This document provides an overview of the biblical books of Kings, including its location and structure in the Hebrew Bible canon. It discusses the major themes in Kings such as the kings of Israel and Judah being held up against the standard of King David, the roles of prophets like Elijah and Elisha, and the importance and eventual destruction of the Temple. The document also outlines the general time period covered by the books of Kings, from the establishment of the Davidic kingdom around 970 BC to the release of King Jehoiachin from prison in Babylon in 561 BC.

2. OT Survey I
Kings

3. English
Location of Kings in Canon
Hebrew
[Historical Books]
 Joshua
 Judges
 Ruth
 Samuel
 Kings
 Chronicles
 Ezra/Neh/Est
[Former Prophets]
 Joshua
 Judges
 Samuel
 Kings
[Latter Prophets]
(Isa, Jer, Ezek, 12)
[Torah]
[Writings]
(e.g., E/N, Esth, Dan, Psa,
Prov)

4. Location of Kings in Canon
Pentateuch (esp. Deuteronomy)
Joshua
Judges
Samuel
Kings

5. Noahic to Abrahamic Covenant
• Failure – Tower of Babel (Gen 11)
 Promise – Noahic Covenant (Gen 9)
 Renewal – Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15 -> 17) [note
the historical prologue in 15:7]
 Theophany – Smoking Oven and Flaming Torch (Gen 15)
 Concern – Disobedience will result in cutting off (Gen 17)
 Waiting – Abraham grows old (Gen 16)
 Impatience – Abraham takes Hagar (Gen 16)
 Fulfillment Begins – Isaac born (Gen 21)
“Now it came about after the death of Abraham…” (Genesis 25:11)

6. Abrahamic to Mosaic Covenant
• Failure – Israel in Egypt (Gen 37 - Exod 12)
 Promise – Abrahamic Covenant
 Renewal – Mosaic Covenant (Exod 19-31 -> Lev) [note
the historical prologue in 19:4]
 Theophany – God thundering from Sinai (Exod 19)
 Concern – Boundaries to obey (Exod)! God is holy (Lev)!
 Waiting – For Moses to return (Exod 32:1)
 Impatience – Golden Calf (Exod 32)
 Fulfillment Begins – Tabernacle Finished (Exod 34-40)
“…after the death of the two sons of Aaron…” (Leviticus 16:1)

7. Mosaic to Deuteronomic Covenant
• Failure – All of Numbers; but esp. at Kadesh (Num 13)
 Promise – Mosaic Covenant
 Renewal – Deut. Covenant (Num 14 -> Deut 1-30) [note
the historical prologue in Deut 1-4]
 Theophany – God appears in tent (Num 14 -> Deut 31:15)
 Concern – Israel won’t obey! (Num 14 -> Deut 31:16-32:52)
 Waiting – 40 years in the wilderness (Num 13-19)
 Impatience – Moses strikes the rock (Num 20)
 Fulfillment Begins – East of the Jordan (Num 21-36)
“Now it came about after the death of Moses…” (Joshua 1:1)

8. Deuteronomic to Joshua’s Covenant
• Failure – No Herem at Ai (Josh 7)
 Promise – Deuteronomic Covenant
 Renewal – Renewed Covenant (Josh 8 -> 24) [note
the historical prologue in Josh 24:1-13]
 Theophany – ???
 Concern – Israel will not obey, has idols (Josh 24)
 Waiting – As opponents assemble (Josh 9:1)
 Impatience – Not inquiring of Yahweh (Josh 9)
 Fulfillment Begins – Israel starts to take land (Josh 12)
“Now it came about after the death of Joshua…” (Judges 1:1)

