__At the beginning of 1 &amp; 2 Kings, Solomon's reign brought peace, prosperity, dynamic international trade and a magnificent centre of worship. By contrast, at the end, the people faced complete reversal: they and their king were in exile; Jerusalem and the temple lay in ruins.__  
  
How can this story of reversal, told by the very people who suffered that defeat, be of value today, and equip us for every good work?  
  
In this rich and insightful commentary, John W. Olley guides us through The Message of 1 &amp; 2 Kings. With deft, accessible scholarship, he shows us how the writers of Kings retell the past as preached history, and how that helps us to understand the way they speak to us today. Within the account of paths leading to short-term success but ultimate failure, there are pointers of hope, of God's continuing purposes and promises, and of the peoples' response in the present.  
  
In rich and often surprising ways, the story told in Kings is one that continues to shape the faith and life of Christian believers today. Unpacking its meaning careful precision, Olley helps us understand that everyday life, along with the turmoil of national and global events, is the arena in which God's people are called to worship, trust and obey him.  
  
Part of the million-selling Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of 1 &amp; 2 Kings offers a cogent, readable exposition of the Biblical text as well as thoughtfully discussion of how it is relevant for Christians today. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to improve their understanding of Scripture.

Contents  
General preface vii  
Author's preface ix  
Commentaries and other works xii  
Introducing 1 and 2 Kings 1  
Chronology 24  
  
__A. Solomon's reign (1 Kings 1 – 11)__  
1. Solomon becomes king (1:1 – 2:46) 27  
2. Setting the scene (3:1–3) 49  
3. Receiving and demonstrating wisdom (3:4 – 4:34) 54  
4. The temple – building and dedicating (5:1 – 8:66) 67  
5. After building the temple (9:1 – 11:43) 97  
  
__B. Division – the first 160 years (1 Kings 12:1 – 16:28)__  
6. Leadership: power, pragmatism and God's evaluation (12:1 – 14:20) 125  
7. Two nations and eight kings: similarities and difference (14:21 – 16:28) 147  
  
__C. Elijah and kings (1 Kings 16:29 – 2 Kings 2:25)__  
8. Elijah confronts crisis (16:29 – 19:21) 158  
9. Ahab and some prophets – leading to death (20:1 – 22:50) 181  
10. Ahaziah king of Israel and Elijah (1 Kings 22:51 – 2 Kings 1:18) 205  
11. Elijah's ascension and the transition to Elisha (2:1–25) 210  
  
__D. Elisha and individuals, kings and revolution (2 Kings 3 – 13)__  
12. Kings of Israel, Judah and Moab – and Elisha (3:1–27) 219  
13. Elisha: agent of Yahweh's compassion (4:1 – 6:7) 224  
14. Elisha and Arameans (6:8 – 8:15) 238  
15. Revolution and reform in Israel and Judah (8:16 – 13:25) 251  
  
__E. To the end of Israel (2 Kings 14 – 17)__  
16. Kings of Judah and Israel (14:1 – 17:6) 285  
17. Understanding change to Israel and in Israel (17:7–41) 304  
  
__F. From trust to exile – to the end of Judah (2 Kings 18 – 25)__  
18. Hezekiah and trust (18:1 – 20:21) 316  
19. Apostasy of Manasseh and Amon (21:1–26) 337  
20. Josiah and wholehearted turning to God (22:1 – 23:30) 345  
21. The end comes quickly (23:31 – 25:26) 358  
22. A glimmer of hope in Babylon (25:27–30) 371

John W Olley

GENERAL PREFACE

Author’s preface

Commentaries and other works

Commentaries

Other resources

Texts and versions

Introducing 1 and 2 Kings

1. Setting the scene

2. Reading Kings today

3. Major themes

Chronology

A. Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 1 – 11)

