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The overall goal of this curriculum of Melachim II is to complete the book in one academic school year. The book will be studied mainly with classical commentaries and in view of the attitudes expressed by Chazal. The students will analyze the commentaries - comparing and contrasting them. In the course of the studies, students will gain a familiarity with different commentaries, recognizing the style and emphasis of each one, and gaining the ability to study independently.
Special attention has been given in this curriculum to viewing the Bible as one large complementary unit. Studying any book of the Bible properly necessitates looking up phrases and ideas from other books of the Bible; only thus can one analyze any Biblical text. In Melachim II in particular, parallel stories and ideas are found in Divrei Hayamim and Nevi'im Ahronim, and studying them alongside Melachim II greatly adds to the understanding of the text. In addition to that, paging back and forth in the Bible in itself creates a familiarity with its structure, and a feeling of ease in looking up different sources.
The moral lessons to be gleaned from individuals, stories and events in Melachim II are emphasized as well in this curriculum - especially those relating to the destruction of the Temple. Sections of Eichah are also referred to in the course of the study.
Please note: this curriculum is, of course, to be taught according to the particular circumstances that the teacher faces: the level of the students, the time allotted, and the inclinations of the students. Some of the chapters may be given as homework assignments and summarized orally in class, and some can be taught using various didactic methods (see suggestions in the notes on methodology intermingled with the text).
It is my hope that this curriculum will be useful to the teachers, as they are confronted with the task of teaching their students this book, which covers a central part of Jewish history and religious development.
Suggested
Time Allotment for Each Section:
|
Chapter |
Verses |
|
Subject |
Hours Allotted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
|
The end of Ahazyah's reign |
2 |
|
2 |
1-12 |
|
Eliyahu's ascension to Heaven |
3 |
|
2 |
13-22 |
|
The beginning of Elisha's Prophecies |
2 |
|
3 |
- |
|
The war against Moav |
4 |
|
4 |
1-7 |
|
The miracle of the oil vessel |
1 |
|
4 |
8-36 |
|
The Shunamite woman and the resurrection of her son |
3 |
|
4 |
37-44 |
|
The miracles of the poisoned food and the bread |
1 |
|
5 |
1-19 |
|
The story of Na'aman |
3 |
|
5 |
20-27 |
|
The fall of Geihazi |
2 |
|
6 |
1-7 |
|
The miracle of the ax |
1 |
|
6 |
8-23 |
|
The war against Aram |
2 |
|
6 |
24-33 |
|
The siege of Shomron |
1 |
|
7 |
- |
|
The story of the four Metzora'im |
2 |
|
8 |
1-6 |
|
The Shunamite woman's field |
1 |
|
8 |
7-15 |
|
The war with Ben Haddad, and his death |
2 |
|
8 |
16-29 |
|
The reigns of Yehoram and Ahazyahu |
1 |
|
9-10 |
- |
|
Yehu's insurrection |
6 |
|
11 |
- |
|
Atalyah and her death |
2 |
|
12 |
- |
|
Yehoash's reign |
1 |
|
13 |
1-9 |
|
Yehoahaz's reign |
1 |
|
13 |
10-25 |
|
Yoash's reign, Elisha's prophecy, Elisha's death and the fulfillment of the prophecy |
2 |
|
14 |
1-20 |
|
Amatzyah, king of Yehudah |
2 |
|
14 |
21-29 |
|
The reigns of Uziyah, king of Yehudah, and Yerovam, king of Israel |
2 |
Suggested Time Allotment for
Each Section:
|
Chapter |
Verses |
|
Subject |
Hours Allotted |
|
15 |
1-7 |
|
Uziyah and his tzara'at |
1 |
|
15 |
8-20 |
|
The reigns of Zecharyah, Shalum and Menachem, kings of Israel |
1 |
|
15 |
21-29 |
|
Pekahyah, king of Israel; The first exile of the kingdom of Israel |
2 |
|
15 |
30-38 |
|
The reign of Yotam, king of Yehudah |
1 |
|
16 |
- |
|
The reign of Ahaz, king of Yehudah |
2 |
|
17 |
1-6 |
|
The reign of Hoshea, king of Israel; the exile of the Ten Tribes |
2 |
|
17 |
7-23 |
|
The reasons for the exile |
2 |
|
17 |
24-41 |
|
The non-Jewish settlers in Shomron |
2 |
|
18 |
1-16 |
|
The reign of Hizkiyahu, king of Yehudah; the Assyrian siege of the cities of Yehudah |
2 |
|
18 |
17-37 |
|
The blasphemous words of Ravshakeh to the people |
2 |
|
19 |
1-7 |
|
Yeshayahu's prophecy |
1 |
|
19 |
8-19 |
|
More blasphemies, Hizkiyahu's prayer |
2 |
|
19 |
20-37 |
|
Yeshayahu's prophecy about the Assyrian siege |
2 |
|
20 |
1-11 |
|
Hizkiyahu's illness |
1 |
|
20 |
12-21 |
|
Babylon's emissaries to Hizkiyahu; Yeshayahu's rebuke |
