Learning God

2nd Kings

Divided Kingdom to Exile

Summary  |  About  |  Why You Should Read it  |  Author  |  When Written |  Context  |  Timeline  |  Location  |  Outline  |  Observations  |  Resources


Summary

2nd Kings is a continuation of the historical narrative begun in 1st Kings, covering the period from the end of the reign of King Ahaziah of Israel to the release of Jehoiachin from Babylonian captivity. Here’s a high-level summary:

  1. The Divided Kingdom:
    • The book begins with the death of King Ahaziah of Israel and the subsequent rise of Jehoram (Joram), his brother, to the throne. The narrative continues with the reigns of various kings in both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.
  2. Prophets Elijah and Elisha:
    • Elijah’s Departure: The prophet Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, and his mantle (symbolizing his prophetic authority) is passed to Elisha.
    • Elisha’s Ministry: Elisha performs numerous miracles and prophecies, confronting the kings of Israel and guiding the nation. His ministry includes miracles such as healing Naaman the Syrian of leprosy and raising a child from the dead.
  3. The Decline of Israel:
    • The northern kingdom of Israel experiences a series of unstable and wicked reigns. The book details the rule of kings like Jehu, who is anointed to end the house of Ahab, and the decline of Israel due to persistent idolatry and injustice.
    • The Fall of Israel (722 BC): Eventually, the Assyrian Empire conquers Israel, leading to the exile of the ten northern tribes and the end of the northern kingdom.
  4. The Kingdom of Judah:
    • Judah also faces a series of kings, some of whom are faithful and others who lead the nation astray. Kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah bring reform and seek to return the nation to covenant faithfulness.
    • The Fall of Judah (586 BC): Despite these reforms, Judah ultimately falls to the Babylonian Empire. The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to the exile of many Judeans.
  5. The Exile and Aftermath:
    • The book ends with the release of Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, from Babylonian imprisonment, symbolizing a glimmer of hope and the eventual promise of restoration.

2nd Kings provides a detailed account of the decline and fall of both kingdoms, emphasizing the consequences of disobedience to God and the role of prophetic ministry in calling the people to faithfulness.

The following table provides a high-level look at the structure and contents of the book of 2nd Kings.


About

2nd Kings is the 12th book of the Bible and the seventh of the Historical books of the Old Testament.


Why You Should Read It

Reading 2nd Kings offers several valuable insights and lessons for us:

  1. Understanding the Consequences of Disobedience:
    • 2nd Kings details the continued decline of both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah due to their persistent disobedience to God. The book chronicles how leaders’ failures to uphold covenantal faithfulness lead to judgment and eventual destruction, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of living according to God’s commands.
  2. Lessons in Leadership and Faithfulness:
    • The reigns of various kings, both in Israel and Judah, provide examples of different leadership styles and their consequences. The book contrasts the righteous kings, like Hezekiah and Josiah, with the wicked ones, like Ahaz and Manasseh. Christians can learn from these examples about the impact of leadership on spiritual and national health.
  3. The Role of Prophets:
    • 2nd Kings highlights the significant roles of prophets such as Elijah and Elisha, who confront kings and call the people back to faithfulness. Their stories demonstrate the importance of prophetic voices in speaking truth to power and guiding the people. For Christians, this underscores the role of prophecy and accountability in their own spiritual lives.
  4. Understanding the Fall of Israel and Judah:
    • The book provides a historical account of the fall of Israel (722 BC) and Judah (586 BC), offering insight into the reasons behind these events. It helps Christians understand the broader narrative of Israel’s history and the fulfillment of God’s promises and warnings. This historical perspective can deepen one’s understanding of the Old Testament’s context.
  5. Theological Reflections:
    • 2nd Kings reflects themes of divine justice, mercy, and covenant faithfulness. The book illustrates how God’s judgment is a response to unfaithfulness, but also how there is always a remnant and the hope of restoration. This mirrors the Christian understanding of God’s justice and mercy and the hope found in Christ.
  6. Encouragement for Faithfulness:
    • The book’s narrative encourages Christians to remain steadfast in their faith and to seek righteousness, despite the challenges and temptations of the world. The examples of faithful kings and the contrast with those who led Israel astray serve as powerful lessons on the importance of living a life aligned with God’s will.
  7. Preparation for the Coming of Christ:
    • The decline and fall of Israel and Judah set the stage for the eventual coming of Christ. Understanding the historical and spiritual decline helps Christians appreciate the need for a savior and the fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus.

