2 KINGS 1
GOD SENDS ELIJAH TO TELL OF AHAZIAH’S DEATH
After the death of Ahab, Ahaziah takes the throne as king over Israel. Ahaziah suffers an injury from falling through a lattice and asks Baal-zebub, a false god, if he would recover.
Because Ahaziah inquires from Baal-zebub instead of God, God sends the prophet Elijah a messenger who tells him that Ahaziah would not recover and that he would die.
When Ahaziah’s messengers return with the news from Elijah, Ahaziah is not pleased. Twice, Ahaziah sends groups of fifty men to confront Elijah and arrest him. Elijah calls upon God and the men are burned up in a fire from heaven.
Ahaziah sends a third group of men to Elijah, but they ask for mercy. Elijah spares them and repeats the news that Ahaziah will die.
Just as God told Elijah, Ahaziah does not recover and dies. Because Ahaziah had no sons, Ahab’s son Joram becomes king after Ahaziah's death.
2 KINGS 2
ELIJAH’S DEPARTURE + ELISHA’S LEADERSHIP
Elijah and Elisha, the two prophets, travel to Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan River together. With his cloak, Elijah is able to part the water of the Jordan River for them to cross, similar to Moses and Joshua (Exodus 14, Joshua 3).
Knowing his time with Elisha is short, Elijah asks what he could provide for Elisha before his departure. Elisha asks for a double portion of God’s spirit upon him, so that he could continue lead and prophecy in the same way as Elijah.
Just as Elijah predicted, he is taken away with a fiery chariot sent by God. Elijah was not thought to be dead, but instead taken up to heaven. As he is carried away, his cloak is left behind and Elisha is able to part the river, just as Elijah had done.
Fifty men set out to find Elijah, but are unsuccessful. Elisha is seen as Elijah’s successor as a prophet in Israel. Elisha adds salt to water, making it clean, as a sign of his desire to purify God’s nation.
Later on, many young boys mock Elisha for his baldness. The young boys are then attacked and eaten by bears.
2 KINGS 3
ISRAEL + JUDAH JOIN FORCE AGAINST MOAB
Joram, the son of Ahab, is ruler over Israel for twelve years. Overall, Joram is an evil king, but he righteously removes a pillar made for Baal worship.
Mesha, the king of Moab, a sheep farmer, owes Ahab 100,000 lambs. Once Ahab dies, the Moabites rebelled against the Israelites. Joram approaches Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, about teaming up against Moab.
The armies of Israel and Judah join together, but are unable to find water for seven days. Jehoshaphat wants to consult a godly man for advice, so he calls upon Elisha.
Elisha instructs them to dig trenches and God would fill them with water. Elisha also prophesies that they would be victorious over Moab.
When the trenches fill with water, the Moabites see them and think they are filled with the blood of their enemies. Bold assumption, Moab! While the Moabites celebrate, the armies of Israel and Judah attack them and overthrow the Moabites. God provides water and victory, just as Elisha predicted.
During the battle, the king of Moab offers up his oldest son as a child sacrifice. This is disgraceful to the Israelites who know this act was offensive to God.
2 KINGS 4
THROUGH ELIJAH, GOD PERFORMS MANY MIRACULOUS ACTS
Elisha is approached by a widow who asks for help paying off her debts. Elisha asks what she had to offer, and she only possessed a small amount of oil. Elisha tells her to collect as many containers as she can find, borrowing jugs and jars from neighbors.
Elisha instructs her to place some of her oil in each container. Upon doing this, she is miraculously able to fill all of the containers! This allows her to pay off her debts and live off of the excess. God honors her expectant heart with abundance.
When Elisha is traveling near Shunem, there is a woman is hospitable and generous, giving him a place to stay whenever he passed through. Elisha asks what he could do for her, and she asks for the ability to have a son. A year later, the woman conceives a son. When the child grows up, he suffers from terrible head pain and dies at a young age. Elisha stretches out, laying over the boy, and God restores his life.
During a famine, Elisha is able to purify a pot of stew that was accidentally made with poisonous deadly herbs. Later, he is able to multiply a small amount of food into an amount that can feed one hundred men. The miraculous acts of God done through Elisha foreshadow the future miracles of Jesus!
