Jonah
DATE: 780 BC - Jonah is thought to the first of the written books of
prophecy. By this time, many kings for both Judah and Israel had
reigned. A short Bible summary of the lives of each king is written
into the commentary of the prophet that ministered in or around their
rule. For the next prophet, click below:
The Book of Amos
DATE: 780 BC - Jonah is thought to the first of the written books of
prophecy. By this time, many kings for both Judah and Israel had
reigned. A short Bible summary of the lives of each king is written
into the commentary of the prophet that ministered in or around their
rule. For the next prophet, click below:
\\See 98Pre on "Amos 1:1"\\
Probably, no book in the Bible has been railed against as much as the book
of Jonah. Yet Christ himself bore out the inspiration of Jonah’s book by
referencing it on two occasions \\#Matt 12:39-41; 16:4; Lu 11:32\\. When
considered, the miracles recorded in Jonah’s book are no more difficult to
believe than those attributed to Elijah, Elisha, or Christ Himself.
One might draw two rash conclusions from reading the prophet’s book.
1. First, that Jonah was not worthy of the title "prophet."
a. Jonah presents himself as disobedient, rebellious and stubborn,
person who is filled with hatred for the Ninevites. However
\\#2Ki 14:25\\ calls Jonah the Lord’s "servant" and portrays Jonah’s
ministry, at least to his own nation, as obedient and blessed.
Understanding why Jonah rebelled when sent to Ninevah, may help shed
understanding on the book itself.
b. Israel and Assyria, the country to which Ninevah belonged, had a
long history of feuding. \\See Topic on "200014"\\ While Jonah’s
rebellion could have been due to this past history, it is more
likely that Jonah, as a prophet, knew that God would raise up the
Assyrians to judge Israel. According to the date for Jonah’s ministry
(during or shortly before Jereboam II \\#2Ki 14:25\\) Jonah
may have preached to the Ninevites within sixty years of their
invasion of Israel. Jonah probably considered this ministry an act
of treason against his own land and so rebelled.
c. If this was his reason, Jonah should have realized that God could
have raised any nation of people up to judge Israel. It did not matter
how great or small the attacking nation was; it only mattered that God
would not protect Israel because of their sin. However, Jonah - like
all of us - was a human and prone to sin. Regardless, of Jonah’s
reason for rebelling, God determined that Jonah was to obey.
d. One sees in this book the extremes that God will go through for
His people - both for good and for evil. God had determined to raise
up a nation to judge the Israelites. That nation was to be Assyria.
With that determined, God had to keep Assyria from becoming so wicked
that His own justice would demand their destruction! Hence, Jonah’s
ministry. One can imagine how Jonah must have felt being the
instrument of their preservation and - in a sense - Israel’s
destruction. Understanding Jonah’s situation helps us understand his
disobedience and God’s mercy to him.
2. Second, one might decide that Jonah’s book is not prophetic since
the judgments Jonah spoke against Ninevah did not come to pass.
a. The standard response is that if for no other reason than the
typology of Jonah’s three days and nights in the whale’s belly
\\#Matt 12:39-41; 16:4; Luke 11:32\\, his writings should be
considered prophetical. While this is true, it should also be pointed
out that Jonah’s prophesies did come to pass.
b. While Jonah, probably because of his hatred for the Ninevites,
records only a message of judgment, it would make no sense for God to
have sent Jonah unless it was with a message of repentance. Jonah no
doubt preached repent and be spared or continue in sin and be judged.
The people’s repentance turned God’s prophesied judgment to mercy but
that does not mean that Jonah’s message failed - only that a different
aspect of it was fulfilled. It is unfortunate that when the prophesied
judgment comes, doubters clamor "Coincidence!" and when it is averted,
they cry "Fake!"
There are at least five items which the Lord specifically prepared in
this book:
(1) a great fish \\#Jon 1:17\\,
(2) a groud \\#4:6\\,
(3) a worm \\#4:7\\,
(4) a vehement east wind \\#4:8\\
(5) and the Lord sent the great stormy wind which He had, no
doubt, also prepared \\#1:4\\.
