Old Testament Survey: 1&2 Kings

1 & 2 Kings
3
 Originally one book in the Hebrew O.T.
 Split into two books in the Greek Septuagint
 Author: Unknown
 Talmudic tradition says it was written by the prophet
Jeremiah
– except for the last two chapters

1 & 2 Kings
4
 Like 1 & 2 Samuel, deals with the history of
two kingdoms:
 The northern kingdom of Israel
 The southern kingdom of Judah
 1 & 2 Chronicles deals mainly with the
southern kingdom of Judah

1 Kings 1–11
United Under
Solomon
1 Kings 12–
2 Kings 25
Divided Until
Exile
The United & Divided Kingdoms

Contribution to the Bible
6
1. Tells us about the rise, division, decline
and fall of the kingdom of Israel
2. Gives evaluations of each king’s reign,
using the reign of King David as the
standard.
3. Describes the prophetic ministries of
several of God’s prophets

Divided
Kingdom
and its
neighbors
7

Introduction to
1 & 2 Chronicles
8

1 & 2 Chronicles 9
 Originally one book in the Hebrew O.T.
 Split into two books in the Greek Septuagint
 Organized as the last book of the Hebrew Bible
 Talmudic tradition says it was written by the priest, Ezra
 Perhaps it was written by one of Ezra’s contemporaries
 It is quite similar in style to the book of Ezra
 Chronicles and Ezra may have been one consecutive
history, like Luke and Acts

Emphasis of Chronicles
10
 The temple / tabernacle

11
 Two purposes:
 Sacrifices
 Communication with God

12
 Chronicles omits northern kingdom’s
kings because they had no ties with the
temple
 Special mention is made of Jewish kings
who restored the temple:
 Asa
 Jehoshaphat
 Joash
 Hezekiah
 Josiah

13
 Priests / the priesthood
1. They had to be men from
the tribe of Levi
2. Offered gifts and sacrifices
for sins
3. Compassionate with
sinners
4. Interceded for sinners
5. Appointed by God

Comparison of 2 Histories
14
Samuel and Kings Chronicles
Israel’s history from the
united kingdom to the two
captivities
Southern kingdom’s
history, especially the
Davidic line
Political history Religious history
Prophetic emphasis on
moral concerns
Priestly emphasis on
spiritual concerns
Written soon after the
events
Written many years after
the events

Comparison of 2 Histories
15
Samuel and Kings Chronicles
More negative – about
rebellion and tragedy
More positive – tells of
apostacy, but offers hope
in spite of tragedy
Message of judgment Message of hope
Man’s failings God’s faithfulness
Emphasizes kings and
prophets
Emphasizes the temple
and the priests

Bible Survey - Kings
Author
Jeremiah (?)The author of Kings is anonymous, but
Jewish tradition asserts that the author
is the prophet Jeremiah the prophet.
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.

Date of Writing
Between 646 and 570 BC

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.

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)

Old Testament Survey:
Book of 1 Kings
Glory and Division
The wisest of the
Kings of the United
Kingdom—King
Solomon

Background
• The book’s author and the date of the
writing are unknown.
• Probably written by Jeremiah or Ezra
• Originally, 1 and 2 Kings formed one book
• History covered:
– Solomon’s reign (1-11)
– History of Divided Kingdom (12-22)

• After Solomon’s death, his son
Rehoboam came to the throne in 975 BC.
• Oppressive measures caused the ten
northern tribes to revolt and form Israel
under Jeroboam’s leadership
• 1 Kings covers 119 years--from David’s
death in 1015 BC, to the deaths of
Jehoshaphat, Judah’s fourth king, and
Ahab, Israel’s seventh king.
Background

• The books of 1 and 2 Kings form a
continuous history.
• The parallel history of Solomon’s reign is
given in 2 Chronicles 1-9.
• From the Kingdom’s division to Israel’s
fall—1 Kings 12—2 Kings 18:12
• 2 Chronicles 10-28
Background

Keys to 1 Kings
• Key words—Glory
and division
• Key phrase—”As
David his father.”
• Key verses:
–2:2,3
“And keep the charge of the
LORD your God: to walk in
His ways, to keep His
statutes, His
commandments, His
judgments, 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 plays a grand role
in the development of
God’s plan
• Shows the importance of
choosing God’s word
• Necessity of faith and
obedience
• Blesses obedience;
punishes disobedience
– 3:14
“So if you walk in
My ways, to keep
My statutes and My
commandments, as
your father David
walked, then I will
lengthen your
days.”
The Book’s Message

Two –fold:
• To move the Jews to
repent by reminding them
of God’s promise to restore
• Trace God’s providence
in preserving David’s seed
– Genesis 22:18
“In your seed all
the nations of
the earth shall
be blessed,
because you
have obeyed My
voice.”
The Book’s Purpose

• The prophets’ importance
during Divided Kingdom
• Must choose God’s
wisdom
• Importance of prayer in
serving God
• Temple built—God does
not live in a man-made
temple
– 8:22-53
“That Your eyes may be
open toward this
temple night and day,
toward the place of
which You said, 'My
name shall be there,'
that You may hear the
prayer which Your
servant makes toward
this place.”

