Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents

About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 


The Books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings

The books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings were originally one book. They were probably separated into 2 books so they would be easier to copy by hand.

1 Kings and 2 Kings were written 561 - 538 years before Jesus Christ was born. They cover David's death, David's son, Solomon, and his time as king, the kings after Solomon, and the other groups of people who came and carried the Israelites away to other countries.

The books were written for 2 reasons:
1. To review the history for the exiles (the Israelites who lived in other countries).
2. To show the exiles why they were carried away.
 


Bible Timeline
 
Here is a good timeline to see the book of 1 Kings in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm


 


1 Kings 19 - 22
Elijah escapes Queen Jezebel.
Elisha becomes Elijah's helper.
Israel and Judah fight wars with Syria.
Ahab and Jezebel steal a vineyard from Naboth. 
 


 

1 Kings 19


Elijah escapes from Queen Jezebel.

 
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah proved that God was the only god. He asked God to send down fire, and all of the Israelites saw it happen. Then he killed the prophets of the false god, Baal.
Ahab told his wife, Jezebel, everything that Elijah did. He told her about Elijah killing the prophets with a sword. Jezebel sent a message to Elijah.  She said she would kill him in the next 24 hours.
[1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
[2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.


When Elijah saw her message, he got up and escaped. He went to the area of Beer-sheba in Judah's land. He left his helper there, then he continued for another day into the desert. He sat down by a juniper tree (a green bush).  He asked God to end his life.  He said he was not better than his ancestors.
[3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
[4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.


He laid down and went to sleep under the tree. Then an angel touched him. The angel told him to get up and eat.
[5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.


Elijah looked, and he saw a clay bottle with some water in it and some bread baking on hot coals. He ate and drank and then laid down again.
[6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
 

God's angel came back and touched Elijah again. The angel told him to get up and eat. Elijah will have a long trip, and he needs to eat to be strong.
[7] And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

 




Mt. Horeb is another name for Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai is where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

Photo of Mt. Sinai today.
Courtesy of
Mark Horrell

 

 

Elijah got up and ate and drank. He was strong from the food. He traveled for 40 days and 40 nights to the mountain named Horeb (also called Mt. Sinai). Horeb was God's mountain.
[8] And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.


He found a cave and stayed there.  Then God talked to him. God asked him what he was doing there.
[9] And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?


Elijah said he had done good work for God. The Israelites are not obeying God. They have broken God's altars and killed God's prophets with swords. Elijah said he is the only one left. Now they want to kill him.
[10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.


God told Elijah to go stand on Mt. Sinai.  God passed the mountain.  A strong wind broke pieces of the mountain into rocks. But God was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But God was not in the earthquake.
[11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

After the earthquake, there was a fire. But God was not in the fire.  After the fire, there was a very quiet voice.  Elijah heard the small voice. He wrapped his coat around his face and stood in the door of the cave. Then the quiet voice asked Elijah what he was doing there.
[12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
[13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

 


Elijah said he had done good work for God.  The Israelites are not keeping their promise to God. They have broken God's altars and killed God's prophets with swords. Elijah said he is the only one left, and they are trying to kill him.
[14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.


God told Elijah to go through the desert to the city of Damascus.  He told him to make the man named Hazael the new king of Syria.
[15] And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:


Elijah should also make the man named Jehu (his father was Nimshi) the new king of Israel.  He should make Elisha (his father was Shaphat from the place named Abel-meholah) to be the prophet. Elisha will take Elijah's place later.
[16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.


Jehu should kill anyone who escapes from Hazael in Syria. Elisha should kill anyone who escapes from Jehu.
[17] And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.


But God said there are 7,000 good Israelites left. They have never bowed down to Baal or kissed Baal's statues.
[18] Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

 



Elisha becomes Elijah's helper.


Elijah left Mt. Sinai.  He found Elisha (his father's name was Shaphat). Elisha was working in the field with some other men. They were plowing the ground with oxen.  There were 12 men plowing with oxen in front of him. Elijah went to Elisha and put his coat on him.
[19] So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.


Elisha left his oxen in the field. He followed Elijah. He said he would go with Elijah, but first, he wanted to kiss his parents goodbye. Elijah told him to go.

[20] And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?


