1, 2 Kings

An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture

Paul R. House

• Publisher: Holman Reference
• Year: 1995
• ISBN:
  9781433675546
• Topic: Théologie et religion
• Subtopic: Commentaire biblique

THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY is for the minister or Bible student who wants to understand and expound the Scriptures. Notable features include: * commentary based on THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION;* the NIV text printed in the body of the commentary;* sound scholarly methodology that reflects capable research in the original languages;* interpretation that emphasizes the theological unity of each book and of Scripture as a whole;* readable and applicable exposition.

General Editor

E. RAY CLENDENEN

Associate General Editor, OT

KENNETH A. MATHEWS

Associate General Editor, NT

DAVID S. DOCKERY

Consulting Editors

Old Testament

DUANE A. GARRETT

L. RUSS BUSH

LARRY L. WALKER

New Testament

RICHARD R. MELICK, JR.

PAIGE PATTERSON

CURTIS VAUGHAN

Manuscript Editors

LINDA L. SCOTT

MARC A. JOLLEY

© Copyright 1995 • B&H Publishing Group

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-08054-0108-0

Dewey Decimal Classification: 222.5

Subject Heading: BIBLE. O.T. KINGS

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 94-47508

Printed in 1he United States of America

14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7

Unless otherwise indicated. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible. New International Version (NlV). copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Quotations marked NEB are from The New English Bible. Copyright © The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1961, 1970. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked GNB are from the Good News Bible, the Bible in Today's English Version. Old Testament: Copyright © American Bible Society 1976: New Testament: Copyright © American Bible Society 1966, 1971, 1976. Used by permission. Quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by Lhe Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States or America. Used by permission. All rightS reserved. Quotations marked NASB arc from the New American Standard Bible. © The Lockman Foundation. 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

House, Paul R.. 1958-

 1, 2 Kings / Paul R. House.

  p. cm. - (The New American commentary ; vol. 8)

 Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

 ISBN 0-8054-0 108-3 (hardcover)

 I. Bible. O.T. Kings-Commentaries. I. Title. II. Title:

 First. second Kings. III. Series: The New American commentary : v. 8.

BSI335.3.H68 1995

222'.5077-dc20

To Jim Dixon, Drew Hayes, Tim McCoy, and Mike Tucker

Old Friends, Reading Pastors, Men of God

Editors' Preface

God's Word does not change. God's world, however, changes in every generation. These changes, in addition to new findings by scholars and a new variety of challenges to the gospel message, call for the church in each generation to interpret and apply God's Word for God's people. Thus, THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY is introduced to bridge the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This new series has been designed primarily to enable pastors, teachers, and students to read the Bible with clarity and proclaim it with power.

In one sense THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY is not new, for it represents the continuation of a heritage rich in biblical and theological exposition. The title of this forty-volume set points to the continuity of this series with an important commentary project published at the end of the nineteenth century called AN AMERICAN COMMENTARY, edited by Alvah Hovey. The older series included, among other significant contributions, the outstanding volume on Matthew by John A. Broadus, from whom the publisher of the new series, Broadman Press, partly derives its name. The former series was authored and edited by scholars committed to the infallibility of Scripture, making it a solid foundation for the present project. In line with this heritage, all NAC authors affirm the divine inspiration, inerrancy, complete truthfulness, and full authority of the Bible. The perspective of the NAC is unapologetically confessional and rooted in the evangelical tradition.

Since a commentary is a fundamental tool for the expositor or teacher who seeks to interpret and apply Scripture in the church or classroom, the NAC focuses on communicating the theological structure and content of each biblical book. The writers seek to illuminate both the historical meaning and contemporary significance of Holy Scripture.

In its attempt to make a unique contribution to the Christian community, the NAC focuses on two concerns. First, the commentary emphasizes how each section of a book fits together so that the reader becomes aware of the theological unity of each book and of Scripture as a whole. The writers, however, remain aware of the Bible's inherently rich variety. Second, the NAC is produced with the conviction that the Bible primarily belongs to the church. We believe that scholarship and the academy provide an indispensable foundation for biblical understanding and the service of Christ, but the editors and authors of this series have attempted to communicate the findings of their research in a manner that will build up the whole body of Christ. Thus, the commentary concentrates on theological exegesis, while providing practical, applicable exposition.

THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY's theological focus enables the reader to see the parts as well as the whole of Scripture. The biblical books vary in content, context, literary type, and style. In addition to this rich variety, the editors and authors recognize that the doctrinal emphasis and use of the biblical books differs in various places, contexts, and cultures among God's people. These factors, as well as other concerns, have led the editors to give freedom to the writers to wrestle with the issues raised by the scholarly community surrounding each book and to determine the appropriate shape and length of the introductory materials. Moreover, each writer has developed the structure of the commentary in a way best suited for expounding the basic structure and the meaning of the biblical books for our day. Generally, discussions relating to contemporary scholarship and technical points of grammar and syntax appear in the footnotes and not in the text of the commentary. This format allows pastors and interested laypersons, scholars and teachers, and serious college and seminary students to profit from the commentary at various levels. This approach has been employed because we believe that all Christians have the privilege and responsibility to read and seek to understand the Bible for themselves.

Consistent with the desire to produce a readable, up-to-date commentary, the editors selected the New International Version as the standard translation for the commentary series. The selection was made primarily because of the NIV's faithfulness to the original languages and its beautiful and readable style. The authors, however, have been given the liberty to differ at places from the NIV as they develop their own translations from the Greek and Hebrew texts.

The NAC reflects the vision and leadership of those who provide oversight for Broadman Press, who in 1987 called for a new commentary series that would evidence a commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture and a faithfulness to the classic Christian tradition. While the commentary adopts an "American" name, it should be noted some writers represent countries outside the United States, giving the commentary an international perspective. The diverse group of writers includes scholars, teachers, and administrators from almost twenty different colleges and seminaries, as well as pastors, missionaries, and a layperson.

The editors and writers hope that THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY will be helpful and instructive for pastors and teachers, scholars and students, for men and women in the churches who study and teach God's Word in various settings. We trust that for editors, authors, and readers alike, the commentary will be used to build up the church, encourage obedience, and bring renewal to God's people. Above all, we pray that the NAC will bring glory and honor to our Lord, who has graciously redeemed us and faithfully revealed himself to us in his Holy Word.

SOLI DEO GLORIA

The Editors

Acknowledgments

Several people deserve thanks for their help in this project. My family has always supported my writing projects, and this time was no exception. Becky, my wife, and Molly, my daughter, exhorted me to work hard and finish on time. Both were a source of joy and inspiration. They are infinitely worth whatever commitments I have made to them. Roy House, my father, offered some solid suggestions and read a large portion of the manuscript. His support has been lifelong, at least so far.

My colleagues at Taylor University were also quite helpful. Each member of the departments of Biblical Studies, Christian Education, and Philosophy extended real and needed encouragement. Joanne Giger typed the manuscript with great efficiency and offered sage commentary on the commentary. Taylor University's administration, led by Daryl Yost, Bob Pitts, and Dwight Jessup, allowed me a course reduction during the semester the manuscript was due. I work with good people, a fact I appreciate and hope never to take for granted.

The editors at Broadman & Holman were kind as well. Ray Clendenen, Marc Jolley, and Trent Butler were all very strategic counselors, and Ray and Marc, as well as Linda Scott, saw the manuscript through to completion with patience and grace. Indeed they made the volume a better book than it would have been. These and other persons at Broadman & Holman made this project a good experience for me.

Certain friends must also be thanked. Scott Hafemann, Jim Dixon, Carol Mott, Gordon Kingsley, and Suzanne House Kingsley kept me going when I wanted to stop writing, among other things. Their goodness to me mediated God's presence, which is the highest compliment I know how to give.

The volume is dedicated to four special friends, each of whom is supposed to be a member of the "reading pastor" target group this series tries to address. I met these men at Southern Seminary in the 1980s, where we stuck together during difficult days. I have enjoyed ministering with them from time to time over the past decade. They were then and are now good people and good ministers, good conversationalists and good listeners, good Christians and good companions.

For these and other kindnesses I am extremely grateful.

