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Bible Survey Lesson 17: Books of 1 & 2 Kings, B
The books of 1 & 2 Kings presents the history of Israel’s monarchy, in the final days of the united kingdom and the later division into Israel and Judah. The book of 1 Kings opens at the end of the reign of David, Israel’s greatest king. The deportation to Babylon of Jehoiachin, Judah’s last king, closes the book of 2 Kings. The time span of the two books is a little more than 400 years (971–586 BC).
Overview of 1 Kings and 2 Kings
David in Old Age… – 1 Kings 1 – 22 NASB1995
“1 Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm. (through chapter 22). – 1 Kings 1 – 22 NASB1995
Ahaziah’s Messengers Meet Elijah…– 2 Kings 1 – 25 NASB1995
“1 Now Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became ill. So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Now therefore thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” Then Elijah departed.” – 2 Kings 1 – 25 NASB1995
The historical narrative of these two book of Kings goes beyond a simple historical record of the 19 kings of Israel (all bad) and the 20 kings of Judah (only eight good—Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash/Jehoash, Amaziah, Jotham, Azariah/Uzziah, Jotham, and Hezekiah). First, for the Jewish people in Babylon in 560 BC, and for the later Jewish community, reading Kings would provide insight into their circumstances, explaining the cause of the Babylonian conquest. The nation was taken into captivity for their wicked practice of idolatry: setting up a corrupted worship of the Lord with the golden calves in the northern kingdom, worshiping the gods of the pagan nations around them on the high places and in Jerusalem, and even sacrificing their children to Molech. After the return from exile, Israel would never again practice idolatry along with not keeping the years of Jubilee.
Second, these books are designed to reveal that each king failed, even the good kings of Judah, to be the ultimate heir to the Davidic throne promised by God in the Davidic covenant (2Samuel 7:8-17). The messianic Son of David was yet to come. Furthermore, an understanding of the book of Kings would give the Jewish people, and all readers up through today, renewed opportunity to fear God, live in devotion to Him, and look for the messianic King…Jesus.