Sermon Leaders of Israel and Judah

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[2] The title of the sermon today is “LEADERS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH.”

Let’s Start At The Beginning With Abraham

• Today, I want to do a high level of summary of all the leaders of Israel and Judah.
• I’m going to start at the very beginning with Abraham.

[3] Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

• Abraham is the FATHER of many nations. Sarah is Abraham’s wife.
• Isaac is their son. Isaac and Rebekah have Jacob. Jacob is called Israel.

[4] Genesis 32:27-28 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

• That’s Jesus Christ right there talking with Jacob. His name is now ISRAEL.
• Jacob has 12 sons with 4 different women. Those 12 sons are the 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL.

[5] Genesis 49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

• Let’s look at the 12 tribes. Remember, the father of all of these men is Jacob or ISRAEL.
• That’s why they are called the 12 tribes of Israel.
• The 4 mothers are Leah, Bilhah who is Rachel’s handmaid, Zilpah who is Leah’s handmaid, and Rachel.
• Jacob isn’t too fond of Leah so God gives her children first while Rachel is barren to begin with.
• It turns into a competition between 2 sisters, Leah and Rachel.
• They’re trying to see who can give Jacob the most children. So they get their handmaids involved too.

Here are the 12 SONS OF ISRAEL which form the 12 tribes in order of birth:

1. The first son is Reuben. His mother is Leah. He is the oldest.
2. Second son is Simeon. His mother is Leah.
3. Third son is Levi. His mother is also Leah.
4. Fourth son is Judah. His mother is Leah. The first 4 are with Leah.
5. Fifth son is Dan. His mother is Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid. She was upset Leah was having children.
6. Sixth son is Napthali. His mother is Bilhah. So far we have 4 from Leah and 2 from Bilhah.
7. Seventh son is Gad. His mother is Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid. We have 7 children with 3 different mothers.
8. Eighth son is Asher. His mother is Zilpah again.
9. Ninth son is Issachar. His mother is Leah. That’s her fifth son.
10. Tenth son is Zebulun. His mother is also Leah. That’s her sixth son. She also has a daughter named Dinah.
11. Eleventh son is Joseph. His mother is finally Rachel. That’s her first.
12. Twelfth son is Benjamin. His mother is Rachel. He’s several years younger than Joseph.

[6] Genesis 35:16-18 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

• So Rachel dies during child birth as they are journeying from Bethel to Ephrath.
• We see 12 sons and 1 daughter to Jacob from those 4 women.
• These 12 men from the NATION OF ISRAEL.
• Joseph’s brothers throw him in a pit because they’re jealous of him.
• Jacob loves Joseph more than the others and they get mad and want to kill him.
• Joseph ends up being sold into the land of Egypt. He becomes a great leader in Egypt.
• And the children of Israel live there in Egypt together.

Ephraim Was Not One Of The Original 12 Tribes Of Israel

But notice, the TRIBE OF EPHRAIM, which Joshua comes from later on, wasn’t one of the original 12 tribes.

• JOSEPH, who is one of the 12 original tribes, had 2 sons: Manasseh and Ephraim.
• Joseph was a great leader in EGYPT. His wife was Asenath. And who was she? Let’s see.

[7] Genesis 41:45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

• We see that the Tribes of Ephraim and Mannaseh are added.
• The LEVITES are given to GOD as a possession so they’re one short of 12 tribes.
• Joseph is represented by his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
• In Revelation Chapter 7, you’ll notice that there are 12 tribes listed for the 144,000.
• Here’s what you’re going to see in the Bible so you expect to see this when you’re reading.

[8]

• That’s not a contradiction in the Bible. There are reasons for the way they’re listed out.
• For example, including the LEVITES again in Revelation means the time of the PRIESTS is over.
• Jesus is now our HIGH PRIEST. It’s no longer men from the tribe of Levi. It was a picture of Jesus.
• Same thing with the SABBATH DAY. It’s a picture of salvation. JESUS is now our rest.

Then, we see the first great leader of the children of Israel.

• This is Moses. He wasn’t so great at first, but then he puts all his trust in God.
• Moses marries a woman named Zipporah who is Ethiopian. They have a son named Gershom.

[9] Exodus 2:21-22 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

• They end up having a second son named Eliezer. That’s in Exodus Chapter 18.
• But, let’s step back a minute. Moses also has an older brother named Aaron.
• Moses and Aaron have a sister named Miriam. Moses was scared to be the leader at first.