• Elisha follows God after
Elijah’s death
• The standard: “as David
his father”
• Power, wealth, and
knowledge can corrupt and
lead to destruction
– 19:19-21
“So Elisha turned back
from him, and took a
yoke of oxen and
slaughtered them and
boiled their flesh, using
the oxen's equipment,
and gave it to the
people, and they ate.
Then he arose and
followed Elijah, and
became his servant.”

• All of Judah’s kings
descended from David
• Israel had bad kings
• Good kings
– Asa, Jehoshaphat,
Hezekiah, Josiah
• Evil kings
– Jeroboam, Ahab, (j)Ahaz,
(j)Manasseh
• Eight kings in the book
– 16:30
“Now Ahab the son
of Omri did evil in
the sight of the
LORD, more than all
who were before
him.”
Other Kings

• Elijah, the first great oral
prophet
• Fearless reformer—the
book’s hero
• Rebuke of Ahab and
Jezebel
• Prophets of Baal
• Miracles
– 18:21
“And Elijah came to all
the people, and said,
‘How long will you
falter between two
opinions? If the LORD
is God, follow Him; but
if Baal, follow him.’ But
the people answered
him not a word.”
The Prophets

Book of 2 Kings
Downfall and Captivity

• Historical Events:
• 2 Kings gives Israel’s history, from the wicked king
Ahab’s death to its destruction in 722 BC.
• Judah’s history, from the good king Hezekiah to its
fall to Babylon in 586 BC.
Background

Relation to other books of history:
• A sequel to 1 Kings.
• Takes up where the former leaves off--in the middle
of the brief reign of Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, continuing
through Israel’s fall to Assyria and Judah’s fall to
Babylon.
• Parallel passage is 2 Chronicles 21-36.
• 1 & 2 Kings first divided by the Septuagint.
Background

Period covered by both books:
• Approximately 430 years--from David’s death to
Judah’s fall
• After division in 975 BC, Judah had 19 kings—
Rehoboam to Zedekiah--all descended from David.
• Israel had 19 kings—Jeroboam to Hoshea--seven
dynasties, or families.
• Israel’s kings were all bad.
• Leading prophets: Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, and
Jeremiah
Background

Historical scope of the period:
• Begins with King David and ends with the King of
Babylon.
• Opens with the temple being built and ends with
the temple being burnt.
• Begins with David’s successor on the throne of his
kingdom and ends with David’s last successor,
Jehoiachin, being released from the house of
captivity.
Background

Historical scope of the period:
• First half of 2 Kings (1-13) a record of Elijah’s 66-
year ministry.
• Following Elijah’s last days and ascension (1:1—
2:12).
• Second half of the book is an account of the events
leading to the fall to Samaria, Israel’s captivity (14-
17).
• Judah alone for 135 years, the nation’s decline,
Jerusalem’s fall, captivity in Babylon (18-25).
Background

Theme of 2 Kings
• Tragic continuation of
Jewish history in 1
Kings
• Period of corruption,
disruption, decline,
destruction, and
desolation
– 25:21
“Then the king of
Babylon struck them
and put them to death
at Riblah in the land of
Hamath. Thus Judah
was carried away
captive from its own
land.”

• For faithful obedience
to God
• Teach morality lessons
for the lives of the
nation and its leaders
• Warning of the
consequences of
disobedience
– Romans 15:4
“For whatever things
were written before
were written for our
learning, that we
through the patience
and comfort of the
Scriptures might have
hope.”
Appeal of 2 Kings

• Elijah taken up into
heaven
• Elisha receives a
double portion of
Elijah’s spirit
– 2:9-12
“And so it was, when they
had crossed over, that
Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask!
What may I do for you,
before I am taken away
from you?’ Elisha said,
‘Please let a double
portion of your spirit be
upon me.’
Principal Events

• Elisha rewards the
Shunammite woman’s
hospitality (4:8-37)
• Naaman’s leprosy
healed
– 5:1-15
“And his servants came
near and spoke to him,
and said, ‘My father, if the
prophet had told you to do
something great, would
you not have done it?
How much more then,
when he says to you,
Wash, and be clean?’”
Principal Events

The Shunammite Woman: A Great
Woman
• Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37)
– She chose to reach out to the prophet when the
“rest of the nation” was following after idolatry.
Cared for the prophet
Recognized him as “a holy man of God” (v. 9, 16, 22)
Saw needs and wanted to fulfill them
Knew God was still on the throne
– Understood the place of the prophet (as the
authority & mouthpiece of God) and wanted to
do all she could to help truth, further truth and
hold only to the truth
– God was the focus (& measure) of all that she did.

