Introduction of 1, 2 Kings

Introduction of 1, 2 Kings

First and Second Kings conclude a history of Israel that, generally speaking, begins in Genesis. This history has an amazing scope, for it includes the human race’s origins, Israel’s emergence through Abraham and Sarah’s family, the exodus, the conquest, the monarchy, and the nation’s destruction. More specifically, 1, 2 Kings explain how and why Israel lost the land it fought so hard to win in Joshua and worked so hard to organize in Judges and 1, 2 Samuel. These books focus on Israel’s successes and failures, of course, yet also comment on world politics. (NAC)

They emphasize most of Scripture’s great theological truths. They stress God’s sovereignty over Israel and all other nations. They claim that God created the earth and therefore has every right to rule the earth. This rule unfolds in accordance with the Lord’s character, which means that mercy, justice, righteousness, and salvation work together when God fashions world events

A.      Authorship and date:  

Roughly four hundred years unfold: Solomon’s rise to the throne of his father David (970 B.C.), Second Kings concludes with a description of how Jehoiachin, a Judahite king exiled in 597 B.C., is given kind treatment in the thirty-seventh year of his imprisonment in Babylon (2 Kgs 25:27–30:560 BC). It is likely written around this time (560BC-550 BC)  

Authorship: the books were written anonymously (see next section) after Jerusalem’s destruction. This author freely admits using sources for this history spanning over four hundred years, claims the sources are accurate, and invites inspection of these sources. Though it cannot be said in certainty, a single authorship fit best for the overall makeup of the text. 

B.      The chronologies in 1, 2 Kings

A casual reading will notice a number of chorological questions(conflicts): Judah used the accession-year system, which began counting a king’s first year at the first of the calendar year. Israel, on the other hand, began counting the regnal years from when the reign began. Further, the nations began their calendar year six months apart, which also would affect the counting of years. Finally, some kings acted as coregents with their fathers before the older man’s death.

C.  The political situations

(1) The United Kingdom

Except for a description of David’s last days (1 Kgs 1–2), Israel only exists as a unified, twelve-tribe nation during Solomon’s reign (970–930 B.C.) in 1, 2 Kings. Solomon’s foreign policy:  He made peace with Egypt, the main threat from the south, through a marriage alliance (1 Kgs 3:1) and continued David’s vital relationship with Tyre (1 Kgs 5:1–7).

In his old age, Solomon encountered several difficulties because of his idolatry (1 Kgs 11:1–8). Edomite foes to the southeast (1 Kgs 11:14–22) and Aramean enemies in the north (1 Kgs 11:23–25). Worse still, Solomon’s allies in Egypt were overthrown by Shishak, who supported Solomon’s domestic and foreign enemies (1 Kgs 11:14–40).

(2) The Divided Kingdom

After Solomon’s death, Jeroboam took ten northern tribes, while Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, retained Judah and Benjamin—two southern tribes (1 Kgs 12:1–17). Tensions had always existed in Israel. After the split “Israel” became two nations, with two names, with two capitals, in two separate regions.

Israel and Judah warred periodically until Israel was destroyed by Assyria in 722 B.C. Jeroboam and Rehoboam fought one another (1 Kgs 15:6), as did Asa and Baasha (1 Kgs 15:16–17) and Jehoash and Amaziah (2 Kgs 14:8–14). Yet at times the two nations fought together against common foes (e.g., 1 Kgs 22:1–40; 2 Kgs 3:1–27; 2 Kgs 8:28–29) and were allied through marriage (2 Kgs 8:25–27). Obviously, then, Israel and Judah were both friends and enemies through the centuries. The greatest threat to the two countries, however, came from other powers.

(3) Egypt

Egypt impacted Israel’s history most during the years after Solomon’s reign and during the decades just before the great destruction of Jerusalem. In Rehoboam’s fifth year (925 B.C.) Shishak invaded Jerusalem and stripped the temple of its gold (1 Kgs 14:25–27).  In 609 B.C. Pharaoh Neco marched north to aid Assyria’s efforts against Babylon (2 Kgs 23:29). For reasons not stated in the text, Josiah, Judah’s last righteous king, confronted Neco and was killed (2 Kgs 23:29–30). Egypt could not overcome Babylon at this time but was able to dominate Judah’s political scene until 605 B.C. Thus, just as Shishak’s invasion partially sealed the nation’s division, so Neco’s killing of Josiah effectively removed Judah’s last godly king and paved the way for the people’s final destruction.