Elisha went to see his parents. He took 2 oxen and killed them. He made a fire with the wood of the oxen's yoke. He cooked the meat on the fire. He gave the meat to the people, and they ate the oxen.  Then he got up and went back to follow Elijah and help him.
[21] And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
 




1Kings 20


The king of Syria attacks Samaria.

 
This is Ben-hadad II. His father helped King Asa of Judah back in 1 Kings 15.
Ben-hadad was the king of Syria.  He got his army together. There were 32 leaders with him and also horses and chariots. They went to Samaria and attacked it.
[1] And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.


He sent messengers to King Ahab in the city.  He said he wanted Ahab's silver and gold. He also wanted Ahab's wives and his children.
[2] And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,
[3] Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.


Ahab said Ben-had could have everything he asked for and also himself.
[4] And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.


Ben-had's messengers came back again. They brought a message from Ben-hadad.  He said that Ahab said he could have his silver, gold, wives, and children. But he will send his workers back the next day. They will look through Ahab's house and Ahab's servants' houses. They will take anything else that they want (in addition to Ahab's wives, children, silver, and gold).
[5] And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
[6] Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.


Ahab called all of his leaders.  He told them about Ben-had asking for his silver, gold, wives, and children. He said he told Ben-hadad he could have them.
[7] Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
 

The leaders and the other Israelites told him he should not listen to Ben-hadad. He should not tell him he can have his wives, children, silver, and gold.
[8] And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.


Ahab told Ben-hadad's messengers to give him a message. He said he will do what he first agreed to do.  But he will not let Ben-hadad's workers look through his house and his servants' houses.  The messengers left and took the message to Ben-hadad.
[9] Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.


Ben-hadad said he would destroy Samaria. He said his army will carry Samaria in their hands like dust. He said if he did not do this, he wanted his gods to punish him.
[10] And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.


Ahab sent another message to Ben-hahad. He said he shouldn't brag before the war even starts.
[11] And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.


When Ben-hadad got Ahab's message, he and his leaders were drinking. He told them to get ready for a war.
[12] And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions,that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
 

A prophet went to talk to Ahab. He told him what God said. God said that Ahab has seen Ben-hadad's big army. But God would help Ahab win the war against Ben-hadad. Then Ahab will know that God is the Lord.
[13] And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it in to thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.



Ahab asked God who would fight in the war.  God said that the sons of the leaders of Israel will fight in the war. Ahab asked who would give the orders in the war. God said Ahab would be the leader and give the orders.
[14] And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.


Ahab counted the sons of the leaders of Israel. There were 232. Then he counted all of the Israelites in the army. There were 7,000.
[15] Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.


The Israelite army went to fight at noon.  Ben-hadad was drinking and getting drunk.  The 32 kings who helped him were with him. They were getting drunk, too.
[16] And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
 

Map showing Samaria and Syria.
From
Wikipedia.com   

The sons of the leaders of Israel were in front.  Ben-hadad's soldiers saw them. They told Ben-hadad that soldiers were coming out from Samaria.
[17] And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.


Ben-hadad told his soldiers not to kill them. He wanted his soldiers to capture them and keep them alive. It didn't matter if they were coming for peace or coming for war. Ben-hadad wanted them to be alive.
[18] And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.


The sons of the Israelite leaders came out of Samaria. The Israelite army followed them. Each soldier killed a Syrian soldier.  The Syrian army escaped, and the Israelite army chased them.  Ben-hadad escaped on a horse with his other soldiers who rode horses.

[19] So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
[20] And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.


King Ahab of Israel was in the war. He killed horses and destroyed chariots. He killed many Syrians.
[21] And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

 



Kings Ahab and Ben-hadad get advice about the next war.
 

The prophet talked to King Ahab. He told him that Ben-hadad will attack Israel next year. Ahab should get ready and make his army strong.
[22] And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thy self, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
 


Ben-hadad's helpers talked to him. They said they lost the war because Israel was strong in the hill area. They said the Israelite gods were hill gods (they thought the Israelites had many false gods like they had). They said they could defeat Israel if they fought the war on flat land. They told him to replace the 32 kings. He should use army leaders instead of the kings.
[23] And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
[24] And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:


He should find more soldiers to replace the soldiers who died. He should also find more horses and chariots to replace the ones from the first war.  They said they will fight the next war with Israel in the flat land. They said they will win the next war. Ben-hadad listened to the advice and did what they said.
[25] And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.

