Reading for September 4th

 Read 1 Kings 16.21-28. In 16.21-28: Omri of Israel. In verses 21-22: The civil war described here was between two other military commanders, Omri and Tibni, with Omri eventually being victorious. In verse 24: Omri's acquisition of Samaria and his designation of it as his capital was similar to David's acquisition and establishment of Jerusalem as his capital. In verse 25-28: Historically, Omri was one of the most powerful and important kings of Israel. He founded a dynasty that lasted through five kings. Israel was known by other countries as the "house of Omri" for generations after Omri's death. The fact that the deuteronomist disposes of Omri in just a few verses using the same formulas as foe all other kings indicates that his interests are primarily theological rather than historical. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 3rd

 Read 1 Kings 16.15--20. In 16.15-20: Zimri of Israel. The formulaic nature of the deuteronomistic evaluation is clear in this case from the fact that Zimri reigned only seven days (v. 15), yet he is still condemned for all the sins of his predecessors (v. 19). Comments or Questions.. 

Reading for September 2nd

 Read 1 Kings 16.8-14. In 16.8-14: Elah of Israel. In verse 9: Like Baasha, Zimri  was a general in the army who led a revolt. In verses 11-13: Zimri follows the standard practice of wiping out all the male heirs of the previous house. Again, the deuteronomist explains this theologically as punishment from the Lord as predicted by a prophet. Comments or Questions.

Reading for September 1st

 Read 1 Kings 15.33-16.7. In 15.33-16.7: Baasha of Israel. In 15.34: The sin that (Jeroboam) caused is real to commit was the worship at the shrines of Dan and Bethel (12.25-33). In 16.1-4: This oracle predicts the demise of the house of Baasha in terms very similar to the one against Jeroboam in 14.7-11. Both are likely the work of the deuteronomist. In verse 7: This very verse seems secondary because it is repetitive of vv. 1-4 and because it follows the closing formula for Baasha in vv. 5-6. The last clause, and also because he destroyed it has been understood by some as "even though he destroyed "(the house of Jeroboam)". Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 31st

 Read 1 Kings 15.25--32. In 15.25-32: Nadab of Israel.  Nadab marks the end of the royal house of Jeroboam. In verse 26: His ancestors is literally "his father," Jeroboam. In verse 27: Baasha was an army general who led a government takeover. In verses 29-30: After assassinating Nadab, Baasha killed all of Jeroboam's male heirs because they were potential rivals for the throne. This was customary practice for the founders of new royal houses. The deuteronomist, however, sees this as punishment for Jeroboam as prophesied by Alijah (14.7-11). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 30th

 Read 1 Kings 15.9- 24. In 15.9-24: Asa of Judah. In verse 12: The term for idols is a disparaging one and sounds like the word for "dung" in 14.10. In verse 13: The nature of Maach's abominable image is not known; it may have been related to Asherah's role as a Canaanite fertility goddess. In verse 14: The high places were shrines. Here, they were apparently used for the worship of the Lord, not of other gods. In verse 17: Ramah was in Benjamin on the main road between north and south. In verse 20: The places listed in this verse are all in northern Israel. Thus, Asa used Ben-hadad to divert Baasha's attention from his southern border with Judah. In verse 22: None was exempt means that Asa conscripted a labor force of all the men of Judah for this project. Geba and Mizpah were on opposite sides of a pass along the north-south road a little north of Ramah. Asa was, therefore, extending his northern border. In verse 23: Feet is probably a euphemism for sexual organs; Asa likely died of a venereal disease. This verse implies that the disease was punishment for some unnamed sin. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 29th

 Read 1 Kings 15.1-8. In 15.1-8: Abijam of Judah. In verse 1: Abijam is called Abijah in 2 Chr 13.1 and judges in Chronicles to be good. In verse 2: Abishalom is apparently Absalom,  David's rebellious son (2 Sam 13-19). if so, Maach would have been David's granddaughter. In verse 4: A lamp also mean a fiefdom or minor domain. Inverse 6: This verse is repetitive; see 14.30. Comments or Questions..