2 Kings

What makes 2 Kings special?

Second Kings is actually the second half of a single book (1 and 2 Kings) that was divided into two parts, because it was too long to fit on one scroll. Together the books continue the history of the nation that was begun in 1 and 2 Samuel. As in 1 Kings the history is told in a special way. The story moves back and forth between reports of the kings in Judah (the southern kingdom) and reports of the kings in Israel (the northern kingdom). That allows the reader to compare what was going on in the south with what was going on in the north.

Why was 2 Kings written?

The destruction of Jerusalem in 586 b.c. was the major event that prompted the writing of 2 Kings. The smashing of the city walls, the burning of the temple, and the humiliation of the people resulted in a religious crisis among the survivors. God had promised to protect Judah and allow its kings to rule forever. But when Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was burned, the line of rulers from David's family line also came to an end. Together, these events threatened to destroy the people's trust in God, who seemed to have abandoned them.

The history as recorded in 1 and 2 Kings was completed after the destruction of Jerusalem, so the books are a response to this event. Second Kings shows the people that their kings, and not God, had been unfaithful. God had been very patient with Israel and Judah, even after the people and their leaders disobeyed God and worshiped idols. Prophets were sent repeatedly to warn the people and their kings to stop worshiping other gods and turn back to God. Finally, the people were punished. The two kingdoms were destroyed, and the people were forced to live in foreign nations.

Nathan's promise to David that one of his descendants would always rule Israel (2 Sam 7) is repeated often in 1 and 2 Kings. This repeated promise was intended to encourage the people to have hope that one day in the future, Israel's punishment would end, and they would once again be ruled by a king descended from David's family.

What's the story behind the scene?

Second Kings is presented as an historical account of three hundred years of the monarchies of Israel and Judah. But it is important to realize that the author was also writing this history as an interpretation of the events that led to the destruction of the nation. As a result, these pages are also filled with an emphasis on traditional values, with frequent warnings against unfaithfulness, and with calls for obedience to God's commandments.

On several occasions the author explains why certain events have taken place (2 Kgs 17.7-23) or whether or not a particular king was good or bad. As in 1 Kings these explanations sometimes appear in the speeches or statements made by God, a king, or a prophet (1 Kgs 9.3-9; 11.11-13; 14.7-16; 2 Kgs 20.16-18; 22.15-20).

How is 2 Kings constructed?

The following outline divides the book into three major sections. The first section (1.1—8.15) relates many stories about the prophet Elisha. The second section (8.16—17.41) reports the history of the two kingdoms until 722 b.c. when the Assyrians defeated the northern kingdom of Israel, destroyed Samaria, its capital city, and led the people away as captives. That left Judah, the southern kingdom, alone as an independent nation. The final section (18–25) reports the history of Judah until 586 b.c., when it was defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The capital city of Jerusalem was destroyed along with the temple that Solomon had built, and many of the people were taken to Babylonia as prisoners. The book ends on a somewhat hopeful note with the release of King Jehoiachin from prison.