The Books of Kings

The Queen of Sheba Before the Temple by Salomon de Bray (1597-1664)

These books record the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah following that of Saul and David. This was a time of spiritual decline for Israel. Soon after the reign of Solomon civil war divided Israel into the ten northern tribes (often called “Israel) and the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin (often called “Judah”). All of the kings of Israel were bad. A few of the kings of Judah were good. Overall, both kingdoms forgot about God and became syncretistic (mixing the faith of Yahweh with that of the baals).

This is also the time of the prophets who warned both kingdoms that they would be destroyed. However, they also promised that God would preserve a remnant of the people of Israel that would eventually bring the Messiah. The Messiah would save not only believing Israel but also believers from every nation.

1 & 2 Kings is one book in the Hebrew Bible. The LXX divided it into two calling them “Three and Four Kingdoms.” (1 & 2 Samuel are called “One and Two Kingdoms). Jerome created the title, “Kings.”

We don’t know the author of Kings, but Jewish tradition points to Jeremiah.  His purpose was to record the decline of Israel due to the failure of the kings to rule according to the Law of Moses. David’s last words to Solomon echo the themes of Deuteronomy about keeping the charge of the Lord. From there all the kings are weighed according to their keeping of the Law of Moses.

2 Chronicles records the same period as 2 Kings. 1 Chronicles gives the genealogies leading to David, the death of Saul,, and David’s reign and death. Chronicles focus more on the kings of Judah and the priestly aspects of Israel. 1 & 2 Kings give more emphasis to the royal and prophetic aspects of Israel’s history. In 2 Chronicles the kings of Judah are compared to David. In 1 & 2 Kings they are evaluated according to the Mosaic Law.

The chronology of the kings is difficult because Israel and Judah began their calendars years at different times. Also, there were some variations on the way they counted the reigns of the kings, whether they were co-regents or vice-regents, etc. In most cases the dates are off by only one or two years. The major dates for this period are: 931 BC, the division of the kingdom; 722 BC, the fall of Israel; 586 BC the fall of Judah.

God promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation that would bring blessing to all the families of the world (Genesis 12). God promised him a land upon which these descendants would arise (Genesis 15). They would occupy the land only if they were faithful (Deuteronomy 28-30). God promised that the reign of David would never come to an end (2 Samuel 7). Isaiah promised the survival of a remnant of Israel and a Messiah (anointed one), who would die and live to save Israel from her sins (Isaiah 53). God promised a New Covenant for Israel when the Covenant of Moses had been broken (Jeremiah 31). These are key promises that are ultimately fulfilled by Jesus.

Simple Outline

1 Kings 1-11 The Reign of Solomon

1 Kings 12-22 The Divided Kingdom

2 Kings 1-17 The Divided Kingdom Until the Destruction of Israel

2 Kings 18-25 The Kingdom of Judah Until Its Deportation to Babylon

Chapter Summaries for 1 Kings

01 Abishag laid with David to keep him warm. Adonijah declared himself king. Joab and Abiathar supported him. David told Nathan and Zadok to anoint Solomon king. Solomon spares Adonijah.

02 David commanded Solomon to walk in the ways of the Lord according to the Law of Moses. David commanded  Solomon to kill Joab, Amasa, and Shimei. David died having reigned forty years. Adonijah asked for Abishag, and Solomon killed him believing he was still conspiring to be king. Solomon killed Joab. Solomon our Shimei under house arrest upon threat of death. Shimei disobeyed, and Solomon killed him.

03 Solomon sought an alliance with Egypt, and he sacrificed at the high places. But he prayed for a “listening heart,” and the Lord gave it to him as well as riches and long life. Solomon settled the dispute between two prostitutes.

04 Solomon’s assistants and officers are listed. Solomon’s daily provisions are listed. “Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba…”  Solomon had 40K horses. God gave him wisdom, understanding, and largeness of heart. He spoke 3K proverbs and 5K songs. He spoke of trees, animals, etc. All knew of the wisdom of Solomon.

