Provan treats 1 and 2 Kings as a unified whole nestled within its canonical context. Kings constantly presupposes knowledge of the remainder of the story of Israel and invites reflection upon itself in the light of the prophetic writings and of the New Testament. It is examined here as narrative literature with historiographical intent, designed to teach its readers about God and the Ways of God. Provan does a masterful job of drawing the reader's attention to themes that are repeated in Kings, such as the theme of God's promise and how it is fulfilled among God's people. He has succeeded in making Kings a more readily accessible book.

From the Back Cover

Expert help for understanding the Bible

Each volume in the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series breaks down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers. They present a careful section-by-section exposition of the biblical books with key terms and phrases highlighted and all Hebrew transliterated. Notes at the close of each chapter provide additional textual and technical comments for those who want to dig deeper. A bibliography as well as Scripture and subject indexes are also included. Pastors, students, and Bible teachers will find in this series a commitment to accessibility without sacrificing serious scholarship.

In contrast to literary and historical skepticism about the accounts of Israel and Judah in the divided kingdom, Provan examines 1 and 2 Kings as a unified and historical narrative. He helps the reader see not only that these books teach not only facts about the kings and prophets but also that they're designed to teach about God and his ways.

Iain W. Provan is the Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies at Regent College. He is also an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland.

About the Author

Iain W. Provan is the Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies at Regent College. He is also an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland.

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