2 Kings

 [Following is the introduction to both 1 Kings and 2 Kings, which are parts of one whole.]

 1. Title.
 The present two books of Kings were originally one, known in Hebrew as Melakim, “Kings.” In the Hebrew Bible, Kings continued undivided until the time of the printed edition of Daniel Bomberg, 1516-17. The Greek translators of the LXX, who divided the “book of Samuel” into two books, also divided the “book of Kings” into two books, and treated the four as parts 1 to 4 of “Kingdoms.”
 The title “Kings” indicates the contents of the books; our present first book of Kings gives the history of the Hebrew monarchs beginning with the death of David and the reign of Solomon and closing with the accession of Jehoram in Judah and Ahaziah in Israel. Second Kings begins with a continuation of the account of Ahaziah’s reign and closes with the end of the kingdom of Judah.

 2. Authorship.
 The books of Kings are more in the nature of a compilation of selected materials brought together an editor rather than an original production from a single hand. They contain highly valuable and reliable historical material. Items drawn by inspired from early sources have been brought together and arranged into a framework following a specific pattern, with comments indicating a deep religious purpose. Many items have been taken directly or indirectly from official court or temple records. Archeological research touching many of these items has proved beyond question the striking accuracy of the accounts in Kings. There are narratives taken over, no doubt, from records preserved in the schools of the prophets. Stories are presented at times with great dramatic appeal, and yet again with sober moralizing judgments. Historical contributions are found in these writings without parallel anywhere in the records of Assyria, Egypt, or Babylon. Even when judged from the standpoint of profane history, these writings, with their deep human appeal, their matchless charm, sagacious political judgments, and penetrating moral philosophy, are among the most outstanding productions that have come to us from the ancient East.
 With all the diversity of source material, there exists a striking evidence of unity and regularity of plan. The accounts of the various kings are presented with a fixed formula for the beginning and ending of each reign. Judgments are pronounced in which the kings are compared with either the good or evil monarchs who preceded them. Certain peculiarities of thought and expression which pervade the entire two books of Kings point definitely to some single individual who played a prominent part in bringing together this material in its present form.
 The date of the composition is provided by the conclusion of the book itself, the final period of Judean history, when the southern kingdom was brought to its end by Nebuchadnezzar and its people were taken into Babylonian captivity. We cannot identify with certainty the individual who brought together the materials of Kings in their present form, but Jewish tradition has a report in the Talmud, Baba Bathra, 15a, that it was Jeremiah. If 2 Kings 25:27-30 be regarded as a postscript, the editor could well have been Jeremiah or an inspired contemporary of his.

 3. Historical Setting.
 The books of Kings parallel one of the most interesting and eventful periods of ancient Near Eastern history. This is the period when Assyria rose to the height of its power and when its kings went out to conquer the world, including in their schemes of conquest the monarchies of Israel and Judah. This is the time of the Twenty-first to the Twenty-sixth Dynasty in Egypt, when Egypt had not yet given up its plans of conquest and when it vied with the Mesopotamia powers for the control of Palestine and Syria. This is the time of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, when the Medes and Chaldeans defeated the Assyrian Empire and brought much of the Near East under their sway, destroying the nation of Judah and taking the southern tribes into captivity to Babylon.
 Throughout this period the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were in almost constant and vital contact with the nations of the East. Among the wives of Solomon was a daughter of Pharaoh. Hiram of Tyre was regarded by Solomon as a personal friend, and lent great assistance in the construction of the Temple. Jeroboam, who was destined to become the first king of Israel, was a political refugee from Solomon and sought asylum in Egypt. Rehoboam, in the fifth year of his reign, was attacked by Shishak of Egypt. This Biblical “Shishak” was the famous Sheshonk I, founder of Egypt’s Twenty-second Dynasty, who also left his own record of his attack on the cities of Israel and Judah. Omri was a king who left such an imprint upon posterity that the kingdom of Israel came to be known among the Assyrians as Mat Humri, “Omri-Land.” Shalmaneser III mentions Ahab as having fought with the western allies against Assyria at the battle of Qarqar in Shalmaneser’s sixth year and that in his eighteenth year he received tribute from Jehu.
 Mesha of Moab is reported as having paid tribute to Ahab and as having rebelled against Israel after Ahab’s death. Further interesting details of this incident come to us from the famous Moabite Stone—that he received tribute from King “Joash, the Samaritan.” The record in Kings mentions Menahem’s payment of tribute to Pul of Assyria and of Tiglath-pileser’s attack on the northern tribes during the reign of Pekah. We also possess the records of Tiglath-pileser III in which he mentions his contacts with Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea of Israel, and with Azariah and Ahaz of Judah. The Bible also mentions the payment of tribute by Hoshea to Shalmaneser V, Hoshea’s subsequent conspiracy against Assyria and with So of Egypt, and Shalmaneser’s three-year siege of Samaria, ending in the capture of Samaria and the end of the northern kingdom (2 Kings 17).
 During the 14th year of Hezekiah, Sennacherib made his famous invasion of Palestine, with “all the fenced cities of Judah” falling into his hands and with Hezekiah himself besieged at Jerusalem. Sennacherib has left to posterity his own vivid account of this campaign. It was about the time of Hezekiah’s heroic resistance against Sennacherib that Merodach-baladan of Babylon (see on 2 Kings 20:12) sent his envoys to the Judean king.
 Josiah met his death at the hands of Necho of Egypt while endeavoring to resist an Egyptian thrust through Palestine. Finally there are detailed accounts of Nebuchadnezzar’s numerous campaigns against Jerusalem in the days of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the southern kingdom.
 To appreciate this important period of Hebrew history it is necessary to understand the events then taking place in Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon. To integrate correctly the affairs of these various nations it is necessary to arrange these into a chronological pattern, so that events may be correctly placed in the historical framework and contemporaneous kings and events may appear side by side. Except for the last three or four rulers of Assyria, the Assyrian and Babylonian dates for this period are generally accepted as fully established. For Egypt the chronology is not nearly so certain. See pp. 17, 124.

