2 Kings

Fall of Israel

The Book of 2 Kings is the fourth book of the Books of the Kings in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It continues the story of the kings of Israel and Judah, beginning with the reign of Ahaziah, the king of Israel, and ending with the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonians. The book includes the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah, including both the good kings who followed God's commands and the bad kings who turned away from God. It also includes the stories of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, who were sent by God to warn the people of Israel and Judah of their disobedience and to call them back to God. The book ends with the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonians, and the exile of the Israelites to Babylon. Key figures in the book of 2 Kings include Ahaziah, Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. The book also mentions various other individuals, such as the prophets and the priests, who served as advisers and leaders for the kings

Commentary

25 chapters

Biblical figures

Key figures in 2 Kings

God

Supreme Being

Israel

King

David

Prophet, King of Israel

Moses

Prophet, biblical judge

Judah

Tribal leader

Jerusalem

Capital

Egypt

Pharaoh

Dan

Judge

Jacob

Prophet, Patriarchs

Solomon

Prophet, King of Israel

Philistine

Enemy

Pharaoh

Ben

Son of Jacob.

Abraham

Prophet, patriarch

Joshua

Prophet

Jordan

Baptist

Ephraim

Tribe Leader

Zion

No official position held by the figure Zion.

Syria

Ruler

Jeremiah

Prophet, Cohen

Manasseh son of Jacob

Assyria

King of Assyria

Isaac

Prophet, patriarch

Hezekiah

King of Judah

Ammon

Servant

Samaria

King of Israel

Gilead

Judge

Edom

Chief of Edom.

Gad

prophet

Reuben

Firstborn of Jacob.

Jehoshaphat

King of Judah

Ram

Judge

Elisha

Prophet

Galilee

Region

Elijah

Prophet

Bethel

priest

Jonah

Prophet

Zedekiah

King of Judah

Bashan

King of Bashan

Damascus

Governor of Damascus

Josiah

King of Judah

Zadok

High Priest of Israel

Ishmael

Son of Abraham

Naphtali

Tribal leader

Azariah

High Priest

Jezreel

The position held by Jezreel was "a city in Israel."

Joash

King

Nathan

Prophet

Amaziah

King

Ahaziah

King of Judah

Ramah

Prophet.

Asaph

Singer

Hilkiah

High Priest of Israel

Carmel

Prophet.

Amon

King

Gedaliah

Governor

Isaiah

Prophet

Zidon

King

Shaphan

Scribe

Joram

King

Johanan

High Priest of Israel

Uzziah

King of Judah

Arnon

Governor

Abel

Shepherd

Jotham

King of Judah

Hazael

King

Jezebel

Queen consort

Mattan

High Priest

Ahijah

High Priest of Israel

Gaza

Ruler of Gaza

Nethaniah

Captain

Seraiah

High Priest of Israel

Haran

positionheld: Brother of Abraham

Mesha

King

Nineveh

Capital

Omri

King of Israel

Tirzah

Queen

Athaliah

Queen regnant, King of Judah

Elah

King of Israel

Elishama

Leader

Naaman

Commander of the army

Mattaniah

High Priest

Eliakim

Chief steward

Zacharia

Prophet

Zimri

King of Israel

Amoz

Prophet

Joah

Secretary

Kidron

Judge

Rezin

King

Urijah

Prophet

Zephaniah

Prophet

Adaiah

Priest

Tarry

Position held: Judge.

Elnathan

High official

Hena

Unknown

Michaiah

Prophet.

