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The Mysterious Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Israel: Its Origin, Purpose, and Fate



The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel is a book that gives a more detailed account of the reigns of the kings of ancient Kingdom of Israel than that presented in the Hebrew Bible, and may have been the source from which parts of the biblical account were drawn. The book was likely compiled by or derived from the kings of Israel's own scribes, and is likely the source for the basic facts presented in the Bible.




book of chronicles of the kings of israel



A complementary book detailing the reigns of the kings of ancient Judah is the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, a book which has also been lost. Another lost book dealing with the reigns of the kings of ancient Israel is the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. This book is referred to in 2 Chronicles and may be the same as the other two Chronicles named in Kings.


For example, 1 Kings 14:19 refers to the book and reads: "And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel."


If the "book of chronicles" in II Kings 14:28 refers to IIChronicles, the original scribes seemed to have made a mistake becauseJeroboam son of Joash does not appear in II Chronicles.Chronologically, he should be mentioned somewhere around IIChronicles 25 & 26. However, it may be that I have failed to read a passageof the books of Chronicles which actually explains II Kings14:28. But even the commentaries and cross references seemto evade this question. How come?


When the Book of Kings (1 Kings and 2 Kings were originally a single book that was eventually split because of its length) talks of the book of chronicles of the kings of Israel, it could not be referring the the Book we know as Chronicles (1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles) because Chronicles was written centuries later.


The Books we know as 1 and 2 Chronicles are not the now-lost books of chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah, to which The Book of Kings refers. Chronicles appears to make use of the earlier Books of Kings, as well as other sources, occasionally altering or omitting some material from 1 and 2 Kings. John Romer says, in Testament: the Bible and History, the difference in attitude between the Deuteronomist and the Chronicler is often seen as representing two different factions among the returning Jews.


BOOKS OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL , two sets of royal annals, mentioned in i and ii Kings but subsequently lost. The historian of Kings refers to these works as his source, where additional information may be found. These references show how the historian of Kings used extensive sources selectively. The books are referred to by this formula, with slight variations: "Now the rest of the acts of [the king], and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah/Israel." Frequently references are made to "his might," or "how we warred," and occasionally more specific deeds are mentioned (e.g., i Kings 15:23; ii Kings 20:20).


The Israelite annals are mentioned 18 times (i Kings 14:19 (17); 15:31; 16:5; et al.) and the Judean annals 15 times (i Kings 14:29; 15:7, 23; et al.). Of all the kings of Israel, only Jehoram and Hosea are not mentioned as referred to in the Israelite annals. Of the kings of Judah (after Solomon) only Ahaziah, Athaliah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah are not mentioned in this regard. It is uncertain whether these books were royal records themselves or edited annals based on the records. It seems likely in view of the negative references to certain kings (Zimri, Shallum, and Manasseh), which would not very likely be the product of the king's own recorders, that the books were edited annals. Furthermore, the Judean author of Kings could hardly have had access to all the royal records of the northern kingdom. The content of these books appears identical in character to the Assyrian annals. Probably the mass of facts on royal activities in Kings came from these books. Chronicles mentions the book of the kings of Israel (i Chron. 9:1; ii Chron. 20:34) and the book of the kings of Israel and Judah (or Judah and Israel; ii Chron. 16: 11; 27:7; et al.). The chronicler seems to be referring to the same works, but probably did not actually have them at his disposal.


Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin. Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha killed him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. And it was so, when he became king, that he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.


and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? in which the acts of his predecessors were recorded, see ( 1 Kings 14:19 ) ( 15:31 ) ( 1 Kings 16:14 1 Kings 16:20 1 Kings 16:27 ) not the Scripture book of Chronicles, for there none of these things are related.


Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.Kings-1 15:23The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.


Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-1 16:5Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-1 16:14Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-1 16:27Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-1 22:39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-1 22:45Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-2 8:23And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'sarata_com-box-4','ezslot_4',161,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sarata_com-box-4-0');Kings-2 10:34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-2 12:19And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-2 13:12And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-2 14:15Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-2 14:18And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, [which belonged] to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-2 15:6And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?Kings-2 15:11And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.Kings-2 15:15And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?Kings-2 15:26And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.Kings-2 15:31And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.Kings-2 15:36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 2ff7e9595c


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