Donald J. Wiseman - 1 & 2 Kings (TOTC)

Volume 9

General Editor: Donald J. Wiseman

An Introduction and Commentary

Donald J. Wiseman

Additional notes

Maps

The aim of this series of Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, as it was in the companion volumes on the New Testament, is to provide the student of the Bible with a handy, up-to-date commentary on each book, with the primary emphasis on exegesis. Major critical questions are discussed in the introductions and additional notes, while undue technicalities have been avoided.

In this series individual authors are, of course, free to make their own distinct contributions and express their own point of view on all debated issues. Within the necessary limits of space they frequently draw attention to interpretations which they themselves do not hold but which represent the stated conclusions of sincere fellow Christians.

The books of Kings continue the history of Gods people from the united kingdom under David and Solomon to the tragedy of its division into the realms of Israel and Judah until their respective downfall and exile. Here is portrayed those kings who sought to govern according to the divine law and with the encouragement or rebuke of a long line of prophets from the renowned Elijah to Jeremiah. The historian concentrates on Solomon, Hezekiah and Josiah of Judah and on Ahab of Israel, and in this unique piece of history writing we are introduced to the lives of many individuals whose part is faithfully recorded for our learning.

This commentary is based on the New International Version, though other translations are frequently referred to as well, and on occasion the author supplies his own. Where necessary, words are transliterated in order to help the reader who is unfamiliar with Hebrew to identify the precise word under discussion. It is assumed throughout that the reader will have ready access to at least one reliable rendering of the Bible in English.

Interest in the meaning and message of the Old Testament continues undiminished, and it is hoped that this series will thus further the systematic study of the revelation of God and his will and ways as seen in these records. It is the prayer of the editor and publisher, as of the authors, that these books will help many to understand, and to respond to, the Word of God today.

D. J. Wiseman

The books of Kings are a unique source for the history of Israel from the last days of the united monarchy under David to the fall of the subsequently divided kingdoms of Israel (with the capture of Samaria in 722 BC ) and of Judah itself (with the sack of Jerusalem in 587 BC ). Without these books, and the partly parallel account in the Chronicles, our knowledge of Gods dealings with his peoples throughout the first millennium BC would be severely limited.

It is not possible in the brief space allowed to quote the many scholars to whom I am indebted. We are today well served by recent full-scale commentaries in English, to which reference is made here by the authors name (e.g. Jones (1984)). In these more extensive works will be found much of the detailed argumentation, theoretical speculations about editorial redactions and some conjectural emendations of the text which abound in such studies today. While this study notes some of their conclusions, it is itself based on the final text of Scripture as it has come down to us today. The overall aim of this commentary, as of this whole series, is to make the text better understood by lay people. There is, however, a sense in which any comment on a historian who is himself commenting on events closer to his time may be thought superfluous.

I have included emphases which will betray my own personal preferences. Among these are aspects of archaeological discovery which relate to the Bible, for this has been my lifelong interest and work. Also I have not attempted, except where essential for clarity, to render the ineffable divine name (in Hebrew consonants YHWH, commonly interpreted as Yahweh but unpronounced and unpronounceable) as other than L ORD . This follows the ancient practice by which the vowel signs for L ORD ( adonai ) were added (hence the interpretation Jehovah). The One God is unquestionably and unmistakably identified.

All readers today need to study this history, which is largely biographical and gives us a vivid picture of national and individual life and the way God was working in both. Its frank statement of the triumphs and tragedies of Gods people has a relevance for us today. These things were recorded as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on things as they did. They were written also as warnings, so that when we think we are standing firmer than they, we must be careful not to fall (1 Cor. 10:6, 11). At the same time they were written to help us, as also the original readers, to endure in times of testing and to encourage us to trust and hope in the same unchanging God. Many of the events and characters here portrayed are taken up in the New Testament and so have ongoing significance.

My thanks are first and foremost to my wife Mary for her long-suffering patience and understanding over more than forty years. Much of this time has been occupied with my own academic work, Bible translation and the editorship of this series. Throughout I have sought to support the Inter-Varsity Press, whose staff have always been helpful and encouraging to me. Thanks also to Mrs Ruth Holmes for easing my burden by deciphering my manuscript and bringing it to typescript, and to Alan Millard and Bruce Winter of Tyndale House for help in bibliographical references.

This book is sent out with the prayer that, despite its many deficiencies, it may help us all to be loyal to the Lord and his word.

Donald J. Wiseman