ToC | Reading the Old Testament. . . Chapter 9. Kings | ToC

2. Parallel Histories of Israel and Judah (1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17)

The second of the three main blocks of material in the books of Kings accounts for the parallel histories of the two kingdoms that arose out of the civil conflict of 921 B.C.E. The Deuteronomistic writer moves back and forth between Judah and Israel in his treatment of history. He introduces the kings of Judah using a standard pattern of elements, including:

  1. the date the king took the throne relative to the reign of the king of Israel
  2. the age at which he came to the throne
  3. the name of the mother of the king (the queen mother)
  4. a value judgment of the king relative to David, who was the standard of comparison

    The Deuteronomistic writer introduces the kings of Israel using a different standard pattern of elements, including:

  1. the date the king took the throne relative to the reign of the king of Judah
  2. the location of the capital city of Israel
  3. the length of the reign
  4. a negative evaluation of the king (applying to all kings except Shallum, who only reigned one month)
ToC | Reading the Old Testament. . . Chapter 9. Kings | ToC