2 Kings

The long decline of both kingdoms. Elisha carries on Elijah’s work. Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BC, and despite a few good kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, Judah falls to Babylon in 586 BC and Jerusalem is destroyed.

Author

Unknown, traditionally Jeremiah

Written

Finished during the exile, about 560 BC

Chapters

1. 12 Kings 1Israel’s king Ahaziah consults a foreign god, and Elijah announces his death. Fire falls on the soldiers sent to seize Elijah.
2. 22 Kings 2Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind with chariots of fire. Elisha receives a double portion of his spirit.
3. 32 Kings 3Israel, Judah and Edom march against Moab. Elisha tells them God will fill the valley with water, and Moab is defeated.
4. 42 Kings 4Elisha multiplies a widow’s oil, raises the Shunammite woman’s son, and feeds a hundred men with a little bread.
5. 52 Kings 5Naaman, an Aramean commander with a skin disease, is healed after washing seven times in the Jordan. Elisha’s servant Gehazi greedily takes a reward.
6. 62 Kings 6An axe head floats. Elisha’s servant sees the hills full of horses and chariots of fire protecting them, and Samaria is besieged.
7. 72 Kings 7Four lepers discover the Aramean camp abandoned, and the siege of Samaria ends as Elisha predicted.
8. 82 Kings 8Elisha foretells that Hazael will become king of Aram and harm Israel. Jehoram and Ahaziah reign in Judah.
9. 92 Kings 9Elisha has Jehu anointed king of Israel. Jehu kills King Joram and Ahaziah of Judah, and Jezebel is thrown from a window.
10. 102 Kings 10Jehu wipes out Ahab’s family and the worship of Baal in Israel, but keeps the golden calves.
11. 112 Kings 11Athaliah seizes Judah’s throne and kills the royal family, but baby Joash is hidden. At seven he is crowned, and Athaliah is killed.
12. 122 Kings 12Joash repairs the temple, but later pays off the king of Aram with its treasures.
13. 132 Kings 13Jehoahaz and Jehoash reign in Israel. Elisha dies, and a dead man comes to life when his body touches Elisha’s bones.
14. 142 Kings 14Amaziah of Judah foolishly challenges Israel and is defeated. Jeroboam II restores Israel’s borders.
15. 152 Kings 15A series of short reigns and assassinations in Israel, while Assyria begins to take Israelite land.
16. 162 Kings 16Ahaz of Judah worships other gods, sacrifices his son, and asks Assyria for help, copying a pagan altar for the temple.
17. 172 Kings 17Assyria captures Samaria in 722 BC and exiles the northern kingdom because Israel had rejected God and worshipped idols. Foreign peoples settle the land.
18. 182 Kings 18Hezekiah trusts the Lord and destroys idols. Assyria’s commander mocks the God of Israel outside Jerusalem.
19. 192 Kings 19Hezekiah spreads the Assyrian letter before the Lord and prays. Isaiah brings God’s answer, and the angel of the Lord strikes the Assyrian army.
20. 202 Kings 20Hezekiah is ill, prays, and is given fifteen more years. He foolishly shows his treasures to envoys from Babylon, and Isaiah predicts exile.
21. 212 Kings 21Manasseh is Judah’s most wicked king, filling Jerusalem with idols and innocent blood. His son Amon follows him.
22. 222 Kings 22Young King Josiah repairs the temple, and the Book of the Law is found. He tears his robes in repentance.
23. 232 Kings 23Josiah leads a sweeping reform, renews the covenant and celebrates Passover. He is killed in battle by Pharaoh Neco.
24. 242 Kings 24Babylon rises. King Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiachin and the leading people of Jerusalem into exile.
25. 252 Kings 25Babylon destroys Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC and exiles the people. Years later, the exiled King Jehoiachin is released and given a place at the king’s table.