1 Kings

1 & 2 Kings originally one book.

Content of both: The history of Israel from the Death of David and Coronation of Solomon through the fall of both kingdoms.

Themes:

Construction of the Temple

God’s patience with his people (2 Kings 17:6-23; 17:13-14)

Conduct of kings and its influence on the fate of God’s people—Fortunes of the people in general depended on the conduct of the king (2 Kings 22:19-20A), and the sins of the kings are ultimately the cause of exile (2 Kings 21:10-16; 24:3-4).

Content of 1 Kings: History of Israel from coronation of Solomon (970 B.C.) to Reigns of Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah (ca. 852 B.C.).

Time span: about 120 years.

1Kings 1-11—Coronation of Solomon, Death of David, Solomon’s wealth and wisdom, Construction of Temple, Prayer of Dedication, Queen of Sheba, Solomon’s fall.

Reign of Solomon 970-930 B.C.

1 Kings 12-14—Kingdom divides 930 B.C. (Reheboam and Jeroboam), Golden Calves, Death of the Prophet, Invasion of Shishak

1 Kings 16-22—Rise of the House of Omri, Ahab, Elijah cycle (drought, widow, Carmel, flight from Jezebel, call of Elisha) Ahab and war with Syria, Naboth’s Vineyard, Death of Ahab

2 Kings

Content: History of Israel from death of Ahab to fall of Jerusalem

Time span: about 265 years—ca. 850 B.C. to 586 B.C. (but cf. 2 Kings 25:27-30)

2 Kings 2-6—Elijah taken to heaven, Mesha Stele (Moabite stone), Elisha cycle (widow’s oil, Shunammite woman, Naaman, horses and chariots of fire)

2 Kings 11,12—Athaliah and Joash (Jehoash), repair of the temple

2 Kings14:23-28—Jeroboam II (793-753 B.C.) (prophets Jonah, Amos, Hosea)

2 Kings 15-17—Decline of Israel, Syro-Ephraimite threat (Is. 7:1-9:6—Almah and sign of Immanuel), fall of Israel (Samaria 722 B.C., Shalmaneser V and Sargon) (prophets, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah)

2 Kings 18-20—Hezekiah, Sennacherib’s attack (701 B.C.), “I shut Hezekiah up like a bird in a cage...,” Hezekiah’s illness, Babylonian envoys (Is. 36-39; 2 Chron. 29-32), (prophets Hosea, Isaiah, Micah)

2 Kings 21-25—Manasseh (prophet Nahum), Josiah’s reforms, Zedekiah and the fall of Jerusalem 586 B.C. (prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Obadiah?)

Kings of Israel and Judah

Israel (Northern Kingdom) Judah (Southern Kingdom)

Jeroboam Rehoboam

Abijam (Abijah)

Asa

Nadab

Baasha

Elah

Zimri

Omri

Ahab

Jehoshaphat

Ahaziah

Jehoram

Jehoram (Joram) Ahaziah

Jehu Athaliah (Queen mother)

Joash (Jehoash)

Jehoahaz

Joash (Jehoash)

Amaziah

Jeroboam II

Azariah (Uzziah)

Zechariah

Shallum

Menahem

Pekahiah

Pekah

Jotham

Ahaz

Hoshea

Hezekiah

Manasseh

Amon

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim (Eliakim)

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah (Mattaniah)