I. Kings of the Divided Kingdom
A. Judah’s Kings
1. Rehoboam \\#1Ki 11:43-12:27 14:21-15:6\\
\\#2Ch 9:31-12:16\\
{931 to 913}
Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began his
reign and ruled 17 years \\#2Ch 12:13\\. He
had the distinction of being the first king born of a
non-Israile mother \\#1Ki 14:21\\. Rehoboam started
his reign roughly, dividing the kingdom by refusing
to harken to the people \\#1Ki 12:3-16\\. Afterward,
he followed the Lord for three years\\#2Chr 11:17\\
and was described as "wise" \\#2Ch 11:23\\. Then,
Rehoboam forsook the Lord \\#2Ch 12:1\\, leading
Judah to follow him. Two years later, God sent the
first military judgement in 80 years against
Jerusalem \\#2Ch 12:2-14\\, costing Judah all of
their fenced cities \\#2Ch 12:4\\ and the wealth of
Jerusalem \\#1Ki 14:26\\; however, because Rehoboam
and his princes humbled themselves, God did not
destroy them but left them as tributaries to Egypt
\\#2Ch 12:6-8\\, evening blessing Judah to a degree
\\#2Chr 12:12\\. Rehoboam and Jehoboam fought all the
days of their reign \\#1Ki 14:30 15:6\\.
2. Abijam \\#1Ki 14:31-15:8\\ or Abijah \\#2Ch 13:1-14:1\\
{913 to 911}
Abijam was a wicked king \\#1Ki 15:3\\. He continued
the war effort against Jeroboam which his father had
begun \\#2Ch 13:2\\, only by relying God’s power with
more sucess \\#2Ch 13:13-20\\. Abijam’s reign was
short, only three years \\#2Ch 13:2\\.
3. Asa \\#1Ki 15:8-15:24 2Ch 14:1-16:14\\
{911 to 870}
God gave Asa a long reign of 41 years \\#2Ch 16:13\\
The Scripture calls Asa a good king \\#2Ch 14:2\\,
making him the first good king since David. While
in battle during the 15th year of his reign, Asa
called upon the Lord for deliverance \\#2Ch 14:8-15\\.
The Lord’s prophet then reminded Asa of greater
blessings that could be Judah’s if they would walk
with him \\#2Ch 15:1-7\\. Asa responded by removing
sodomies and idols out of the land \\#1Ki 15:12\\,
and even removing his mother from being queen because
of her false worship \\#1Ki 15:13\\. Although Asa
warred against Israel continually \\#1Ki 15:16\\, God
still gave Judah long periods of peace
\\#2Ch 14:1 15:19\\. Afterward, Asa seemed to have
ceased trusting in the Lord’s power. He made a pac
with Syria \\#2Ch 16:2\\ when warring against Israel
and sought only physicians’ help for a disease in his
feet \\#2Ch 16:12\\. This especially displeased the
Lord since Asa had previously seen God mightly
deliver him \\#2Ch 16:7-9\\.
4. Jehoshaphat \\#1Ki 15:24-2Ki 3:27 2Ch 17:1-2Ch 21:1\\
{873 to 848}
Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he began to reign
\\#2Ch 20:31\\. Jehoshaphat was the second good king
\\#1Ki 22:43\\ and reigned 25 years \\#1Ki 22:42\\.
His reign was marked by spiritual revival
\\#2Ch 17:6-9\\. God repelled the enemies
surrounding Judah during his reign \\#2Ch 20:1-22\\
so that there was peace throughout most of it
\\#2 Ch 17:10\\. Instead of fighting the kings of
Israel, Jehoshaphat fought with them (Ahab -
\\#1Ki 22:4,29,44\\; Ahaziah -\\#2Ch 20:35\\; and
Jehoram - \\#2Ki 3:6-9\\. This thing displeased the
Lord who rebuked him for joining with Ahab
\\#2Ch 19:2-3\\, then judged him when he joined with
Ahaziah \\#2Ch 20:37\\, but blessed Jehoram with
victory because Jehoshaphat was with him \\#2Ki 3:14\\.
