Books of Kings

In the 10th century BC, the prophet Nathan engineered the rise of a young king. That king soon set to work brutally consolidating his power. Music by Kevin MacLeod.  

There are good textual and archaeological reasons to think that Solomon was a historical king of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah. Music by Kevin MacLeod.  

If you think that a house of worship is supposed to look like a bland office building, then boy are you going to hate Solomon’s Temple. Music by Kevin MacLeod.  

When Solomon turned away from God, the prophet Ahijah incited a holy revolution against the United Kingdom. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The late tenth century saw a three-sided war between Judah under Rehoboam, Israel under Jeroboam, and Egypt under the Libyan pharaoh Shishak. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Easter is not a pagan holiday. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Around 1200 BC, the entire Near East was invaded by aliens: mysterious “Sea Peoples” who crossed the Mediterranean from the north. The ensuing collapse cleared the way for the rise of Israel and Judah. Meanwhile, the descendants of one group of Sea People—the “Peleset”—almost certainly became the biblical Philistines.    Music by Kevin MacLeod. All copyrighted material is fair use.

The story of the unnamed Man of God in 1 Kings 12-13 is sometimes seen as the most inscrutable story in the Bible. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

In this sprawling one-hour episode, we review the tragic career of Jeroboam and narrate Abijam’s epic defeat and invasion of Israel around 907 BC. We also weave in a range of topics including Old Testament theodicy, epistemology, Thomas Jefferson, and Ivan the Terrible. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

As Asa expanded Judah’s geopolitical power, Israel began a slow descent into internal instability. Meanwhile, in the east, a new threat began to rise. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The Assyrian Empire was one of the most disgusting civilizations in the Ancient Near East. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Asa's son and successor, Jehoshophat, united the houses of David, Omri, and Ithobaal into a single family tree. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Who was the historical Elijah the Tishbite, and how do we know that the Bible reliably describes his ministry? Music by Kevin MacLeod.

In which Ian and Caleb discuss Hillary Clinton’s recent reference to Ahab and Jezebel, and Caleb explains to Ian how to analyze Kanye West lyrics. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Through the well-known contest on Mount Carmel, Elijah attempted to kickstart a reactionary monotheistic revolt against the Omride regime. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

What begins as an introduction to the wars of Ahab and Ben-hadad becomes a wide-ranging discussion of Christian pacifism, godly masculinity, and the biblical view of enmity. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Despite being given a spectacular victory by God, Ahab continues to model the opposite of godly manhood, demonstrating the contempt of the biblical authors for cowardice. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Ian and Caleb discuss ground-breaking new archaeological evidence for the story of Naboth’s vineyard at Jezreel. Also, why is Jesus so fond of wine-making metaphors? They also review the archaeological and extrabiblical textual evidence for Ahab and the Omrides. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Ian and Caleb break down National Geographic's excellent single-issue edition "Kings of the Bible." Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The Battle of Qarqar was fought between a Levant-Egypt alliance, including Ahab and Ben-Hadad, and the rising Assyrian Empire. To set the stage for the battle, we review the bloody conquests of Ashurnasirpal II and Shalmaneser III recorded on the Kurkh Monoliths. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The Deir 'Alla Inscription, discovered in 1967, is a knockdown demonstration that the Pentateuch contains genuine historical information, preserved in significant detail for centuries before the Pentateuch was compiled.   Music by Kevin MacLeod.

We dive into the Battle of Qarqar of 853 BC and discuss the major players arrayed on the Levantine side, including the Aramaeans, Israelites, Arabs, and Egyptians. We have a good laugh about the mental somersaults that some 19th century scholars used to dance around the Kurkh Monolith of Shalmaneser III, which corroborates details in the Books of Kings. Also, how did the Germanic-looking ancient Libyans end up in North Africa? Music by Kevin MacLeod.

