is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Joshua 12:9,24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judges 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Peter 2:13,17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matthew 14:9; Mark 6:22).

This title is applied to God (1 Timothy 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Timothy 6:15,16; Matthew 27:11). The people of God are also called "kings" (Daniel 7:22,27; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 1:6, etc.). Death is called the "king of terrors" (Job 18:14).

Jehovah was the sole King of the Jewish nation (1 Samuel 8:7; Isaiah 33:22). But there came a time in the history of that people when a king was demanded, that they might be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5). The prophet Samuel remonstrated with them, but the people cried out, "Nay, but we will have a king over us." The misconduct of Samuel's sons was the immediate cause of this demand.

The Hebrew kings did not rule in their own right, nor in name of the people who had chosen them, but partly as servants and partly as representatives of Jehovah, the true King of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1). The limits of the king's power were prescribed (1 Samuel 10:25). The officers of his court were, (1) the recorder or remembrancer (2 Samuel 8:16; 1 Kings 4:3); (2) the scribe (2 Samuel 8:17; 20:25); (3) the officer over the house, the chief steward (Isaiah 22:15); (4) the "king's friend," a confidential companion (1 Kings 4:5); (5) the keeper of the wardrobe (2 Kings 22:14); (6) captain of the bodyguard (2 Samuel 20:23); (7) officers over the king's treasures, etc. (1 Chronicles 27:25-31); (8) commander-in-chief of the army (1 Chronicles 27:34); (9) the royal counsellor (1 Chronicles 27:32; 2 Samuel 16:20-23).

(For catalogue of kings of Israel and Judah see chronological table in Appendix.)

Called KING OF KINGS
Ezra 7:12;
Ezekiel 26:7;
Daniel 2:37

Divinely authorized
Deuteronomy 17:15;
1 Samuel 9:16,17; 16:12;
1 Chronicles 22:10;
2 Chronicles 2:11,12;
Proverbs 8:15;
Daniel 2:21,37; 4:17; 5:20;
Hosea 8:4; 13:11

How chosen

By divine appointment, Saul
1 Samuel 10:1
David and the Davidic dynasty
1 Samuel 16:1-13

Hereditary succession
2 Samuel 7:12-16; 1 Kings 1:28-30; 2 Chronicles 21:3,4;
Psalms 89:35-37

See ISRAEL, KINGS OF JUDAH

Not hereditary
1 Chronicles 1:43-51

See after the revolt, ISRAEL, KINGS OF ISRAEL

By lot
1 Samuel 10:20,21

Modes of induction into office

By anointing
See ANOINTING

By proclamation
2 Samuel 15:10;
1 Kings 1:33,34;
2 Kings 9:13; 11:12

By an oath
2 Kings 11:4

Ceremonial recognition of

Prostration
1 Samuel 25:41;
2 Samuel 9:6,8;
1 Kings 1:23,31,47
Obeisance
1 Kings 1:16
Kneeling before
Matthew 27:29
Salutation to: "O king, live forever,"
Daniel 2:4; 6:6,21

Acts as Judge
2 Samuel 8:15; 15:2;
1 Kings 10:9;
2 Kings 8:1-6;
Psalms 72:1-4; 122:5;
Acts 25:11,12,20

Precepts concerning
Deuteronomy 17:14-19;
Proverbs 31:4,5;
Ezekiel 46:16-18

Obedience to, enjoined
Ecclesiastes 8:2-5

Rights and duties of
Proverbs 25:2,5,6,15; 29:4,12,14;
Jeremiah 21:12

Exercise executive clemency
1 Samuel 11:13

Constitutional restrictions of
Deuteronomy 17:18-20;
1 Samuel 10:24,25;
2 Samuel 5:3;
2 Kings 11:12,17;
2 Chronicles 23:11;
Jeremiah 34:8-11;
Daniel 6:12-15

Influenced by popular opinion

Saul
1 Samuel 14:45; 15:24
David
2 Chronicles 20:21
Hezekiah
2 Chronicles 30:2
Zedekiah
Jeremiah 38:19,24-27
Herod
Matthew 14:5;
Acts 12:2,3
Pilate
John 19:6-13

Religious duties of
Ezekiel 45:9-25; 46:2,4-8

Deification of
Ezekiel 28:2,9

Loyalty to, enjoined
Proverbs 16:14,15;
Ecclesiastes 10:20

Influential queens

Bath-sheba
1 Kings 1:28-34
Jezebel
1 Kings 18:4,13; 19:1-3; 21:5-16
Esther
Esther 5:1-8

Respect due to
Job 34:18;
Isaiah 8:21;
Matthew 22:21;
Mark 12:17

Profiting from

Confiscations of property
2 Samuel 16:4;
1 Kings 21:1-16

Plunder
2 Samuel 12:30;
1 Chronicles 26:27;
2 Chronicles 24:23

Tariff on imports, and internal revenue on merchandise
1 Kings 10:15-29

Taxes
2 Samuel 20:24;
1 Kings 12:18;
2 Chronicles 17:11

Poll tax
Matthew 17:24-27

Presents
1 Samuel 10:27; 16:20;
2 Samuel 8:2;
1 Kings 10:2,10,25;
2 Chronicles 9:24;
Psalms 72:10

Commissary of
1 Kings 4:7-19,27,28;
1 Chronicles 27:25-31;
2 Chronicles 26:10; 32:28,29

Extensive livestock of
Judges 12:14; 1 Kings 1:33; 4:26; 10:25;
2 Chronicles 9:24,25;
Esther 6:8

Chief officers of

The captain of the army
2 Samuel 8:16;
1 Kings 4:4
The recorder
2 Samuel 8:16; 20:24;
1 Kings 4:3
The scribe
2 Samuel 8:17; 20:25;
1 Kings 4:3
The chief priests
2 Samuel 8:17; 20:25;
1 Kings 4:2
The chief of the bodyguard
2 Samuel 8:18; 15:18; 20:23;
1 Chronicles 11:25
The collector of taxes
2 Samuel 20:24
The chief ruler
2 Samuel 20:26;
1 Kings 4:5;
Esther 3:1,2; 8:1,2,15; 10:3
The advisor
1 Kings 4:5
The provincial governors
Daniel 6:1-3

Subordinate officers of

The governor of the household
1 Kings 4:6;
2 Chronicles 28:7
The keeper of the wardrobe
2 Kings 22:14;
2 Chronicles 34:22

Drunkenness of, forbidden
Proverbs 31:4,5

Drunken, instances of
Hosea 7:5

Baasha
1 Kings 16:9

Ben-hadad
1 Kings 20:16

Belshazzar
Daniel 5:1-4,23

Ahasuerus
Esther 1:7,10; 5:6; 7:2

Prayer for
Ezra 6:10

Prayer for, enjoined
1 Timothy 2:1,2

Decrees of, irrevocable
Esther 8:8;
Daniel 6:8,9,12-15

Chronicles of, recorded
1 Kings 11:41; 14:19;
2 Kings 21:25;
1 Chronicles 9:1; 27:24; 29:29;
2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 20:34; 26:22; 32:32;
Ezra 5:17;
Esther 6:1

See GOVERNMENT

See RULERS

For the kings of Israel, before and after the revolt of the ten tribes

See ISRAEL

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE