1 & 2 Kings: An Introduction and Study Guide: History and Story in Ancient Israel

Description

Lester L. Grabbe provides a concise and up-to-date introduction to the books of Kings, covering all the historical and interpretative issues. Grabbe pays particular attention to how the history of ancient Israel can be reconstructed (or not as the case may be) through the text, and introduces students to the key ways of reading the books of Kings as religious and political history. Grabbe takes a chronological approach (according to the text) and provides overviews of the key periods of Israel's history. The nature of the 'Deuteronomistic History' and how well this theory of authorship stands up in the modern day is considered, as well as issues of form and source criticism more broadly. Grabbe concludes by offering a reflection on the books of Kings in theological and hermeneutical perspective, which enables students to view not only the historical and textual issues, but also broader issues of meaning and significance. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction Interpreting the Books of Kings The Text of 1 and 2 Kings The Books of Kings and Israelite Prophetic Activity The Books of Kings and Historiography The Question of Definitions Development of Historical Writing among the Greeks Summary with Regard to History Some Major Commentaries on 1 and 2 Kings Chapter 2: The Books of Kings and ‘The Deuteronomistic History’: Form and Source Criticism The Deuteronomistic History The Main Genres of 1 and 2 Kings The Use of Court Chronicles as a Source of the Deuteronomistic History Summary and Conclusion Chapter 3: The Books of Kings and History: Solomon to Omri Outline of 1 Kings 1.1 to 16.14 Reign of Solomon (1 Kings 1–11) The Concept of Royal Narrative (Königsnovelle) Solomon’s Reign Archaeology of Solomon’s Kingdom The Question of Historicity Invasion of Shishak (Shoshenq I: 1 Kings 14.25-28) Split of the Kingdom under Rehoboam and Jeroboam (1 Kings 12–14) Reign of Abijam and Asa of Judah (1 Kings 15.1-24) Rulers of Israel to Omri (1 Kings 15.25–16.20) Summary and Conclusions Chapter 4: The Books of Kings and History: The Omride Dynasty and Rulers to the Fall of Samaria Outline of 1 Kings 16 to 2 Kings 17 Omri (1 Kings 16.16-28) Ahab (1 Kings 16.29–22.40) Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22) Ahaziah and Jehoram of Israel and Joram and Ahaziah of Judah (1 Kings 22.52 to 2 Kings 9.29) Elijah and Elisha and the Prophetic Narrative Cycle Jehu (2 Kings 9–10) Athaliah and Joash of Judah (2 Kings 11–12) Jehoahaz and Jehoash of Israel (2 Kings 13) Amaziah and Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah (2 Kings 14.1-22; 15.1-7) Jeroboam (II) of Israel (2 Kings 14.23-29) Zechariah, Shallum, and Menahem of Israel (2 Kings 15.8-22) Jotham and Ahaz of Judah (2 Kings 15.32–16.20) Last Kings of Israel and Fall of Samaria (2 Kings 15.23-31; 17) Summary and Conclusions Chapter 5: The Books of Kings and History: From the Fall of Samaria to the Fall of Jerusalem Outline of 2 Kings 18–25 Reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18–20) Reign of Manasseh (2 Kings 21.1-18) Reign of Amon (2 Kings 21.19-26) Reign of Josiah (2 Kings 22.1–23.30) Reign of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23.30-34) Reign of Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23.34–24.6) Reign of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24.6-16; 25.27-30) Reign of Zedekiah (2 Kings 24.17–25.21) Summary of Last Days of Judah Conclusions to Chapters 3–5 Chapter 6: Conclusions: The Books of Kings in Hermeneutical Perspective The Books of Kings as History The Books of Kings and Theology Good Kings and Bad Kings Other Interpretations of the ‘Story’ Conclusions Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors