2 Kings

The Book of 2 Kings preserves a record of the kings of Israel and Judah, summarizing their kingly actions as well as their interactions with the prophets.

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Corrupt Leaders, Miracles, Horses and Chariots of Fire


SUMMARY

 

Title

The Books of 1 and 2 Kings record and interpret the reigns of all the kings of Israel and Judah (except Saul).

In the Hebrew Bible, 1 and 2 Kings are one book, not two. It is considered a continuation of the history in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel.

 

Author

The book bears the marks of single rather than multiple authorship.

The identity of that author is unknown. Some speculate he may have been an exile who lived in Babylon.

 

Date

The last event recorded in 2 Kings is the release of Jehoiachin from prison. That took place in the 37th year of his imprisonment, which was 560 BC.

Therefore 1 and 2 Kings were not written before then.

But the author does not mention the return of the Jewish exiles from their Babylonian Captivity. That took place in 538 BC.

Thus 1 and 2 Kings can be dated to between 560 and 538 BC.

 

Purpose

The author preserves a record of the kings of Israel and Judah, summarizing their kingly actions as well as their interactions with the prophets.

But more importantly, the author preserves the lessons of history. Did each king live by the Law of Moses? Why did the nations decline? How widespread was idolatry among the people of the LORD God?

 


OUTLINE

 

The Kings after Solomon

2 Kings 1:1-18. Elijah denounces king Ahaziah

2 Kings 2:1-13. Elijah is taken to heaven in a whirlwind

2 Kings 2:14-18. Elisha splits the river

2 Kings 2:19-22. Elisha heals a poisoned water supply

2 Kings 2:23-25. Bears kill 42 abusive youths

2 Kings 3:1-3. Evil Joram becomes king of Israel

2 Kings 3:4-27. Evil Joram starts a war

2 Kings 4:1-7. Elisha multiplies a widow’s oil

2 Kings 4:8-17. A woman becomes pregnant

2 Kings 4:18-37. Elisha brings a dead man to life

2 Kings 4:38-41. Elisha makes poisonous food safe

2 Kings 4:42-44. Elisha multiplies loaves

2 Kings 5:1-14. Elisha heals Captain Naaman

2 Kings 5:15-27. Elisha’s servant deceives Naaman

2 Kings 6:1-7. Elisha makes an axe head float

2 Kings 6:8-17. Elisha opens his servant’s eyes to see angels

2 Kings 6:18-19. Elisha strikes the Syrian army with blindness

2 Kings 6:20-23. Elisha restores the sight of the Syrian army

2 Kings 6:24-33. Syria attacks Samaria

2 Kings 7:1-2. Elisha says food will be abundant

2 Kings 7:3-11. Four lepers discover the enemy has fled

2 Kings 7:12-20. Israel plunders the camp

2 Kings 8:1-6. The woman from Shunem is restored

2 Kings 8:7-15. Evil Hazael murders the king of Syria and takes his place

2 Kings 8:16-24. Evil Jehoram becomes king in Judah

2 Kings 8:25-29. Evil Ahaziah becomes king in Judah

2 Kings 9:1-13. Jehu becomes king of Israel

2 Kings 9:14-29. Jehu assassinates kings Joram and Ahaziah

2 Kings 9:30-37 Jehu assassinates queen Jezebel

2 Kings 10:1-17. Jehu assassinates Ahab’s descendants

2 Kings 10:18-33. Jehu assassinates every prophet and follower of Baal

2 Kings 10:34-36. King Jehu dies

2 Kings 11:1-3. Athaliah becomes queen ruler in Judah

2 Kings 11:4-20. Jehoiada executes queen Athaliah

2 Kings 11:21. A seven year old child becomes king in Judah

2 Kings 12:1-16. Jehoash repairs the temple

2 Kings 12:17-21. Jehoash is assassinated

2 Kings 13:1-9. Evil Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel

2 Kings 13:10-13. Evil Jehoash becomes king of Israel

2 Kings 13:14-19. Elisha dies

2 Kings 13:20-25. Elisha’s corpse revives a dead Moabite man

2 Kings 14:1-22. Amaziah becomes king in Judah

2 Kings 14: 23-29. Jeroboam II becomes king in Israel

2 Kings 15:1-7. Azariah becomes king in Judah

2 Kings 15:8-38. A succession of evil kings in Israel

2 Kings 16:1-20. Evil Ahaz becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 17:1-5. Evil Hoshea becomes king of Israel

2 Kings 17:6-23. The fall of Israel

2 Kings 17:24-41. Foreigners settle in Israel

 

The Surviving Kingdom of Judah

2 Kings 18:1-12. Hezekiah becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 18:13-37. Assyria invades Judah

2 Kings 19:1-19. Hezekiah seeks the LORD

2 Kings 19:20-37. Isaiah prophesies victory

2 Kings 20:1-11. Hezekiah recovers from a grave illness

2 Kings 20:12-21. Envoys from Babylon

2 Kings 21:1-18. Evil Manasseh becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 21:19-26. Evil Amon becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 22:1-7. Josiah becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 22:8-13. Hilkiah finds a copy of the Scriptures

2 Kings 22:14-20. Huldah the prophetess instructs the king

2 Kings 23:1-20. King Josiah eradicates idolatry

2 Kings 23:21-30. Josiah restores the Passover

2 Kings 23:31-33. Jehoahaz becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 23:34-37. Jehoiakim becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 24:1-7. Nebuchadnezzar targets Judah

2 Kings 24:8-9. Evil Jehoiachin becomes king of Judah

2 Kings 24:10-13. Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah

2 Kings 24:14-17. Judah is taken into captivity

2 Kings 24:18-20. Evil Zedekiah is appointed king of Judah

2 Kings 25:1-7. The Fall of Jerusalem

2 Kings 25:8-10. Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple and Jerusalem

2 Kings 25:11-30. The survivors are marched into exile

 


MEMORIZE

 

2 Kings 2:9. When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”

2 Kings 6:16. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (NIV translation)

2 Kings 6:17. And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (NIV translation)

Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible

 


2 KINGS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Corrupt Leaders, Miracles, Horses and Chariots of Fire

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.