2 Kings 15:31

KJV

And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Pekah {H6492}, and all that he did {H6213}, behold, they are written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the chronicles {H1697}{H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Other activities of Pekach and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

As for the rest of the acts of Pekah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

American Standard Version

Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Kings 15:31 serves as a standard concluding formula for the reign of King Pekah of Israel, a common literary device found throughout the books of Kings. This verse marks the end of the biblical narrative concerning Pekah's rule, directing the reader to external, non-canonical state annals for more extensive details of his tumultuous twenty-year reign. It subtly underscores the selective nature of the biblical account, which prioritizes theological and redemptive history over exhaustive historical documentation, while simultaneously affirming the historical grounding of the events described.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse concludes the account of Pekah's reign within 2 Kings 15. The chapter is characterized by rapid succession of kings in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, marked by violence, idolatry, and political instability. Pekah's reign itself, detailed in [2 Kings 15:27-31](/2_kings/15-27-31 "2 Kings 15:27-31 - Pekah's Reign and Assassination"), is presented as particularly turbulent, leading up to his assassination by Hoshea, as recorded in the immediately preceding verse, [2 Kings 15:30](/2_kings/15-30 "2 Kings 15:30 - Hoshea Conspires Against Pekah"). The formulaic nature of 2 Kings 15:31, with its reference to "the book of the chronicles," is a recurring feature at the end of each king's narrative in Kings, signaling a transition to the next monarch while affirming the existence of more comprehensive historical records.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Pekah was the eighteenth king of Israel, reigning during a period of extreme internal chaos and external pressure from the rising Assyrian Empire. His twenty-year reign (c. 752-732 BC) was marked by political assassinations, including his own, and a significant anti-Assyrian alliance with Rezin of Aram, which led to the Syro-Ephraimite War (referenced in [2 Kings 16](/2_kings/16 "2 Kings 16 - Ahaz and the Syro-Ephraimite War")). The phrase "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" refers to official state annals or royal records maintained by scribes in the Northern Kingdom. These were comprehensive historical documents, distinct from the biblical books of Chronicles, likely detailing administrative decisions, military campaigns, and other significant events. They served as primary sources for the biblical authors, who selectively extracted information pertinent to their theological and historical narrative. A parallel set of records, "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah," is also frequently referenced, such as in [1 Kings 14:29](/1_kings/14-29 "1 Kings 14:29 - Rehoboam's Reign and the Chronicles of Judah").

