The book of 2 Kings continues without interruption the story begun in 1 Kings. As the book opens, the ministry of Elijah is passed to his capable disciple, Elisha, whose prophecies of word and act are the topic of chapters 1-8. Chapters 9-17 recall the kings of the northern kingdom, Israel; the southern kingdom, Judah; and the eventual fall of the northern kingdom to the ruthless Assyrian army. Chapters 18-25 continue the history of Judah's kings, until the southern kingdom falls to the crushing power of Babylonia.
Many of the people of Judah were carried as captives into Babylon, yet the grace of God was not lost. The very last verses of the book give a glimmer of hope that God's nation will one day be restored.
What does it say?
The northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah had gone their separate ways in 1 Kings. This book tells what their ways were like and where their ways took them. The northern kingdom went wrong from the beginning and found themselves overwhelmed by the Assyrian army in the year 722 B.C. God removed them from the land and into exile. The southern kingdom had periods of obedience and devotion to God, and it had periods of disobedience and rebellion against God. As the rebellion grew deeper and habitual, God brought Babylonian invaders to wipe out Jerusalem and carry the people of the northern kingdom into exile as well. The collapse of Jerusalem happened in 586 B.C.
It is interesting to note that the author does not give the most space to the most politically powerful kings of the northern and southern kingdoms, but to the kings who most notably affirmed or denied the covenant Israel had with God. Obedience is the issue, not political or economic power.
Faces & Places
Elisha, the companion and disciple of the prophet Elijah, becomes the chief prophetic spokesman in 2 Kings. Elisha's ministry is highlighted in the first eight chapters.
Eighteen kings from Judah and eleven kings from Israel are mentioned in 2 Kings. Noteworthy names include Hezekiah and Josiah from Judah, two kings who moved the people toward God. King Manasseh of Judah is known for the opposite, moving the people toward evil.
Assyria is the nation God used as the tool to bring punishment upon the northern kingdom of Israel. Babylon was God's instrument to deal with the disobedient southern kingdom of Judah. Both these powerful kingdoms were located to the north, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Key Verses & Themes
Downfall of the Kingdoms:
2 Kings 17:22-23 "The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them until the Lord removed them from his presence, and he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there."
2 Kings 23:27 "So the Lord said, 'I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, "There shall my Name be."'"
So what?
What is important to God? It is interesting to note that in 1 and 2 Kings, while a great many kings come and go across the pages, only a few are selected for more detailed treatment by the author. What criteria did the author use to decide who would be given more ink and who would be given only passing mention? It was not what you might expect. The author passes quickly by some of the most politically and economically powerful kings in Israel's history. Omri, for instance, was a very significant political force from the view of secular history, but he is dismissed in a mere six verses (16:23-28).
The most words in 1 and 2 Kings go to the kings who moved the people toward obedience or toward obedience in significant ways. Obedience, faithfulness, loyalty, devotion. These are the priorities with God.