2 KINGS 5
NAAMAN IS HEALED OF LEPROSY + TURNS TO GOD
Naaman, the army general of the kingdom of Aram, contracts leprosy. Naaman sends a letter to the king of Israel, asking for help. Although the king does not come to his aid, Elisha is willing to meet with him.
Elisha sends his servant Gehazi to meet Naaman, who instructs him to bathe in the Jordan River seven times to bring healing to his leprosy. Naaman is angry with this news, wanting to meet with Elisha face-to-face and be healed immediately, not told to wash himself in a dirty river. Naaman’s servants convince him to try bathing in the river seven times as Elisha instructed, and he is healed!
Because of his healing, Naaman goes to find Elisha to share; he now believes that the God of Israel is the one true God! God heals Naaman before he became a believer and Naaman responds in faith. Naaman is so confident in God’s presence in Israel, he asks Elisha for some of the dirt off the ground in Israel.
Naaman wants to give Elisha a gift, but Elisha gives God credit for the healing and does not accept any gifts or compensation. Instead, Gehazi, the messenger and servant, runs after Naaman to accept the gift instead. Naaman generously gives Gehazi one hundred and fifty pounds of gold and silver. Gehazi lies about the gifts that he received when confronted by Elisha. Because of his greed and dishonesty, Gehazi becomes infected with leprosy!
2 KINGS 6
DESPITE ELISHA’S MIRACLES, SAMARIA IS OVERTHROWN
Elisha is approached by a group of prophets who want to build a larger living space in Jordan. Elisha agrees to help them build their new accommodations. As they are chopping down trees, one of the prophets loses the head of a borrowed ax. The ax had fallen in the river and sunk to the bottom, unable to be retrieved. Elisha takes a branch and throws it at the spot where it fell, and it miraculously floats back to the top! God uses Elisha in both big and seemingly small ways.
The next instance of Elisha’s miracle working takes place during a war between Aram and Israel. One of Elisha’s servants is alarmed when he sees the Aram army approaching with horses and chariots. Elisha comforts him, telling him not to be alarmed. Elisha prays for him to have eyes to see what God is doing around them. The servant realizes that God filled the entire mountainside with horses and chariots of fire!
In contrast to the prayer for the servant to see, Elisha prays for the Arameans to be blind. God responds to Elisha’s prayer and the entire army is struck blind. Although Elisha had the ability and motive to kill the Aram army, he instead responds with kindness and makes a feast for his enemies. Because of his humility and generosity, the Arameans make peace with Israel.
Much later, after the peace with Aram has ended, Ben-Hadad the king of Aram launches a siege of Samaria. With their capital city overthrown, a terrible famine comes upon Israel. Desperation rules in Israel throughout the famine, causing the people of Samaria to resort to eating donkey heads, bird feces, and even their own children.
2 KINGS 7
ELISHA PREDICTS THE END OF THE FAMINE
Elisha is nearly killed during the time of the famine, but he provides good news that the famine and high food prices would soon subside. One of the king's attendants does not believe Elisha and questions where the food would come from.
Four men with leprosy decide that living in Samaria is worse than being taken captive by the Arameans, so they take a chance by entering the camp of their enemies. The Arameans hear someone coming and get spooked, thinking the Egyptians or Hittites are coming after them. Because the Arameans fled, the four men plunder all that they left behind. Instead of keeping it all for themselves, they return to Samaria to share the good news that the Arameans had left.
Elisha’s prophecy was correct: the famine is over, food prices dropped, and the people of Samaria are able to loot the Aramean campsite. The man who doubted Elisha was responsible for guarding the city gate and as the people rushed towards the food, he is trampled to death.
2 KINGS 8
ELISHA WEPT OVER ISRAEL'S WICKED LEADERS
Previously, Elisha stays in the home of a wealthy woman from Shunam and warns her of the famine (2 Kings 4). Once the famine is over, the woman and her family return home. While Gehazi is reporting Elisha’s great deeds to the king, the woman arrives to ask for the restoration of her land. Upon hearing that Elisha brought her son back to life, the king is amazed and restores the woman’s land and provides her with the profits it produced while she was away during the famine.