[10] Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

• We see Moses scared to lead because he didn’t speak well.
• But we also see that Moses, Aaron, and Miriam are from the tribe of Levi.
• Moses’ father was Amram, grandfather was Kohath, and great grandfather was LEVI.
• The LEVITES become the priests that take care of God’s house. They are GOD’S POSESSION.
• And notice God chose Moses and Aaron to be the leaders.
• Their job is to bring the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt.

[11] Exodus 6:13 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

• Aaron marries a woman named Elisheba. They have Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
• These form the leaders of the Levites. And remember, this is high level summary.
• I can’t get into all the details in one sermon. It would take many sermons for all the details.

Who Are The Leaders Of Israel After Moses And Aaron?

After Moses and Aaron, who do we see as the leaders of the children of Israel?

• Keep in mind that Moses wrote the first 5 book of the Bible.
• Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. What’s next?
• We see this next great leader and remember that he followed Moses prior to this time.
• He did what Moses asked. He obeyed God. He fought battles without fear.

[12] Numbers 27:18-19 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

• Joshua was the SON OF NUN, N-U-N. He is called Hoshea and Oshea in the Bible as well as Joshua.

[13] Deuteronomy 32:44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

• We see Joshua as early as Exodus Chapter 33. He was a young man at that time.

[14] Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

• Since Joshua was the next great leader, did he come from the LEVITES? Let’s see.

[15] Numbers 13:8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.

• So Joshua comes from the TRIBE OF EPHRAIM. Why do we call him Joshua?

[16] Numbers 13:16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

• As you can see, JOSHUA has several different names. Joshua, Hoshea, Oshea, and Jehoshua.
• Joshua is actually referred to as JESUS within the New Testament.

[17] Acts 7:45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

• That’s talking about JOSHUA. He was a type of SAVIOR for the Children of Israel. He wasn’t Jesus.
• But he is a picture of Jesus.

[18] Hebrews 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

• Joshua brought the children of Israel into the promised land. Does that sound like someone else?
• JESUS brings you into the promised land. Joshua is a picture of Jesus.
• Joshua was a GREAT LEADER and WARRIOR because God was with him.
• Good leaders don’t FORCE people to do things. God doesn’t force you. You make the decision.
• Watch the type of leader Joshua was. He leads by example.

[19] Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

• He says, “You make the choice who you’re serving. But me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
• So, other leaders of families get to make their own decision.
• But Joshua and his family they WILL serve the Lord. He was a great leader.
• That’s what we need in this world. It starts with each individual family unit.
• Along with Joshua, the high priest was Eleazar who was Aaron’s son. He was one that God didn’t kill.
• Eleazar married Putiel and they had Phinehas. He was there with Joshua as he was leading
• They were together just like Moses and Aaron.

Joshua Dies At The End Of The Book Of Joshua

At the very end of the book of Joshua we see Joshua die and Eleazar die.

• Who is next? What book of the Bible is after Joshua? JUDGES. Why are there JUDGES?
• Moses is actually the first judge. He’s the leader. That was God’s way of ruling.
• God would raise up a leader of HIS CHOICE. Moses and Joshua were first.
• Moses and Joshua warned the people over and over again to not turn away from following God.
• When Joshua died, that’s what happened. The people didn’t continue to follow God.

For example, in our homes today, the leader of the home is THE MAN, the HUSBAND.

• I didn’t say so. GOD SAYS SO. Just like God raised up Moses and Joshua to be leaders.
• God raised up the man to be the leader. Moses didn’t want to be the leader at first.
• Most men today don’t want to the be the leaders. For the ones that do, the wives rebel.
• When you rebel against who God has chosen to lead, you’re being like the SONS OF KORAH.

Don’t go up against your husbands who are trying to lead by example. God chose the man to lead.

• The Sons of Korah in Numbers Chapter 16 go up against Moses as leader.
• The earth opens up and swallows them and their entire families.
• God calls those men WICKED because they don’t want to obey God.

In Judges, we see that Joshua is no longer there to lead them.

• They are still fighting to take the PROMISED LAND. Joshua fought all his life, but he ran out of time.
• So, God has given them the land BUT they have to work for it. They have to fight for it.
• God tells them to drive out all of the inhabitants of the land. They don’t do what God says.
• It’s easier to just live there with all of those people in harmony and peace. But that’s not what God said.
• They started to fall away from God because they were being influenced by these wicked people.

