The Book of 2 Kings continues the history of Israel and Judah that 1 Kings began. It records the final days of the divided kingdoms, telling the story of the last kings of Israel and Judah before both nations fell to foreign invaders. 2 Kings covers a period of about 300 years, from the death of King Ahab of Israel to the Babylonian captivity of Judah.
After Ahab’s death, his son Ahaziah ruled Israel for two years but did evil in God’s sight (2 Kings 1:1-18). Ahaziah was succeeded by his brother Jehoram, who also did evil. During Jehoram’s reign, the prophet Elisha performed many miracles and led Israel to victory over Moab (2 Kings 3). But Jehoram continued in the sins of Jeroboam, worshiping golden calves (2 Kings 3:1-3).
Jehoram’s reign ended when Jehu staged a coup and killed him, fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah (2 Kings 9-10). Jehu then killed all of Ahab’s family and supporters in Israel, removing Baal worship from the land. However, Jehu continued to allow worship of the golden calves (2 Kings 10:28-31). After Jehu, several kings ruled Israel but “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 13:1-11).
In Judah, good King Jehoshaphat was succeeded by his son Jehoram, who did evil by marrying Ahab’s daughter Athaliah (2 Kings 8:16-24). Later, Athaliah made herself queen and tried to wipe out all claimants to David’s throne, but the priest Jehoiada preserved Joash and crowned him king at age 7 (2 Kings 11). Joash started well but later allowed idolatry (2 Kings 12).
Joash’s son Amaziah did what was right, but afterward turned to idolatry (2 Kings 14:1-22). Jeroboam II, king of Israel, restored Israel’s borders as Jonah had prophesied, but continued idolatry (2 Kings 14:23-29). In Judah, Uzziah and Jotham did right, but Ahaz did great evil (2 Kings 15:32-16:20). Ahaz of Judah appealed to Assyria for help against Israel and Damascus, leading to Assyrian domination of the region (2 Kings 16).
In Israel, the last dynasty was established by Jehu. His great-grandson Zechariah was assassinated after 6 months, fulfilling the word of the Lord to Jehu (2 Kings 15:8-12). Shallum reigned one month until Menahem killed him and ruled cruelly (2 Kings 15:13-22). Menahem paid tribute to Assyria. His son Pekahiah succeeded him but was soon killed by Pekah, who allied with Syria to fight Assyria. This led Assyria’s Tiglath-pileser to take Galilee and Gilead (2 Kings 15:23-31).
Hoshea eventually killed Pekah and became Israel’s last king. But Hoshea stopped paying tribute to Assyria and allied with Egypt. So the Assyrian king Shalmaneser besieged Samaria for 3 years until it fell, exiling many Israelites (2 Kings 17:1-6). The author explains this disaster came because of Israel’s sin of idolatry over many generations (2 Kings 17:7-23). Foreign settlers were brought into the former northern kingdom.
In Judah, Hezekiah was one of the best kings, removing idolatry and rebelling against Assyria. When Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, Hezekiah prayed and the Angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night (2 Kings 18:1-19:37). But Hezekiah foolishly showed his treasures to Babylon. His son Manasseh undid his reforms and did more evil than the nations before Israel (2 Kings 21:1-18).
Manasseh’s son Amon continued his father’s idolatry. But Amon’s son Josiah renewed the covenant and implemented reforms (2 Kings 22-23). He destroyed idols and pagan altars, even those in the northern kingdom. But Josiah went to battle Pharaoh Neco and was killed at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29-30). The last kings of Judah—Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah—all did evil in God’s sight.
During Jehoiakim’s reign, Babylon besieged Jerusalem for the first time (2 Kings 24:1-4). Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, who plundered the temple and took exiles to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-16). Finally, Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon, so Nebuchadnezzar returned and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple (2 Kings 25:1-21). Judah’s nobility was taken into exile in Babylon, with only the poorest people left behind under a Babylonian governor (2 Kings 25:22-26).
