1 Kings 15:25-16:34 | 2 Chronicles 17 | 1 Kings 17

In the northern kingdom Nadab reigned as king for 2 years in the place of his father Jeroboam, but Baasha conspired against him, and took the throne to be king in Israel for 24 years. Baasha was just as evil as Jeroboam, and God spoke through the prophet Jehu, saying that his sons would likewise die like those he killed of Jeroboam’s descendants. The son of Baasha (Elah) reigned for 2 years in Israel after his father died, but one of his army’s commanders (Zimri) killed him, however the people in Israel chose Omri to be their king (because Zimri murdered the king). Omri was likewise evil, and reigned for 12 years. Ahab, the son of Omri became king, and reigned with his wife Jezebel for 22 years in Israel, and proved to be more wicked than all the kings in Israel before him, including Jeroboam.

It was in the days of king Ahab that the prophet Elijah spoke the words of God to the king, and he prayed that it wouldn’t rain in Israel for 3 years, and it didn’t rain. Elijah was protected by God during the next 3 years of drought, and he ended up living with widow in Zarephath, which was a city in the country of Sidon, to the north of Israel. Through Elijah, God multiples the widow’s store of oil and flour during the years of the drought, and he raises her son from the dead. In Judah, Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa became king, and he was a godly leader like David. There was a revival in the land for God, and the king even sent priests throughout the land to teach the people about God’s laws.