Shalma

Trea

Arpad

Jaazaniah

Zachariah

Halah

Ivah

Jehonadab

Tikva

Amittai

Armenia

Azaliah

Hephzibah

Huldah

Jerusha

Tikvah

Zibiah

Arieh

Ashima

Janoah

Jedidah

Silla

Zair

Ahab

King of Israel

Baasha

King of Israel

Eli

High Priest of Israel, biblical judge

Ham

Jehoahaz

King of Judah, King of Israel

Jehoiada

High Priest of Israel

Jehoiakim

King of Judah

Menahem

King of Israel

Moab

Nebuchadnezzar

King of Babylon

Shallum

High Priest of Israel

Sharezer

King of Assyria

Shimea

Chapters

Elijah Confronts Ahaziah

2 Kings 1

Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah and follows the Lord, leading to a time of peace and prosperity.

Elijah's Ascension and Elisha's Request

2 Kings 2

Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving Elisha to carry on his work as prophet.

Moab Rebels Against Israel

2 Kings 3

Moab rebels against Israel and Jehoram, the king of Israel, seeks the help of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah.

Elisha and the Widow's Oil

2 Kings 4

Elisha performs many miracles, including feeding a large crowd with a small amount of food and healing a toxic stew.

Naaman's Healing

2 Kings 5

Naaman, a commander of the Syrian army, is healed of leprosy by Elisha and becomes a believer in the Lord.

The Floating Ax Head

2 Kings 6

Elisha causes an ax head that had fallen into the water to float, demonstrating his power over nature.

The Siege of Samaria Lifted

2 Kings 7

The Lord lifts the siege of Samaria through Elisha's prophecy, bringing great abundance to the city.

Jehoram's Reign and Death in Israel

2 Kings 8

Jehoram becomes king of Israel and leads the people into idolatry, eventually dying a painful death.

Jehu Anointed King of Israel

2 Kings 9

Jehu is anointed king of Israel by one of the sons of the prophet Elisha.

Jehu's Purge of the House of Ahab

2 Kings 10

Jehu carries out a violent purge of the house of Ahab, eliminating all the remaining members of the dynasty.

Athaliah Overthrown

2 Kings 11

Athaliah becomes queen of Judah and promotes idolatry, leading to her eventual overthrow and death.

Repair of the Temple

2 Kings 12

Joash becomes king of Judah and carries out reforms, repairing the temple and removing idolatry.

Jehoahaz's Reign in Israel

2 Kings 13

Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel and leads the people into idolatry, eventually dying a painful death.

Amaziah's Reign in Judah

2 Kings 14

Amaziah becomes king of Judah and carries out reforms, defeating the Edomites in battle.

Reigns of Azariah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah

2 Kings 15

Azariah, also known as Uzziah, becomes king of Judah and carries out reforms, but also becomes proud and is struck with leprosy.

Hoshea's Reign and Fall of Samaria

2 Kings 16

Hoshea becomes king of Israel and leads the people into idolatry, eventually causing the fall of Samaria to the Assyrians.

The Assyrian Exile of Israel

2 Kings 17

The people of Israel are exiled to Assyria as punishment for their idolatry and disobedience.

Hezekiah's Reign in Judah

2 Kings 18

Hezekiah becomes king of Judah and carries out reforms, including removing idolatry and repairing the temple.

Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah

2 Kings 19

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, invades Judah, but is ultimately defeated

Hezekiah's Illness and Deliverance

2 Kings 20

Hezekiah becomes ill and is delivered from death by the Lord through the prophet Isaiah.

Manasseh's Reign in Judah

2 Kings 21

Manasseh becomes king of Judah and leads the people into great evil, including idol worship and child sacrifice.

Josiah's Reforms in Judah

2 Kings 22

Josiah becomes king of Judah and carries out extensive reforms, removing idolatry and repairing the temple.

The Book of the Law Found

2 Kings 23

The book of the law is discovered during repairs to the temple, leading to further reforms and a revival of faith.

Babylonian Captivity of Judah

2 Kings 24

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, conquers Judah and exiles many of its citizens to Babylon.

Fall of Jerusalem and End of the Kingdom

2 Kings 25

Jerusalem is destroyed and the kingdom of Judah comes to an end, with the remaining citizens taken into exile in Babylon.