Page 49 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook- short

wisdom, wealth and wonder! Examples are immediately offered: wisdom (babies, districts, knowledge)
wealth (land, tribute, horses), wonder (surpassed, fame, nations) To fulfill YHWH’s promise to David,
Solomon builds a temple- 7 yrs. time, size, order of palace complex? YHWH stresses prerequisite
obedience (6:11-13). With return of the ark, God’s presence returns! In his prayer, Solomon stresses
YHWH’s foremost supremacy, Israel’s failed obedience and future hope in repentance (8)! After a
second dream warning Solomon to obey covenant (9), further examples are given of wisdom (Sheba),
wealth (golden era), wonder (excelled)- cracks?

On the next page are charts showing the different Kings, prophets/prophetesses, and
comparisons to activities in the book of 1-2 Kings.

DIVIDED KINGDOM “SCORECARD” (1-2 Kings)

ISRAEL JUDAH
9 Kings 19 Kings, 1 Queen
9 Ruling dynasties (families 2 Ruling Dynasties (families)
7 Assassinations 5 assassinations
1 suicide 2 Striken by God
1 Striken by God 3 exiled to foreign lands
All judged “evil” by the Kings Historian 8 judged “good” by the kings historian

Baal (of the Canaanites) vs. Elijah and Elisha (of Yahweh)

Baal, as storm-god, controls rains Elijah commands drought (1 Kings 17:1)
Baal ensures agricultural fertility and bountiful Israel experiences famine and drought, yet Elijah
harvest and Elisha provide grain and oil miraculously (2
Kings 4:1-7, 42-44)
Baal controls lightning and fire Elijah commands fire from heaven in the name of
Yahweh (1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10-12; 2:11)
Baal controls life and death Elijah and Elisha raise the dead in the name of
Yahweh (1 Kings 17:7-24; 2 Kings 4:8-37; 5:1-20)

The Book of Kings

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