1 & 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles detail the history of Israel from the end of David's reign until the Babylonian captivity. If history isn't your thing, these may be difficult books to study. The unfamiliar (but often similar) names and different spellings for those names add an extra challenge. But don't get discouraged. We are used to names changes- When I was a kid the capital of China was Peking. Now it's Beijing. The names in Kings reflect that same cultural shift in spelling between the generations of historians.
These books form the framework for the rest of the Old Testament since the prophetic writings fit in between the narratives in these books. For instance, Lamentations is Jeremiah's poem written after he witnessed the devastation of Jerusalem's fall. Knowing the history gives a better insight into the prophets.
Details aside, there are three great threads that run through these books-
God's promise to David. Notice how God reiterates His covenant and preserves David's line.
God keeps His word – including the promises of judgment. The messages delivered by appointed prophets underscores this.
Obedience matters. Each king's reign includes an assessment of where he stood before God. Notice how the people responded to the king's obedience (or disobedience) and the consequences.
If you want a quick survey hitting some of the highlights and notable people, check out the following chapters in Kings and their Chronicles cross references.
- Solomon (1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5 -7)
- Elijah (1 Kings 18)
- Ahab (1 Kings 22)
- Elisha (2 Kings 5
- Hezekiah and Isaiah (2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32)
- Manasseh (2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33)
- Josiah (2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35)
- Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36)
Do you like reading the history books in the Bible?
Next week's study tip – Romans
Paula Wiseman says
I like the people stories- there are some interesting characters in Kings and Chronicles.
Theaterchik says
I guess if you’re talking history as in just the genealogy, then no, it’s not my thing. But I do enjoy the history aspect that tells the story of a person’s life (i.e. Esther, Ruth, a lot of the stories in Judges), then they’re my thing.
I read 1&2 Kings and 1&2 Chronicles and I guess I didn’t pay attention enough to catch all the names changing. I did like reading about Solomon’s reign, though. I do kinda like reading about the kings, especially seeing the pattern of who was good and who was not.