1st and 2nd Kings

Question 1

Historiography

Answer 1

The body of literature dealing with historical matters.

*it is argued that this is the earliest genuine historiography in world literature.

Question 2

1 Kings Authors and Methods

Answer 2

Israel’s past is presented from a prophetic and theological point of view not a political one.

Not an exhaustive history, only events that have universal redemptive qualities are included. Each event can be read as something having to do with our walk with God.

Question 3

What are the books showing?

Answer 3

The books are tracing the consequences of sin and the benefits of obedience.

Question 4

How did the editors choose the Kings?

Answer 4

The editors went through the list of Israel’s kings carefully and systematically, with the goal of critiquing each ones faithfulness to God’s covenant.

Question 5

Retribution Theology

Answer 5

The overriding concern in the books of Kings is the theology of retribution based on the Sinai covenant, especially as expressed in Deuteronomy.

Question 6

What is Salvation History?

Answer 6

The divine revelation of historical events recorded in Scripture to promote faith.

Question 7

Describe the height of Israel’s political and military power.

Answer 7

Only during Solomons reign did Israel become a major player in the arena of international power politics.

Israel’s brief period of strength and prestige was ruined by Solomon’s religious apostasy.

Question 8

What was the only time the territory promised to Abraham was actually under Israeli control?

Answer 8

Under Solomon’s reign.

Question 9

Theological principles demonstrated in 1st Kings

Answer 9

Even with God’s promise through a covenant to his people God’s people must walk in faith and obedience to him in order to receive all the blessings of those promises and covenants.

Question 10

Solomons Reign was a symbol of what?

Answer 10

The Messianic Age

Question 11

What was Solomon’s contribution to Israelite religion?

Answer 11

Wisdom.

Question 12

How many dynasties did the Northern Kingdom of Israel have?

Answer 12

9

Question 13

How many dynasties did the Southern Kingdom of Judah have?

Answer 13

Only one; The Dynasty of King David.

Question 14

What was the role of Prophets during the time of 1st Kings?

Answer 14

Prophets were God’s instruments of warning to the King and the Nation.

Question 15

What did King Ahab think of prophecy?

Answer 15

For King Ahab, prophecy was a form of magic in which the prophet manipulated God. The professional Prophets merely repeated the kings desire in the form of prophecy in an attempt to ensure the desired outcome.

Question 16

What did King Jehoshaphat believe about Prophets?

Answer 16

For King Jehoshaphat, the prophet was a mouthpiece for God. The word of the prophet made the will of God known to humans, regardless of the kings desires.

Question 17

What did Samuel establish in 2 Kings?

Answer 17

Samuel established the future role of the prophet as the messenger from God who held the king in check.

Question 18

From Samuel and Saul forward, many Israelite kings had their prophetic counterpart name three of them…

Answer 18

David and Nathan
Ahab and Elijah
Hezekiah and Isaiah

Question 19

Give three details about the rise of Prophecy in 2nd Kings

Answer 19

The function of prophecy was unique among nations of the ancient Near East.

Other people had Prophets, but their purpose was to appease or manipulate deities.

Israel’s Prophets were Messengers of God who confronted the king and the entire society with his holy word. Nowhere else in the world could a reigning monarch be held accountable to such a prophetic voice.

Question 20

What was the writers purpose for the amount of materials written on Elisha?

Answer 20

Author wanted to write not just a survey of the events as they happened, but an explanation for the destruction of both Kingdoms.

Question 21

In both books of Kings what was the single greatest cause for the failure of Israel and Judah?

Answer 21

The greatest single cause for failure was the policies of their Kings and their lack of obedience to the prophetic word.

Question 22

In 2nd Kings what two kings are praised by the author because of their high regard for the word of God?

Answer 22

Hezekiah and Josiah

Question 23

What was the point of the Elijah-Elisha narratives?

Answer 23

The Kingdom succeeded when it followed the leadership of the Prophets. Failure and destruction resulted when the kings rejected the word of God offered through the Prophets.

Question 24

What was the cause of Israel’s destruction?

Answer 24

The nation did not fall simply because it had a smaller army. Israel broke the Lord’s statutes and Commandments. They “followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.” (2 kings 17:15) Ultimately it was God who was responsible for Israel’s fall.

Question 25

What was the future of the people called the Samaritans?

Answer 25

Future enemies of Judah

The samaritans and their religion continued into New Testament times.

Question 26

Two most important themes of 1st and 2nd Kings

Answer 26

1) The deuteronomistic history : the books of Kings that teach that personal covenant faithfulness and obedience to God is the only measure of successful living.
2) The Role of Prophecy