34 Bible Reading – The Book Of 2 Kings

A Transcript Of The Video Study:

I would like to welcome you back to another study in Bible Reading. As you know, these studies are designed to serve as signposts for your journey through the Bible. This is the thirty-fourth study in the series, and we are looking at the book of 2 Kings. According to the chronological order of Bible books, this is the fourteenth book to appear along the timeline. The period covered by the book is around 300 years, from 898 BC to 590 BC. There are 25 chapters, and it takes approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes to read in a single sitting. 

Just as the book of 1 Kings is a divinely inspired piece of literature, so also is the book of 2 Kings. That is, God breathed out His words through its author. The words of this book, therefore, are the words of God. They are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. They are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that we might be matured in the faith, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim 3:15-17) 

Now, if we believe Jeremiah is the author of 1 Kings, then it is certain he is the author of 2 Kings. We know this, because the books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Hebrew Bible are one book. However, in the 3^rd century BC, a group of scholars translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek, known as the Septuagint, during which time they divided Kings into two books. In the 4^th century AD, Jerome retained this twofold division when he translated the Bible into Latin. And then, in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, those who translated the Bible into English continued with the tradition, thus giving to us in our English Bibles 1 and 2 Kings. However, if you combine the books, you will discover the last chapter and verse of 1 Kings carries over and continues with the first chapter and verse of 2 Kings. It is for this reason I hope you have been able to review my teaching notes on the book of 1 Kings, and have also invested the time to read again that book. 

In our previous study, we discovered the book of 1 Kings is the bridge which links the United Kingdom of Israel with the Divided Kingdom of Israel. Allow me to remind you of the main structure of the book of 1 Kings. The first eleven chapters provide an overview of the last 40 years of the United Kingdom, under the reign of King Solomon, while the last eleven chapters provide an overview for the first 80 years of the Divided Kingdom. In an effort to help you better understand the timeline of the two kingdoms, I provided an overview of all the kings and prophets which served each kingdom. The top row belongs to the Northern Kingdom, while the bottom row belongs to the Southern Kingdom. The book of 1 Kings provides a record of the first 8 kings, together with 8 prophets, which reigned over the Northern Kingdom; with 5 kings and 1 prophet, which reigned over the Southern Kingdom. The book of 2 Kings provides a record of the last 11 kings, together with 6 prophets, which reigned over the Northern Kingdom; with 15 kings, together with 10 prophets, which reigned over the Southern Kingdom. 

Now, the Lord chose to record the history of these kingdoms in quite a unique fashion. In the last eleven chapters of 1 Kings, the history of the divided kingdom bounces back and forth between that of the Northern Kingdom and that of the Southern Kingdom. So long as we understand this interplay between the two kingdoms, these chapters outline a riveting narrative which excites a sustained and ever increasing interest in the unfolding drama set forth on the pages.

Now, since the books of 1 and 2 Kings are a single book in the Hebrew Bible, we are right to expect the same pattern continues in 2 Kings. And that is what I will show you now—the main structure for the book of 2 Kings.

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In (1:1-8:15), we read about the kings of Israel—those belonging to the northern kingdom. There are two mentioned—Ahaziah (8^th king, reigning 2 years); Jehoram (9^th king, reigning 12 years). There are also two leading prophets during this time—Elijah and Elisha. 

In (8:16-29), we read about the kings of Judah—those belonging to the southern kingdom. There are two mentioned—Joram (5^th king, reigning 8 years); Ahaziah (6^th king, reigning 1 year). There are no prophets recorded during this time. 

In (9:1-10:36), we read about the kings of Israel—those belonging to the northern kingdom. There is one mentioned—Jehu (10^th king, reigning 28 years). There is also one leading prophet during this time—Elisha. 

In (11:1-12:21), we read about the kings of Judah—those belonging to the southern kingdom. There are three mentioned—Athaliah (7^th monarch (queen), reigning 6 years); Jehoash (8^th king, reigning 40 years); Amaziah (9^th king, reigning 29 years). There is one prophet ministering at this time—Joel. 

In (13:1-25), we read about the kings of Israel—those belonging to the northern kingdom. There are three mentioned—Jehoahaz (11^th king, reigning 17 years); Joash (12^th king, reigning 16 years); Jeroboam II (13^th king, reigning 41 years). There is also one leading prophet recorded at this time—Elisha. 

In (14:1-22), we read about the kings of Judah—those belonging to the southern kingdom. There are two mentioned—Amaziah (Uzziah) (9^th king, reigning 29 years); Azariah (10^th king, reigning 52 years). There are no prophets recorded at this time. 

