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Books of the Bible |
As with first Kings the actual author is unknown, but tradition is that Jeremiah wrote it.
The book was written sometime after Babylon overthrew Jerusalem in 587 B.C. A date around 550 B.C. is very likely. Second Kings takes up where First Kings leaves off in about 848 B.C. and covers the time period from then until about 560 B.C.
The purpose of Second Kings is to show how the continual sinful behavior of a nation results in their ultimate destruction.
The Divided Kingdom (1-17)
Elisha takes over after Elijah (2)
The ministry of Elisha (4-8:15)
Israel (the Northern Kingdom) falls to Assyria (17)
Judah Alone (18-25)
The reign of Hezekiah (18-20)
The reign of Josiah (22-23)
The fall of Jerusalem (25:1-21)
Gedaliah made governor of Judah (25:22-26)
Jehoiachin released from prison in Babylon (25:27-30)
The old enemies of Israel are being supplanted by the rise of the new kingdoms of Assyria, Babylon and Egypt (resurgent again). Israel becomes a target for these nations and fails to trust in God for deliverance from them. During this period the prophets Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel came to try to recall Israel and Judah to God.
Elijah ascends into heaven; Elisha assumes the mantle of prophet; the miracles and ministry of Elisha; Israel falls to Assyria; Hilkiah finds the book of the Law; Josiah restores true worship; Judah is overrun and Jerusalem falls.
Elijah, Elisha, Naaman, Jezebel, Jehu, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Isaiah, Josiah, Hilkiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Jehoiakin, Gedaliah
As with First Kings, the main theological point in the book is that the inability of the people to follow God leads to their downfall.