 4. Theme.
 Though the books of Kings present the history of the Hebrew rulers from the death of David and the reign of Solomon to the final destruction of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the primary purpose is not to present the facts of history for the sake of history. There is history, but it is presented with a purpose—to show how the experiences of the Hebrews relate to the plans and purposes of God. The object was not so much to write a detailed chronicle of the bald facts of history as to present the lessons of history. The compiler of these books had a deep religious motive and a very practical aim. The children of Israel were the people of God, and it was their task to fulfill the divine purpose and live out on earth the principles of the kingdom of heaven. Righteousness was to be the foundation for national prosperity. Sin could end only in ruin. If true to its divine mission, the nation would grow in strength and greatness. If kings and rulers failed to live up to the divine purpose, Israel as a people would perish. The nation could not exist without righteousness and without God.
 The amazing thing is that when the Israelites had failed as a nation and were face with utter and seemingly irretrievable ruin, someone found in the dark history of Israel’s sorrows and defeats something worth recording for generations to come. The lessons of Israel’s failure were to bring light and hope to the world. Upon the ashes of defeat there must yet be reared a new structure of success and victory. Israel might perish, but righteousness must not perish. If the lessons of Israel’s failure were learned, the world would yet find hope in God.
 The age when the book of Kings came into being was the age of the prophets. In the pronouncements of this book are to be found the courage and spiritual insight of the prophets, bringing home to the hearts of men lessons from God.
 The record of Kings begins with the glorious reign of Solomon, and the building of the Temple, with the nation virile and strong. It ends with the reign of a weak and infamous king, the Temple destroyed, and the land of Judah a desolate ruin. Yet this lesson of ruin was to rouse a new spirit of hope, and to focus attention upon a new and better age to come, with Israel ruled by its eternal King. “Lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it” (Jer. 30:3). “They shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them” (v. 9). “Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid” (v. 10). “I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land” (ch. 32:39-41).
 Even though the primary purpose of Kings is not the presentation of history as such, it contains history of great importance and remarkable accuracy. There are items concerning the Hebrew rulers such as are never found in the annals of neighboring states.
 Secular annals of Israel’s neighbors were written to extol the king, to glorify him as builder, hunter, or statesman, to make public his acts of piety in the service of the gods, and to relate his exploits in war. Hebrew records as they have come down to us were to glorify not man but God. So we find in these records of Kings not only the outstanding accomplishments of the Israelite rulers but also their foibles and defeats.
 Kings contains items of historical importance not only concerning the kingdoms of Israel and Judah but concerning the nations round about. There are items of interest concerning Tyre and Egypt, ships of Tarshish going to Ophir for gold, Solomon’s navy at Ezion-geber on the shores of the Red Sea, the queen of Sheba’s coming to Jerusalem with a train of camels carrying spices and gold, Sennacherib’s being slain by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer while worshiping in the house of his god, Syrian fears of Hittite kings, the tribute to Ahab of 100,000 lambs from Mesha, the sheepmaster king of Moab, the sending of the Egyptian forces of Tirhakah to harass the Assyrian hosts besieging Lachish and Libnah, Hiram’s importation of almug trees from Ophir to make pillars for the house of the Lord, the offering of the heir apparent as a burnt sacrifice upon a Moabite city wall to purchase the aid of the gods, Assyrian envoys speaking Aramaic and Hebrew in the 8th-7th centuries B.C., Zif and Ethanim and Bul as month names in the early history of Canaan—all interesting and vital ingredients of the basic stuff of which history is made.
 One of the outstanding features of the books of Kings is their basic chronological framework. Generally speaking, the kings are introduced in the order of their coming to the throne, regardless of whether they ruled in Israel or Judah. Two principal items of chronological information are given for each:
 (1) a synchronism, dating the beginning of the reign of a king of Judah in a specific year of the contemporary king of Israel, and vice versa, and
 (2) the length of each reign. Sometimes there are other time statements, such as intervals, regnal dates of events, or synchronisms between certain Hebrew reigns and those of other nations (see pp. 135, 145).
 However, there are many difficulties in reconciling the figures given for Israel with those of Judah, and in harmonizing both with non-Biblical chronology. Even in a series of reigns beginning and ending together in Israel and Judah, the totals are not the same. Such difficulties have led some Biblical scholars to conclude that the chronology of the Hebrew kings has become hopelessly confused, through the centuries, because of copyists’ errors. The efforts of others to harmonize the data have resulted in numerous theories (though not wide in range), based mostly on varying conjectural revisions of the figures in an effort to reconcile them with non-Biblical chronology (see pp. 140, 143).
 Actually, the seeming discrepancies are due largely, if not altogether, to our lack of information as to the various technical methods of reckoning used in Bible times. Our increasing understanding of the basic chronological principles employed by the Hebrew scribes makes possible, through recent studies, the construction of a coherent pattern that aligns the reigns of both Hebrew kingdoms in harmony with practically all of the Biblical data, and with the generally accepted chronology of Assyria and Babylonia (see p. 143).
 The dates employed in this commentary for convenient reference (see tabulation on p. 77) are derived from chronological systems of the kings based on thorough studies, and are chosen as showing the greatest degree of harmony among the Biblical data and as coming nearest to a complete solution of the problem. They are presented only as a tentative outline, for it is possible that future discoveries throwing more light on those times may require more or less adjustment of this arrangement as a result of more exact knowledge of the chronology of the period.

