Old Testament

Week 15: Solomon, the divided kingdom, Elijah and Elisha

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

12 Kings
c. 971 B.C.586 B.C. Political focus. = 2 Chronicles (moral/religious focus). Prophets during this time:
Micah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Obadiah, Joel, Jeremiah. Nathan, Ahijah the Shilonite, Iddo the seer (2 Chronicles 9:29). Zenock, Neum, Zenos (1 Nephi 19:10).
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Rise to power: c. 930 B.C. Height of power: c. 730 B.C. Overthrown: 612 B.C.

Rise of Solomon
Death of David; Solomon appointed as successor (1 Kings 12). The Lord granted Solomon wisdom and wealth (1 Kings 3:515).
Solomon decided the case of two mothers (1 Kings 3:1628).

Solomon increased in wealth, power, fame (1 Kings 4).

Composed psalms and proverbs, expert in flora and fauna (1 Kings 4:3234). Israel enjoyed rest on every side (1 Kings 5:34).

Jerusalem in Davids time

Jerusalem in Solomons time

Solomons Temple dedicated

Ark of the Covenant placed in the Holy Of Holies (1 Kings 8:611). Solomon offered the dedicatory prayer (1 Kings 8:2353; cf. D&C 109). The Lords promise and warning (1 Kings 9:19). Solomon greatly blessed (1 Kings 10:23 24); succumbed to pride, married foreign women (1 Kings 11). Died c. 931 B.C.
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Judah and Israel divided

The Lord promised to take Solomons kingdom (1 Kings 11:113). Trouble within and without:
Northern tribes resented Solomons taxes, forced labor, and tribal affiliation. Vassal states asserted their independence.

Rehoboam rejected Jeroboams request (1 Kings 12:115).

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(EPHRAIM)

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Elijah the prophet

Elijah a wilderness prophet. The Tishbite = from Tishbe in Gilead (1 Kings 17:1). Appeared during reign of Ahab, king of Israel (c. 869850 B.C.).
Jezebel, his Phoenician queen. Led Israel to Baal worship (1 Kings 16:3033).

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Elijahs miracles
Sealed the heavens with a 3-year drought (1 Kings 17:1). Fed the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:716); raised her son from the dead (17:1724). Confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:146).

Baal

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A widows faith
Then this understated expression of faithas great, under these circumstances, as any I know in the scriptures. The record says simply, And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. Perhaps uncertain what the cost of her faith would be not only to herself but to her son as well, she first took her small loaf to Elijah, obviously trusting that if there were not enough bread left over, at least she and her son would have died in an act of pure charity. . I know that a talk in general conference is not going to cut through the centuries of temporal inequity that have plagued humankind, but I also know that the gospel of Jesus Christ holds the answer to every social and political and economic problem this world has ever faced. And I know we can each do something, however small that act may seem to be. We can pay an honest tithe and give our fast and free-will offerings, according to our circumstances. And we can watch for other ways to help. To worthy causes and needy people, we can give time if we dont have money, and we can give love when our time runs out. We can share the loaves we have and trust God that the cruse of oil will not fail. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, April 1996
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Elijahs miracles
Baal

Sealed the heavens with a 3-year drought (1 Kings 17:1). Fed the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:716); raised her son from the dead (17:1724). Confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:146).
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A still, small voice

1 Kings 19:118: Elijah fled to Horeb. Complained to the Lord. The Lords presence accompanied by wind, earthquake, fire, and a still, small voice.
Mt. Horeb (Sinai)

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A still, small voice

Let me say first that there is a tremendous history behind this Church, a history of prophecy, a history of revelation, and decisions which set the pattern of the Church so that there are not constant recurring problems that require any special dispensation. But there are occasionally things that arise where the will of the Lord [is needed and] is sought, and in those circumstances I think the best way I could describe the process is to liken it to the experience of Elijah as set forth in the book of First Kings. Elijah spoke to the Lord, and there was a wind, a great wind, and the Lord was not in the wind. And there was an earthquake, and the Lord was not in the earthquake. And there was a fire, and the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire a still, small voice, which I describe as the whisperings of the Spirit. Now, let me just say, categorically, that the things of God are understood by the Spirit of God, and one must have and seek and cultivate that Spirit, and there comes understanding and it is real. I can give testimony of that. President Gordon B. Hinckley, April 1996 18

Chariots of fire

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Elisha the prophet

Prophet of the northern kingdom of Israel. A farmer (not a professional prophet).

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Elishas miracles
Healed a spring (2:1922). Called out two bears (2:2324). Multiplied a widows oil (4:17). Raised a child from the dead (4:837). Nullified poison in a stew (4:3841). Multiplied 20 loaves to feed 100 people (4:4244). Healed Naaman the Syrian (5:127). Floated a borrowed ax that had fallen into a river (6:17). Intervened in the Israel/Syrian war (6:87:20).

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2 Kings 17

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Where are the lost tribes?

There is something mysterious and fascinating about believing the Ten Tribes are behind an iceberg somewhere in the land of the north, or that they are on some distant planet that will one day join itself with the earth, or that the tribe of Dan is in Denmark, the tribe of Reuben in Russia, and so forth. A common clich asserts: If we knew where the Lost Tribes were, they would not be lost. True it is that they are lost from the knowledge of the world; they are not seen and recognized as the kingdom they once were; but in general terms, their whereabouts is known. They are scattered in all the nations of the earth, primarily in the nations north of the lands of their first inheritance. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, 1985 A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 520
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Josiah, king of Judah

Reigned 641609 B.C. Reformed religious worship, 623 B.C. (2 Kings 22:323:25). What if Josiah was wrong?

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Margaret Barker

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2 Kings 2425

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Next week:
Wisdom & poetry literature (Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon)