"I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you". Genesis 17:6
The above Scripture is a promise of God to Abraham that in his generation their will be kings shall come out to descendants and the promise was repeated to his grandson Jacob (read: Genesis 35:11). This promised made years before the first king. Samuel was the prophet who anoint the first king, Saul, he is people choose, Samuel was disappointed to the people to ask for a king because he knew that God is their King but eventually he anoints Saul as the Lord God's instructions. David was the second king of Israel, and he is the greatest king of Israel and the famous ancestor of Jesus- Jesus called the Son of David. He was God's choice and Samuel anoints him too. The next king is Solomon, a son of Bathsheba to David. Saul, David and Solomon were the kings under united kingdom and it last for 120 years.
970BC - 930BC - King Solomon
He is the man of wisdom and folly. The important events in the life of Solomon was recorded mainly in the three books of the Old Testaments (2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles). In early reign of Solomon, he love the Lord and went to Gibeon and offers burnt offerings and the Lord appeared to him and asked him what the Lord would do for him, Solomon asked for an understanding heart( 1 Kings 3:9) and the Lord was pleased to him, and The Lord bless him with the gift of wisdom. Solomon became the wisest and wealthiest man in the east that ever lived. His fame went abroad, kings and leaders of other nation visits him, one of the memorable visits is the visit of Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12).
The main event in the life of Solomon was the built of the temple of God during in his fourth-year reign and it took seven years to building the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6: 37-38). Also he took the Ark of Covenant from Mount Zion and place in the Holy of Holies Temple ( 1 Kings 8:1-11, 2 Chronicles 5: 1-14).
Moreover, The Lord spoke to him twice concerning the promised . If he will walked before the footstep of his father David, the Lord will bless him. However, he was influence by his foreign wives to idolatry and leads him to his downfall and cause the division of the kingdom.
DIVIDED KINGDOM
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 1 Kings 11:31- 32
934BC - The division of the Kingdom begin in the reign of Rehoboam, son of Solomon who succeeded the throne. The Scriptures below is a prophecy of Ahijah concerning the division of the united Kingdom of Israel. see: TIMELINE
There are two important character during the divided kingdom, their names were almost similar and the events that happened in their life were resemblance. They are both served for Kingdom of Israel, God may use them to warned and always remind them to their evil deeds.
Elijah- Prophet of Fire
Nothing is known to his origin the Bible said "Elijah the Tishbite" and he live in Gilead (1 Kings 17:1). He has a unique character and he has rugged appearance also he has rough cloak. The Bible records fourteen scene or events in his life.
1. His sudden appearance before King Ahab- he prophesied a prolonged drought. ( 1 Kings 17:1)
2. In the Brook Cherith- the Lord commanded him to stay there, in spite of famine he found himself well nourished, ravens, an unclean birds fed him, the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and evening and he drink by the brook. he stayed their until the brook dried up(1 Kings 17:2-7).
3. At Zarephath- according to the word of the Lord. He went to Zarephath of Zidon, a small town of Phoenicia, Jezebel's town. in here He meet a widow and his son, the town was stricken with famine, when he meet the woman, she is gathering sticks to cook their last meal. Elijah requested for water and bread, at first the woman was hesitate because the she got a handful of meal in a barrel and little oil in a curse. Elijah said "Fear not" and the widow listen and trust him and miracle came, the widow and his son had plentiful supplies of food until the famine ended. Elijah is sent by God to fed her.
4. At the widow's house at Zarephath- the widow' son was restored to life.
5. The False Prophet was summoned- The Lord told to Elijah to appears to King Ahab of Israeland announce that God will send rain, also commands him to summon the false prophet for a contest at Mt Carmel.
6. On Mt. Carmel- The Lord Prophet Elijah challenge the false prophets of Baal. He summoned them to go up to Mt. Carmel to have contest, He challenged the false prophet of a fiery test. The false prophet prayed, worship even cuts themselves until evening to their god Baal but it is failed. When Elijah' s turn, and finished to prepared his sacrifice, he just prayed and divine fire came down the Lord and burn the sacrifice of Elijah.
7. The end of the drought- Elijah's prayer for rain and he runs before king Ahab and of Jezebel.
8. Under a juniper tree- In the wilderness, having fled and discouraged, exhausted and desiring to die but an angel came and fed him and he journeys on to Mt. Horeb.
9. Complaint- he complained to the Lord and He was given a new revelation from the Lord, the Lord ask him to anoints a man to be king and his successor.
10. On the farm- He meet Elisha flowing and give his mantle, indicating that Elisha is his successor.
11. Vineyard of Naboth- He prophesied the awful demised of Jezebel.
12. The Last journey of Elijah- He was accompanied of Elisha and they travel through the places to places until they reach river Jordan and smite it and they both together walked on a dry ground. And here Elisha ask for the double portion of his spirit. the finally Elijah taken by whirlwind into heaven.
13. On the Mt. Transfiguration- His reappearance with Moses and conversation with Jesus.
Elisha- Prophet of who received a double portion of Spirit
He is the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, his ministry lasted for fifty years and he started his ministry in the reign of Jehoram until Jehoahaz. There were events that happened in his life that resemblance to Elijah, which includes the following:
1. Both smote the waters of the Jordan river and passed over on the dry ground (2 Kings 2:8; 2:14)2. They are both brought waters of refreshment in times of drought and famine. (1 Kings 18:41-45; 2 Kings 8:9-20)3. Both miracles of increasing widows' oil for food (1 Kings 17:10-16; 2 Kings 4:1-7)4. Both raise sons of a woman to life (1 Kings 7:17-24, 2 Kings 4: 8-37)5. Both perform miracles for persons outside the of Israel- Zarephath and Jordan. (1 Kings 17:9-16; 2 Kings 5:1-5)6. They are both declared prophesies upon kings (1 Kings 21:19-22; 2 Kings 8:7-10)7. Also both call down vengeance and curse (fire on the soldiers; two bears on the little children). ( 2 Kings 1:9-12; 2:23-25).
In spite of the resemblances between in the events of miracles in their life of the two prophets, Elisha is not just an echo of his predecessor. There was difference between them, Elijah is a man of moods and temperament. He spent most of the time in an unavailing and struggle with the test of the times, and their were periods he had suffered from great depression, Unlike Elijah he has gentle, temperance and thoughtful spirit. Truly his a great man of God, in his ministry more miracles had happened which includes the following: ( read 2 Kings 4-7)
- Poisonous pottage healed
- Food multiplied during famine
- Lost axed recovered
- Defeat of Syrian
He lead people' s life and fellowship with men. The fact that he received "a double portion of the Spirit" echoed in his tomb, his dead bones were touched by a dead man and came to life (2 Kings 13:21).