Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Reading the Book of Kings Today 1
What to Expect from This Commentary 2
The Original Audience 4
The Structure of Kings 8
Kings as Theological Literature 12
Commentary
Part 1 A Kingdom of Shalom 15
I Kings 1-10
1 Solomon Sits on the Throne 15
2 Politics and the Promise of God 23
3:1-15 The Pattern for Kingship 31
3:16-5:18 Wisdom and Prosperity (I) 37
6-7 Building the Temple 43
8 Dedicating the Temple 49
9:1-9 Promise and Threat 60
9:10-10:29 Wisdom and Prosperity (II) 62
Part 2 Shalom Is Broken 69
I Kings 11-16
11 Solomon's Sin and Its Result 69
12:1-32 Rehoboam's Folly and Jeroboam's Sin 77
12:33-13:32 God's Word Against Bethel 82
13:33-14:20 God's Word Against Jeroboam 90
14:21-16:34 Paradigmatic History (I) 97
Part 3 Israel Under the Prophetic Word 107
I Kings 17:1-11 Kings 8:15
17 Life in the Midst of Death 107
18 The Lord, He Is God! 114
19 Elijah "Burns Out" and Is Recommissioned 122
20 Ahab Violates the Ban 130
21 Royal Tyranny and Prophetic Condemnation 138
22:1-40 God's Ruse Against Ahab 145
22:41-II Kings 1:18 Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah 153
2 Elisha Inherits the Mantle 157
3 A Miracle for Moab 164
4 Four Gifts of Life 170
5 Naaman Comes to Faith 176
6:1-8:15 Stories of Prophetic Power 184
Part 4 Israel's Last Chance and the End 197
II Kings 8:16-17
8:16-10 Fruitless Reform in Israel (Jehu) 197
11-12 The Fruit of Reform in Judah (Joash) 206
13-15 Paradigmatic History (II) 215
16 Ahaz and Judah's Open Future 223
17 God Casts Israel Out of Sight 228
Part 5 Judah: Paradox of Promise and Punishment 235
II Kings 18-25
18-19 God Versus Sennacherib 235
20 Reflections on Jerusalem's Deliverance 243
21 Manasseh, the Worst King Ever 247
22-23:30 Josiah, the Best King Ever 252
23:31-25:26 The Promise Dismantled 261
25:27-30 Can the Promise Live? 265
Bibliography 271