5. Jehoram or Joram \\#2Ki 8:16-24 2Ch 21:1-20\\
{853 to 841}
Jehoram is often confused with his brother-in-law
(who ruled Israel) because they have the same names.
Their reigns also overlapped in time. Jehoram was an
evil king \\#2Ch 21:6\\ who slew his bothers when he
became powerful enough \\#2Ch 21:4\\. He was
son-in-law to wicked King Ahab \\#2Ki 8:18\\. His
reign was for 8 years \\#2Ki 8:17\\. God’s anger was
greatly kindled against Jehoram because he "compelled
Judah" to fornication \\#2Ch 21:11\\. During his
reign, Edom revolted from Judah \\#1Ki 8:20\\, and
God judged both Jehoram and Judah because of
Jehoram’s wickedness \\#2Ch 21:12-20\\ by giving them
war on every side \\#2Ch 21:16\\. It was Edom’s
actions against Israel during this time period which
is believed to have prompted Obadiah’s prophesies
against Edom. \\TOPIC#10023\\ FOR STUDY ON EDOM.
Elijah also prophesied against Jehoram \\#2Ch 21:12\\.
6. Ahaziah \\#2Ki 8:25-9:29; 2Chr 22:1-2Chr 22:9\\
{841}
Ahaziah was the youngest of Jehoram’s sons, and
came to the throne because all of his brothers had
been slain by Arabians \\#2Chr 22:1\\. This was a
fitting judgment against the house of Jehoram since
Jehoram had killed all of his own siblings to secure
the throne \\#2Chr 21:4\\. Ahaziah ruled only one
year \\#2Chr 22:2\\, and was a wicked king. Not
surprising since he was guided by the council of his
wicked mother \\#2Chr 22:3\\ and his father’s wicked
counsellors \\#2Chr 22:5\\. Ahaziah was killed by
Jehu, a captain in Israel’s army, at the same time
Jehu overthrew Jehoram of Israel \\#2Chr 22:7-8\\.
This was fulfillment of Elijah’s \\#1Ki 21:21-22\\
and Elisha’s \\#2Ki 9:7-10\\ against the house of
Ahab, Ahaziah being the grandson of Ahab.
7. Athaliah-\\#2Ki 11:1-20; 2Chr 22:10-23:21\\ {841 to
835}
This woman was Ahaziah’s mother \\#2Ki 11:1\\,
Jehoram of Judah’s wife, and Ahab’s daughter
\\#2Ki 8:18\\. She is the only woman monarch in
either Israel or Judah. She had been counselor to
her son, Ahaziah \\#2Chr 22:3\\. When she heard her
son was dead, she killed the other known heirs to the
throne \\#2Ki 11:1-2\\ and assumed the throne herself
for six years \\#2Ki 11:3\\. Obviously wicked, she
was killed at the order of the priests \\#2Ki 11:16\\
when Joash, a hidden son of the king, was made known.
8. Joash \\#2Ki 11:2-12:21; 2Chr 22:11-24:27\\ {853 to
796}
Joash is called Jehoash in Kings. Like other kings
of the Divided Kingdom, there were two Joashes-one
ruling in Judah and one ruling in Israel-at nearly
the same time \\#2Chr 25:25\\. Joash of Judah was
saved as a baby from his wicked grandmother’s
(Athaliah) executions by his aunt, Jehoshabeath,
who had married the High Priest, Jehoiada. He was
protected until he was seven and took the throne,
ruling for forty years \\#2Chr 24:1\\. Jehoiada
helped Joash rule until he died \\#2Chr 23:18\\. As
long as Jehoiada lived, Joash did right
\\#2Chr 24:2\\. When Joash ascended to the throne,
Judah had a time of revival \\#2Ki 11:17-18\\, even
repairing the temple \\#2Chr 24:4-14\\. This revival
spirit evidently continued for better than
twenty-three years \\#2Ki 12:6\\. Perhaps it was
during these early years of Joash that Joel
prophesied. After Jehoiada’s death, Joash listened
to the bad council of Judah’s princes
\\#2Chr 24:17-18\\ and worshipped false gods. When
rebuked by Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, Joash had him
killed \\#2Chr 24:18-22\\. God gave a small army of
Syrians victory against Judah for Joash’s sin
\\#2Chr 24:23-24\\ and two of Joash’s servants
murdered him while he was bedridden with disease
\\#2Chr 24:25\\.