[20] Judges 2:11-13 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

• They don’t have a good leader to keep them on track.
• For example, when MEN don’t lead in their homes like God commands, what happens?
• You can see it everywhere today. The wife, the children, the family all do whatever they want.
• If the husband doesn’t call everyone together to read the Bible, it doesn’t happen.
• The young men don’t have an example. The children aren’t given an example.

In the next generation, there are no leaders because they didn’t have examples in their own home.

• MOSES was the example for JOSHUA. But you have to someone step up and be the leader.
• Whose going to do that? MEN, are you going to step and be the leaders that God commanded you to be?
• You can ignore that command or not. How are you going to lead? BY EXAMPLE.
• Do what you tell the others to do? Joshua told them people to fight. Did he sit back and watch?
• No, he fought. If I tell my children we’re going to go dig up the garden, do I sit back and watch? No, I dig.
• Do I tell my wife and children to study the Bible and I sit back and watch? No, I study the Bible.
• And do I slack off and do less than they do? NO, I DO MORE. I set THE EXAMPLE. They have to catch me.

Being a leader isn’t easy. God never said it would be easy. It’s the toughest job.

• Leaders don’t sit back and do nothing.
• Leaders aren’t facilitators that sit back and watch everyone else work.
• Guess what type of MANAGER or BOSS at work gets the most respect?
• It’s not the one that just sits back and tells everyone else what to do.
• It’s the one that gets in there and does the work too. That’s how you get respect as a leader.
• Joshua didn’t sit back and watch all his people fight. He fought too. That’s what a leader does.

True Leaders Set An Example

A true leader SETS THE EXAMPLE. But you don’t get to sit back and let the leader do everything either.

• Get in there and do some work too. “Well, he’s doing such a good job. I can’t do as good a job.”
• “So I’ll just sit back and watch the leader do everything for me.” That’s lazy. What’s wrong with you?
• An example? Here at church, we all have to step it up and do things for God too.
• STUDY YOUR BIBLE. Bring knowledge and wisdom with you to Church.
• Then, the sermons will mean more and make more sense to you.

Think of more ways to get people saved. It’s not just one person working. It needs to be all of us.

• Come up with some ideas to get people to church. Let’s plan some events.
• Step up and be a leader. We have to do our best to fulfill God’s plan. PREACH THE GOSPEL.
• Let’s figure this out together. We need to work as a team.
• God raised up JUDGES to help his people after they cried out to HIM.
• Let’s look at the Judges that were raised up.

[21]

• Othniel is the first judge. He’s from the tribe of Judah.
• Ehud is next. Tribe of Benjamin. He is left handed. He kills the King of Moab who is a very fat man.
• And you might say: “Hey, at our church, it’s not nice to call people fat.”

[22] Judges 3:16-17 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.

• So, look, I didn’t call Eglon a very fat man. God did so get over it. The Bible is offensive.

[23]

• After Ehud, we see Shamgar. Then we see a woman as a Judge because men wouldn’t do their job.
• That’s what we see in today’s world. If men would do their jobs, women wouldn’t have to do them.
• But we have lazy men everywhere. WAKE UP and do your job!!!
• Deborah was from the tribe of Ephraim. Then Gideon from Manasseh. Tola from Issachar.
• I want to stop a second on Tola just because I love the SCRIPTURE about Tola.

Don’t Name Your Child Dodo

[24] Judges 10:1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.

• Don’t name your child Dodo. That’s all I wanted to say about that. It’s a good lesson.

[25]

• Then we see Jair from the tribe of Manasseh. Then Jephthah from Manasseh.

[26] Judges 11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

• His family didn’t need him or want him around until the AMMONITES were making war against them.
• Then, they wanted him back. Don’t use people for what you need and then kick them aside.
• That’s evil and wicked. They did so because he didn’t have the same mother as them. Was that his fault?
• Who do we see next?

[27]

• We see Ibzan of the tribe of Judah. Then Elon of Zebulon. Then Abdon of Ephraim.
• And then one of the most famous Judges, SAMSON. He’s from the tribe of Dan.
• Samson is the last JUDGE we see in the BOOK OF JUDGES.
• Judges were God’s preferred method of leadership. He didn’t have KINGS RULING OVER PEOPLE.
• God is the greatest leader. He gives you freedom to make your own choices.

