1 & 2 Kings
The two books of Kings, like those of Samuel, originally formed a single volume. Beginning with Solomon’s reign of righteousness, peace and glory, they end with Israel in captivity and all in ruin. In the Kings, as with Samuel, we have man in responsibility. Sadly we find that Solomon himself—blessed by Jehovah more than any other in wisdom, glory and riches—sows the seeds for the ruin. “King Solomon loved many strange women. . . . When Solomon was old . . . his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:1,4).
Upon the death of Solomon the kingdom is divided into two. Ten tribes are given into the hand of Jeroboam, a ruler over the house of Joseph (1 Kings 11:28), while Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, is left with just two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. The two kingdoms (to be united again in a future day under Christ the King) are known as Israel (ten tribes) and Judah (two tribes).
Fearing lest the people should return to Jerusalem to sacrifice, Jeroboam established a false religion (1 Kings 12:25-33). Making two golden calves, he placed one in the southern town of Bethel and the other in Dan in the north, declaring, “Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:28). This counterfeit religion displaced the true, to which Israel never returned (2 Kings 17:22).
From the twelfth chapter of 1 Kings to the first chapter of 2 Kings we have the ministry of the prophet Elijah, while from the second chapter to the thirteenth chapter we have that of Elisha. Miracles (especially reserved for Israel) that had not been seen since the day of Moses were performed. Israel’s apostasy culminates with their being taken captive by the Assyrians in 2 Kings 17. The Assyrians replace the displaced people with men from other lands; these became known as the Samaritans. After the captivity of Israel, the closing days of Judah’s history under the kings is taken up.
Until this time, the books of Kings have been chiefly occupied with the history of Israel. Though there were kings of Judah that “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord,” as a nation they failed to heed the warning of Israel’s captivity and forsook the Lord, falling into the same sin of idolatry (Jeremiah 3:8). The book of 2 Kings concludes with the captivity of Judah under the Chaldeans. That which the prophet Hosea forewarned them is fulfilled (Hosea 1:9).
1 & 2 Chronicles
To the natural mind, Chronicles may appear to be a rather incomplete adjunct to the book of Kings. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. We have moved from a historic account of the decline and captivity of Israel and Judah to a new division, a different time and a new subject.
Though grouped with Kings in the familiar Old Testament arrangement, this book falls within that part of Scripture called the “Writings,” and it was written after the captivity (1 Chron. 6:15; 3:17-24). Whereas man in responsibility was the subject of Samuel and Kings, here we have God’s sovereignty acting in grace to fulfill His promises and accomplish His purposes. David and Solomon are specially seen as types of Christ. It is Israel’s history as God delighted to see it.
The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles consist of genealogies—particularly important to a Jew returning from captivity (see Ezra 2:5-9). In just one chapter, the tenth, we have Saul’s reign introduced and dismissed. Immediately then the kingdom is established in David. We do not read of David’s sin with Bathsheba or of Absalom’s rebellion, nor are Solomon’s failures recorded.
However, in Chronicles, as in Samuel, David’s sin in numbering the people is mentioned. But in Chronicles it is not, “Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord” (2 Sam. 24:14); rather, “let me fall now into the hand of the Lord” (1 Chron. 21:13).
We don’t read in Chronicles of David buying the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver (2 Sam. 24:24); rather, David gives to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight (1 Chron. 21:25). One is for the threshing floor and the other for the place—not just the treasure now, but the whole field (see Matt. 13:44). It is not measured in silver—the price of redemption—which is consistent with the book of Samuel. Rather, here it is measured in gold, the inestimable value of Christ’s work at Calvary as seen in the eyes of God.
N. Simon