First and Second Books Of Kings
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Smith's Bible Dictionary
First and Second Books Of Kings

originally only one book in the Hebrew canon, from in the LXX. and the Vulgate the third and fourth books of Kings (the books of Samuel being the first and second). It must be remembered that the division between the books of Kings and Samuel is equally artificial, and that in point of fact the historical books commencing with Judges and ending with 2Kings present the appearance of one work, giving a continuous history of Israel from the time of Joshua to the death of jehoiachin. The books of Kings contain the history from David's death and Solomon's accession to the destruction of the kingdom of Judah and the desolation of Jerusalem, with a supplemental notice of an event that occurred after an interval of twenty-six years --viz., the liberation of Jehoiachin from his prison at Babylon --and a still further extension to Jehoiachin's death, the time of which is not known, but which was probably not long after his liberation. The history therefore comprehends the whole time of the Israelitish monarchy, exclusive of the reigns of Saul and David. As regards the affairs of foreign nations and the relation of Israel to them, the historical notices in these books, though in the earlier times scanty, are most valuable, and in striking accord with the latest additions to our knowledge of contemporary profane history. A most important aid to a right understanding of the history in these books, and to the filling up of its outline, is to be found in the prophets, and especially in Isaiah and Jeremiah. Time when written. --They were undoubtedly written during the period of the captivity, probably after the twenty-sixth year. Authorship. --As regards the authorship of the books, but little difficulty presents itself. The Jewish tradition which ascribes them to Jeremiah is borne out by the strongest internal evidence, in addition to that of the language. Sources of information. --There was a regular series of state annals for both the kingdom of Judah and that of Israel, which embraced the whole time comprehended in the books of Kings, or at least to the end of the reign of Jehoiakim. (2 Kings 24:5) These annals are constantly cited by name as "the book of the acts of Solomon," (1 Kings 11:41) and after Solomon "the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" or "Israel," e.g. (1 Kings 14:29; 15:7; 16:5,14,20; 2 Kings 10:34; 24:5) etc.; and it is manifest that the author of Kings had them both before him while he drew up his history, in which the reigns of the two kingdoms are harmonized and these annals constantly appealed to. But in addition to these national annals, there, were also extant, at the time that the books of Kings were compiled, separate works of the several prophets who had lived in Judah and Israel. Authority. --Their canonical authority having never been disputed, it is needless to bring forward the testimonies to their authenticity which may be found in Josephus, Eusebius, jerome, Augustine, etc. They are reckoned among the prophets, in the threefold division of the Holy Scriptures; a position in accordance with the supposition that they were compiled by Jeremiah, and contain the narratives of the different prophets in succession. They are frequently cited by our Lord and by the apostles.

Subtopics

First

First and Second Books Of Chronicles

First and Second Books Of Kings

First Epistle Of Peter

First Epistle To The Corinthians

First Epistle To The Thessalonians

First Fruits: As a Heave offering

First Fruits: Belonged to the Priests

First Fruits: Figurative

First Fruits: First Ripe of Fruits, Grain, Oil, Wine, and First of Fleece, Required As an offering

First Fruits: Freewill offerings of, Given to the Prophets

First Fruits: Offerings of, Must be Free from Blemish

First Fruits: Presented at the Tabernacle

First Fruits: To be offered As a Thank-Offering Upon Entrance Into the Land of Promise

First Fruits: Wave offering of

First Heaven

First Lady of the Church

First Love

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Antiquity of offering

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Could not be a Free-Will offering

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Flesh of, the Priest's Portion

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Law of Redemption For

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Not Shorn

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Not Taken from the Dam for Seven Days

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Not to Labour

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Offered in Sacrifice

The First Born of Clean Beasts: To be Redeemed

The First Born of Israel: Price of Redemption For

The First Born of Israel: Price of, Given to the Priests

The First Born of Israel: To be Redeemed

The First Born of Israel: Tribe of Levi Taken For

The First Born of Man and Beast Dedicated to God

The First Born of the Donkey to be Redeemed With Lamb or Its Neck Broken

The First Born: Dedicated to Commemorate the Sparing of the First Born of

The First Born: Laws Respecting, Observed at Christ's Birth

The First Born: Laws Respecting, Restored After the Captivity

The First Born: Objects of Special Love

The First Born: Precious and Valuable

The First Born: Privileges of a Double Portion of Inheritance

The First Born: Privileges of Authority Over the Younger Children

The First Born: Privileges of Could be Forfeited by Misconduct

The First Born: Privileges of Could be Sold

The First Born: Privileges of in Case of Death the Next Brother to Raise up Seed To

The First Born: Privileges of not to be Alienated by Parents Through Caprice

The First Born: Privileges of Precedence in the Family

The First Born: Privileges of Special Blessing by the Father

The First Born: Privileges of The Father's Title and Power

The First Born: Superseded: Aaron

The First Born: Superseded: Adonijah

The First Born: Superseded: Cain

The First Born: Superseded: David's Brothers

The First Born: Superseded: Esau

The First Born: Superseded: Ishmael

The First Born: Superseded: Japheth

The First Born: Superseded: Manasseh

The First Born: Superseded: Reuben

The First Born: The Beginning of Strength and Excellency of Power

The First Born: The Dignity of Christ

The First Born: The Dignity of the Church

The First Fruits: Allotted to the Priests

The First Fruits: Church of Christ

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of all Agricultural Produce

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Barley Harvest

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Fruit of New Trees in Fourth Year

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Honey

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Wheat Harvest

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Wine and Oil

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Wool

The First Fruits: First Converts in Any Place

The First Fruits: God Honored by the offering of

The First Fruits: Holy to the Lord

The First Fruits: Law of, Restored After the Captivity

The First Fruits: Offering of, Consecrated the Whole

The First Fruits: Resurrection of Christ

The First Fruits: The Jewish Church

The First Fruits: To be Brought to God's House

The First Fruits: To be offered in a Basket

The First Fruits: To be offered with Thanksgiving

The First Fruits: To be offered without Delay

The First Fruits: To be the Very Best of Their Kind

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