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    • 12.1 Overview

      • The books of Kings: Literary, historical and theological introduction

    • 12.2 Comment

      The books of Kings, after solving the question of David’s succession, tells the story of the monarchy at its peak during Solomon’s reign. However, the division of the monarchy takes place just after Solomon’s death. From that point on the story follows the development in the two separated kingdoms, which eventually leads to the destruction of both kingdoms – first the Northern Israel, finally also the kingdom of Judah. The books of Kings are structured by the regnal formulae, which (when relevant), synchronize the reign of the kings in both kingdoms. These schematic paragraphs are sometimes expanded by shorter or even by more complex narratives, in which the important persons are the prophets.

    • 12.3 Literature for individual study

      Rendtorff, The Old Testament, 37–55, 174–183.

      Kaminsky and Lohr, The Hebrew Bible for Beginners, 135–143.

    • 12.4 Biblical texts for the final exam

      Students are expected to have read the whole of 1–2 Kings. However, emphasis during the exam will be on the following sections:

      1 Kgs 3:16–28 (The Judgement of Solomon)

      1 Kgs 8:1–21 (Solomon Dedicates the Temple)

      1 Kgs 10:1–10 (The Queen of Sheba)

      1 Kgs 12:1–33 (Breaking Up of the Kingdom)

      1 Kgs 18:1–46 (Elijah on Mount Carmel)

      1 Kgs 19:1–21 (Elijah on Mount Horeb)

      1 Kgs 21 (Naboth’s Vineyard)

      2 Kgs 2:1–18 (Elijah Taken Up to Heaven)

      2 Kgs 5:1–27 (Naaman the Aramean)

      2 Kgs 17:1–41 (The End of the Northern Kingdom)

      2 Kgs 22:1–20 (The Book of the Law and Josiah’s Reforms)

      2 Kgs 25:1–25 (The Fall of Jerusalem and the Exile)

      12.5 Verifying comprehension

      1. What are the main units of 1–2 Kings?
      2. What is meant by the expression “regnal formula” / “regnal formulae” in the Books of Kings? What elements does a typical regnal formula consist of?
      3. What was the case, during which Salomon demonstrated his wisdom?
      4. How was manifested God’s Presence in the temple on its dedication by Salomon?
      5. In what part of the Salomon narrative appears the story about the queen of Sheba? What is the literary function of this episode in the Salomon narrative?
      6. According to 1 Kgs 12:1–33 Israel refused the rule of the Davidic dynasty, which resulted in the division of the monarchy into Judah and Northern Israel: a) Where the meeting took place, during which Israel refused the Davidic king? b) Who was the refused king? c) Who became the leader and consequently the first king in the Northern Kingdom? 
      7. What was the reason for the contest on Mount Carmel, in which Elijah took part? 
      8. After killing the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah reaches Mount Horeb. What does he experience there?
      9. What was the case of Naboth’s vineyard? Who were the main participants?
      10. What were the circumstances of Elijah assumption according to 2 Kgs 2:1–18?
      11. What is the role of Gehazi in the story about Naaman the Aramean?
      12. Who was the last king of Northern Israel?
      13. What were the reasons given by 2 Kgs 17:1–41 for the fall of Northern Israel?
      14. What was the so called “Josianic reform”? What was the main impulse, what was the result?
      15. Who was the last king of Jerusalem during its ultimate fall? Who and why destroyed Jerusalem and the temple?
    • The Books of Kings - outline Archivo