Preview of “Microsoft Word - The Chronicles of the Kings (Spring ...

Lesson 7
THE BAD & UGLY #5: Jehoram-Athaliah (Judah)
Facilitator Note
Before reading through this lesson, overview and spend some time in 2 Kings 8:16-29; 9:14-29; 11:1-16
& 2 Chronicles 21:4-23:21. What went wrong? When we look at this line of rulers, we see that both Jehoram and
Ahaziah came from “good stock.” So, what went wrong? Well, the answer is directed toward one person, Athaliah. If there
were ever women in Scripture that resembled the White Witch of Narnia, one would be Jezebel and the other Athaliah
(mother and daughter).
It is important in this study to hone in on the family tree. You see, Jehoram had a good example in his father, Jehoshaphat.
Although Jehoshaphat didn’t do everything right, he still is known as a good king. Obviously, his son would have known of
his father’s rule and how he walked in the way of the Lord. Yet, Jehoram is immediately labeled an evil king. He starts off
killing off all his brothers and some of the princes of Israel. Why? HIS WIFE.
Athaliah has a very interesting family tree herself. She is the daughter of Ahab and the granddaughter of Omri. She is linked
by blood and heritage to two of the most evil kings in Israel’s history (if not the most evil kings). She was not only raised by
Ahab, but also by Jezebel (her mother). Evidently, the saying found in Ezekiel 16:44 is true, “Like mother, like daughter.”
The White Witch, from The Chronicles of Narnia, is very much in line with these two women. The Queen of Narnia
establishes worship of herself following Aslan’s departure from Narnia. She desires to lead all the inhabitants of Narnia in
her ways, rather than those of Aslan. Most follow, but some rebel. Once she hears that the Sons of Adam and the Daughters
of Eve have entered Narnia, she wants nothing more than to eradicate them to establish her rule forever.
In the same way, Athaliah uses Jehoram to begin a process of killing off the line of David (Jesus’ lineage) and reestablish her
father’s rule. She assumes authority following her son’s death and once again attempts to end the line of David. But
Jehosheba (Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister, and probably Athaliah’s daughter [Although it has been speculated that
she did not belong to Athaliah, but the text does not say it.]) saves Joash’s life and the lineage of Jesus. Jehosheba is Jehoiada
the priest’s wife. Jehoiada helps to reestablish the dynasty of David. Whew! Did you get all of that? What a tangled web we
weave.
In this lesson, you will want to focus on the question: WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO? We will always have voices
trying to malign our pathway toward God. However, we ALWAYS have a choice. Jehoram and Ahaziah chose to listen to
Athaliah. Many Narnians chose to listen to the White Witch. Who do you choose to listen to?
*NOTE: Once again, please be sure to share with your class participants that the use of analogy is only to bring about discussion and
help us see things differently. Trying to dig to deep into an analogy will only reveal its holes and inconsistencies. Don’t get lost in the
analogy.
Prayer
Begin your time with a prayer. Ask God to send the right individuals into our lives who will help us (not hurt us)
in our relationship with Him.
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Focus
! Who are you listening to?
! Choose your partners (spouse, friends, family) in life wisely.
! Choosing to listen to God over the voices in the world.
Lesson
Discussion Starters (Optional):
" Have you ever listened to someone you shouldn’t have? How did the situation turn out?
" Why do we choose to listen to others when we know what God wants?
" Is it possible to listen to the wrong people in matters of faith? How do we know who to listen to?
Introductory Material: Narnia and the White Witch
" In earlier lessons we have properly introduced the Queen (White Witch) of Narnia. After entering
Narnia, the White Witch enjoys a time when Aslan is absent. She takes control of Narnia and
subjects all Narnian’s to her rule. Yet, she knows of the prophecy of the Sons of Adam and the
Daughters of Eve seizing her throne.
" The White Witch puts an order throughout the land that as soon as the Sons of Adam and the
Daughters of Eve arrive, she is to be immediately notified under penalty of death. Her desire is to
eradicate these individuals before they have a chance to fulfill the prophecy.