* **Key Themes:** The recurring regnal formula, exemplified by 2 Kings 15:31, contributes to several key themes in the book of Kings. Firstly, it highlights the **biblical selectivity** and its **theological purpose**. The biblical narrative is not an exhaustive historical record but a divinely inspired account focused on God's covenant relationship with His people, their obedience or disobedience, and the consequences thereof. It provides sufficient detail for its theological aims, leaving other historical data to external archives. Secondly, it implicitly affirms the **reliability of ancient records**, suggesting that such chronicles were known, accessible, and considered authoritative by the biblical authors and their original audience, even if they are no longer extant. Thirdly, despite the apparent chaos and human agency in the rise and fall of kings, the consistent structure subtly underscores **divine sovereignty in history**. The ultimate trajectory of Israel's and Judah's kings, their successes and failures, and their eventual judgment, are all presented within God's overarching plan. This period of rapid decline in Israel also strongly emphasizes the theme of **judgment for idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness**, which ultimately leads to the nation's downfall.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **acts (Hebrew, _divrei_):** This word (דִּבְרֵי) literally means "words of" or "matters of." When combined with "days" (as in "chronicles"), it refers to "the words of the days," or "the events/affairs of the days." It implies a detailed record of happenings, decisions, and significant occurrences, rather than just a general summary of actions. This highlights the comprehensive nature of the source material being referenced.
* **chronicles (Hebrew, _hayyamim_):** The full phrase is _sefer divrei hayyamim_ (סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים), meaning "book of the words of the days." _Hayyamim_ specifically means "the days," emphasizing a daily or chronological record. This term precisely describes royal annals or official journals of the kingdom, reinforcing the idea that these were meticulously kept, day-by-day accounts of significant events during a king's reign, underscoring their historical value as a source for the biblical narrative.
* **written (Hebrew, _ketuvim_):** The verb "written" (כְּתוּבִים) is in the passive participle, indicating that these records *are* written, implying their existence and accessibility. This is not a hypothetical reference but an affirmation of known, verifiable documents. It lends credibility to the biblical author's selective account by pointing to a broader, publicly available historical record.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did":** This is a standard formulaic opening for the concluding statement of a king's reign in the books of Kings. It signifies that the preceding biblical narrative has provided a selective, theologically focused summary of Pekah's rule, and that further, more exhaustive details of his actions and accomplishments are to be found elsewhere. It acknowledges the incompleteness of the biblical account from a purely historical perspective, while affirming its sufficiency for its divinely intended purpose.
* **"behold, they [are] written":** This phrase serves as an emphatic affirmation of the existence and accessibility of the external records. The use of "behold" (הִנֵּה, _hinneh_) draws the reader's attention to the fact that these records are not hypothetical but actual, tangible documents. It implies that the biblical author (or compiler) had access to these sources and is directing the reader to them for additional information.
* **"in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel":** This specifies the exact source to which the reader is directed. It refers to the official state annals of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, meticulously kept by royal scribes. This is a crucial distinction, as these are not the canonical books of Chronicles (which were written much later and offer a different theological perspective), but rather the primary historical records from which the biblical authors drew their material. This precise reference underscores the historical grounding of the biblical narrative.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 2 Kings 15:31 is the **Regnal Formula**. This is a highly structured, recurring pattern used throughout the books of Kings to introduce and conclude the reigns of monarchs. For the conclusion, it typically includes "the rest of the acts," a reference to an external chronicle, and the king's death and burial. This formula provides a consistent framework, lending a sense of order and historical continuity to what was often a chaotic period of Israelite and Judean history. It also functions as a **Framing Device**, clearly delineating one king's reign from the next. Furthermore, the verse employs **Referentiality** or **Intertextuality** by explicitly pointing the reader to an external source ("the book of the chronicles"). This demonstrates the biblical author's awareness of and reliance upon other historical documents. It also highlights the device of **Ellipsis** or **Selectivity**, as the author purposefully omits a full historical account, choosing instead to focus only on details relevant to the theological narrative of covenant faithfulness and judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Kings 15:31, though seemingly a mere administrative note, carries significant theological weight. It profoundly illustrates the selective nature of divine revelation. The biblical authors, under inspiration, did not aim to produce an exhaustive historical encyclopedia but a narrative focused on God's redemptive plan, His covenant relationship with Israel, and the consequences of obedience or disobedience. By consistently pointing to external "chronicles" for "the rest of the acts," the text implicitly teaches that God's Word provides precisely what is necessary for faith, understanding His character, and discerning His will, without burdening the reader with extraneous historical minutiae. This selective presentation underscores God's sovereignty over history, demonstrating that even the chaotic reigns of unfaithful kings like Pekah fit within His larger, unfolding purpose, serving as examples of His judgment and faithfulness to His warnings.

