This verse, 2 Chronicles 28:26, is a standard closing formula used in the books of Kings and Chronicles to mark the end of the reign of a particular king. It essentially means:
"Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways...": This refers to everything else the king did that wasn't explicitly mentioned in the biblical narrative up to this point. It acknowledges that the Bible doesn't give a complete account of every single action and event of the king's life.
"...first and last...": This emphasizes the totality of the king's reign, from the beginning to the end.
"...behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.": This points to another source of information about the king, a separate historical record that was presumably available to the author of Chronicles. This "book" is not part of the Bible and no longer exists (at least not in its original form). It was likely a collection of court records, royal annals, and other historical documents that were kept by the royal scribes of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
In essence, the verse is saying: "If you want to know more about this king and his reign, consult the official historical records of the time."
Here's what we can infer from this type of verse:
The author of Chronicles (and Kings) was aware of other sources of information besides what he included in his narrative. He wasn't making things up but drawing from existing historical documents.
The books of Kings and Chronicles are selective in what they include. They are not exhaustive biographies of the kings but rather focus on aspects that the authors deemed most important, particularly the king's religious faithfulness and its impact on the nation.
The "book of the kings" was likely a valuable historical resource at the time of writing. It provided more details about the kings' political activities, military campaigns, building projects, and other aspects of their reigns.
It's important to note that biblical scholars debate the exact nature of these "books" and how the authors of Kings and Chronicles used them. However, the general consensus is that they were some form of official historical record.
This verse, 2 Chronicles 28:26, is a standard closing formula used in the books of Kings and Chronicles to mark the end of the reign of a particular king. It essentially means:
"Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways...": This refers to everything else the king did that wasn't explicitly mentioned in the biblical narrative up to this point. It acknowledges that the Bible doesn't give a complete account of every single action and event of the king's life.
"...first and last...": This emphasizes the totality of the king's reign, from the beginning to the end.
"...behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.": This points to another source of information about the king, a separate historical record that was presumably available to the author of Chronicles. This "book" is not part of the Bible and no longer exists (at least not in its original form). It was likely a collection of court records, royal annals, and other historical documents that were kept by the royal scribes of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
In essence, the verse is saying: "If you want to know more about this king and his reign, consult the official historical records of the time."
Here's what we can infer from this type of verse:
The author of Chronicles (and Kings) was aware of other sources of information besides what he included in his narrative. He wasn't making things up but drawing from existing historical documents.
The books of Kings and Chronicles are selective in what they include. They are not exhaustive biographies of the kings but rather focus on aspects that the authors deemed most important, particularly the king's religious faithfulness and its impact on the nation.
The "book of the kings" was likely a valuable historical resource at the time of writing. It provided more details about the kings' political activities, military campaigns, building projects, and other aspects of their reigns.
It's important to note that biblical scholars debate the exact nature of these "books" and how the authors of Kings and Chronicles used them. However, the general consensus is that they were some form of official historical record.