Discover resources that will encourage and equip you to engage with the Bible with the loved ones in your home.
What questions do you have?
Contact us and one of our team
members will personally respond
to you by email.
Have questions about your relationship
with God? Start a conversation with one
of our responders who is ready and
willing to answer your questions.
All things work together….
Count it all joy……
For I know the plans…
The Lord is my shepherd…
Do not be conformed…
I can do all things…
Do not be anxious…
Seek first…
Cast all your anxiety…
Fear not, for I am with you…
Be strong and courageous…
Whoever dwells in the shelter…
Read this 3-minute introduction to help you find your bearings in the Bible story, and be inspired to read Kings!
This overview video illustrates for us the literary design of the book of Kings using creative animations.
Books of 1-2 Kings Summary: A Complete Animated Overview is copyright 2016 by BibleProject and is available for viewing at www.bibleproject.com.
This compelling dramatization of the book of Kings introduces us to the main theme of the book and how it points to Jesus through spoken word poetry.
This video was originally published by Spoken Gospel on their YouTube Channel.
This video is part of the series, The Gospel One Chapter at a Time, where Paul David Tripp summarizes each book of the Bible and shows how it points us to Jesus.
This video was originally published by Paul Tripp Ministries, Inc. on their YouTube Channel.
Psalm 46 is a Psalm celebrating God's deliverance of the nation of Judah in 2 Kings 18-19. Hear Shane Barnard tell the story behind the song and perform their song on Psalm 46.
This video was originally published by The Worship Initiative on their YouTube Channel.
This video considers the conclusion of 2 Kings, and the glimmer of hope we see at the end of Israel’s great fall and exile. We see how Jesus is one who redeems Israel’s history, and who can redeem ours too.
This video was originally published by Spoken Gospel on their YouTube Channel.
The author or authors of these two books (1–2 Kings) is unknown.
From Bibles.net: Remember that the ultimate author of every book of the Bible is the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). He has written this book to equip you for life, to help you know the true God, and to give you hope (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4). The Holy Spirit wrote Kings for your good and to lead you into joy.
As the titles of the books indicate, 1–2 Kings describe the period of the monarchy in ancient Israel (970–586 BC), concentrating on the kings who ruled after David.
—ESV Global Study Bible
First and Second Kings were written sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. They must have been completed sometime after 561 BC, because the books’ final verses recount King’s Jehoiachin’s release from prison in that year. No one knows their exact date of composition, nor the identity of their author(s).
—Gavin Ortlund
Source: Content taken from 1 and 2 Kings: A 12-Week Study © 2015 by Gavin Ortlund. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
As the era of 1–2 Kings begins, God has delivered his people from Egypt, given them his law, and led them into the land he had promised to them. They have seen their need for a leader, and God has raised up David (over Saul) as their king. The books of 1–2 Kings narrate the history of God’s people during the period of the monarchy, picking up after 1–2 Samuel, which ended at the conclusion of David’s reign.
—Gavin Ortlund
Source: Content taken from 1 and 2 Kings: A 12-Week Study © 2015 by Gavin Ortlund. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Unless otherwise indicated, this content is adapted from the ESV Global Study Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2012 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
No King Like Him by Josh Parsons
Pastor Josh Parsons takes five messages to preach through 2 Kings 22-23 on the life of King Josiah. God’s Word says that there was no king like him because of his wholehearted devotion to the Lord. You will learn from King Josiah’s life what it looks like to walk with God in a world that is hostile to him, and these engaging messages will inspire and challenge you to follow after Jesus with your whole heart.
Dwell is the best Bible listening app around. Use the link below to get 50% off their subscription price.
As you read through Kings, you might come across words and ideas that are foreign to you. Here are a few definitions you will want to know! Note that this dictionary was created for the New International Version (NIV) Bible.
An enemy or someone who is against you. Can refer directly to Satan (see 1 Peter 5:8).