9. Joshua’s to Samuel’s Covenant
• Failure – Judges through 1 Samuel 8, esp. 1 Samuel 8
 Promise – Joshua’s Covenant (i.e., renewed by Joshua)
 Renewal – Samuel’s Covenant (1 Sam 10 -> 12) [note
the historical prologue in 1 Sam 12:6-11]
 Theophany – 1 Sam 12:16-19
 Concern – Sin will lead to God’s opposition (1 Sam 12:15)
 Waiting – Saul for Samuel (1 Sam 13:8)
 Impatience – Acting before Samuel’s arrival (1 Sam 13:9-10)
 Fulfillment Begins – David anointed as king (1 Sam 16)
“Now it came about after the death of Saul…” (2 Sam 1:1)

10. Samuel to David’s Covenant
• Failure – Righteous king not reigning (1 Sam 18 - 2 Sam 4)
 Promise – Samuel’s Covenant (i.e., renewed by Samuel)
 Renewal – David’s Covenant (2 Sam 7; 1 Kings ???)
[note the historical prologue in 2 Sam 7:8-9]
 Theophany – 1 Kings ???
 Concern – Sin brings discipline (2 Sam 7:14; 1 Kings ???)
 Waiting – David waiting for army’s return (2 Sam 11:1-3)
 Impatience(?) – Taking of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11)
 Fulfillment Begins – Solomon is born (2 Sam 12:24-25)

11. Samuel to David’s Covenant
• Failure – Righteous king not reigning (1 Sam 18 - 2 Sam 4)
 Promise – Samuel’s Covenant (i.e., renewed by Samuel)
 Renewal – David’s Covenant (2 Sam 7; 1 Kings 9:1-9)
[note the historical prologue in 2 Sam 7:8-9]
 Theophany – 1 Kings 8:10-11
 Concern – Sin brings discipline (2 Sam 7:14; 1 Kings 9:6-9)
 Waiting – David waiting for army’s return (2 Sam 11:1-3)
 Impatience(?) – Taking of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11)
 Fulfillment Begins – Solomon is born (2 Sam 12:24-25)

12. Solomon and the Davidic Covenant (Hope)
 Expecting him as initial fulfillment (2 Sam 12:25)
 Selected instead of older brother
 1st: Amnon has died (2 Sam 3:2; 13:28-29)
 2nd: Kileab never again mentioned (2 Sam 3:3)
 3rd: Absalom has died (2 Sam 3:3; 18:15)
 4th: Adonijah, son of Haggith (2 Sam 3:4; 1 Kgs 1:5)
 David’s instruction (1 Kgs 2:1-4)
 Adonijah’s demise (1 Kgs 2:23-25)
 Abiathar’s dismissal (1 Kgs 2:26-27)
 Joab’s demise (1 Kgs 2:31-34)
 Shimei’s demise (1 Kgs 2:44-46)
*** 1 Kings 1-2 really completes the story of Samuel

13. Solomon and the Davidic Covenant (Fulfillment)
 Warning to the reader (foreign wife, but loves God)! (3:1-4)
 God appears to Solomon
 Wisdom requested and granted (3:5-12)
 Glory not requested but granted (3:13)
 Requirement [and concern?] (3:14)
 Story of women, Wisdom of Solomon (3:15-28)
 Government of Solomon (4:1-34) [note 4:20-25!]
 Works of Solomon (with Hiram) (5:1-18) [note 5:4, 7!]
 Temple of Solomon (6:1-7:51)
 KEY CHAPTER: God dwells in temple! (8:1-66)
 God appears to Solomon
 Renewal! (9:1-5)
 Concern! (9:6-9)

14. Solomon and the Davidic Covenant (Failure)
 Hiram unpleased with cities given to him (9:10-14)
 Gov’t of Solomon (Canaanites still there!) (9:15-28)
 Story of woman, Wisdom of Solomon (10:1-13)
 Glory of Solomon (10:14-22)
 Wisdom of Solomon (10:23-25)
 Failure of Solomon (10:26-11:43)
Involves foreign wives, loves them, not God.
See David Dorsey, Literary Structure of the Old Testament
Deuteronomy 17!

