Deuteronomy 30:19-20

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Friday, February 11, 2011

A Look at the Kings

So as I have read through 1 and 2 Chronicles over the last week, I have been able to take a quick glance at the kings of Judah.  We began 1 Kings last week, and I will be picking back up there this weekend, but first I wanted to give a list of the kings from the 2 kingdoms Israel and Judah.  The books of 1 and 2 Kings trace the history of the split monarchy.  1 Kings begins with Solomon's reign, but after his death, the kingdom divides.  Israel is limited to the northern tribes, and Judah is created in the southern tribes.  Jerusalem remains the capital city, but of Judah, not Israel.  These 2 books then shift back and forth between Israel and Judah (and it can be confusing at times).  1 and 2 Chronicles, on the other hand, only follow the kings of Judah.  They start with David and Solomon and then follow their descendants in Jerusalem.  Many of the kings of Israel are mentioned, but only as they interact with the kings of Judah.  As we begin to take a look at 1 and 2 Kings, here is a listing of the kings of Israel and Judah after the death of Solomon.  This list will be a point of reference in the future.

Judah:                           Israel:

Rehoboam                   Jeroboam
Abijah                         Nadab
Asa                             Baasha
Jehoshaphat                Elah
Jehoram                      Zimri
Ahaziah                       Omri
Athaliah (Queen)          Ahab
Joash                          Ahaziah
Amaziah                      Joram
Uzziah                         Jehu
Jotham                       Jehoahaz
Ahaz                           Joash
Hezekiah                    Jeroboam
Manasseh                    Zechariah
Amon                          Shallum
Josiah                         Menahem
Jehoahaz                     Pekahiah
Jehoiakim                   Pekah
Jehoiachin                   Hoshea
Zedekiah

Some of these kings (in both kingdoms) followed God and were blessed, as God had promised them back in Moses' day.  Others decided to abandon the teachings from the Law of Moses and followed other gods.  As a result, they were punished, and they endured the consequences, whether it was  a defeat in battle, a plague, or death.  In the end, both kingdoms would meet their end as they would all be taken into captivity.

Matt

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