A place where sacrifices were made to worship God. An altar could be a pile of dirt or stones, or a raised platform of wood, marble, metal, or other materials. The bronze or brazen altar was used for burnt offerings in the tabernacle’s courtyard. It was a large box, eight feet square and four-and-a-half feet high, made of wood covered with bronze. A much larger altar replaced it when Solomon built the temple. The altar of incense (also called the golden altar) was smaller, covered with gold, and placed just in front of the veil to the Holy of Holies. Every day, both morning and evening, incense was burned here, symbolizing the prayers of the people.
To pour oil on a person or thing. A person was anointed to show that God had chosen him or her to do a special job. Samuel anointed David to show that God had chosen him to be king.
A son of Shem, grandson of Noah. The name is sometimes applied to all the land and people of the Fertile Crescent but usually is focused on the region that became known as Syria. The Arameans were a Semitic people, and their history often intersects that of the Hebrews.
A special wooden chest that was covered with gold. God told Moses exactly how to make the ark because it was to show the people of Israel that God was with them. The ark was about four feet long, two feet tall, and two feet wide. On top, two golden figures of angels faced each other. The two tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded were kept inside the ark. The ark was placed in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle.
A powerful and aggressive nation, the most powerful Middle Eastern empire from the tenth century BC through most of the seventh century. Nineveh was the capital city. Assyria conquered Israel and took its inhabitants captive.
A Hebrew word that means “master.” Baal (plural, Baalim) was the name of many false gods worshiped by the people of Canaan. They thought the Baalim ruled their land, crops, and animals. When the Israelites came to the Promised Land, each area of the land had its own Baal god. Names of places were often combined with the name “Baal” to indicate ownership (Baal-Hermon shows that Hermon belonged to Baal). Eventually, Baal became the name for the chief male god of the Canaanites. They believed that Baal brought the sun and the rain and made the crops grow. The Israelites were often tempted to worship Baal, something God had told them they were never to do.
The capital city and the country that was one of the major political and cultural centers of the ancient world. The city of Babylon was located at the junction of the Euphrates River and major east-west caravan routes. For nearly 1,000 years, until the rise of Assyria in the ninth century BC, Babylon dominated much of the Middle East. Near the end of the seventh century BC, Babylon regained its independence and for nearly 100 years asserted its influence throughout the region and was a constant threat to the kingdom of Judah, finally resulting in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of Judah’s leading citizens. Babylon was captured by the Persians in 539 BC and then continued to decline, until it was destroyed by the Greek army under Alexander the Great.
The site, located a few miles directly north of Jerusalem, where God confirmed to Jacob the covenant He had made with Abraham. Jacob named the place Bethel, meaning “House of God.” It figures prominently in many biblical events, and for a time the ark of the covenant was kept there. After the division of Israel from Judah, Jeroboam made Bethel one of two centers of idolatrous worship, which continued until Josiah’s reforms.
A sacrifice, or gift, to God that was burned on an altar. The offering was a perfect animal, such as a goat, sheep, lamb, or ram. Burnt offerings were always given for cleansing, or atonement, for sins.
(1) Another name for the town of Bethlehem where David was born. (2) Part of the city of Jerusalem. (3) The entire walled city of Jerusalem.
An agreement. In the ancient Near East, sometimes covenants were made between two people or groups of people. Both sides decided what the agreement would be. However, in the Bible, the word usually refers to agreements between God and people, when God decides what will be done and the people agree to live by the covenant. The old covenant of law set standards of behavior in order to please God. The new covenant of grace presents God’s forgiveness based on faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
(1) One of the 12 tribes of Israel, whose territory was directly north of Judah and west of Benjamin and Ephraim. (2) The northernmost city in Israel.
Altars and locations for worship built on the tops of hills or mountains. Sometimes altars to God were built at high places. However, the high places were usually for the worship of idols. The Israelites were told to destroy the high places in their land where idols were worshiped.
A statue or other image of a god that is made by people and then worshiped as if it had the power of God. Idols are often made of wood, stone, or metal. Sometimes the Bible calls anything that takes the place of God in a person’s life an idol. God tells us not to worship idols but, rather, to worship only him.