(4) Aram (Syria)

Syria posed a great threat to the Northern Kingdom’s security during the ninth century B.C. (Two powerful kings, Ben-Hadad I ca. 880–840 B.C., and Hazael ca. 840–805) Syria’s power was finally broken after Hazael’s death, when Assyria laid siege to Damascus and forced the king to pay tribute money.71 Assyria did not threaten Israel and Judah at this time, however, so those nations enjoyed a half-century of peace and prosperity.

(5) Assyria

Assyria probably was the fiercest, most cruel, and most oppressive foreign power ever to threaten Israel and Judah. Assyria’s power was especially devastating to Israel, since Assyria conquered and destroyed the entire nation in 722 B.C. Judah also felt the sting of Assyrian oppression in 701 B.C. when the Assyrians nearly captured Jerusalem. Only a miracle of God saved the city (2 Kgs 18:17–19:37).

Three Assyrian kings from 750 to 700 B.C. First, Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 B.C.) began a new foreign policy; not tribute-gathering expeditions, but permanent conquests. But Judah’s king Ahaz adopted a pro-Assyrian foreign policy (2 Kgs 16:7–9). Tiglath invaded the area from 734 to 732 B.C. and punished the coalition by defeating Gaza and Damascus (2 Kgs 16:9) and by annexing parts of northern Israel (cf. 2 Kgs 15:29). Judah’s pact with Assyria saved them, but Israel was now in serious trouble.

Shalmaneser V (727–722 B.C.) finished what Tiglath began in Israel. After Tiglath’s death Hoshea sought to free Israel from Assyrian domination. In a colossal miscalculation Hoshea withheld tribute money from Shalmaneser (2 Kgs 17:3–4), then depended on Egypt for help (cf. Isa 30–31). Egypt, always a poor ally to Israel, failed to respond, and Assyria laid siege to Samaria. After three years the city surrendered (2 Kgs 17:5–6).

Sennacherib (704–681) nearly obliterated Judah in 701 B.C. Judah’s King Hezekiah decided to break with Assyria when the old oppressor had difficulties with Babylon. Though exact details are difficult to gather,77 Sennacherib invaded Judah, took several cities, and laid siege to Jerusalem (2 Kgs 18:1–17). Isaiah the prophet counseled Hezekiah to resist, trusting only in the Lord’s power (2 Kgs 19:20–34; Isa 37:31–35). Because Hezekiah obeyed, God killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, then removed Sennacherib from power (2 Kgs 19:35–37). After Hezekiah’s death, however, Manasseh reverted to appeasing Assyria and not trusting the Lord (2 Kgs 21:1–18).  Assyria’s prominence in Israel’s history is reflected in the many biblical references to its pride, power, and viciousness. When Assyria fell, Judah celebrated (cf. Nahum), as did the rest of the ancient world. Though God loved Assyria (cf. Jonah and Isa 19:19–25), Babylon was allowed to destroy this great destroyer of others.

(6) Babylon

Babylon exerted its power and influence intermittently from 605 to 539 B.C., however, that this nation impacted Judah the most. In 612 B.C., Babylon conquered Nineveh, Assyria’s capital, thus becoming the dominant force in the ancient world. It took the Babylonians until 610 B.C. to eliminate Assyrian opposition and until 605 B.C. to place Judah under servitude, but once in control they did not relinquish power for nearly seven decades.

When Nebuchadnezzar subdued Egypt at Carchemish in 605 B.C. (Jer 46:2), thus establishing Babylon’s power in the region (2 Kgs 24:7), : Jehoiakim, hand picked by Egypt (2 Kgs 23:31–35), on Judah’s throne; some exiles, including Daniel and his friends (Dan 1:1–2);  removed Jehoiachin from power in 597 B.C., deported more Israelites (e.g., Ezekiel), stripped the temple of its wealth, and placed Zedekiah on the throne (2 Kgs 24:10–17; Jer 24–29). Thus, Babylon gave Judah one more chance to be a loyal vassal; Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon (2 Kgs 24:20) led him to attack Judah captured the city, and appointed his own governor (25:1–24). Zedekiah was blinded but only after seeing his sons killed (25:6–7). No part of Israel or Judah was left free. All twelve tribes were now in exile or enslaved in their own land. Hope for the future remained (cf. 25:27–30; Jer 31–34).

D.      Plot of 1,2 kings

These books are historical as well as prophetic narratives and has its own plot of the story.

Plots in prophetic narratives resemble the plots found in prophecies like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets.

