Bible
Box 14.7 Prophets and Kings in 1–2 Kings
Prophet
King/Kings
Nation Chapters
Nathan Solomon
United 1 Kings 1 (also in 2 Samuel)
Elijah
Ahab, Ahaziah
Israel Israel Israel
1 Kings 17–19; 2 Kings 1–2
Micaiah Ahab
1 Kings 22
Elisha Isaiah
Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz
2 Kings 2–13
Hezekiah
Judah 2 Kings 19–20
Huldah Josiah
Judah 2 Kings 22
14:25. The prophetess Huldah, however, played a significant role in the Josianic reformation in 2 Kings 22. Three major aspects about the prophets as literary characters in the books of 1–2 Kings stand out. First, the prophets are often figures who are played off against the royalty—kings, queens, and royal servants. When the king is a faithful character—such as Hezekiah or Josiah or even Solomon—the prophet and king work together. But when the king is an unfaithful character—such as Ahab, Ahaziah, or Jehu—the prophet and king are pitted against each other. Second, although we know historically that prophets were present through- out the historical period under investigation, it is interesting that prophets are often absent from the literary stage in the narrative. After Elisha, the narrative has no major prophetic figures in the Northern Kingdom. Indeed, the known literary prophets of that time period, Amos and Hosea, do not appear in the narrative. Similarly, in the narrative about the Southern Kingdom, there are no major prophetic figures after Hezekiah and Isaiah other than Huldah. And again, known historic literary prophets, such as Jeremiah and Habakkuk, do not appear as characters in the narrative. Third, the agency of God in 1–2 Kings is in part taken up by the prophetic figures. The prophets speak for God and their pronouncements enact the will of God. For example, when the narrative introduces Elijah, it reports, “Elijah the Tishbite, an inhabitant of Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord lives, the God of Israel whom I serve, there will be no dew or rain except at my bid- ding’” (1 Kings 17:1 NJPS). After this announcement, there is no rain in the land until Elijah calls for rain in a confrontation with 450 prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).
Fig. 14.7. Elijah runs from the chariot of Ahab.
the books of 1–2 Samuel, the agency of God was most clearly revealed through the ark of the covenant and the prophets Samuel and Nathan. In 1–2 Kings, the prophets continue to be the major locus through which the will and agency of God are communicated—specifically Nathan, Elijah, Micaiah, Elisha, Isaiah, Huldah, other anonymous “men of God,” and other named prophets. Recall again that when the prophet Samuel was born, the narrative reports that the word of God was rare and visions were not widespread. Then Samuel receives his inaugural vision from God in 1 Samuel 3, after which he continues to receive the word of God, and all Israel receives the word through him. The narrative of 1–2 Kings continues the literary trajectory along which the will and word of God are communicated through the prophets. When evaluating the theological nature of God’s word as spoken through the prophets in 1–2 Kings, one can say that it functions alternatively as “law” and “gospel” (good news). At times, God’s word is law—calling Israel to faithfulness, warning against unfaithfulness, naming and condemning sin, announcing con- demnation or judgment, and bringing about punishment. At other times, God’s word is gospel—pronouncing blessing and permission, announcing forgiveness, bringing healing and even resurrection, giving guidance and provision. The recurring appearance of anonymous characters who are called “man of God” in the Deuteronomistic History (but especially in 1–2 Kings) illustrates this point. These men of God announce condemnation on various figures. In contrast
resurrection The reanimation of dead human bodies; this teaching is generally understood to be a later theological de- velopment in Juda- ism and Christianity that is based on core understandings of the Old Testament God as a deity who saves from death.
Theological Interpretation Tracking the Agency of God
In the books of 1–2 Kings—where the focus of agency is so strongly on each human king—a reader may wonder how the agency of God is being presented. In
Stories of Land, Loss, and Homecoming
1–2 Kings
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_Jacobson_IntroOT1_JK_bb.indd 286-287
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Sample page spread from Introducing the Old Testament
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