" However, there are those in Narnia who no longer want the Queen’s rule and are ready for things
to return to how they were when Aslan ruled. When the Pevensie children enter Narnia, they are
hidden in order to fulfill the prophecy. The Queen seeks them out to kill them and establish her
throne forever.
" For this lesson…
1. The Queen of Narnia represents Queen Athaliah.
2. Those following the White Witch represent Jehoram and Ahaziah listening to Athaliah’s
counsel.
From God’s Word (2 Kings 8:16-29; 9:14-29; 11:1-16 & 2 Chronicles 21:4-23:21)
2 Kings 8:16-24 & 2 Chronicles 21:4-20 (JEHORAM)
" What was Jehoram’s first act as king? Killing all his brothers
" Why do you think he made this move? Who might have influenced this action? Athaliah
o Listen to what the Jewish historian, Josephus, said concerning this: “Now Jehoram, the king
of Jerusalem, for we have said before that he had the same name with the king of Israel, as soon
as he had taken the government upon him, betook himself to the slaughter of his brethren and
his father’s friends, who were governors under him, and thence made a beginning and a
demonstration of his wickedness; nor was he at all better than those kings of Israel who at first
transgressed against the laws of their country, and of the Hebrews, and against God’s worship:
(96) and it was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, whom he had married, who taught him to be a
bad man in other respects, and also to worship foreign gods.” 2
" Why was marrying Athaliah significant? Why was her name not even mentioned (only that she was
the daughter of Ahab)? It didn’t matter who he was marrying as much as what influence he was
falling under.
2 Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996).
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" What is significant about the letter from Elijah? What was Jehoram’s most noteworthy sin?
Leading the Israelites to prostitute themselves with other gods.
" What stands out in 2 Chronicles 21:20? No one cared that he died. What a legacy!
2 Kings 8:25-29; 9:14-29 & 2 Chronicles 22:1-9 (AHAZIAH)
" What stands out in Ahaziah’s reign?
" Key in on 2 Chronicles 22:3-5. Where did Ahaziah go wrong?
o Walked in the ways of Ahab. This is different as Ahab was the standard of evil for both
Jehoram and Ahaziah, not Jeroboam son of Nebat.
! Is this significant? Why? Two things: 1) Ahab set a new standard of evil and 2) their
downfall as kings was because they listened to the counsel of the house of Ahab
(predominately Athaliah).
o His mother, Athaliah, encouraged him to do wrong (as she did his father).
o He followed the advice of the house of Ahab, to his undoing.
" Read 2 Chronicles 22:9. What stands out in this verse to you?
o He was buried like the other kings of Judah because of his grandfather, Jehoshaphat (a
legacy that only benefited him after death).
o No one was left in his family powerful enough to take his reign.
o Therefore, Athaliah sees her chance to regain the throne for her family slipping away. She
takes action.
" Ahaziah’s downfall from the beginning was listening to the wrong people. Do we struggle with that?
2 Kings 11:1-16 & 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21 (ATHALIAH)
" The Illegitimate Queen of Judah
" Upon her son’s death, what is the first action Athaliah takes as queen? Killing off the royal line to
insure and regain her family’s rule.
" Take note of 2 Chronicles 22:10. Who all was she trying to destroy? The entire line of Judah
(JESUS’ line)
" What stands out to you about Athaliah’s downfall?
Reflection
" The White Witch of Narnia would stop at nothing to ensure her reign. Athaliah
was no different. She not only made herself queen, she would not let go it easily
when the rightful heir showed up. She would use ANYONE to advance her
agenda.
Prayer
" Why does listening to the wrong advice impact us so much?
" Did Jehoram and Ahaziah have a choice? YES, they could have chosen to follow
Jehoshaphat (their own flesh and blood). Instead, they chose an outside voice
that led to their demise. DO WE HAVE A CHOICE? ALWAYS!
" What sort of impact does our choice of spouse, friends, etc. have on us? Why?
" How do we find the right voice to listen to amongst so many competing voices?
" The big question this week: IF GOD IS ENOUGH, ARE YOU LISTENING TO
HIS ADVICE/COUNSEL OR THAT OF THE WORLD?
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