2 kings 1:18 - Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Generated Verse: 2 kings 1:18

What does "2 kings 1:18" mean?


This verse, 2 Kings 1:18, is a formulaic closing statement that's used repeatedly in the books of Kings to mark the end of a king's reign. Let's break down what it means:

"Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did..." This refers to everything else Ahaziah did during his reign that isn't mentioned in the relatively brief account given in the biblical text of Kings. It acknowledges that the Bible doesn't provide an exhaustive record of every single event.

"...aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?" This suggests the existence of another, more detailed historical record called "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." This was likely an official court record or a more extensive historical compilation that the author of Kings consulted. This book is not extant today. It demonstrates that the author of Kings had access to other sources and that the stories they included were selected rather than completely comprehensive accounts.

In essence, the verse means:

"This account is not everything Ahaziah did. If you want to know more about his reign, look in the official historical records ('the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel')."

Key takeaways:

Acknowledges incomplete record: The Bible account is not a complete biography of the king.
Points to other sources: It suggests that the author of Kings used other historical documents.
Highlights selectivity: The author chose certain events to highlight for theological or historical purposes.

The verse serves as a transition, signaling the end of Ahaziah's reign and setting the stage for the next king. It also reinforces the idea that the author is presenting a selected and interpreted history, drawing from a broader range of information that was available to them.

What categories does "2 kings 1:18" have?