II Kings
Purpose
Second Kings continues the story of the divided monarchy to its catastrophic double ending: the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria in 722 BC and the fall of Judah to Babylon in 586 BC, with the burning of the temple and the deportation of the survivors — the two most devastating events in Israel's history before Christ. The ministry of Elisha, characterised by remarkable miracles of grace and provision for the poor and hungry, provides a sustained prophetic witness against the sins of Israel's kings, but his words are largely rejected and the northern kingdom continues its relentless descent through a parade of assassinated rulers and Baal-worshipping dynasties. Even the rare bright spots — Hezekiah's extraordinary trust in God during Sennacherib's siege, rewarded with the miraculous destruction of 185,000 Assyrian troops, and Josiah's sweeping reform after the discovery of the Book of the Law — cannot finally avert the judgment that generations of apostasy had accumulated. The book's quiet ending — the Judean king Jehoiachin given a seat of honour at the Babylonian king's table — is a faint, stubborn ember of hope: the Davidic line has not been extinguished.
Author
Traditionally Jeremiah
Time Period
Written c. 560 BC; events c. 850-560 BC
Key Themes
- Exile
- Prophets (Elijah/Elisha)
- Covenant judgment
- Kings compared
- Hope beyond exile
Outline
Elijah's departure and Elisha's ministry begins (ch. 1–2): the chariot of fire and whirlwind; Elisha receives the double portion and strikes the Jordan. Elisha's miracles and prophetic ministry (ch. 3–8): the Moabite war; the widow's oil multiplied; the Shunammite's son raised; Naaman the Syrian leper healed; the axe head floats; the blinded Aramean army led to Samaria. Jehu's purge and Israel's continued decline (ch. 9–16): Jehu assassinates Joram, Ahaziah, and Jezebel; Athaliah's attempted coup in Judah; Joash's temple repair; the rapid succession of assassinated kings in Israel; Jeroboam II's prosperity. The fall of the northern kingdom (ch. 17): Assyria besieges Samaria for three years; Israel deported in 722 BC; theological commentary on why the exile happened. Hezekiah — faith in crisis (ch. 18–20): Sennacherib's invasion; the Rabshakeh's taunts; Hezekiah's prayer; Isaiah's word; 185,000 Assyrians killed overnight; Hezekiah's illness and recovery; the Babylonian envoys and Isaiah's ominous prediction. Manasseh's evil reign and Josiah's reform (ch. 21–23): the worst of all Judah's kings fills Jerusalem with blood; Josiah finds the Book of the Law and tears his robes; the great Passover; Josiah killed at Megiddo. The fall of Jerusalem (ch. 24–25): three Babylonian invasions; the temple burned; the governor Gedaliah assassinated; Jehoiachin honoured in Babylon — a hint of survival.