What is the purpose of the Book of Kings?

Answer 1

While consisting of a continued record of God's people, Kings also evaluates the reasons why the two kingdoms declined. It is inextricably linked to the rejection of God's ways morally and spiritually. God's continually warns through his prophets, but their message is ignored time and time again. Throughout Kings, prophecy is fulfilled many times, and points to the folly of disregarding God's sent messengers.

Answer 2

They serve as a record of the Israelite kings (of the united Israel, and then of Israel and Judah). The Books of Kings also describe God's relationship with the Israelites during that era; and they contain some prophecies. See also:

More about the Hebrew Bible

Answer 3

Biblical answer:

2 Timothy 3:16,17 - "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work."

1 Kings lets us know that divine wisdom is far more valuable than any amount of money. By Solomon requesting this wisdom from God instead of asking for riches, God granted his request for divine wisdom, but also made him, most likely, the wealthiest man to have ever lived. It also showed us the dangers of close association or marriage with those who worship other gods. Solomon's many foreign wives turned his heart away from serving the true God even though he had divinely granted wisdom. It also details the lives of several kings and how the split of the Israelites into northern and southern kingdoms happened. It records most of Elijah's life as a prophet with the trials and blessings that went with such a designation.

2 Kings historically records more of the lives of the Kings of Israel and Judah. It also starts off highlighting the life of Elisha, who was Elijah's successor. It details about the trials that Elisha encountered, and how God lead him through these because of his faith. It gives accounts that teach us to not be greedy, and that listening to God will always work out well, but rebelling against his instructions will end in disaster. It details the lives of righteous kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah. It ends with a record of Babylon's victory over Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian exile.

Answer 4

At a superficial level, the Book of Kings (later 1 Kingsand 2 Kings) is simply a history of the two Hebrew kingdoms of Israel and Judah, forming part of the Deuteronomic History (Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings). On closer examination, it can be seen as a political and religious document.

After the destruction of Israel in 722 BCE, large numbers of refugees flooded south into the smaller enclave of Judah, apparently causing friction with their different culture, historical background and even religious beliefs. The Deuteronomistic reforms undertaken by King Josiah resulted in the successful integration of the descendants of these refugees. He introduced monotheism and created a sense of shared heritage.

The Book of Kings tells us there was a shared and glorious past, but Judah was always just a little more important than Israel and the legendary founders of the Judahite dynasty were kings over a United Monarchy of both nations, even though archaeologists say that in reality Israel was larger, more prosperous and thus more powerful than Judah. There was an emphasis on the long-held belief in God, without entirely removing all traces of worship of other gods, enough to demonstrate that the apparently new monotheistic faith actually had ancient roots. The Book of Kings credited the ancient prophets of Israel with struggling to convince the Israelites and their kings of the truth of monotheism.