He doesn’t make you do anything. In this church, we’ll follow HIS LEAD.

• We will NEVER make you do anything. We won’t make you read the Bible.
• We won’t make you go Soul Winning. We won’t make you wear certain clothes.
• You get to make your own choices in this church. As a child, though, you need some help.
• That’s why God gave you parents. As an adult, though, you get make your own choices.
• And to make the right choices, you need to choose what GOD WANTS. Walk in the SPIRIT.

The Judges Continue To Rule

We continue with judges ruling with ELI in the Book of 1 Samuel.

• Eli is from the tribe of LEVI. He descended from Ithamar who was the youngest son of Aaron.
• Then we see SAMUEL raised up to be the JUDGE.
• Samuel then, for some reason, thinks that his sons can be judges too just because they are his sons.
• Well, his sons are EVIL. God didn’t choose them to be judges.

[28] 1 Samuel 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

• A man doesn’t get to appoint the JUDGES. The people loved Samuel but not his sons.

[29] 1 Samuel 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

• The people saw all of this and didn’t want them as Judges or their leaders.

[30] 1 Samuel 8:4-5 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

• And that’s where we see the end of JUDGES. They had more freedom with the JUDGES.
• The people continue to ask for a king after many warnings and God gives them a KING.
• They rejected GOD as their KING. He was choosing the leaders for them. Now, they want to choose.

The first KING of the children of Israel is King Saul.

• Saul’s father was named KISH and they were from the tribe of Benjamin.
• Saul starts off good but then he decides he’s going to start doing things his way. He’s king.
• The power goes to his head. Don’t let that happen to you when you get a little power.
• God ends up punishing King Saul and setting up David to be the next King.

[31] Ruth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

• Salmon is from the tribe of Judah. Salmon and Rahab the harlot have BOAZ.
• Boaz is a great man in the Bible. Boaz and Ruth have OBED who is the father of Jesse.
• Jesse is the FATHER of KING DAVID!!! Jesus comes from the line of King David.
• Jesus is the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH.

[32] Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

• So, we see King David as the next KING and leader of the children of Israel.
• Saul rules for 40 years. David rules for 40 years. King David has many wives and many children.
• Some of David’s children you might remember are: Amnon, Absalom, Tamar, Adonijah.
• With Bathsheba, he has NATHAN, Shammua, Shobab, and Solomon.
• Solomon becomes the next great KING. Now, let’s list out King Solomon’s wives and concubines.
• Just kidding. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

King Solomon Was A Great Leader

King Solomon was a great leader because he asked God for wisdom to make the right decisions.

• But he had a great weakness and that was women. He went after women who worshipped false gods.
• He fell away from God and God punishes him and his family.
• King Solomon rules for 40 years over the children of Israel as King just like Saul and David.
• Then, do you remember what happens next?

The Kingdom of Israel is split into 2 different kingdoms: ISRAEL and JUDAH.

• Remember, Solomon is also from the TRIBE OF JUDAH. These 2 kingdoms form as a punishment from God.
• Solomon’s son REHEBOAM begins to reign.

[33] 1 Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

• The kingdoms split. REHEBOAM rules over JUDAH because he is from the tribe of JUDAH.
• That’s how you can remember this. We see a new King over Israel. That king is JEROBOAM.
• So, you see 10 tribes in rebellion against King Rehoboam. The tribe of EPHRAIM leads that rebellion.
• Jeroboam is of the tribe of EPHRAIM. He rebels. He is an evil king.
• Now, we’re going to see 2 sets of Kings or leaders of Israel and leaders of Judah.
• This all happens after King Solomon dies. Rehoboam takes over. 10 of 12 tribes rebel.
• The tribe of JUDAH makes up the huge majority of the SOUTHERN KINGDOM. It’s called Judah.
• This is when people are first called JEWS. They are from the Kingdom of JUDAH. Not Israel. JUDAH.

We’re going to look at each King for each side.

• JUDAH’S KINGS and ISRAEL’S KINGS. One very important thing to note.
• The King’s are GRADED by God in the Bible. They’re given a grade. How do you think they’re graded?
• They were graded on whether or not they obeyed the Lord.
• If they went after false gods, they were given a bad grade.

Do you see how we’re not exempt from that in the world today?

