Kingdom of Judah. See Judaii, Kingdom of.
Kingly Office of Christ, one of the three great relations which Jesus sustains to his people, namely, as prophet, priest, and king, and to which he was solemn- ly inaugurated at his baptism by John. See Anoint- ing, It is by virtue of this that he became head of the Church, which is the sphere of his realm. See Kinc;- DOM OF God. This is that spiritual, evangelical, and eternal empire to which he himself referred when inter- rogated before Pontius Pilate, and in reference to which he said, " My kingdom is not of this world" (John xviii, 36, 37). His empire, indeed, extends to every creature, for " all authority is committed into his hands, both in heaven and on earth," and he is " head over all things to the Church ;" but his kingdom primarily imports tiie Gospel Church, which is the subject of his laws, the seat of his government, and the object of his care, and, being surrounded with powerful opposers, he is represented as ruling in the midst of his enemies. This kingdom is not of a worldly origin or nature, nor has it this world for its end or object (Rom. xiv, 17; 1 Cor. iv, 20). It can neither be promoted nor defended by worldly power, influence, or carnal weapons, but by bearing witness unto the truth, or by the preaching of the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven (2 Cor. x,4, 5). Its establishment among men is progressive, but it is des- tined at last to fill the whole earth"(Dan. ii ; Rev. xi, 15). Its real subjects are only those who arc of the truth, and
hear Christ's voice ; for none can enter it but such as are born from above (John iii,3-5; Matt, xviii, 3 ; xix, 14; Mark x, 15), nor can any be visible subjects of it but such as appear to be regenerated by a credible profes- sion of faith and obedience (Luke xvi, IG; Matt, xx, 28-44). Its privileges and immunities are not of this world, but such as are spiritual and heavenly; they are all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus (Eph. i, 3). Over this glorious kingdom death has no power; it extends as well to the future as the present world ; and though entered here by renewing grace (Cok i, 13), it is inherited in its perfection in the world of glo- ry (Matt. XXV, 34 ; 1 Cor. xv, 50 ; 2 Pet. i, 11). Ilyjio- crites and false brethren may indeed insinuate them- selves into it here, but they will have no possible place in it hereafter (Matt, xiii, 41, 47-50 ; xxii, 11-14; Luke xiii, 28, 29 ; 1 Cor. vi, 9, 10 ; Gal v, 21 ; Rev. xxi, 27).— Watson. Its rule is one of love (Tholuck, Sermon on the Mount, i, 103). See Christ, Offices of.
Kings, First and Second BOOKS OF, the sec- ond of the scries of Hebrew royal annals, the books of Samuel forming the introductory series, and the books of Chronicles being a parallel series. In the Hebrew Bible the first two series alone form part of " the FV>rmer Prophets," like Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. See Bible. In our discussion of these we largely avail ourselves of the articles in Kitto's, Smith's, and Fairbaini's Diction- aries, s. v.
I. Numher and Title. — The two books of Kings form- ed anciently but one book in the Jewish Scriptures, as is affirmed by Origen (apud Euseb. Prcep. Ecanrj. vi, 25, BflffiXf/wv TpiT)], rerapTj], iv ivi Oi)a/<jufXf;^ Aafiio), Jerome {Prolog. Gal.), Josephus {Cont. Ajnon. i, 8), and others. The present division, following the Septuagint and Latin versions, has been common in the Hebrew Bi- bles since the Venetian editions of Bombcrg.
The old Jewish name was borrowed, as usual, from the commencing words of the book (^1'^ Ti?'?"!|?)) Griccized as in the above quotiition from Eusebius. The Septua- gint and Vulgate now number them as the third and fourth books of Kings, reckoning the two books of Sam- uel the first and second. Their present title, C^zbo, BamXhov, Regum, in the opinion of Havernick, has re- spect more to the formal than essential character of the composition {^Einleitimg, § 1G8) ; yet under such forms of government as those of Judah and Israel the roj'al person and name are intimately associated ■with all na- tional acts and movements, legal decisions, warlike prep- arations, domestic legislation, and foreign policy. The reign of an Oriental prince is identified with the history of his nation during the period of his sovereignty. More especially in the tlieocratic constitution of the Jewish realm the character of the monarch was an important element of national history, and, of necessity, it had con- siderable influence on the fate and fortunes of the people.
II. Independent Form.- — The question has been raised and minutely discussed whether the books of Kings (1 and 2) constitute an entire work of themselves, or wheth- er they originally formed part of a larger historical work embracing the principal parts of the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, out of which these se\-eral books, as we now have them, have been formed. Ewald regards the books of Judges (with Ruth), 1 and 2 Sam- uel, and 1 and 2 Kings, as forming parts of one whole work, which he calls " The great book of the Kings." The grounds on which this supposition has been built are partly the following :