In 852 BC, Micaiah brought his satirical brand of prophecy to Samaria, and Ahab was killed by the forces of Ben-hadad at the Battle of Ramoth-Gilead. His reign had been nothing if not consistent. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

During the brief reign of Ahaziah of Israel, the Moabites rebelled and launched a genocidal invasion of both Israel and Judah. Elijah condemns Ahaziah for his cosmopolitan polytheism, and Jehoshaphat is delivered by God from a Moabite-led coalition.   Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Through his miraculous personal ministry, the stern prophet Elisha prepared the way for the political agenda of the Sons of the Prophets. Also, Ian and Caleb break down the apologetic debate surrounding the infamous story of Elisha killing 42 young boys on the road to Bethel.  Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Boxed in by a joint Hebrew counterattack, Mesha doubles down on the Moabite practice of human sacrifice. The Omride regime decays to its nadir as monotheistic revolution approaches. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

To pave the way for the downfall of the Omrides, Elisha triggers a coup in Damascus. Ian and Caleb do an in-depth examination of Hazael of Aram. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

In 841 BC, a single flask of oil set the entire Levant on fire. Ian and Caleb narrate the dramatic beginning of the Jehuide Revolution, reflect on Jezebel's legacy, and discuss how old Jezebel was when she died. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The dramatic Jehuide Revolution reaches its fulfillment as reactionary Yahwists uproot and replace the political and cultural structure of Israel. Contains spoilers for Fight Club.  Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Israel's sovereignty is formally surrendered as Jehu bows down before the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III—an event immortalized on the famous Black Obelisk. In Judah, the heroic princess Yehosheba rescues the last male heir of David from a second palace massacre by Athaliah. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The ultimate Old Testament power couple, the priest-statesman Jehoiada and the princess Yehosheba, bring the Jehuide Revolution to Judah and deliver the finishing blow to the international Omride elite. Ian and Caleb discuss the founding of Carthage by a relative of Jezebel, the camel-riding queens regnant of Kedarite Arabia, and whether the First Temple may have been guarded by Homeric Anatolian mercenaries. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The restoration of Davidic rule under Joash gets off to a strong start thanks to Judah's high priest and regent, Jehoiada. But things go awry after Jehoiada's death, leading to a deadly confrontation between Joash and Jehoiada's son—the first prophet Zechariah.   Ian and Caleb dive into controversy with an unapologetic discussion of Old Testament polygyny. They explore ancient supercentenarians, whether Jesus refers to Zechariah ben Jehoiada in Matthew, and Aram's growing empire under Hazael. They also decide to go into business as international antiquities litigators, leading to a television series that is half legal drama, half Indiana Jones.   Books of Kings is the first narrative history podcast on the Bible. Find us on iTunes, Podbean, or anywhere else podcasts are found. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

The Assyrian Empire attains decisive dominance in the Levant under the legendary Shammuramat, daughter-in-law of Shalmaneser III, and her son Adad-nirari III. The only Assyrian ruler well-known in classical antiquity, Shammuramat becomes an Athena-like demigod. After Jehuide Israel withers into near-irrelevance under the boot of Aram-Damascus, a final prophecy from Elisha heralds an Israelite resurgence under the third Jehuide king, Jehoash of Israel.

By popular demand, Ian and Caleb discuss the documentary “Patterns of Evidence: Exodus” and David Rohl's New Chronology.

Both Hebrew states appear ascendant as King Amaziah, son of Joash of Judah, pushes towards the Gulf of Eliat and begins to reestablish Judahite hegemony in the southern Levant. But when the haughty Amaziah ignores the counsel of the prophets, Judah is routed and invaded by Joash of Israel—catapulting the Jehuides to new heights of power.

With Assyria facing apocalyptic chaos and Aram outflanked, a Second Golden Age of Israel and Judah began in the 8th century BC. Ian and Caleb introduce the military empires of Jeroboam II and Uzziah, the Book of Jonah and the dawn of canonical prophetic literature, and the art of Jehuide Israel and Judah.

