Commentary on 1-2 Kings

Keith Bodner

Description

Comprehensive, accessible, and fully illustrated--this commentary on 1-2 Kings is a must-have resource.You want a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, but the notes in your study Bible don't give you enough depth or insight. This commentary was created with you in mind.Each volume of The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary is a nontechnical, section-by-section commentary on one book or section of the Bible that provides reliable and readable interpretations of the Scriptures from leading evangelical scholars. This information-packed commentary will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Bible in your own personal study or in preparation for teaching. It tackles problematic questions, calls attention to the spiritual and personal aspects of the biblical message, and brings out important points of biblical theology, making it invaluable to anyone seeking to get the most out of their Bible study.

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781493424481
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 9 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2012 by Baker Publishing Group
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook short created 2019
Previously published in The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary edited by Gary M. Burge and Andrew E. Hill in 2012
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ISBN 978-1-4934-2448-1
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations labeled ESV from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007
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Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Abbreviations
Introduction
Commentary

1. 1 Kings 1:1–22:53
A. Accession of a Younger Son (1:1–53)
B. Security Clearance (2:1–46)
C. Wise Options (3:1–28)
D. Constructive Criticism (4:1–10:29)
E. Divided Heart, Divided Nation (11:1–12:33)
F. Northern Exposure (13:1–16:34)
G. Prophetic Contests (17:1–22:53)
2. 2 Kings 1:1–25:30
A. Chariots and Fire (1:1–2:25)
B. Days of Elisha (3:1–8:29)
C. Jehu’s Ascendancy (9:1–10:36)
D. Twilight for Samaria (11:1–17:41)
E. Hezekiah’s Assyrian Crisis (18:1–20:21)
F. Babylon Rising (21:1–24:17)
G. Judah’s Captivity (24:18–25:30)
Time Lines
Back Ad
Abbreviations ANET Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament . Edited by J. B. Pritchard. 3rd ed. Princeton, 1969 BDAG Bauer, W., F. W. Danker, W. F. Arndt, and F. W. Gingrich. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago, 1999 ca. circa (about, approximately) cf. compare chap(s). chapter(s) COS The Context of Scripture . Edited by W. W. Hallo. 3 vols. Leiden, 1997– e.g. for example ESV English Standard Version HALOT Koehler, L., W. Baumgartner, and J. J. Stamm. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Translated and edited under the supervision of M. E. J. Richardson. 5 vols. Leiden, 1994–2000 HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible i.e. that is KJV King James Version NASB New American Standard Bible NEB New English Bible NET New English Translation NIV New International Version (2011 edition) NIV 1984 New International Version (1984 edition) NJB New Jerusalem Bible NJPS The Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation according to the Traditional Hebrew Text NKJV New King James Version NLT New Living Translation NRSV New Revised Standard Version RSV Revised Standard Version TDOT Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament . Edited by G. J. Botterweck and H. Ringgren. Translated by J. T. Willis, G. W. Bromiley, and D. E. Green. 8 vols. Grand Rapids, 1974– TNIV Today’s New International Version
1–2 Kings
Keith Bodner
Introduction
The final line of the book of Judges—“In those days there was no king in Israel, each one did what was upright in his own eyes” (author’s translation)—might imply that a monarchy will usher in a new era of peace and stability for God’s people. Such an era is not reported in 1–2 Kings. Instead, some four hundred years of Israelite history are narrated, and at times the political landscape is even more chaotic than in the book of Judges, as if that were possible. Some of the most colorful, disturbing, inspiring, and theologically subtle material in all of Scripture is presented to the reader of 1–2 Kings, a long work that rewards careful study and reflection.

Literary Features
Like 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings was originally a single volume that eventually was divided into two parts, which together recount and evaluate the story of Israel’s royal experiment. The customary title “Kings” might be slightly misleading since royal figures are only part of the cast of characters. To be sure, kings and their antics, rivalries, major feuds, minor squabbles, petty agendas, inspiring reforms, brave leadership decisions, and flawed pretensions form the backdrop and the necessary plotlines; but other characters also shape the story. Most prominent among these characters are the prophets, with a remarkable range of personalities and gifts. Nathan is instrumental in securing Solomon’s throne, while Ahijah of Shiloh pronounces its demise. Elijah confronts Ahab and hundreds of Baal prophets and later throws his mantle on Elisha of Abel-Meholah in the north. Micaiah speaks of Ahab’s last days, while Huldah speaks of the doom about to befall the southern kingdom of Judah. Along with an anonymous fraternity of prophets that often seems to be hovering in the background, this diverse group of spokespeople confronts the various kings and their times and brings a sense of accountability and historical memory to the table that might otherwise be lacking.
Whether it entails speaking a word in crisis (e.g., Isaiah in 2 Kings 19) or dispensing advice on policy (e.g., Elisha in 2 Kings 6:22), new contours of the prophetic office are detailed as the narrative progresses. Not only are we given insight as to how prophets operated during this stretch of history; there also are hints dropped along the way as to how things might work in the future. Moreover, there is a host of minor characters that populates the narrative, ranging from courtiers like Benaiah and Obadiah (who serve Solomon and Ahab, respectively), to the servant Gehazi (last seen testifying about Elisha’s word in 2 Kings 8) and the high priest Jehoiada (instrumental in bringing the tyrannical reign of Athaliah to an end). Towering above all these characters—whether royal, prophetic, or part of the supporting cast—is the ultimate king, the God of Israel. The real king in this story has rebellious subjects and global concerns, yet comes across as remarkably long-suffering and pastoral. Although there is a wealth of divine patience, as the story moves to a conclusion discipline is exacted and God’s people are humbled. Relentlessly faithful and more sovereign than readers might expect, in the pages of 1–2 Kings the Lord creatively refuses to be boxed in by anyone and resists easy labels or stereotyping.
Literary and Historical Context
Rather than read in isolation, the 1–2 Kings narrative is best studied as one chapter within a larger story. The collection of books beginning with Joshua and ending with 1–2 Kings—known in the Hebrew canon as the Former Prophets—represents a continuous narrative, the long story of Israel’s experience in the land of promise between entry and exile. These books are often referred to as the Deuteronomistic History, since the book of Deuteronomy provides the theological backbone of the narrative. As an address from Moses to the people of Israel on the borders of Moab looking into the land of promise, Deuteronomy articulates the parameters of covenant faithfulness, and it is this standard by which the various kings and leaders of the future are measured. For example, Deuteronomy 11:26–28 says, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—the blessing if you obey the commands of the L ord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the L ord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.” There is, in other words, a consistent exhortation in Deuteronomy to “choose life” (cf. Deut. 30:19) and a summons to partake of the available blessings and the many advantages of not forsaking covenant relationship. A necessary corollary, as Deuteronomy also intones, is the possibility of cursing should the Israelites eschew such responsibilities.
Furthermore, Deuteronomy also anticipates the advent of kingship in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18–20 lays out