Kings, 1 and 2

First and 2 Kings originally were one book but were divided when the Old Testament was translated into Greek. Both are books of history.

First Kings records the stories of Israel’s kings, from Solomon (about 970 BC) to Ahab (851 BC). First Kings includes the plan for and the building of Solomon’s temple. It includes a long dedication of the temple as well as Solomon’s prayer dedicating all the people to the worship of God (8:1–61). First Kings also tells how the kingdom of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Israel (northern kingdom) and Judah (southern kingdom), after the death of Solomon. A few of the kings who ruled were good. Many were wicked and worshipped false gods. First Kings tells how God sent prophets such as Elijah to call the people and the kings back to the Lord. Elijah’s messages and the miracles God performed for him are recorded in 1 Kings 17–21.

Second Kings continues the history of the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, from about 850 BC until the destruction of Jerusalem. Israel was defeated and many people were taken captive by Assyria in 722 BC. Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586 BC. Several prophets proclaimed God’s judgment because of the wrongdoings of the kings and people of Judah Elisha, Amos, and Hosea in the northern kingdom and Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah in the southern kingdom.