The KingsThe Kings

SamuelSamuel

• Samuel is a priest.Samuel is a priest.

• He is seen as the last of the judges, He is seen as the last of the judges, the first of the prophets.the first of the prophets.

• He warns the people against a king, He warns the people against a king, but anoints Saul, and then David but anoints Saul, and then David (while Saul still rules). (while Saul still rules).

The KingsThe Kings

•God did not want them to have a God did not want them to have a king, as God was to be their king.king, as God was to be their king.

•When the people begged, however, When the people begged, however, God gave them what they wanted, God gave them what they wanted, warning of taxes, enslavement, wars, warning of taxes, enslavement, wars, etc.etc.

They choose a king, by They choose a king, by lots…lots…

• The first king was Saul.The first king was Saul.

• Saul lost God’s favor and David, who Saul lost God’s favor and David, who had killed Goliath, was the next to had killed Goliath, was the next to receive the throne.receive the throne.

• Following David was Solomon. The rule Following David was Solomon. The rule of David and Solomon is considered of David and Solomon is considered Israel’s Golden Age.Israel’s Golden Age.

Saul’s DownfallSaul’s Downfall

• Samuel anointed David WHILE Saul Samuel anointed David WHILE Saul was still king.was still king.

• Saul became incredibly jealous of Saul became incredibly jealous of David, repeatedly tries to kill him.David, repeatedly tries to kill him.

• Saul’s son, Jonathan, is David’s BFF – Saul’s son, Jonathan, is David’s BFF – saves him.saves him.

• David has the chance to kill Saul, but David has the chance to kill Saul, but refuses.refuses.

DavidDavid

• David is Israel’s most famous king, known David is Israel’s most famous king, known as a military hero (slaying the giant, as a military hero (slaying the giant, Goliath).Goliath).

• He is also traditionally credited with He is also traditionally credited with writing the Psalms (he may have written writing the Psalms (he may have written SOME).SOME).

• He makes Jerusalem the center of his He makes Jerusalem the center of his government.government.

Nathan, the prophetNathan, the prophet

• Nathan tells David NOT to build a Nathan tells David NOT to build a Temple.Temple.

• He promises a royal dynastyHe promises a royal dynasty

• He condemns his adultery/killing of He condemns his adultery/killing of Uriah (2 Sam. 11:1-12:25)Uriah (2 Sam. 11:1-12:25)

The TempleThe Temple

•God also did not want them to have God also did not want them to have a Temple, because they should see a Temple, because they should see God as being everywhere.God as being everywhere.

•The people begged and God The people begged and God relented. The Temple was built in relented. The Temple was built in Jerusalem under David and Solomon.Jerusalem under David and Solomon.

God’s Promises and the Dynasty of God’s Promises and the Dynasty of DavidDavid

• God promised David that his kingdom would God promised David that his kingdom would stay united under Solomon and that his stay united under Solomon and that his dynasty would last forever.dynasty would last forever.

• After Solomon (who was from the So. and After Solomon (who was from the So. and oppressed the No.), the kingdom split into oppressed the No.), the kingdom split into two, Israel (No.) and Judah (So.)two, Israel (No.) and Judah (So.)

• The North was conquered in 722 BC by the The North was conquered in 722 BC by the Assyrians; the South in 586 BC by the Assyrians; the South in 586 BC by the Babylonians (who destroyed the Temple).Babylonians (who destroyed the Temple).

• Each time, many people were exiled.Each time, many people were exiled.

EzekielEzekiel

• People lost hope that Israel could People lost hope that Israel could ever be restored.ever be restored.

• Ezekiel tells them that God could Ezekiel tells them that God could even restore life to “dry bones”.even restore life to “dry bones”.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Map_of_Assyria.png

http://heavenawaits.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/babylonian.gif

http://heavenawaits.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/persian-empire.gif

http://heavenawaits.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/macedonian-empire.gif

Conquered Again and AgainConquered Again and Again

• After the Babylonians were overrun by After the Babylonians were overrun by the Persians (who returned those in the Persians (who returned those in exile), Israel had some independence exile), Israel had some independence for a time.for a time.

• The Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, The Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered Israel in 333 BC. Around 164 conquered Israel in 333 BC. Around 164 BC, Jews expelled their Greek rulers, BC, Jews expelled their Greek rulers, celebrated each year at Hannukah.celebrated each year at Hannukah.

RomeRome

• About a century after the Maccabean About a century after the Maccabean revolt, Rome conquers Israel in 63 revolt, Rome conquers Israel in 63 BC.BC.

