I & II Kings

TITLE Book of Kings HEBREW: Sepher M'lakhim, ספר מלכים‎

Author Jeremiah (?) The author of Kings is anonymous, but Jewish tradition asserts that the author is the prophet Jeremiah. This makes sense, given the prophetic nature of the commentary in Kings, condemning the idolatry and increasingly paganistic culture of the day. In addition, the phrase, “to this day” (I Kings 8:8, 12:19) indicates that the books were written before the Babylonian captivity of Judah which occurred in 586 BC. This fits the timeframe of Jeremiah who lived and ministered between 646 and 570 BC. THE TALMUD SUPPORTS THE AUTHORSHIP OF JEREMIAH

DATE OF WRITING Between 560 and 538 BC The release of Jehoiachin from prison is the last event recorded in 2 Kings. This took place in the 37th year of his imprisonment (560 B.C.). Therefore 1 and 2 Kings could not have been written before that event. It seems unlikely that the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity in 538 B.C. had taken place when 1 and 2 Kings were written; had it occurred, the author would probably have referred to it. Probably 1 and 2 Kings were completed in their final form between 560 and 538 B.C

Unfaithfulness Leads to Destruction THEME Unfaithfulness Leads to Destruction Kings shows the nation of Israel going from its apex to its nadir: its highest point to its lowest. Under Solomon, Israel experienced the most glory that she has ever had. Yet from that point she declined into two separate nations, ruled by mostly ungodly kings. The northern kingdom (which kept the name, Israel) was eventually defeated and deported by the Assyrians in 722 BC. The southern kingdom (which took the name, Judah) held out until 586 when she was defeated and deported by Babylon. During this time, the prophets warned the people of God’s coming punishment for their unfaithfulness, but they refused to listen. Their unfaithfulness led to their destruction.

PURPOSE OF WRITING Kings describes the decline of the nation into the secession of the north, civil wars, idolatry, immorality and general covenant unfaithfulness. These books describe the fate of the nation in terms of the actions of the kings. A principle to be learned from these books is, As goes the king, so goes the nation. When the king ignored the prophets, the people largely ignored the prophets; when the king honored the Lord, the people largely honored the Lord.

CHRIST IN THE BOOKS OF KINGS Solomon Elijah Elisha

SOLOMON His splendor is an image of Christ’s glory. His fame is an image of Christ’s coming rule of the world. His wisdom is an image of Christ’s very character. His peaceful reign is an image of Christ’s role as the “Prince of Peace.”

ELIJAH Elijah is more perfectly associated with John the Baptist. Still, since John was himself a foreshadowing of Jesus (his baptism in water was a symbol of Jesus’ coming baptism in the Holy Spirit), we can say that Elijah was a foreshadowing of Christ. At least, he was a foreshadowing of Christ in his separation from people. Elijah spent a lot of time alone, in the wilderness, communing with God. When he came to the cities and towns it was to proclaim the word of God and to pronounce judgment.

ELISHA While Elijah was the image of Jesus alone in the wilderness with his God, Elisha is the image of Jesus eating and drinking with people, spending time with them, teaching and discipling them.

PLACE IN THE CANON Historically, Kings describes the downfall of the nation of Israel. Devotionally, Kings is the record of the results of unfaithfulness to God. From it we learn that when we refuse to live in covenant relationship with God, we are doomed to failure and to destruction. Theologically, Kings demonstrates that God is in total control of the world. All the kings, not only of Israel, but of all nations rise and fall by his word. He uses the nations of the world as his instruments to discipline his people. “The hearts of the kings are in the hands of the Lord; he directs them as a watercourse withersoever he wills.” (Prov. 21:1)

TIMELINE OF ISRAEL’S KINGS