 




The king of Syria attacks Israel a second time, and Ahab lets Ben-hadad live.


At the beginning of the next year, Ben-hadad took his army to Aphek. They would fight Israel at that place.
[26] And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.


The Israelite army went to fight again with the Syrian army. There were many more Syrian soldiers than Israelite soldiers. When they were in camps, the Syrian army was very large and filled the area. But the small Israelite army looked like 2 flocks of baby goats.
[27] And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.


A prophet came and talked to Ahab. He told him what God said. God said that the Syrians said He is the God of the hills only. They said He was not God of the flat land. So, God will help the Israelites defeat the Syrians again.  Then, the Israelites will know that God is the Lord.
[28] And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.


The Syrian army and the Israelite army camped near each other for 7 days.  On the 7th day, the war started. The Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day.
[29] And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.


The rest of the Syrian soldiers escaped to the city of Aphek.  A wall in the city fell and killed 27,000 more Syrian soldiers. Ben-hadad escaped and came to a room inside the city.
[30] But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.


Ben-hadad's helpers talked to him.  They said they heard that Israel's kings showed mercy (treated people well instead of hurting them).  They wanted to put very rough cloth on like clothes. They would also put rope on their heads. They would go to King Ahab to see if he will save Ben-hadad. 
[31] And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.


They put on sackcloth and ropes and went to see Ahab.  They said that Ben-hadad asked Ahab to let him live.  Ahab asked if he was still alive. He called Ben-hadad his brother.
[32] So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.


Ben-hadad's men were watching Ahab closely. They were trying to see what he was thinking. When Ahab called Ben-hadad his brother, Ben-hadad's helpers said Ahab and Ben-hahad were like brothers. Ahab told them to go bring Ben-hadad to him.   Then Ahab had Ben-hadad get in his chariot.
[33] Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.


Ben-hadad promised to give Ahab some cities. They were cities that his father took from Ahab's father in a war. He said that Ahab could make streets in the Syrian city of Damascus. Ben-hadad said his father had made streets in Samaria. Ahab said Ben-hadad could go free if he promised to do these things. Ben-hadad promised, so Ahab let him go free.

[34] And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

 




A prophet warns Ahab that he will die because he did not kill Ben-haddad.



A prophet asked his neighbor to hit him. The neighbor refused.  Then the prophet said the neighbor did not obey God. When the neighbor leaves, a lion will kill him. When the neighbor left, a lion caught the man and killed him.

[35] And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.
[36] Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.


The prophet found another man. He asked the man to hit him.  The man hit him and hurt him. The prophet left and waited for King Ahab. He put ashes on his face so that Ahab wouldn't know who he was.
[37] Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
[38] So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
 

Ahab came by the prophet. The prophet called to Ahab. He told Ahab he was fighting in the war. An army leader brought a man to him. The leader told him to guard the man. If the man got away, he would be killed in his place unless he paid 75 pounds of silver.
[39] And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.
 

He said he was busy, and the man escaped.  Ahab said he must die because the man escaped.
[40] And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.
 

The prophet quickly took off the ashes from his face. Ahab recognized him and knew that he was one of the prophets.
[41] And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.


The prophet told Ahab what God said. God said that Ahab let a man go like the man in the story. Ahab let Ben-hadad escape. God wanted Ahab to kill Ben-hadad but he let him go. Now Ahab will die in Ben-hadad's place. Ahab's people will die in the place of Ben-hadad's people.
[42] And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.


King Ahab went home to Samaria. He was very sad and upset.
[43] And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
 


 

Ahab wants Naboth's vineyard (grape farm).
Art from
Wels.net

1 Kings 21


Ahab and Jezebel steal Naboth's vineyard.

  This happened after the prophet warned Ahab that he will die. A man named Naboth (he was from the group of people named the Jezreelites) had a farm to grow grapes.  It was next to one of Ahab's palaces.
[1] And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.


Ahab talked to Naboth. He wanted Naboth's farm. Ahab wanted to make a garden there because it was near his house. He offered to buy Naboth's farm or trade it for another farm. But Naboth said no. The farm had belonged to his family for many years. He did not want to sell or trade it.
[2] And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
[3] And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.


Ahab was upset that Naboth said no. Ahab went to bed and refused to eat. His wife, Jezebel, asked him why he was so sad.
[4] And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
[5] But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?


