King

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1 and 2 Kings The Decline and Fall of Israel’s Monarchy

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

What was 1 and 2 Kings’ date and authorship?

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What was 1 and 2 Kings’ structure and content?

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What was the theological framework that informs 1 and 2 Kings?

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How do 1 and 2 Kings point us to Jesus and the NT?

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

What was 1 and 2 Kings’ date and authorship? •

We have a pretty good indication from the ending of the book when the book was written: •

2 Kings 25:27-30 describes Babylonian king Evilmerodach’s release of Jehoiachin, but says nothing about Babylon’s fall or Cyrus’s ascension.

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Evil-merodach ruled from 562-560 BC; Cyrus came to power in 539 BC; hence, the book was likely written between those two dates.

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

What was 1 and 2 Kings’ date and authorship? •

Jewish tradition attributed 1 and 2 Kings to Jeremiah—part of this was because the final chapters of 2 Kings show up in the conclusion of Jeremiah. •

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However, because the last location that we have for Jeremiah during the exile was Egypt (Jer 43) and the author seems to be aware of Jehoiachin’s release, it would seem to make sense that the author was in Babylon.

It seems best to recognize that the book’s author remains anonymous.

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

What was 1 and 2 Kings’ structure and content? •

Like 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings was originally a single book. It tells the movement from •

the first royal succession (1 Kings 1-2);

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the initial failure of the Davidic King (1 Kings 10-11);

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the division of Israel (1 Kings 12);

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the northern tribes’ apostasy and the southern tribes uneven performance (1 Kings 13-2 Kings 23);

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and finally exile for both Israel and Judah (2 Kings 17; 2 Kings 24-25)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

What was the theological framework that informs 1 and 2 Kings? •

But the author’s anonymity does not mean that he lacks a theological perspective: rather, his purpose is two-fold: •

To illustrate the failure of Israel—evidenced finally in the exile—as a result of covenant breaking.

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To provide some measure of justification of God’s dealings with Israel and hope that God will keep his promises still.

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Israel’s covenant-breaking is seen in the light of Deuteronomy, which looms in the background as it does with the other historical books •

Deuteronomy 12-13: centralized worship of Yahweh •

Destroy the high places (Deut 12:2-4)

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Establish a central place of worship (Deut 12:5-7)

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Reiterated: do not worship wherever you choose; go to the central place of worship (Deut 12:8-14)

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One more time: the holy things—sacrifices—are to be given at the central place of worship (12:26-28)

No idolatry—even worshipping Yahweh by idols—not even if a prophet, friend, wife (12:29-13:18)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Deuteronomy 12-13: centralized worship of Yahweh

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But what happens in 1 and 2 Kings? •

Israel’s king Jeroboam establishes alternative places of worship (1 Kings 12-13) •

He also links Yahweh worship with a bull-centered fertility cult=idolatry

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Both Israel and Judah’s kings generally allow worship in the “high places”

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Ultimately, both Israel and Judah’s kings cross over to Canaanite Baalism (Ahab; Manasseh)

Israel: the Sins of Jeroboam and the Kings of Israel Jeroboam I

1 Kings 11:28-31, 12:26, 31; 13:1, 4, 33-34; 14:16

Nadab

1 Kings 15:29-30

Baasha

1 Kings 15:34; 16:2-3, 7

Zimri

1 Kings 16:19

Omri

1 Kings 16:26

Ahab

1 Kings 16:21, 21:22, 22:52

Joram

2 Kings 3:3, 9:9

Jehu

2 Kings 10:29, 31

Jehoahaz

2 Kings 13:2, 6

Jehoash

2 Kings 13:11, 13; 14:16

Jeroboam II

2 Kings 14:24

Zechariah

2 Kings 15:9

Menahem

2 Kings 15:9

Pekahiah

2 Kings 15:28

Pekah

2 Kings 15:28

Summary statement

2 Kings 17:21

The High Places in Kings Solomon

1 Kings 3:2-4, 11:7

Jeroboah (Israel)

1 Kings 12:31-32, 13:2, 32-33

Rehoboam

1 Kings 14:23

Asa

1 Kings 15:14

Jehoshaphat

1 Kings 22:43

Joash

2 Kings 12:3

Amaziah

2 Kings 14:4

Azariah/Uzziah

2 Kings 15:4

Jotham

2 Kings 15:35

Ahaz

2 Kings 16:4

Hoshea (last king in North)

