An Overview of 2 Kings

FROM ELIJAH TO EXILE

Prepared for the Church of Christ in Champions

The Setup

The 2 had been 1 1 and 2 Kings were one book that was divided

around 200 B.C. when translated into Greek. Final Installment of the history of the

kings Began with the books of Samuel (Saul to

Jehoiachin) Hebrew Bible actually calls the books of

Samuel and the books of Kings, 1-4 Kings. Israel had kings from 1050 B.C. to 562 B.C.

The Setup

Who wrote the book? Jewish tradition says Jeremiah Jeremiah is possible except for the last 4

verses We are not really sure (could be Jeremiah,

could be someone else during Babylonian captivity)

Historical sources used: Book of the annals of the kings of Judah Book of the annals of the kings of Israel

The Timeline (850 B.C- 562 B.C.)

The Structure

2 Kingdoms Northern Kingdom of Israel. Capitol was

Samaria. Southern Kingdom of Judah. Capitol was

Jerusalem. 2 Kings is structured around the

kings of Israel and Judah This flip-flopping between the kings of

the north and south can be confusing.

The Kings of Israel in 2 Kings

Notice:

Not descendants of David

All evil kings except Jehu

Conduct gets worse until captured by Assyria

Elijah, Elisha, and Jonah mentioned as prophets in Israel

Amos and Hosea not mentioned but ministered in Israel

King Reign Significant EventAhaziah 2 yrs Consulted Baal-ZebubJoram / Jehoram

12 yrs King during the famine in Samaria

Jehu 28 yrs Only obedient king but still continued in sins of

JeroboamJehoahaz 17 yrs God helped him defeat

AramJehoash 16 yrs Met with a dying Elisha

Jeroboam II 41 yrs Restored the boundaries of Israel

Zechariah 6 months Killed by ShallumShallum 1 month Killed by Menahem

Menahem 10 yrs Bought off king of AssyriaPekahiah 2 yrs Killed by Pekah

Pekah 20 yrs Lots of Israel taken by Assyria

Hoshea 9 yrs Assyria captures all of Israel

Why Israel Fell (17:7-12)

7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns.

Why Israel Fell (17:7-12)

10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that provoked the LORD to anger. 12 They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, "You shall not do this."

Why Israel Fell (17:7-12)

They sinned against the Lord Followed the practices of

the nations Followed the practices of

the kings of Israel Did things in secret

against God Worshipped other Gods Worshipped sacred stones Worshipped idols

The Kings of Judah

Notice:

Descendants of David

Athaliah was interim queen

Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah are best kings

Manasseh is worst

Isaiah and Huldah were mentioned as prophets

Evil behavior finally leads to its capture by Babylon

King Reign SignificanceJehoram 8 yrs Descendant of AhabAhaziah 1 yr Killed by Jehu; desc. of AhabAthaliah 6 yrs Mother of Ahaziah

Joash 40 yrs Anointed king in hiding as child

Amaziah 29 yrs Followed the Book of the Law

Azariah/Uzziah

52 yrs Inflicted with Leprosy for disobedience

Jotham 16 yrs Did not remove high placesAhaz 16 yrs Conspired with Assyria against

IsraelHezekiah 29 yrs His faith saved Judah from

AssyriaManasseh 55 yrs Provoked Lord to anger

Amon 2 yrs Evil like ManassehJosiah 31 yrs Renewed the covenant after

the Book of the Law was discovered

Jehoahaz 3 months

Taken captive by Egyptian king

Jehoiakim 11 yrs Judah raided by many nations

Jehoiachin 3 months

Taken as prisoner to Babylon

Zedekiah 11 yrs Jerusalem finally destroyed

The Fall of Judah The sins of Manasseh

are to blame for the fall of Judah

Jerusalem and the Temple burnt to the ground (722 B.C.)

King Jehoiachin and most of Judah taken captive to Babylon

Was God through with Israel? The last 4 verses gives hope!

Major Characters

Elisha, the prophet to Israel

Jehu, King of IsraelHezekiah, King of JudahManasseh, King of JudahJosiah, King of Judah

Elisha- Prophet in Israel

Replaces Elijah as main prophet in Israel

Main character in 2 Kings 2-8

Multiplies a widows oil; blesses a woman with a child then raises him from the dead; multiplies food; heals a man of leprosy; blinds an army; prophesized the end of a famine.

Jehu- Agent of Punishment

Anointed king of Israel by a young prophet sent by Elisha

Wipes out the descendents of the evil king Ahab in Israel, the ministers of Baal, and Jezebel

Kills both the king of Israel and Judah

Was obedient to God but still was in the sin of Jeroboam

Hezekiah- Man of Prayer “There was no one like

him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.”

The LORD listened to his prayer and kept Judah safe from Assyria

The LORD listened to his prayer and healed him from his illness

Manasseh- Most Evil King

King after Hezekiah Longest reigning king Did a lot of evil: sacrificed

his own children, worshipped other gods and idols, shed innocent blood, and even set up the Asherah pole in the temple.

He was ultimately given the blame for the fall of Judah

Josiah- King of Reform Grandson of Manasseh Hilkiah the priest

discovered the Book of the Law in the Temple.

Huldah speaks for the Lord

Renews the covenant among the people Follows the commands of God Ultimately too late to save Judah. God

already decided to destroy Judah because of Manasseh

What do we learn from 2 Kings?

Sin destroys The nations of Israel and Judah fell because of sin God punishes the sins of nations and of individuals

As a whole, the leadership of the Kings failed God’s people needed a better king, a Messiah, a Savior God sent His perfect son to rule and to save His people Some kings (like Hezekiah) were able to temporarily

save Israel from destruction, but not forever All authority was given to Him to rule spiritual Israel We submit to him not by observing the Law of Moses

but through faith in Him

What do we learn from 2 Kings? God is faithful to His promises

He promised David that a member of his family would always sit on the throne (2Sam 7)

Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to David Jesus will rule over God’s kingdom until the

end (1Cor 15:24-28) With God, there is always hope

2 Kings ends with a glimmer of hope Through Jesus there is always hope for the

sinner