1 Kings 1:1 – 2:46

1. Solomon becomes king

1. Transition is imminent (1:1–4)

2. Adonijah acts (1:5–10)

3. Nathan the prophet takes control (1:11–27)

4. David makes Solomon king (1:28–40)

5. The end of Adonijah's coup d'état (1:41–53)

6. David's last words to Solomon (2:1–12)

7. Solomon removes threats to his power (2:13–46)

1 Kings 3:1–3

2. Setting the scene

Seeing chapters 1–11 as a whole

1 Kings 3:4 – 4:34

3. Receiving and demonstrating wisdom

1. Solomon receives wisdom from Yahweh (3:4–15)

2. Wisdom used to benefit the powerless (3:16–28)

3. Wisdom in ruling all Israel (4:1–28)

4. God's wisdom for all of life (4:29–34)

1 Kings 5:1 – 8:66

4. The temple – building and dedicating

1. Preparations (5:1–18)

2. Solomon builds the temple (6:1–38)

3. Solomon's palace and Pharaoh's daughter (7:1–12)

4. Nothing but the best (7:13–51)

5. The ark brought up and the temple dedicated (8:1–66)

1 Kings 9:1 – 11:43

5. After building the temple

1. All is not well (9:1–23)

2. Pharaoh's daughter, sacrifices and gold (9:24–28)

3. Wisdom, wealth, wives – and God (10:1 – 11:13)

4. Adversaries and succession (11:14–43)

B. Division – the first 160 years (1 Kings 12:1 – 16:28)

1 Kings 12:1 – 14:20

6. Leadership: power, pragmatism and God’s evaluation

1. Rehoboam and power (12:1–24)

2. Jeroboam: the path of pragmatism (12:25–33)

3. The man of God from Judah: the folly of going one's own way (13:1–34)

4. Another prophecy of Ahijah, now against Jeroboam (14:1–20)

5. A tale of two kings – in review

1 Kings 14:21 – 16:28

7. Two nations and eight kings: similarities and differences

1. Three kings of Judah (14:21 – 15:24)

2. Five kings of Israel, with three coups (15:25 – 16:28)

3. Reviewing one hundred and sixty years

C. Elijah and kings (1 Kings 16:29 – 2 Kings 2:25)

1 Kings 16:29 – 19:21

8. Elijah confronts crisis1

1. Setting the scene: Ahab king of Israel (16:29–34)

2. Elijah outside Israel (17:1–24)

3. Direct confrontation (18:1–46)

4. God's ways are usually quiet (19:1–21)

5. Further reflections on Elijah thus far

1 Kings 20:1 – 22:50

9. Ahab and some prophets – leading to death

1. Ahab and Ben-Hadad – and prophets (20:1–43)

2. Naboth's vineyard: property acquisition and God (21:1–29)

3. The end of Ahab's reign (22:1–40)

4. Jehoshaphat king of Judah: Ahab's ally is different (22:41–50)

1 Kings 22:51 – 2 Kings 1:18

10. Ahaziah king of Israel and Elijah

2 Kings 2:1–25

11. Elijah’s ascension and the transition to Elisha

1. Elijah's journey from Gilgal to ascension (2:1–11)

2. Elisha returns to Jericho (2:12–18)

3. Elisha's public ministry has diverse results (2:19–25)

D. Elisha and individuals, kings and revolution (2 Kings 3 – 13)

2 Kings 3:1–27

12. Kings of Israel, Judah and Moab – and Elisha

2 Kings 4:1 – 6:7

13. Elisha: agent of Yahweh’s compassion

1. Freeing a widow from economic bondage (4:1–7)

2. Life and hope for the future (4:8–37)

3. Life-giving food for the hungry (4:38–44)

4. Reflection: magic or miracles?

5. 'Not one of them was cleansed – only Naaman the Syrian' (5:1–27)

6. Recovering a lost borrowed axe-head (6:1–7)

2 Kings 6:8 – 8:15

14. Elisha and Arameans

1. Elisha thwarts Aramean plans (6:8–23)

2. Besieged Samaria (6:24 – 7:20)

3. Land restored (8:1–6)

4. Elisha and Hazael (8:7–15)

2 Kings 8:16 – 13:25

15. Revolution and reform in Israel and Judah

1. Kings of Judah entwined with Israel (8:16–29)

2. Jehu's bloody purge (9:1 – 10:36)

3. A queen, a priest and a young royal son (11:1–20)

4. Reform and loss in Judah under Joash (11:21 – 12:21)73

At the beginning of 1 &amp; 2 Kings, Solomon's reign brought peace, prosperity, dynamic international trade and a magnificent centre of worship. By contrast, at the end, the people faced complete reversal: they and their king were in exile; Jerusalem and the temple lay in ruins.  
  
How can this story of reversal, told by the very people who suffered that defeat, be of value today, and equip us for every good work?  
  
In this rich and insightful commentary, John W. Olley guides us through The Message of 1 &amp; 2 Kings. With deft, accessible scholarship, he shows us how the writers of Kings retell the past as preached history, and how that helps us to understand the way they speak to us today. Within the account of paths leading to short-term success but ultimate failure, there are pointers of hope, of God's continuing purposes and promises, and of the peoples’ response in the present.  
  
In rich and often surprising ways, the story told in Kings is one that continues to shape the faith and life of Christian believers today. Unpacking its meaning careful precision, Olley helps us understand that everyday life, along with the turmoil of national and global events, is the arena in which God's people are called to worship, trust and obey him.  
  
Part of the million-selling Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of 1 &amp; 2 Kings offers a cogent, readable exposition of the Biblical text as well as thoughtfully discussion of how it is relevant for Christians today. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to improve their understanding of Scripture.  
  
This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.

\["For Bible students and teachers worldwide.","Understanding the relevance of 1 &amp; 2 Kings.","Offers insight into faith and life today."\]

"The Message of 1 &amp; 2 Kings" is a rich commentary that explores the relevance of these biblical texts for modern Christians, offering insight into faith and life today.

Message of 1 & 2 Kings

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