Paul R. House

Taylor University

Upland, Indiana

Author's Preface

Few biblical books are as neglected by the church as 1, 2 Kings. There are several reasons for this situation. First, some preachers find it difficult to construct sermons from Old Testament texts. Second, misconceptions about Old Testament history, such as its supposedly boring, nontheological nature, cause laypersons to question the books' value for devotional reading. Third, Christians from all walks of life doubt the practicality of studying events that occurred three thousand years ago. Fourth, even diligent Bible students may get discouraged trying to fit the...

Table of contents

• 1, 2 Kings
• Editors' Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Author's Preface
• Abbreviations
• Maps
• Selected Bibliography
• Introduction
• Section I
• I. The Rise of Solomon
• Survey of Historical Details Related to 1 Kings 1–2
• 1. David's Declining Health
• 2. Adonijah's Attempt to Become King
• 3. Solomon Becomes King
• 4. David Advises Solomon
• 5. David's Death
• 6. Solomon Consolidates His Power
• Canonical and Theological Implications of 1 Kgs 1:1–2:46
• Applicational Implications of 1 Kgs 1:1–2:46
• Section II
• II. Solomon's Reign
• Survey of Historical Issues Related to 1 Kgs 3:1–4:34
• 1. God's First Appearance to Solomon
• 2. Solomon Demonstrates His Wisdom
• Canonical and Theological Implications in 1 Kgs 3:1–4:34
• Applicational Implications of 1 Kgs 3:1–4:34
• 3. Solomon Builds the Temple and Palace
• Historical Events Related to 1 Kgs 5:1–9:9
• 4. Solomon Dedicates the Temple
• 5. God's Second Appearance to Solomon
• Canonical and Theological Implications in 1 Kgs 5:1–9:9
• Applicational Implications of 1 Kgs 5:1–9:9
• 6. Solomon's Pursuits
• Survey of Historical Details Related to 1 Kgs 9:10–11:43
• 7. Solomon's Wisdom and Wealth
• 8. Solomon's Decline
• Canonical and Theological Implications of 1 Kgs 9:10–11:43
• Applicational Implications of 1 Kgs 9:10–11:43
• Section III
• III. The Divided Kingdom and the Rise of Idolatry
• Survey of Historical Details Related to 1 Kgs 12:1–16:34
• 1. The Rise and Fall of Jeroboam's Family
• 2. The Rise of Omri and Ahab
• Canonical and Theological Implications of 1 Kgs 12:1–16:34
• Applicational Implications of 1 Kgs 12:1–16:34
• Section IV
• IV. Elijah's Opposition to Idolatry and Oppression
• Historical Details Related to 1 Kgs 17:1 to 2 Kgs 1:18
• 1. Elijah Battles Baalism
• 2. Elijah Denounces Ahab
• 3. Elijah's Final Days
• Canonical and Theological Implications of 1 Kgs 17:1 to 2 Kgs 1:18
• Applicational Implications in 1 Kgs 17:1 to 2 Kgs 1:18
• Section V
• V. Elisha's Work as Prophet, Miracle Worker, and Kingmaker
• Historical Details Related to 2 Kgs 2:1–13:25
• 1. Elisha Succeeds Elijah
• 2. Elisha Performs Miracles
• 3. Elisha Predicts a Siege's End
• 4. Elisha's Political Influence
• 5. Jehu's Purge
• 6. Joash's Reform
• 7. Elisha's Final Days
• Canonical and Theological Implications of 2 Kgs 2:1–13:25
• Applicational Implications of 2 Kgs 2:1–13:25
• Section VI
• VI. Israel Disintegrates
• Historical Details Related to 2 Kings 14–17
• 1. Judah Battles Israel
• 2. Temporary Respite
• 3. Israel's Political Upheaval
• 4. Judah's Political Weakness
• 5. Assyria Destroys Israel
• Canonical and Theological Implications of 2 Kings 14–17
• Applicational Implications of 2 Kings 14–17
• Section VII
• VII. Judah Disintegrates
• Historical Details Related to 2 Kings 18–25
• 1. Hezekiah's Righteous Reign
• 2. Manasseh and Amon's Wicked Reigns
• 3. Josiah's Righteous Reign
• 4. Judah's Political and Moral Decline
• 5. Babylon Destroys Judah
• 6. Jehoiachin Survives in Exile
• Canonical and Theological Implications of 2 Kings 18–25
• Applicational Implications of 2 Kings 18–25