B3-King Rehoboam of Judah

versus a1-King Jeroboam I of Israel

12:1-20

• At King Rehoboam’s coronation, Jeroboam asks, ‘Will you rule with kindness?’
• Rehoboam refuses, so the people reject him;
• Jeroboam becomes King of Israel (cf. 11:11-13, v30-39)

12:21-24

• Rehoboam gathers an army to reclaim the kingdom; Prophet Shemaiah says, ‘Do not fight!’

a1-King Jeroboam I of Israel

Jeroboam I’s idolatry

12:25-27

• Jeroboam I fortifies Shechem [1st capital city of Israel]
• Jeroboam I thinks, ‘If people visit the temple in Jerusalem they may return to Rehoboam & kill me!’ [contrast God’s promise, 11:38]

12:28-33

• Jeroboam I places two golden calves in Bethel & Dan as idols [cf. Ex 32:1-4];
• he builds shrines, appoints his own priests [contrast Num 3:9-10] & institutes a new Feast [contrast Lev 23:33-36]

The Man-of-God

13:1-6

• A Man-of-God (from Judah) visits Jeroboam I’s altar in Bethel and he prophesies:
  • ‘Josiah, a son of David [& future king of Judah], will kill the false priests & burn human bones on the altar [cf. Amos 3:14; fulfilled 350 years later, 2 Kgs 23:15-20];
  • as a sign, this altar will break apart!’
• When he tries to arrest the Man-of-God, Jeroboam I’s arm [miraculously] shrivels up & the altar splits apart;
• Jeroboam I asks the Man-of-God to intercede for him; his arm is healed

13:7-32

• Jeroboam I invites the Man-of-God to a meal; he replies, ‘No, because God told me to fast!’;
• An Old Prophet [wanting to be hospitable?] deceives the Man-of-God into eating, but during the meal the Old Prophet receives God’s Word and prophesies, ‘You will die because you disobeyed God!’ [cf. Dt 32:48-52, Amos 3:2-8, 1 Pet 4:17-18];
• On his journey home, the Man-of-God is killed by a lion; the Old Prophet arranges his funeral & mourns for him

13:33-34

• Jeroboam I continues to be wicked and appoints more false priests

God’s judgement against Jeroboam I

14:1-16

• Abijah^A (Jeroboam I’s son) becomes ill;
• Jeroboam I sends his wife to visit Prophet Ahijah [who had previously told good news in 11:30-31];
• Ahijah tells her what God has told him:
  1. (v7-11) Jeroboam I and all his family will die because of his wicked idolatry;
  2. (v12-13) Abijah^A will die, but will receive an honourable burial because he is good [cf. Isa 57:1-2];
  3. (v14) A new king of Israel will destroy Jeroboam I’s family [Referring to King Baasha, who went on to kill King Nadab (Jeroboam I’s son) in order to become a king of Israel, see 15:25-30];
  4. (v15-16) Israel will go into exile because of Jeroboam I’s sins [eventually fulfilled in 2 Kings 17:6]

14:17-18

• Jeroboam I’s wife returns home and Abijah^A dies; the entire nation of Israel mourn for him

14:19-20

• King Jeroboam I dies after reigning for 22 years; he is succeeded by his son Nadab

B3-King Rehoboam of Judah

[cf. 2 Chron ch. 10 – 12]

14:21-24

• Rehoboam reigns for 17 years
• Idolatrous shrines are built throughout the kingdom of Judah

14:25-28

• King Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem and plunders the treasures from the temple

14:29-31

• Rehoboam is constantly at war with Jeroboam I [of Israel]

B4-King Abijah^B of Judah

[cf. 2 Chron ch. 13]

15:1-8

• Abijah^B acts sinfully (like his father, see 14:22-24)
• He is constantly at war with Jeroboam I

B5-King Asa of Judah

[cf. 2 Chron ch. 14 – 16]

15:9-15

• Asa removes idols & deposes the idolatrous Queen-Mother; he gives treasures to the temple

15:16-22

• During war between Asa & King Baasha [of Israel], Baasha fortifies the city of Ramah;
• Asa uses gold from the temple treasury to pay King Ben-Hadad (of Aram) to attack Israel;
• Baasha withdraws from Ramah [Prophet Hanani rebukes Asa for not trusting God, 2 Chron 16:7-9]

15:23-24

• When Asa gets old, his feet become diseased / Asa dies

a2-King Nadab of Israel

15:25-26

• Nadab (son of Jeroboam I) commits the same sin [of idolatry] as his father (see 12:28-33)

15:27-31

• Baasha plots against King Nadab and assassinates him, then Baasha kills all of Jeroboam I’s family

[Baasha fulfils the prophecy that Prophet Ahijah gave against King Jeroboam I, see 14:10-11, v14]

1-Sam / 2-Sam / 1-KGS / 2-Kgs / 1-Chr