First and Second Kings
Author
Unknown. Some traditions hold that Jeremiah was the author who wrote down the narratives passed through oral tradition. Most scholars simply ascribe authorship to an unknown Jewish captive in Babylon.
Date
Likely written between 562B.C. (when the Jehoiachin, the last king written about was released from prison) and 536B.C. (when the exiles returned from captivity). The two books cover the period of history from about 970 to 562B.C.
Audience and Purpose
Written to the Jewish exiles living in Babylon, 1 & 2 Kings (originally a single book that was divided in two for the sake of scroll lengths) picks up the story of the Kingship of God’s people where 2 Samuel left off. The book is written from the prophetic perspective of the nation, with God’s judgement continually in mind.
Major Themes
- Spiritual Offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. These topics are continued from 1 & 2 Samuel.
- God’s Justice.
- God’s Faithfulness or His “Steadfast Love”. Based on His nature and His promise, God proves over and over again that He does not treat His people according to their sins. Rather, he continually shows mercy and grace.
- Morality.
Key Scriptures in 1 Kings
- 1 Kings 2:3 — (David to Solomon) “…and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn…”
- 1 Kings 8:23 — “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart…”
- 1 Kings 11:35-36 — “But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name.”
Key Scriptures in 2 Kings
- 2 Kings 17:22-23 — “The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them, until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day.”
Outline of 1 Kings
- 1 Kings 1:1-11:43 — Reign of King Solomon
- 1 Kings 12:1-14:31 — Divided Kingdom
- 1 Kings 15:1-24 — Reigns of Abijam to Asa in Judah
- 1 Kings 15:25-16:34 — Reigns of Nadab to Ahab in Israel
- 1 Kings 17:1-22:40 — Elijah the Prophet vs. Ahab
- 1 Kings 22:41-50 — Reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah
- 1 Kings 22:51-53 — Reign of Ahaziah (son of Ahab) in Israel
Outline of 2 Kings
- 2 Kings 1:1-18 — Elijah the Prophet vs. Ahaziah
- 2 Kings 2:1-8:15 — Elisha the Prophet
- 2 Kings 8:16-29 — Reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah (son of Jehoram) in Judah and Joram in Israel
- 2 Kings 9:1-10:27 — Jehu kills Ahaziah, Joram and Jezebel
- 2 Kings 10:28-35 — Reign of Jehu in Israel
- 2 Kings 11:1-12:21 — Reign of Joash (also spelled Jehoash) in Judah
- 2 Kings 13:1-25 — Reigns of Jehoahaz in Israel
- 2 Kings 14:1-15:7 — Reigns of Amaziah and Azariah in Judah; Jeroboam II in Israel
- 2 Kings 15:8-31 — Final Kings of Israel
- 2 Kings 15:32-16:20 — Reigns of Jotham and Ahaz in Judah
- 2 Kings 17:1-41 — Destruction of Israel
- 2 Kings 18:1-20:21 — Reign of Hezekiah in Judah and the Prophet Isaiah
- 2 Kings 21:1-23:30 — Reigns of Manasseh, Amon and Josiah in Judah
- 2 Kings 23:31-25:30 — Final Kings and Destruction of Judah
Gospel Summary
God’s continual faithfulness in the books of Kings is overwhelming at times. Though the people continue to sin and work for their own passions and desires, God continually shows grace. He does this, “for the sake of my servant David,” as stated in 1 Kings 11:11-13, 32, 34, and in 2 Kings 8:19 and 19:34. This statement should point our attention directly to Jesus, who is the offspring of David, and the one who would fulfill God’s promise of an eternal Kingdom.
Despite the fact that their sin did lead to times of cursing, destruction, and even exile, God continually showed them grace so that the promise of the coming King could be fulfilled. This is such a beautiful picture of the faithfulness of God because this King who would come, would be the one to extend God’s grace beyond the nation of Israel, to the whole world. Because of Jesus, God still does not deal with us as our sin deserves.
Once again, we see Jesus typified as our great Prophet and King by Elijah, Elisha, David, and Solomon.
© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash
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