2 |
|
21 |
1-18 |
|
The reign of Menasheh, king of Yehudah |
2 |
|
21 |
19-26 |
|
The reign of Amon, king of Yehudah |
1 |
Suggested Time Allotment for
Each Section - continued:
|
Chapter |
Verses |
|
Subject |
Hours Allotted |
|
22 |
1-11 |
|
The reign of Yoshiyahu, king of Yehudah, and the repair of the Temple |
1 |
|
22 |
12-20 |
|
The prophecy of Hulda, the prophetess |
1 |
|
23 |
1-20 |
|
A renewed covenant between Hashem and the people; the purification of the land |
2 |
|
23 |
21-30 |
|
Celebrating Pesach, Yoshiyahu's death |
1 |
|
23 |
31-33 |
|
The reign of Yehoahaz, king of Yehudah |
1/2 |
|
23-24 |
23:34-24:7 |
|
The reign of Yehoyakim, king of Yehudah |
1/2 |
|
24 |
8-16 |
|
The reign of Yehoyachin, king of Yehudah; the siege on Jerusalem, the exile of the leaders of the people |
2 |
|
24 |
17-20 |
|
The reign of Tzidkiyahu, king of Yehudah |
1 |
|
25 |
1-10 |
|
The destruction of the Temple |
2 |
|
25 |
11-17 |
|
The exile of the people, the pillaging of Jerusalem |
2 |
|
25 |
18-24 |
|
Gedalyah ben Ahikam and his murder |
2 |
|
25 |
27-30 |
|
Yehoyachin's rehabilitation |
1 |
Nevi'im
Rishonim - Time Period:
The entire period covered by the books of Nevi'im Rishonim consists of 850 years (See Rashi on Devarim 4:25). This can be subdivided according to each of the four books as follows:
The Book of Yehoshua: 20 years (approximately)
The Book of Shoftim: 280 years
The Books of Shmuel I and II: 100 years (approximately)
The Books of Melachim I and II: 450 years
In regards to the time of Shoftim, the Mishkan in Shilo served the people for 369 years (see Rambam, Hilchot Beit Habehira 1:2). Forty of these years were the years when Eli was the High Priest, and these are included in the years of the Book of Shmuel.
In regards to Shmuel, the calculation is as follows:
Eli - 40 years (Shmuel I 4:18)
Shmuel - 12 years
Shaul - 4 years (approximately)
David - 40 years (Melachim I 2:11)
The Book of Melachim covers the years from the reign of Shlomo Hamelech until the destruction of the First Temple.
The teacher can have the class draw a time line which can help the students visualize the time spans involve. While doing this, the teacher can use the opportunity to do a quick review of the major characters and events in each book. All of this will help place the book of Melachim (I and II) in perspective.
As the students may know from their previous studies of the books of Shmuel aand Melachim I, it should be stressed that the division of Shmuel and Melachim into two books each is not Jewish in origin. The Gemara in Bava Batra 14b brings the order of the books in Nevi'im as "Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel, Melachim", with no subdivision. It is the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Bible) that divided the two into four books, and this division was eventually incorporated into the Hebrew printings of the Bible as well. (Da'at Mikra)
The book of Melachim presents a pattern repeating itself again and again: Ascents and descents, and specific concepts associated with them:
The ascents are characterized by the kings of Israel and Yehudah working together, and the Jewish people enjoying a reprieve from troubles. At the same time, there is a prophet rebuking the people and urging them to do teshuvah. The prophet tries to warn the people that this peak will not last forever if they don't change their ways.
The descents are marked by the two kings opposing each other. They are also marked by a foreign ruler controlling the land and conquering large parts of it. During these periods, the prophets console the people and give them hope, so that they can get through the difficult time.[1]
The teacher can go through Melachim I and draw a graph of these ups and downs. This graph will show that each descent becomes more intense than the previous one, and lasts longer. As the study of Melachim II progresses, the class can refer to these concepts and continue the graph accordingly
In Melachim I we see the greatest peak that the nation ever experienced - the reign of Shlomo Hamelech (see Melachim I 10:23-25). Then there is a descent, beginning with the division of the kingdom between Rehavam and Yerovam, and marked by the conflict between Asa, king of Yehudah, and Ba'asha, king of Israel. As a result of their feud, Aram is invited to intercede and thereby conquers major parts of the northern kingdom (see Melachim I 15:16-21).
