2 Kings 8:23 kjv
And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 8:23 nkjv
Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 8:23 niv
As for the other events of Jehoram's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 8:23 esv
Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
2 Kings 8:23 nlt
The rest of the events in Jehoram's reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.
2 Kings 8 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 11:41 | "Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did... are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon?" | Similar concluding formula for Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 14:29 | "Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?" | Example for Rehoboam, establishing the pattern. |
| 1 Kgs 15:7 | "Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?" | Consistent reference for Judahite kings. |
| 1 Kgs 15:31 | "Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?" | Similar formula for Kings of Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 1:18 | "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?" | Another example for Kings of Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 15:36 | "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?" | Demonstrates the recurring pattern in Kings. |
| 2 Kgs 20:20 | "Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?" | Applies to one of Judah's good kings. |
| 2 Kgs 24:5 | "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?" | Applies to a later, evil king. |
| Ecc 12:12 | "Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh." | Implies not everything needs to be written. |
| John 20:30-31 | "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples... these are written so that you may believe..." | Bible is selective with a theological purpose. |
| John 21:25 | "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did... not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written." | Emphasizes the incompleteness of written accounts. |
| Lk 1:3-4 | "it seemed good to me... to write an orderly account... so that you may have certainty..." | Historical records serve to provide certainty. |
| Act 1:1 | "In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach..." | Continuation and reference to previous work. |
| Neh 12:23 | "The heads of the fathers' houses of Levi... are written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan..." | Highlights the practice of keeping records. |
| Esth 6:1 | "That night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles..." | Shows royal records being consulted. |
| Psa 78:3-4 | "things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us... so that the next generation might know them..." | Importance of passing down historical knowledge. |
| Isa 30:8 | "Now go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever." | Command to record for future generations. |
| Deut 17:18-19 | "And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law... all the days of his life..." | Kings instructed to engage with written law. |
| Rom 15:4 | "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." | Purpose of biblical record for believers. |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | "Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come." | Historical events recorded for spiritual lessons. |
2 Kings 8 verses
2 Kings 8 23 Meaning
2 Kings 8:23 serves as a standardized concluding formula for the reign of King Joram of Judah within the Book of Kings. It signifies that the biblical narrative provides a curated theological account, not an exhaustive historical record, and directs the reader to external royal annals (the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah") for more extensive historical details concerning Joram's "acts." This reinforces the biblical account's grounding in actual historical records while emphasizing its divine purpose and selectivity.
2 Kings 8 23 Context
Chapter 8 of 2 Kings focuses primarily on the events leading up to and during the reigns of Joram (Jehoram) of Judah and Hazael of Syria. Verses 16-24 specifically deal with the evil reign of Jehoram, king of Judah, who was the son of Jehoshaphat. Despite his father's righteousness, Jehoram married the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, leading Judah into severe idolatry. His reign was marked by revolt from Edom and Libnah, a plague, and his inglorious death, confirming God's judgment upon disobedient kings in line with the Deuteronomistic covenant. Verse 23 acts as the concluding summary of his rule, typical for the Kings narrative, redirecting the reader to an assumed external, more detailed historical record while emphasizing that the biblical account's main interest is theological rather than purely exhaustive history.
2 Kings 8 23 Word analysis
Now (וְיֶתֶר - və·ye·ṯer): A connective particle ("and" or "now") that serves to introduce a new section, specifically the summary or conclusion of a king's reign. It transitions from the narrative details to the official conclusion.
the rest of the acts (יֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי - ye·ṯer diḇ·rê): Literally, "the remainder of the words/deeds." "Yether" means "remnant" or "what is left over." "Divrei" refers to words, matters, affairs, or deeds. This phrase highlights that the biblical text of Kings is selective and does not contain all the events of a king's reign but refers the reader to a source where more complete information could be found. It emphasizes the inspired writer's prerogative to select material that serves his theological purpose.
