Let’s get an overall picture of the entire books of 1st and 2nd Kings. In the Hebrew tradition, these are both one book. The division into two books came from the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate. The name of the book is derived from its content, which deals with Kings David and Solomon, and the subsequent kings of Judah and Israel. The books deal with the period just before the time Solomon assumed the throne, (approximately 970 BCE) until release from imprisonment in Babylonia of King Jehoiachin (561 BCE).

The history of Solomon’s reign is described at length, including an account of the building of the Temple. This is followed by a description of the division of the kingdom at the time of Rehoboam. The northern and larger kingdom, that of Israel, comprises ten tribes. The smaller kingdom, Judah, comprises the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. In terms of content, the volume is divided into two parts; The story of Solomon’s reign (1st Kings 1-11) and the story of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel (1st Kings 12-2nd Kings 25). The books continue with a combined account of the history of the two kingdoms. The political history and the biographical information are seen in a religious light, the rulers are assessed according to their faithfulness to YHVH. Also, an important role is one of the prophets, notably Elijah and Elisha.

They serve as the conscience of the rulers, guiding them along the right path and definitely letting them know when they, or the people, go astray. The books note three additional sources; the book of Solomon, the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, and the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Whether you look at it as two books or one, Kings is a very interesting book of facts!