SECOND KINGS
The Second book of Kings continues the history of Israel and Judah to the
captivities. It also includes the account of the translation of Elijah and the
ministry of Elisha. During this period Amos and Hosea prophesied in Israel, and
Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Jeremiah prophesied
in Judah.
The contents of the book is as follows:
1. Ch. 1 to 2:13. The closing ministry and translation of Elijah.
2. Chs. 2:14 to 8:15 & 13:14-21. The ministry of Elisha and his death.
3. Chs. 15 &16 etc. The kings of Israel and Judah from Ahaziah and Jehoram
respectively.
4. Chs. 17, 24 & 25. The Assyrian and Babylonian captivities.
THE CLOSING MINISTRY AND TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH.
Ahaziah, king of Israel, through an accident became very sick and sent
messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether he would recover
from his disease, Ch.1. Elijah was told by God to intercept the messengers and
tell them that Ahaziah would die. When the king heard it he sent fifty soldiers
with their captain to bring Elijah to him. The prophet called down fire from
heaven and consumed them all. A second fifty men with their captain were sent
and were destroyed in the same way. A third fifty with their captain were sent.
The third captain humbled himself before the prophet. The man and his company
were spared and Elijah went with them to Ahaziah. He repeated the same sentence
of death to the king, and he died.
In Ch. 2, we read of the translation of the great prophet. In his ministry
Elijah was blessed with outstanding demonstrations of power. To the very end he
walked with God and was finally caught away by a whirlwind into heaven.
THE MINISTRY OF ELISHA AND HIS DEATH.
Elisha is an outstanding character in the Word of God because of his unique
ministry. He was called to be the prophet who would succeed Elijah, I Kings
19:16, 19-21. For a number of years he humbly served the prophet and finally it
was revealed to him that God was going to take Elijah unto Himself, 2 Kings 2:3.
In accordance with his Divine commission, Elisha knew he should receive the
spiritual equipment, therefore he asked for the double portion. God honored his
faith and persistence and endowed him to be the head of the sons of the
prophets.
From that time forward Elisha had a miraculous ministry which is recorded in Chs.
2:14 to 8:15. This prophet was especially keen in hearing the word of the Lord,
so that in a moment of time he knew what to do to meet any emergency which
arose. Power over nature was manifested in increasing by the deliverance of
Naaman the Syrian from leprosy. Elisha retained his power to a great age, and on
his deathbed helped the king of Israel in the matter of warring with the
Syrians, Ch. 13:14-19. After the prophet was dead and buried, even his bones
retained the power of God, and brought a man back to life when his dead body was
dropped into Elisha’s grave, vs. 20-21.
THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH FROM AHAZIAH AND JEHORAM, RESPECTIVELY.
Israel: Jehoram, Jehu, Jehozhaz, Jehoash, Jereboam II, Zachariah, Shallum,
Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah and Hoshea..
Judah: Azariah, Athaliah (a usurper), Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz,
Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.
THE ASSYRIAN AND BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITIES.
The history of Israel was one of sad backsliding. Civil war was not infrequent,
and one dynasty was often displaced by another. In Ch. 17, we read that in the
reign of Hoshea, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, invaded the land and made Israel
a tributary state. Hoshea rebelled and sought the help of Egypt, and it finally
led to a three-year siege of the land, vs. 5-23, and in 721 B.C., Israel was
carried away captive to the land of Assyria. In this same chapter God gives His
reason for allowing such to happen, and showed how displeased He was with their
disobedience and idolatry. The king of Assyria sent people from his own land to
occupy the cities of Samaria, v.24. In later years these people by
inter-marrying with some of the remnant of Israel became the Samaritans, and
were so know in the days of Christ.
A little over one hundred years after the Assyrian captivity, the people of
Judah were warned of their sins and threatened with the Babylonian invasion. The
false prophets sought to persuade them that all was well, but the Word of God
came to pass. In 606 B.C., Nebuchadnezar ,king of Babylon, led Judah into
captivity. Ch. 25 tells of how the famine prevailed in Jerusalem, and how the
city was broken up and the temple destroyed by fire. This captivity lasted
seventy years, and was a fulfillment of the Word of God through the prophet
Jeremiah.
Thus ended the history of Israel and Judah until the “Times of the Gentiles”
shall be fulfilled. Then God will gather His people, and their history will
recommence under the ruler ship of Christ, the Son of David.