Elisha travels to Damascus, where Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram was living. Ben-Hadad is very ill at the time and orders Hazael to meet with Elisha. Elisha says that although Ben-Hadad would recover from his current illness, he would soon face death.
Elisha weeps when delivering this news to Hazael, knowing that Hazael would become the next king of Aram and cause great destruction to Israel. Hazael, using a wet blanket, suffocates and killed Ben-Hadad, taking the throne of Aram.
Back in Judah, Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram, becomes king. Jehoram marries into the family of Ahab and follows his wicked actions. Because he is from the line of David, God does not remove him from the throne despite his rebellion. During his reign, the Edomites revolt and establish their own kingdom. After Jehoram’s death, his son Ahaziah becomes king over Judah. Ahaziah continues the streak of unfaithful and sinful kings.
2 KINGS 9
THE FATE OF JEZEBEL
Following God’s instruction, Elisha shares the news that Jehu would be anointed as king over Israel. Elisha commissions him to wipe out Ahab’s entire line of descendants. Jehu does as Elisha directs and kills both Joram and Ahaziah by shooting them with an arrow.
Just as Elijah predicted in 1 Kings 21, Jezebel suffers a terrible death. Jezebel is thrown out of her window and her body is devoured by dogs.
2 KINGS 10
THE FATE OF AHAB’S DESCENDANTS + BAAL WORSHIPPERS
Jehu corresponds with Israel, asking their leaders to help him in his mission to kill Ahab’s descendants. Because Ahab has seventy sons still alive in Samaria, this is no small task. Israel’s officials kill all seventy of the sons on Jehu’s behalf, beheading them and delivering them to Jehu as proof.
Jehu removes the guilt from those who killed Ahab’s descendants, reminding them that this was under God’s instruction and authority. Jehu continues to kill anyone who was associated with Ahab’s family, wiping out all of his close friends and allies. As Jehu travels, he meets some of Ahab’s distant relatives and kills them as well. There are no survivors related to or aligned with Ahab; his legacy is completely wiped out.
Next, Jehu gathers all the people who were prophets of Baal by pretending to be a Baal worshiper himself. He confirms that there were no worshippers of God in the midst before murdering the entire lot. Jehu is determined to wipe out the Baal worshippers and their shrines. Jehu destroys the temple of Baal and puts a toilet in its place!
Although Jehu carried out what God had commanded of him, he still does not worship God whole-heartedly. After twenty-eight years on the throne, Jehu dies.
2 KINGS 11
JEHOSHEBA PROTECTS JOASH, JUDAH’S YOUNGEST KING
When Athaliah sees that her son Ahaziah is dead, she takes over the throne, serving as the Queen over Judah. Athaliah, in her wickedness, slaughters her entire family including her children and grandchildren. Unknown to Athaliah, Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba saves one of Ahaziah's children, Joash, and hides him in safety.
Jehosheba, who saved Joash, is married to the priest Jehoiada. Jehoiada gathers army officials and Levites to conspire against Athaliah and appoint Joash as king over Judah. Their plan works! Athaliah is shocked to see Joash is still alive and she is quickly killed after he is appointed.
Because Joash was only seven years old, Jehoiada leads the way in restoring Judah’s faithfulness. Jehoiada has the temple of Baal destroyed and kills the leader of Baal worship. This account is also recalled in 2 Chronicles 23.
2 KINGS 12
JOASH REIGNED IN JUDAH + REPAIRED THE TEMPLE
Joash reigns as king over Judah. Although Joash is a faithful king, he does not remove the high places of idol worship and sacrifice.
Joash instructs the priests to give temple offerings to make repairs, keeping good records and being responsible with the money. After many years, the temple had not been restored or updated. Workmen are hired to repair the temple and prove to be more trustworthy with the money than the priests.
Meanwhile, Hazael, the king of Aram, attacks the city of Gath and starts heading towards Jerusalem. Instead of allowing Hazael to attack Judah’s capital city, Joash sent him some valuable treasures to appease him and stop the attack.
After a forty-year reign, Joash is attacked and killed by two of his servants who conspired against him. After his death, his son Amaziah becomes king over Judah.
