In 922 B.C., a tax revolt divided David's kingdom. Solomon's son Rehoboam ruled Judah in the south, while Jeroboam I controlled Israel in the north.

To discourage reunion, Jeroboam promoted Baal worship as an alternative to serving the Lord at His Temple in Jerusalem. Later rulers, such as Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kgs 16-22), strengthened idolatry in the north and tried to spread it to the south. In response, the Lord sent a series of prophets to call His people back to Himself.

Elijah was active during Ahab's reign (ca. 869-849 B.C.). When Elijah prayed, the Lord sent fire from heaven to demonstrate that He, not Baal, was the true God (1 Kgs 17 - 2 Kgs 2). When a fiery chariot carried Elijah into heaven, his disciple Elisha continued his work (2 Kgs 2-13).

Jonah (ca. 780 B.C.), the reluctant missionary to Nineveh, demonstrated God's love and concern for all nations (see 2 Kgs 14:25 and the Book of Jonah).

Amos (ca. 750 B.C.) predicted that Israel, Judah, and other nations that have enjoyed God's care would now face punishment for their sins. This prophet focused on social justice, or a concern for the community, as part of one's service to God.

Hosea (ca. 745-722 B.C.) likened God's relationship with His covenant people to the marriage bond between husband and wife. He condemned Israel for its constant "adultery" against the Lord.

Micah (ca. 735-715 B.C.) pronounced the death penalty on the Northern Kingdom for its sin and idolatry. Yet Micah remained convinced that God would somehow fulfil His ancient promises:

You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago. (Mic 7:20, NIV)

Isaiah (ca. 740-701 B.C.) warned that Judah would likewise face destruction if it did not repent.

God had strategically placed His covenant people in the center of the world, between three continents (see Ezek 5:5). Over the next centuries, a series of mighty empires flexed their muscles and locked horns. Israel and Judah found themselves caught between the Egyptians in Africa; the Greeks and Romans in Europe; and the Assyrians (centered in what is now northern Iraq), Babylonians (southern Iraq), and Persians (Iran) in Asia. The next thousand years of Jewish history is a story of continual war and hardship.

In 721 B.C. the Assyrians, led by king Sargon II, made war against Egypt. In the process, Assyria destroyed the Northern Kingdom in 722 by killing most of the Jews who lived there (2 Kgs 17). This tragic event brought three significant results:

First, Assyria resettled the land with people from Babylon, Avva, and elsewhere (see 2 Kings 17:24). These outsiders intermarried with the few remaining Jews and formed the group later known as "Samaritans." Some tried to worship the Lord, but most southern Jews rejected them as "half-breeds." This hostility continued for centuries into the time of Christ.

Second, the Samaritans built a Temple on Mount Gerizim to avoid going to Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. They also developed their own version of the Law, the "Samaritan Pentateuch," which a few still use today.

Third, Aramaic, the language of the Assyrians, replaced Hebrew as the common language of Jews. Accordingly, parts of the Old Testament are written in Aramaic (Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26; Dan 2:4b-7:28; Jer 10:11), and Jews from Judea still spoke Aramaic among themselves in Jesus' day (e.g. Ephphatha in Mark 7:34 and Marana tha in 1 Cor 16:22). 

Reflect...

1. Why do you think God placed the Jewish nation between Europe, Africa, and Asia, where trade routes from three continents intersected? For a clue, see Isaiah 49:6.
   
   
2. Read Isaiah 9:1-7 and Micah 5:2-5. How did these prophets keep hope alive for a Messiah King descended from David? What did they say about that King?
   
   
3. Read 2 Kings 17. Why did God allow Assyria to destroy the Northern Kingdom?
   
   
4. How did Jesus try to break down barriers between Jews and Samaritans? See, for example, Luke 10:25-37; John 4:1-42; and Acts 1:1-8.

Publisher's Note...

This concludes our series titled Story of Scripture I. After a brief break, we will continue with Story of Scripture II, beginning during the week of October 5. Thank you for receiving Bare Roots.

My wife gave me a new pocket Bible in 1997. I found that I could read through the entire Bible in less than one year by reading 4 chapters per day from most books or 3 chapters per day from books with very long chapters, such as Numbers and John. I have done this every year since that time and have found it very beneficial. I commend this practice to you as a fine way to acquaint yourself with God's written word. -- CD

Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

Bare Roots is a regular publication, free of charge, intended for small group discussion or
personal enrichment. To subscribe or unsubscribe, e-mail cadavis@hiu.edu.
This e-list is not used for marketing nor shared with others.

For back issues of Bare Roots, see http://www.hiu.edu/bareroots.