II KINGS---CORONATION TO CAPTIVITY
INTRODUCTION
1. Second Kings is a collection of the deeds of the many kings of the two divisions of the kingdom: Judah and Israel.
2. The narrative alternates between the two kingdoms.
3. The ministry of the many prophets falls within this period.
A. The writing prophets probably began with Joel about 850 B.C.
B. Other prophets of that time whose works are recorded in the O.T. canon: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.
C. Daniel also exercised a part of his prophetic ministry during this era. (Dan. 1:1; II Kings 24:10-16)
D. It is striking to notice how many voices God raised up to stem the tide of rebellion as judgment came closer.
4. Apart from the activities of various individuals such as Elisha, Hezekiah, and Josiah, the most important feature of the book is its record of the captivities of both Israel (by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.) and Judah (by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.).
A. It is made clear that the captivities were because of sin. (17:6-23; 21:1-16)
B. Israel was taken captive by the armies of the Assyrians whose capital was Ninevah. This marks the end of the Northern Kingdom.
C. Judah was captured by the military forces of the Babylonians, but after a period of seventy years the people were restored to their own land. (See the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.)
5. In I Kings we see the kingdom of Israel, filled with pride and arrogance, falling apart. In II Kings, sinning yet more, Israel goes into captivity. The history of Israel is a record of God’s dealings with a disobedient people.
6. The book opens with the translation of Elijah and closes with the transportation of the captive Jews to Babylon. (2:11; 25:21)
AUTHOR - unknown: probably a succession of prophets in Israel and Judah.
DATE
1. Of coverage: about 309 years - from Ahaziah of Israel to the Babylonian captivity. From about 895 B.C. to 586 B.C.
2. Of writing: probably throughout the period
CIRCUMSTANCES
1. To record the ministry of Elisha (2:12-13:21)
2. To record the persistent apostasy of Israel and the Assyrian captivity (17:7, 8, 18)
3. To record the persistent apostasy of Judah and the Babylonian captivity (21:12-15)
KEY PHRASES
1. “Evil in the sight of the Lord” or similar phrase; 21 times (3:2; 8:18; etc.)
2. “The sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin” or similar phrase; 13 times (3:3; 10:29; etc.)
KEY PASSAGES
1. 17:6-23 in reference to the sin and bondage of Israel
2. 21:1-16 in reference to the sin and bondage of Judah
MESSAGES OF THE BOOK
1. People are no better and rise no higher than their leaders. When the kings entertained wickedness, the people were quick to follow suit. When a godly king such as Hezekiah brought spiritual revival, the people again responded in kind.
2. When the Word of God is neglected, chaos results. Then we live by our own standards and soon adopt the ways of the world. (22:8,19,20; 23:21,22) Without the Law for direction, Judah became idolaters like those around her. Accordingly, there always ensues, as Dr. G. Campbell Morgan puts its, “degraded ideals, deadened consciences, defeated purposes”.
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK
I. ELIJAH’S MINISTRY CONCLUDED (1:1-2:11)
A. Elijah and the companies of fifty (1)
B. Elijah and the carrying to heaven (2:1-11)
II. ELISHA’S MIRACLES COMMENCED (2:12-13:25)
A. During the reign of Jehoram of Israel (2:12-8:29)
B. During the reign of Jehu of Israel (9-10)
C. During the reigns of Athaliah and Joash in Judah (11-12)
D. During the reigns of Jehoahaz and Joash in Israel (13)
III. ISRAEL’S MISERY CONSIDERED (14-17)
A. Amaziah of Judah and Joash of Israel (14:1-22)
B. Jeroboam II of Israel (14:23-29)
C. Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah (15:1-7)
D. Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah of Israel (15:8-31)
E. Jotham of Judah (15:32-28)
F. Ahaz of Judah (16)
G. Hoshea of Israel and the Assyrian captivity (17)
IV. JUDAH’S MASTERY CONSUMMATED (18-25)
A. Good king Hezekiah (18-20)
B. Wicked kings Manasseh and Amon (21)
C. Good king Josiah (22:1-23,30)
D. Wicked king Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin (23:31-24:16)
E. Wicked king Zedekiah and the Babylonian captivity (24:17-25:30)
A LOOK AT THE KINGS
ISRAEL
Length of Manner of
Name Reign Death Scripture
I Kings
Jeroboam (bad) 22 yrs striken 11:26-39
Nadab (bad) 2 yrs slain 15:25-31
Baasha (bad) 24 yrs died 15:16-16:7
Elah (bad) 2 yrs murdered 16:6-10
Zimri (bad) 7 days sucicide 16:8-20
Omri (bad) 12 yrs died 16:16-28
Ahab (bad) 22 yrs slain 16:29-22:40
Ahaziah (bad) 2 yrs accident 22:51-II Kgs 1:18
II Kings
Jehoram (bad) 12 yrs murdered 3:1-9:29
Jehu (bad) 28 yrs died 9-10; 15:12
Jehoahaz (bad) 17 yrs died 13:1-9
Joash (bad) 16 yrs died 13:40-14:16
Jeroboam II (bad) 41 yrs died 14:23-29
Zachariah (bad) 6 mos murdered 15:8-12
Shallum (bad) 1 mo murdered 15:13-15
Menahem (bad) 10 yrs died 15:16-22
Pekahiah (bad) 2 yrs murdered 15:23-26
Pekah (bad) 20 yrs murdered 15:27-31
Hoshea (bad) 9 yrs captive 15:30; 17; 18:9-12
JUDAH
I Kings
Rehoboam (bad) 17 yrs died 11:43
Abijam (bad 3 yrs died 15:1-8
Asa (good) 41 yrs died 15:9-24
Jehoshaphat (good) 25 yrs died 22:2-33, 41-50
II Kings
Joram (bad) 8 yrs smitten 8:16-24
Ahaziah (bad) 1 yr killed 8:25-9:29
Athaliah - queen (bad) 6 yrs slain 11
Jehoash/Joash (unstable) 40 yrs slain 11, 12
Amaziah (unstable) 29 yrs slain 14:1-22
Azariah (unstable) 52 yrs leper 15:1-7
Jotham (good) 16 yrs died 15:32-38
Ahaz (bad) 16 yrs died 16
Hezekiah (good) 6 yrs died 16:20-20:21
NOTE
1. Israel had 19 kings, not one being good; while Judah had 19 kings and 1 queen, eight of whom were good.
2. One of the best of Judah’s kings, Hezekiah, was the father of the worst of Judah’s kings, Manasseh. (ch. 21)