<P> The two Books of Kings, originally a single book, are the eleventh and twelfth books of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament . They conclude the Deuteronomistic history, a history of Israel also comprising the books of Joshua and Judges and the two Books of Samuel, which biblical commentators believe was written to provide a theological explanation for the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah by Babylon in c. 586 BCE and a foundation for a return from exile . The two books of Kings present a history of ancient Israel and Judah from the death of King David to the release of Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon, a period of some 400 years (c. 960--c. 560 BCE). Scholars tend to treat the books as made up of a first edition from the late 7th century BCE and a second and final edition from the mid 6th century BCE . </P> <P> The Jerusalem Bible divides the two books of Kings into eight sections: </P> <Ul> <Li> 1 Kings 1: 1 - 2: 46 = The Davidic Succession </Li> <Li> 1 Kings 3: 1 - 11: 43 = Solomon in all his glory </Li> <Li> 1 Kings 12: 1 - 13: 34 = The political and religious schism </Li> <Li> 1 Kings 14: 1 - 16: 34 = The two kingdoms until Elijah </Li> <Li> 1 Kings 17: 1 - 2 Kings 1: 18 = The Elijah cycle </Li> <Li> 2 Kings 2: 1 - 13: 25 = The Elisha cycle </Li> <Li> 2 Kings 14: 1 - 17: 41 = The two kingdoms to the fall of Samaria </Li> <Li> 2 Kings 18: 1 - 25: 30 = The last years of the kingdom of Judah </Li> </Ul> <Li> 1 Kings 1: 1 - 2: 46 = The Davidic Succession </Li>

Who wrote kings 1 and 2 in the bible