Today's readings are 2 Kings 1-3.In the Jewish Bible, 1 & 2 Kings are one volume combined with 1 & 2 Samuel. They were divided into four volumes when the Hebrew text was translated into Greek. Taken together, they are a history of Israel as... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kgs 21-22. In 1 Kings 21:1-4, Ahab tries to buy a vineyard from Naboth. Lev 25:1-33 taught that God owned the land in Canaan and His people were not to dispose of it. Naboth rightfully refuses to sell sending Ahab into a fit... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kgs 18-20.Elijah and Ahab meet through Obadiah, a royal official in Ahab’s court but a secret follower of God (1 Kgs 18:1-19).Obadiah has been protecting multiple groups of believers but has a fear of Ahab that keeps his... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kgs 15-17.In 1 Kings 15:1-8, Abijam's (sometimes known as "Abijah") reign typifies the constant tension between Judah's propensity to fall into idolatry and God's faithfulness to His people. We see Maacah's name again in v 2. [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1Kgs 12-14.1 Kgs 12:1-11 records the rise of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. His stubborn nature and willingness to ignore the counsel of the aged while embracing the advice of his younger friends nearly loses him the kingdom (1 Kgs... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kings 10-11.1 Kings 10:1 introduces the Queen of Sheba. Sheba is usually associated with Southern Arabia, a region that controlled the shipping lanes between the Far East and the West. The test she submits Solomon to is,... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kgs 8-9.In 1 Kgs 8:1-8, the ark is brought into the Temple with great ceremony, symbolizing the arrival of God into His house. Surprisingly for some 1 Sam 8:9 reveals that the only contents of the ark are the stone tablets. As... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kgs 6-7In 1 Kgs 6, the temple is built, it is huge (about 90 ft long and 30 ft wide) and beautiful. Many of the details concerning the temple are fascinating:It is built on Mount Moriah on the “threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kgs 3-5. 1 Kings 3:1 depicts Solomon making his first major decision as king, and it is a questionable one. He forms an alliance with Egypt and takes a Gentile as his wife. Marriage to a non-Jew was prohibited by the early... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Today's readings are 1 Kgs 1-2.1 Kings begins with one king, David, reigning over a united but tension-filled Israel. We’ll see Solomon made king, who like his father, will make some mistakes and will stumble, but on a far greater scale. Ultimately,... [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
