Book introduction
The book of 2 Kings
2 Kings follows both kingdoms to their fall. Elisha takes up Elijah’s work. Israel in the north falls to Assyria in 722 BC. Judah lasts longer, has reforming kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, and falls to Babylon in 586 BC.
Read 2 Kings 5Start at chapter 1
Who wrote 2 Kings?
Not named; see 1 Kings.
When was it written?
Covers about 850–561 BC. Finished during the exile.
Main themes
- Why the exile happened
- The book explains the fall as the result of turning from God.
- Faithful kings still matter
- Hezekiah trusts God and Josiah finds the lost book of the law.
- Hope kept alive
- It ends with David’s heir released from prison.
Outline of 2 Kings
Key verses
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I should do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me receive a double portion of your spirit.”
He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Yahweh, please open his eyes so that he may see.” So Yahweh opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Yet Yahweh warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer: “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in keeping with all the law that I commanded your ancestors and that I sent to you through my servants the prophets.”
Before him there was no king like him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength, in keeping with all the law of Moses; and after him no one like him arose.
Quoted from the Lumin Translation.
Where to start
Read Naaman’s healing in chapter 5. Then Hezekiah in chapters 18–19.
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