In summary, 2nd Kings provides valuable lessons on leadership, faithfulness, and the consequences of disobedience, while also offering historical and theological insights that can enrich a Christian’s understanding of their faith and the broader biblical narrative.


Author

The Author of 1st and 2nd Kings is not known for certain.  Scholars suspect it was compiled during the time of Josiah or up to the fall of Jerusalem in the final siege of Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.  This makes Jeremiah a likely candidate for the writings.


When Written

1st and 2nd Kings were written in the period from 620 to 586 B.C.


Context

1st and 2nd Kings were written in a context of significant historical and theological reflection, primarily shaped by the events and circumstances of the Babylonian exile. Here are the key aspects of the context in which it was written:

  1. Historical Context:
    • Fall of Jerusalem and Exile (586 BC): The book was likely completed or edited during or after the Babylonian exile, following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. This period was marked by deep trauma and loss for the Jewish people, as they grappled with the consequences of their defeat and exile.
    • Reflection on the Past: The historical context includes a reflection on the rise and fall of Israel’s kings, with a focus on the reasons for the kingdom’s decline. The narrative serves as a lens through which to understand why Israel and Judah fell, particularly emphasizing the failures of the kings and the nation’s failure to uphold the covenant with God.
  2. Theological Context:
    • Deuteronomistic Theology: The book reflects the theological perspectives of Deuteronomy, emphasizing themes like covenant faithfulness, the centralization of worship in Jerusalem, and the consequences of disobedience to God. This perspective often attributes Israel’s misfortunes to their failure to adhere to the covenant and their engagement in idolatry.
    • Divine Justice and Mercy: Theological reflections in 1 Kings focus on the justice of God in punishing disobedience and the mercy shown to those who remain faithful. The book underscores the importance of following God’s laws and the disastrous consequences of straying from them.
  3. Political and Social Context:
    • Reforms of Josiah: The reign of King Josiah (c. 640–609 BC) and his religious reforms had a significant impact on the Deuteronomistic history. Josiah’s reforms aimed to purify worship practices and centralize worship in Jerusalem, which is reflected in the emphasis on the central sanctuary and the condemnation of idolatry in 1 Kings.
    • Exilic Reflection: The period of exile was one of reevaluation and reassessment of the past. The book’s focus on the failures of the kings and the consequences for Israel serves as a way to explain and understand the exile and to encourage a return to faithfulness to God.
  4. Prophetic Influence:
    • Role of Prophets: Prophets like Elijah and Elisha are prominent in 1 Kings, and their stories reflect the ongoing struggle between faithful worship of God and the widespread idolatry practiced by the kings and people. The prophetic voice serves both as a critique of the kings and as a source of hope for future restoration.

In summary, 1st and 2nd Kings was written in a context of exile and reflection on Israel’s history, with a focus on understanding the reasons behind the nation’s downfall. It addresses themes of covenant faithfulness, divine justice, and the role of prophetic and royal leadership, serving as both a historical record and a theological commentary on the nation’s relationship with God.


Timeline

The timeline below shows from the time of the building of the temple through the fall of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.  The period of 2nd Kings goes from Jehoshaphat (Judah) and Ahaziah (Israel) and the stories of Elijah to the fall of Judah to Babylon and the early years of the captivity.


Location

2nd Kings takes place in Israel as a divided kingdom from Judah in the south to Israel in the north, ruled from Samaria.


