2 Kings 1 18

2 Kings 1:18 kjv

Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 1:18 nkjv

Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 1:18 niv

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

2 Kings 1:18 esv

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

2 Kings 1:18 nlt

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

2 Kings 1 verses

2 Kings 1 18 Meaning

This verse serves as a concluding statement for the reign of King Ahaziah of Israel, indicating that further details of his activities, not specifically recorded in this biblical narrative, could be found in external, official court records. It signifies the selective nature of the biblical text, which prioritizes theological truths, divine judgments, and prophetic fulfillments over a comprehensive, secular historical account of a king's reign. The question, "are they not written?", is a rhetorical device confirming the existence and accessibility of these historical documents.

2 Kings 1 18 Context

Chapter 1 of 2 Kings details the brief, two-year reign of Ahaziah, king of Israel. It opens with his fall through a lattice, followed by his fatal error of sending messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, instead of Yahweh, the God of Israel. This act of idolatry is a direct affront to God and his covenant. The prophet Elijah is commanded by the Lord to intercept Ahaziah's messengers and deliver a clear divine judgment: because Ahaziah sought a foreign god, he would surely die without leaving the bed he lay on. This prophecy is confirmed by a dramatic confrontation between Elijah and Ahaziah's captains, where fire from heaven consumes Ahaziah's soldiers, underscoring Elijah's authority as God's prophet. The chapter concludes with the fulfillment of Elijah's word: Ahaziah dies and is succeeded by his brother Jehoram. Verse 18 is the conventional conclusion for a king's account within the books of Kings, shifting the reader's attention from Ahaziah's personal history, especially his spiritual failing and death, to the fact that his mundane political and administrative details are chronicled elsewhere. This formula highlights the theological priorities of the biblical narrative: the books of Kings are not simply historical records but divinely inspired commentaries on the reigns of kings, judging them by their faithfulness to the Lord and His covenant.

2 Kings 1 18 Word Analysis

• Now the rest: Hebrew: וְיֶתֶר (ve·ye·ther). This signifies "and the remainder" or "the surplus." It immediately tells the reader that the biblical account is not exhaustive. The focus here is on Ahaziah's interaction with the divine, specifically his sinful consultation of Baal-Zebub, and the divine judgment that followed, rather than the minutiae of his civil administration or other secular achievements.
• of the acts of Ahaziah: This refers to his deeds, administrative decisions, battles, constructions, and other events of his reign that are considered secular or routine from the biblical author's perspective. The specific acts leading to his death and involving Elijah are deemed paramount for the theological narrative.
• which he did: Plainly states the King's activities and achievements, both positive and negative, throughout his reign. The "doing" refers to his total conduct as king.
• are they not written: A rhetorical question common in Hebrew narrative. It serves to affirm, emphatically, that the mentioned details are indeed recorded. It assures the reader of the verifiability and the existing historical basis for the king's full reign, even if not fully elaborated in this sacred text. It implicitly points to the trustworthiness of the source.
• in the book of the chronicles: Hebrew: סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים (sefer divrey hayyamim). Literally "the book of the words of the days" or "the book of daily affairs." This refers to official, courtly annals, public records, or royal histories maintained by scribes during the reigns of the kings. These were distinct from the biblical "Books of Chronicles" we have in our Bibles today. These external sources were apparently accessible to the biblical author and contained more extensive details on military, political, and social events.
• of the kings of Israel: This specifies the geographic and political domain. It differentiates these records from the chronicles kept for the kings of Judah. This highlights the distinct political and spiritual paths of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), as perceived by the Deuteronomistic historian who compiled the books of Kings. The term "Israel" here refers specifically to the northern kingdom that split after Solomon.
• Now the rest of the acts... are they not written: This phrase, common throughout Kings and 1 Kgs 11:41 (referring to "the book of the acts of Solomon") shows a consistent editorial practice. It marks the conclusion of a king's narrative, redirecting the reader to a broader, perhaps more secular, historical source. The theological writer is declaring, "I've told you what is most important for God's message; for more general history, check the official archives."

2 Kings 1 18 Bonus Section

• The use of this concluding formula emphasizes the distinct purpose of biblical history. Unlike modern historiography that seeks comprehensive details, the biblical writers, particularly in the Deuteronomistic History (Deuteronomy-2 Kings), selected and shaped their material to present a theological message. The formula acts as a textual signpost pointing to this selectivity.
• The "book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" (and Judah) mentioned here were court archives that served as primary sources for the biblical author. It assures the ancient audience that the brief theological account provided is based on verifiable historical records, enhancing its credibility, while simultaneously demonstrating the sacred author's prerogative to filter information based on spiritual relevance.
• This verse contributes to a broader biblical pattern: human actions are recorded not merely for historical interest but primarily as demonstrations of God's character, His covenant faithfulness, and the consequences of obedience or disobedience to His law. The mundane aspects of kingship were relegated to human records, while the divinely significant interactions became part of sacred Scripture.

2 Kings 1 18 Commentary

The final verse of 2 Kings chapter 1 is a formulaic concluding statement characteristic of the books of Kings, often repeated after the account of a monarch's reign. This specific phrase, common to both the kings of Israel and Judah, signifies that the biblical account of Ahaziah's life is selective, not exhaustive. The author's primary concern is not to provide a full chronological or political history but to convey theological truths: divine judgment, the consequences of idolatry, and the faithfulness of God to His prophetic word.

In Ahaziah's case, the rest of his acts are dismissed to an external "book of the chronicles" because they are not pertinent to the sacred message being conveyed. What is highlighted in 2 Kings 1 is Ahaziah's sin of consulting Baal-Zebub and the immediate, deadly divine response delivered through Elijah. The brevity of his two-year reign, emphasized by the concise narrative, speaks to the divine disapproval of his wickedness. The formula acts as a tacit declaration by the biblical author that Ahaziah's earthly accomplishments or the details of his rule were largely insignificant in the face of his spiritual failure and the divine judgment that ended his life so swiftly. It implicitly diminishes his importance by indicating that only the divine encounter was worth chronicling in sacred Scripture.