Page "Books of Kings" Paragraph 10

According to Jewish tradition the author of Kings was Jeremiah, whose life overlapped the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE.

The most common view today accepts Martin Noth's thesis that Kings concludes a unified series of books which reflect the language and theology of the Book of Deuteronomy, and which biblical scholars therefore call the Deuteronomistic history.

Noth argued that the History was the work of a single individual living in the 6th century, but scholars today tend to treat it as made up of at least two layers, a first edition from the time of Josiah ( late 7th century ), promoting Josiah's religious reforms and the need for repentance, and ( 2 ) a second and final edition from the mid 6th century.

Further levels of editing have also been proposed, including: a late 8th century edition pointing to Hezekiah of Judah as the model for kingship ; an earlier 8th century version with a similar message but identifying Jehu of Israel as the ideal king ; and an even earlier version promoting the House of David as the key to national well-being.