Ahab told her about talking to Naboth.  He told her that he offered to buy or trade Naboth's grape farm.  But Naboth said no.
[6] And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.


Jezebel told him that he was the king. She told him to get up, eat, and be happy. She will get Naboth's farm for him.
[7] And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
 

Jezebel wrote letters and signed Ahab's name. She used his seal (stamp) so everyone would think Ahab wrote the letters. She sent the letters to the leaders in Naboth's city. She told the leaders to tell their people to have a fast (no eating). They should bring Naboth in front of everyone.  Then they should get 2 bad men to come and lie about Naboth. They should say that Naboth said bad things against God and Ahab. After that, they should take Naboth outside the city and throw rocks at him until he dies.
[8] So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
[9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
[10] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.


The leaders of Naboth's city did the things that Jezebel told them to do.  They had a fast, and they brought Naboth in front of everyone.  Two bad men came and told lies about Naboth.  They said that Naboth said bad things about God.  Then the leaders carried Naboth out of the city. They threw rocks at him, and he died.
[11] And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
[12] They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
[13] And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.


Then the leaders sent a message to Jezebel. They told her that Naboth was dead. Then Jezebel told Ahab to get up and go take Naboth's grape farm. She told him that Naboth was dead.
[14] Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
[15] And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
 

When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went to take Naboth's grape farm.
[16] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.


God talked to Elijah. God told Elijah to go meet King Ahab in Samaria. He told him that Ahab was at Naboth's grape farm. God told Elijah to talk to Ahab and tell Ahab what God said. God said that Ahab killed Naboth and now is taking his land.  But Ahab will die, and the dogs will lick his blood. They will lick his blood in the same place where they licked Naboth's blood.
[17] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
[18] Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
[19] And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
 

When Elijah met Ahab, Ahab said that Elijah was his enemy, and now he has found him.  Elijah said he found Ahab because Ahab had done something very bad and God saw him.
[20] And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.


God said that He will make bad things happen to Ahab. Ahab's descendants will die. All of the males in his family will die.
[21] Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
 

Ahab and his family will be destroyed like Jeroboam and his family and Baasha and his family.  Jeroboam and Baasha made God angry, and they caused the people in Israel to sin.
[22] And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.


God also talked about Jezebel.  He said the dogs would eat her near the city wall.
[23] And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
 

The dogs will eat any of Ahab's family who die in the city. The birds will eat any who die in the fields.
[24] Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.


Ahab was the worst king. He did very bad things in God's eyes.  His wife Jezebel made trouble and caused him to sin. He worshiped false gods and statues. He behaved like the group of people named the Amorites. God put the Amorites out of Israel so that He could give the land to the Israelites.
[25] But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
[26] And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.


When Ahab heard this, he tore his clothes to show he was upset. He also put on very rough clothes to show he was sorry. He didn't eat and wore the rough clothes to bed.  He walked slowly.
[27] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.


God told Elijah (he was from the place named Tishbe) more words to say.  God had seen how Ahab humbled himself (showed he was sorry).  God will not make bad things happen to Ahab's family while he is alive. After he dies and his son becomes king, God will do the things he said he will do to punish them.
[28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
[29] Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
 



1 Kings 22


Kings Ahab and Jehoshaphat discuss fighting a war with Syria. Ahab's prophets give false advice, but God's prophet gives true advice.

 
For three years, there was no war between Syria and Israel.
[1] And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.

 

The kings of divided Israel
(dates may not be exact)
 
King of Israel
(northern part)
King of Judah
(southern part)
Year started King's name Year started King's name

922 B.C.  

Jeroboam

922 B.C.

Rehoboam
       
   

915 B.C.

Abijam

 

 

913 B.C.

Asa

900 B.C.

Nadab    

897 B.C.

Baasha    

887 B.C.

Elah    

886 B.C.

Zimri    

882 B.C.

Omri    

870 B.C.

Ahab    

 

 

872 B. C.

Jehoshaphat

855 B.C.

Ahaziah    

In the third year, the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, came to see Ahab, the king of Israel.
[2] And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

 

King Ahab talked to his helpers. He said they know that the place named Ramoth in the area of Gilead belongs to Israel. But they have not taken it back from the king of Syria.
[3] And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?


King Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat to go with him to fight a war with Syria.  Jehoshaphat said that he, his soldiers, and his horses were ready to help Ahab.
[4] And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.