Plots in historical narrative: First and Second Kings fit into the overall plot of Joshua-Kings, yet they also present their own self-contained set of events. Joshua depicts Israel’s struggle to conquer the land God promised to Abraham (Gen 12:1–9). After this generation dies, however, the nation virtually becomes enslaved in their own homeland because of idolatry (Judg 2:10–23) To bring change this situation, God grants Israel’s request for a king in 1 Samuel 8–12. The Lord makes David king (1 Sam 16:13–14). Once David’s kingdom is established, God promises that David’s dynasty will never end (2 Sam 7:1–17). Despite this expectation the promise to David acts as a paradox in 1, 2 Kings. David’s line does endure, even if it is in exile by the story’s end (cf. 2 Kgs 25:27–30). Thus, some long-term hope remains.

E.       Placement of 1,2 Kings within the Bible

It is placed among historical books:

Hebrew Bible (former prophets) -- Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings.
English Bibles and the Septuagint-- Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1,2 Samuel, and 1,2 Kings; 1, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

F.       Use of 1, 2 Kings in the scripture

They are used as information in 1, 2 Chronicles.

They provide vital background details for subsequent texts (Ex. Lamentation and Ps 137).

They present prophets and the prophetic movement, two elements that affect the rest of Scripture.

 (NAC)

G.      Structure (NBC)

1.       Solomon’s accession and reign (1 Ki. 1–11);

2.       The period of the two separate kingdoms, Israel and Judah (1 Ki. 12–2 Ki. 17)

The first, 1 Ki. 12:1–16:28, deals with the kings of Israel and Judah from Solomon’s death to the reign of Omri in Israel.

The second, 1 Ki. 16:29–2 Ki. 10:36 deals with the dynasty of Omri and its horrific downfall and is concerned almost exclusively with events in Israel.

Two brief interludes about Judah in the whole of this section (1 Ki. 22:41–50 and 2 Ki. 8:16–29),

The inclusion of stories concerning Elijah and Elisha. (Elijah 1 Ki. 17–19 and 21 and 2 Ki. 1:1–2:18; Elisha major prophet in 2 Ki. 2:19–8:15 (with further appearances in 9:1–3 and 13:14–21, the latter being outside the section we are discussing).
Stories of other prophets (Ki. 20:13–43; 22:1–28).

The third part consists of 2 Ki. 11–17 and once again deals with kings of Israel and Judah.

The time after the fall of Israel when Judah survived alone (2 Ki. 18–25).

Kings of the divided Kingdoms (930-587 BC)(BKC; Modified by LLim )

Kings of Judah		Prophets			Kings of Israel		Prophets
1	Rehoboam (930–913)				1	Jeroboam I (930–909) Dyn I
2	Abijah (913–910)
3	Asa (910–869)				2	Nadab (909–908)
					3	Baasha (908–885) Dyn II
					4	Elah (885–884)
					5	Zimri (884) Dynasty III
					6	Tibni (884–880)
						Civil Unrest (884–880)
					7	Omri (880–874) Dyn IV	Elijah
	Coregency (872–869)				8	Ahab (874–853)**
4	Jehoshaphat (869–848) **				9	Ahaziah (853–852)
	Coregency (853–848)				10	Joram (852–841)
5	Jehoram (848–841)	Obadiah					Elisha
6	Ahaziah (841)				11	Jehu (841–814) Dyn V
7	Athaliah (841–835)
8	Joash (835–796)	Joel			12	Jehoahaz (814–798)
					13	Jehoash (798–782)
9	Amaziah (796–767)
	Coregency (792–767)					Coregency (793–782)
					14	Jeroboam II (782–753)	Hoshea	Jonah/Amos
10	Azariah/Uzziah (767–740)				15	Zechariah (753–752)
					16	Shallum (752) Dyn VI
	Coregency (750–740)				17	Menahem (752–742) Dyn IV
					18	Pekahiah (742–740)
11	Jotham (740–731)	Isaiah	Micah		19	Pekah (740–732) Dyn VIII
	Coregency (735–731)				20	Hoshea (732–722) Dyn IX
12	Ahaz (731–715)
13	Hezekiah (715–687)
	Coregency (697–687)
14	Manasseh (687–642)		Nahum
15	Amon (642–640)
16	Josiah (640–609)	Jeremiah	Zephaniah
17	Jehoahaz (609)
18	Jehoiakim (609–598)		Habakkuk
19	Jehoiachin (598–597)
20	Zedekiah (597–587)

** the end of the 1 Kings
References: New American Commentary (NAC: major source), New Bible Commentary (NBC), Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC)