Book of 2 Kings
Book of 2 Kings
by Timothy Kenney, PhD
A chapter outline appears in the following manner:
- The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah - 2 Kings 1-17
- The Kingdom of Judah after 721 B.C. - 2 Kings 18-25
A narrative summary of the the Book of 2 Kings follows.
I. The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah - 2 Kings 1-17.
Chapters 1-13 centers on the prophet Elisha. Elisha accompanies Elijah to the Jordan River, where Elijah is swept into heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha works miracles and anoints new leaders Hazael and Jehu over Syria and Israel. These leaders defeat the ruling house of Ahab and Jezebel, which had promoted foreign worship in Israel. The section concludes with Elisha's death.
Chapters 14-17 chronicles Israel's history until the fall of Samaria. After several more kings reign in Israel and Judah, the Assyrians conquer Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, in 722 BC. Many Israelites go into exile and the Assyrians settle colonists from other nations in central Palestine. This region becomes known as Samaria.
II. The Kingdom of Judah after 721 B.C. - 2 Kings 18-25.
Chapters 18-25 continues the story of the southern kingdom until the fall of Jerusalem. King Hezekiah reforms Israel's worhip and is delivered from a siege by the Assyrians, but several of his successors revert to idolatry. King Josiah also undertakes reforms, but is killed in battle. Within a generation the Babylonians capture Jerusalem and destroy the Temple.
We now turn our attention to the Books of 1&2 Chronicles.
Bibliography:
- Books of Kings. New World Encyclopedia.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Books_of_Kings. - Books of the Bible: 2 Kings. Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.
http://demo.lutherproductions.com/bibletutor/level1/program/start/books/oldtest/histbook/kings2.htm. - Catholic Doors Ministry: An Outline of the Book of 2 Kings.
http://www.catholicdoors.com/outline/o-2ki.htm. - Dunston, Bob. Notes on the Hebrew Bible: Outline of 2 Kings.
http://religion.ucumberlands.edu/hebrew_bible/hbout/2kgsout.htm. - First and Second Books of Kings. New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08647b.htm. - OrthodoxWiki. Holy Scripture. http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Holy-Scripture.
- The New American Bible. Wichita, KS: Devore and Sons, Inc., 1987.