Prophets - literary movement, Prophets - literary movement, Amos being the first to have his Amos being the first to have his

own book.own book.• Moses is the first of Moses is the first of

many Old many Old Testament Testament prophets to speak prophets to speak for God. for God.

• Major prophetsMajor prophets• Isaiah • Jeremiah • Ezekiel • Daniel

• Minor prophetsMinor prophets• Hosea • Joel • Amos • Obadiah • Jonah • Micah • Nahum Nahum • Habakkuk Habakkuk • Zephaniah Zephaniah • Haggai Haggai • Zechariah Zechariah • Malachi Malachi

Major ThemesMajor Themes

• IdolatryIdolatry

• AdulteryAdultery

• HypocrisyHypocrisy

• Oppression of poorOppression of poor

• Alliances with foreign nationsAlliances with foreign nations

Themes (cont’d)Themes (cont’d)

• Judges receiving bribesJudges receiving bribes

• Alliances with foreign nationsAlliances with foreign nations

To be a prophet is…To be a prophet is…

• to be hated!to be hated!

• Prophets angered the political/social Prophets angered the political/social establishment.establishment.

• They also told people to They also told people to repent/change their lives.repent/change their lives.

Social RevolutionariesSocial Revolutionaries

• Concerned with the poor, least of societyConcerned with the poor, least of society

• Strongest prophets come at time of Strongest prophets come at time of

greatest oppression greatest oppression

• Single measuring stick is how you will be Single measuring stick is how you will be

judged – take care of the weakjudged – take care of the weak

ElijahElijah

• Lived in No. Kingdom, 9Lived in No. Kingdom, 9thth cent. under cent. under Jezebel and Ahab, 860 BCJezebel and Ahab, 860 BC

• Main thing is worship of Yahweh, not Main thing is worship of Yahweh, not Canaanite Baal (god of rain, fertility, Canaanite Baal (god of rain, fertility, produce)produce)

Elijah (cont’d)Elijah (cont’d)

• Helped a Phoenician widow Helped a Phoenician widow miraculously survive a famine (her miraculously survive a famine (her flour and oil do not run out)flour and oil do not run out)

• Brings her son back to lifeBrings her son back to life

• Elijah does not die, but is taken up to Elijah does not die, but is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2)heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2)

ElishaElisha

• Elijah’s studentElijah’s student

• Carries on work of teacher, receive Carries on work of teacher, receive his cloak in 2 Kgs. 2his cloak in 2 Kgs. 2

• Many of the same miracles as Elijah – Many of the same miracles as Elijah – providing food for a poor woman, providing food for a poor woman, bringing a son back to life – plus bringing a son back to life – plus other healingsother healings

AmosAmos• During 786-746 BC in No. Kingdom at During 786-746 BC in No. Kingdom at

height of prosperityheight of prosperity

• Social justice and poor most important Social justice and poor most important themesthemes

• Ivory beds, wine bowls, young meat, Ivory beds, wine bowls, young meat, taxestaxes

• Am. 5:21-24, Am. 8:2-3Am. 5:21-24, Am. 8:2-3

• Justify oppressive lifestyle by having Justify oppressive lifestyle by having elaborate temple showselaborate temple shows

• Am. 5:11-12, 8:4-6, 2:6-7Am. 5:11-12, 8:4-6, 2:6-7

• Prophet of judgment and doomProphet of judgment and doom

• Ends on a note of hope (Am. 9:8b, Ends on a note of hope (Am. 9:8b, 14)14)

HoseaHosea• No. kingdom, same time as AmosNo. kingdom, same time as Amos

• Lived out his messageLived out his message

• Hos. 1:2 – marries a prostitute (Gomer, Hos. 1:2 – marries a prostitute (Gomer, Hebrew woman turned Canaanite Hebrew woman turned Canaanite religious prostitute)religious prostitute)

• Their relationship a metaphor for God Their relationship a metaphor for God and Israelite people (idolatry)and Israelite people (idolatry)

• Have 3 childrenHave 3 children

Hosea (cont’d)Hosea (cont’d)

• Despite Gomer’s repeated adultery Despite Gomer’s repeated adultery and the hurt this causes him, Hosea and the hurt this causes him, Hosea still loves his wife. still loves his wife.

JonahJonah

• Didn’t want to Didn’t want to

warn the peoplewarn the people

of Nineveh of of Nineveh of

impending doomimpending doom

• They were the capital of Assyria, They were the capital of Assyria, their enemy.their enemy.

• God loved even them.God loved even them.

MicahMicah

• People thought religion was only People thought religion was only about sacrifice: Sacrifice enough and about sacrifice: Sacrifice enough and do what you want!do what you want!

• ““What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”to walk humbly with your God.”