The most important city of Bible times. Jerusalem was the capital of the united kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. The temple was built in Jerusalem, so many people traveled to the city to worship God. In 587 BC, Jerusalem was captured and mostly destroyed by Babylonian armies. The city was rebuilt when the Jews returned after 70 years of exile in Babylon. Jesus taught in the city of Jerusalem, was crucified outside the city wall, was buried near the city, and then rose again. The first Christian church began in Jerusalem after the Holy Spirit came to the believers there.
(1) One of the sons of Jacob and Leah. (2) The descendants of Jacob and Leah’s son of the same name, who became the tribe of Judah. (3) The southern kingdom when the Israelites divided into two separate countries after the death of King Solomon. (The northern kingdom was called Israel.)
Serious skin diseases. People with leprosy were called lepers. The Jewish law said that lepers had to stay away from people who did not have the disease. Lepers lived outside their cities and towns, either by themselves or with other lepers, until the disease showed signs of healing.
Among the Jews, a man who offered prayers and sacrifices to God for the people. Priests led the public worship services at the tabernacle and later at the temple. Often the priests also taught the Law of God to the people. The priests of Israel were all descendants of Aaron’s family. All Christians are also priests (see 1 Peter 2:9). We are to help others learn about and worship God.
Men and women in the Old and New Testaments chosen by God to tell his messages to people. Also refers to the seventeen Old Testament books written by prophets.
A gift or offering given to God. A sacrifice usually involved killing an animal to pay for sin. The New Testament tells us that Jesus died as the once-for-all sacrifice for sinners and that no further sacrifices for sin are necessary.
Surrounding a city or town by an army so that nothing can go in or out. The purpose of a siege is to make the city or town surrender.
The permanent place in Jerusalem where the Jews worshiped God. The first temple was built by King Solomon and the people by following the instructions God had given Solomon’s father, King David. The temple was a very beautiful place. It was destroyed and rebuilt twice. In AD 64, the temple was destroyed again but was not rebuilt.
A group of people related in some way; clan; family. Each of the twelve tribes of Israel was descended from one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The descendants of Levi were assigned the honor of caring for the tabernacle and were not given a territory, as were the other eleven tribes. (They were given forty-eight towns in which to live.) The descendants of Joseph were divided into two half tribes named after Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Anything a person does to show love and respect. Some people worship idols. Some people worship the one true God.
Dictionary Source
This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We have found answers to some tough questions that we anticipate may arise as you read Kings. We know we can’t answer every question you will have; therefore, we have written this article, so you know how to find answers for your kids: How Do I Answer Tough Questions About the Bible?
The following insights are from pastors and scholars who have spent significant time studying the book of Kings.
The books of 1 and 2 Kings (originally one book) cover about 370 years of history, starting from the end of David’s reign. His successor is Solomon, the third larger-than-life king, about whom we read in the first eleven chapters of 1 Kings. After Solomon, there are a number of other kings. The final scene shows the kings in exile.
The message of 1 Kings is decline and 2 Kings is fall (Dever, The Message of the Old Testament). Seeds of decline appear in the beginning of 1 Kings and take on different appearances throughout (ibid.). The book opens like many books close (e.g., Genesis, Joshua), with the leading figure dying. This is fitting since Kings is about the decline of the kingdom—a decline that ends in a judgment.
—Tony Merida
Source: Merida, Tony. Edited by David Platt and Dr. Daniel Akin. Exalting Jesus in 1-2 Kings. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2015.
1 and 2 Kings spans the time from Israel’s highest moment to her lowest—from the glory of Solomon to a burning rubble. There are some bright moments along the way, but the overall picture is one of division, decline, and continual downward spiral.
It ends in utter devastation with Nebuchadnezzar’s final siege on Jerusalem. The city is razed, the leaders are executed, the people are deported. Even the temple is destroyed and its precious metals stolen. The Babylonian exile is like an atomic bomb in the biblical storyline. To human eyes, it may look like the story is over.
—Gavin Ortlund
Source: Content adapted from Knowing the Bible: 1-2 Kings by Gavin Ortlund. This article first appeared on Crossway.org; used with permission.
So Kings is a story that involves the sinfulness of kings and the people they represent, their persistent idolatry, and associated injustice. It’s a story of a sad decline and the need for another King, the ultimate Son of David. In Genesis a promise was made to Abraham: “I will make…kings come from you” (Genesis 17:6; cf. 35:11). God kept his promise and in the fullness of time sent forth the King to end all kings, Jesus.
