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Analysis of Kings (1 & 2) General It Is Not a Surprise That These Books

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Analysis of Kings (1 & 2) General It is not a surprise that these books were named 1 and 2 Kings given that they embrace the reigns of all the kings of Israel and Judah from the last years of David through Zedekiah and Jehoiachin (Merrill, 319). Originally the books were grouped together. The LXX canon grouped the books of Samuel and Kings together as a historical collection called 1, 2, 3, 4 Kingdoms (Merrill, 319). It wasn’t until the fifteenth century that they were separated. Authorship There are many theories among scholars as to who the author of this book is. The two most widely known theories hold to either Jeremiah or the Deuteronomist(s) as the author. “The Jewish tradition preserved in the Babylonian Talmud attributes the books of Kings to Jeremiah the prophet (Hill & Walton, 282).” “The alternative view generally understands 1-2 Kings to be the product of the so-called Deuteronomistic school that supposedly began sometime in the late eighth or early seventh century BC and was closely aligned with the southern monarchy (Hill & Walton, 282).” While there is evidence for both one cannot hold to a view dogmatically. Date 2 Kings 25:27 mentions the release of King Jehoiachin from Babylonian house arrest in 562 BC (Merrill, 324). “However the narrative adds that he was put on royal pension thereafter for the rest of his life (vv. 29-30), a clue to the fact that this statement, at least, was added sometime after 562, perhaps as late as 540 or so (Merrill, 324). Hill and Walton state that the book was probably completed in Palestine sometime between the fall of Jerusalem (587/586BC) and the decree of King Cyrus of Persia that permitted the Hebrews to return to their homeland (539BC)(pg. 284). A date of around 550BC is reasonable. Original Audience Kings was written to the nation of Israel following the failure of their kings to keep the covenant between their nation and God. Key Interpretive Issues Key issues in Kings are: (1) to determine the chronology of the kings, (2) to understand the differences between the MT and the Greek texts, (3) the impact of other nations during the reigns of the kings, (4) to understand the use of selective history by the author of Kings, (5) to recognize the limit of the mercy of God, (6) to appreciate God’s faithfulness: even during times of discipline God will never forsake His people and He will always keep his promises. Subject/Purpose Statement “The books of Kings relate the history of the Hebrew united and divided monarchies in their ‘covenant failure’ (Hill & Walton, 290).” Disobedience had caused this national decline because Israel’s kings had pressed God’s mercy to its limit. There were times of Grace, because some kings followed God, but Israel would too easily fall back into disobedience. This decline was recorded so that the reader would understand that his or her position in exile was because God had kept His word to discipline His disobedient people (Deuteronomy 28-32). But in the midst of divine punishment God would keep His promise to David. This is evidence by Jehoiachin’s release from prison. Rather than undermine confidence in God’s promises, the Exile should establish that confidence. God keeps all His promises. Outline of Kings1 1. King Solomon (1; ch 1-11) 2. King Rehoboam (1; ch 12:1–22) 3. Kingdoms of Israel and Judah from 931 to 853 BC (1; ch 12:22 – 16:34) 4. Prophetic Ministries of Elijah and Elisha (1; ch 17:1 – 2 Kings 8:15) 5. Kingdoms of Israel and Judah from 852 to 722 BC (2; ch 8:16 – 17:41) 6. Kingdom of Judah from 729 to 587/586 BC (2; ch 18:1 – 24:20) 7. Fall of Jerusalem to Babylonia (2; 25:1-21) 8. Historical Appendix A: Governor Gedaliah (2; 25:22-26) 9. Historical Appendix B: Jehoiachin in Exile (2; 25:27-30) Theological Issues Sovereignty and exclusiveness of Yahweh and rejection of idolatry, Davidic Covenant, national consequences of a king’s obedience or disobedience, God’s use of other nations to discipline His people, limit of God’s mercy, God’s grace, and the promises of God never broken. Theological Application The book of 1 and 2 Kings demonstrates conclusively that God will keep all His promises. God will bless His people based on their obedience to the covenant and He will assuredly bring the curses of the law upon His people for their disobedience (Deut. 28:15-68). But divine punishment does not negate a future for the people of God. 1 Outline adapted from Hill & Walton, pgs. 280-281. *Deep appreciation and thanks goes to Dr. Mark McGuiness, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Baptist Bible Seminary, for his sharing of the information that has been included in this document and throughout this study. Check out his blog at https://outsidemydoor.wordpress.com. .
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