THE TWO BOOKS OF KINGS.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

THERE is a close connection between the books of Samuel and those of Kings. In the former the origin and gradual increase of the united kingdom of Israel under Saul and David are described; and in the latter an account is given of that kingdom in its higher state of prosperity under Solomon, its division under his son and successor Rehoboam, the causes of that division, and the consequent decline of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, until their subversion after Shalmaneser had carried the ten tribes captive into Assyria, and Nebuchadnezzar had carried Judah and Benjamin captive into Babylon.

In the most ancient and correct editions of the Hebrew Bible, the two books of Kings constitute but one. They have been divided, at some unknown period, into two parts for the convenience of the reader.

There is a great diversity of opinion in regard to the author or authors of these books; but the most probable supposition is, that they were arranged in their present order by Ezra from memoirs written by different persons, who described the events soon after their occurrence.

FIRST BOOK OF KINGS.

This book embraces a period of one hundred and twenty-six years from the anointing of Solomon and his admission as a partner in the throne with David B. C.

1015, to the death of Jehoshaphat B. C. 889. The latter part of David's life is described, and, in general, the history of the undivided kingdom of Israel under Solomon is given, and a history of the divided kingdom under Rehoboam, Jeroboam, and their successors.

I KINGS i. 34, 39.

And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solo

mon.

And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

The occasion to which reference is made in these verses, was an important one, viz., the inauguration of Solomon as king of Israel. The crooked trumpet or shophar was used.

I KINGS i. 40.

And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

After Solomon had been anointed king, every possible demonstration of joy was exhibited by the people.

מחַכְּלִים בַּחֲלָלִים Piped with pipes.-The IIebrew is

mhhallelim bahhalilim, literally, piping with pipes, or fluting with flutes. These were undoubtedly the Hebrew flutes

(hhallalim), which, according to Dr. Jahn, were used on joyful as well as on mournful occasions, and were appropriate instruments to be employed at the coronation (vid. description of this instrument in the remarks on I Sam. x. 5, supra).

It is said that the people piped, indicating that many of these instruments were used. Perhaps some had the double flute, and so performed the bass as well as the air.

Rejoiced with great joy.-The original of this denotes a loud expression of joy, as songs, or shouts. There must have been loud bursts of mirth, for it is said that "the earth rent with the sound of them."

I KINGS i. 41.

And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

Adonijah, it seems, had usurped the throne, and was much surprised when he heard the loud rejoicing and sound of the shophar or crooked trumpet, announcing the fact that Solomon was made king instead of himself.

I KINGS iv. 32.

And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

Solomon was distinguished for his wisdom, excelling all of his contemporaries in the East and even in renowned Egypt (vid. I Kings, iv. 30). Like his father David, he was acquainted with music, and composed more than a thousand songs to be accompanied in their recital by instrumental music. It seemed to be an essential part of one's education in those early times, to be thoroughly instructed in music.

I KINGS X. 12.

And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, harps also, and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.

Solomon constructed of the almug tree not only pillars, but instruments of music for the temple and for his palace. Harps.-These were the kinnors (

kinnoroth), the in

struments in which Solomon's father, David, so much delighted

(vid. Rem. on Gen. iv. 21, supra).
Psalteries.—These were the nebhels or

něbhalím, vid. Rem. on I Sam. x. 5, supra).

guitars (

They were made

of the almug tree. It is supposed by modern interpreters that this was the red sandal-wood, which now grows in China and in the Indian Archipelago. It is used in India and Persia, at the present day, for costly instruments and utensils (vid. Gesen. Heb. Lex. under almuggim).

Harps and psalteries for singers.-It seems by this expression that those instruments were made for singers, implying that they not only played on instruments, but sung. It is probable that they sung at the same time that they performed on instruments, as is frequently the case at the present day.

SECOND BOOK OF KINGS.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

THIS book contains the history of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah from the death of Jehoshaphat, B. C. 889, to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Nebuchadnezzar, B. C. 588, a period of about 300 years. This history may be divided into two parts. 1st. That of the two monarchies of Israel and Judah, until the end of the former. 2d. The history of Judah until its subversion.

II KINGS iii. 15.

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

Here is a confirmation of the fact, that the ancient seers considered music as peculiarly adapted to prepare their minds for prophetic vision. The kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom asked the prophet Elisha to inquire of the Lord for them, as they were destitute of water in their expedition against the Moabites. The seer called for a minstrel to play before him, and when he heard the enchanting sound of music, the hand of the Lord came upon him—a divine enthusiasm seemed to take possession of his mind, and he began to prophesy. It appears by the fourteenth verse, that the prophet exercised a pious indignation against the king of Israel, and, in order to calm his feelings, it seemed to be necessary for him to listen to the sweet, soothing strains of oriental music.