 5. Outline.

 I. From the Death of David to the Disruption, 1 Kings 1:1 to 11:43.
   A. The last days of David, 1:1 to 2:11.
      1. David’s last illness, 1:1-4.
      2. Adonijah’s effort to obtain the kingdom, 1:5–53.
         a. Preparations to seize the throne, 1:5-10.
         b. Nathan confers with Bath-sheba, 1:11-14.
         c. Bath-sheba confers with David, 1:15-21.
         d. Nathan confers with David, 1:22-27.
         e. David promises the kingdom to Solomon, 1:28-31.
         f. David makes Solomon king, 1:32-40.
         g. Adonijah hears that Solomon is king, 1:41-49.
         h. Solomon spares the life of Adonijah, 1:50-53.
      3. David’s last charge to Solomon, 2:1-9.
      4. The death of David, 2:10, 11.
   B. The reign of Solomon, 2:12 to 11:43.
      1. The kingdom made secure to Solomon, 2:12.
      2. Solomon’s dealings with his opponents, 2:13-46.
      3. Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter, 3:1.
      4. Solomon’s sacrifice at Gibeon and his message from God, 3:2-15.
      5. Solomon’s notable judicial decision, 3:16-28.
      6. The officers of the court, 4:1-28.
      7. The wisdom of Solomon, 4:29-34.
      8. The building of the Temple, 5:1 to 8:66.
      9. Solomon’s buildings, offerings, and ships, 9:1-28.
      10. The visit of the queen of Sheba, 10:1-13.
      11. Solomon’s gold, his throne, navy, and chariots, 10:14-29.
      12. Solomon’s many wives and his idolatry, 11:1-8.
      13. The adversaries of Solomon, 11:9-40.
      14. The death of Solomon, 11:41-43.

