MELACHIM II 6. Is there any significance to the division between Melachim I and Melachim II? Who wrote Sefer Melachim, when and why? Are other Nevi'im quoted in Sefer Melachim? 7. Compare Achav's two sons. Why did Yehoram destroy Matzayvat Haba'al? Why do you think the departure of Eliyahu coincides with the death of Achazyahu? 8. As Eliyahu departs he travels from Beit El to Yericho to crossing the Jordan. What is this parallel to and what is it symbolic of? Why does Elisha ask for "Pi Shnayim"? (Does this mean twice as much as yours or "the portion of the first born")? Why does Eliyahu answer yes, only "If you see me being taken away"? Did anyone else see this? Why didn't Eliyahu know for sure? 9. What is symbolic about the pattern by which Elisha enters Eretz Yisrael? (Shomron - Har Carmel - Beit El - Yericho - Splitting the Jordan). What is returning? At what level? Does Elisha ever rebuke the people? Is there a precedent to the number of miracles that Elisha performs? 10. Briefly skim from Chapter 3 to Chapter 8. Is the king of Yisrael ever mentioned by name? Is this king always the same person? Which Navi is the central figure in each chapter? Where in chapter 8 does the regular narrative of Sefer Melachim return? Explain why this unit could (should) be labeled Megillat Elisha. (Before learning this unit you must read first Chapters 8-13!) Chapters 8-13 1. Where in Chapter 8 does the regular narrative of Sefer Melachim begin? What does the preceding parsha discuss? When did this happen and why is it mentioned now? (When was the first mention of Chaza'el as potential successor to Ben Hadad? See Melachim I 19:15) Explain why 8:16 could be a direct continuation of 3:3!! Why is Yehoshafat mentioned in this pasuk together with Yoram? 2. Yehuda looses control of Edom during this time period. Explain pasuk 21 carefully. What is problematic? Trace the history of the relationship between Edom and Yehuda since the time of David. (What is its significance based on Bereishit 36:31?) Read Divrei Hayamim II Chapter 21. What was the reason for this downfall? Compare the relationship between Achav and Yehoshafat to that of Yoram and Yehoram. How and why does the empire fall apart? Chapter 9: The rebellion of Yehu. 3. How do the events of this chapter and the previous chapter? Relate to Melachim I 19:15-18. Why has it taken so long for the prophecy of Eliyahu to come true? Why does Yehu enjoy so much public support in his revolt? How is he able to kill the prophets of the Ba'al and Bnei Achav so easily? What is the religious and social background of the revolt? 4. During his revolt, Yehu ruins his potential ties with Yehuda by killing almost the entire royal family. (See 10:13-14). He ruins his ties with the king of Tzidon by killing Izevel and the prophets of the Ba'al. He neglects the border with Aram in Ramot HaGilad by evacuating it in order to start the revolt. Based on the above, what chances does Yehu have for success? Isn't he making a 'political suicide?' What happens to Malchut Yisrael during his reign? With which Navi was he working, and in what way was this a religious revolt? What were the people hoping for? Why did Yehu continue Avodat Ha'egalim? What was the alternative in Yerushalayim at that time? Carefully read 10:28-34. If the revolt of Yehu was of a religious nature, (and was certainly better than Beit Achav), why did Malchut Yehu suffer so many military defeats, and why was the economic situation so bad? Chapters 11-12 5. Why was Atalyah in a position to take over the kingdom after Achazyahu was killed? Where was she from, and what was her claim to power? Why was Yehoyada able to accomplish a coup so easily? Which people were behind him? Why? Chapter 11:17-19 Why was there a need for a new Brit? What should have been the reaction of Malchut Yehu? (See above). 6. Can you deduce from 12:17 how successful Yehoyada was? In the end of the chapter, Yehoash looses to Aram, and is later assassinated! As in question number 4, why were there so many political defeats despite the religious nature of the revolt against Atalya? In order to answer the above questions, read Divrei Hayamim II Chapters 22-24, especially 24:15-27! Accordingly, what was the nature of the assassination, and what was the reason for the military defeats? Chapter 13 7. Why did Hashem help Yehoachaz? What was the name of the son of Chaza'el? Why is this name so popular? Read from 6:8 - 7:20. Could this be the salvation mentioned in 13:5? If so who is the moshiah? Bring proofs. What was the relationship between Yoash and Elisha? What was the meaning of not hitting the arrows enough times? Review of Chapters 3-7 based on Chapters 8-13: Chapter 3 1. Yehoram, as opposed to Achazya, did not follow in the footsteps of his mother and father. What events, in your opinion, caused this improvement? Why did he remove the Matzayvat HaBa'al? (See 1:16-17). Why did he continue the sin of Yeravam? What is this 'sin' and why is it considered less severe than worshipping the Ba'al? 2. Why did Moav decide to stop paying taxes at this time? What is the political situation now, compared