2 KINGS 13
THE REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ + JEHOASH
Back in Israel, Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, reigns for seventeen years. Jehoahaz is wicked and lives an evil life. Because of his unfaithfulness, God allows Israel to be repeatedly defeated by the kingdom of Aram.
Jehoahaz turns to God and prays for favor upon Israel. God responds and saves Israel, bringing them out of the oppression of Aram. Even after experiencing God’s faithfulness, the people of Israel continue to live in sin and worship other gods.
After Jehoahaz dies, his son Jehoash succeeds him as king over Israel. Jehoash reigns for sixteen years and lives an evil life, similar to Jeroboam years prior.
Meanwhile, the prophet Elisha becomes very ill and is nearing his death. Jehoash goes to visit him in his sickness. Elisha tells him to get a bow and arrow and shoot the bow out the window towards the east, symbolizing Israel’s future victory over the Arameans. Then, Elisha instructs Jehoash to strike the ground with an arrow and Jehoash struck the ground three times, symbolizing the three future victories over Aram. After his final prophecy, Elisha dies and is buried.
After some time had passed, the Moabites invade the land near Elisha’s burial. The Moabites lay a dead body near the grave of Elisha. When the body touches Elisha’s remains, he is revived and brought back to life!
Hazael, king of Aram, continues to oppress Israel. God does not allow Hazael to completely destroy Israel, keeping His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After Hazael dies, his son Ben-Hadad rules Aram. Joash defeats him three times, just as Elisha prophesied.
2 KINGS 14
AMAZIAH OF JUDAH + JEROBOAM II OF ISRAEL
Amaziah, son of Joash, reigns as king over Judah. Although he is faithful in some ways, his heart is divided. He kills the servants who murder his father and leaves up the high places of worship for false gods.
Amaziah defeats Edom in battle, giving him confidence. After his victory, Amaziah wants to pick a fight with Israel. His decision is a prideful and poor decision, leaving the people of Judah defeated and afraid.
Jehoash, Israel’s king, captures Amaziah and plunders Judah in his absence. Amaziah escapes captivity, but is found, captured again, and killed. After his death, his son Azariah becomes king over Judah and helps restore the land.
After the death of Jehoash, his son Jeroboam II becomes king over Israel. Jeroboam II continues Israel’s streak of evil kings, leading Israel into further rebellion. Jeroboam II restores Israel’s borders, fulfilling the prophecy God gave to Jonah. God sees that Israel is struggling, but uses Jeroboam to maintain the kingdom and protect them from being wiped out entirely. Jeroboam II dies and his son Zechariah becomes the next king over Israel.
2 KINGS 15
MANY WICKED RULERS REIGN IN ISRAEL
In Judah, Azariah serves as a righteous king. Despite his righteousness, he does not remove the high places in Judah and people continue to worship and make offerings to false gods. Because of this, God gives Azariah leprosy, causing him to live separately for the rest of his life. After Azariah’s death, his son Jotham rules in his place.
Back in Israel, the kings are overturning quickly, causing quick reigns and questionable leadership. After Jeroboam II, Zechariah rules as king over Israel for only six months. Zechariah is killed by Shallum, the following king, who has an even shorter reign of only one month.
Shallum is struck down by Menahem, who reigns for ten years after his murder. Menahem is an evil leader and lives a sinful life. After Menahem’s death, his son Pekahiah rules in his place. After only two years, Pekahiah is murdered by his military captain, Pekah.
Pekah rules in Israel for twenty years, living an evil and unfaithful life. During his reign, Assyria invades Israel and captures seven cities within Israel. After the invasion, Hoshea assassinates Pekah and becomes the next king of Israel.
Back in Judah, Jotham faithfully rules for sixteen years. Aram and Israel start to attack Judah during Jotham’s reign. After his death, his son Ahaz is the next king.
2 KINGS 16
AHAZ LEADS JUDAH INTO FURTHER WICKEDNESS
Ahaz, king of Judah, does not rule in righteousness, but instead creates false idols, worships other gods, and offers heinous child sacrifices. Ahaz participates in all of the antics that the previous rulers attempted to wipe out, leading Judah more astray than ever.
