Anders Max - 1 & 2 Kings

T o Howard and
Jeanne Hendricks,
Alan and Shirley Hull,
models, mentors, friends,
whose value becomes more obvious
with the passing of time.
Gary Inrig
December 2002

Today's church hungers for Bible teaching, and Bible teachers hunger for resources to guide them in teaching God's Word. The Holman Old Testament Commentary provides the church with the food to feed the spiritually hungry in an easily digestible format. The result: new spiritual vitality that the church can readily use.

Bible teaching should result in new interest in the Scriptures, expanded Bible knowledge, discovery of specific scriptural principles, relevant applications, and exciting living. The unique format of the Holman Old Testament Commentary includes sections to achieve these results for every Old Testament book.

Opening quotations stimulate thinking and lead to an introductory illustration and discussion that draw individuals and study groups into the Word of God. In a Nutshell summarizes the content and teaching of the chapter. Verse-by-verse commentary answers the church's questions rather than raising issues scholars usually admit they cannot adequately solve. Bible principles and specific contemporary applications encourage students to move from Bible to contemporary times. A specific modern illustration then ties application vividly to present life. A brief prayer aids the student to commit his or her daily life to the principles and applications found in the Bible chapter being studied. For those still hungry for more, Deeper Discoveries take the student into a more personal, deeper study of the words, phrases, and themes of God's Word. Finally, a teaching outline provides transitional statements and conclusions along with an outline to assist the teacher in group Bible studies.

It is the editors' prayer that this new resource for local church Bible teaching will enrich the ministry of group, as well as individual, Bible study, and that it will lead God's people truly to be people of the Book, living out what God calls us to be.

I am privileged to serve a group of believers at Trinity Church who have been a constant source of encouragement and support. Their response to a series of messages based on 1 and 2 Kings reminded me again of the power of God's eternal Word to speak to every generation of believers.

Over the years I have served with many wonderful partners in ministry as fellow elders and pastoral team members. I owe a great debt to each one, and I especially thank the elders and pastoral team of Trinity Church for their permission, encouragement, and support. Their support made it possible for me to invest the time and energy it took to complete this project, which turned out to be far more demanding than I imagined. Special thanks to Tom Fort and Rick Langer.

My greatest human joy comes from my family, especially my marvelous wife Elizabeth. Nothing I do would be as meaningful or as much fun without her encouragement, love, and practical wisdom.

Above all, this book is written in honor of the One who is its source, with the prayer that it will help to explain rather than obscure the message he intended us to hear: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Eph. 3:2021).

Twenty volumes designed for Bible study and teaching to enrich the local church and God's people.

Introduction to

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I didn't get to see in person the damage at Ground Zero in New York City. Those who did struggle with words to describe both the site itself and their emotions. Television can convey accurately the nature of the damage, but it cannot convey the scale or the sights and sounds. When the massive towers of the World Trade Center collapsed, the wreckage covered an entire square mile. It is hard to grasp the enormity of such devastation, or, if you are familiar with what once stood there, the strange sense of empty space where once-great buildings had stood.