The books of 1 and 2 Kings cover the history of Israel from the last days of the united kingdom under David to the eventual fall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Within these books, the deuteronomic code - 'doing what is right in the Lord's sight' - provides a framework by which monarchic history is measured. In the kings' cultic failures lies the apostasy of the nation and its eventual exile. This apostasy centres on Israel's commitment to worship YHWH exclusively, and to worship according to deuteronomistic norms within the Jerusalem temple as the locus of YHWH's covenant presence. To safeguard the kings' commitments, YHWH's prophets loom large in 1 and 2 Kings: they herald YHWH's purposes, warn of his judgment for apostasy and woo his people back to the full experience of covenant life. Lissa M. Wray Beal's valuable commentary examines the successes and failures of monarchy in the divided kingdoms. It works with the final form of the biblical text and pursues historiographical, narrative and theological questions, including the relation of each chapter's themes to biblical theology. While it focuses on theological and narrative concerns, the commentary gives due attention to complex historical issues. It seeks to provide a nuanced reading that is faithful to the text's message.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
INTER-Varsity Press
ISBN-10
1783590319
ISBN-13
9781783590315
eBay Product ID (ePID)
211929686
Product Key Features
Book Title
1 and 2 Kings : an Introduction and Survey
Author
Lissa M. Wray Beal
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Topic
Biblical Commentary / General
Publication Year
2014
Genre
Religion
Number of Pages
592 Pages
Additional Product Features
Lc Classification Number
Bs1335.53.W73 2014
Reviews
This series rightly insists on rigorous scholarship but always in the service of the theology and message of the books of the Old Testament. Some outstanding scholars are signed up for this series and I look forward very much to having these commentaries on my shelves as they appear.'