Introduction to the Books of Kings

The Books of 1 and 2 Kings were so named because they record and interpret the reigns of all the kings of Israel and Judah except Saul.

In the Hebrew Old Testament, 1 and 2 Kings were one book and were regarded as a continuation of the historical narrative begun in 1 and 2 Samuel. The Septuagint divided Kings into the two parts that constitute 1 and 2 Kings in English Bibles, though the Septuagint calls those two books “3 and 4 Kingdoms” (and calls 1 and 2 Samuel “1 and 2 Kingdoms”). The title “Kings” came from Jerome’s Latin translation (the Vulgate), which was made about six centuries after the Septuagint; Jerome called the two books “The Book of the Kings.”

1 and 2 Kings provide a record of Israel’s history from the beginning of the movement to place Solomon on David’s throne through the end of the reign of Zedekiah, Judah’s last king. Zedekiah ruled until the surviving Southern Kingdom was taken captive and Babylonian governors were placed in charge of affairs in Palestine.

Three major periods of Israel’s history can be distinguished in Kings:

1. the united monarchy (during which time Israel and Judah remained united under Solomon as they had been under Saul and David);
2. the divided monarchy (from the rebellion of Israel against the rulership of Judean kings until Israel was carried off into captivity by the Assyrians); and
3. the surviving kingdom (the record of Judah’s affairs from the deportation of Israel to Judah’s own defeat and exile by the Babylonians).

1 and 2 Kings were not divided as they are because a natural break occurs in the narrative, but because the large scroll of 1 and 2 Kings needed to be divided into two smaller, more easily manageable units. The result was two books that are almost equal in length. 2 Chronicles records the history of almost the same period as 1 and 2 Kings.

The purposes and emphases of these two histories differ significantly. The kings of Judah were of more interest to the author of Chronicles, whereas both the Israelite and Judean monarchs occupied the interest of the author of 1 and 2 Kings. The Books of 1 and 2 Chronicles emphasize especially the priestly elements in the nation’s history, such as the temple and worship, while 1 and 2 Kings give attention to the royal and prophetic elements. In 2 Chronicles, the kings of Judah after David are evaluated in reference to David and the worship of Yahweh; in 1 and 2 Kings, the rulers of both kingdoms are evaluated in reference to the Mosiac Law.

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A Personal Moment

Thank you, Ron and Marcie Matsen, for traveling to upstate New York as a part of Koinonia House Connection. Ron presented a two-part seminar titled Evidence for the Exodus, following Biblical markers and finding evidence to substantiate the historical events of the Exodus as recorded in the book of Exodus. Ron designated each of the roughly 75 attendees an explorer. He encouraged each to weigh the evidence presented and then to decide whether that evidence was sufficient to prove the exodus narrative.

As critical thinkers, we consider the evidence and decide whether the evidence is persuasive. The quantum of evidence – the amount of evidence needed to prove a claim – is often considered in three categories:

• Preponderance of evidence – when viewed as a balance scale, there is more evidence to tip the scale one weight, even if only slightly.
• Clear and convincing (compelling) evidence – while there is some opposing evidence in the record, there is far more evidence supporting the proposition than opposing it.
• Beyond a reasonable (shadow of a) doubt – the evidentiary record is tilted so far toward a particular conclusion that no reasonable person would doubt the proposition.

I hope, Gracious Reader you will be able to attend one of these Koinonia Connection events¹ and when you do, be prepared to consider significant evidence and findings before reaching your own conclusion. “The Bereans were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”²

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