What is the Story of Kings and Chronicles?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Kings and Chronicles narrate the period from King David to the Babylonian captivity, covering the reigns of Israel's and Judah's kings, including a few good kings among mostly evil ones. These books highlight the division of Israel into two nations, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Prophets like Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah played key roles in warning the people and performing miracles, revealing God's power. First & Second Kings, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, focus on the kings' deeds and were compiled from historical annals. First & Second Chronicles, attributed to Ezra, offer a more detailed account of Judah's kings, emphasizing their relationship with God and the consequences of their obedience or disobedience.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The books of Kings and Chronicles largely narrate the time from King David to the Babylonian captivity of Judah, including the years from 930–586 BC, and covering twenty kings of Israel, nineteen kings of Judah, and one queen of Judah.
• The books of 1 & 2 Kings start with the succession of Solomon to the throne upon David's death and end with the Babylonian captivity. Jewish tradition identifies the author as Jeremiah, the prophet and author of the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations. It would have been written sometime in the 500s BC and was compiled from the "Book of the Acts of Solomon," the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah," and the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel." The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" was not the same as 1 & 2 Chronicles. It is unclear exactly what these annals were and how the author had access to them, but their use as references infer they were available to Jeremiah's audience.
• The books of 1 & 2 Chronicles begin with a summary of history from Adam to King Saul. The rest of the first book (chapters 13–29) covers much of the same material found in 2 Samuel, namely, David's reign. Second Chronicles begins with Solomon's reign and the split of the nation into two, but then it concentrates on only the kings of Judah, adding information about Israel as it applies to Judah. Tradition says that it was written in the 400s BC, and the author was Ezra, a scribe, priest, the post-exilic leader, and author of the book of Ezra. It also lists as a source the "Book of the Kings of Israel" and (combined) the "Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah," but also the "Chronicles of King David" and several others. Although much of the information is the same as that found in 2 Samuel, the books of Chronicles more specifically identify the setbacks of good kings in relation to their specific failures to obey God. They also share more history about the people of Judah and their relationship to their God, instead of concentrating solely on the kings. The books of 1 & 2 Chronicles were written, so the returning exiles would remember why God sent them into exile and know to not repeat the mistakes of the past.
• Kings and Chronicles include the division of Israel into two nations: Israel in the north with ten tribes and Judah in the south with two tribes (1 Kings 11:31–32; 1 Kings 12:16–20).
• While the majority of the kings of both Israel and Judah were evil, there were some good kings who followed the Lord (2 Kings 18:3; 2 Chronicles 34:2).
• Throughout this time, God still spoke to prophets, who warned the nations of the consequences of their disobedience (2 Kings 17:13; 2 Chronicles 24:19). The prophets also performed miracles, revealing the One true God in both grand ways and daily, ordinary life miracles (1 Kings 18:36–39; 2 Kings 4:1–7). Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah, Huldah, and Jeremiah were a few of the prophets recorded in the story of the Kings and Chronicles (1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 2:14; 1 Kings 22:7–8; 2 Kings 22:14–20; Jeremiah 1:1–3).
• Below is a chart referencing the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah:

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The story of Kings and Chronicles is found in the Old Testament.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The story of Kings and Chronicles emphasizes the importance of godly leadership, obedience, and the consequences of straying from God's ways. These books reveal how the faithfulness or disobedience of leaders impacts entire nations, revealing the ripple effect of our choices on those around us. The story of Kings and Chronicles also reveals God’s hand at work despite disobedience or difficult circumstances. God continually sends warnings and guidance, often through unexpected means, urging us to realign our lives with His truth. We are called to listen and return to Him. Besides warnings, the prophets' miraculous interventions during the time of Kings and Chronicles serve as a powerful reminder of God's active presence, not just in grand events but also in the ordinary moments of life. In our personal lives, we can draw from these lessons by seeking to follow God's will with integrity, being aware of the broader impact of our actions, and listening to Him through what we read in His Word and the way He speaks through people and circumstances He places in our paths.

UNDERSTAND

• Kings and Chronicles cover the period from King David to the Babylonian captivity, detailing the reigns of Israel's and Judah's kings.
• The books highlight the division of Israel into two nations: Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
• Prophets like Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah warned the people and performed miracles, revealing God's power throughout this period.

REFLECT

• Looking at the example of the few good kings who followed the Lord in Kings and Chronicles, how can you follow the Lord despite what others around you are doing?
• How do you respond when God sends warnings or guidance through circumstances or people in your life?
• How do the stories of the good and evil kings in Kings and Chronicles challenge your own leadership or influence within your family, workplace, or community?

ENGAGE

• How do the stories of the kings in Israel and Judah reflect the importance of godly leadership in our communities today?
• How can we recognize and respond to God’s warnings or guidance in our lives?
• What lessons can we learn from the way God intervened in the lives of His people during the time of the Kings and Chronicles?