Bible Verse Lookup
1 and 2 Kings
Leslie J. Hoppe
Before Beginning …
First and Second Kings continue the story of Israel in its land. They are the final two components of the Deuteronomistic History of Israel, which turns that story into a sermon that takes its theological principles from the book of Deuteronomy. First Kings takes up where 2 Samuel 20 ended. It describes how the problem of the succession to David was resolved. The book then goes on to tell the story of the two Israelite kingdoms that arose following Solomon's death. The division between 1 and 2 Kings is artificial since it is made in the middle of telling the story of King Ahaziah of Israel. Second Kings ends rather abruptly after telling of the parole of King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison in Babylon. The book allows readers to draw their own conclusions regarding the significance of this event. There is, then, no happy ending to the story of Israel in its land. What began with so much promise ends with great tragedy.