In (14:23-29), we read about the kings of Israel—those belonging to the northern kingdom. There are two mentioned—Jeroboam II (13^th king, reigning 41 years); Zachariah (14^th king, reigning 6 months). There are also three prophets ministering at this time—Jonah, Amos and Hosea. 

In (15:1-7), we read about the kings of Judah—those belonging to the southern kingdom. There are two mentioned—Azariah (Uzziah) (10^th king, reigning 52 years); Jotham (11^th king, reigning 16 years). There is one prophet recorded at this time—Isaiah. 

In (15:8-31), we read about the kings of Israel—those belonging to the northern kingdom. There are six mentioned—Zachariah (14^th king, reigning 6 months); Shallum (15^th king, reigning 1 month); Menahem (16^th king, reigning 10 years); Pekahiah (17^th king, reigning 2 years); Pekah (18^th king, reigning 20 years); Hoshea (19^th king, reigning 9 years). There are also two prophets ministering at this time—Hosea and Isaiah. 

In (15:32-16:20), we read about the kings of Judah—those belonging to the southern kingdom. There are three mentioned—Jotham (11^th king, reigning 16 years); Ahaz (12^th king, reigning 16 years); Hezekiah (13^th king, reigning 23 years). There are also two prophets ministering at this time—Isaiah and Micah. 

In (17:1-41), we read about the kings of Israel—those belonging to the northern kingdom. There is one mentioned—Hoshea (19^th king, reigning 9 years). There is also one prophet ministering at this time—Hosea. This chapter also records the end of the Kingdom of Israel, as it was conquered by the Assyrians.

In (18:1-25:30), we read about the kings of Judah—those belonging to the southern kingdom. There are eight mentioned—Hezekiah (13^th king, reigning 23 years); Manasseh (14^th king, reigning 55 years); Amon (15^th king, reigning 2 years); Josiah (16^th king, reigning 31 years); Jehoahaz (17^th king, reigning 3 months); Jehoiakim (18^th king, reigning 11 years); Jehoiachin (19^th king, reigning 3 months); Zedekiah (20^th king, reigning 11 years). There are also ten prophets ministering at this time—Isaiah, Prophetess Huldah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel, Ezekiel and Obadiah. The twenty-fifth chapter also records the end of the Kingdom of Judah, as it was conquered by the Babylonians. 

And so, this is the structure for the book of 2 Kings. There are six biographical sketches given for the kings of Israel, and six biographical sketches given for the kings of Judah. 

And of course, it is helpful to view the kings of both kingdoms aligned side by side, together with the prophets which ministered during that time. You can see where some of the kings overlapped each other during their reigns. The Kingdom of Israel came to an end under the reign of King Hoshea, recorded in chapter 17, having been conquered by the Assyrians. Likewise, the Kingdom of Judah came to an end under the reign of King Zedekiah, recorded in chapter 25, having been conquered by the Babylonians. There were nine spoken prophets, highlighted by the color green, which ministered to the Kingdom of Israel, while there were only two spoken prophets which ministered to the Kingdom of Judah. However, there were four written prophets which ministered to the Kingdom of Israel, highlighted by the color blue, while there were ten written prophets which ministered to the Kingdom of Judah. 

These details may be seen more clearly by referring to the chronological order of Bible books. You notice the Kingdom of Israel was in existence for 256 years, before it was conquered by the Assyrians, and there were three written prophets which ministered to that people, each of which has written a book of the Bible—Jonah, Amos and Hosea. The Kingdom of Judah, on the other hand, was in existence for 308 years, before it was conquered by the Babylonians, and there were seven written prophets which ministered to that people, each of which has written a book of the Bible—Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Habakkuk. The other three written prophets—Daniel, Ezekiel and Obadiah—mainly ministered to the people of Judah during their 70 years exile while in Babylonian captivity. These details should be firmly grasped in the mind’s eye, as it will be very difficult to appreciate the prophetical books of the Old Testament without some knowledge of the history surrounding the time in which they lived. The main thing I am wanting you to see, according to the chronological order of Bible books, is that the books of 1 and 2 Kings lays out the historical backdrop, for the ten prophetical books listed above—Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Habakkuk. 

Now, having given these overviews for the kings, prophets and books of the Old Testament, I wish to take a few minutes and rehearse with you the demise of the two kingdoms. You see, there are certain events recorded in the Old Testament which are given special attention because of their consequential significance. For instance, the creation of the world, the fall of man, the worldwide flood in Noah’s day, the destruction of Babel, the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, etc. Among these great events belong the defeat and destruction of the two Kingdoms. 