15. Samuel to David’s Covenant
• Failure – Righteous king not reigning (1 Sam 18 - 2 Sam 4)
 Promise – Samuel’s Covenant (i.e., renewed by Samuel)
 Renewal – David’s Covenant (2 Sam 7; 1 Kings 9:1-9)
[note the historical prologue in 2 Sam 7:8-9]
 Theophany – 1 Kings 8:10-11
 Concern – Sin brings discipline (2 Sam 7:14; 1 Kings 9:6-9)
 Waiting – David waiting for army’s return (2 Sam 11:1-3)
 Impatience(?) – Taking of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11)
 Fulfillment Begins – Solomon is born (2 Sam 12:24-25)

16. Now it came about after the death of…
• Now it came about after the death of Moses the
servant of the LORD . . . (Joshua 1:1)
 And it came about after the death of Abraham . .
. (Gen 25:11) [Hebrew is the same]
 Now it came about after the death of Joshua . .
(Judges 1:1)
 Now it came about after the death of Saul . . . (2
Samuel 1:1)
 . . . after the death of the two sons of Aaron. (Lev
16:1) [Similar Hebrew]
 . . . after the death of Ahab. (2 Kings 1:1)

17. Samuel to David’s Covenant
• Failure – Righteous king not reigning (1 Sam 18 - 2 Sam 4)
 Promise – Samuel’s Covenant (i.e., renewed by Samuel)
 Renewal – David’s Covenant (2 Sam 7; 1 Kings 9:1-9)
[note the historical prologue in 2 Sam 7:8-9]
 Theophany – 1 Kings 8:10-11
 Concern – Sin brings discipline (2 Sam 7:14; 1 Kings 9:6-9)
 Waiting – David waiting for army’s return (2 Sam 11:1-3)
 Impatience(?) – Taking of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11)
 Fulfillment Begins – Solomon is born (2 Sam 12:24-25)
“Now Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab” (2 Kings 1:1)

18. David to Elisha’s Covenant
• Failure – Northern kingdom not recognizing Davidic king
Davidic kings not ruling in righteousness
 Promise – David’s Covenant
 Renewal – Elisha’s Covenant (2 Kings ???)
 Theophany – 2 Kings ???
 Concern – Sin brings discipline (2 Kings ???)
2 Kings 17, 25!

19. English
Location of Kings in Canon
Hebrew
[Historical Books]
 Joshua
 Judges
 Ruth
 Samuel
 Kings
 Chronicles
 Ezra/Neh/Est
[Former Prophets]
 Joshua
 Judges
 Samuel
 Kings
[Latter Prophets]
(Isa, Jer, Ezek, 12)
[Torah]
[Writings]
(e.g., E/N, Esth, Dan, Psa,
Prov)

20. Structure of Kings*
 1 Kings 1 -11** – Beginning of Davidic kingdom
 1 Kings 12-16 – Beginning of northern kingdom
 1 Kings 17- 2
Kings 1 – Beginning of Ahab’s kingdom
 2 Kings 2-8 – The prophet Elisha
 2 Kings 9-13 – End of Ahab’s kingdom
 2 Kings 14-17 – End of northern kingdom
 2 Kings 18-25 – End of Davidic kingdom
** 1 Kings 1-2 actually ends section of 2 Samuel* Modified from Literary Structure of the OT by David Dorsey

21. Purpose Statement of Kings
 Because of the wickedness of Israel's
leadership and populace, God severely
disciplines them in accordance with the
covenant curses.
but, there is more . . .
 In addition, true prophets are exhibited to
the remnant as God’s spokesmen to listen to
while awaiting the ushering in of a new
covenant.

