Chapter 285 of 1163

1 and 2 KINGS

As the name indicates, these books record the history of the Jewish kings, from Solomon to Zedekiah. When the account begins, the nation is one (1 Kings 1–11). After Solomon’s death, it divided (1 Kings 12–22); then both kingdoms went into captivity (2 Kings). The northern tribes were taken by Assyria (2 Kings 1–17), and the southern kingdom was taken by Babylon (2 Kings 18–25).

Israel was a nation greatly blessed by God, and yet it ended in disgrace and defeat. The cause was sin. Solomon worshiped the idols of the foreign nations, and the nation followed him. It took only one generation for the nation to decay and divide, as the false prophets and the worldly priests led the people astray. The leaders and the people would not listen to God’s prophets and return to the true worship of Jehovah, so there was nothing left for God to do but discipline His people as He had warned (Deut. 28).

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