1 Kings 16 14

1 Kings 16:14 kjv

Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

1 Kings 16:14 nkjv

Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

1 Kings 16:14 niv

As for the other events of Elah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

1 Kings 16:14 esv

Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

1 Kings 16:14 nlt

The rest of the events in Elah's reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

1 Kings 16 verses

1 Kings 16 14 Meaning

1 Kings 16:14 is a common, formulaic statement found in the Books of Kings, signaling the end of a king's reign narrative. It indicates that a more extensive, external historical record—the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel"—contains the fuller account of King Elah's actions, beyond what is provided in the divinely inspired and selective biblical text. This verse points to the existence of court annals as the complete repository of royal deeds, affirming the Bible's historical grounding while highlighting its own focused, theological purpose.

1 Kings 16 14 Context

1 Kings Chapter 16 portrays a rapid succession of kings in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, characterized by idolatry, political instability, and divine judgment. Elah, the son of King Baasha, reigned for only two years. His brief reign was marked by weakness, including drunkenness, which made him vulnerable to assassination by Zimri, his chariotry commander (1 Kgs 16:9-10). This overthrow fulfilled the prophecy of Jehu against Baasha's house (1 Kgs 16:1-4). Verse 14, concerning Elah, acts as a standard concluding formula, confirming that the biblical writer's selective account of his kingship—highlighting its brevity and inglorious end—is consistent with, but not exhaustive of, more comprehensive historical records. The brevity of Elah's biblical mention directly reflects his insignificant, wicked, and short reign. The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" was the national historical archive kept by scribes, from which the biblical author drew and interpreted events with a distinct theological lens.

1 Kings 16 14 Word analysis

• Now: Hebrew: Wĕʿētāh (וְעַתָּה). A conjunction often introducing a logical consequence or a transition in the narrative, signifying a concluding remark on Elah's reign and an invitation to further historical data.
• the rest of the acts: Hebrew: yeter diberey (יֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי). Literally, "the remainder of the words/deeds." This phrase implies that the biblical text offers a condensed, selective account. The emphasis is on what is not included, not because it's unimportant in general history, but because it's not crucial for the biblical narrative's theological purpose.
• of Elah: Hebrew: ’Ēlāh (אֵלָה). The name of the Israelite king, son of Baasha. His reign, lasting only two years (1 Kgs 16:8), was exceedingly short, largely due to his wickedness and neglect (1 Kgs 16:9).
• and all that he did: Hebrew: kol ʾăsher ʿāśāh (כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה). This comprehensive phrase ("all that he did") confirms that the "Book of the Chronicles" contained a complete record of the king's activities, far beyond the focus on his sin and downfall given in the Book of Kings.
• are they not written: Hebrew: halōʾ ktubim (הֲלֹא כְתֻבִים). This is a rhetorical question that expects an affirmative answer ("Yes, they are written!"). It asserts the certainty and accessibility of the mentioned external records. This isn't a suggestion for readers to consult another book but rather a common Ancient Near Eastern literary device to authenticate the presented summary by referencing publicly known annals.
• in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel: Hebrew: ʿal sēpher divrey haYamim ləmalchey Yisra’el (עַל־סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל). This is a pivotal phrase:
  • Book (sēpher): A scroll or written record.
  • Chronicles (dibrey haYamim): Literally "words of the days," signifying "annals," "records of the times," or "historical accounts."
  • Kings of Israel (lěmalchey Yisra’el): Clearly identifies these as the official royal annals kept by the scribes of the Northern Kingdom, distinct from the annals of Judah's kings and completely separate from the canonical books of Chronicles (1 and 2 Chronicles) found in the Bible. This implies meticulous record-keeping during ancient monarchies.
  • This phrase validates the biblical narrative's historicity by pointing to external, known contemporary sources, while simultaneously highlighting the biblical author's purposeful selectivity in presenting only those details relevant to God's covenant with Israel.

1 Kings 16 14 Bonus section

The consistent use of this concluding formula throughout Kings not only affirms the historicity of the biblical account by pointing to verifiable external records but also reinforces the selective, purposeful nature of divine revelation. What God chose to omit from Kings, and where He chose to direct His people for fuller secular accounts, is as instructive as what He included. This distinguishes the inspired Scripture as primarily a record of God's interaction with humanity, particularly concerning sin, righteousness, covenant, and salvation, rather than an exhaustive human historical record. It emphasizes that while earthly chronicles detail every act, the Word of God reveals only what is essential for faith, instruction, and understanding His redemptive plan.

1 Kings 16 14 Commentary

1 Kings 16:14 encapsulates a standard concluding formula found throughout the Books of Kings, underscoring both the historicity and the theological focus of the biblical narrative. The mention of the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" (or Judah) does not refer to the canonical Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. Rather, it points to secular, royal archives that existed contemporaneously with the events described, containing detailed governmental records, building projects, wars, and other state affairs for each king. The inspired author of Kings, however, was not composing a secular history; his aim was a theological history. Therefore, he selectively drew from these broader sources only what was necessary to demonstrate God's ongoing covenant faithfulness, the consequences of Israel's and Judah's disobedience, and the unfolding of divine prophecy and judgment. In Elah's case, the divine author chooses to briefly state his reign and immediate assassination, implicitly connecting it to his sin and the fulfillment of God's word against his father's house. The brevity here speaks volumes; Elah's wicked and unremarkable reign, characterized by instability, warrants little more than a factual record of its tragic end in the divinely chosen narrative, leaving the mundane details to the court archives.