9. Amaziah \\#2Ki 12:21-14:21; 2Chr 24:27-25:28\\
{796-767} Amaziah was 25 years old when he began
reigning and did right for part of his rule
\\#2Ki 14:2-3\\, yet his heart was not perfect in that
he did turn from the Lord later. He judged those who
had murdered his father but shewed mercy in sparing
their children \\#2Ki 14:5-6\\. When fighting against
Edom, he hired soldiers to help him fight; however,
the Lord told him not to use them. He obeyed and the
Lord gave him a great military conquest
\\#2Chr 25:5-11\\. Amaziah began worshipping the gods
of those he had conquered and would not heed God’s
warnings \\#2Chr 25:14-16\\. With his heart filled
with pride, he challenged and lost in battle to Judah
\\#2Ki 14:12\\. He, like his father, was also
murdered \\#2Ki14:19\\.
10. Uzziah or Azariah \\#2Ki 14:21-15:7; 2Chr 26:3-23\\
{790-740} Uzziah was 16 years old when he began to
reign \\#2Ki 14:21\\ and reigned 52 years
\\#2Ki 15:2\\, doing right in the eyes of the Lord
\\#2Ki 15;3\\. He fought victoriously against the
Philistines \\#2Chr 26:6\\ and other nations. This
ushered in a great age of prosperity
\\#2Chr 26:7-15\\; however, Uzzziah also became victim
to pride. Trying to officiate a sacrifice
\\#2Chr 26:16\\, God smote him with leprosy
\\#2Chr 26:19\\ until the day of his death
\\#2Chr 26:21\\. After being smitten with leprosy,
Uzziah left much of the actual work of ruling to his
son, Jotham \\#2Chr 26:21\\ .
B. Israel’s Kings
1. The Dynasty of Jeroboam {22 YEARS}
a. Jeroboam \\#1Ki 11:26-14:20 2Ch 10:2-13:20\\
{931 to 909}
Jeroboam was one of the adversaries raised
up by God against Solomon \\#1Ki 11:23-26\\
because Solomon did not lead Israel after
God, like David his father had done
\\#1Ki 11:31-33\\. The prophet Ahijah, acting
for the Lord, gave Jeroboam ten tribes and the
promise of blessings equal to David’s
\\#1Ki 11:35-39\\. Solomon sought to kill
Jeroboam, so Jeroboam fled to Egypt until Solomon
died \\#1Ki 11:40\\. Jerobaom returned for
Rehoboam’s ordaination as king \\#1Ki 12:1-3\\.
He and the leaders gave Rehoboam a chance to show
concern for the people \\#1Ki 12:3-20\\; they
refused, and Jeroboam became king of the ten
northern tribes. Fearing the people would return
to Rehoboam, Jeroboam turned away from God and
instituted a system of false worship
\\ #1Ki 12:26-33\\. The Lord was greatly
displeased and soon prophesied that Jeroboam’s
line would not endure \\#1Ki 13:1-14:26\\.
Jerobaom ruled for 22 years \\#1Ki 14:10\\. His
wickedness became the standard of evil which the
other kings of Israel seemed to follow
\\#1Ki 22:52\\.
b. Nadab \\#1Ki 15:25-31\\ {910 to 909}
Nadab reigned only two years, but they were
evil years \\#1Ki 15:25-26\\. He was
conspired against and killed by Baasha who
then killed all of the descendents of
Jeroboam \\#1Ki 15:29\\, fulfilling God’s
word by the Prophet Abijah \\#1Ki 14:10-11\\.
