This and the following Book are called by the holy fathers the third and
fourth book of Kings; but by the Hebrews, the first and second. They
contain the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Juda, from the
beginning of the reign of Solomon, to the captivity. As to the writer of
these books, it seems most probable they were not written by one man;
nor at one time; but as there was all along a succession of prophets in
Israel, who recorded, by divine inspiration, the most remarkable things
that happened in their days, these books seem to have been written by
these prophets. See 2 Paralip. alias 2 Chron. 9.29; 12.15; 13.22; 20.34;
26.22; 32.32.