Woman
• Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8)
– She persuaded/constrained him to eat
– He stopped to eat as often as he passed by
– Hospitality is just as much needed today:
Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9; Heb. 13:2; 3 Jn. 5-8; Tit. 1:8
Promotes increased love among brethren
Demonstrates genuine interest in people
Tool for evangelism
Become better acquainted with people
Helps to focus on others rather than self

Woman
• Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11)
– She persuaded her husband to add a room to their
house so this Man of God would have a convenient
place to stay on this road he frequently traveled.
– She recognized she was but a steward of the things
they had in their possession from God (cf. 1 Co. 4:2).
– Generosity is not determined by the amount one
possesses (not a big house with extra rooms but had
servants, 4:19, 22) but by the way he uses what he
does possess (cf. 2 Cor. 8:2, 12).

Woman
• Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10)
– No one told her to do what she did. She saw an
opportunity to be of service to the man of God,
and she acted without being asked.
– She enlisted the help of her husband to help her
do what she wanted done.
– What is there that we can & should be doing in
the kingdom of God but are waiting to be asked?

Woman
• Practical (2 Kings 4:10)
– She wanted to make a “little chamber” with only the
basic necessities that would be practical and helpful
(not an elaborate suite).
– Her purpose was to be helpful (not put on a show).
– We don’t have to be lavish in helping others. We
can be simple & ordinary and still be meaningful.

Woman
•Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13)

Woman
• Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13)
– Elisha wanted to reward her for her kindnesses
– She was not interested in the king, the captain of
the army or anything they had to offer (as the
rest of the nation was and would have been)
– She recognized that life is not about “getting
what you can get”—it’s about listening to the
prophets and living & faithfully serving God
(therefore, she had what she wanted)
– This woman was different, set apart.

Woman
•Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36)

Woman
• Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36)
– When her son died:
She put her son in the prophet’s room (not his own)
She asked her husband that she might go and find the
prophet of God
She went in person to find the prophet of God (not
the king or a physician or anyone else)
She told the driver to drive as fast as he could
She said and believed, “It is well.”
She bypassed the servant to go straight to the
prophet of God
She would not leave the prophet of God’s side
She and the prophet prayed to the Lord

Woman
• Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36)
• Appreciative (2 Kings 4:37)
– She fell down at the prophet’s feet
– She felt & acknowledged sincere gratitude

• Jezebel’s gruesome
death (9:30-37)
• Jehu’s execution of
divine justice on
Joram, Ahaziah, 70
sons of Ahab, and the
Baal worshippers
– Chapters 9,10
“Know now that
nothing shall fall to the
earth of the word of the
LORD which the LORD
spoke concerning the
house of Ahab; for the
LORD has done what
He spoke by His
servant Elijah.”
Principal Events

• Israel’s fall; conquered
by Assyria (17)
• Hezekiah’s good reign
• Deliverance from
Assyria; 185,000 slain
– Chapters 18-20
“And it came to pass on a
certain night that the
angel of the LORD went
out, and killed in the camp
of the Assyrians one
hundred and eighty-five
thousand; and when
people arose early in the
morning, there were the
corpses-all dead.”
Principal Events

• Manasseh’s
wickedness and the evil
ways of his son Amon
• Built altars to pagan
gods
• Sons passed through
the fire
– 21:1-15
“For he rebuilt the high
places which Hezekiah his
father had destroyed; he
raised up altars for Baal,
and made a wooden
image, as Ahab king of
Israel had done; and he
worshiped all the host of
heaven and served them.”
Principal Events

• Josiah’s reforms
following the
discovery of the
Book of Law
– Chapters 22,23
“Now before him there
was no king like him, who
turned to the LORD with
all his heart, with all his
soul, and with all his
might, according to all the
Law of Moses; nor after
him did any arise like
him.”
Principal Events

• Judah begins its
servitude to
Babylon during
Jehoiakim’s reign
– 24:1
“In his days
Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon came up,
and Jehoiakim
became his vassal for
three years. Then he
turned and rebelled
against him.”
Principal Events

• Powerful influence of
rulers upon nations
• God’s anger kindled
against unfaithful
people
• Punishment according
to His word
– 17:23
“Until the LORD
removed Israel out of
His sight, as He had
said by all His servants
the prophets. So Israel
was carried away from
their own land to
Assyria, as it is to this
day.”
Spiritual Lessons

• The book records 16
miracles by Elisha;
Elijah performed eight
miracles
– 4:1-7
– 4:18-37
– 5:5-15
– 6:1-7
“So the man of God
said, ‘Where did it
fall?’And he showed
him the place. So he
cut off a stick, and
threw it in there; and
he made the iron
float.”
Elisha’s Miracles

Dr. Pothana
+91-8309511427
bhaktapothana@gmail.com
Book of 1 Kings

Old Testament Survey: 1&2 Kings

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