone) begin to enforce Jerusalem alone.

This will become known as the “Sin of Jeroboam”: he established two shrines for Yahweh that were not in Jerusalem. The issues? There are that there are two of them, and they are not in Jerusalem. The accusation will become that the calves, themselves, are being worshipped.

The final version of the Bible will come from Judah. The Judeans are the ones who survive in the end, and put their final “rubber stamp” on the Bible (e.g., connection to the Episode of the Golden Calf; the writers of the Pentateuch retrojected the development of the shrines developed by Jeroboam back into the Exodus story).

Question 17

Division of the Kingdoms: Names of People Involved

Answer 17

Names of People Involved: King Rehoboam, son of Solomon.

Question 18

Northern Kingdom of Israel: Style of Leadership

Answer 18

Ruled by a succession of dynasties until its conquest by the Assyrians in 722 (whereas the Southern Kingdom ruled by the Davidic dynasties until its conquest by the Babylonians in 586).

The Southern Kingdom is much more stable, especially because all of the kings come from the line of David. Whereas life in the northern kingdom is one of constant turn over. The kingship of the north changes frequently (because of military takeovers).

The Northern Kingdom exists from 922-722, and goes through 20 kings in 200 years. Northern Kings would have been assassinated, while Southern Kings would have reigned essentially until their death. In 722, the Northern Kingdom is destroyed by the Assyrians.

Question 19

Northern Kingdom of Israel: Size

Answer 19

Israel was by far the bigger of the two kingdoms, Judah was likely the vassal to Israel.

Israel and Judah would occasionally work together: 1 Kings 22:4
Israel and Judah would occasionally not work together: Syro-Ephraimite war

After Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BCE, only Judah remains, but as a vassal to Assyria.

Question 20

Northern Kingdom of Israel: Religious Practices

Answer 20

God’s glory resides over the Ark in the Temple in Jerusalem, so Judah has God’s presence.

The people in Kingdom of the North want to be in the South, because the Temple is in Jerusalem. King Jeroboam must address this, so he puts shrines in Tyre (the very north) and Bethel (the very south) of the Northern Kingdom (he puts statues of calves in the shrines…but since he puts two calves, people are critical of polytheism).

So during this time, we begin to see the condemnation of all shrines. Those trying to enforce a monolatry (Yahweh alone) begin to enforce Jerusalem alone.

This will become known as the “Sin of Jeroboam”: he established two shrines for Yahweh that were not in Jerusalem. The issues? There are that there are two of them, and they are not in Jerusalem. The accusation will become that the calves, themselves, are being worshipped.

The final version of the Bible will come from Judah. The Judeans are the ones who survive in the end, and put their final “rubber stamp” on the Bible (e.g., connection to the Episode of the Golden Calf; the writers of the Pentateuch retrojected the development of the shrines developed by Jeroboam back into the Exodus story).

Question 21

Rise of Prophecy: Prophecy in the Ancient World

Answer 21

Prophecy in the Ancient World
Prophet (“nabi”): from the Hebrew “to call” (or “to boil over”)
A prophet is a spokesperson for God
Both men and women can be prophets (e.g. Miriam, Deborah)
Community-based enterprise
Different kinds of prophets: royal groups, temple, solidarity
Prophets used words and actions (which could be violent)
Engaged in Prophetic gestures (e.g., Isaiah walks around Jerusalem naked to symbolize the destruction of the city, Jeremiah does not get married to show that the relationship between Israel and God is broken)
Prophets were found in other cultures

Question 22

Rise of Prophecy: The Law of the Prophet

Answer 22

Tells us what prophets are, and what they are not.

Right after Deuteronomy talks about what a King should/should not do, it gives the law of the Prophet.

The role of the king was to be the guarantor of the covenant with God, and the role of the prophet was to keep the king in-line.
Deut. 18:9-14
- No child sacrifice
- No supernatural things (sorcery or spells, communicating with oracles or ghosts, etc.)
- No dabbling in the occult (remain loyal to God)
Deut. 18:15-25
- The prophet must only and always speak the name/word of God
- Prophets cannot speak anything else that God has not commanded
- The people must listen to what the prophet says
- If the people do not listen to the prophet, God will hold them accountable

Question 23

Features of Biblical Written Prophecy

Answer 23

Words of prophets are called oracles. There are different types:
Call narrative (Jeremiah 1)
Messenger Formula (Isa 8)
Vision Report (Ezek 1; Daniel 7)
Symbolic Act (e.g., Ezek 4:4-7)
Woe oracle (e.g. Amos 6:1-7)
Oracles against the nations (Amos 1-2)

Question 24

Important: How do you know if you have a real prophet of YHWH?

Answer 24

Prophecy in Israel is reciprocal, it requires the prophet to deliver the message, it requires the people to listen and hear, and discern. And if it happens, then you know that it is a true prophet. So this sets up a situation where the people must constantly evaluate what the prophet is saying, and wait and see if it happens.

