Chapters 16-22: It's a bona fide mess in the era of Israel's Third Dynasty.
The kings are coming and going. And this is no exaggeration. King Zimri of Israel (who killed the previous king and his entire family) lasted 7 days!
Israel and Judah are so split they can't stand each other. Israel itself is split in two factions! Queen Jezebel who married King Ahab of Israel sets up the worshiping of Baal, and tried to exterminate all of God's prophets. She was so bad that even today her name is used to describe an evil, plotting woman: "Don't be a Jezebel!"
During this very ugly time in Israel, God raises up a great prophet, Elijah of Tishbe in Gilead. Elijah lets King Ahab know that until he turns back to the Lord there will be no rain in Israel. And there was no rain for years.
Then in chapter 18, God tells Elijah to gather the people of Israel at Mount Carmel and build two altars, one to Baal and one to God. Elijah explains that Baal must light the fire to cook the dedicated bull on his altar and God will do the same on His own altar. Elijah even fills several large jars of water and completely drenches his altar until water has trenched around the altar itself. Elijah then makes fun of Baal because he cannot light his altar, then prays to God to light God's altar. The fire was so focused and intense it not only lit God's altar but burned to dust the rocks of the altar and complete devoured all the water around it as well.
The kings are coming and going. And this is no exaggeration. King Zimri of Israel (who killed the previous king and his entire family) lasted 7 days!
Israel and Judah are so split they can't stand each other. Israel itself is split in two factions! Queen Jezebel who married King Ahab of Israel sets up the worshiping of Baal, and tried to exterminate all of God's prophets. She was so bad that even today her name is used to describe an evil, plotting woman: "Don't be a Jezebel!"
During this very ugly time in Israel, God raises up a great prophet, Elijah of Tishbe in Gilead. Elijah lets King Ahab know that until he turns back to the Lord there will be no rain in Israel. And there was no rain for years.
Then in chapter 18, God tells Elijah to gather the people of Israel at Mount Carmel and build two altars, one to Baal and one to God. Elijah explains that Baal must light the fire to cook the dedicated bull on his altar and God will do the same on His own altar. Elijah even fills several large jars of water and completely drenches his altar until water has trenched around the altar itself. Elijah then makes fun of Baal because he cannot light his altar, then prays to God to light God's altar. The fire was so focused and intense it not only lit God's altar but burned to dust the rocks of the altar and complete devoured all the water around it as well.
King Ahab and Queen Jezebel never changed their ways, but the people repented and worshiped God. The king eventually died and was buried in Samaria, and his evil son Ahaziah became the next king of Israel.
Meanwhile King Jehoshaphat of Judah, in whom God was pleased (just as He had been with his father King Asa) died a few years later but he was buried in the City of David (Jerusalem) and his son Jehoram became the next king of Judah.
This ends the First Book of the Kings.
Stay tuned for the Second Book of Kings...Coming Soon!