2 Kings

History · Old Testament · Traditionally Jeremiah; modern scholars attribute it to Deuteronomistic historians · Mid-6th century BCE

Continuing the history of the divided monarchy, 2 Kings chronicles the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, the political decline of Israel and Judah, and their ultimate falls to Assyria and Babylon. The narrative concludes with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile.

25 chapters

• 12 Kings 1King Ahaziah seeks a foreign god after an injury, receives a death prophecy from Elijah, and dies as predicted.
• 22 Kings 2Elijah is taken to heaven in a whirlwind, and Elisha succeeds him, performing miracles of water healing and judgment.
• 32 Kings 3Israel, Judah, and Edom ally against Moab, receiving water and victory through Elisha's prophecy before the siege ends abruptly.
• 42 Kings 4Elisha performs multiple miracles, including multiplying a widow's oil, resurrecting a Shunammite's son, and multiplying loaves of bread.
• 52 Kings 5Elisha heals the Syrian commander Naaman of leprosy, but strikes his greedy servant Gehazi with the same disease.
• 62 Kings 6Elisha makes a borrowed ax head float, blinds a Syrian army, and later Samaria suffers a severe famine under Syrian siege.
• 72 Kings 7Four lepers discover that the Syrians fled their camp, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy of abundant food and the skeptical officer's death.
• 82 Kings 8The Shunammite woman's land is restored, Hazael murders Syria's king to usurp the throne, and Jehoram and Ahaziah rule in Judah.
• 92 Kings 9Anointed king of Israel, Jehu assassinates King Joram of Israel, King Ahaziah of Judah, and the queen mother Jezebel.
• 102 Kings 10Jehu eradicates Ahab's descendants and the worshipers of Baal, securing his dynasty, but continues Israel's worship of the golden calves.
• 112 Kings 11Jehoiada the priest overthrows the usurping queen Athaliah, crowning the hidden prince Joash as king of Judah.
• 122 Kings 12King Jehoash repairs the temple, pays tribute to Syria using sacred treasures, and is ultimately assassinated by his officials.
• 132 Kings 13Kings Jehoahaz and Jehoash rule Israel, while the dying prophet Elisha predicts three victories over the Syrian oppressors.
• 142 Kings 14Amaziah of Judah is defeated by Jehoash of Israel, while Jeroboam II succeeds to the throne of Israel, expanding borders.
• 152 Kings 15Azariah rules Judah, while Israel experiences rapid political instability and Assyrian invasion under a succession of short-lived kings.
• 162 Kings 16King Ahaz of Judah introduces idolatrous practices, pays tribute to Assyria for military aid, and modifies the Jerusalem temple.
• 172 Kings 17Assyria conquers Israel, deports its citizens due to persistent idolatry, and repopulates Samaria with foreigners who practice syncretic worship.
• 182 Kings 18King Hezekiah institutes religious reforms in Judah, but Assyrian forces invade and demand Jerusalem's surrender, mocking their trust in God.
• 192 Kings 19Encouraged by the prophet Isaiah, King Hezekiah prays, and an angel slays the Assyrian army, forcing King Sennacherib to retreat.
• 202 Kings 20God heals Hezekiah, but the king's display of Judah's wealth to Babylonian envoys prompts Isaiah to prophesy future exile.
• 212 Kings 21King Manasseh leads Judah into extreme idolatry, prompting God's judgment, and is succeeded by his equally wicked but short-lived son Amon.
• 222 Kings 22King Josiah initiates temple repairs, where High Priest Hilkiah discovers the Book of the Law, prompting national repentance and prophetic warnings.
• 232 Kings 23Josiah institutes sweeping religious reforms, renews the covenant, celebrates Passover, and is eventually killed in battle against Pharaoh Necoh.
• 242 Kings 24Babylon besieges Jerusalem during Jehoiachin's reign, leading to the first major deportation of Judean elites, and Zedekiah is installed as king.
• 252 Kings 25Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the temple, exiles the people, and appoints Gedaliah, while the imprisoned King Jehoiachin is released in Babylon.