05) Hiram of Tyre provided timber for the temple. Solomon had 70K who carried burdens and 80K who quarried stone. The quarried large, costly stones for the foundation.

06) 480 years after coming out of Egypt, Solomon began building the temple. It was 60x20x30. Hammers and chisels were not used at the temple. The temple was overlaid with gold. It took seven years to build the temple.

07) Solomon built his house, the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Hall of Pillars, the Hall of Judgment, and the hall for Pharaoh’s daughter. These were built with costly stones and cedar wood. Hiram, from Tyre, made pillars of bronze, the bronze laver, bronze carts, and bronze utensils for the temple.

08) Solomon brought up the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple. He dedicated the Temple as a place where the name of the Lord was, and where the Lord heard the prayers of Israel and forgave. Solomon’s prayer emphasized repentance and forgiveness. It anticipated the capture and return of Israel. He also thanked God that not one word of promise to Moses failed. He offered many peace offering sacrifices.

09) The Lord promised David’s throne would last forever if his sons continued to follow Him and not other gods. If they turned from God, they would be cut off from the land and the temple would be destroyed. Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in Galilee, but he didn’t like them. Solomon made the Amorites, Hittites, etc. forced laborers. He built other cities and  a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber.

10) The Queen of Sheba came to test Solomon’s wisdom. She was amazed by his wisdom and prosperity. Gold and many riches came to Solomon and to Israel.

11) Solomon loved foreign wives (700 wives, 300 concubines), and they turned his heart from the Lord. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. He built high places for Chemosh and Molech. The Lord commanded him to stop, but he continued. The Lord promised to take the kingdom away from his son. Ahijah prophesied that ten tribes would go to Jeroboam. Solomon reigned for forty years. His son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

12) The people rallied around Jeroboam seeking relief from the oppression of Solomon and Rehoboam. Rehoboam promised more oppression. The ten northern tribes made Jeroboam king. Jeroboam set up two golden calves as gods. He installed priests who were not of the tribe of Levi.

13) A man of God from Judah came and rebuked the altar of Jeroboam. Jeroboam arrested him, but the LORD withered his arm. The man of God prayed, and his arm was restored. The man of God was no supposed to eat, but another prophet invited him to eat. A lion killed the man of God. Jereboam, himself, became a priest of the high places.

14) Jeroboam’s son became ill. Ahijah, the prophet, promised his death. He promised another king and that the house of Jeroboam would be cut off. Jeroboam reigned 22 years and died. Nadab his son reigned in his place. Rehoboam also practiced false worship. Perverted persons (cult prostitutes) were in the land. Shishak king of Egypt seized the treasures of Jerusalem. Rehoboam died, and his son Abijam reigned in his place.

15) Abijam was the second king of Judah (bad). He reigned three years. Asa was the third king of Judah (good). He reigned forty one years. He removed idols and cut down his grandmother’s obscene image. He made a treaty with the king of Syria to attack Israel. Nadab, son of Jeroboam, was the second king of Israel (bad). He reigned two years. Baasha (bad) became the third king of Israel after he killed Nadab and all the house of Jeroboam (fulfilling prophecy). He reigned 24 years and died (naturally?)

16) Elah (bad) became the fourth king of Israel. He reigned two years. Zimri killed Elah when he was drunk. He also killed the house of Baasha (fulfilling prophecy). Some made Omri (bad) king who fought against Zimri. Zimri burned his house on top of himself. Omri reigned six years. Ahab (bad), his son, reigned in his place for twenty-two years. He married Jezebel and worshiped Baal. He sacrificed his own son, Segub.

17) Elijah told Ahas there would be no rain until he said so. He fled to the Brook Cherith. Ravens brought him food. He then stayed with the widow of Zarephath at Sidon. He brought her son back to life.

