Apollos Old Testament

commentary

9

1 & 2 KINGS

Series Editors

David W. Baker and Gordon J. Wenham

LISSA M. WRAY BEAL

Apollos

Nottingham, England

InterVarsity Press

Downers Grove, Illinois 60515

InterVarsity Press, USA	APOLLOS (an imprint of Inter-Varsity Press, England)
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©2014 by Lissa M. Wray Beal

Lissa M. Wray Beal has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press®, USA, is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA® www.intervarsity.org and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.

Inter-Varsity Press, England, is closely linked with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, a student movement connecting Christian Unions throughout Great Britain, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. Website: www.uccf.org.uk

USA ISBN 978-0-8308-2509-7 (print)

USA ISBN 978-0-8308-9622-6 (digital)

UK ISBN 978-1-78359-031-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

To my parents,

Douglas Kenmure Wray and

Virginia May Wray,

with love and gratitude.

For the Lord is good and his covenant love endures for ever;

His faithfulness continues from generation to generation.

(Ps. 100:5)

CONTENTS

Editors’ preface

Author’s preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

1. The story of 1-2 Kings

2. 1-2 Kings in the canon

2.1. The prophetic character of 1-2 Kings

2.2. The historical character of 1-2 Kings

2.3. 1-2 Kings in relation to the larger canon of Scripture

3. Distinctive features of 1-2 Kings

3.1. Continuity with 1-2 Samuel

3.2. Northern and southern kingdoms as the people of YHWH

3.3. Regnal summaries as structuring device

3.4. 1-2 Kings as paradigms

3.5. The deuteronomic code

3.6. Reform of worship

4. Critical issues of authorship and date

5. 1-2 Kings as historiography

5.1. Defining historiography

5.2. Historiographical considerations

5.3. Israelite historiography and external witnesses

6. The problem of chronology

7. Theology of 1-2 Kings

7.1. The normative influence of the deuteronomic law

7.2. The covenant made with David

7.3. The power of the prophetic word

7.4. The sovereignty of YHWH over history

7.5. The twin realities of judgment and grace

7.6. Kingship as a tutor that leads to Christ

8. The approach of this commentary...