Overview of 2 Kings

 

2 Kings

1 and 2 Kings originally comprised one book of history. The author is neither indicated in the text nor known by scholars. He was most likely a prophet because many of the historical events were recorded in light of Israel’s and Judah’s faithfulness—or unfaithfulness—to their covenant with God. Ezra, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah have all been named as possible authors.

Second Kings continues the history of the divided kingdom, picking up the story around 853 BC. In 722 BC, the powerful nation of Assyria invaded the northern kingdom, scattering and taking captive the people of Israel. Only Judah remained intact. But then Assyria suffered a stunning fall to the Babylonians, who took the Assyrian capital of Nineveh in 612 BC. By 605 BC Babylon dominated Judah, had taken some captives away, and in 586 BC Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and took additional prisoners into captivity. Many people who were considered valuable to the invaders, such as the prophet Daniel and members of the royal family, were taken to Babylon early on. By the end of Kings, the people of God no longer inhabited their Promised Land. Many areas of the country had been rendered virtually uninhabitable due to the razing, burning, and other destructive tactics of the Babylonian army, while the people had been enslaved, scattered, and decimated by their enemies. The book ends with an epilogue of sorts, giving a peek into the good fortune of Jehoiachin—Judah’s last true ruler before a series of puppet kings was installed by Babylon. If Jeremiah did write much of Kings, he could not have written this section, set in Babylon, for he had been taken away to Egypt years earlier.

Second Kings features many unique events and people. Two people were raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:32–37; 13:20–21). The prophet Elijah left this earth without dying (2:1–18); Enoch was the only other man in the Bible to do so (Genesis 5:21–24). The waters of the Jordan River rolled back twice (2 Kings 2:8, 14). These and other miraculous events testify to God’s continuing work among His people.

The time period covered by this book saw the emergence of the first writing prophets in Israel. Amos and Hosea went to the people of Israel, while Isaiah, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah prophesied in Judah, both groups calling the people to repentance and warning them of God’s coming judgments. The author devoted extensive space to Elisha’s ministry after Elijah was taken to heaven, giving special attention to the numerous miracles Elisha performed.

None of the kings of Israel are described as having done right in God’s eyes; each led the people deeper into idolatry. Several of Judah’s kings were righteous, notably Joash, Uzziah, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Hezekiah held off the Assyrians by trusting in the Lord for deliverance. Josiah later instituted an even greater spiritual reformation. Neither effort, however, was enough to stem God’s eventual judgment on the nation in fulfillment of the curses of the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 28).

OUTLINE

Below is an outline for 2 Kings. 

• The Ministries of Elijah and Elisha during the Reigns of Ahaziah and Joram (1:1—8:15)

• Elijah in the Reign of Ahaziah (ch. 1)

• Elijah’s Translation; Elisha’s Inauguration (2:1–18)

• Elisha in the Reign of Joram (2:19—8:15)

• Elisha’s initial miraculous signs (2:19–25)

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

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

• Elisha heals Naaman (ch. 5)

• Elisha’s deliverance of one of the prophets (6:1–7)

• Elisha’s deliverance of Joram from Aramean raiders (6:8–23)

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

• The Shunammite’s land restored (8:1–6)

• Elisha prophesies Hazael’s oppression of Israel (8:7–15)

• Israel and Judah from Joram/Jehoram to the Exile of Israel (8:16—17:41)

• Jehoram of Judah (8:16–24)

• Ahaziah of Judah (8:25–29)

• Jehu’s Revolt and Reign (chs. 9–10)

• Elisha orders Jehu’s anointing (9:1–13)

• Jehu’s assassination of Joram and Ahaziah (9:14–29)

• Jehu’s execution of Jezebel (9:30–37)

• Jehu’s slaughter of Ahab’s family (10:1–17)

• Jehu’s eradication of Baal worship (10:18–36)

• Athaliah and Joash of Judah; Repair of the Temple (chs. 11–12)

• Jehoahaz of Israel (13:1–9)

• Jehoash of Israel; Elisha’s Last Prophecy (13:10–25)

• Amaziah of Judah (14:1–22)

• Jeroboam II of Israel (14:23–29)

• Azariah of Judah (15:1–7)

• Zechariah of Israel (15:8–12)

• Shallum of Israel (15:13–16)

• Menahem of Israel (15:17–22)

• Pekahiah of Israel (15:23–26)

• Pekah of Israel (15:27–31)

• Jotham of Judah (15:32–38)

• Ahaz of Judah (ch. 16)

• Hoshea of Israel (17:1–6)

• Exile of Israel; Resettlement of the Land (17:7–41)

• Judah from Hezekiah to the Babylonian Exile (chs. 18–25)

• Hezekiah (chs. 18–20)

• Hezekiah’s good reign (18:1–8)

• The Assyrian threat and deliverance (18:9—19:37)

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

• Manasseh (21:1–18)

• Amon (21:19–26)

• Josiah (22:1—23:30)

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

• Renewal of the covenant; end of Josiah’s reign (23:1–30)

• Jehoahaz Exiled to Egypt (23:31–35)

• Jehoiakim: First Babylonian Deportation (23:36—24:7)

• Jehoiachin: Second Babylonian Deportation (24:8–17)

• Zedekiah: Third Babylonian Deportation (24:18—25:21)

• Removal of the Remnant to Egypt (25:22–26)

• Elevation of Jehoiachin in Babylon (25:27–30)