22. Major Themes
 Kings
 David – Pattern for the kings
 Solomon – What heights and depths!
 Jeroboam – Pattern for the northern kings
 Ahab – As low as you can go
 Jehu – Exterminator turned worshipper
 Hezekiah – A deliverer for the remnant
 Manasseh – As low as you can go
 Josiah – Loved God with all his heart, but not
even Noah, Daniel, and Job would do (Ezek 14).
 Jehoiachin – Not much to hope in

23. Major Themes (continued…)
 Prophets
 Examples
 Elisha – At the center of the book
 Elijah – The forerunner of Elisha
 Nathan, Ahijah, Jehu, Micaiah, Huldah
 Isaiah, Jonah
 True vs. lying
 Prediction, fulfillment
 Israel’s current need to repent, future hope
 The Temple
 A glorious site to behold
 Diminishing in glory
 A sure defense?
 Its destruction

24. Time Period
 Bible does not give absolute dates but rather
relative ones
 We can determine absolute dates for biblical
events by looking at other documents
 Battle of Qarqar, involving Ahab
 Jehu paying tribute to Shalmaneser
 From this, we can move forward and backwards
to establish the following time period:
 970 BC – Death of King David
 561 BC – Release of Jehoiachin from prison

25.  1 Kings 6:1 Now it came about in the four
hundred and eightieth year after the sons
of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in
the fourth year of Solomon's reign over
Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the
second month, that he began to build the
house of the LORD.
966 + 480 = 1446 BC for the date of the Exodus
Interpretative Issues

26.  “Every Old Testament scholar knows of the
many chronological details in the biblical record
that seem to be in hopeless disagreement with
each other and with the chronological pattern of
neighboring states. In spite of almost endless
research and discussion, biblical chronology
remained in a state of almost hopeless
confusion.”
Edwin Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, p. 33
Interpretative Issues (continued . . .)

27. Interpretative Issues (continued . . .)
• 2 Kings 9:29 Now in the eleventh year of
Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became
king over Judah.
 2 Kings 8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram
the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the
son of Jehoram king of Judah began to
reign.

28. Interpretative Issues (continued . . .)
• Jeroboam & Rehoboam began the same year (1 Kings 12).
• Joram & Ahaziah died the same year (2 Kings 9)
ISRAEL JUDAH
Jeroboam 22 Rehoboam 17
Nadab 2 Abijah 3
Baasha 24 Asa 41
Elah 2 Jehoshaphat 25
Zimri (7 days) Jehoram 8
Omri 12 Ahaziah 1
Ahab 22
Ahaziah 2
Joram 12
----------------- ---------------------
98 years, 7 days 95 years

29. Interpretative Issues (continued . . .)
• How do we reconcile these?
• Again, see Edwin Thiele, The Mysterious
Numbers of the Hebrew Kings.
• A summary (taken from House, NAC, p. 41)
– Judah used accession-year system, Israel didn’t
– During one period, both used the same system!
– Israel and Judah had a different new year (six
months apart)
– The difficulty of coregencies

30. Two Canonical Links
 1) John 21:25 “And there are also many other
things which Jesus did, which if they were written
in detail, I suppose that even the world itself
would not contain the books which were written.”
 Compare with, for example, 1 Kings 11:41 “Now
the rest of the acts of Solomon and whatever he
did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the
book of the acts of Solomon?” (see also 1 Kings
14:29; 15:7, 23, 31; 16:5, 14, 20, 27; 22:39, 45;
2 Kings 1:18; 8:23; 10:34; 12:19; 13:8, 12;
14:15, 18, 28; 15:6, 21, 36; 16:19; 20:20; 21:17,
25; 23:28; 24:5)

31. Two Canonical Links (continued . . .)
 2) Kings is indeed a very sobering and negative
book. It exhibits the ‘end’ of God’s promises and
does not fulfill our longing for another covenant.
 But, remember, the idea of true prophets over
against false prophets is important in Kings
 One prophet in this regard was Jeremiah
 Jeremiah 29:1-11 – A letter to those in exile
 “When seventy years have been completed . . .”
 Daniel 9 – “observed in the books the number of
years . . .”
 When will a new covenant be cut???