2 Kings 17:9, 11, 29, 32

Hezekiah

2 Kings 18:4, 22 (removed)

Manasseh

2 Kings 21:3

Josiah

2 Kings 23:8-9, 13, 15, 19-20 (removed)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Israel’s covenant-breaking is seen in the light of Deuteronomy, which looms in the background as it does with the other historical books •

Deuteronomy 17: instructions for kings •

He must not acquire many horses nor return to Egypt to acquire them (17:16)

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He shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away (17:17)

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Nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold (17:17)

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He shall observe the Deuteronomy law so that he is not lifted up above is brothers (17:18-20)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Deuteronomy 17: instructions for kings

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But what happens in 1 and 2 Kings, especially with Solomon? •

He acquired a large number of horses, many from Egypt (1 Kings 10:26-29)

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He acquires a huge number of wives and concubines, who succeed in turning his heart away (3:1-2; 11:1-8)

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Solomon accumulates an incredible amount of gold (1 Kings 9:14, 28; 10:2, 10-11, 14, 16-18, 21-22, 25)

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He fails to pay heed to the Deuteronomy law—no mention of it factoring into his judgments.

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Israel’s covenant-breaking is seen in the light of Deuteronomy, which looms in the background as it does with the other historical books •

Deuteronomy 18: the role of the prophet •

God promises to raise up prophets like Moses: “I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him” (18:18)

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God promises to judge those who do not heed the words of the prophets (18:19)

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God gives a test to tell whether the prophet’s words are God’s Word: if their word comes to pass, then it was God’s Word (18:21-22)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Deuteronomy 18: the role of the prophet

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What do we find in 1 and 2 Kings? •

The rise of the paradigmatic prophet, Elijah (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 2) •

There are other prophets who show up in 1 and 2 Kings before Elijah; see 1 Kings 13-14

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Elijah comes out of nowhere with the Word of the Lord, which serves to judge Israel’s covenant-breaking and idolatry •

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It is proven right because it does not rain for three and a half years (1 Kings 17-18)

God ultimately judges those who do not heed Elijah’s words: Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 19:15-18; 21:17-24; 22:29-40; 2 Kings 9:30-37)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Israel’s covenant-breaking is seen in the light of Deuteronomy, which looms in the background as it does with the other historical books •

Deuteronomy 28: the promise of exile for covenant-breaking

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If Israel breaks covenant with God, what does he promise will happen? •

Disease (28:21-22)

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Drought (28:23-24)

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Cannibalism (28:53-57)

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Exile and defeat (28:36-37, 49-52)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

Israel’s failure: covenant-breaking •

Deuteronomy 28: the promise of exile for covenant-breaking

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What do we find in 1 and 2 Kings? •

Disease (2 Samuel 24)

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Drought (1 Kings 17-18)

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Cannibalism (2 Kings 6:24-30)

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Exile and defeat (2 Kings 17:24-32; 25:18-24)

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

What was the theological framework that informs 1 and 2 Kings? •

But the author’s anonymity does not mean that he lacks a theological perspective: rather, his purpose is two-fold: •

To illustrate the failure of Israel—evidenced finally in the exile—as a result of covenant breaking.

•

To provide some measure of justification of God’s dealings with Israel and hope that God will keep his promises still.

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

God’s ways are just; Israel’s future is hopeful •

By the end of the book, in both 2 Kings 17 and 25, the full scaled indictment of Israel/Judah is clear: their exile was just; God’s way was just.

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But the book ends with a muted hope: Israel’s king is taken from prison and brought to the foreign king’s banquet table. God has not forgotten his Davidic King.

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The open questions then at the end of 2 Kings are: will Israel finally embrace monotheism? Will they keep the covenant? Will God end their exile? Will he bring the promised King?

Approaching 1 and 2 Kings •

How do 1 and 2 Kings point us to Jesus and the NT? •

Those four questions—monotheism, covenant, exile, and Messiah/King —are those which the Gospels claim Jesus answers. •

Jesus reestablishes genuine monotheism by showing that God is one and has revealed himself through his Son by his Spirit (Matt 3:16-17)

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Jesus keeps the covenant as perfect Israel and David’s perfect Son.

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Jesus ends the exile by establishing his new community under his rule (Matt 16:13-20)

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Jesus stakes his claim upon being the Davidic King, the promised Messiah (Matt 1:1, 1:18-25, 4:17, etc)