The Books of Kings, which are the narrative continuation of the Books of Samuel, were originally a single work which was divided into two parts, known as I Kings and II Kings (in the Septuagint, where the Book of Samuel is called I and II Kings, the Book of Kings is III and IV Kings). They cover the end of the reign of King David, the accession to the throne of Solomon, and the split of the kingdom, and tell the parallel histories of the two kingdoms up to their fall.
I Kings chapters 1-11 cover the monarchy under David and Solomon. In David's old age, his son Adonijah attempted to usurp the throne on the grounds that he was the eldest living son (1:5-10). However, Nathan the prophet intervened and had Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, make an appeal to the king on behalf of her son Solomon (1:11-21). David reassured Bathsheba and gave instructions to Zadok the priest and Nathan to anoint Solomon as the next king (1:28-37). When the news of the anointing reached Adonijah, his support melted away and he himself begged pardon from Solomon (1:38-53). After final deathbed instruction from David (2:1-12), Solomon began to systematically dispose of his enemies: Adonijah, Joab and Shimei each met their death (2:13-46).
The next task was the organization of the kingdom and the assignment of tasks and districts (4:2-19). Solomon's aim was to build and organize an empire extending beyond his own prosperous country (4:21-28). He planned the building of the Temple in Jerusalem, drawing on his friendship with King Hiram of Tyre to secure the required timber and artisans (5:1-12). For the first time, Israel experienced compulsory civilian service for the preparation of materials to be used in the building of the Temple (5:13-18). Chapter 6 describes the construction of the Temple; chapter 7 depicts the 13 year long construction of the royal palace, and details the Temple furnishings. The Temple was dedicated after the ark and holy vessels had been transported to Jerusalem (8:1-64).
The biblical account describes the visit of the Queen of Sheba (10:1-13) but, in contrast to the wealth, magnificence, exceptional wisdom, supreme power and influence exhibited by Solomon (10:14-29), chapter 11 describes his lapses and their consequences. These include polygamy with foreign women (11:1-3), who led him into apostasy (11:4-8). The end of this section presents the Ephraimite Jeroboam, detailing his early career, his abortive rebellion against Solomon, and his flight to Egypt (11:26-40); it also records the accession of Solomon's son Rehoboam to the throne on the death of his father (11:41-43).
I Kings chapter 12-II Kings chapter 17 traces the annals of the two kingdoms; the split came when Jeroboam's deamand for lightened taxation was rejected by Rehoboam (12:2-15), provoking a revolt which culminated in Jeroboam being made king over the northern tribes and consolidating his kingdom (12:16-20). He sponsored calf-worship in the north, appointed non-Levitical priests, and introduced a new feast of Tabernacles (12:25-33).
When Jeroboam's son fell ill, his wife went to consult Ahijah the prophet, who predicted the child's death as well as the extinction of Jeroboam's house and kingdom, and the dispersal of Israel (14:1-16). Jeroboam died and was succeeded by his son Nadab (14:20).
In the meantime, Judah suffered invasion by Shishak king of Egypt (14:25-26). Rehoboam was succeeded by his son Abijam (Abijah) (14:29-31); Abijam, in turn, by his son Asa, who was pious and introduced religious reforms. Asa waged war against Baasha who was to be the next king of Israel (15:9-24). The entire house of Jeroboam was subsequently assassinated by Baasha (15:25-34).
Baasha was succeeded by his son, Elah (16:1-14). Elah was assassinated by the rebel Zimri who reigned for just one week (16:15-20) before being defeated in a civil war by Omri; the latter ruled for 12 years and founded the northern capital, Samaria (16:23-28). Omri was succeeded by Ahab, whose wickedness is described as unprecedented: he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon, and erected an altar to Baal in Samaria (16:29-33).
Chapters 17-18 are dominated by the appearance of Elijah, and various incidents concerning him culminating in his challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (18:1-40).
The evil of Ahab's reign is reflected in the episode of the vineyard of Naboth (21:1-29). The king, mortally wounded at the battle of Ramoth Gilead (825 B.C.), was succeeded by his son Ahaziah (22:29-40). The first Book of Kings ends with the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah (22:41-50), and the beginning of the reign of Ahaziah of Israel (22:51-53).
II Kings opens with Ahaziah's attempt to capture Elijah and the miraculous fire from heaven which destroyed the king's troops. Chapter 2 describes Elijah's ascension to heaven in a whirlwind (2:7-11) and the beginning of the prophetic ministry of his successor Elisha. The king of Moab rebelled against Israel, but Elisha assured Jehoram, son of Ahab, of victory, Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat of Judah, defeated the Moabites and devastated their country (3:1-27).