18) After three years the Lord told Elijah to go to Ahab. Obadiah, in charge of Ahab’s house had saved 100 prophets from murderous Jezebel. He found Elijah, and Elijah told him to tell Ahab. Elijah called for a meeting of the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah at Mt. Carmel. Elijah challenged them to the sacrificial contest: Which God would burn up the sacrifice? Baal failed. Yahweh answered with fire. Elijah executed the prophets of Baal at the Brook Kishon. The Lord brought heavy rain.

19) Jezebel promised to kill Elijah. He fled into the wilderness, sat under a broom tree, and prayed to die. An angel brought him food. He went to Horeb. The LORD showed him a violent wind, an earthquake, and a fire. Finally He revealed Himself in a still small voice. The LORD sent him back to anoint two kings and Elisha as his successor. Seven thousand had not bowed to Baal. He threw his cloak on Elisha, who became his servant.

20) Ben-Hadad and the Syrians attacked Ahab, and Ahab defeated them. Ahab made a treaty with him and let him go. A prophet said Ahab would die for letting Ben-Hadad go.

21) Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard. Jezebel arranged to have Naboth killed, and Ahab took the vineyard. Elijah said Ahab had sold himself to evil. The LORD promised to destroy Ahab and his house. Ahab repented, and the LORD promised the destruction upon his son.

22) Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, went to Ahab, king of Israel. Ahab asked for help to reclaim Remote Gilead from the Syrians. Jehoshaphat asked for an inquiry to the Lord. Ahab’s prophets said, “Go.” Jehoshaphat didn’t consider these true prophets of the Lord. Ahab had one more, Micaiah, but he hated him because he never prophesied good. Micaiah prophesied destruction. Ahab was killed. Jehoshaphat continued to reign and died in Jerusalem. Jehoram took his place. Ahaziah, son of Ahab & Jezebel, took over for Ahab. He continued doing evil.

Chapter Summaries for 2 Kings

01) Ahaziah (Israel) suffered an accident, and inquired from Baal-Zebub. Elijah said he should have looked to the God of Israel and that he would die. Ahaziah sent soldiers to get Elijah. He called down fire on one hundred of them. Ahaziah died, and Jehoram reigned in his place.

02) The LORD was going to take Elijah to heaven. Elisha followed Elijah and asked for a double portion of his spirit. A chariot of fire took Elijah to heaven, and Elisha took up Elijah’s mantle that he dropped.

03) Jehoram, son of Ahab & Jezebel and brother of Ahaziah, became king of Israel. Moab was subjugated by Israel, but they rebelled. Jehoram talked Jehoshaphat (Judah) and the king of Edom into joining him to attack Moab. Approaching from the south, the armies ran out of water and turned to Elisha for help. Elisha said the LORD would provide water. The three kings defeated the Moabites and ruined their land. However, they didn’t capture Mesha, king of the Moabites. He had sacrificed his son to Chemosh (1 Kings 11:7, 33; 2 Kings 23:13), and believed this saved him. His account of the battle is found on the famous Moabite Stone.

04) The wife of a prophet who died was in debt. Elisha told her to take her jar of oil and pour it into as many vessels as she could find. The oil multiplied, and she paid her debt. Elisha promised a Shunammite woman a son. This son died. Elisha raised him. Elisha purified a pot of stew that had some poisonous vegetables in it. Elisha fed one hundred men with twenty loaves, and there was some left over.

05) Naaman, a Syrian commander, had leprosy. His servant told him about Elisha. He went to the king of Israel, who thought Naaman was trying to start a fight. Elisha told him to was seven times in the Jordan. Naaman was not impressed. He finally washed as was healed. Elisha refused payment. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, ran after Naaman and asked for silver and clothes. The leprosy of Naaman went to Gehazi and his descendants.

06)  Elisha helped recover an axe head that fell in the water. When Syrians surrounded Elisha, he showed his servant the greater army of the Lord. Elisha prayed for the Syrians to be blinded. He led them back to Samaria and fed them so they returned to Syria. Ben Hadad besieged Samaria.  There was a great famine. Women ate their children. The king (Jehoram -Israel 3.6) wanted to kill Elisha.

