originally only one book in the Hebrew canon, from in the LXX. and the Vulgate the third and fourth books of Kings (the books of Samuel being the first and second). It must be remembered that the division between the books of Kings and Samuel is equally artificial, and that in point of fact the historical books commencing with Judges and ending with 2Kings present the appearance of one work, giving a continuous history of Israel from the time of Joshua to the death of jehoiachin. The books of Kings contain the history from David's death and Solomon's accession to the destruction of the kingdom of Judah and the desolation of Jerusalem, with a supplemental notice of an event that occurred after an interval of twenty-six years --viz., the liberation of Jehoiachin from his prison at Babylon --and a still further extension to Jehoiachin's death, the time of which is not known, but which was probably not long after his liberation. The history therefore comprehends the whole time of the Israelitish monarchy, exclusive of the reigns of Saul and David. As regards the affairs of foreign nations and the relation of Israel to them, the historical notices in these books, though in the earlier times scanty, are most valuable, and in striking accord with the latest additions to our knowledge of contemporary profane history. A most important aid to a right understanding of the history in these books, and to the filling up of its outline, is to be found in the prophets, and especially in Isaiah and Jeremiah. Time when written. --They were undoubtedly written during the period of the captivity, probably after the twenty-sixth year. Authorship. --As regards the authorship of the books, but little difficulty presents itself. The Jewish tradition which ascribes them to Jeremiah is borne out by the strongest internal evidence, in addition to that of the language. Sources of information. --There was a regular series of state annals for both the kingdom of Judah and that of Israel, which embraced the whole time comprehended in the books of Kings, or at least to the end of the reign of Jehoiakim. (2 Kings 24:5) These annals are constantly cited by name as "the book of the acts of Solomon," (1 Kings 11:41) and after Solomon "the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" or "Israel," e.g. (1 Kings 14:29; 15:7; 16:5,14,20; 2 Kings 10:34; 24:5) etc.; and it is manifest that the author of Kings had them both before him while he drew up his history, in which the reigns of the two kingdoms are harmonized and these annals constantly appealed to. But in addition to these national annals, there, were also extant, at the time that the books of Kings were compiled, separate works of the several prophets who had lived in Judah and Israel. Authority. --Their canonical authority having never been disputed, it is needless to bring forward the testimonies to their authenticity which may be found in Josephus, Eusebius, jerome, Augustine, etc. They are reckoned among the prophets, in the threefold division of the Holy Scriptures; a position in accordance with the supposition that they were compiled by Jeremiah, and contain the narratives of the different prophets in succession. They are frequently cited by our Lord and by the apostles.

The Books of Samuel and Kings.
... serve as a "helmeted" introduction to all the books which we ... I have found to be Hebrew,
the second is Greek ... First read, then, my Samuel and Kings; mine, I say ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the books of samuel and.htm

First and Second Samuel.
... It means "asked of God." The two were formerly one book and called the "First Book
of Kings," the two books of Kings being one book and called Second Kings. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter viii first and second.htm

Concerning Scripture .
... For Ruth is joined on to Judges, and the Hebrews count them one book: the first
and second books of Kings are counted one: and so are the third and fourth ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xvii concerning scripture.htm

First and Second Kings.
... THE BIBLE BOOK BY BOOK. A MANUAL. For the Outline Study of the Bible by Books. * *
* * Chapter IX. First and Second Kings. Chapter IX. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter ix first and second.htm

Use of the Old Testament by the First Christian Writers, and by ...
... Judges, Ruth, Kings first and second, Samuel, Chronicles, come Ezra first and second,
Psalms, Proverbs ... 134) His view of the additions to the books of Daniel ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter v use of the.htm

From Letter xxxix. --(For 367. ) of the Particular Books and their ...
... And again, after these four books of Kings, the first and second being reckoned
as one book, and so likewise the third and fourth as one book. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/from letter xxxix for 367 of.htm

The Historical Books.
... having called the books of Samuel, the former, First and Second of the Kingdoms,
the latter, First and Second of the Kings, designate these books as Third and ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

These are all the Books of Old Testament Appointed to be Read...
... These are all the books of Old Testament appointed to be read: 1, Genesis ... son of
Nun; 7, Judges, Ruth; 8, Esther; 9, Of the Kings, First and Second; 10, Of ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lx these are all.htm

The History Books
... All around great empires watched them with eager eyes; the powerful kings of Assyria,
Egypt, and Babylonia, the ... The first and second Books of Samuel have ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter iv the history books.htm

First and Second Chronicles.
... Chapter X. First and Second Chronicles. Name. ... Religious Purpose of the Narratives.
Several things show these books to have a religious purpose. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter x first and second.htm