Prophecy in the Books of Kings

Abstract This chapter investigates the role of prophecy in the books of Kings and prophecy’s literary purpose in the larger context of the so-called Deuteronomistic History. The narrative material on the different prophets in the books of Kings—as manifold as it may be—does have common themes. The similarities among all prophetic figures hint at the broader purpose in Deut–2 Kgs. Accordingly, all prophets in Kings seem to fulfill the role of Yhwh’s critical spokesperson to the kings of Israel and Judah and serve to explain why the demise of both kingdoms was inevitable. The chapter sheds light on the conceptual differences between prophecy in the Former and Latter Prophets. Methodologically the approach is based on the results of diachronic research such as literary (source) criticism and redaction history, and takes into account religious historical findings.