• There are actually more false gods than then. We’ve gotten worse. We haven’t gotten better.
• What kind of grade are you going to get? Are you going to be more like David?

[34] 1 Kings 15:5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

• Yeah, you’re going to make mistakes. But are you going to do what God wants you to do?
• Or, will you be more like Jehoram who was an evil King of JUDAH?

[35] 2 Chronicles 21:5-6 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.

• Notice that it says ALL THE KINGS OF ISRAEL were evil.
• As we go through the Kings today, remember that ISRAEL, the Northern Kingdom, had ALL EVIL KINGS.
• Notice what else it says there: “Jehoram’s wife was the daughter of the evil king Ahab.”
• That led Jehoram to do evil too. So be careful who you marry and how you let them influence you.

You Choose Your Path

In your life, you can choose to get closer to God or further away from God.

• When a Pastor chooses to not read and teach certain parts of the Bible, that’s going away from God.
• When a Pastor tells lies about God, that’s going away from God. They must not think they are.
• When you tell someone that they’re saved through works, you’re going away from God.
• In your life, if you choose to do the opposite of what God says, that’s sin.
• That’s moving away from God. You want to move closer to God.
• You want to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord.

First king of Judah is REHOBOAM, Solomon’s son.

• With Solomon turning to false gods, what do you think happened to Rehoboam?
• He also worshipped false gods. He was an evil King.

[36] 1 Kings 14:22-23 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

• They made false images everywhere. You see that everywhere in our world today.
• But I want you to see something else these Kings are graded by.
• And notice today, I didn’t write the Bible. GOD MENTIONS THIS EXACT THING WITH THE KINGS.
• God grades the Kings on this specific point that I’ll read you in the next verse.

[37] 1 Kings 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

• A King is doing a very bad job if they allow SODOMITES in the land. GOD SAYS SO.
• So, are we living in an evil country? Yes we are. SODOMITES are everywhere.
• We have men and women who are trying to change themselves into the opposite sex.
• YOU CAN’T DO IT NO MATTER WHAT YOU TRY. Inside, you’re still going to be the same person.
• It’s evil and it’s wicked. God gave you life. Be happy with who you are.

[38] 1 Kings 15:11-13 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

• Do you see that? ASA did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.
• What did he do? “HE TOOK AWAY THE SODOMITES OUT OF THE LAND.”
• He removed idols that HIS FATHERS had made. You see? He didn’t follow in their foot steps.
• He followed GOD instead of following a man. That’s what you need to do.
• Asa even took power away from his own mother.
• He removed her from being queen because she made an idol.
• We can learn tons and tons of things from all of these Kings. That’s why we’re introducing them today.

So, let’s at all of the Kings of Judah and all of the Kings of Israel.

• I’ve got 2 worksheets for you today. My helpers are going to hand these out.
• First, we’re going to look at the one labeled “Timeline: Kings of Judah and Kings of Israel.”
• This is an actual timeline side by side of the Kings of Judah on the left and Kings of Israel on the right.
• There are 20 Kings of Judah on the left and 19 Kings of Israel on the right.
• Notice that the Kings of Judah make it further on the timeline.
• That’s because God removes ISRAEL before JUDAH because they are evil.

Now, let’s look at the second worksheet.

• All of the Kings of Judah are listed out in order at the top of the page.
• The Kings of Israel are listed out in order at the bottom of the page.
• Notice the columns that are labeled “Start” and “End.” You’ll see “Evil” or “Good” listed there.
• Then you’ll see a column with Prophets during the reign of those Kings.
• The last column shows you how each King died.

In order, the Kings of Judah are (please follow along on the chart):

• Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Jehoash, Amaziah.
• Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah.

In order, the Kings of Israel are (please follow along there on the chart):

• Jeroboam the first, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehoram, Jehu.
• Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam the second, Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekehiah, Pekah, Hoshea.

Yes, You Need To Know The Kings Of Israel And Judah

You might say: “Why do I need to know all of these kings? I don’t need to know this.”

• God tells us the story of all these kings in 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles.
• That’s 6 books of the Bible. If you know the Kings better, those 6 books will make even more sense.
• And then all the books of the Prophets will make more sense too.
• That’s why I put the prophets in that column on the worksheet too.
• For example, if you find Elisha on the sheet, you’ll see he’s a prophet to the wicked Kings of Israel.
• If you can get all these KINGS straight, you can learn an amazing amount of the Bible.
• You can learn so much from each and every King.