2. Baasha’s Dynasty {24 YEARS}
a. Baasha \\#1Ki 15:16-16:7 2Ch 16:3-6\\
{909 to 886}
Baasha killed King Nadab and all of Jeroboam’s
seed and assumed the throne \\#1Ki 15:27-29\\.
His reign was prophesied in \\#1Ki 14:14\\. He
reigned for 24 evil years \\#1Ki 15:32-33\\.
Jehu, the prophet, prophesied the same type of
destruction would come upon Baasha’s seed that he
had brought upon Jeroboam’s seed \\#1Ki 16:1-4\\.
b. Elah \\#1Ki 16:6-14\\ {886 to 885}
Followed in his father’s sinful steps
\\#1Ki 16:13\\. His reign was almost identical
to Nadab’s. He reigned two evil years
\\#1Ki 16:8\\ and was conspired against and
killed by his servant, Zimri, who then ruled in
his place \\#1Ki 16:9-10\\. Zimri then killed
all of Baasha’s seed \\#1Ki 16:11\\. This was the
fulfillment of the prophecy against Baasha from
Jehu \\#1Ki 16:12\\.
3. Zimri’s Dynasty \\#1Ki 16:9-20\\
{7 DAYS}
Zimri’s reign only lasted 7 days \\#1Ki 16:15\\ but
they were marred as evil days of murder and treason
\\#1Ki 16:19\\. He had killed his king and all other
heirs \\#1Ki 16:19\\ to take possession of the throne
\\#1Ki 16:9-10\\. Upon hearing of Zimri’s murderous
overthrow, all of Israel made Omri king
\\#1Ki 16:16\\. When Omri came against Tirzah to
claim the throne, Zimri set fire to the palace,
killing himself \\#1Ki 16:18\\.
4. Omri’s Dynasty {44 YEARS}
a. Omri \\#1Ki 16:16-28\\
{885 to 874}
Omri was a military commander appointed king by
the people \\#1Ki 16:16\\. His rule was an evil
one \\#1Ki 16:26\\ of twelve years \\#1Ki 16:23\\.
In the first days of his reign, some loyal to
Zimri followed Tibni \\#1Ki 16:21-22\\. Once
Tibni was defeated, Omri’s rule was secured
\\#1Ki 16:23\\. Omri earned the infamous title
of being the most wicked king in Israel’s history
\\#1Ki 16:25\\.
b. Ahab \\#1Ki 16:28-22:40 2Ch 18:1-34\\
{874 to 853}
Ahab reigned 22 years and soon exceeded his
father in the evil and wickedness he committed
\\#1Ki 16:30 21:25\\. Many of his wicked deeds
are recorded in \\#1Ki 17:1-22:40\\, along with
Elijah’s confrontations against him. Because of
his evil ways, Elijah prophesied that his fate
would be similar to that of Jeroboam
\\#1Ki 21:21-22\\. When Ahab heard the Lord’s
word, he humbled himself \\#1Ki 21:27\\ causing
the Lord to delay the fulfullment of the prophecy
until Ahab died \\#1Ki 21:29\\. Ahab’s name
replaced Omri’s in setting the standard of
wickedness to which the other kings of Israel
seemed to follow.
c. Ahaziah \\#1Ki 22:40-2Ki 1:18 2Ch 20:35-37\\
{853 to 852}
Ahaziah reigned two years \\#1Ki 22:51\\ and was
an evil king \\#1Ki 22:52\\. In a fall, he
serously injured himself \\#2Ki 1:2\\ and sent
to the false god, Ekron, to inquire whether he
would heal or not. Elijah intercepted the
messengers; and sent the king word that because
of his inquirey to a false god, he would not
recover \\#2Ki 1:16\\. Judah also had a wicked
King Ahaziah who reigned around the same time
period.
d. Jehoram or Joram \\#2Ki 1:17-9:24 2Ch 22:5\\
{852 to 841}
Although not often referred to by name, his
exploits seem to be recorded in 2 Kings, chapters
4 through 9. Joram was the son of Ahab and
brother to Ahaziah \\#2Ki 1:17\\, who came to
the throne because Ahaziah had no male children.
