King Yoash's story is told in two parts.
His early life, before the death of his adopted father - the High Priest - is virtuous. But after Yehoyada's demise, he turns to idolatry and silencing his critics, including the murder of the son of the man who raised him. Punishment quickly ensues.
Athalia seizes the throne.
The High Priest - Yehoyada - waits six years and then stages a mutiny.
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In this chapter we have two episodes of murder;
1. Ahazyahu, King of Yehuda is assassinated by Yehu ben Nimshi in the mutiny at Jezreel
Seeing that the king, her son, is dead, Attalya takes the reigns of power and rules Yehuda,
2. But then we see baby Yoash who is snatched from a "the murdered" in the palace in Jerusalem, and is hidden by his aunt for 7 years.
King Yehoram follows the exemplary King Yeshoshafat, but he brings the murderous, idolatrous northern culture to Jerusalem. He receives a warning letter from (the deceased) Elijah the prophet. Things do not end well for Yehoram. He kills his brothers - all his sons but one are murdered; and he dies of an awful intestinal disease.
In an episode not recorded by Sefer Melakhim, Yehoshafat is attacked and invaded by three foreign powers. He launches a counterattack, but it is God who is really fights the war.
Yeshoshafat is reprimanded by the prophet.
His response is to embark on a campaign to bring justice to the land.
The righteous Yehoshafat has his son marry Ahab's daughter. They launch a joint military campaign. Now Ahab is the most evil and idolatrous of kings. His wife actively persecutes God's prophets. Ahab's greatest critic is Eliyahu Hanavi.
Jewish unity is nice. But should Yehoshafat be associating with this sinful king, let alone marry his son to his daughter?
The prophet at the start of ch.19 severely reprimands Yehoshafat "Do you assist the sinner, and love those who hate God?" And so, today, in honour of Tisha BAv, we discuss our relationship with non-observant Jews.
Today we begin 4 chapters about King Yehoshafat who teaches Torah and is rewarded with wealth, power and influence.
Up to this point, Assa has a stellar record in biblical terms.
But now, he makes a "covenant" with Syria (rather than God), relies on himself (rather than God) and ignores, even imprisons the prophet , oppresses his people, and when he gets sick consults with doctors (rather than God.)
This is Assa's downturn.
But he gets a very nice funeral!! ;-)
Assa leads the country to rid itself of idolatry.
He then convenes the nation at the Temple to renew their allegiance to God.
Today we discuss some of the typical features that characterize the depictions of kings in Divrei Hayamim.
King Avia (Yehuda) and King Yerovam (North - Israel) go to war.
500,000 dead!
Does Divrei Hayamim side with Avia or Yerovam? Why?
And how about Hazal?
After chapter 11 positive assessment of Rechavam, the ling and people abandon God, and God abandons them.
Today we talk about many features of Divrei Hayamim - the democratic nature of the connection between king and nation; and the theology of action and its consequent reward and punishment as reflected in Divrei Hayamim.
If last chapter, Rechavam makes quite a blunder losing the 10 northern tribes and splitting the kingdom, chapter 11 offers many of Rechavam's achievements.
But his success is only going to last as long as he follows God! In ch.12 he abandons God and it all falls apart!
After Solomon, the kingdom splits into two states - Ephraim and Yehudah.
Today we address the friction between these two factions, going back to Rachel and Leah, and forward to the days of the Messiah.
This chapter discusses the state visits of foreign kings and queens, but more than anything we find it replete with gold (16 mentions) and silver (4 mentions).
Is this good news or bad news?
Today we discuss the contradictions between Sefer MEalkhim and Chronicles. And we discuss the music that has been the soundtrack of our podcast:
Lyrics of the song
Versions of the song
Traditional version - Elana Rubina
A little more about the poem/song - here
Solomon has prayed. Will God respond?
He does. Fire descends from heaven.
This is followed by much celebration.
But after it is all over, God appears yet again to Solomon and, on the one hand, asserts that he has accepted Solomon's prayer. On the other hand he warns that any promises are conditional. If the Torah and it slaws are not observed, then all the promises will be reneged.
As we show, this is fundamentally the covenant of Sefer Devarim - of Deuteronomy.
Is God in the Temple? Or in the Heavens?
What was inside the Holy of Holies?
Did Solomon make adjustments to the Ark of the Covenant?
What was inside the Ark of the Covenant?