to the political situation in the time of Achav? Does Yehoshafat have something to gain from the battle? Why does the king of Edom join forces with them? What is the strategy of the direction of attack? (Is there a logical reason why there was not sufficient water to drink?) Why didn't Yehoshafat consult a Navi before they went to war? (See Divrei Hayamim II 19:1-2 and chapter 20). Chapter 3:26-27 3. Whose first born was offered - Edom's or Moav's? Based on this, who became angry with Bnei Yisrael? Why? Did they lose or win the war? Explain why. What does the word "keztef" mean? Bring examples from Chumash. Chapter 4 4. In chapter 4, Elisha performs several miracles. Can these miracles be related to any previous miracles or events? Is there any other Navi similar to Elisha in any way? Does Elisha ever rebuke the people? In what way would you say he is giving the people hope? Why is this necessary during this time period? (Relate to the political and economic situation during the reign of Yehoram, Yehu, and Yehoachaz). Chapters 5-7 5. In these chapters, the king is never mentioned by name. Who do you think the king was in each story, based on historical facts mentioned in chapters 8-13? (Make a parallel list of kings of Aram and their top generals during this time period - remember that there are two kings named Ben-Hadad)! Why do you think the king of Yisrael is never mentioned by name? Relate to 5:8. Could this pasuk be the theme of these chapters? Explain and bring proofs. 6. Explain the behavior of Gachazi throughout Sefer Melachim. In what way does he contrast the behavior of Elisha? Can you relate this to the religious level of the people during this time period? Do the miracles mentioned in these chapters come to help individuals or the entire nation? Explain why, and list precedents. 7. What can we infer from 6:21 about the relationship between Elisha and the king? Who could this king be? How do the events of this chapter relate to the theme? (See question #5). The Siege of Shomron 8. Why is the king so angry with Elisha? Why is he to blame for the political situation of the Shomron? Elisha calls the king "ben hamartze'ach." Who was the king's father and why was he a martze'ach? (This depends on who you think the king was). Explain why this defeat of Aram is the turning point in the relationship between Aram and Yisrael. Relate this to the events during the reign of Yoash ben Yehoachaz. Chapter 8: 7-15 9. Elisha appoints Chaza'el as the king of Aram. Which prophecy has been fulfilled, and why has it taken so long? When did this event happen? How does it relate to the 'theme?' Why would you say that Megilat Elisha ends at this point, and from now on Sefer Melachim continues? Why do you think that the Navi organized the Sefer in this order? Chapters 14-17: Yoash, Amatzyahu, and Uziahu, the kings of Yehudah 1. Read Divrei Hayamim II chapters 24 - 26. Compare the description of these three kings in Sefer Melachim to their description in Sefer Divrei Hayamim. In what way are all three kings similar with regard to listening to the Nevi'im? What caused them to sin based on the events recorded in Divrei Hayamim? Explain the expression "Viyeter Divrei … Harishonim Viha'achronim." 2. See Divrei Hayamim II 24:23-26, including Rashi. What is the Navi's explanation for Aram's victory over Yehuda? What is the moral reason for Yoash's assassination? (See Rashi). Compare the burial spot of Yoash to that of Yehoyada! Explain. Compare the relative military strength of Aram, Yisrael, and Yehuda during this time period. What was the relationship between Yehuda and Yisrael? 3. What is the reason for the civil war between Amatzyah and Yoash? Which side is right? (One, both, or neither)? Is there an older rivalry between Beit Yehu and the kings of Yehuda? Why, according to the Navi, is Amatzyah punished? Why do you think he turned against the Navi? (What happened the last time that he took the Navi's advice)? 4. Based on Divrei Hayamim II 26:1-2 and Melachim 15:8, why is it logical that Uziyahu was the king while his father was in exile in Lachish? What is usually the reason for contradictions between the relative years of the kings mentioned in Sefer Melachim? 5. Compare the relative military strength of Aram, Yehuda, and Yisrael during this time period. (See Divrei Hayamim II 26:8 and Melachim 14:25-26). What is the political reason for this growth? What is the Navi's reason? How do you think the people understood these events? Can you relate this problem to the increased number of prophecies written during this time period? (Yonah, Hoshea, Yeshaya, Amos, and Micah). What was the economic situation during this time? What spiritual problems faced the people? Was there Avodah Zarah? Bamot? 