Reading with Ben

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Chronicles. This is episode #02 Chapters 03 & 04. 1 Chronicles Chapter 3 talks about the families of David, Solomon and Jeconiah. It starts off with the sons of David who were born in Hebron. His firstborn was named Amnon, and then Daniel. Then came Absalom, Adonijah, Ithream and Shephatiah. 1 Chronicles Chapter 4 st...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Chronicles. This is episode #01 Chapters 01 & 02. 1 Chronicles Chapter 1, the authors (who are believed to be Nehemiah and Ezra) present a list of names starting from the first man, Adam, all the way to the leaders of Edom. The main purpose of this chapter was to speak to all of the exiles who were God’s people. 1 Ch...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #13 chapters 25. 2 Kings Chapter 25, This chapter records the 11-year reign of Zedekiah, his rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of its people. It also discusses the Gedaliah governorship and the amazing favors conferred upon Jehoiachin by the k...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #12 chapters 23 & 24. 2 Kings Chapter 23, Josiah, the king of Israel, gathered everyone including the elders of Jerusalem and Judah. They all went to the Lord’s temple and he read the Book of the Covenant to them. Josiah then renewed the covenant and promised to obey all of God’s decrees, comma...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #11 chapters 21 & 22. 2 Kings Chapter 21, Manasseh became the king of Judah when he was twelve, and he ruled over Jerusalem for 55 years. He had some of the high places rebuilt that Hezekiah (his father) had destroyed. Manasseh put up some altars to Baal. He put up an Asherah pole, just like Ah...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #10 chapters 19 & 20. 2 Kings Chapter 19, begins with King Hezekiah of Judah being told that the Assyrian commander is set to conquer his land. He tears his clothes and puts on mourning. Then the king sends the administrator of his palace, called Eliakim and his secretary, called Shebna, and so...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #08 chapters 17 & 18. 2 Kings Chapter 17, starts off with Hoshea, who was the last king of Israel. Hoshea, who was ruler of Israel in Samaria, reigned for nine years. He was not a man of the Lord and was considered evil in the eyes of God. He did detestable things, but not like those who were b...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #08 chapters 15 & 16. 2 Kings Chapter 15, begins with Azariah, who reigned in Judah during the 27th year of the reign of Jeroboam, who was the King of the rest of Israel. 2 Kings Chapter 16, speaks of Ahaz, who reigned over Judah for 16 years. He was king from the time that he was only 20 years...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #06 chapters 13 & 14. 2 Kings Chapters 13, Jehoahaz, Jehu’s son, became the king and he ruled over Israel for 17 years. He committed some of the same sins that his father did and this made God angry. 2 Kings Chapter 14, was on the rule of Amaziah, who was ruler of Judah. Amaziah was the son of...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #06 chapters 11 & 12. 2 Kings Chapter 11, speaks of the time after Ahaziah had passed away. When his mother saw him dead, she went on to destroy the entire royal family. Jehosheba, the daughter of Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took the son of Ahaziah, Joash, from among the royal princes so tha...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #05 chapters 09 & 10. 2 Kings Chapter 9, The prophet Elisha told a man to travel to Ramoth Gilead and to take some olive oil with him. The man was also told to find Jehu, Jehoshaphat’s son, and to take him to an inner room. He then was to pour the olive oil over Jehu’s head and tell that God ha...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #04 chapters 07 & 08. 2 Kings Chapter 8, four men who had leprosy said to one another that if they went into the city, there was nothing to eat and they would die. So they decided to go to the Aramean camp and surrender because they might live and be fed. 2 Kings Chapter 8, starts with the Shun...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #03 chapters 05 & 06. 2 Kings Chapter 5, was about Naaman, a great commander who served the king of Aram. He was a great man who gave Aram victory through the Lord. Although he was a fine soldier and was highly regarded, he had leprosy. 2 Kings Chapter 6, is about the building of a new meeting...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #02 chapters 03 & 04. 2 Kings Chapter 3, Joram started to reign over Israel in the 18th year of king Jehoshaphat of Judah, and he ruled for 12 years. He was a wicked king, but he was not as wicked as his predecessors. Joram removed the revered stone of Baal that his father had made. Nonetheless...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 2 Kings. This is episode #01 chapters 01 & 02. 2 Kings Chapter 1 recounts the anger God vented towards Ahaziah. 2 Kings Chapter 2, the Lord is ready to sweep Elijah up to Heaven via a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha are coming back from Gilgal and Elijah commands Elisha to stay because God is sending him to Bethel. But El...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #11 chapters 21 & 22. Ahab told Naboth that he wanted to use his vineyard as a vegetable garden because it was close to his palace. The king told him he would give him a nicer vineyard or pay him. Naboth told him that God wanted him to keep it for his ancestors. There was peace between Israel a...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #10 chapters 19 & 20. 1 Kings Chapter 19, Ahab told Jezebel how Elijah had killed all the Baal prophets. Jezebel sent a message to the man of God, saying that the gods can do the same and more if she does not make their life as that of one of them. 1 Kings Chapter 20, King Ben-Hadad, the king o...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #09 chapters 17 & 18. 1 Kings Chapter 17, begins with the prophet Elijah telling King Ahab that there will be a drought that will only end when the Lord says it will. Then God tells Elijah to leave the town and hide in a ravine that lies east of Jordan. Elijah obeys and goes to hide in the Keri...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #08 chapters 15 & 16. 1 Kings Chapter 15, tells the story of Abijah, who was the King of Judah. The chapter tells us that he was not a righteous man like his forefather, King David . But God was merciful to him anyway and gave him a son and made Jerusalem a strong city. This is because David, n...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #07 chapters 13 & 14. 1 Kings Chapter 13, When King Jeroboam was making an offering, a man from Judah came to him and said the Lord told him that a son called Josiah would be born in David’s tribe. He said that Josiah would sacrifice the high priests and burn human bones on the altar. 1 Kings C...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #06 chapters 11 & 12. 1 Kings Chapter 11, King Solomon had many wives and concubines. As he aged, he was not completely devoted to God. He had followed Ashtoreth, a Sidonian goddess, and Molek, an Ammonite god. So the king did evil by not following the Lord, like his father, King David , had do...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #05 chapters 09 & 10. 1 Kings Chapter 09, After Solomon built the temple and his royal palace, God appeared to him just like he did at Gibeon. The Lord told Solomon that he had consecrated the temple and that He would give him a royal throne if he followed all of the laws and decrees just like...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #04 chapters 07 & 08. 1 Kings Chapter 7, It took King Solomon many years to have his palace built. His throne hall was covered with cedar, as well as his Hall of Justice. Solomon also had a palace made for the daughter of Pharaoh, one of his wives. All of these buildings were made using blocks...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #03 chapters 05 & 06. 1 Kings Chapter 5, talks about the preparations of building the temple for the Lord. It started off with Hiram, the king who ruled over Tyre, communicating with Solomon, after he had heard that Solomon had succeeded his father David. 1 Kings Chapter 5, After King Solomon h...

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of 1 Kings. This is episode #02 chapters 03 & 04. 1 Kings Chapter 3 is one of the seminal chapters in the Old Testament as it centers on Solomon asking the Lord for wisdom. 1 Kings Chapter 4 is about Solomon’s officials and governors. It talked about how Solomon ruled over the entire land of Israel and his chief officials...