Second Kings continues the story of the divided kingdom and records the captivities of Israel by Assyria and of Judah by Babylonia. The first seventeen chapters of the book alternately trace the nation’s history through the kings of both Israel and Judah. The remaining chapters of the book focus specifically on events in Judah. Numerous evil kings rule the northern kingdom of Israel, but in the southern kingdom of Judah a godly king occasionally emerges and makes temporary reforms. The unstable political climates of both kingdoms are a reflection of their spiritual values.
The prophets Elijah and Elisha try to turn the people back to God. During the 250 year period covered by this book, Hosea and Amos also minister in Israel. Throughout this same era, Joel, Micah, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah preach in Judah. Second Kings is written from a prophetic viewpoint in order to prove the collapse of these two kingdoms was due to the failure to heed God’s messengers.
Essay Questions
Describe the ministry of Elisha, summarizing the following miracles found in chapters four through six:
1. The Increase of the Widow’s Oil
2. The Shunammites’s Son
3. The Deadly Stew
4. The Multiplication of the Loaves
5. The Healing of Naaman
6. The Floating Ax Head
7. The Blinding of Syria’s Army
8. Paraphrase the story of the resurrection that takes place at Elisha’s Tomb. What lesson can be learned from this miracle? (Ch. 13)
Summarize the reigns of the following kings of Israel, listing facts and key events in the life of each. Also ascertain and record their strengths and/or weaknesses.
9. Jehoram (Ch. 2-8)
10. Jehu (Ch 9-10)
11. Jehoahaz (Ch. 13)
12. Jehoash (Ch. 13)
13. Jeroboam II (Ch. 14)
14. Hoshea (Ch. 17)
Summarize the reigns of the following kings of Judah, listing facts and key events in the life of each. Also ascertain and record their strengths and/or weaknesses.
15. Ahaziah (Ch. 8-9)
16. Queen Athaliah (Ch. 11)
17. Joash (Ch. 11-12)
18. Amaziah (Ch. 14)
19. Uzziah (Ch. 15)
20. Hezekiah (Ch. 18-20)
21. Manasseh (Ch. 21)
22. Josiah (Ch. 22-23)
23. Zedekiah (Ch. 24-25)
24. Describe the fall of Samaria, the northern capital of Israel (Ch. 17).
25. Describe the fall of Jerusalem, the southern capital of Judah (Ch. 24-25).
26. Consult Bible maps and sketch the location of the nations of Israel and Judah and the countries into which they are taken as captives.