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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 186

Jul5

Day 186 – Reading – 2 Kings 12 – 13, and 2 Chronicles 24

Read today’s Scriptures. 

Don’t be confused by all the similar names. Try to be consistent looking for the phrases:

“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD,”

and “He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

Right through here the names of the kings in Israel (north) and Judah (south) get a bit confusing for they are the same, and a few have the same or opposite “nicknames.”  Here’s the chart again. 

NOTE in Judah, after Jehoshaphat, there is Jehoram (Joram), another Ahaziah, Athaliah (the queen), Joash (Jehoash), and Amaziah.

NOTE in Israel, after Ahab, there is Ahaziah, another Joram (Jehoram), Jehu, Jehoahaz, another Jehoash (Joash).

Seriously, as you are reading, if you don’t mind marking your Bible, highlight or underline the northern king’s names in blue, and the southern kings’ names in red. (or other colors).

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2 Kings 12.

This chapter continues what we learned in 2 Chronicles 23-24.  Even though the new king in Judah is called Jehoash here, we read about him as Joash, saved from his murdering grandmother, hidden away by the priest, Jehoida, until he was seven, and then crowned the king. His wicked “nana” was also killed that day.  We also read of the reforms the boy (under the priest’s tutelage) made, including repairing the Temple.

Now we see him calling again for the three types of offering that support the temple. 

  • The 1/2 shekel per man whenever a census was taken,
  • the payments of vows,
  • and voluntary offerings.

King Joash/Jehoash called for these offering.  After some years, when they did NOT come in, he had a special “offering box” made.  It was a reminder for the people to give.  When it was full, the priest would count and bag it and GIVE IT TO WORKMEN (carpenters, builders, masons and stonecutters) who were doing the repair.  (No “hanky-panky” in changing so many hands.

He reigned 40 years. Towards the end, Hazael (whom Elisha had anointed King of Syria) came and took Gath from the Philistines.  Now Gath was a mere 20-25 miles west of Jerusalem. And when Joash saw that the Syrian king meant to attack and take Jerusalem, he took all the sacred gifts, and his own gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the Temple and the king’s house … and sent it to Hazael. 

Pleased, Hazael “went away from Jerusalem.”  (Too bad he did not pray for help from God!!)

************** And then – sheesh – two of Joash’s servants KILLED the king.  He was buried in the city of David, and his son Amaziah reigned.

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2 Kings 13.

Meanwhile back up in the North, while Joash had been reigning, Jehoahaz (son of Jehu) began to reign. (17 years, evil)

Having left Jerusalem alone, the Syrian king, Hazael, and later his son Ben-Hadad III, continually harassed the northern kingdom, taking small bites of land/cities.  King Jehoahaz’s army was whittled down to 50 horsemen, ten chariots, and 10K foot soldiers.

BUT NOTICE!!!  This wicked king “sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him, for He saw how oppressed they were.”  (God is so gracious and merciful!  He gave them “a savior” so the people could escape from the hand of the Syrians, and live in their homes.)

NOTE: This “savior” whom God gave to Israel is not named. But there are three choices.

  • 1. The Assyrian king, who attacked the Syrians from behind and forced them to turn from Israel.
  • 2. Elisha, the prophet, who continued his “secret” leadership in revealing where the Syrians would strike next.
  • or 3. Jeroboam II, the man who would be king after Jehoahaz, who fought the Syrians back. 

Take your pick.

Jehoahaz died and was buried in Samaria. 

His son Jehoash/Joash began to reign in ISRAEL. (Joash, king of JUDAH was still on the throne in the south.  Two kings named Joash: north & south!)

This new king “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.” 

Elisha, the prophet of God be came deathly ill.  King Jehoash/Joash went to him and wept.  HE KNEW the northern kingdom was lost without this godly prophet.  

He cried out to Elisha, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”  (Remember there were only 10 chariots and 50 horsemen!).  He was asking for military help!!

Elisha had King Jehoash/Joash shoot an arrow out the window, prophesying a victory over Syria.

Elisha then had the King strike the ground with his quiver of arrows. the king struck three times.

“Oh, no!!” said Elisha. “You should have struck 5-6 times then you would have totally defeated them.  Now it’s only three times, and they will come back and get you.

AND ELISHA DIED. They buried him, but it seems they forgot to fill in the grave. A band of Moabites came by, one of them died, and they threw him in the grave. HE BOUNCED BACK OUT ALIVE, AFTER TOUCHING ELISHA’S BONES. Elisha’s double portion of God’s power continued even after his death!

What??? 

The Syrian king, Hazael died and Ben-Hadad III reigned. Israel fought with him and took back the cities that were taken in war. THREE TIMES Israel defeated them. 

Jehoash/Joash reigned 16 years and died, and was buried in Samaria.

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Jeroboam II became king in the NORTH.

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2 Chronicles 24.

Okay…. were you curious at how quickly Judah’s king Joash was suddenly killed by two servants, after getting on with repairing the Temple??

I was!

Now, in Chronicles, we see the details.  King Joash had an about face, and TURNED AWAY FROM GOD, after his mentor and surrogate father, Jehoiada, the priest died.  Like Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, Joash then listened to the advice of the young princes of Judah.  He abandoned the Temple AND SERVED IDOLS! What?

Zechariah, the new priest and son of Jehoiada, called Joash out and said God would forsake HIM. Joash didn’t like that and commanded that the priest be STONED!!

The Syrians came again and took all those princes captive, and injured King Joash severely.  IT WAS THEN, THAT THOSE TWO SERVANTS CONSPIRED TO KILL KING JOASH – BECAUSE HE HAD THE PRIEST, ZACHARIAH STONED.

Okay then.  That makes sense.  Good for them!

Amaziah, the king’s son reigned instead in JUDAH.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 180 & 181

Jun30

Sundays and Mondays studies are posted together on Mondays

Day 180. Reading 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18

Day 181.  Reading 2 Chronicles 19 – 23

Read Today’s Scriptures.
What insight or comfort do you receive?
 

Day 180 – 1 Kings 22.

After that ill-advised truce between King Ahab’s Israel (north) and King Ben-Hadad’s Syria (farther north), there were three years without war. Each country was trading in the other’s bazaars.  

But, there was a sore spot between the two kings. It was the town of Ramoth-Gilead.  Officially, it was in Israel’s territory, way east, across the Jordan River and right up next to Syria. (See map on yesterday’s post.) Syria was gradually “taking” the town, and Ahab didn’t like it.

So… when King Jehoshaphat of Judah (south) came to visit Ahab, Ahab asked him if he would go with him and battle for it and try to settle the dispute with Syria.

“Sure,” Jehoshaphat said. “My people are yours and my horses are yours. But … hey, let’s inquire of the the LORD first.”

King Ahab gathered his 400 prophets and inquired if they should go up against Syria at Ramoth-Gilead.

They ALL said, “Go up, for the LORD will give it into your hand.”

This seemed a little fishy to King Jehoshaphat, and he asked if there was ANOTHER prophet of the LORD that they could ask.

King Ahab grumbled, but finally said, yes, there was ONE, but Ahab didn’t like him because he ALWAYS prophesied against him.  Jehoshaphat pressed him, and Micaiah was called.  After a bit of messing around this real prophet of God said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.“

“SEE!!! I told you.  He never says anything nice about me!” bemoaned Ahab.  And Ahab promptly put Micaiah in prison with meager food rations.