6. The kings of Yisrael, Yoash and Yeravam, succeed in defeating Aram. To whom did they relate this success? What conclusion did the Navi want the people to come to? What events led to civil war in Yisrael after Yeravam died? Why would you call this time period the 'beginning of the end' of Malchut Yisrael? How does Ashur's rise to power effect these events? Chapter 15 7. Yisrael is plagued with civil war, assassinations, and attacks from Ashur, all leading to the final exile. With regard to Avodah Zarah, the people of this time period seem to be better then the people of the time of Achav. Why was their punishment greater? What answer does the Navi give in chapter 17? Relate to psukim 4-7. What is the significance of going to Mitzrayim for help?! 8. Yotam, according to the Navi, was a good king. Why was Ratzin, the king of Aram, and Pekach, the king of Yisrael, punishing Yehudah at this time? (See 15:37). Pekach and Ratzin also defeated Achaz. Achaz then turns to the king of Ashur for help. (Read Divrei Hayamim II chapter 28). In what way did these events lead to Achaz's decision to leave Hashem? See Yeshaya chapter 7. What was the significance of building a Mizbeyach for the king of Ashur, cutting down the Kiyur (Yam shel Shlomo), and closing down the Heychal? What is Achaz trying to say? 9. Read Divrei Hayamim chapters 29-32. What does Chizkiyahu conclude from the events mentioned in question #8? (Compare to Hoshaya Ben Aylah's conclusion in question #7). What is the significance of bringing everyone to Yerushalayim for the Karban Pesach? (Relate to the meaning of Brit). What would have happened has Chizkiyahu not done Teshuva? Attempt to organize the events in Divrei Hayamim II chapter 32 as well as Melachim II 19-20. Does the smiting of the camp of Ashur come before or after the sickness of Chizkiyahu and his tefillah?!? Chapters 18-25 1. In order to understand this time period, make a list of the kings from the time of the exile of the ten tribes until the Churban. Next to each king, list the major events that occurred during his reign, as well as the overall state of affairs (religious, political, and economic). List also the Nevi'im during this time. (See Nevi'im Achronim). 2. Make a time line of all the events that occurred during the reign of Chizkiyahu using chapters 18-20 and Divrei Hayamim II, chapters 29-32. Relate the 'teshuva' movement begun by Chizkiyahu to the military and political state of affairs at that time. See Masechet Pesachim chapter 4 mishnah 9. Find the source of each of the six cases in the above chapters and explain Chazal's opinion pro and con. 3. How did the Churban of the Shomron effect the population of Yerushalayim? How did it effect political and military decisions that were made? Explain the difference between Chizkiyahu's giving in to Ashur on the fourteenth year and his decision not to surrender to Ravshaka later. Use Ravshaka's speech (18:28-36) to explain your answer! 4. Did 20:1-11 take place before or after 19:35-37? (See pasuk 6). Why did the king of Bavel send letters and gifts to Yehudah? In pasuk 14, explain why Yeshayah is angry with Chizkiyahu for showing off his wealth. (What is the relationship between Ashur and Bavel)? 5. How much of the land of Yehuda was conquered by Sancherev? What happened at the battle of Lachish? Use your answer to explain why Bnei Yisrael left Hashem under Menashe. Compare the reaction of Menashe to that of Achaz with regard to Ashur. Compare the reaction of Chizkiyahu to that of Menashe with regard to Ashur. 6. In chapter 21, Hashem decides to destroy Yerushalayim. What is the main reason for this decision? (Why is this time worse than any previous time?) Relate to "Hara mikol asher Asu Ha'Emori" and Brit ben Habetarim! Compare pasuk 13 to Shmuel I 3:11, Churban Shiloh to Churban Yerushalayim. Does this destruction ever take place? If so, when? Why then? 7. List the major events during the reign of Yoshiyahu as a function of his age. (Use the parallel chapters in Divrei Hayamim II 33-35). Explain the significance of the prophecy of Chuldah and the brit that was made after finding the Sefer Torah. What happened to Ashur's empire during this time period? Was Yoshiyahu's teshuva related to renewed nationalism? (Explain why). 8. What was the relationship between Yoshiyahu and Yirmiyahu? (See Yirmiyahu chapter 1). Did all the people do teshuva during Yoshiyahu's reign? Was Yoshiyahu wrong to go to war against Paroh Necho? Why did the people choose Yehoachaz and why did Paroh remove him and appoint his half-brother Elyakim in his place? (See the end of chapter 23). What do you think was the reaction of the people to Yoshiyahu's death in battle? How did this effect their leaving Hashem during the time of Yehoyakim? 9. Read chapter 24, Divrei Hayamim II chapter 36, and Yirmiyahu chapter 25. Explain the importance of the international events regarding Ashur, Bavel, and Mitzrayim especially during the 4-5th year of Yehoyakim. Was Bavel's rise to power expected? Why did Yehoyakim rebel? Which social class was exiled in the first galut? Who remained? Why? 10. Compare Galut Yehoyachin to Galut Tzidkiyahu. Why did Tzidkiyahu rebel against Bavel? Who was he depending on? In what year did this take place? After what event? Compare the state of the mikdash during the kingship of Tzidkiyahu to its state during the time of Menashe. Does it make sense that the Churban happened during this time period instead of in the time of Menashe? Explain.