III. Contents, Character, and Design. — The books of Kings contain the brief annals of a long period, from the accession of Solomon till the dissolution of the com- monwealth. The first chapters describe the reign of Solomon over the united kingdom, and the revolt luider Eehoboam. Tlie history of the rival states is next nar- rated in parallel sections till the period of Israel's down- fall on the invasion of Shalmanezer. Then the remain- ing years of the principality of Judah are recorded till the conquest of Nebuchadnezzar and the commence- ment of the Babylonian captivity. See Israel; Ju- dah. For an adjustment of the years of the respective reigns in each line, see Chronology.
There are some pecidiarities in this succmct history worthy of attention. It is summary, but very sugges- tive. It is not a biography of the sovereigns, nor a mere record of political occurrences, nor yet an ecclesi- astical register. King, Church, and State are all com- prised in their sacred relations. It is a theocratic his- tory, a retrospective survey of the kingdom as existing under a theocratic government. The character of the sovereign is tested b}^ his fidelity to the religious obli- gations of his office, and this decision in reference to his conduct is generally added to the notice of his accession. The new king's religious character is generally portraj'- ed by its similarity or opposition to the way of David, of his father, or of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, "who made Israel to sin." Ecclesiastical affairs are noticed with a similar pmrjiose, and in contrast with past or prevalent apostasy, especially as manifested in the popular super- stitions, whose shrines were on the " high places." Po- litical or national uicidents are introduced in general for the sake of illustrating the iutiuence of religion on civic prosperity; of showing how the theocracy maintained a vigilant and vengeful guardianship over its rights and privileges — adherence to its principles securing peace and plenty, disobedience to them bringing along with it sudden and severe retribution. The books of Kings are a verification of the IMosaic warnings, and the author of them lias kept this steadily in view. He has given a brief history of his people, arranged under tlie various political chiefs in such a manner as to sli6w that the government was essentially theocratic ; that its spirit, as developed in the Mosaic writings, was never extinct, however modified or inactive it might sometimes appear. Thus the books of Kings appear in a religious costume, quite different from the form they would have assumed either as a pohtical or ecclesiastical narrative. In tlie one case legislative enactments, royal edicts, popular movements, would have occupied a prominent jilace ; in the other, sacerdotal arrangements, Levitical service, music, and pageantrj', wouUl have filled the leading sec- tions of the treatise. In either view the points adduced would have had a restricted reference to tlie palace or the temjjlc, the sovereign or the pontiff, the court or the priesthood, the throne or the altar, the tribute or tithes, the nation on its farms, or the tribes in the courts of the sacred edifice. But the theocracy conjoined both the political and religious elements, and the insjiired annal- ist unites them as essential to his design. The agency of divinity is constantly recognised, the hand of Jeho- vah is continually acknowledged. The chief organ of theocratic infiueuce enjoys peculiar prominence. We
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refer to the incessant a.ccency of the prophets, their great power and peculiar modes of action as tletailed by tlie composer of the books of Kings. They interfered with the succession, and their mstrumentaUty was apparent in the schism. They roused the people, and they braved the sovereign. The balance of power was in their hands ; the regal dignity seemed to be sometimes at their dis- posal. In times of emergency they dispensed with usual modes of procedure, and assumed an authority with ■which no subject in an ordinary' state can safely be in- trusted, executing the law with a summary promptness which renilered opposition impossible, or at least un- availing. They felt their divine commission, and that they were the custodians of the rights of Jehovah. At the same time they protected the interests of the na- tion, and, could we divest the term of its association with unprincipled turbulence and sedition, w^e would, lilte Winer (Eealicorterb. s. v. Prophet), style them the demagogues of Israel. The divine prerogative was to them a vested right, guarded ^vith a sacred jealousy from royal usurpation or popular invasion ; and the in- terests of the people were as religiously protected against encroachments, too easily made under a form of govern- ment which had not the safeguard of popular represen- tation or aristocratic privilege. The priesthood were in many instances, though there are some illustrious ex- ceptions, merely the creatures of the crown, and there- fore it became the prophetical ofHce to assert its dignity and stantl forth in the majestic insignia of an embassy from heaven. The truth of these sentiments, as to the method, design, and composition of the books of Kings, is confirmed by ample evidence.
(1.) Large space is occupied with the building of the Temple — the palace of the divine Protector — his throne in it being above the mercy-seat and between the cher- ubim (ch. v-viii). Care is taken to record the miracu- lous phenomenon of the descent of the Shekinah (viii, 10). The prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the house is fidl of theocratic views and aspirations.