Course Outline

Unit 1: Introductory Issues

• Why Study Kings?

• Kings and the Canon

• Confusion about Kings and Kingdoms

Unit 2: Literary Issues

• Composition of Kings

• The Royal Annals

• How Were the Royal Annals Used?

• Other Possible Sources

• Deuteronomistic Redaction

• Kings and Regnal Formulas: Israelite Regnal Formulas

• Kings and Regnal Formulas: Judaean Regnal Formulas

• Kings and Regnal Formulas: The Purpose of Regnal Formulas

• Prophets and Prophetic Narratives: Prophetic Terms

• Prophets and Prophetic Narratives: Prophetic Figures

• Prophets and Prophetic Narratives: Prophetic Speech

• Prophets and Prophetic Narratives: Prophetic Deeds

• Prophets and Prophetic Narratives: Prophetic Narratives

• Prophets and Prophetic Narratives: Prophetic Sources

Unit 3: Historical Issues

• Historiography and the Book of Kings

• Relationships with the Three Surrounding Empires: Egypt

• Relationships with the Three Surrounding Empires: Assyria

• Relationships with the Three Surrounding Empires: Babylon

• Relationships with the Six Neighboring Nations: The First Five

• Relationships with the Six Neighboring Nations: Aram

• Rulers of Israel and Judah in External Sources

• Rulers in Seals and Seal Impressions

• Chronology Problems and Responses

• Chronology Solutions and Dating Conventions

• Chronology Solutions and Co-Regencies

• Israel’s Early Story: Genesis and Exodus

• Israel’s Early Story: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and Samuel

Unit 4: Theological Issues

• Disobedience and Judgments: Greed and Prophetic Disrespect

• Disobedience and Judgments: Lions and Intermarriage

• Worship and Idolatry

• Dynastic Oracles

• Prophets, Priests, and Kings in Spiritual Leadership

• Women in Spiritual Leadership

Unit 5: The United Monarchy under Solomon (1 Kings 1–11)

• Solomon’s Rise

• Solomon’s Wisdom

• Solomon’s Wisdom: The Two Prostitutes

• Solomon’s Temple

• Solomons’ Temple and Dynastic Promises

• Solomon’s Fall

• Few Finish Well

Unit 6: The Divided Monarchy: The Early Years (1 Kings 12–16:28)

• Jeroboam I and Prophets Getting Eaten by Lions

• Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa in Judah; and Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, and Omri in Israel

Unit 7: The Divided Monarchy: Elijah and Northern Israel (1 Kings 16:29–2 Kings 2:12)

• Ahab, Jezebel, Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath

• Elijah’s Victory on Mount Carmel

• Elijah the Suicidal Prophet

• Ahab’s Battles with Aram

• Elijah’s Final Days

Unit 8: The Divided Monarchy: Elisha and the Northern Kings (2 Kings 2:13–8:29)

• Elisha’s Early Ministry: Elisha, the Boys, and the Bears

• Mesha, Moab, and Miracles

• Elisha and Aram

• The Lost Ax Head and Elisha, the Kings, and the Horses

• Lepers Sharing the Good News, a Bad Marriage, and Elisha the Kingmaker

Unit 9: The Divided Monarchy: The Final Years (2 Kings 9–17)

• Israel: Righteous Jehu’s Bloody Revolution

• Judah: Righteous Jehoash’s Temple Reparations

• Israel: Jehu’s heirs (Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah)

• Judah: Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, and Ahaz

• Israel: Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, Hoshea; Conquered and Exiled by Assyria

Unit 10: The Kingdom of Judah Alone (2 Kings 18–25)

• Hezekiah and Sons Manasseh and Amon

• Hezekiah’s Prayer

• Hezekiah’s Healing

• Josiah’s Reformation

• Josiah’s Sons