* [1 Kings 14:29](/1_kings/14-29 "1 Kings 14:29 - Rehoboam's Reign and the Chronicles of Judah")
* [John 20:30-31](/john/20-30-31 "John 20:30-31 - The Purpose of John's Gospel")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart is in the Hand of the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This seemingly mundane verse offers profound insights for the modern reader. It reminds us that the Bible's primary purpose is not exhaustive historical documentation, but spiritual revelation and transformation. When we approach Scripture, our focus should be on discerning God's character, His overarching plan of salvation, and the principles for living a life pleasing to Him, rather than getting sidetracked by details it purposefully omits. The consistent reference to external, verifiable records, even if lost to us today, should strengthen our trust in the historical grounding of the biblical narrative. It demonstrates the integrity of the biblical authors, who were transparent about their sources and the selective nature of their inspired account. This encourages us to appreciate the precision and divine economy of the biblical text, recognizing that every word is purposeful and sufficient for equipping us for every good work, without needing to fill in every historical blank.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing the Bible's selective nature, as highlighted by this verse, impact your approach to reading and studying Scripture?**
* **What is the primary purpose of the biblical narrative, and how does 2 Kings 15:31 underscore this purpose?**
* **In what ways does the mention of external, non-extant chronicles strengthen or challenge your faith in the Bible's historical reliability?**

### FAQ

**Is "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" the same as the biblical books of 1 and 2 Chronicles?**

Answer: No, they are distinct. "The book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" (and its counterpart for Judah) refers to official royal annals or state records maintained by scribes in the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah. These were comprehensive historical documents, likely detailing administrative decisions, military campaigns, and other significant events of each king's reign. The biblical books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, on the other hand, are inspired canonical books of the Old Testament, written much later (likely after the Babylonian exile) from a different theological perspective, often emphasizing the Davidic covenant and the temple. While the authors of the biblical books of Kings and Chronicles may have drawn upon these earlier state annals as source material, the "chronicles" referenced in [2 Kings 15:31](/2_kings/15-31 "2 Kings 15:31 - Pekah's Reign Concluded") are not the biblical books we read today.

**Why does the Bible refer to external books that it doesn't include or that are now lost?**

Answer: The biblical authors' frequent citations of these external "chronicles" serve multiple purposes. Firstly, it demonstrates their **integrity and reliance on verifiable sources**. They were not fabricating history but drawing upon known, authoritative records. Secondly, it highlights the **Bible's specific theological purpose**. The biblical narrative is not an exhaustive historical encyclopedia but a divinely inspired account focused on God's interaction with humanity, particularly through His covenant people, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. By pointing to other sources for "the rest of the acts," the biblical text implicitly teaches that it provides precisely what is necessary for faith and understanding God's will, without needing to include every historical detail. It shows that the Bible is a curated, purposeful narrative, not a comprehensive historical archive.

**Do these "chronicles of the kings of Israel" still exist today for us to consult?**

Answer: Unfortunately, no. The official state annals of the kings of Israel and Judah, frequently referenced in the books of Kings, are not extant today. They have been lost to history. However, their repeated mention in the biblical text serves as strong internal evidence that such records did exist and were accessible to the biblical authors and their original audience, affirming the historical grounding of the biblical narrative.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The recurring formula in 2 Kings 15:31, pointing to "the rest of the acts" written in external chronicles, profoundly foreshadows the unique and complete nature of Christ's story. The kings of Israel, including Pekah, had reigns marked by incompleteness, chaos, and ultimately, failure, with their full stories left to external, lost records. Their "acts" were partial, often unrighteous, and ultimately unable to secure lasting peace or salvation for their people. In stark contrast, the "acts" of Jesus Christ are not left to external, uninspired chronicles; they are fully and perfectly revealed within the inspired pages of the New Testament. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension constitute the complete and decisive work of God for humanity. He is the perfect King, whose reign is eternal and whose "acts" of redemption are entirely sufficient. Unlike the kings of Israel whose stories ended in judgment and whose full accounts are lost, Christ's story is the culmination of all Scripture, fully revealed as the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), the [Alpha and Omega](/revelation/1-8 "Revelation 1:8 - Jesus Christ, Alpha and Omega"), and the [fulfillment of all the Law and the Prophets](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law"). His "acts" are not merely recorded in a book of chronicles, but are the very foundation of our faith, fully revealed and eternally significant, demonstrating God's ultimate sovereignty and perfect redemptive plan for all of history.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.