1ST / 2ND KINGS
The Title
The Books of 1st and 2nd Kings were so named because they record and interpret the reigns of all the kings of Israel and Judah except Saul.
The Scope
1st and 2nd 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.
The Date
The release of Jehoiachin from prison is the last event recorded in 2nd Kings. This took place in the 37th year of his imprisonment (560 B.C.). Therefore 1st and 2nd 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 1st and 2nd Kings were written; had it occurred, the author would probably have referred to it. Probably 1st and 2nd Kings were completed in their final form between 560 and 538 B.C.
1st Kings possibly written between 971 – 853 B.C.
2nd Kings possibly written between 853 – 560 B.C.
1st Kings possibly written between 971 – 853 B.C.
2nd Kings possibly written between 853 – 560 B.C.
The Authorship
Though it is obvious that the author, being unknown, utilized various source materials in writing 1st and 2nd Kings, the books bear the marks of single rather than multiple authorship.
The Purpose
The Books of 1st and 2nd Kings were written to record history but, more importantly, to teach the lessons of history.
The Chronology
The major problem facing students of 1st and 2nd Kings is the chronology of the rulers, especially those of Judah. The major dates for this period are as follows:
931 B.C. (The Division of The Kingdoms)
722 B.C. (The Fall of Israel)
586 B.C. (The Fall of Judah)
931 B.C. (The Division of The Kingdoms)
722 B.C. (The Fall of Israel)
586 B.C. (The Fall of Judah)
The Theology
The Books of 1st and 2nd Kings, like the other historical books of The Old Testament, were written not simply to record facts of historical significance, but to reveal and preserve spiritual lessons which have timeless value.
A Comparison of the 2 Nations
NorthIsrael
10 Tribes Samaria 19 Kings No Good Kings |
SouthJudah
2 Tribes Jerusalem 20 Kings 8 Good Kings |
The Outline (1st Kings) (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: The Reign of Solomon (1st Kings 1 – 11)
A) The Preparation for a new king (1 – 2:12)
B) The Earlier Years of Solomon’s Reign (2:13 – 4:34)
C) Solomon’s Temple and Palace (5 – 8)
D) The Later Years of Solomon’s Reign (9 – 11)
Pt 2: The Earlier History of The Divided Kingdom (1st Kings 12 – 22)
A) The Division of The Kingdom (12:1 – 24)
B) Jeroboam’s evil reign in Israel (12:25 – 14:20)
C) Rehoboam’s evil reign in Judah (14:21 – 31)
D) Abijah’s evil reign in Judah (15:1 – 8)
E) Asa’s good reign in Judah (15:9 – 24)
F) Nadab’s evil reign in Israel (15:25 – 32)
G) Baash’s evil reign in Israel (15:33 – 16:7)
H) Elah’s evil reign in Israel (16:8 – 14)
I) Zimri’s evil reign in Israel (16:15 – 20)
J) Omri’s evil reign in Israel (16:21 – 28)
K) Ahab’s evil reign in Israel (16:29 – 22:40)
L) Jehoshaphat’s good reign in Judah (22:41 – 50)
M) The Beginning of Ahaziah’s evil reign in Israel (22:51 – 53)
A) The Preparation for a new king (1 – 2:12)
B) The Earlier Years of Solomon’s Reign (2:13 – 4:34)
C) Solomon’s Temple and Palace (5 – 8)
D) The Later Years of Solomon’s Reign (9 – 11)
Pt 2: The Earlier History of The Divided Kingdom (1st Kings 12 – 22)
A) The Division of The Kingdom (12:1 – 24)
B) Jeroboam’s evil reign in Israel (12:25 – 14:20)
C) Rehoboam’s evil reign in Judah (14:21 – 31)
D) Abijah’s evil reign in Judah (15:1 – 8)