—Tony Merida
Source: Merida, Tony. Edited by David Platt and Dr. Daniel Akin. Exalting Jesus in 1-2 Kings. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2015.
The books of Kings were written while the first temple was standing. First and 2 Kings are just a continuation of the books of Samuel. As their name suggests, they record the events of the reign of Solomon and then of the succeeding kings of Judah and Israel. They cover a period of 400 years and tell the story of the growth and then decay of the kingdom. We see the kingdom divided. We see both Israel and Judah led into captivity. The southern kingdom (Judah) had 20 kings, and the northern kingdom (Israel) had 19 kings… The decline of the kingdoms continued until we see both Israel and Judah led into captivity.
—Henrietta Mears
Source: This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Written originally to the people of Judah in exile, 1 and 2 Kings are concerned primarily to explain why the Judahites were taken to Babylon. The exiles and their children needed to know why they were disciplined so that they would not repeat their sins. So, the author of 1 and 2 Kings tends to focus on the negative, to emphasize the idolatry that led to Judah’s exile.
—Tabletalk Magazine
Source: Manasseh’s Repentance © Ligonier Ministries 2019. Used by permission of Ligonier Ministries. All rights reserved.
The whole time you’re reading Kings, you’re supposed to be thinking, “I wish a king would come who would rule in righteousness, who would not trample upon the weak and the poor and the needy, but who would stand up for the cause of the oppressed. I wish there would be a king who would love God and love his Word. I wish there would be a king who would be like Jesus”—which is what [the book of Kings] is supposed to make you long for.
—Garrett Kell
Source: Garrett Kell in his message 1:1-2:5 on the book of Micah, from the Course called Study Micah. This video originally appeared here at The Gospel Coalition.
The problem with building our own little kingdoms is that we never find our rightful place in the true kingdom of God. This central issue in the Christian life is also the central issue in 1 and 2 Kings. Who will be king? Will we accept the kingship that God has established, or will we always insist on having our own way in life?
. . .
Do you belong to the kingdom of God? If so, then swear ongoing allegiance to Jesus Christ as your King and believe that one day you will see all his kingdom promises come true. Believe this even when the progress of the gospel seems slow, or when things seem to be getting worse instead of better, or when the world seems tired out and broken down, or when you suffer grief and loss and physical pain, or when God seems far away. Even then believe the kingdom promise of the eternal God, taking by faith in Jesus what you cannot see until he comes again.
—Philip Ryken
Source: 1 Kings in the Reformed Expository Commentary Series, Philip Ryken, Copyright P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg, NJ.
Kingdom work can include any good thing that is done for Christ as King—anything that advances his kingdom, or opposes his proud enemies, or speaks in defense of his kingship. We can do kingdom work in the marketplace. Whenever we make a fair sale, build a solid house, or shine a good shoe—if we do it for Jesus—we are advancing the cause of our King by bearing witness to the values of his kingdom. We can also do kingdom work in the home. Whenever we put beautiful flowers on the table, or pick up our shoes off the floor, or decide to be the first to say, “I’m sorry,” we are bearing witness to the kingdom of God. Then we can do kingdom work in society. Whenever we oppose the evil of abortion, or work for the end of child abandonment, or take an active role in what is happening in the lives of people in our neighborhood, this too is kingdom work. We also do kingdom work through the ministry of the church: inviting friends to worship, passing out Bibles, welcoming people with disabilities, supporting workers overseas, laboring in prayer for people doing all kinds of ministry that we ourselves are not called or gifted to do. This is all the more true when we tell people the gospel in words they can hear and understand, which is the most direct way to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is King, then we should do whatever we can for his kingdom. After all, Jesus himself has done everything that he could do for the kingdom. He has even done what no other king would dare to do: he has offered his own blood to save his people.
—Philip Ryken
Source: 1 Kings in the Reformed Expository Commentary Series, Philip Ryken, Copyright P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg, NJ.
Discover music inspired by the message and content of the book of Kings.