BHB012
2 Kings
"The division and end of the kingdoms."
The Role of Elijah.
Key Verse.
" This is what the Lord, the God of your father David says, I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, I will heal you." 2 Kings 20:5.
Read also 2 Kings 17:22-23 & 2 Kings 23:27.
Key theme.
The kingdom is divided into two then comes to an end in 722 and 586 B.C. through captivity.
Authorship.
The author of this book is unknown but what we do know about the writting of the book is that it took place while the first temple was still standing.(1Kings8:8) that being the case it is quite possible that someone like Jeremiah may well have had a part in the writting of this book.
Introduction.
The book of 2nd Kings continues with the story of the demise of the kingdoms and ultimately their captivity and destruction by foreign enemies. Eventually Israel would be conquerored by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. while Judah while surviving another 136 years would be over powered by the Babylonians and enter a period of captivity in 586 B.C.
In the first 17 chapters of 2 Kings we read of the evil and destructive leadership that Israel had to endure, which necessitated God raising up the prophet Elijah followed by the prophet Elisha. These two men where a force for good and took a strong stand for righteousness even though their ministry was rejected nationally by a people who had never served the the living God.
Though a national religious purge in the nation had begun, prophets of Baal where destroyed, Jehu the king exterminated the family line of the evil king Ahab, yet Calf worship continued and ultimately destruction followed.
Eventually Syria gained control over Israel and from that time her demise was set, captivity was inevitable and the future was bleak.
In chapters 18-25, the story of Judah`s demise is recounted. Out of the 20 kings in Judah only 8 did what was right in the sight of God. Captivity was the outcome and the Babylonians became the dominate and controlling power over their lives.
Title.
The two books of kings were originally a single book and in the Hebrew language called, "Melechim" which simply means "kings."
Date.
The book was written after the Babylonian exile, probably by a contemporary of Jeremiah or even Jeremiah himself. (646-570 B.C.) It records the nation`s idolatry, disobedience to God and their ungodliness which explains why they (Israel) went into the first captivity in 722 B.C., followed later by Judah`s demise and captivity in Babylon in 586B.C. First kings covers a period of 118 years in the nations history from Solomon`s reign in 971 B.C. to the beginning of Ahaziah`s reign in 853 B.C.
Outline.
Ch.1 Ahaziah, the king of Israel. (853-852 B.C.)
Ch.2 Elijah taken up in a chariot of fire.
Ch.2-16 Elisha and the kings of Israel and Judah.
Ch.17 Hoshea, the last king of Israel. Deportation of Israel by Assyria.
Ch.18-25 The last 8 kings of Judah.
Ch.25 The last king of Judah.