Jehoshaphat said that Ahab should ask God if they should fight the war with Syria.
[5] And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.


Ahab brought 400 of his prophets for a meeting. Ahab asked them if he should go fight a war.  The prophets said yes. They said God will help them defeat the king of Syria.
[6] Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
 

Ahab's 400 prophets were not God's prophets. They did not talk to God. They were prophets of Ahab's false gods.

Jehoshphat wanted Ahab to ask of one God's prophets if they should fight or not.
[7] And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?
 

Ahab said there was a man named Micaiah (his father's name was Imlah). Micaiah was one of God's prophets. But Ahab said he hates Micaiah. He hates him because Micaiah always says that bad things will happen to Ahab. But Jehoshaphat wanted Ahab to ask Micaiah about the war.
[8] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.


Ahab told one of his army leaders to go get Micaiah.
[9] Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.


Israel's King Ahab and Judah's King Jehoshaphat sat on their thrones. They had their king's clothes on.  They were in the gate of the city of Samaria. The prophets were all in front of them. The prophets were telling the kings what to do.
[10] And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
 

The prophet named Zedekiah (his father's name was Chenaanah) made Ahab a helmet (hat). The helmet had horns on it.  He said Ahab would use the helmet to push the Syrians. He would defeat them.
[11] And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
 

Ahab's prophets told him to go to war.  They said God would help him win the war. They said God would give him the land in Ramoth-gilead.
[12] And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.


Ahab's army leader talked to Micaiah before he met with Ahab. The leader told him that he should say the same thing as Ahab's prophets. He should tell Ahab that he would win the war.
[13] And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
 

Micaiah made a promise with God's name. He said that he would say only what God tells him to say.
[14] And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
 

Micaiah met with the king.  The king asked him if they should fight a war with Syria or not.  Micaiah told him to go and that God would help him win.
[15] So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
 

Ahab knew he was lying. He told Micaiah to tell the truth.
[16] And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?


Micaiah said that he saw Israelite people scattered on hills.  They looked like sheep that did not have a shepherd taking care of them.  Then God said the Israelites should go home and not fight a war.
[17] And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
 

Ahab talked to Jehoshaphat. He said that he already told Jehoshapat that Micaiah would say only bad things about him.
[18] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
 

Micaiah continued. He said this was God's word.  Micaiah said he saw God sitting on His throne. All of the angels were standing by him. There were angels on the right hand and angels on the left hand.
[19] And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
 

God asked if any of the angels would go tell Ahab to fight a war. Some of the angels said no.  Then a spirit came up and stood in front of God.  He said he would encourage Ahab to fight a war. 
[20] And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
[21] And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.


God asked the spirit how he would do that. The spirit said he will make Ahab's prophets lie.  He will make Ahab's prophets say that Ahab should go fight the war.
[22] And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.


Micaiah said that God made the prophets lie when they said good things. But God is telling Ahab that something bad will happen to him.
[23] Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.


One of Ahab's prophets, Zedekiah (the one who made the hat with horns on it) hit Micaiah on the cheek. He asked him which way God's spirit went. He wanted to know how it went from him to Micaiah.
[24] But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

Micaiah said Zedikiah would see the spirit another day. It would be on the day when he goes into a little room to hide.
[25] And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.



Ahab told his helpers to take Micaiah back to the city and put him in jail.  They should take him to the man named Amon (the leader of Samaria) and Joash (one of Ahab's sons). They should feed him only bread and water until Ahab wins the war and there is peace.
[26] And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
[27] And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.


Micaiah said if Ahab comes back in peace, that means God did not really speak to him. Micaiah told all of the people that they should listen to him.
[28] And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.


 



Ahab dies in the war with Syria.



Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to the area of Ramoth-gilead to fight the war.
[29] So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.


Ahab told Jehoshaphat that he will put on a disguise (different clothes to hide).  Then he will fight in the war.  But he told Jehoshaphat to put on his normal clothes. So Ahab put on the disguise and went to fight.
[30] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.


The king of Syria had 32 army leaders in chariots. He told them not to fight with anyone except Ahab.
[31] But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
 

Ahab is killed in the war.
Art from LaVista Church of Christ web site.