With Israel flourishing, Uzziah carves out his own Judahite military empire. In 760 BC, as the prophet Amos begins to condemn the elite of Samaria, an epochal earthquake rocks the Levant, levelling whole cities to the ground. Meanwhile, pioneered by the prophecies of Isaiah, the concept of global messianic monotheism begins to take recognizable shape.   Ian and Caleb discuss the growing mountain of evidence for the biblical account of Uzziah's reign, Judahite ballistic siege weaponry, the literary qualities of Amos, and an apologetic of geopolitical prophecy.

Israel implodes after the death of Jeroboam II, its Second Golden Age empire crumbling into apocalyptic civil war. Under Tiglath-Pileser III, Assyria rises from the ashes to form a revolutionary new world empire. Despite the memorable warnings of the prophet Hosea, Israel's elite is drawn once again into Assyria's orbit.   Ian explains his controversial position that reading the Bible in cover-to-cover order is not a good introduction to the Old Testament canon.  

Ahaz, one of the most tyrannical of the Davidic kings, aligns Judah with Assyria and begins an aggressive program to force cosmopolitanism down the throats of the Judahites. A new prophet, Isaiah, appears on the political stage and delivers the famous and controversial prophecy of “Immanuel.” Caleb introduces the career and reforms of Tiglath-Pileser III and Ian gives an introduction to the history and theology of the Book of Isaiah.

Assyrian hordes eradicate Aram and swarm across the Levant, consuming almost all of Israel and its eight tribes. While most Israelites are led off to assimilation or death, some—like the ancestors of Anna the Prophetess—escape south to the Kingdom of Judah.     In Judah, Ahaz escalates his pro-Assyrian religious reforms, effectively banning Yahwism and erecting altars to Baal in the streets of Jerusalem.   Ian and Caleb discuss the mythology of the “ten lost tribes,” and Ian engages with emails and DMs from listeners on the order of the biblical cannon.

Ian and Caleb pretend to do an episode about the religious renaissance under Hezekiah. Actually, it is an episode about the Bronze Serpent of Moses, the Rod of Asclepius, and Imhotep. They also discuss the origins of the Samaritan culture.

2 Kings 19 records the most astonishing miracle in the Books of Kings. In 701 BC, an “angel of the Lord” descended upon Jerusalem and slaughtered 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, lifting Sennacherib's siege of the city.  Incredibly, the angel's destruction of Sennacherib's army is perhaps the most well-documented miracle in the Old Testament, with the Deuteronomist's account finding support or corroboration in Egyptian, Babylonian, and Assyrian sources. Had the Assyrians succeeded in taking Jerusalem, the entire Kingdom of Judah—and, with it, all worship of the God of Jacob—would have been erased from the pages of history.

Manasseh of Judah offers the most legendary story of personal transformation in the Old Testament. A loyal Assyrian vassal and fanatical pagan who burned his own children as a human sacrifice, Manasseh ultimately returned to the God of Hezekiah and led a Yahwist revival.

As Assyria disintegrates, Manasseh's grandson Josiah declares a holy war against idolatry and invades Samaria. Ian and Caleb explain why the enigmatic “Book of the Law” brought to Josiah is thought to be Deuteronomy.

The Assyrian Empire is reduced to a rump state in Anatolia. Seeing an opportunity to return to its former glory, Egypt launches a lightning mission to rescue Assyria. In a move that has mystified biblical commentators, Josiah of Judah—despite having seemingly no stake in the fight—ambushes and attacks the Egyptian forces at Megiddo. The event proves to be Josiah's Waterloo, making the word “Megiddo” a byword for disaster. What was Josiah thinking?

After defeating Josiah at Megiddo, the pharaoh Necho uses duplicity to consolidate his control over the Levant. Meanwhile, the waxing Babylonian Empire begins to take the place of Assyria.