The next period of ascent is marked by the rules of Ahav, king of Israel, and Yehoshafat, king of Yehudah. In the time of Ahav there were many miracles, which allowed him to triumph over Aram (see Melachim I 20:14-21, and 20:27:30). During this time, Eliyahu Hanavi tries bring the people closer to Hashem (see Melachim I 18). We also see cooperation between the kings of Yehudah and Israel (see Melachim I 22:1-5).
The students can look up the above sources in class, and try to see for themselves the manifestations of the high and low points.
Before proceeding to Melachim II, the class should review the last chapter of Melachim I, which provides the context of the beginning of Melachim II.
This can be done by the teacher, or else the students can read
the chapter themselves and write their own summary. The chapter can also be
assigned as homework, with questions to be answered either at home or in class.
|
* |
Honors |
|
Bereishit 1:1 |
(underlined source) - verses which the students should look up by themselves, using a Tanach |
|
Shaded box |
Notes to the teacher on analysis of the text, or on methodology. |
Abarbanel - Rabbi Yitzhak [ben Yehudah] Abarbanel (1437-1508). His extensive commentary on the Bible is famous for its question-and-answer form. He was one of the leaders of the Spanish Jewish community at the time of the 1492 expulsion.
Alsheikh Hakadosh - Rabbi Mosheh [ben Chaim] Alsheikh (1521-1593). His commentary on the Bible deals with the ethical and philosophical ideas presented by the text. He lived in Tzfat. His commentary was called "Torat Mosheh", but it is known chiefly by the name of its composer, who was recognized as a truly holy man.
Da'at Mikra - A commentary published by Mossad Harav Kook in Jerusalem. It was written by a group of biblical scholars who wished to present to the public a commentary which is true to the traditional understanding of the Bible as divine in origin, while making use of the latest findings in biblical scholarship. The commentary on Melachim was written by Rabbi Yehudah Kiel.
Da'at Sofrim - A contemporary commentary written by Rabbi Chaim Rabinowitz, who lives in Jerusalem.
Malbim - Acronym of Rabbi Meir Leib [ben Yechiel Michel] Weiser (1809-1879). He wrote an analytical commentary on the Bible. He served as the Chief Rabbi of Romania.
Me'am Lo'ez - Rabbi Yaakov [ben Machir] Culi (1689-1732). He wrote a running commentary on the Bible in Ladino. The work was translated into Hebrew by Rabbi Shmuel Yerushalmi, and was published in Jerusalem between 1967-1971. Rabbi Yaakov Culi was born in Jerusalem and later moved to Constantinople.
Metzudat David, Metzudat Tzion - by Rabbi Yechiel Hillel Altschuler (18th century C.E.) He wrote a simple and concise commentary on the Nevi'im and Ketuvim. Metzudat Tzion focuses on the explanation of single words, while Metzudat David gives an overall commentary on the issues.
Mussar Hanevi'im - The commentary on the Early Prophets written by Rabbi Yehudah Leib Ginsburg (20th century C.E.). His commentary focuses on Mussar - the moral lessons of the text. He was a rabbi in Denver, Colorado.
Radak - Acronym for Rabbi David [ben Yosef]
Kimchi (1157-1236). He was famous
grammarian, and is known for his commentary on the Bible, in which he tried to
ascertain the exact meaning of the text. He lived in Narbonne and Provence.
Ralbag - Acronym for Rabbi Levi [ben Gershom]
(1288-1344). His commentary on the Bible views the text in a philosophical
light. He lived in Orange, and Vignot, France.
Rashi - Acronym of Rabbeinu Shlomo ben Yitzchak (1040-1105), the author of the well-known commentaries on the Bible and on the Talmud. His commentaries are very terse, focusing on bringing out the main idea of the text. He was the head of the Yeshivas of Troyes and Worms, France.
Targum Yonatan - a translation of the text,
attributed to Yonatan ben Uziel, approx. 50 C.E.
Sources:
Abraham Chill, The Mitzvoth
Aryeh Kaplan, The Living Torah
Judaica Press, The book of Kings II
A special thank you is extended to:
¨ Rabbi Avraham Stulburger and the entire Valley Torah High School for their innovation and foresight in helping develop this material.
¨ The entire staff at Valley Torah for their support and enthusiasm in implementing new curriculum ideas.
¨ Mrs. Rochel Rauch, Mrs. Judith Aaronson, and Mrs. Miriam Heineman for their invaluable comments on this material.
¨ Mr. and Mrs. David Hager for their generosity in supporting this project.
¨ Yael Harris, for designing the cover of this booklet.
¨ Mrs. Yael Goldwasser for her patience and expertise in editing this work.
¨ All of my students for their insights, and for helping me to become a better teacher each year.
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Project of 613.org - Largest
Archive to Date of Jewish Sound and Video on the Internet!
[1]This idea is based on a lecture by Rav Amram Yanai, of the Teachers' Institute, Yeshivat Har Etzion