Structure of Kings

There is a recurring pattern in Kings, one that matches the structure of embedded narratives I’ve discussed in a forthcoming article in the Tyndale Bulletin:

Solomon builds and dedicates the temple, 1 Ki 6-9
Lord appears to Solomon, warning about proper use of temple, 1 Ki 9
Son’s kingdom divided, 1 Ki 12
Dynasty terminated, 2 Ki 25
Temple destroyed, 2 Ki 25

Jeroboam builds the golden calves, 1 Ki 12
Man of God confronts Jeroboam, 1 Ki 13
Son dies and dynasty overthrown, 1 Ki 14
Shrine destroyed by Josiah, 2 Ki 23

Ahab builds temple, 1 Ki 16
Prophets confront Ahab, 1 Ki 17-2 Ki 8
Son dies, 2 Ki 1
Dynasty overthrown, 2 Ki 9
Temple destroyed by Jehu, 2 Ki 9

At the center of the book, then, is a highly elaborated version of the outer narratives of the Davidic dynasty and of Jeroboam’s Northern kingdom.