When was the Book of Kings written?

Answer 1

The Book of 2 Kings is part of the Deuteronomic History (Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings), which was written in the time of King Josiah (641-609 BCE) and completed during the Babylonian Exile. Another view among some scholars is that the Deuteronomic History was actually written during the Babylonian Exile.

Answer 2

The Book of Kings is believed to have been written around the 6th century BCE, likely during or after the Babylonian exile of the Israelites. This period is marked by significant political and religious changes in ancient Israel and Judah.

Answer 3

1 Kings and 2 Kings were originally written on a single papyrus scroll, but were finally separated because of the difficulty of fitting the entire text onto a standard scroll. Thus the entire book was necessarily written at the end, or shortly before the end of the Judahite monarchy. In fact, it is now believed to have been written, along with the remainder of the Deuteronomic History, during the seventh-century BCE reign of King Josiah, with a supplement covering the later kings added subsequently.

Answer 4

Scholars say that 1 Kings and 2 Kings were originally written as a single book. However, the difficulty of fitting the entire text onto one roll of papyrus resulted, early in the Common Era, in the book being split into the two we know today.
The Books of Kings form part of what is known as the Deuteronomic History, the Books of Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. These form an integrated block of text covering the period from the conquest of Canaan through to the end of the kingdom of Judah and the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. Scholars say they were written by a common author, whom they call the Deuteronomist or 'D' source, during the reign of King Josiah, who reigned approximately 640-609 BCE. These were redacted during the Babylonian Exile, when the final years of the Judahite monarchy were added.

Answer 5

According to tradition, the Book of Kings was written by Jeremiah, around 440 BCE. It was apparently concluded by the Men of the Great Assembly, since it contains one chapter (2 Kings 25) that happened after his time. Non-traditional chronology places the history of the Israelite kings, and the prophet Jeremiah, at an earlier time.

See also:

More about the history of the Hebrew Bible and the Men of the Great Assembly

More about the Israelite prophets

More about Jeremiah

Answer 6

The Books of Kings were written at the time of the events covered (971BC-560BC) but compiled by Jeremiah between 561-539BC.