Find Jehoshaphat on the worksheet. I’ll give you a minute to find him.

• Was he a King of Judah or a King of Israel? About what years did he reign. The minus means BC.
• You’ll see he is the fourth King of Judah. His reign begins when he is 35 years old.
• From about 870 BC to 845 BC, he is King of Judah. He reigns for about 25 years.
• Was he a good king or an evil king? He started and ended as a good king.
• How did he die? He died from natural causes.
• The prophets that you’ll find during his reign are Jehu, Jahaziel, and Eliezer.
• With that information, you can search the Scriptures and learn some lessons from King Jehoshaphat.
• I’ll show you what I found so we can learn from this King today.
• Let’s look for the prophet Jehu interacting with King Jehoshaphat.

[39] 2 Chronicles 19:1-2 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

• Notice this. In 2 Chronicles Chapter 18, the previous chapter, Jehoshaphat helps King Ahab.
• If you look on your timeline, you’ll see they are Kings at the same time.
• Ahab is over Israel and Jehoshaphat is over Judah. Is Ahab a good or an evil King?
• Look to your charts and what do you see? Look down and find King Ahab under Israel.
• He’s an evil king. The Bible says so. That means he was worshipping a false god.
• And King Jehoshaphat was helping him. Why? They were all related. They were like family.
• Think about that. But the prophet JEHU tells King Jehoshaphat the truth.
• Since you help those who are ungodly and hate the Lord, wrath is upon you.

That’s a lesson we need to learn. If someone loves God, help them. They won’t ask for ungodly things.

• If someone is evil and hates God, you don’t help them. We learn that lesson from these Kings.
• King Jehoshaphat seems to be a great guy. He helps everyone no matter what.
• That’s not what God wants. He wants you helping HIS PEOPLE who love HIM.
• Jehoshaphat still didn’t learn his lesson. Look at the other prophets in the tables.
• If you look up Eliezer, you’ll find what he says about King Jehoshaphat.

[40] 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: 36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

• So, we see another King of Israel during Jehoshaphat’s reign. This next King is Ahaziah.
• That Scripture on the screen tells us he is a VERY WICKED KING. Jehoshaphat forms an alliance with him.
• He should have already learned his lesson. Eliezer prophesies against him just like JEHU.
• The LORD broke all of their ships because Jehoshaphat joined himself with another evil King.
• And remember, these people were family. They were all the children of ISRAEL.
• Don’t join yourself together in any way with evil people who HATE GOD.
• Don’t go in business with people who hate God. You’re going to have problems.
• That’s a lesson we learn from King Jehoshaphat. And that’s just an example.
• As you study the Kings, you’ll learn tons and tons of lessons for your very own life.
• These were the leaders of hundreds of thousands of people.

Kings Of Judah Stay Within The Family

I want you to take a look at the CATEGORY column for the Kings of Judah and Kings of Israel worksheet.

• That tells you whether or not each King came from family.
• We start at the top with Rehoboam. He was the son of Solomon. Abijah was the son of Rehoboam.
• Do you see that? Notice, if you look all the way down through there, the Kings of Judah stay in the family.
• The only one that isn’t a son of the prior King is Athaliah. Do you see her listed there?
• But she is in the family. But let’s learn more about her and see what we can learn.

[41] 2 Kings 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

• So notice what we learn about Athaliah there. She is the daughter of KING OMRI in ISRAEL.
• But she marries KING JEHORAM of Judah. King Jehoram is King Jehoshaphat’s son.
• King Jehoram is an evil King. He didn’t follow after his father’s footsteps and follow after God.
• His wife is evil. ATHALIAH’s father, King Omri, is an evil King of Israel. You can see that on your charts.
• Ahaziah is killed by JEHU. Elisha prophesies to JEHU to kill the family of AHAB who comes from OMRI.

[42] 2 Kings 9:27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.

• Notice how King Ahaziah of JUDAH dies on your charts. Do you see it says ASSASSINATED?
• JEHU’s men assassinate him. So QUEEN ATHALIAH is King Ahaziah’s mother. And watch what she does.

