1&2 Kings continue the story of the kings of Israel from the time of David (and his son Solomon) until the collapse of the monarchy. Well known names are those of the prophet's Elijah and Elisha and those they denounce such as Ahab and Jezebel she who was eaten by dogs so that "they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands". Books of history they may be, but never dull!

1&2 Chronicles provide more than a repetition of the history in Kings by developing distinct emphases, on the temple and Israel as the people of God.

Abridged for the general listener in favour of the wealth of characters in the Old Testament, its poetry and its narrative. Such things as genealogies, instructions regarding certain rituals and some of the law had to give way to the stories and the poetry. Some of the stories are trimmed of some repeated details.