EXPLANATION

A. Report Goal:

Explain that the report will cover the prophets, their main ideas, and how those ideas
are still important today.

B. Historical Start:

Explain that after King Solomon died, the kingdom split into two:

Northern Kingdom (Israel)

The ten northern tribes follow Jeroboam and form the northern kingdom of Israel.

Southern Kingdom (Judah).

The tribe of Benjamin stays with Judah in Jerusalem under the rule of Rehoboam (southern
kingdom).

The Divided Heart: A King's Folly and a Nation's Tragedy

Our story begins after the death of the great King Solomon, the man who built the magnificent
Temple. The united kingdom of Israel was at its peak in wealth and power, but the people were
exhausted from Solomon's heavy taxes and labor demands.

Part 1: The Folly that Broke the Kingdom (1 Kings 12)

The stage for the split is set in 1 Kings Chapter 12.

1. The Demand for Relief: When Solomon's son, Rehoboam, came to the throne, the
people approached him led by a man named Jeroboam. They begged the new king to
lighten the heavy burden that Solomon had placed on them.
o The Anchor: You can point to 1 Kings 12:1-4 as the moment the people make
their desperate plea.
2. The Arrogant Answer: Rehoboam ignored the wise counsel of his elders. Instead, he
took the foolish advice of his young friends and responded with incredible arrogance. He
threatened to be even harsher than his father.
o The Anchor: The key, fatal words are in 1 Kings 12:14, where Rehoboam
famously boasts, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke;
my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."
 3. The Breakup: This sealed the fate of the nation. The ten northern tribes cried out, "What
portion have we in David?" They rebelled and followed their own leader, Jeroboam.
o The Anchor: 1 Kings 12:16-20 officially records the division: The ten tribes
become the Northern Kingdom (Israel) under Jeroboam, and only the tribes of
Judah and Benjamin remain loyal to Rehoboam in Jerusalem, forming the
Southern Kingdom (Judah).

Part 2: The Path to Destruction: The North (Israel)

The Northern Kingdom of Israel quickly sealed its own tragic destiny with a founding sin that
was never corrected.

1. The Original Sin (The Golden Calves): King Jeroboam was afraid his people would go
back to Jerusalem to worship and then decide to rejoin the South. To prevent this, he
created his own form of worship. He set up two golden calves—one at Bethel and one at
Dan—and declared them to be the gods that led Israel out of Egypt.
o The Anchor: This spiritual rebellion is detailed in 1 Kings 12:28-33. This act,
known as "the sin of Jeroboam," became the evil standard for every single king
who followed him.
2. The Final Judgment (The Assyrian Conquest): Despite many warnings from prophets
like Elijah and Elisha, Israel remained steeped in idolatry. As a result, God allowed the
mighty Assyrian Empire to conquer the land.
o The Anchor: The total destruction of the North is found in 2 Kings 17:6, when
Assyria captures Samaria and deports the people. This marks the end of Israel as a
kingdom.
3. The Samaritans: The Assyrians brought in foreigners to settle the land. The mixing of
these foreigners with the few remaining Israelites created a new, mixed people and
religion, leading to the Samaritans (2 Kings 17:24-41).

Part 3: The Tumultuous Journey: The South (Judah)

The Southern Kingdom of Judah lasted over 100 years longer because of its connection to the
Temple and a few good kings, but it was a battle between righteousness and profound evil.

1. Moments of Light: While many of Judah's kings were sinful, a handful initiated
powerful religious cleanups (reforms). Hezekiah was one such king, who passionately
destroyed pagan shrines and led the people back to the Law.
o The Anchor: The record of Hezekiah's faithfulness begins in 2 Kings 18:3-6.
2. The Great Offense (Manasseh): Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, did more evil than any
king before him. He reversed every reform, brought back pagan worship, and most
horrifyingly, he sacrificed his own children in the fire to the god Molech.
o The Anchor: This era of great wickedness is detailed in 2 Kings 21:1-18.
Because of Manasseh's depth of sin, God delivered the absolute, irreversible
judgment on Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:10-15).
 3. The Final Delay (Josiah): The final burst of hope came with King Josiah. After
discovering the Book of the Law, Josiah tore his clothes in repentance. He destroyed
every high place, every pagan shrine, and every idol with zeal.
o The Anchor: 2 Kings 22-23 records Josiah's sweeping, righteous reforms.
However, the judgment pronounced because of Manasseh was only delayed—it
was not ultimately removed. This sets the stage for the coming Babylonian exile.

C. Prophet Types: Briefly explain the difference between Major Prophets (long books,
big ideas) and Minor Prophets (shorter books, specific messages).