1 & 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Commentary | UBC)

by Iain W. Provan

Publisher:

Baker

, 2012

Overview

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 that these books provide insight into the kings and prophets—and teach about God and his ways.

Contents

Top Highlights

“If the spectacular has not produced final victory, that is no reason for despair. For the overall strategy was always more long term and more subtly conceived than Elijah imagined. From the beginning it had involved the gentle but devastating whisper as well as the all-consuming fire, the quiet ways of God’s normal providence as well as the noiser ways of miraculous intervention. Elijah must be content with being part of the plan and not the plan itself. Where he has run south in despair to the desert of Beersheba, he must now go north in obedience to the Desert of Damascus (v. 15).” (Page 147)

“It is significant here that the names Elisha and Joshua are so similar in meaning (‘God saves’; ‘the Lord saves’). We are meant to read the one story against the background of the other.” (Page 173)

“Feeling let down, he goes off in a rage (v. 12). To Naaman, the Lord is only a local deity at the beck and call of the prophet. It is the prophet who is the healer, not the god. Why has he refused to do his job?” (Page 192)

“The food in the wilderness was a gentle reminder of the past, for Elijah seems to have forgotten the past—miraculous provision, resurrection, mighty acts of God on mountaintops.” (Page 145)

“The whole implication of all this is that Solomon has recognized and God is confirming that the ‘wisdom’ of chapter 2 was of a highly unenlightened, self-serving sort, which must now be replaced with a higher sort, in order that the king may rule justly and well over his subjects (3:9, 11).” (Page 48)

Product Details

• Title: 1 & 2 Kings
• Author: Iain W. Provan
• Series: Understanding the Bible Commentary Series
• Publisher: Baker
• Print Publication Date: 2012
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. O.T. 1 Kings › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. 2 Kings › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9781441251909, 9780801047480, 1441251901, 080104748, 080104748X
• Resource ID: LLS:BAKERUBOT11KI
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-12-12T21:58:30Z

About Iain W. Provan

Iain Provan has been the Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies since 1997. He was born and educated in the UK and retains strong family, academic and church connections with his homeland. He received his MA at Glasgow University in Mediaeval History and Archaeology, his BA from London Bible College in Theology and his PhD from Cambridge, where his thesis focused on the books of Kings, and was subsequently published as Hezekiah and the Books of Kings. His subsequent academic teaching career took him to King’s College London, the University of Wales and the University of Edinburgh, where he was a senior lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament Studies. He has written numerous essays and articles, and several books including commentaries on Lamentations, 1 and 2 Kings, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. Most recently he has co-authored with Phil Long and Tremper Longman A Biblical History of Israel. He is an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland; a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge; and the recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship. He and his wife, Lynette, have four children. Iain is also a qualified Provincial B Licence soccer coach (BC) and ARA rowing coach (UK).