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Kings,
The First and Second books of
- The two historical books of the Old Testament that
immediately follow upon 1 and 2 Samuel; in the Latin Vulgate, and in
translations made from it, these four books are listed as 1-4
Kings. Written, with a decided influence by the Deuteronomistic
history, probably by several authors, who display a distinctive bias
for the southern kingdom (as revealed in their condemnation of every
king of Israel for maintaining the separate shrines of Dan and
Bethel in competition with on Temple in Jerusalem), with a final
redaction in the late sixth century, 1 and 2 Kings cover the span of
four hundred years. In 1 Kings, the history of David, begun in 1
and 2 Samuel, is completed. There follows the monarchy of Solomon
and the history of the kings of Judah and Israel up to Ahab. In 2
Kings, both kingdoms are treated up to the fall of Samaria in 721
B.C. The books of Kings record primarily God’s plan for His chosen
People from the true worship of Yahweh in Solomon’s Temple, through
their disintegration in the time of exile, to the preparation of the
pious remnant, anawim, who would remain faithful to their
covenant with God. The kings themselves are evaluated on the basis
of the fidelity of the people under their kingship and their own
efforts to remove the pagan shrines, as final holdovers from their
Canaanite ancestors. Of all the kings David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and
Josiah are viewed positively and praised for their achievements.
Kissing
the Altar
- The kiss is seen as a sign of love and respect. The
practice of kissing the altar developed since the altar is regarded
as a symbol of Christ abiding permanently with His Church in the
unending sacrifice pleasing to the Father. The altar where the
sacrifice is celebrated is a symbol of the sacrifice. Present
directives prescribe that the priest presiding at the Mass reverence
the altar with a kiss at the beginning and conclusion of the
liturgy.
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