But, the Word of the LORD which Micaiah spoke came true.  The two Jewish kings went up to battle with the king of Syria, who had told his men to “fight with neither small or great, but with the King of Israel (Ahab) only.”

King Jehoshaphat (Judah) rode out in his chariot in regal clothing and a crown on his head.  But wily King Ahab disguised himself as a lowly soldier.  The Syrians of course, went after Jehoshaphat, who cried out to the LORD for help.  When the Syrian captains saw that he was not King Ahab they turned away.  

Then ,,, a random soldier drew his bow and randomly shot an arrow into the air.  “Oops!” That deadly missile flew right to the disguised King Ahab and entered his body through the crack separating his breastplate from his chain mail.  A scream.  And, “TURN AROUND AND CARRY ME OUT OF THE BATTLE FOR … I … AM … WOUNDED!  And troops fled every man to his city.

In the evening, King Ahab died.  His blood flowed into the bottom of the chariot. His body was brought to Samaria and buried.  

“And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs liked up his blood.”  Just as Elijah had prophesied.

Ahaziah, his son reigned in his place. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, King Ahab, and in the way of his mother, Queen Jezebel. He served Baal and worshiped the pagan gods. He provoked the LORD, the God of Israel to anger in every way that his father did.

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Meanwhile, in the south, King Jehoshaphat continued to reign over Judah. (We’ll learn some good things about him tomorrow from 2 Chronicles 19-23.  He continued to clean up the pagan worship that his father King Asa had begun.)

Jehoshaphat eventually died and HIS son, Jehoram reigned in his place. Jehoram was exceedingly wicked, and you will find out why (below) and how (tomorrow’s reading).  

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2 Chronicles 18.

Here are a few interesting details on the story above about King Ahab in the north, and King Jehoshaphat in the south going to battle together for Ramoth-Gilead.

Jehoshaphat had GREAT RICHES and honor.  He – STUPIDLY!!! – made a marriage alliance with king Ahab.  (Ah ha! … now we see why the southern king was willing to go to war with Ahab against the Syrians.)  Jehoshaphat had arranged for his son, Jehoram, to marry Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab & Jezebel.

And the fall out of this union nearly wiped out the godly line of David through whom the Messiah Jesus would come!!! We’ll see that tomorrow.

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Day 181 – 2 Chronicles 19.

When King Jehoshaphat returned to Judah after that narrow escape with the Syrians and the death of Ahab, he was met by Hanani, a prophet of God, for a thorough scolding. 

“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?”  (Yes, it did seem strange that he would help the wicked King Ahab fight the Syrians … until we learned that his son had married Ahab’s daughter.  There was a political obligation there.)

Hanani told the king of Judah that he SHOULD be punished … but that, “some” good had been found in him. He’d gotten rid of the pagan Asherah poles, and … MORE IMPORTANTLY, Jehoshaphat had “set his heart to seek the LORD.”  After that …

  • He went out to the people in his land and “brought them back to the LORD, the God of their Fathers”.
  • He appointed judges in all the fortified cities and reminded them that the LORD was watching them. They should make sure there was no injustice or bribery.
  • He appointed special Levites in Jerusalem to decide disputed cases.

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2 Chronicles 20.

And then, a threat of war came to Judah (south). The descendants of Israel’s old relatives: (Moab & Ammon, both from Abraham’s nephew Lot) and Edom (descended from Jacob’s twin, Esau) joined together. They came around the south end of the Dead Sea, with the plan to de-throne Jehoshaphat.

Thankfully, the king did not call on the wicked kings in the north to help him, but “set his face to seek the LORD.” He proclaimed a fast for all his people. And prayed this prayer;

  • “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven?  You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.  Did You not, our God, drive out the in habitants of this land before Your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, Your friend?
  • “And they have lived in it, and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, “If disaster comes upon us (the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine), we will stand before this house and before You (for Your Name is in this house) and cry out to you in our affliction, You will hear and save!
  • “And now behold, the men of AMMON, MOAB, and MOUNT SEIR, whom Your would not let Israel invade when we came up from Egypt – Behold, they “reward us” by coming to drive us out of Your possession.
  • “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them?  For WE ARE POWERLESS AGAINST THIS GREAT HORDE that is coming against us. “WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO!  But our eyes are on You.”

**** (Oh, my goodness, what a prayer!  What if WE should pray this way, with such dependence on God!  What if modern Israel would pray this way, in total dependance on the LORD, their God! How would YOU respond, O LORD our God?)

As all Israel, with the little children and women, stood before the LORD, the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahazel, a descendent of Asaph, the Levite. And he said,

  • “LISTEN, all Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and king Jehoshaphat. Thus says the LORD. “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS BUT GOD’S.”
  • “Tomorrow go down against them.  YOU WILL NOT NEED TO FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE.  Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD, on YOUR behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.
  • “DO NOT BE AFRAID AND DO NOT BE DISMAYED.  Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you!”

Jehoshaphat, all Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping Him. They praised the LORD, the God of Israel with a very loud voice.

And they arose early in the morning and went out to meet the horde. Jehoshaphat stood and encouraged them. “Hear me, Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, an you will be established. Believe the prophet and you will succeed.

AND THEN … Jehoshaphat appointed singers to sing and praise the LORD, as the went before the army.

“Give thanks to the LORD, FOR His steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they BEGAN to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, so that they were routed.  They each destroyed one another!!!!!  Dead bodies all around. None escaped.

WOW!

Jehoshaphat and the people came to take the spoil and found GREAT NUMBERS of goods, clothing, precious things – which they took for themselves until they could carry no more.

They returned to Jerusalem with GREAT JOY for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 

And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.  So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet … for his God gave him rest all around.

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At the end of his life, King Jehoshaphat joined in a venture to build a shipping fleet to Tarshish – with Israel’s wicked King Ahaziah (north).  But God destroyed all the ships because of this ungodly alignment.

Eventually Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the City of David (the southern part of Jerusalem, below the Temple Mount and palace).

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2 Chronicles 21.

Jehoshaphat’s first-born son, Jehoram (the one he’d arranged a marriage with wicked Ahab/Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah), ascended the throne.  HE WAS NOTHING LIKE HIS GODLY FATHER!  Immediately, he killed all his brothers, six in all, plus some of the princes of Israel (north), to assure his place in the kingdom.  (These men, were the lineage of “the house of David” through whom God had promised the reigning Messiah. Jehoram killed them all!) 

And yet God did not destroy him, even though he did what was totally evil in His sight, for God was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the Covenant He’d made with David. God had promised “a lamp to him and to his sons forever.”  But what about this totally evil man of darkness???

Do not fear. God is Sovereign over all.

But meanwhile Jehoram grew worse. He made high places for pagan worship. He led Judah into whoredom and made them go astray.

Elijah the prophet sent him a letter from the north. “Because you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel (north) and have enticed Judah into whoredom, and killed your brothers, I, the LORD, will bring a great plague on your people, children, wives, possessions and YOU YOURSELF will have a severe sickness of your bowels, until them come out of your body.”

WHOA! (Leave it to Elijah to terrify!)

God stirred up the Philistines against Jehoram, and the Arabians, and they came and invaded Judah and carried away Jehoram’s possessions, his sons, and his wives. (Only Jehoahaz, his youngest son remained.)

Then God struck him with that dreaded bowel disease, an incurable disease.  In two years’ time all his bowels came out and Jehoram died IN GREAT AGONY. 

