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.