Outline

I.      The Ministries of Elijah and Elisha during the Reigns of Ahaziah and Joram (2ki 1:1;8:15)

A.       Elijha in the Reign of Ahaziah (ch. 1)

B.      Elijah’s Translation; Elisha’s Inauguration (2:1-18)

C.      Elisha in the Reign of Joram (2:19;8:15)

1.     Elisha’s initial miraculous signs (2:19-25)

2.     Elisha during the campaign against Moab (ch. 3)

3.     Elisha’s ministry to needy ones in Israel (ch. 4)

4.     Elisha heals Naaman (ch. 5)

5.     Elisha’s deliverance of one of the prophets (6:1-7)

6.     Elisha’s deliverance of Joram from Aramean raiders (6:8-23)

7.     Aramean siege of Samaria lifted, as Elisha prophesied (6:24;7:20)

8.     The Shunammite’s land restored (8:1-6)

9.     Elisha prophesies Hazael’s oppression of Israel (8:7-15)

II.      Israel and Judah from Joram/Jehoram to the Exile of Israel (8:16;17:41)

A.       Jehoram of Judah (8:16-24)

B.      Ahaziah of Judah (8:25-29)

C.      Jehu’s Revolt and Reign in Israel (chs. 9-10)

1.     Elisha orders Jehu’s anointing (9:1-13)

2.     Jehu’s assassination of Joram and Ahaziah (9:14- 29)

3.     Jehu’s execution of Jezebel (9:30-37)

4.     Jehu’s slaughter of Ahab’s family (10:1-17)

5.     Jehu’s eradication of Baal worship (10:18-36)

D.      Athaliah and Joash of Judah; Repair of the Temple (chs. 11-12)

E.      Jehoahaz of Israel (13:1-9)

F.      Jehoash of Israel; Elisha’s Last Prophecy (13:10-25)

G.      Amaziah of Judah (14:1-22)

H.      Jeroboam II of Israel (14:23-29)

I.      Azariah of Judah (15:1-7)

J.       Zechariah of Israel (15:8-12)

K.      Shallum of Israel (15:13-16)

L.      Menahem of Israel (15:17-22)

M.       Pekahiah of Israel (15:23-26)

N.      Pekah of Israel (15:27-31)

O.      Jotham of Judah (15:32-38)

P.      Ahaz of Judah (ch. 16)

Q.      Hoshea of Israel (17:1-6)

R.     Exile of Israel; Resettlement of the Land (17:7-41)

III.      Judah from Hezekiah to the Babylonian Exile (chs. 18-25)

A.       Hezekiah (chs. 18-20)

1.     Hezekiah’s good reign (18:1-8)

2.     The Assyrian threat and deliverance (18:9;19:37)

3.     Hezekiah’s illness and alliance with Babylon (ch. 20)

B.      Manasseh (21:1-18)

C.      Amon (21:19-26)

D.      Josiah (22:1;23:30)

1.     Repair of the temple; discovery of the Book of the Law (ch. 22)

2.     Renewal of the covenant; end of Josiah’s reign (23:1- 30)

E.      Jehoahaz Exiled to Egypt (23:31- 35)

F.      Jehoiakim: First Babylonian Deportation (23:36;24:7)

G.      Jehoiachin: Second Babylonian Deportation (24:8-17)

H.      Zedekiah: Third Babylonian Deportation (24:18;25:21)

I.      Removal of the Remnant to Egypt (25:22-26)

J.       Elevation of Jehoiachin in Babylon (25:27-30)


Observations

  • 2 Kings continues the drama begun in 1 Kings.
  • The majority of 2 Kings was written before the Babylonian captivity. 17:34-35
  • The last two chapters were written after the Babylonian captivity had ended.
  • Time frames in 2 Kings:
    • Chapters 1-17 cover the 131 years from 853 B.C. (King Ahaziah) of Israel to 722 B.C., the Assyrian Captivity of Israel.
    • Chapters 18-25 cover the 155 years from the beginning of Hezekiah’s reign in 715 B.C. to the release of Jehoiachin in Babylon in 560 B.C.
  • Kingdom facts:
    • The United Kingdom of Israel lasted for 120 years (1053-933 B.C.)
    • The Northern Kingdom existed for 210 years (931-721 B.C.) before being taken captive by the Assyrians in 721 B.C.
    • The Southern Kingdom of Judah existed from 931-586 B.C., some 135 years longer than Israel, before entering Babylonian Captivity.
  • The total kingdom period lasted some 467 years (1053-586 B.C.)
  • The Northern Kingdom:
    • 19 kings reigned during its 210-year history.
    • 9 different dynasties (family lines) reigned.
    • All but one dynasty was created by murdering the previous king.
    • The character of each was bad.
  • Prophets in the Northern Kingdom of Israel:
    • Elijah
    • Amos
    • Elisha
    • Hosea
  • The Southern Kingdom:
  • 20 kings reigned during its 345-year history.
  • 8 of the 20 kings had good character.
    • Asa
    • Uzziah
    • Jehoshaphat
    • Jotham
    • Joash
    • Hezekiah
    • Amaziah
    • Josiah
  • Prophets in the Southern Kingdom of Judah:
    • Obadiah
    • Nahum
    • Isaiah
    • Isaiah
    • Micah
    • Zephaniah
    • Jeremiah
    • Habakkuk
  • The Southern Kingdom kings were of one continuous dynasty (David) in spite of the efforts of Athaliah, Jezebel’s daughter, to kill all the descendants of David. Only Joash survived.

Old Testament

New Testament

Free Resources

Other Resources

  • x
< Previous
Next >

Copyright © LearningGod.org

Info