No one regretted his departure. He was buried in the city of David, BUT NOT IN THE TOMBS OF THE KINGS.

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2 Chronicles 22.

So, Ahaziah/Jehoahaz, Jehoram’s youngest son reigned. He walked in the ways of his grandfather, King Ahab (north), for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedness. 

God ordained his downfall through His appointed Jehu, whom God had appointed to destroy the house of Ahab. (Remember, that was one responsibility the old prophet, Elijah had, to anoint Jehu.)  And Jehu did that – he killed Ahaziah/Jehoahaz and all the remaining princes of Ahab.

Now, there was no one able to rule the Kingdom of Judah.  

Why?  Because the wicked mother (daughter of Ahab) destroyed all the royal family of Judah. She proclaimed herself queen – but nobody took her reign seriously.

WAS JUDAH WIPED OUT?

WAS THERE TO BE NO SEED OF DAVID LEFT TO COME AS MESSIAH?

WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PROMISES?

But … there was a woman named Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, and the wife of the priest, Jehoiada.  She went into the “nursery” and carried away the very youngest son of the king, less than 1-year-old Josiah, AND HID HIM FROM HIS WICKED GRANDMOTHER. 

Josiah, the SEED OF DAVID, the “lamp of Israel,” lay hidden in a cradle. He stayed with the godly couple for six years, while Athaliah “reigned” over the land.   

****(Doesn’t this remind you of how God kept the baby Jesus safe from King Herod when he sent Joseph and Mary to Egypt?)

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2 Chronicles 23.

Finally the time had come.

Josiah was seven years old.

He’d been trained by the priest, who now took courage.

Jehoida gathered the commanders of the army. They went through Judah and gathered the Levites from all their cities, as well as the fathers of the houses of Israel.

Jehoida showed them the boy-king, Josiah and said, “Behold, the king’s son! Let him reign as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David.”

Then Jehoida revealed his carefully-though-out plan.  All the Levites and priests who had come off duty were divided into thirds and placed around the House of the Lord at the gates. “NO ONE MAY ENTER EXCEPT THE MINISTERING PRIESTS.” 

“Surround the king, each with his weapon in his hand.  Anyone approaching shall be killed.  Be with the king at all times.”

THEN, he brought out Josiah, the king’s son and placed the crown on his head.  “Long live the king!”

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YIKES!  When Queen Athaliah heard the noise, she went to see what was happening and saw the young king. 

She tore her clothes and cried, “TREASON! TREASON!”

Jehoida commanded the captains to seize her. “Take her out of the court of the House of the Lord, and kill her!”  They led her through the horse gate of the king’s house and… did the deed.  The end of that wicked Ahab/Jezebel line … except for Josiah, whom the LORD had chosen to carry David’s seed.  WHEW!

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Jehoida made a covenant between himself, the people, and the young king, that they ‘should be the LORD’s people.   He saw to it that the altars and images of Baal were destroyed. He reinstituted the sacrifices and offerings that Moses wrote about in the LAW.

Then he took the young boy king from the house of the LORD to the king’s house.  They set him on the ROYAL THRONE.  All the people rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed.

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****(WOW. What a long tale of evil and good.  God is ALWAYS in control. HE is sovereign. He will fight for His people.  He will see that not a word of his prophecy EVER fails. His covenants are sure. HE IS GOD, and KING, and the LORD of Hosts forever and ever. Glory be to His name!)

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 179

Jun28

Day 179.  Reading 1 Kings 20-21

 
Read today’s Scriptures.

1 Kings 20….

…tells a surprisingly good story about the wicked King Ahab.  Until the last part, that is.

We see King Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, again in this chapter. (Syria is the country just north-east of Israel, with Damascus as the capital.) (This map also shows the two places Elijah stayed during the drought, and Mt. Carmel, where the great “showdown” happened. Samaria is the capital of Israel, where Ahab lives.) 

 

 

Remember, in Chapter 15, King Asa (south) had paid Ben-Hadad a large amount of gold and silver from the temple, to harass King Basha (north) so he’d stop fortifying the border. The Syrian King had agreed. Now, it seems, Ben-Hadad was sure King Ahab could also be easily defeated.

“Hey, King Ahab, give me your silver and gold and the best of your wives and children.” 

“Okay, sure,” said Ahab.

Then Ben-Hadad got greedy. “I will send my servants to you tomorrow, and they will search your house and take whatever pleases them.”

“Um, no! The gold and silver and best wives and kids I will do, but NOT THAT,” sent back King Ahab.

“Okay, then. It’s war!”

“Make my day!” replied Ahab.

Now, here is the strange part.  A prophet of God came to Ahab and told him that he would get the victory, “So you will know that I am the LORD.”  Ahab got some military instructions from the prophet, and at noon they went out to confront King Ben-Hadad’s army.

The Syrian king was drunk, however, and commanded, “If they come in peace, TAKE THEM ALIVE!  But if they come out for war …. TAKE THEM ALIVE!”  (Huh?)

Ben-Hadad didn’t have the chance to do either, because King Ahab struck his forces a “very great blow!” The Syrians fled and Ben-hadad escaped on a horse.

The prophet of God told King Ahab to rest up, for in the Spring the king of Syria would be back.  (Now, the Syrians believed that Israel’s God was only a god of the hills. That’s why they were defeated.  Next time they would bring lots of chariots and fight on the plains.  The Jewish God would be defeated there.)

Oh, Syria.  You’ve a lot to learn!!

So, in the spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to fight against Israel … in the plains. The army of Israel that encamped before them was as “two little flocks of goats” compared to the Syrians who filled the country.  (Hahaha. Oh, Ben-Hadad, did you never hear of David and Goliath??)

The prophet of God came to Ahab and said, “BECAUSE the Syrians claim the LORD is only a god of the hills, I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and YOU SHALL KNOW that I am the LORD.”

And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100K foot soldiers in one day.  When the rest fled to a town, the wall fell on them and 27K more were killed.  Ben-Hadad hid deep in the town and sent a message to King Ahab, “Please let me live.“

AND HERE IS WHERE KING AHAB WENT WRONG.  God had “devoted the Syrian king to destruction,” meaning he was to be killed.  But King Ahab thought it would be cool not to kill him.

“He’s alive? He’s “my brother!” he said.

“Yes! Your brother, Ben-Hadad!”

“Go, bring him out.”

When the Syrian king was brought out, King Ahab invited him up into his own chariot. And the two kings made a trade deal between their countries. And …. Ahab let him go.

LATER…

The prophet of God came to King Ahab with a bit of play-acting, but then told him.  “Because you have let go the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore YOUR life shall be for HIS life, and YOUR people for HIS people.”  Dire news indeed.  Instead of the Syrians and their king under this law, now Ahab and Israel would be “devoted to destruction.”

Ahab, went home, vexed and sullen.  

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1 Kings 21.

King Ahab’s boredom caused him to sin.  He saw a lovely vineyard that he coveted for himself. It belonged to another, but he WANTED it, and the obsession grew. 

(Oh, my goodness, this reminds me of our favorite King David. 

Idleness is a TERRIBLE sin.

It leads to much worse sin. 

Desire and lust and a flame in the belly, which James 1:14-15  says leads to death.

Watch out for it!!)

Ahab at first proposed to Naboth, the vineyard’s owner, that he give it to the king, in exchange for a “better vineyard.”  Or… he could sell it to Ahab, who would give him the vineyard’s value in money.” 

Reasonable, right?  NOT!

What Ahab neglected to realize in his coveting, is that the men of Israel had their land as a divine allotment from God.  They were not to sell/give it to someone outside their tribe.  He said “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

Ahab “lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.”  

Really??  What a spoiled-brat!!

Enter his wicked wife, Jezebel.  “Hey, Hubby.  What’s wrong?”

“Naboth won’t give me his vineyard!”

“ARE YOU NOT THE KING OF ISRAEL!” she said.  “Get up, eat some bread, be happy!  I’ll get the vineyard for you!’

And the wicked Jezebel set into motion her wicked plan.  She defamed Naboth before of the town council, and tricked them into condemning the innocent vineyard owner. They killed him and sent a sweet note to the Queen.

“Naboth has been stoned. He is dead.”

And so, she skipped into King Ahab’s room with the news, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”   And quickly, without any questions, Ahab got dressed and went down and took possession of it.

Sick!  And after all God had done for the king!

And God sent His top man, Elijah, to condemn the king.  “Arise, Elijah, go down and meet Ahab king of Israel in the vineyard of Naboth.

With this gruesome prophecy.

  • “Thus says the LORD: ‘In the place where dogs liked up the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick up YOUR blood.”

“Oh, my enemy!  You have found me!” said Ahab to Elijah.

And the LORD’s message continued.

  • “I have found you because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD.
  • I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab EVERY MALE, bond or free in Israel.   
  • And….. of Jezebel, the dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.
  • Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”   

(And oh, wow, you will read about this happening in 2 Kings 9:10, 30-37.)

(“There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.  He acted very abominably in going after idols.”)

And here’s another VERY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT. Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. (This was not his usual pouting.)  In the Old Testament, this is a sign of REPENTANCE.  Was it sincere? 

God saw this evil, weak, man’s heart. “Because he has humbled himself before me,” said the LORD. “I will not bring this disaster in his days, but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster on his house.”

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(Wow. There is hope for you and me.  God sees a person’s heart. He knows if repentance is real. He knows if we truly will humble ourselves before Him.  O, my heart, fall on your knees before the all wise, living God. He is merciful to save.)

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 177

Jun26

Day 177.  Reading 1 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 17.

 
Read the Scriptures.
What are you discovering about the Kings of Israel/Judah?
How can you pray for your own country with these sins?

1 Kings 16.

I skipped a brief reign of Nadab, Jeroboam’s son in 1 Kings 15 yesterday. In the second year of King Asa in Judah (south), Nadab reigned in Israel (north). He did EVIL in the sight of God, just like Jeroboam had.  A man named Basha (house of Issachar), conspired against him and killed him in Philistine territory where they’d been fighting.

Basha then reigned in his place. And, as per prophecy (1 Kings14:9-11), he killed all the house of Jeroboam, leaving “none that breathed.”

King Basha (north) then reigned 24 years, and did EVIL in God’s sight.

Now, to chapter 16.

Because of his evilness, King Basha (north) also had a prophecy of utter destruction against him.  And so, King Basha died, and Elah his son reigned in his place.  In the 26th hear of the southern King Asa’s reign, King Elah (north) began to reign.  He made it two years,  But the Zimri, commander of half of his chariots, conspired against him.  When Elah was at a friend’s house, drunk as a skunk, Zimri came in and killed him.  Zimri then became the new (northern) king.  He also then killed all the remaining relatives of the house of Basha – as prophesied because of Basha’s and Elah’s sin.

King Zimri (north) reigned seven DAYS.  The troops still down in Philistine territory heard this, and made Omri  their “commander-in-chief.  When Zimri heard about it he went into the king’s house, set aflame and died inside.  WHOA!

So, after a power struggle with one Tibni, Omri became the new northern King. (King Asa still was reigning in Judah (south).)  King Omri reigned in the north for twelve years.  Halfway through his reign, he moved the capital to Samaria.  He also “did what was EVIL” in God’s sight.  He died and …. AHAB, his son, reigned in his place in the northern kingdom.

King Ahab reigned 22 years, and did “evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, he took his wife, JEZEBEL, the daughter of the Sidonian king (and priest of Baal) and worshiped him. Ahab erected an altar to Baal in Samaria, and made an Asherah (female version of Baal).  HE DID THOSE THINGS TO PROVOKE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL TO ANGER, more than all the kings of Israel before him.

And, interestingly, during Ahab’s reign, a man named Hiel REBUILT JERICHO. If you remember in Joshua 6:29, Joshua cursed anyone who rebuilt that city, saying that it would be at the cost of the man’s first born and youngest sons.  That prophecy was fulfilled, but Jericho was rebuilt.

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2 Chronicles 17.

Meanwhile in the south, remember the long-reigning King Asa of Judah finally died from that stinky feet disease.  His son, Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.  The LORD was with King Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David.  He did not seek Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments.  THEREFORE, God established the kingdom in his hand.

He fortified the cities along the Judah-Israel boarder in Ephraim that his father had captured.

More significantly, in his third year of reign, he sent his officials, and with them the Levites, into the cities of Judah to teach them the Book of the Law of the LORD.  And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the land – that were AROUND Judah – and they made no war against King Jehoshaphat.

Some of the Philistines even came to King Jehoshaphat with gifts of silver, and the Arabians brought rams and goats as tribute. 

(This reminds me of Proverbs 16:7, that says, “If a man’s ways please the LORD, even his enemies are at peace with him.”)

Jehoshaphat built garrisons and store cities. His army was great and full of mighty men of valor.

(Why, oh why, don’t we always seek to please and honor and glorify the LORD.  What benefits!)

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(Jehoshaphat DOES make a major mistake, however, which we’ll cover on Sunday.)

 

List of north/south kings:

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 176

Jun25

Day 175.  Reading 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 13 – 16

 
Read Today’s Scriptures.
We now begin to read through the history of the reigning kings of the North and South. It can be confusing. Here are two helps.
1.) Check out (and maybe print) the list I posted yesterday of the kings and when they reigned.
2.) If you mark in your Bible, use a colored highlighter to mark the kings of the North, and a different color for the Southern kings.

1 Kings 15.

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam (north), King Abijah/Abijam began to reign over Judah (south).  He reigned for three years. He walked in the sins of his father before him – his heart was not wholly true to the LORD, as the heart of David.

  • “Nevertheless, for David’s sake, the LORD gave him a ‘lamp’ in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”  (I love this promise!)

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2 Chronicles 13.

Now there was war between Abijah (south) and Jeroboam (north). Abijah, with 400K soldiers VS Jeroboam with 800K (who were positioned in front and behind Judah in an ambush stance.

But, although Abijah was not a good king, he had some good words to the Northern army that day.

  • “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel. Ought you not to KNOW that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons? Yet Jeroboam – a servant of Solomon – rebelled and, because Rehoboam was young and irresolute, took the northern tribes to reign over them. 
  • “And NOW you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David?  Because you are more in number and have golden calves???   AS FOR US, the LORD is OUR God, and we have not forsaken Him. We have priests ministering to Him, the sons of Aaron, and the Temple of God.
  • “Behold, God is with us at our head.  O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, because you cannot succeed.”

A bold proclamation, for sure, but then Judah noticed the 400K soldiers in front of them and the 400K behind them, ready to ambush. They “cried to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets, and the men of Judah raised the battle shout.”  And when Judah shouted, GOD defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and all Judah!  WHOA! And the men of Israel fled before Judah, who struck down 500K of Israel.

