This week’s study on the Rise and Fall of Israel’s Monarch’s continues with a look at the Kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. After Jeroboam’s 22 year reign as the Northern Kingdom’s first king his son Nadab will succeed him to the throne and continue the wicked and evil practices of his father. This cycle of wickedness (most often marked by idol worship, perversion and complete disregard for Mosaic Law) continued for 188 years (931-722 B.C.) and all 19 kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel are noted for doing evil in the sight of the Lord. The Northern Kingdom of Israel will have a total of 9 dynasties unlike the Southern Kingdom of Judah which has only one. The most prominent king of Israel is Ahab who was the Al Capone of his time and probably the most ruthless and vile leader to ever rule over either kingdom. King Ahab and his wife Jezebel were personally responsible for hunting down and killing the prophets of the Lord as well as promoting idol worship throughout the Land of Israel. Other prominent kings of Israel (all wicked) were Omri, Jehu and Jeroboam II to mention just a few. Their accomplishments were primarily political but neither accomplished anything of spiritual value. In the end the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and their capital of Samaria fell to the Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C. As such, the promises of the Lord to the people of the covenant (the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) would be fulfilled through the Southern Kingdom of Judah. That lesson is for next week….stay tuned.
Lesson 6 – The Kings of Israel (Student Copy)
Good News Bible Studies - Mike Southwick 