 II. From the Disruption to the Fall of Samaria, 1 Kings 12:1 to 2 Kings 17:41.
   A. Jeroboam I to Tibni, 1 Kings 12:1 to 16:22.
      1. The coronation of Rehoboam and the disruption of the kingdom, 12:1-24.
      2. Jeroboam I, 12:25 to 14:20.
         a. Altars established at Dan and Bethel, 12:25-33.
         b. The man of God and the disobedient prophet, 13:1-32.
         c. Jeroboam’s evil ways, 13:33, 34.
         d. Divine judgments pronounced against the house of Jeroboam, 14:1-20.
      3. Rehoboam, 14:21-31.
      4. Abijam, 15:1-8.
      5. Asa, 15:9-24.
      6. Nadab, 15:25-27.
      7. Baasha, 15:27 to 16:7.
      8. Elah, 16:8, 9.
      9. Zimri, 16:10-20.
      10. Tibni, 16:21, 22.
   B. Omri to Ahaziah, 1 Kings 16:23 to 2 Kings 8:29.
      1. Omri, 1 Kings 16:23-28.
      2. Ahab, 16:29 to 22:40.
         a. The iniquities of Ahab’s reign, 16:29-34.
         b. The rebukes by Elijah the prophet, 17:1 to 19:18.
         c. The call of Elisha, 19:19-21.
         d. War and peace with Syria, 20:1-43.
         e. The seizure of Naboth’s vineyard and Elijah’s rebuke, 21:1-29.
         f. The attack on Ramoth-gilead, 22:1-40.
      3. Jehoshaphat, 22:41-50.
      4. Ahaziah in Israel, 1 Kings 22:51 to 2 Kings 1:17.
      5. Joram in Israel, 2 Kings 1:17 to 8:15.
         a. Joram’s accession in the second year of Jehoram of Judah, 1:17, 18.
         b. Elijah’s ascension, 2:1-11.
         c. Elisha succeeds Elijah, 2:12-25.
         d. Joram’s accession in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, 3:1.
         e. The evils of Joram’s reign, 3:2, 3.
         f. The Moabites overcome, 3:4-27.
         g. Miracles of Elisha, 4:1-44.
         h. Naaman cured of his leprosy, 5:1-27.
         i. Building by the sons of the prophets, 6:1-7.
         j. The Syrians smitten with blindness, 6:8-23.
         k. Samaria besieged by the Syrians, 6:24 to 7:20.
         l. Elisha’s message for Hazael, 8:1-15.
      6. Jehoram in Judah, 8:16-24.
      7. Ahaziah in Judah, 8:25-29.
   C. Jehu to the end of the northern kingdom, 2 Kings 9:1 to 17:41.
      1. Jehu, 9:1 to 10:36.
         a. Jehu anointed as king, 9:1-13.
         b. Jehu slays Joram and Ahaziah, 9:14-29.
         c. Jezebel slain, 9:30-37.
         d. Jehu slays all the seed of Ahab, 10:1-17.
         e. Jehu destroys Baal out of Israel, 10:18-28.
         f. The evils of Jehu’s reign, 10:29-36.
      2. Athaliah, 11:1-21.
      3. Jehoash in Judah, 12:1-21.
      4. Jehoahaz, 13:1-9.
      5. Jehoash in Israel, 13:10–25.
         a. His evil deeds and war with Amaziah, 13:10-13.
         b. The death of Elisha, 13:14-21.
         c. Cities recovered from Syria, 13:22-25.
      6. Amaziah, 14:1-22.
      7. Jeroboam II, 14:23-29.
      8. Azariah, 15:1-7.
      9. Zachariah, 15:8-12.
      10. Shallum, 15:13-15.
      11. Menahem, 15:16-22.
      12. Pekahiah, 15:23-26
      13. Pekah, 15:27-31.
      14. Jotham, 15:32-38.
      15. Ahaz, 16:1-20.
      16. Hoshea, 17:1–41.
         a. Revolt against Assyria and the fall of Samaria, 17:1-6.
         b. The evils of Israel that brought about its ruin, 17:7-23.
         c. The mixed worship of the Samaritans, 17:24-41.

 III. From Hezekiah to the Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 18:1 to 25:30.
   A A period of reform, 18:1 to 20:21.
      1. Hezekiah.
         a. Hezekiah serves the Lord and destroys idolatry, 18:1-12.
         b. Sennacherib’s campaigns, 18:13 to 19:37.
         c. Hezekiah cured from his serious illness, 20:1-11.
         d. The embassy from Merodach-baladan, 20:12-19.
         e. Hezekiah’s accomplishments, 20:20, 21.
   B. A period of decline, 21:1–26.
      1. Manasseh, 21:1-18.
      2. Amon, 21:19-26.
   C. The last reform, 22:1 to 23:30.
      1. Josiah.
         a. The repair of the house of the Lord, 22:1-7.
         b. The finding of the book of the law, 22:8-20.
         c. The gathering of the elders, 23:1, 2.
         d. Idolatry destroyed from Judah, 23:3-20.
         e. The Passover observed, 23:21-23.
         f. Josiah’s widespread reforms, 23:24-28.
         g. Josiah slain by Necho, 23:29, 30.
   D. The final decline and the end of the southern kingdom, 23:31 to 25:30.
      1. Johoahaz, 23:31-34.
      2. Jehoiakim, 23:35 to 24:7.
      3. Johoiachin, 24:8-16.
      4. Zedekiah, 24:17 to 25:21.
         a. Zedekiah’s evil reign, 24:17-20.
         b. Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem and takes the people to Babylon, 25:1-21.
      5. Gedaliah made governor, 25:22-26.
      6. Jehoiachin’s release from prison, 25:27-30.