Why this massive victory?  “Because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.”

Jeroboam (north) did not recover his power in the days of Abijah (south). And the LORD struck him down, and he died.  But Abijah (south) grew mighty.

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2 Chronicles 14.

Abijah (south) died and was buried in the City of David. His son, Asa, reigned in his place, and the land had rest for ten years.  “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God,”  taking away the foreign altars, the high places, and the Asherim pillars. He also commanded the people of Judah to “seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and keep the law and commands.”

The kingdom had rest under him. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace.

But then…

  • “Zerah, the Ethiopian, came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots!  WHOA!
  • And Asa cried to the LORD his God.  “O LORD, there is none like You to help between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your Name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”
  • So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah. And they fled.  Asa and Judah pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell … until NONE remained alive. (a million!!!)  And Judah carried MUCH PLUNDER back to Jerusalem.

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2 Chronicles 15.

Then the Spirit of God came on the prophet Azariah, and he took a message from God to King Asa (south), to Judah, and to Benjamin.

  • “The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”  “But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

And what was the “work” they had to do?  Clean out the land of all the detestable idols.  And as soon as Asa heard the prophet’s message, he took courage and put away the idols from Judah and Benjamin.

He also gathered those people from the northern tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel (north) when they saw that the LORD was with him.

All these, and Judah entered into a covenant to seek the LORD the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul.  They rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire … and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.

And King Asa removed his mother, Maacah, from being queen mother, because she had made a detestable image for Asherah.   The heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. 

And there was no more war …. until the thirty-fifth year of his reign.

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2 Chronicles 16.

In the 36th year of Asa’s reign (south), the (northern) king Basha went up against Judah.  He built a fort so no more of his people could leave him and go to King Asa. 

NOTE: Instead of crying to the LORD his God, King Asa took money (gold and stuff from the treasuries of the LORD) to Ben-Hadad, king of Syria in Damascus, and paid him to fight King Basha (north) so he would withdraw from King Asa (south).

Ben-Hadad agreed and sent commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel (north), and they conquered Dan, other cities, and all the territory of Naphtali. The northern king Basha heard of it and withdrew from building the fort against Judah. 

But…

This was NOT what King Asa should have done. The prophet Hanani said to him,

  • “Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of Syria has escaped you. (He could have battled them and won!)  
  • Were not the million Ethiopians a huge army, yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him. 
  • YOU HAVE DONE FOOLISHLY IN THIS. From now on, you will have wars.

Well, that did not make King Asa (south) happy.  In a furious rage, he took Hanani and put him in stocks in the prison!

“Did that help, Asa???  I think not.  Accept your sin! Repent! Ask forgiveness!!  But he didn’t. In fact, “he inflicted cruelties on some of the people at the same time!”

Three years later, “King Asa (south) was diseased in his feet (did he think about those prison stocks??) and his disease became severe. EVEN THEN, he did not seek the LORD, but went to doctors.  Sheesh!

He died two years later and was buried in a tomb that he’d cut for himself in the city of David.  Curiously, the people filled his casket with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art.  (YIKES, did his feet smell THAT bad???)  They made a very great fire in his honor.

(17:1 – And Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned in his place.)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 175

Jun24

(NOTE:  This is a continuation from Day 174, which I didn’t cover yesterday.  OOPS!   I’ll do it here.) (Day 174 (missing = 1 Kings 13-14) 

Day 175.  Reading 2 Chronicles 10 – 12

 
Read Both Days’ Scriptures.
(Note what causes the declines of the Northern & Southern Kingdoms.)
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NORTH — (Jeroboam built two GOLDEN CALVES and put one each in Bethel (only 12 miles from Jerusalem) and Dan. He made temples for these idols and appointed priests to serve them.)

“Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

And the people of Israel went up to the altars to make their offerings.  And they sealed their fate.,,,

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1 Kings 13. (This is a crazy-weird chapter!)

A “man of God” from Judah went to Bethel by the Word of the Lord.  He prophesied to the northern king, Jeroboam, who was standing there, about to make an offering to one of his golden calf idols, about a future king of the southern kingdom who would come and sacrifice THE FALSE PRIESTS on it.

Jeroboam stretched out his hand against the “man of God” to seize him. BUT HIS HAND FROZE IN THAT POSITION!  Jeroboam pleaded for him to pray to the LORD to restore his hand. He did, and God answered his prayer.

Jeroboam was so grateful that he invited the “man of God” to his home for some refreshment.

“Not on your life, for God has commanded me saying neither to “eat bread nor drink water in that place, NOR even to return the way I’ve come.”  And off this unnamed “man of God” goes …

So far, so good.

But then the STRANGE PART:  An “old prophet” lived nearby. His sons told him about the happenings at the idolatrous altar at Bethel and what “the man of God” had said.  He sent his sons off to meet the man on his return to Judah. The “man of God” repeated his instructions from God … BUT this (false) prophet counteracted God’s word and lied to him.  He said that he could get some refreshment.

The “man of God” believed this false prophet’s son OVER God’s word to him. (Hey, does God’s Word ever change?)  Sinfully, he returned to the “old prophet’s” house and had some bread and water. 

As he was sitting at the table, perhaps a piece of bread heading toward his mouth … the WORD OF GOD came to him. “You have disobeyed, Now will soon die.“

The “man of God” immediately left, and a lion killed him on the way home, then stood by his body (not eating him). The “old prophet” heard about it, went to the body, took it home with him, and buried it.  He mourned. He told his sons that when HE died, they were to open this man’s grave and bury him there too. (???)

He also admitted, ‘Surely the Word of the LORD against this altar in Bethel will come to pass.”  (It did in 2 Kings 23:15-20 with Josiah.)

The Old Prophet repented and believed, but Jeroboam did not. He appointed fresh false priests (anyone who wanted to be) and continued to cause Israel to sin.

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1 Kings 14.

Then another prophecy came to Jeroboam when his son, the crown prince, got very sick.  Jeroboam told his wife to go to the prophet of God, Ahijah, the one who had told him he would become king, and ask if their son would get better.

His wife obeyed, but the prophet identified her right away, despite being blind, because God alerted him..  Bad news. Yes, the son would die as soon as she returned home.  And here is why.

  • “I exalted you, Jeroboam, from among your people and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. Yet you have NOT been like my servant David, who followed me with all his heart.
  • You have done evil. You made for yourself other gods and metal images and have cast Me behind your back. 
  • Therefore, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and cut off every male. I will burn up the house of Jeroboam until it is all gone.

AND, this dire prophecy as well …

  • And the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and root up Israel out of this good land, and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the LORD to anger. And He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.

Yep, the boy died as soon as his mother came to the doorway of the house. All Israel mourned for him. He would be the ONLY one of Jeroboam to be buried and mourned, BECAUSE THERE WAS FOUND SOMETHING PLEASING TO THE LORD IN HIM.

Jeroboam reigned 22 years and died. His next son, Nadab, reigned in his place.

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TODAY’S READING:

2 Chronicles 10.

This chapter retells the split of the Kingdom of Israel, after King Rehoboam’s foolish decision to be even harsher to the people than his father, Solomon, had been.

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2 Chronicles 11.

After the LORD forbade Rehoboam from warring against the people of the ten northern tribes, the king turned to Judah/Benjamin, the remaining tribes under his rule, and BUILT UP THE CITIES and FORTIFIED THEM HEAVILY.

