Zondervan Handbook to the Bible (Hardback)

Chapter One

The dates and length of reign of each king are given in the parallel sections of 1 and 2 Kings. Many of them include a period of coregency with a predecessor, so there is often some overlap. See 'Unravelling the chronology of the kings', and 'Kings of Israel and Judah' chart.

The Chronicler does not recognize the kings of Israel. Only David's descendants are the nation's true kings. From the time of the split he therefore largely ignores the northern kingdom, and frequently refers to Judah as 'Israel'. Even so, the ten tribes are still considered part of the Israelite nation, and contain elements which continue loyal to God and to the rightful king.

10 Rehoboam: the kingdom divides

See also 1 Kings 12. Rehoboam inherits from Solomon a wealthy kingdom beginning to show signs of weakness. By the time of his death only a fraction of that land and income are left to be handed down to his successor.

* In Egypt (2) See 1 Kings 11:26f.

* Verse 15 'The will of the Lord ... this is why': one event many places in the Old Testament where an event is attributed directly to God without reference to human freedom of choice. See on 1 Chronicles 10:14, etc. 'The word spoken by Ahijah': see 1 Kings 11:30-39.

* Verse 18 Hadoram = Adoram (Adoniram) of Kings.

11 Rehoboam fortifies Judah

A timely word from Shemaiah averts civil war (1-4). Instead, Rehoboam concentrates on fortifying his tiny kingdom against attack from her larger and stronger neighbours, particularly Israel and Egypt. Refugee priests flock to Judah from Israel following Jerboam's measures to break the religious ties with Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 12:26-33).

* Shemaiah (2) See 12:5, 7, 15.

* Satyrs (15, Revised Standard Version) The goat-like desert-demons of the old nature worship.

* Abijah (20) The Abijan of Kings.

* Daughter of Absalom (20) The Old

(Continues...)