2 Kings 15 36

2 Kings 15:36 kjv

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

2 Kings 15:36 nkjv

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

2 Kings 15:36 niv

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

2 Kings 15:36 esv

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

2 Kings 15:36 nlt

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

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 36 Meaning

This verse concludes the biblical account of King Jotham's reign, serving as a signpost that points readers to external, historical documents for further details of his "acts" and accomplishments. It asserts that comprehensive records of his time as king are indeed preserved in an official, presumably royal, chronicle of the kings of Judah, reinforcing the historical grounding of the biblical narrative while underscoring its selective, theological purpose.

2 Kings 15 36 Context

2 Kings chapter 15 records a tumultuous period marked by instability and frequent changes in kingship in both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Jotham’s reign in Judah (vv. 32-38) follows the long and relatively stable rule of his father, Uzziah, who nonetheless ended his life afflicted with leprosy. Jotham is praised for doing "what was right in the eyes of the Lord," reflecting positive obedience to God's law, similar to his father, even though the "high places" for unauthorized worship remained. This verse serves as the standardized conclusion to the brief summary of Jotham’s reign within the book of Kings, signaling a transition to the account of his successor, Ahaz. The consistent repetition of this concluding formula for numerous kings across 1 and 2 Kings highlights the book's consistent historiographical method, which references external, established state annals as the primary source for additional historical documentation.

2 Kings 15 36 Word analysis

• Now: A transitional word, often used to connect narrative sections or to introduce a concluding statement regarding a preceding subject. It marks the shift to the final administrative remarks about Jotham’s rule.
• the rest: (Hebrew: yether, יֶתֶר) – Signifies the remainder or what is left over. In this context, it explicitly means "the rest" of his deeds or historical accounts not detailed in the biblical narrative, pointing to more comprehensive non-canonical records.
• of the acts: (Hebrew: divrei, דִּבְרֵי) – Literally "words of" or "matters of." In biblical historiography, this term denotes the sum total of a king’s deeds, events, and chronicles during his reign, encompassing administrative decisions, military campaigns, and construction projects.
• of Jotham: (Hebrew: Yotham, יוֹתָם) – A personal name meaning "Yahweh is perfect" or "Yahweh is complete." Jotham was the son of Uzziah and a righteous king of Judah who built important structures and engaged in military successes against the Ammonites (as further elaborated in 2 Chron 27).
• and all that he did: An emphatic phrase, reinforcing the completeness of the external records being referenced. It asserts that a full account of his entire reign, beyond the theological summary in Kings, existed.
• are they not written: A common rhetorical question (Hebrew: הֲלֹא־הֵמָּה כְתוּבִים, halo-hemmâ kᵉthûvîm) in Hebrew literature, functioning as a strong affirmative statement. It is used to emphatically confirm that the information is indeed recorded and accessible elsewhere, bolstering the veracity of the biblical text’s claim about these external records.
• in the Book of the Chronicles: (Hebrew: סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, sepher divrei ha'yamim) – Literally "Book of the words of the days" or "Book of the Events of the Days." This phrase refers to the official royal annals or contemporary court records meticulously maintained by scribes for the kingdom. It is distinct from the canonical Old Testament Books of Chronicles. These state chronicles were detailed historical accounts for internal governmental reference.
• of the Kings of Judah: Specifies the domain and content of the "Book of the Chronicles." It indicates that these were specific records for the monarchs of the southern kingdom, distinguishing them from the similar records kept for the kings of Israel.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did: This phrase introduces the principle of selectivity in the biblical historical record. It states plainly that the canonical book of Kings provides only a summary, pointing to other more extensive contemporary documents that contained the complete historical facts, implying a theological rather than comprehensive historical agenda for the biblical author.
• are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?: This rhetorical question serves a dual purpose within the narrative structure of Kings. Firstly, it provides a means of historical verification for the original audience, referencing known official archives, thus lending credence to the historical reliability of the biblical account. Secondly, it subtly communicates the author’s primary intention: not to provide an exhaustive historical chronicle but to present a narrative selectively chosen to convey specific theological lessons regarding covenant fidelity, prophetic word, and God's sovereign hand in history, leaving administrative or general historical details to external records.

2 Kings 15 36 Bonus section

• The practice of referencing external official records, common in ancient Near Eastern literature, grounds the biblical narrative in accepted historiographical methods of the time. This helps to affirm its claim as genuine historical recounting, not merely myth or legend.
• The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" was a contemporary state archive, distinct from the canonical Books of Chronicles we read today. The canonical Books of Chronicles likely drew upon such ancient historical sources but were written much later and with their own specific theological focus, emphasizing themes such as Davidic kingship, the temple, and worship.
• The rhetorical question form ("are they not written?") implies that these records were public knowledge or accessible at the time of writing, serving as a persuasive argument for the veracity of the Kings account by directing readers to cross-reference with existing data. This validates the historical framework underpinning God's redemptive story.
• The very act of specifying where more details can be found implicitly states that the information provided in the canonical books is sufficient for understanding God’s will and the lessons intended, reinforcing the doctrine of Scripture's sufficiency for faith and life.

2 Kings 15 36 Commentary

2 Kings 15:36 is a formulaic conclusion repeated numerous times throughout the Books of Kings, which consistently references the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" (or "Israel"). This recurring phrase offers profound insight into the biblical writers' methods and the nature of inspired Scripture. It emphatically suggests that the biblical account is not merely a collection of isolated, theological assertions but a history firmly anchored in verifiable, external state records that were likely accessible to the original readers. While confirming the historical reliability of its claims, this verse simultaneously highlights that the inspired text is inherently selective. It provides a theological distillation of history, focusing on aspects critical to God's covenant relationship with His people—such as obedience, apostasy, and divine judgment—rather than serving as a comprehensive civic or military history. The "rest" of Jotham's acts, though historically important, were not deemed essential for the divinely intended purpose of the Book of Kings, affirming the Bible's sufficiency for its specific revelatory aims.