Meaning of KING

Sovereign invested with supreme authority, generally for life and by right of succession. Religious fervor characterized the kings of Babylon and Assyria.

The institution of the king-pontiff dates back to the time of Sumer. Obedience to the gods, the practice of virtue, the defense of justice, the punishment of the guilty, were duties incumbent on kings.

In Sumer the king was deified. The Bible quotes:
Nimrod as king of several cities of Babylon (Gen. 10:9-10).

Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, was head of a league of kings (Gen. 14:1, 5).
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and
Artaxerxes, of Persia, gave themselves the title "king of kings" (Ezra 7:12; Dan. 2:37; cf. 2 Kings 24:17).
In Abraham's time, Canaanite monarchs were often kings over only one city (Gen. 14:2, 18; 20:2); At the beginning of the Sumerian era there were also city-states.

Some centuries later, Joshua lists more than thirty-one defeated Canaanite monarchs (Josh. 12:7-24).

Disbelief and the desire to imitate their neighbors pushed the Israelites to ask for a king. (See THEOCRACY.) Moses had foreseen it (Deut. 17:14-20).

The institution of monarchy did not in itself imply the abolition of theocracy. The monarchy, apparently absolute, had to be submitted to Jehovah, who had only delegated his power to it.

Because he wanted to escape the authority of the Lord, Saul was replaced by another, and his descendants lost their right to the throne.

David's successor kings suffered the same fate: when they abandoned the Lord, they lost their crown (1 Kings 11:31-36). For the list of the kings of Judah and Israel, see the attached table.

The appointment of the sovereign was made by a prophet or by a person invested with authority (1 Sam. 9:16; 16:1, 13; 2 Kings 23:33, 34; 24:17); for the people (1 Sam. 18:8; 2 Sam. 5:1-3; 1 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 23:30).

Certain people usurped kingship (1 Kings 15:27, 28; 2 Kings 11:1-3 ff., etc.); most obtained the crown by right of succession (2 Kings 11:36).

The enthronement implied, for the Israelites, the coronation, the anointing with oil, the proclamation (2 Kings 11:12; cf. 1 Sam. 10:24; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3; 1 Kings 1 :34; 2 Kings 23:30), sacrifice, and sometimes a solemn procession (1 Sam. 16:2, 5; 1 Kings 1:25, 43-46).

The king also frequently fulfilled the role of general-in-chief (Gen. 14:5; Num. 21:23; 1 Sam. 8:20; 14:20), concluded treaties (Gen. 21:22-32; 1 R. 15:19), promulgated the laws and enforced them (Est. 3:12, 13; 8:7-12; Dan. 3:1-6, 29; 6:6-9), administered justice (2 S. 15:2; Is. 33:22), had the right of life and death (2 Sam. 14:1-11; 1 Kings 1:51, 52; 2:24-34; Est. 4:11; 7:9, 10).

The fear of God and man could regulate this authority, which sometimes had to take into account the popular will (1 Sam. 14:45; 15:24), since it was dangerous to oppress the people (1 Kings 12:4 ).

Priests and prophets, independent of the religious sphere, did not hesitate to rebuke kings (1 Sam. 13:10-44; 15:10-31; 2 Sam. 12:1-15; 1 Kings 18:17 , 18; 21:17-22; 2 Chron. 26:16-21).

The exercise of supreme power required physical, mental and moral qualities of a higher order. Saul's presence attracted the people (1 Sam. 10:23, 24 cf. 16:7). It was necessary for the king to be endowed with discernment and accurate judgment.

Solomon fulfilled these conditions to such a high degree that he obtained the favor of his subjects from the beginning (1 Kings 3:28). Just as necessary as insight were strength of character and impartiality.

The king had, for his protection and assistance, a guard, whose captain carried out his orders (2 Sam. 15:18; 20:23; cf. 1 Kings 1:43, 44; 2:25, 29). (See GUARD) Certain sovereigns surrounded themselves with unprecedented luxury (1 Kings 10).

The Scriptures present God as King who uses his infinite power for the good of his subjects (Ps. 5:3; 10:16).

He is called “King of kings” (1 Tim. 6:15). Christ, who declares himself head of a kingdom “not of this world” (John 18:33-37), also bears the title “King of kings” (Rev. 19:16)