[43] 2 Kings 11:1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

• She kills all the children related to her that would take the throne.
• Then automatically she becomes the ruler. That’s power hungry right there.
• MURDERING CHILDREN in her own family for power. Is that not evil?
• Well, it happens all the time in today’s world.
• “Well, I don’t have the MONEY to take care of a child SO I WILL ABORT OR MURDER MY CHILD.”
• “A child will just get in the way of MY CAREER.” Sounds a lot like the wicked ATHALIAH to me.
• But she doesn’t realize that King Ahaziah’s SISTER saves her nephew, JOASH.

[44] 2 Kings 11:2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

• Notice on your sheets who rules over JUDAH after ATHALIAH.
• You should see JEHOASH or JOASH there. He’s called both names in the Bible.
• And then notice how ATHALIAH dies. She’s assassinated.
• So, I hope you see how these sheets help you remember what happens in the Bible.
• The baby JOASH is hid for six years in the house. Notice what age he begins to reign on your sheets.

[45] 2 Kings 11:3 And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

• Do you see it there? 7 years old he begins to reign.

[46] 2 Kings 11:20-21 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house. 21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.

• Notice what type of King Joash is when he reigns. He starts out good but then turns to evil too.
• These sheets break down a lot of SCRIPTURE for you into one chart so I hope these help you study.

Whose Family Line Are The Kings Of Judah?

So, All the KINGS OF JUDAH are from the same family line. Whose line?

• King David’s line. King Solomon’s family line. You can find this line in Matthew Chapter 1.
• This gives us the family line of JOSPEH who is the husband of Mary who had JESUS CHRIST.
• Let’s look at that really quick.

[47] Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

• I’m skipping down through some of the verses to save time.

[48] Matthew 1:6-7 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

• So, you see many kings listed there that are on your sheets. David, Solomon, Roboam, Abia, Asa.

[49] Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

• So Joseph comes from the KINGLY LINE, from King David and then King Solomon.
• This means the perceived son of Joseph and Mary has a right to the THRONE. That’s the KINGLY LINE.
• In Luke, you see the family line of MARY who Jesus actually comes from as a HUMAN.

[50] Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

• This is saying Jesus is the son of Heli and not Joseph. Luke Chapter 3 is telling us who Jesus is.

[51] Luke 3:31-32 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,

• So MARY’s line comes from King David and then his son NATHAN and not Solomon.
• Joseph’s family comes from Solomon who is David’s son.
• Mary’s family comes from Nathan who is David’s son.
• The Book of Matthew is emphasizing Jesus as a THE KING.
• The Book of Luke is emphasizing Jesus as THE MAN. How do we know this?
• Watch how the genealogy ends in Luke Chapter 3.

[52] Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

• Jesus is the son of Adam humanly speaking and HE IS THE SON OF GOD.
• Do you see how amazing the Bible truly is? All of this is all linked together in the Bible.
• When you study the KINGS and LEADERS in the Bible, they point us to Jesus.
• The ENTIRE BIBLE points to Jesus Christ OUR SAVIOR.

To end today, I want to see if you can use the charts and worksheets I gave you.

• Let’s do some trivia questions. We’ll do the children against the adults.
• If the children win, they’ll get ice cream later. If the adults win, you can go buy your own ice cream.
• Raise your hand when you know the answer. 10 questions worth 10 points each.
• 1 BONUS question for 25 points. 125points total. Let’s see who wins this.

1. Which King fell and injured himself and ended up dying from it? King Ahaziah of Israel
2. How many different family lines are represented in the Kings of Judah? 1
3. How many different family lines are represented in the Kings of Israel? 9
4. Which King of Israel reigned the longest and how long? King Jeroboam II for 41 years
5. What capital city did the Kings of Judah reign from? Jerusalem
6. Which King was diseased in his feet? King Asa
7. How many Kings of Judah were good from start to finish? 5
8. Which King had the shortest reign of any and how long was that reign? King Zimri for 7 days
9. Which King reigned in 2 different cities and what were the cities? King Omri in Tirzah and Samaria
10. Did Elijah prophesy to Kings of Judah or Kings of Israel? Kings of Israel
11. BONUS 1: Why did King Omri rule in 2 different cities? Zimri

[53] 1 Kings 16:18-19 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died, 19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

• I hope you had some fun learning some new things today.
• Keep those sheets in your Bibles with you when you’re reading.
• Mark things in your Bible. Make sure I got everything right. I could have messed up.
• Check it all and make sure it’s all correct.

Let’s pray.