E) Asa’s good reign in Judah (15:9 – 24)
F) Nadab’s evil reign in Israel (15:25 – 32)
G) Baash’s evil reign in Israel (15:33 – 16:7)
H) Elah’s evil reign in Israel (16:8 – 14)
I) Zimri’s evil reign in Israel (16:15 – 20)
J) Omri’s evil reign in Israel (16:21 – 28)
K) Ahab’s evil reign in Israel (16:29 – 22:40)
L) Jehoshaphat’s good reign in Judah (22:41 – 50)
M) The Beginning of Ahaziah’s evil reign in Israel (22:51 – 53)
The Outline (2nd Kings) (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: The Later History of The Divided Kingdom (2nd Kings 1 – 17)
A) The Remainder of Ahaziah’s evil reign in Israel (1)
B) Joram’s evil reign in Israel (2 – 8:15)
C) Jehoram’s evil reign in Judah (8:16 – 24)
D) Ahaziah’s evil reign in Judah (8:25 – 9:29)
E) Jehu’s evil reign in Israel (9:30 – 10:36)
F) Athaliah’s evil reign in Judah (11:1 – 20)
G) Joash’s good reign in Judah (11:21 – 12:21)
H) Jehoahaz’s evil reign in Israel (13:1 – 9)
I) Jehoash’s evil reign in Israel (13:10 – 25)
J) Amaziah’s good reign in Judah (14:1 – 22)
K) Jeroboam II’s evil reign in Israel (14:23 – 29)
L) Azariah’s good reign in Judah (15:1 – 7)
M) Zechariah’s evil reign in Israel (15:8 – 12)
N) Shallum’s evil reign in Israel (15:13 – 16)
H) Jehoahaz’s evil reign in Israel (13:1 – 9)
I) Jehoash’s evil reign in Israel (13:10 – 25)
J) Amaziah’s good reign in Judah (14:1 – 22)
K) Jeroboam II’s evil reign in Israel (14:23 – 29)
L) Azariah’s good reign in Judah (15:1 – 7)
M) Zechariah’s evil reign in Israel (15:8 – 12)
N) Shallum’s evil reign in Israel (15:13 – 16)
Pt 2: The History of The Surviving Kingdom of Judah (2nd Kings 18 – 25)
A) Hezekiah’s good reign (18 – 20)
B) Manasseh’s evil reign (21:1 – 18)
C) Amon’s evil reign (21:19 – 26)
D) Josiah’s good reign (22:1 – 23:30)
E) Jehoahaz’s evil reign (23:31 – 35)
F) Jehoakim’s evil reign (23:36 – 24:7)
G) Jehoiachin’s evil reign (24:8 – 17)
H) Zedekiah’s evil reign (24:18 – 25:7)
I) Judah under Babylonian government (25:8 – 30)
A) The Remainder of Ahaziah’s evil reign in Israel (1)
B) Joram’s evil reign in Israel (2 – 8:15)
C) Jehoram’s evil reign in Judah (8:16 – 24)
D) Ahaziah’s evil reign in Judah (8:25 – 9:29)
E) Jehu’s evil reign in Israel (9:30 – 10:36)
F) Athaliah’s evil reign in Judah (11:1 – 20)
G) Joash’s good reign in Judah (11:21 – 12:21)
H) Jehoahaz’s evil reign in Israel (13:1 – 9)
I) Jehoash’s evil reign in Israel (13:10 – 25)
J) Amaziah’s good reign in Judah (14:1 – 22)
K) Jeroboam II’s evil reign in Israel (14:23 – 29)
L) Azariah’s good reign in Judah (15:1 – 7)
M) Zechariah’s evil reign in Israel (15:8 – 12)
N) Shallum’s evil reign in Israel (15:13 – 16)
H) Jehoahaz’s evil reign in Israel (13:1 – 9)
I) Jehoash’s evil reign in Israel (13:10 – 25)
J) Amaziah’s good reign in Judah (14:1 – 22)
K) Jeroboam II’s evil reign in Israel (14:23 – 29)
L) Azariah’s good reign in Judah (15:1 – 7)
M) Zechariah’s evil reign in Israel (15:8 – 12)
N) Shallum’s evil reign in Israel (15:13 – 16)
Pt 2: The History of The Surviving Kingdom of Judah (2nd Kings 18 – 25)
A) Hezekiah’s good reign (18 – 20)
B) Manasseh’s evil reign (21:1 – 18)
C) Amon’s evil reign (21:19 – 26)
D) Josiah’s good reign (22:1 – 23:30)
E) Jehoahaz’s evil reign (23:31 – 35)
F) Jehoakim’s evil reign (23:36 – 24:7)
G) Jehoiachin’s evil reign (24:8 – 17)
H) Zedekiah’s evil reign (24:18 – 25:7)
I) Judah under Babylonian government (25:8 – 30)