Just as with the books of I & II Samuel, these two books were originally composed as one book. The books are primarily history based in nature. They cover a time period of approximately four centuries; from the death of King David to Jehoiachin, and the Babylonian captivity of Judah.

•  Title.

The books are titled after the subject matter (originally in Hebrew, ‘ Melechim '; then in English, Kings). They literally deal with kings. From the last of the kings of the United Kingdom (Solomon), to the kings of the Divided Kingdoms ( Israel – to Assyrian captivity; Judah – to Babylonian captivity).

•  Time and Author.

The date of the writing is not truly known. However, the statement of the author that certain things existed, “unto this day”, indicate that the books were written after the events they describe ( I Kings 8:8; 9:21 ; 12:19 ; II Kings 8:22 ; 16:6; 17:41 ). Likewise the author is also not given directly. It is the tradition of the ancient Jewish authorities that Jeremiah might have been the author (there does seem to be some similarities in the writing within the book of Jeremiah and in the books of the Kings (stylistic content).

•  Content.

The genre of the books of the Kings is unmistakably historical. However, it is prophetic history (showing the word of the Lord through the prophets being fulfilled; often generations later). Every ruler in the northern kingdom did evil in the sight of the Lord ( Israel ). This evil was conducted via two specific standards. The first was the standard of Jeroboam (he had built two golden calves and placed one in Dan and one in Bethel , by which Israel 's people would worship God). The second was the standard of Ahab (who along with his wife Jezebel worshipped the Baal and the Asherah).

On the other hand, at least seven kings in Judah were recorded as doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet, one of the worst kings in the divided kingdoms history belonged to Judah (Ahaz). He aligned the nation with Assyria and after the destruction of Damascus : he had an altar built like the one he found there. This altar was built on the grounds of the temple in Jerusalem and much of the temple grounds and properties were destroyed.

Based on the evil of these two nations, the Deuteronomic disasters were pronounced on the two nations (Israel first, and about a hundred years later, Judah).

2 Kings 18:12 “because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them.”

This thought becomes the theme for the Christian who reads the history of the books. In addition, pay close attention to the kings that attempted to restore the nation of Judah back to God (true restoration must begin at the completion of all God has given and the removal of all that man has inserted).

Good Reading !