He reigned for 12 years \\#2Ki 3:1\\. Joram was
evil, though not as much as his parents
\\#2Ki 3:2\\. Part of his reigned coincides
with a brother-in-law by the same name who ruled
Judah \\#2Ki 8:16\\. Joram was killed by Jehu, a
captain in Israel’s army, in fulfillment of
Elijah’s prophecies against the house of Ahab
\\#2 Ki 9:36\\. This ended Omri’s dynasty.
5. Jehu’s Dynasty
a. Jehu \\#1Ki 19:16-2Ki 10:36; 2Chr 22:7-9\\
{841-814} The Lord told Elijah that Jehu would be
king over Israel some years before it came to
pass \\#1Ki 19:16, 2Ki 9:6\\. Elisha later
performed the task of anointing Jehu
\\#2Ki 9:1-2\\. Jehu had been a captain in Israel
\\#2Ki 9:5\\. After he was anointed, he obeyed
the Lord’s command in destroying Ahab’s house
\\#2Ki 9:14-26\\, Ahaziah, king of Judah
\\#2Ki 9:27\\, Jezebel \\#2Ki 9:30-33\\, Ahab’s
70 sons and other relatives \\#2Ki 10:1-17\\, and
the Baal worshippers of Israel \\#2Ki 10:18-2\\
as Elijah had spoken \\#2Ki 10:10\\. He then
becomes the king and was promised a dynasty of
four generations \\#2Ki 10:30\\. Jehu is
considered a good king even though he did not
worship the Lord \\#2Ki 10:29,31\\. Jehu ruled 28
years \\#2Ki 10:36\\. During his reign, the Lord
began to dissolve Israel’s domain \\#2Ki 10:32\\.
b. Jehoahaz-\\#2Ki 10:35-13:9\\
{814-798} Jehoahaz was 17 years old when he began
to reign \\#2Ki 13:1\\ and did evil
\\#2Ki 13:2\\. Because of his leadership, the
Lord delivered Israel over to Syria-especially to
the kings Hazael and Benhadad
\\#2Ki 13:3; Amos 1:4\\. Although Jehoahaz
called on the Lord for deliverance and it was
granted \\#13:4-5\\, he continued in sin
\\#2Ki 13:6\\. For this, the Lord allowed Syria
to be a thorn in Jehoahaz’s side all his days
\\#2Ki13:22\\. The result was that Syria all but
destroy Israel, depleting their army to 50
horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 men
\\#2Ki 13:7\\.
c. Jehoash/Joash-\\#2Ki 13:10-14:16; 2Chr 25:17-25\\
{798-782} There was another king (over Judah) with
the same name. These two also ruled during the
same time period \\#2Ki 13:10\\. Jehoash of
Israel reigned 16 years \\#2Ki 13:10\\ and did
evil \\#2Ki 13:11\\; regardless, the Lord had
compassion on Israel during his reign for their
suffering under Syria \\#2Ki 13:22-23\\ and gave
them three major victories over them during his
reign \\#2Ki 13:25\\, restoring some of the cities
lost to them during Jehoahaz’s reign. It is
interesting that Jehoash seemed to have respect
for Elisha \\#2Ki 13:14-19\\. It was also he who
fought against Amaziah (king of Judah) and defeated
him \\#2Ki 14:8-14\\.
d. Jeroboam II-\\#2Ki 14:13-29\\
{793-753} Jeroboam II is of no relationship to
Jeroboam, son of Nebat, except that they were both
great practitioners of sin. He reigned 41 wicked
years \\#2Ki 14:23-24\\. Yet, God continued to
bless him for Israel’s sake \\#2Ki 14:26\\ and
allowed him to restore Israel’s territory
\\#2Ki 14:25\\. By restoring these boundries,
Jeroboam II would have been one of Israel’s most
prominent of kings, probably placing Israel into
an age of prosperity.
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