07)  Elisha promised Israel would have food. An officer questioned how this could be. Elisha said he would see but not taste. The Lord caused the Syrians to flee. The people of Israel plundered their camp that they left behind. They also trampled the officer.

08) Elisha told the woman whose son he had restored to leave Israel because of a famine. When she returned she wanted to recover her land. She went to the king for help. He was interested in her story. Gehazi is mentioned, so this must have occurred before he became a leper. Ben Hadad of Syria was sick. Elisha told Hazael to tell him he would recover. But he told Hazael he would die. Hazel killed him and became king.  Elisha said Hazael would afflict Israel.

While Joram (son of Ahab) was king of Israel, Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, became king (v16). His wife was the daughter of Ahab. He was bad. In verse 23 Jehoram (of Judah) is called Joram (very confusing). He died, and Ahaziah, his son, reigned in his place. Ahaziah’s mother was Athaliah, granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel. Joram (of Israel) was wounded in battle and went to Jezebel. Ahaziah, king of Judah (called son of Jehoram, v 29) went to see him. 

09) Elisha called a prophet to anoint Jehu son of Jehoshaphat as king over Israel. Jehu went to Joram, who was sick in Jezreel. Ahaziah, king of Judah was there also. Joram tried to flee, but Jehu shot him with an arrow. Ahaziah fled, and Jehu’s men also shot him. He died at Megiddo. Jehu called for the eunuchs to throw Jezebel out the window. The dogs ate most of her as Elijah had promised.

10) Jehu sent a letter to the men who were raising the seventy sons of Ahab in Samaria, and called for their heads. Their heads were brought to Jezreel. Jehu killed all the remaining descendants of Ahab in Jezreel. The brothers of king Ahaziah of Judah met Jehu in Samaria. They were on their way to greet Joram and Jezebel. Jehu had them killed. Jehu said: “Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much.” He planned a feast for Baal. When the prophets of Baal came, he killed them. Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel. Jehu continued in the sins of Jeroboam. Jehu died, and Jehoahaz, his son, reigned in his place.

11) Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah, king of Judah, who was killed by Jehu (chap 9). She was also the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and sister of Ahaziah and Joram who had reigned over Israel. She was the wife of Jehoram, king of Judah, who died of disease. Her other sons were killed by Philistines and Arabians. Now she killed all her grandsons to take the throne of Judah for herself. Jehosheba hid Joash, son of Ahaziah for six years. Jehoiada, the priest, consecrated Joash king of Judah. Athaliah was killed and the altar of Baal was torn down.

12) Joash of Judah (also spelled Jehoash) helped repair the temple. Hazael threatened Jerusalem, and Jehoash gave him the sacred things found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the king’s house. His servants rose up against him and killed him. Amaziah, his son, reigned in his place in Judah.

13) The author picks up the narrative about Israel left off from chapter ten in which Jehoahaz began to reign in place of Jehu. The king of Syria oppressed Israel during this time. The Lord did give some relief, but Israel continued in the sins of Jeroboam. Jerhoahaz died, and Joash (also spelled “Jehoash v. 10 & 25) reigned in his place. Note: At this time Joash, son of Ahaziah was reigning in Judah. Now we have Joash, son of Jehoahaz, reigning in Israel. He did evil and also fought against Amaziah, king of Judah, who followed Joash, king of Judah.  Joash died, and Jeroboam (the second Jeroboam), reigned in his place. Joash, king of Israel, wept over Elisha when he was sick. Elisha prophesied that Joash would fight against Syria. A man who was buried in the tomb of Elisha, revived when his body touched the bones of Elisha.

14) Amaziah, son of Joash, became king of Judah. This was during the reign of Joash, king of Israel. Amaziah picked a fight with Joash of Israel, and he was defeated. Conspirators killed Amaziah, and Azariah, his son, became king of Judah. The author goes back to Jeroboam II mentioned in chapter 13. He did evil, but he also restored the land of Israel to the north (Damascus and Hamath).