The doom of the Kingdom of Israel had been predicted for centuries prior to its destruction. The prophets of the Lord warned the people of divine judgment in light of their sin and rebellion. The nineteen kings of Israel were wicked men who did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they led the people of their kingdom into the same degradation of sin and iniquity. It therefore pleased the Lord, when the fulness of time had come for judgment, to raise up the Assyrian empire to conquer and destroy the kingdom of Israel. The record of this awful event is given for us in 2 Kings 17:7-23: “For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, and walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: for they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.” 

The Jewish people belonging to the kingdom of Israel never returned to Samaria, neither was the kingdom ever reorganized. This was the end of the northern kingdom called Israel. 

A similar fate awaited the kingdom of Judah. Although the Lord blessed Judah with five good kings, the other fifteen monarchs were as wicked as those of Israel, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord, and leading the people of their kingdom into sin. Like Israel, the people of Judah were warned by the prophets of God of divine judgment. The final part of that judgment fell during the reign of Zedekiah. It pleased the Lord to raise up the Babylonian Empire to conquer the people of Judah and to destroy Jerusalem. The record of this dreadful event is promised by the Lord in 2 Kings 21:10-15: “And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying, because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.”

What a terrible picture is painted by the Lord of His judgment upon Judah! In many ways, the record of Israel’s and Judah’s descent into darker shades of wickedness is comparable to our own day, as we observe how quickly the Judeo-Christian ethos of Western culture has eroded. Have we not now reached a breaking point in society where the works of unrighteousness are held forth as virtuous, while the works of righteousness are condemned as evil? Do not think, my dear friends, that what you see around you today is something new on the scene of human history. The same darkness of our day overshadowed the kingdoms of Israel and Judah in the days of antiquity! Did not Isaiah prophesy at that time—”Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (Is 5:20-23) And you see, it appears the Western world is on the brink of a similar judgment God brought upon Israel and Judah! I fear, my dear friends, the days ahead will be darker than they are now, and I suspect there will fall upon the Western world, during our life time, a judgment from God the likes of which has not been experienced for the past several generations. 

Henceforth, the books of 1 and 2 Kings is a sobering read, not only as it relates to the Jewish people in a bygone age, but also as it relates to the Western world in our current time. I must point out, however, that the story does not end with 2 Kings. The story of the Jewish people belonging to the kingdom of Judah continued. Eventually, they did return to Jerusalem, rebuilt the city and the temple, and were reorganized with a national identity. That is what the remaining historical and prophetical books of the Old Testament record. I say this to you, because there is light at the end of the dark tunnel. It is not all darkness and doom. Indeed, we will feel there is only darkness and doom when we read 1 and 2 Kings, but we must remember, this is not the end of the story; it is not the end of God’s masterplan for the ages. The Messiah had not yet come into the world, and therefore God would keep His promise and the covenants He made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David—He would preserve the Jewish people as a nation, until the fulness of time had come, when He would send forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem His people that are under the law. 

And, while I’m on the subject of the Lord’s people, I cannot close this study without saying something about the characters recorded in the book of 2 Kings. Allow me to line up the characters against the backdrop of the Framework of Sovereign Grace. There are at least fifteen people numbered among God’s elect, in addition to an unknown number of unnamed prophets. Some of these elect persons are Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jonah, Prophetess Huldah, Jehoshaphat, Josiah and Hezekiah. There are at least twenty-five people numbered among the non-elect, in addition to an unknown number of unnamed false prophets and Baal worshippers. Some of these non-elect persons are Ahab, Jezebel, Jeroboam, Athaliah and Jehu. There are at least 224, 480 people, together with numerous unnamed groups, we are not for sure into which group they belong. Finally, there are two elect angels, one mentioned at the beginning of the book and the other towards the end. And as always, remember, the lives and testimonies of the men and women recorded in the books of the Bible were very similar to our own. They will have encountered the same sort of troubles, trials, tribulations, disappointments, discouragements, failures and setbacks as ourselves. Likewise, they will have enjoyed the same sort of freedoms, comforts, blessings, joys, encouragements and victories as ourselves. This is especially true of those men and women who had been regenerated by the Spirit of God. And so, don’t read the books of the Bible as if its history and biography is unrelated to yourself—you may easily walk in their shoes and find great comfort and instruction for your own journey with the Lord. 

Well, this brings us to the end of our study on the book of 2 Kings. I trust you will make time to read the book over the next couple of weeks. And, until we meet again for our next study, I pray you will know the blessings of the Lord!