Joram (יוֹרָם - Yō·wrām): Refers specifically to Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (also known as Joram or Jehoram). It's crucial to distinguish him from Jehoram of Israel, son of Ahab, who reigned around the same period. The King of Kings consistently distinguishes by specifying the kingdom.
and all that he did (וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה - və·ḵāl-’ă·šer ‘ā·śāh): This phrase further clarifies that the referenced external record contains comprehensive details about the king's actions, going beyond the selective biblical narrative. "Did" ('asah) covers his activities, achievements, failures, and daily administration.
are they not written (הֲלֹא־הֵמָּה כְתֻבִים - hă·lōw-hêm·māh kə·ṯu·ḇîm): A rhetorical question that functions as a strong affirmation. It implies that these acts are indeed written elsewhere, validating the existence and accessibility of these historical documents. It reassures the audience of the historicity and factual basis behind the biblical account.
in the Book (בְּסֵפֶר - bə·se·p̄er): Refers to a written scroll or codex. "Sepher" is the standard Hebrew term for "book" or "document."
of the Chronicles (דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים - diḇ·rê hay·yā·mîm): Literally, "the words/deeds of the days" or "daily events." This denotes official annals or historical records kept by the royal scribes or historians, similar to state archives. This is distinct from the canonical Books of 1 and 2 Chronicles in the Bible, which were written much later and from a different theological perspective.
of the Kings (לְמַלְכֵי - lə·mal·ḵê): Pertaining to or belonging to the kings, indicating this was a royal record.
of Judah (יְהוּדָה - Yə·hū·ḏāh): Specifies the kingdom. This distinguishes it from "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel," used for the northern kingdom's monarchs.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Now the rest of the acts... and all that he did": This twin expression underlines that while the inspired text presents a focused, divinely purposed account of Jehoram's reign (highlighting his apostasy and its consequences), it openly acknowledges the existence of much more historical data available in contemporary records. It shows both the conciseness of the biblical account and its foundation in broader historical reality.
- "are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?": This rhetorical question is a common Deuteronomistic formula. It serves as an appeal to verifiable public records, implicitly vouching for the historicity of the King's narrative. It functions as an ancient form of bibliography, directing readers who might wish for further details. This formula underscores that the Book of Kings is a theological history drawing on official state records rather than claiming to be an exhaustive historical work itself.
2 Kings 8 23 Bonus section
The repeated use of the phrase "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" (or "Israel") throughout the books of Kings is a critical element in understanding the genre and methodology of these Old Testament historical books. These external "chronicles" were likely the official court records, compiled by royal scribes, detailing the daily activities, decrees, battles, building projects, and other significant events of each monarch. By citing these sources, the author of Kings validates the historicity of the biblical narrative, demonstrating that the accounts are grounded in real historical events, not legends. However, the biblical narrative is profoundly selective. It emphasizes moral and religious conduct—specifically, how each king honored or disregarded the Mosaic Covenant—rather than providing an exhaustive chronological or political history. This strategic selection underscores the theological agenda of the Deuteronomistic historian: to explain the exile as a direct consequence of Israel's and Judah's covenant disobedience, exemplified by their kings.
2 Kings 8 23 Commentary
2 Kings 8:23, like many verses across the books of Kings, serves a dual purpose: it acts as an end-note for a king's reign, marking the narrative transition, and it authenticates the biblical account by pointing to an external historical source. This recurring "book of the chronicles" formula (referring to royal annals, not the canonical Book of Chronicles) underscores that the sacred writer meticulously compiled and selected material from existing, verifiable historical records. The biblical text is not a fantasy but is deeply rooted in verifiable historical data. However, the King's author's ultimate purpose is not simply to record history for history's sake, but to interpret it theologically from a covenantal perspective. For Joram, whose reign was marked by severe idolatry and divine judgment, the full detail in the referenced annals might have included administrative, military, or social aspects not deemed necessary for the Bible's primary theological narrative. The Bible records what is essential for understanding God's covenant with Israel, His consistent judgment against sin, and His faithfulness. This verse silently confirms that even amidst severe judgments, the flow of history and its documentation proceeded, guided by God's overarching providence.