It’s interesting that the priests and Levites who lived in all Israel moved south and presented themselves to King Rehoboam. They had left their land and holdings (cities) in Israel and came to Judah and Jerusalem.

“Those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel, to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. They “strengthened” the kingdom of Judah … for they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

**** (And this saved their progeny.  For after the Babylonian Captivity, only the people of the southern kingdom of Judah returned to rebuild and live in the Land again.)

Rehoboam followed his father’s example and took a lot of wives and concubines (only 78, as compared to Solomon’s 1,000!)  But his “fave” wife was the daughter of Absalom!  Seriously??  And her son, Abijah, is the one he appointed to be king after him.  (Remember, Rehoboam was the son of one of Solomon’s foreign wives, Naamah, the Ammonite.)

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2 Chronicles 12.

So, after Rehoboam strengthened all his cities, sent his many sons to rule them, and welcomed the people and religious leaders from the north….. guess what?  He abandoned the law of the LORD, and Israel with him. (sigh)

And so … Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen, and people without number, including some from Libya and Ethiopia.  (He actually made it all the way to the Sea of Galilee!!)

He was unable to conquer both Israel and Judah, but he destroyed cities in Judah, took many of the gold treasures Solomon had amassed, and gained some control of the trade routes.

The princes of and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”

When God saw this, he sent His prophet, Shemaiah, with the message…

  • I will not destroy them, and I will grant them “some” deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. NEVERTHELESS, they shall be servants to him, “that they may know My service … and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

****(This was the first major military encounter with Egypt since the Exodus.  A taste of being enslaved again was bitter. God’s message was clear.  Forsake the worship of God, and they would lose His protection and blessing.)

And so ,,,

Rehoboam reigned seventeen years (five years less than Jeroboam) in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all of Israel to put His Name..  And although he did “humble himself before God” when the Egyptians came, he will go down in Jewish history as ….

“He did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.”

So Rehoboam died and was buried in the City of David.

His son, Abijah, reigned in his place.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 173 & 174

Jun23

Sundays and Mondays studies are posted together on Mondays

Day 173. Reading Proverbs 30 – 31

Day 174.  Reading 1 Kings 12

Read Today’s Scriptures.
What challenge, insight, or comfort do you find?

Day 173 – Proverbs 30.

“Words of Agur, son of Jakeh.”

Who in the world is Agur?

He is an unknown sage or oracle, possibly a student of wisdom at the time of Solomon.  1 Kings 4:30-31 mentions other “wise men” of the time from the East (Mesopotamia) and from Egypt, like Ethan, Heman, Calcol, And Darda.  (Who knew?)

Agur seems more humble than Solomon, with a heart towards God.  He confesses to “stupidity” and no “learned wisdom.” He confesses no knowledge of “the Holy one,” and yet he describes God well.

  • “Who has ascended to heaven and come down?  Who has gathered the wind in His fists?  Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth?  What is His Name, and what is His Son’s name?  Surely you know!”
  • And, “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuged in Him. Do not add to His Words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.”

Agur writes an interesting series of “four things” that he’s grouped together in wonder.  1) Things never satisfied,  2) amazing things to ponder, 3) things the earth trembles at, and 4) things that are stately in their stride.

And he includes this prayer, “Two things I ask of You; deny them not to me before I die. Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches.  Feed me the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the Name of my God.”

I would pray such a prayer as well.

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Proverbs 31.

The Words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him.  Who in the world is King Lemuel? And who is his mother?

Jewish tradition identifies King Lemuel as King Solomon himself.  And his “godly mother” must be none other than Bathsheba.  She taught him about being a wise king (verses 2-9) and what an “excellent wife” looks like (verses 10-31).  (Too bad he didn’t stick with one such wife.)

Wow, does she ever scold the king!  I can almost see her grabbing his ear and pulling him away.

  • “What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? DO NOT GIVE YOUR STRENGTH TO WOMEN, YOUR WAYS TO THOSE WHO DESTROY KINGS!”
  • And “It is NOT FOR KINGS, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all.
  • “Give strong drink to the perishing, wine to those in distress. 
  • But “Open YOUR mouth for the mute…  Open YOUR mouth to judge righteously and defend the rights of the poor and needy.

And then the grown-wise mother tells her son the RIGHT kind of woman to marry.  Did she come to him too late?  Was he already involved in politics and power-machinations when he took Pharaoh’s daughter as his first wife?  Did her words fall on deaf ears?

“An excellent wife who can find?  She is far more precious than jewels……”

Read these verses slowly.

Some aspects are rooted in the agrarian culture of that day (perhaps you can transfer them to duties of a present-day wife/woman), but consider the ATTITUDES this woman displays. Surely her heart is full of the LORD.

  • She does her husband good all the days of her life.
  • She opens her hand to the poor; she reaches out her hands to the needy.
  • She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
  • A woman who fears the LORD….

Truly, her children and husband should rise up and praise her, calling her blessed.

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Day 174 – 1 Kings 12.

And so the Kingdom of David’s Israel rips apart, from pride and arrogance, and the decree of God.

North and South; “Israel” and “Judah.” King Jeroboam (the “Jerk”), son of a servant, friend of Pharaoh, and King Rehoboam (the “Royal”), son of Solomon, grandson of King David.  Both kingdoms start down a slippery slope of sin and idolatry.  It takes Judah longer (God is faithful to David), but both will end up in captivity; one will remain permanently there.

Oh, Solomon!  Why did you let your heart become divided with the glory, gold, and girls of the world, and forsake the Living God who gave you everything???

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After his father died, Rehoboam went to Shechem to be crowned king of all Israel.  Jeroboam rushed from Egypt to Shechem as well (on standby).  The people stood between the two kingly candidates and presented an ultimatum to Solomon’s son.

  • “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.”

And what did Rehoboam say?  “Um, I’ll get back to you in three days.”  WHAT???  Grab the kingdom, you worthless fool!

But Crown Prince Rehoboam wanted to “take an opinion poll.”

He asked his father’s advisors, old men, what he should do.

  • “Speak good words to them when you answer them, and they will be your servants forever.”

Then he asked counsel of the young men who had grown up with him (and probably hoped to be appointed to good positions).

  • “Tell them you will ADD to the heavy yoke of your father, and discipline them not with whips, but with ‘scorpions!’  (He liked their advice best.)

He returned and told the people all this. They rebelled and deserted Rehoboam. “We have no part in David, no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel!”  

  • “This was a turn of affairs brought about by the LORD that He might fulfill His Word, which He spoke by the prophet to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.”

Rehoboam sent his chief tax collector and head of forced labor to the north, but all Israel stoned him to death.  And Rehoboam got into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.

So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.  When they heard that Jeroboam had returned from Egypt, they called him and made him KING over all Israel.

Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David. (And Benjamin, next to them.)

So, Rehoboam rallied 180K chosen warriors to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to the son of Solomon.

  • BUT God sent his prophet Shemaiah to say, “Thus says the LORD. You shall NOT go up or fight against your relatives, the people of Israel. Every man, return to his home, for this thing is from ME.”

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And so, the end begins for the Northern Kingdom.  Jeroboam (the Jerk) built up Shechem and lived there. Then, fearful that the people would go back to the king of Judah when they went to Jerusalem to worship, he decided to build worship centers in Bethel and Dan.

And… having just come from Egypt… he built two GOLDEN CALVES and put one each in Bethel and Dan. He made temples for them and appointed priests to serve them.

“Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

And the people of Israel went up to the altars to make offerings.  And sealed their fate.

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 172

Jun21

Day 172.  Reading 1 Kings 10 – 11 and 2 Chronicles 9

 
Read Today’s Scriptures.
What can we apply to our lives from reading about King Solomon?
 

1 Kings 10-11.

The queen of Sheba.

She heard about Solomon’s wisdom from far off Sheba (modern Ethiopia or Yemen), and came to “TEST him with hard questions. 

Solomon ANSWERED all her questions. There was nothing he could not explain to her. Wow.

“And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.”

She said, “I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report.”  “BLESSED be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel.”

“And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba ALL that she desired, whatever she asked beside what was give her by the bounty of King Solomon.”  And she went back home.

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***** Before reading the rest of 10 and 11, Let’s read something that God said about any king that would reign over Israel, from Deuteronomy 17:14-20, and Deuteronomy 7:1-5

“You may indeed set a king over you, whom the LORD your God will choose.

  1. “He must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt to buy horses.
  2. “He shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away.
  3. “He shall not acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. 
  4. (Foreign nations) “You shall not intermarry with them… for they would turn you away from following God to serve other Gods.

Sadly, we will see that Solomon disobeyed God in all four points (unlike King David, his father).

  1. 1 Kings 10:14-15, 21.  “The weight of GOLD that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold (25 tons). Beside that which came from the explorers and from the business of merchants.  And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone.
  2. And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots, 4,000 horses, and 12,000 horsemen.  And Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt….”
  3. 1 Kings 11:1-8.  “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women besides the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women from the nations the LORD had said you should not marry. Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. 
  4.  And his wives turned away his heart after other gods.  His heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.  And Solomon went after Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech.  He did what was EVIL in the sight of the LORD. He made offerings and sacrificed to these gods.

And (suitably!) the LORD was angry with Solomon.

He said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, I will surely TEAR THE KINGDOM FROM YOU AND GIVE IT TO YOUR SERVANT.

Wow!

A servant, Jeroboam, was very industrious in Solomon’s building projects, and Solomon gave him charge over all the forced labor in the house of Joseph (Ephraim)  One day, a prophet stopped Jeroboam in the open country, and prophesied that the LORD God of Israel was about to “tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and give ten tribes to Jeroboam.”   (God would leave two tribes and Jerusalem in the line of David.)  Jeroboam would be king over the Ten northern tribes of Israel.

Solomon got wind of this and sought to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to … yep, you got it… he fled to Egypt and was there until Solomon died.  (Oh, what pagan worship he learned there!)

Solomon reigned over Israel forty years and died. He was buried in the city of David.  Rehoboam, his son reigned in his place.

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2 Chronicles 9.

This chapter basically covers what is in 1 Kings 10-11.  It does mention another building wonder, that glorified Solomon, of course.

“The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of the step on the six steps. NOTHING like it was ever made for any kingdom.  Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

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And he died, just like he said everybody would, in his words of Ecclesiastes.

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( O, LORD, we are all sinners. Solomon sinned in disobedience, and so do we. He did not wholly follow and love You, and often we do not also.  Please take my heart and make it totally yours. Man I seek Your glory only and not my own.  And I may I use the gifts you give me for your glory alone. You are worthy!)

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 143

May23

Day 143.  Reading 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21-22, Psalm30

Read Today’s Scriptures.
2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21

Okay, David… sigh.

You “blew it” before, you had to run for your life, and you lost two, no three sons, why would you now do something else foolish?

1 Chron 21:1 says, “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”

God sovereignly used Satan in this matter. And for some reason — perhaps a fear of an attack by enemies, perhaps pride, or maybe ambition, or some other unknown sin of Israel — David yielded to the temptation of Satan, and CHOSE to go against God’s will and NUMBER ISRAEL to see how many men were fit for the army.

DAVID:  “Joab, Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba (top to bottom), and number the people that I may KNOW the number of people…and bring me a report.”

Well, old Joab surprised me here. He actually cautions the king.

JOAB:  “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord delight in this thing? Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants?  Why then should my lord require this?  Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?”

But David insisted. So Joab and his men went throughout Israel and came back to Jerusalem nine and a half months later with the numbers.

NOTE:  There is a seeming discrepancy between the totals between the 2 Samuel and the 1 Chronicles accounts. Never fear. You can trust the word.  2 Samuel reports a different way of numbering: all the men, plus from Judah, including the ones already in his army. 1 Chronicles says Joab stopped the counting before he included Benjamin (or Levi) because it abhorred him.  David also stopped the counting at some point because of God’s conviction.

David’s heart struck him. “I have sinned greatly in what I have done, but now O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

(NOTE: A census is not wrong in itself. God called for them in Numbers 1 and 28.  But they were for reasons the LORD mentioned, and not to puff up a sinful king.)

And so God sent the prophet Gad to David (as he had done with Nathan).  Gad was to give David THREE OPTIONS of judgment, as the result of his sin. And ALL the options meant pain and suffering for ISRAEL

  1. three years of famine on the land
  2. three months of fleeing from a pursuing enemy
  3. three days of plague on the land.

David was in great distress.  “Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercy is great, but let us not fall into the hand of man.”

And so, the LORD sent a plague on Israel.  From Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men died. But when the Angel of Death put out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, THE LORD RELENTED FROM THE CALAMITY and said to the angel, “It is enough.”

David was distraught. “I have sinned and done wickedly.  But these sheep (the people of Israel), what have they done. Please let your hand be against me and my father’s house.”

The LORD told him to raise an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah/Ornan, the Jebusite. When David went there, the man said he would give the place (and the oxen to sacrifice) to the king FOR FREE. But David said he would not offer to the LORD that which had not cost him anything.  He paid the price asked, built an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

And the LORD stopped the plague on the people of Israel (“The Angel of the LORD put his sword back into its sheath”}.

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Psalm 30.

Joy comes in the morning…

  • O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and you have healed me.
  • O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
  • Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy Name.
  • For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime.
  • Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
  • You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God I will give thanks to you forever.

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And David said, “HERE shall be the house of the LORD God and HERE the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”  This is where the Jerusalem temple was to be built by Solomon.

1 Chronicles 22.

And so, David prepares for the Temple building.

David set stonecutters to prepare the great stones for building the House of God.  He provided great quantities of iron for nails and clamps, as well as bronze in quantities BEYOND WEIGHING, and cedar timbers without number from the kings of Tyre and Sidon. (Lebanon)

DAVID:  “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout the lands.” 

So David said to Solomon….

  • “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the Name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me, saying….
  • “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my Name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. Behold a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies.  For his name shall be Solomon (peace), and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.  HE shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.”
  • Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as He has spoken concerning you. Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel.  Be strong and courageous. Fear not do not be dismayed.  Arise and work!  The LORD be with you!”