The Book of 2 Kings shows that all people and nations are accountable to God. When Israel and Judah turned from God to idols, they were eventually judged and sent into exile, just as God had warned. But even in judgment there was mercy, as God preserved a remnant through whom the Messiah would come. The book ends on a hopeful note, as Jehoiachin is released from prison in Babylon, foreshadowing the future release of God’s people from exile.
Key themes in 2 Kings include:
- God’s judgment on the disobedience and idolatry of Israel and Judah
- The fulfillment of prophecy in the destruction of Israel and Judah
- God preserving a faithful remnant despite widespread apostasy
- The rise and fall of the superpowers of Assyria and Babylon
- A few bright spots of reform and revival under Hezekiah and Josiah
The history in 2 Kings provides the background for many of the prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nahum, and Zephaniah. It shows that God is sovereign over all nations and keeps His promises, for both judgment and salvation. While the book has a tragic ending, it sets the stage for Judah’s future return from exile according to God’s gracious promise.
Some key figures in 2 Kings include:
- Elijah -Prophet taken up to heaven, prophesied Jehu’s rise
- Elisha – Prophet who anointed Jehu and performed miracles
- Jehu – King of Israel who wiped out Ahab’s family
- Joash – Boy king preserved and crowned in Judah
- Jeroboam II – Powerful king who expanded Israel’s borders
- Hezekiah – Righteous king who rebelled against Assyria
- Sennacherib – Assyrian king whose army was destroyed by God
- Josiah – King who implemented major reforms in Judah
- Nebuchadnezzar – Babylonian king who conquered Jerusalem
Some key events include:
- Jehu’s coup and purge of Ahab’s family (2 Kings 9-10)
- Athaliah’s attempt to destroy the house of David (2 Kings 11)
- Assyria’s conquest of Israel and exile of the 10 tribes (2 Kings 17)
- Hezekiah’s reforms and deliverance from Assyria (2 Kings 18-19)
- Josiah’s revival and renewal of the covenant (2 Kings 22-23)
- The destruction of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon (2 Kings 24-25)
In summary, 2 Kings vividly narrates Israel’s and Judah’s apostasy, the rise and fall of the superpowers controlling them, and the ultimate judgment God brought on both nations for their rebellion against Him. But God remained faithful to His promise, preserving hope through the coming Messiah. The book leaves the reader waiting for the story of redemption that continues in the New Testament.
2 Kings spans about 300 years of history from the death of Ahab to the Babylonian exile. Here is an overview of its contents in chronological order:
- Ahaziah and Jehoram – Kings of Israel who did evil (2 Kings 1:1-8:15)
- Jehu’s coup in Israel (2 Kings 9-10)
- Athaliah’s coup and Joash in Judah (2 Kings 11)
- Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II and Zechariah in Israel (2 Kings 13-15)
- Azariah (Uzziah) and Jotham in Judah (2 Kings 15)
- Ahaz in Judah forms alliance with Assyria (2 Kings 16)
- Hoshea – the last king of Israel (2 Kings 17)
- Hezekiah’s reforms and deliverance in Judah (2 Kings 18-20)
- Manasseh and Amon’s evil reigns in Judah (2 Kings 21)
- Josiah’s reforms in Judah (2 Kings 22-23)
- Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah – final kings of Judah (2 Kings 23-25)
- Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon – exile to Babylon (2 Kings 25)
2 Kings begins with power struggles in Israel after Ahab’s death and ends with both Israel and Judah going into exile under foreign powers due to their unfaithfulness. Both nations are judged, yet hope remains through God’s promise to David. The righteous reforms under Hezekiah and Josiah provide glimmers of hope, though the people quickly return to sin. Ultimately, 2 Kings shows that God is sovereign over the nations and judges sin while remaining faithful to His people.
The Book of 2 Kings provides vital background history for understanding the prophets and world events during this period. Set between 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, it forms an important connecting narrative between Israel’s united kingdom and the later restored community. While 1 Kings focuses more on Solomon and 2 Chronicles more on the kingdom of Judah, 2 Kings gives a detailed account of both Israel and Judah’s final days before exile. Within its stories are timeless lessons about faithfulness to God in the midst of spiritual decline and morally compromised culture.