Kings of Judah and Israel

In context

This reading covers more than forty years in both kingdoms, and the two books sometimes name things differently. Rehoboam’s son is Abijam in 1 Kings and Abijah in 2 Chronicles; his mother is “Maacah the daughter of Abishalom” in one and “Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah” in the other (1 Kings 15:1–2; 2 Chronicles 13:1–2). In Judah, Abijah calls on Israel from Mount Zemaraim not to fight against the Lord, and his son Asa “did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, as David his father did” (2 Chronicles 13:4–12; 1 Kings 15:11).

Before a battle Asa prays, “Yahweh, there is no one besides you to help” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Later he pays Ben Hadad of Syria with silver and gold from the temple, and the seer Hanani tells him he relied on the king of Syria instead of the Lord (16:1–9).

In Israel, kings fall one after another, and it is a hard reading: Baasha kills Nadab and all Jeroboam’s family, and Zimri kills Elah and all Baasha’s family, as the prophets had warned (1 Kings 15:27–30; 16:9–13). Omri builds Samaria; his son Ahab marries Jezebel of Sidon and builds a house of Baal there (16:24–32). Hiel’s firstborn and youngest sons die when he rebuilds Jericho, as the Lord had said through Joshua (16:34; Joshua 6:26).