Question 25

Elijah and Elisha: Names

Answer 25

Elijah: my God is Yahweh
Elisha: my God saves

Question 26

Rise of Prophecy: Elijah (and Elisha)

Answer 26

Elijah: my God is Yahweh
Elisha: my God saves

During the Omride dynasty, the prophets Elijah and Elisha rise to prominence…

Main Message: proper worship of Yahweh

Elijah appears suddenly in 1 Kings 17
They are different from the types of prophets seen so far (e.g. Samuel, Ahijah, Nathan)
Elijah is not in Israel and is recognized by a foreign widow as a prophet (the widow is another example of a foreign woman [like Rehab] - an outsider - who recognizes the God of Israel); they are vulnerable and on the fringes of society. Elijah is recognized as a wild man from the wilderness. He covers the length and breadth of Israel with his Yahwistic mission.

Question 27

Prophet Elijah and Canaanite Religious Practices: Baal, Asherah, El

Answer 27

Elijah opposes Ahab and Jezebel; he conquers prophets of Baal and Asherah.

Baal: the Canaanite god, god of the storm
During the reign of King Ahab, there was a drought. The prophets of Baal are trying to cause rain to come. It becomes a competition to see who’s God is more powerful.

450 prophets of Baal, and Elijah tells them that if they want rain to come down from heaven, to ask Baal to send them rain.

Baal also means husband or Lord, so Elijah claims that Canaanite prophets are committing adultery.

Elijah’s experiences a Theophany in 1 Kings 19.

Question 28

King Omri of Israel (~850 BCE)

850 BCE: The Omride Dynasty (1 Kings 16-2 Kings)

Answer 28

The most significant and powerful dynasty in the Northern Kingdom.

Under Omri, Samaria becomes the capital of the North:
“He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; he fortified the hill, and called the city that he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill” (1 Kings 16:24).

Omri had a standing army including chariots, major building projects and international trade.

Omri’s son is Ahab who marries Jezebel (p. 243)

The Omride Dynasty lasts until Jehu, anointed by a servant of Elisha, stages a coup (2 Kings 9-10).

Question 29

842 BCE: Jehu’s Coup (2 Kings 9-10)

Answer 29

Jehu is anointed King of Israel by a servant of Elisha. Jehu’s leadership begins by wiping out the ruling elite of Omri. Jezebel is brutally murdered.

Jehu at first seems to be the perfect Yahwistic king, destroying shrines to Baal: “Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel.” But still, the DH doesn’t think he was a good king: “But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit—the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan.”

Under Jehu, Israel was a vassal to Assyria (p. 242)

1 Kings 17: The Assyrians worship different gods, and Israel interprets this as apostacy.

Question 30

Israel in the 700s BCE

Answer 30

As we move through the historical period, Assyria begins to weaken in power. Assyria’s power diminishes from the 800s to 750 BCE.

Assyria has been controlling this area but begins to lose power because there is turmoil at home (you cannot control other lands if there is unrest at home).

This allows for other nations to gain strength, and Judah and Israel begin a period of prosperity in the 700s.

Jeroboam II is King of the North during Israel’s prosperity, and Israel engages in trade with nations around them. Jeroboam II of Israel revitalized the northern kingdom during his 40 year reign, leading it to prosperity.

There is a lot of nepotism and the wealth is kept within the elite families (if you’re poor, you’re really poor). SO there is not only a religious crisis, but also a social justice crisis in the North.

…and so begins the writings of the prophets

Question 31

722 BCE: The Fall of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 17:5-8)

Answer 31

“Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria; for three years he besieged it

In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He placed them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

They had worshiped other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had introduced”

Question 32

Who remained in the North after the fall in 722 BCE? (2 Kings 17:24-28)

Answer 32

Some refugees fled to Jerusalem and the North was repopulated with other peoples:
The people who were originally in Samaria are taken out of Samaria…and people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim were captured by the Assyrians and placed in Samaria, and God sent lions to kill those who did not worship Him and those who did not learn the law of the land
The population of Judah increases by 50%, and the North is repopulated by other people.

The key to this story: we have people in Samaria who are worshipping Yahweh but are not themselves Israelites. Who are these people? Who will they become? The Samaritans.

This is the root of why Jews avoided the Samaritans in Jesus’ day (considered them defensive worshippers of God, and because they were not Israelites). Jews would not go through Samaria when travelling from Jerusalem to Galilee.

Judah was okay, and we have this from Judah’s perspective because sometimes it is very critical of the Northern kingdom.

Note: from the DH perspective, this might be how things like Deuteronomy ended up South.

Question 33

The Fall of the North: Assyrian Perspective

Answer 33

Sargon II: “I besieged and conquered Samaria, led away as booty 27 290 inhabitants of it…The town I rebuilt better than it was before and settled therein people from countries which I myself had conquered. I placed an officer of mine as governor over them and imposed upon them tribute as is customary for Assyrian citizens”

Question 34

What happens to Judah after the fall of Israel?

Answer 34

After Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BCE, only Judah remains, but as a vassal to Assyria…