I Kings Questions & II Kings Questions

What was the purpose of having Abishag “lie in (David’s) bosom,” and what does the fact that David “did not know her” say about his personal health and ability to govern his people? (I Kings 1.2).

Why was it logical that a power vacuum was created within the kingdom at this particular point in time? (I Kings 1.1-1.3).

With whom does Solomon align himself in marriage and, considering all that has happened since Genesis, why would such a marriage foreshadow problems ahead for the people of Israel? (I Kings 3).

What does Solomon request from “God” in a dream and how does Solomon demonstrate his having acquired what he had requested? Explain. (I Kings 3).

How is the Seinfeld episode titled ‘Elaine’s bike’ consistent with Solomon’s wish from God?

What was Solomon noted as having built within Jerusalem and what was to be placed in this building? (I Kings 6.1) (The remnants of this building remain today and are known as the “Wailing Wall”).

What did the Queen of Sheba witness on her trip to Solomon’s kingdom and how does this mark the height of Israel’s power? (I Kings 10).

What is Solomon noted as having done that led to the beginning of the fall of his empire? (I Kings 11.1-11.3).

What does “the LORD” tell Solomon will happen after he dies? (I Kings 11.11-11.13).

How is the LORD’s prophesy a logical conclusion considering the number of wives and concubines both David and Solomon had while Kings of Israel?

What city is Solomon told will not be stripped from his offspring’s realm of power? (I Kings 11.13). 

What kind of message does the man of God tell Jeroboam?

When Jeroboam hears this message and demands that the man of God be seized, what happened to him? What other prophesies also came true?

Why does the man of God refuse to go to Jeroboam’s house? What three things do the LORD tell him not to do?

What does the Old Prophet tell the man of God?

What is the punishment the man of God receives for not following the word of the LORD?

How does this punishment come true?

Why does the Old Prophet tell his sons to bury him with the man of God?

What happened to Abijah, Jeroboam’s son?

What does Jeroboam tell his wife to do?

What does Ahijah, the man who said Jeroboam should be king, tell Jeroboam’s wife?

What happened to Jeroboam’s son when his wife returned?

When Reheboam was leading Judah, what were some of the evils the people committed?

What happened during the fifth year of Reheboam’s reign?

Describe Ahab’s style of ruling:

Who was Ahab’s wife, and what did she do?

What does Elijah tell Ahab?

What does the LORD tell Elijah to do?

After the wadi dried up, Elijah went to live with a widow.  What happened that prevented them from starving?

When the son of the woman becomes ill, what happened to him, and what did Elijah do?

After three years of drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah and told him to find Ahab.  

Why was Obadiah fearful of bringing Ahab to Elijah?

What does Ahab call Elijah when they first meet and why does he say this?

Who does Elijah tell Ahab to bring to Mount Carmel?

When Ahab and the people meet Elijah on Mount Carmel, explain what Elijah proposed to be done.

What did Elijah do when the prophets unsuccessfully worked from morning until noon?  What did the prophets do in response?

What did Elijah to do his offering, and what happened after he prayed to God?

What did Elijah do to the prophets after God heard his prayers?

What did Elijah’s servant see in the distance from the top of Mount Carmel after looking seven times?

Where did Elijah go at the end of the chapter?

When Ahab returned, what did he tell Jezebel?

What was the general tone of the letter that Jezebel sent to Elijah?

What did Elijah do after he received Jezebel’s letter?

Who visited Elijah while he was alone and what did this entity say and do?

How long was Elijah in the wilderness?

When Elijah was told in the cave to “stand on the mountain” because the LORD was about to pass by, what events took place?

What will take place that will result in the death of thousands?

Who does the LORD say will be allowed to survive?

When Elijah set out and found Elisha, what was Elisha doing and jhow many animals did he have? 

What are the symbolic undertones of this number?

When King Ben-Hadad of Aram gathered his army, who did he attack? 

What did King Ben-Hadad firs demand from King Ahab, and how did Ahab respond?

What was different in King Ben-Hadad’s second demand?

What did the prophet tell Ahab?

What happened to King Ben-Hadad after the first battle?

What did the servants of the King of Aram claim about the role of the gods in the battle?

Before the battle took place in the spring, where did the armies stay, and how many days did they face each other?

What did the man of God tell Ahab about the coming battle, and what eventually happened?

After the battle, what did the King of Israel decide to do to Ben-Hadad?  How does this parallel what happened in I Samuel 15?

After the LORD heard of what the King of Israel did with regard to Ben-Hadad, he notified a member of the council of prophets.  At the command of the LORD, what did a certain member of the company ask another to do to him?  When this person refused the request, what happened to him?

After another prophet struck the first prophet, where did the wounded man go, who did he meet, and what was the purpose of the story he told?

What did Ahab ask Naboth to do?

After Ahab told his wife Jezebel what happened, what did Jezebel do?

How and why was Naboth eventually killed?

When the word of the LORD came to Elijah, what was Elijah told would happen to Ahab and his wife?

Why did the LORD decide to change Ahab’s fate?

How is Elijah’s appearance described?  What does this appearance suggest about him?

What happened on two occasions to the king’s captains and groups of fifty men who went to Elijah and told him to “come down from the mountain”?

After this happened a second time, what did the third group do?

When an angel of the LORD told Elijah to go down and speak with the king, what did Elijah say?

Who or what was the angel of the LORD with whom Elijah spoke?

On three occasions when Elijah told Elisha that he had to go to a different town, how did Elisha respond?

What did Elijah do that was similar to something Moses had done while leading the Israelites?

What does Elisha ask for when Elijah says, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you”?

How were Elijah and Elisha finally separated from one another?

What did Elisha do with the mantle Elijah had once held?

What did the company of prophets say when they saw Elisha’s actions?

Why did fifty prophets set out for three days?

What did Elisha do to the water and to the boys who harassed him?

How did Elisha help the woman who feared that her sons were going to be sold into slavery?

What does Elisha have his servant tell the Shunammite woman as a result of the food and shelter she had provided them?

What other women throughout the Old Testament narrative have received similar news?

What happened to the Shunammite’s son, and how did Elisha help him?

What did Elisha do for one hundred men?

Who was Naaman and what was his ailment?

What did Naaman’s wife’s servants tell her, which she told her husband?

When Elisha heard of Naaman’s letter and the King of Israel’s reaction, what did Elisha tell Naaman to do?

Why was Naaman initially upset with Elisha’s message to him?

Why did Naaman ask Elisha for two mule-loads of earth?

What did Elisha’s servant Gehazi think soon after Naaman left, and what did he set out to do?

What punishment did Elisha pass down to Gehazi for his actions?

Who is King Nebuchadnezzar and what did he do? (II Kings 25).