The Edomites and Philistines attack Judah. Instead of turning to God to save them, Ahaz asks the Assyrians for help. In direct disrespect to God, Ahaz replaces an altar for God with an altar to worship other gods. Ahaz ravages the temple and removes anything that is offensive to the king of Assyria. Ahaz fears what others think more than he fears God.
Ahaz is remembered as a notoriously bad king. After his death, his son Hezekiah takes over the throne.
2 KINGS 17
ISRAEL OVERTHROWN BY ASSYRIA + TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY
After Hoshea murders Pekah, he rules as an unrighteous king over Israel. Because the king of Assyria does not trust Hoshea, he is captured and Assyria invades Israel. During this time, Samaria is seized, and the Israelites are carried away to Assyria.
Because the Israelites acted like the rebellious nation of Canaan whom God originally drove out of the Promised Land, they too would be removed from the land. Israel’s sin and faithlessness cause them to fall, even after all God had done to protect and provide for them. God warned the Israelites through the prophets that this time was coming, but the Israelites dismissed the warnings with their stubbornness and pride. Israel is exiled from the Promised Land and suffers captivity in Assyria.
The Assyrians resettle the city of Samaria with people from other nations once the Israelites are removed. The new inhabitants do not worship God, so God sends lions to attack! The people recognize this warning from God, and the king of Assyria sends a priest to Samaria. The foreigners in Samaria are more responsive to God’s warnings than the Israelites had been. Although some worship God, the people’s hearts are divided and distracted by other false gods.
God restores the Israelites time and time again, but they reject Him and abandon their loyalty to Him. God wants to deliver the Israelites from their enemies, but their rebellion leads them to less than what God had for them.
2 KINGS 18
HEZEKIAH MISUSES THE GOLD OF THE TEMPLE DOORS
Back in Judah, Hezekiah reigns as a righteous king. Hezekiah follows God’s law and removes the high places of idol worship.
After Assyria attacks and seizes Israel, Judah is Assyria’s next target. In efforts to pay off Assyria and avoid an attack on the city, Hezekiah strips the temple doors of their gold. 2 Chronicles 29-31 records many of Hezekiah’s faithful and righteous acts, but this chapter acknowledges his capacity for making poor choices.
The Assyrians accuse Judah of relying on the Egyptians or another nation for their wealth and success. Because they do not know God’s character, they cannot comprehend why Judah views God as trustworthy. Instead of responding with alarm, Hezekiah encourages them to trust that God will deliver them from Assyria.
2 KINGS 19
JUDAH’S VICTORY OVER ASSYRIA
Isaiah brings a message from God, telling Hezekiah not to worry. God would allow confusion over the king of Assyria, causing him to turn around and leave Judah. When Hezekiah hears the news that Assyria is threatening Judah, his response is to turn to God in prayer asking for protection.
God has already determined the fate of Judah and the timing in which they would be captured. It did not matter that Assyria had defeated other larger and stronger nations, God’s plans comes to pass, and Judah is spared once again. Of the Assyrian army, 185,000 are killed, including their king Sennacherib.
2 KINGS 20
HEZEKIAH WILL DIE BEFORE THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY
Hezekiah becomes ill and is nearing death. Hezekiah pleads with God asking Him to spare his life and remember that he was a faithful king. God tells Isaiah that he heard the cries of Hezekiah and would extend his life for fifteen years, protecting him from the Assyrians. God uses a sundial reversing in time as a sign to Hezekiah that He would keep His promise to extend his life.
Hezekiah responds to God’s grace by honoring God and rejoicing in prayer. Isaiah instructs Hezekiah to apply figs to his boils to heal them.
After hearing of his illness and miraculous recovery, the king of Babylon visits Hezekiah. Hezekiah welcomes him and showcased his many treasures, including silver and gold, spices and oils, and other precious things.
Isaiah later confronts Hezekiah and warns him that one day all of his belongings will be taken by the Babylonians and that his sons will one day be exiled in Babylon. Hezekiah responds to this news by saying that God’s news is good and that there would be peace and security all of his days. It is debated if his response is selfless or selfish. It is possible his response displays trust in God, but he is also glad that he would not be alive to see the coming destruction.