When the Syrian leaders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he was Ahab. They started fighting with him. Jehoshaphat yelled, and then they knew it was not Ahab. They stopped chasing him.
[32] And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.
[33] And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
 

One of the Syrian soldiers shot his arrow. He wasn't aiming at Ahab, but the arrow hit Ahab. It hit him in the place where 2 parts of his armor connect. Ahab told the man driving his chariot that he was hurt. He wanted him to take him out of the war.
[34] And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.


The war continued. Ahab stayed in his chariot. He was propped up so that he could watch. He bled a lot, and the blood ran into his chariot. In the evening, Ahab died.
[35] And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
 

The army was ordered to leave. Every soldier should go home.
[36] And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.
 

Ahab died, and they took him back to Samaria. They buried him there.
[37] So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

 

Back in 1 Kings 21, verse 19, God was mad at Ahab because he and Jezebel killed Naboth and stole his farm.  God told him that he will die, and the dogs will lick his blood. They will lick his blood in the same place where they licked Naboth's blood.

A soldier washed Ahab's chariot and armor in the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked Ahab's blood.  That is what God said would happen.
[38] And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.




Ahab did other things while he was king. He built a house made of ivory (white, from tusks of elephants). He built other cities. The things are written in the book that tells about the kings of Israel.
[39] Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


After Ahab died, his son named Ahaziah became the new king.
[40] So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

 



Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah.


Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa and Azubah. His mother's father's name was Shilhi. He became the king of Judah when Ahab was in his fourth year of being the king in Israel.  Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king.


The kings of divided Israel
(dates are not exact)
 
King of Israel
(northern part)
King of Judah
(southern part)
Year started King's name Year started King's name

922 B.C.  

Jeroboam

922 B.C.

Rehoboam
       
   

915 B.C.

Abijam

 

 

913 B.C.

Asa

900 B.C.

Nadab    

897 B.C.

Baasha    

887 B.C.

Elah    

886 B.C.

Zimri    

882 B.C.

Omri    

870 B.C.

Ahab    

 

 

872 B. C.

Jehoshaphat

855 B.C.

Ahaziah    
   

849 B.C.

Jehoram


[41] And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
[42] Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


Jehoshaphat obeyed God the same as his father, Asa.  But all of the places where people worshiped false gods were not destroyed. People still made offerings and burnt incense in these places.
[43] And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.


Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
[44] And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.


The book about the kings of Judah tells about the other things that Jehoshaphat did.  The book tells about his bravery and the wars he fought.
[45] Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

 

Some of the people who committed sodomy had to leave Judah when Asa was the king.  Jehoshaphat made the rest of the sodomites also leave.
[46] And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
 

At that time, there was no king in the area named Edom. A different leader did the job of king.
[47] There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.


Jehoshaphat sent some ships from the place named Tharshish. They were going to the place named Ophir to get some gold. But they did not get to go because the ships broke at the place named Ezion-geber.
[48] Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
 

Ahab's son, Ahaziah, asked Jehoshaphat if some of his workers could go with Jehoshaphat's workers in the ships. But Jehoshaphat said no.
[49] Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.


Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his fathers in Jerusalem. Then Jehoshaphat's son named Jehoram became the new king of Judah.

[50] And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

 



King Ahaziah of Israel


The kings of divided Israel
(dates are not exact)
 
King of Israel
(northern part)
King of Judah
(southern part)
Year started King's name Year started King's name

922 B.C.  

Jeroboam

922 B.C.

Rehoboam
       
   

915 B.C.

Abijam

 

 

913 B.C.

Asa

900 B.C.

Nadab    

897 B.C.

Baasha    

887 B.C.

Elah    

886 B.C.

Zimri    

882 B.C.

Omri    

870 B.C.

Ahab    

 

 

872 B. C.

Jehoshaphat

855 B.C.

Ahaziah    
   

849 B.C.

Jehoram

Ahaziah became the king of Israel in year 17 of Jehoshaphat's time as king of Judah.  Ahaziah was king for 2 years.
[51] Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.

Ahaziah was very bad. He did not obey God. He behaved badly the same as his father, Ahab, and his mother, Jezebel. He was bad the same as Jeroboam (from the place named Nebat). Jeroboam made Israel sin.
[52] And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

Ahaziah worked for the false god, Baal. He worshiped Baal. That made God very angry the same as God was angry at Ahaziah's father.
[53] For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

 

 

 


 


 

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