Summary Author : Unknown Time : 970 – 586 B.C. Summary : In the original Hebrew texts, these books were regarded as one book. The two books contain the history of the Jewish monarchy from the death of David (around 970 B.C.) to the Babylonian exile (586 B.C.) They trace the division of the Jewish nation into the Kingdom of Judah in the south and the Kingdom of Israel in the north. 1 & 2 Kings record Israel’s history from a religious, rather than a civil, viewpoint. As such, it records the religious progress of the nation and sets forth the various steps in the moral growth and decay of the kingdom. 1 Kings opens with Israel in its glory, and 2 Kings closes with Israel in ruins. The purpose of the Book of Kings is to record the lives and characters of the nation’s leaders as a warning and exhortation to all subsequent generations of covenant bearers. Key verses : "Be strong, show yourself a man, and obverse what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements . . . so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go" (1 Kings 2:2-3). "The Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence." (2 Kings 17:20) Main people : David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Nathan, Jeroboam, Ahab, Jezebel, Elijah, Elisha, Jehu, Jeroboam II, Joash, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Manasseh, Josiah.

Outline 1. United kingdom of Solomon 1 Kings 1:1 – 12:24 a) Solomon’s ascension to the throne 1:1 – 2:46 b) The wisdom and wealth of Solomon 3:1 – 4:34 c) Solomon’s building activity 5:1 – 9:9 d) The Golden Age of Solomon 9:10 – 10:29 e) Solomon’s apostasy, decline and death 11:1–43 f) Rehoboam's succession to the throne 12:1–24 2. Divided kingdom from Jeroboam/Rehoboam to Ahab/Asa 12:1 – 16:34 a) Jeroboam I of Israel 12:15 – 14:20 b) Rehoboam of Judah 14:21–31 c) Abijah of Judah 15:1–8 d) Asa of Judah 15:9–24 e) Nadab of Israel 15:25–32 f) Baasha of Israel 15:33–16:7 g) Elah of Israel 16:8–14 h) Zimri of Israel 16:15–20 i) Omri of Israel 16:21–28 j) Ahab of Israel 16:29–34 3. Elijah and Elisha from Ahab/Asa to Joram/Jehoshaphat 17:1 – 2Ki 8:15 a) Elijah in the reign of Ahab 17:1–22:40 b) Jehoshaphat of Judah 22:41–50 c) Ahaziah of Israel; Elijah's last prophecy 22:51 – 2Ki 1:18 d) Elijah's translation; Elisha's inauguration 2Ki 2:1–18 e) Elisha in the reign of Joram 2:19–8:15 4. Divided kingdom from Joram/Jehoram to exile of Israel 8:16 – 17:41 a) Jehoram of Judah 8:16–24 b) Ahaziah of Judah 8:25–29 c) Jehu's revolt and reign 9:1–10:36 d) Athaliah and Joash of Judah; repair of temple 11:1–12:21 e) Jehoahaz of Israel 13:1–9 f) Jehoash of Israel; Elisha's last prophecy 13:10–25 g) Amaziah of Judah 14:1–22 h) Jeroboam II of Israel 14:23–29 i) Azariah of Judah 15:1–7 j) Zechariah of Israel 15:8–12 k) Shallum of Israel 15:13–16 l) Menahem of Israel 15:17–22 m) Pekahiah of Israel 15:23–26 n) Pekah of Israel 15:27–31 o) Jotham of Judah 15:32–38 p) Ahaz of Judah 16:1–20 q) Hoshea of Israel 17:1–6 r) Exile of Israel; resettlement of land 17:7–41 5. Judah from Hezekiah to Babylonian exile 18:1 – 25:30 a) Hezekiah 18:1 – 20:21 b) Manasseh 21:1–18 c) Amon 21:19–26 d) Josiah 22:1–23:30 e) Jehoahaz exiled to Egypt 23:31–35 f) Jehoiakim: first Babylonian invasion 23:36–24:7 g) Jehoiachin: second Babylonian invasion 24:8–17 h) Zedekiah 24:18–20 i) Babylonian exile of Judah 25:1–26 j) Jehoiachin in Babylon 25:27–30 (RH)

Author – Uncertain
Time – 1000 – 586 B.C.

Summary – In the original Jewish texts, these books were regarded as one book. The two books contain the history of the Jewish monarchy from the death of David (around 970 B.C.) to the Babylonian exile (586 B.C.). They trace the division of the Jewish nation into the Kingdom of Judah in the south and the Kingdom of Israel in the north. 1 & 2 Kings record Israel’s history from a religious, rather than a civil, viewpoint. As such, they record the religious progress of the nation and show the various steps in the moral growth and decay of the kingdom. 1 Kings opens with Israel in its glory, and 2 Kings closes with Israel in ruins. The purpose of the Book of Kings is to record the lives and characters of the nation’s leaders as a warning and exhortation to all subsequent generations of believers.