Next come the miraculous deeds performed by Elisha; these include the widow's oil which unceasingly filled vessels (4:1-7), and a cure for the leprosy which afflicted Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army; Elisha floating on the Jordan, and his prediction of the death of Ben-Hadad, and the accession of Hazael to the Syrian throne (chaps. 5-8). The reigns of Jehoram of Judah and his son Ahaziah are then summarized (8:16-29).
Chapter 9 describes the revolt of Jehu, commander-in-chief of the army of Jehoram, his ascent to the throne of Israel, the murder of King Ahaziah of Judah, and the ignoble end of Jezebel (9:30-37). Jehu proceeded to wipe out the entire dynasty of Ahab (10:1-11) as well as eradicating the Baal worshipers of Israel (10:15-31).
After the death of Ahaziah, his mother Athaliah usurped the Judean throne (11:1-3). But seven years later, a plot of the priest Jehoiada (9:4-16) led to her overthrow and replacement by her grandson Joash. Joash, while paying tribute to Hazael of Aram, led a pious life and regulated Temple income (chap. 12). He was assassinated in a palace revolt and replaced by Amaziah (12:19-21).
Chapter 13 recounts the reigns of Jehoahaz of Israel (13:1-9) and his son, Jehoash (13:10-13) as well as Elisha's last deed, his symbolic act of prophecy with arrows (13:14-19).
Amaziah of Judah executed his father's murderers and won a battle over the Edomites, but then challenged Joash of Israel with disastrous consequences (14:1-14).
Joash was succeeded by his son Jeroboam II (14:23-29), who was in turn succeeded by his son Zechariah. Chapter 15 describes the reigns of the last kings of Israel, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah and Pekah. The reign of Ahaz is recounted in chapter 16, including the Syro-Ephraimite war, his visit to Damascus and the building of a new altar in Jerusalem, followed by the final defeat and destruction of the Northern Kingdom and its last king Hoshea by the Assyrians (chap. 17), who banished the population (722 B.C.) replacing it with other exiled peoples.
II Kings chapters 18-25 record the annals of the Kingdom of Judah. Its king, Hezekiah played an important part in the destiny of the kingdom. He first instituted a cultic reform (18:1-8) and then appealed to Isaiah for support against the invading armies of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib; the prophet replied reassuringly (19:1-7). However, when Hezekiah received an embassy from the king of Babylon, Merodach-Baladan, Isaiah's resentment was aroused, and, speaking the name of God, he predicted that Babylon would plunder and carry away all the wealth of the family of Hezekiah, and that his children would be their capitves (20:12-19). The evil reigns of Manasseh (21:1-18) and his son Amon (21:19-26) were followed by the reign of Hezekiah's great-grandson, Josiah, who made arrangements for the repair of the Temple (22:3-7). It was during these repairs that the Book of the Law was discovered (22:8-13), whereupon Josiah undertook a major religious reform (23:4-14), which included the destruction of all idolatrous places, shrines and priests in Bethel and Samaria (23:15-20), the eradication of all worship in Jerusalem. Josiah's premature death at the battle of Megiddo (23:26-30), was followed by the short reigns of Jehoahaz (23:31-34) and Jehoiakim (23:36-24:6).
The brief reign of the next king, Jehoiachin witnessed the capture and plunder of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, who led Jehoiachin into exile along with many other Judeans (24:8-16). Jehoiachin was succeeded by Zedekiah, whose revolt against Nebuchadnezzar resulted in the capture and destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.); the king was deposed, blinded and exiled (24:18-25:7); the Temple utensils were carried off, and prominent citizens and officers executed. Gedaliah was appointed governor, but he was assassinated by Ishmael (25:22-26). The book closes with Jehoiachin's transfer from prison in the 37th year of his exile; he was brought to the Babylonian palace where he lived with dignity at the table of the Babylonian king, Evil-Merodach.
Undoubtedly, the Book of Kings was taken from many distinct sources, three of which are mentioned by name: the Book of Acts of Solomon, the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. The book's recurring theme is the centralization of worship as prescribed in Deuteronomy and enforced by Josiah. The Deuteronomic view, requiring the purity and centralization of religion, is reflected in the condemnation of these kings who introduce other forms of worship: they are blamed for the tragedies that befell the people.
