(2.) Reference is often made to the i\Iosaic law, with its provisions, and allusions to the earlier history of the people frequently occur (1 Kings ii, 3 ; iii, 14 ; vi, 11, 12 ; viii, 58, etc. ; 2 Kings x, 31; xiv, 6; xvii, 13, 15,37; xviii, 4-6 : xxi, 1-8). Allusions to the IMosaic code are found more frequently towards the end of the second book, when the kingdom was drawing near its termination, as if to account for its decay and approaching fate.
(3.) Phrases expressive of divine interference are fre- quently introduced (1 Kings xi, 31 ; xii, 15 ; xiii, 1, 2, 9 ; and XX, 13, etc.).
(4.) Prophetic interposition is a verj' prominent theme of record. It fills the vivid foreground of the historical picture. Nathan was occupied in the succession of Sol- omon (I Kings i, 45) ; Ahijah was concerned in the re- volt (xi, 29-40). Shemaiah disbanded the troops which Eehuboam had mustered (fsAi, 21). Ahijah predicted the ruin of Jeroboam, whose elevation he had promoted (xiv, 7). Jehu, the prophet, doomed the house of Baasha (xvi, 1). The reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah arc marked by the bold, rapid, mysterious movements of Elijah. Under Ahab occurs the prediction of IMicaiah (xxii,8). The actions and oracles of Elisha form the marvellous topics of narration under several reigns. The agency of Isaiah is also recognised (2 Kings xix, 20 ; xx, 16). Besides, 1 Kings xiii presents another instance of prophetic opera- tion ; and iii xx, 35, the oracle of an unknown prophet is also rehearsed. Hiddah the prophetess was an impor- tant personage under the government of Josiah (2 Kings xxii,14). Care is also taken to report the fulfilment of striking prophecies, in the usual phrase, ■' according to the word of the Lord" (1 Kings xii, 15 ; xv, 29 ; xvi^l2 ; 2 Kings xxiii, 15-18 ; ix, 36 ; xxiv, 2). So, too, the old Syriac version prefixes, " Here follows the book of the kings who flourished among the ancient people; and in this is also exhibited the historj' of the prophets who flourished during their times."
(5.) Theocratic influence is recognised both in the de-
position and succession of kings (1 Kings xiii, 33 ; xv, 4, 5, 29, 30 : 2 Kings xi, 17, etc.). Compare, on the whole of this view, Hiivernick, Einleit. § 168 ; Jahn, Introduct. § 46 ; Gesenius, Ueher Jes. i, 934. It is thus apparent that the object of the author of the Books of Kings was to describe the history of the kingdoms, especially in connection with the theocratic element. This design accounts for what De "Wette {Einleit. § 185) terms the mythical character of these books.
As to what has been termed the anti-Israelitish spirit of the work (Bertholdt, i-'wifciV. p. 949), we do not per- ceive it. Truth required that the kingdom of Israel should be described in its real character. Idol-worship was connected with its foundation ; moscholatry was a state provision ; fidelity obUged the annalist to state that all its kings patronized the institutions of Bethel and Dan, while eight, at least, of the Jewish sovereigns ad- hered to the true religion, and that the majority of its Idngs perished in insiu-rectiou, while those of Judah in general were exempted from seditious tumults and as- sassination.
lY. Relation ofKin[is to Chronicles. — The more obvious differences between the books of Kings and of Chroni- cles are,
(1.) In respect of language, by which the former are shown to be of earlier date than the latter,
(2.) Of periods embraced in each work. The Chron- icles are ranch more comprehensive than Kings, con- taiuing genealogical lists from Adam downwards, and a full account of the reign of David. The portions of the Chronicles sj'nchronistic with Kings are 1 Chron. xxviii- 2 Chron. xxxvi, 22.
(3.) In the Kings greater prominence is given to the prophetical office ; in Chronicles, to the priestly or Le- vitical. In the books of the Ivings we have the active influence of Nathan in regard to the succession to the throne ; and the remarkable lives of Elijah and Elisha, of whom numerous and extraordinary miracles are re- lated, of which scarcely the slightest mention is made in Chronicles, although in Kings about fourteen chap- ters are taken up with them. Besides these, other prophets are mentioned, and their acts and sayings are recorded ; as, 1 Kings xiii, the prophet who came to Bethel from Judah in the reign of Jeroboam, and his predictions ; and in 2 Kings xxiii, the fulfilment of them in the days of Josiah ; 1 Kings xiii, the old prophet who lived at Bethel with his sons. Ahijah the prophet, also, in the days of Jeroljoam, 1 Kings xiv ; Jehu, the son of Hanani, 1 Ivings xvi ; Jonah, in the time of Jeroboam, 2 Kings xiv, 25 ; and Isaiah in relation to the sickness of Hezekiah, 2 Kings xx. Of these there is either no mention, or much slighter in Chronicles, where the priestly or Levitical element is more observable ; as, for example, the fuU account, in 2 Chron. xxix-xxxi, of the purification of the Temple by Hezekiah ; of the services and sacrifices then made, and of the names of the Le- vites who took part in it, and the restoration of the courses and orders of the priesthood, and the supplies for the daily, weekly, and yearly sacrifices; also, the cir- cumstantial account of the Passover observed by com- mand of Josiah, 2 Chron. xxxv, 1-19. In this Avay we may account not only for the omission of much that re- lates to the prophets, but also for the less remarkable prominence given to the history of Israel, and the great- er to Judah and Jerusalem ; and for the frequent omis- sion of details respecting the idolatrous practices of some of the kings, as of Solomon, Kehoboam, and Ahaz ; and the destruction of idolatry by Josiah, showing that the books of Chronicles were written in times in which the people less needed to be warned against idolatrj-; to which, after the captivity, they had ceased to be so prone as before.