David also commended all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon.  “Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the Name of the LORD.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 137

May17

Day 137.  Reading 2 Samuel 16 – 18

Read Today’s Scriptures.
  • Remember where we left off?   With a lot of conniving, Absalom, David’s son, who would naturally have assumed the throne when David died in “the normal order,” doesn’t want to wait.  He goes to Hebron to “pay a vow,” but really to perform a coup. (It’s where David was crowned king.) He takes 200 unsuspecting guests to the celebration, instructing them to say “Absalom is King” when the trumpet is blown.
  • Absalom even entices David’s chief counselor, Ahithophel, who happens to be Bathsheba’s grandfather, to come along. A messenger is sent to David saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom!“
  • Does David gather an army to fight the coup?  No!  And perhaps he feels it is simply a part of God’s discipline for his sin, and he accepts it.
  • Anyway, David quickly gathers his things (leaving his ten concubines behind to keep the house), and leaves town.  Many of his faithful leaders and men follow him, including Abiathar and Zadok, the priests, bringing the Ark of the Covenant. David tells them to take it back into the city, hoping he’ll one day return. Before they leave, he sets up a way for their sons to get messages to him about what Absalom is doing.
  • Hushai, David’s second counselor, and truly loyal, shows up to flee with David. But the King sends him back, saying to pretend to be with Absalom too, so he can “mess up” all Ahithophel’s advice. “Whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar, who will send it to me via their sons.
  • Just as Hushai came into the city …. Absalom was entering Jerusalem

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2 Samuel 16.

Okay, as if this is not enough bad news, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him along the road. (Remember, Mephibosheth is Jonathan’s crippled son, whom David is caring for like a son.)  Ziba brings saddled donkeys (for the king to ride), bread, raisin cakes, summer fruit, and wine for his followers to eat and drink.  HUH?

“Where is Mephibosheth?” David asks.

“Um, he’s staying in Jerusalem. He thinks it’s a good time for the house of Saul to give him back the kingdom.”

Shocked, David replies, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”

Ziba answers, “I pay homage; (grovel, grovel) let me ever find favor in your sight, m’lord, the king.”

Then, just east of Jerusalem, Shimei, a distant relative of Saul, comes out cursing continually at David, throwing stones at him as he passes, and calling, “Get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!  The LORD is avenging you for all the blood of the house of Saul. Your evil is upon you, you are a man of blood!!”

Joab’s brother, Abishai, offered to “take off his head,” but David would not allow it. “My own son seeks my life, how much more this Benjamite! Leave him alone. Let him curse.”

So Shimei cursed and threw stones and dirt at David all the way to the Jordan River.

Meanwhile…

Absalom and all the people of Israel came to Jerusalem and Ahithophel with him.  Hushai shuffles up to him and says, “Long live the king!  Long live the king!”  Absalom is suspicious, but Hushai convinces him that it’s Absalom he wants to serve.  “Who but the king’s son shall I serve!”  (He was convincing.)

“Give counsel. What shall we do?” Absalom askes Ahithophel.

“Go into your father’s concubines, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father.  The hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”  The creep advised. But this is what was done, to prove the new man was the conqueror.

So they pitched a tent on the roof, and that’s what Absalom did …in the sight of all Israel.

And so the fourth of the four consequences of David’s sin that God had spoken to him took place, (2 Samuel 12:11)

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2 Samuel 17.

Next comes the battle of Absalom’s counselors: Ahithophel vs Hushai. What is Absalom’s next step, they are asked?

AHITHOPHEL:  “Let me choose 12K men and I will arise and pursue David tonight, while he is weary and discouraged.  He’ll be in a panic, he’ll flee, and I can strike him down.”

(Actually, for a war aspect, this is sound advice.)

HUSHAI: “Your father and his men are mighty men, and they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.  He is an expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people but will hide himself somewhere. Then when the first soldiers fall, a sound will go out that there has been a slaughter among Absalom’s men, and your men’s hearts will melt.  EVERYONE knows that your father is a mighty man….

“My advice is that you gather a multitude of men from “Dan to Beersheba” and go to battle IN PERSON and there will be no place for him to hide. You will easily catch him.”

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(***NOTE: ABSALOM WAS NOT A MILITARY MAN. We have seen NO INSTANCES where he has been in battle.  He was a PARTY MAN. See 2 Sam. 13:26-29 and 2 Sam. 15:10-12 and probably had no idea what happened in a war situation.)

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Absalom’s brain went back and forth. (“If I go with Ahithophel’s counsel, HE will get the credit. If I go with Hushai’s counsel, “I” will get the credit.“)

ABSALOM:  “The counsel of Hushai is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.

Quickly, after the meeting, Hushai goes to the priests and gives a message to be sent to David.  “Tell David not to stay the night this side of the River, but cross it.”  The priests’ sons were waiting at En-Rogel. A female servant was sent to tell them the message.

BUT!!!!  A young man saw them and quickly told Absalom.  The priests’ sons hurried off to Bahurim and hid in a well. The woman there covered the opening and spread some grain on it. (Doesn’t this remind you of Rahab hiding the Israeli spies in Jericho under some grain??)   When Absalom’s men came, she said they had gone on over the brook already.  They couldn’t find the two sons and went back.

David got the message and did what Hushai said.  At daybreak, not even one had not crossed.

Ahithophel saw “the writing on the wall.”  He went home, set his house in order, and hung himself.

And so… Absalom took the army with Amasa as commander (Joab had gone with David) and crossed over the Jordan River after David. They camped in Gilead.

Meanwhile, three faithful men – Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai – brought supplies: beds, basins, vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, and lentils, honey and curds, sheep and cheese for David and his men to eat.   WHAT A BLESSING THESE MEN WERE!!

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2 Samuel 18.

The Deadly Battle

Refreshed, David gathered his army and then divided it into three companies.  Joab commanded one, his brother Abishai, commanded the second, and Ittai took the third. (Remember Ittai, who stayed faithful to David as he was leaving the city?  (1 Samuel 15:19-22)

David wanted to go out with them, but the men all said, “YOU SHALL NOT GO OUT!”  They feared for his safety, so he stayed back at the gate of the well-fortified town of Mahanaim.  His last words to the three commanders before sending them off was, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.”  And all the people heard him say it.

The battle mostly took place in the forest of Ephraim. Absalom’s men were defeated by David’s, 20K of them.

  • Then Absalom came riding his mule through the forest.
  • The mule went under a low-hanging branch, and Absalom’s massive head of hair was caught in it.
  • The mule continued on, leaving the king’s son, dangling.
  • A soldier saw him and told Joab.
  • Joab was furious. “Why didn’t you kill him?  I’d have given you 10 pieces of silver!”
  • The soldier said, “Even for a thousand pieces of silver, I would not kill the king’s son.”
  • Exasperated, Joab took three javelins and thrust them into Absalom’s heart.
  • (This would be “strike three” for Joab.)

Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back.  The men took Absalom’s body down, threw it in a pit, and covered it with a huge pile of stones.

The son of Zadok asked to carry the news to the King, that the LORD had delivered him from the hand of his enemies.  But Joab would not let him.  Instead, he sent the Cushite to tell the king what he had seen.

Zadok’s son asked to run too, but Joab said he would get no reward for bringing that news.  Nevertheless, the boy wanted to go.  So Joab let him.

And Zadok’s son outran the Cushite, coming to David first.

  • David waited at the gate for news.
  • The watchmen said he saw a man running alone.
  • “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.
  • Then the watchman saw another man running alone.
  • “He also brings news.”
  • The watchmen recognized the son of Zadok.
  • “He is a good man and comes with good news.”
  • ALL IS WELL! said the boy, panting. “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”
  • “Is it well with the young man, Absalom?”
  • “When I left I saw a great commotion, but I don’t know what it was.”

Then the Cushite arrived and told him the good news that the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all who rose against him.

“Is it well with the young man, Absalom?”

May all your enemies be like that young man.

“And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son!”