15) The author picks the narrative back up with Azariah, king of Judah. He did what was right, but he didn’t remove all the high places. He had a long reign of 52 years, but the Lord also struck him with leprosy. Jotham, his son, reigned in his place. The author switches back to Israel in which Zechariah, son of Jeroboam, begins to reign. He only reigned for six months when Shallum murdered him. Shallum reigned a month until he was killed by Menahem. He reigned ten yeas in Israel and gave tribute to Pul, king of Assyria. He died and Pekahiah reigned in his place for two years. Pekah killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place. In his reign, Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, came against Israel. Hoshea killed Pekah and reigned in his place. The author switches to Judah in which Jotham, son of Uzziah, began to reign. Rezin of Syria, and Pekah of Israel, began to attack Judah. Jotham died, and Ahaz, his son, reigned in his place.

16) Ahaz ruled badly in Judah. He even sacrificed his son to fire. Pekah, king of Israel and Rezin, king of Syria besieged him.  Ahaz asked for and got help from Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and made a copy of it for use in Jerusalem.

17) The author switches to Israel where Hoshea began to reign and did evil. Israel became a vassal to Assyria, and when he refused to pay tribute, he was shut up in prison. Assyria carried Israel away because it had sinned against the LORD and served idols. They sold themselves to do evil. This all started with Jeroboam. The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon and other cities to live in Israel. Lions attacked these people, and they said it was because they didn’t know the rituals of the god of this land. The king sent a priest back to Bethel to teach the ways of the LORD. The people feared the LORD and continued to serve other gods.

18) Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, began to reign in Judah. He removed the high places and broke the bronze serpent Moses had made. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, carried away Israel. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came against Judah. Hezekiah paid tribute. The Rabshakeh came to Jerusalem and called for Hezekiah to surrender Jerusalem.

19) Hezekiah calls on Isaiah to pray. Isaiah promised Assyria would go away. Hezekiah took the warning letter from the Assyrians and prayed for deliverance. The Lord promised deliverance. An angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Sennacharib returned to Assyria and was assassinated by his sons.

20) Hezekiah became very ill. He prayed for healing. He asked for a sign. Isaiah promised the shadow on the sundial would go back ten degrees which it did. Hezekiah showed the Babylonians his treasures. Isaiah promised they would be taken to Babylon. Hezekiah was glad he would be dead by then. The author mentions the tunnel of Hezekiah. He died and Manasseh, his son, reigned in his place.

21) Manassah reigned fifty-five years starting at the age of twelve. He did evil in the sight of the LORD. He reinstituted Baal worship which his father had removed. He worshiped the host of heaven and made his sons pass through fire. He was more wicked that the nations God has destroyed. He died, and his son Amon reigned in his place for two years. He continued in the ways of Manassah, and his servants killed him. His son, Josiah, reigned in his place.

22) Josiah reigned thirty-one years beginning at age eight. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD. The high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law, and Josiah was concerned that Judah had forsaken the LORD. Hulda, the prophetess, said that Judah would be punished, but not in Josiah’s lifetime.

23) Josiah destroyed all the idols and the priests of false religions. He removed the perverted persons and the mediums. Josiah was killed fighting Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Megiddo. Jehoahaz, his son, reigned three months until Necho put him in prison. Necho made Eliakim, son of Josiah king and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz died in Egypt. Jehoiakim reigned eleven years. He gave tribute to Necho and did evil in the sight of the Lord.

24) Jehoiakim became a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon for three years. Raiders also came against Judah from Chaldea, Syria, Moab and Ammon. They were sent by God. Jehoiakim died, and Jehoiachin, his son, reigned three months before surrounding to Nebuchadnezzar. Everything was taken to Babylon except the poorest of the land. Nebuchadnezzar made an uncle of Jehoiakim king and named him Zedekiah. He reigned for eleven years.

25) Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem for three years, captured the city, killed the kings sons and blinded Zedekiah and took him into captivity. Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, burned the temple and tore down the walls. He carried away more people and made Gedaliah king. Gedaliah was murdered. Evil-Merodach, king of Babylon, released Jehoiachin from prison, and he ate at the kings’ table.