2 Kings

Background and History

The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of 2 Kings: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.

At a Glance

Who Wrote It

2 Kings continues 1 Kings. The Talmud says Jeremiah wrote Kings. (2) 2 Kings 24–25 closely parallel Jeremiah 52. Critical scholars see a Josianic edition and an exilic edition.

Who It Is Not

Elisha, Hezekiah, and Josiah are subjects, not authors. Isaiah appears in 2 Kings 19–20.

When and Where

Bible Gateway gives 560–540 BC. (4) 2 Kings 25:27–302 Kings 25:27–30 · King James Version^25:27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; ^25:28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; ^25:29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. ^25:30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.2 Kings 25:27–30 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) reports Jehoiachin’s release by Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the thirty-seventh year of his captivity.

Audience and Setting

Israel in exile. The purpose is to explain the fall of Israel and Judah and to hold out hope in the Davidic line.

Rulers at the Time

Kings of Israel and Judah through Zedekiah. Foreign kings named include Shalmaneser and Sennacherib of Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Reign dates were not checked for this essay and are omitted.

Places in This Book

What Is Happening

2 Kings 1–8 are Elisha’s ministry. 2 Kings 9–17 trace Israel to its fall in 2 Kings 17. 2 Kings 18–25 trace Judah through Hezekiah, Manasseh, Josiah, and the fall of Jerusalem.

Key Themes

Judgment for covenant unfaithfulness in 2 Kings 17:7–232 Kings 17:7–23 · King James Version^17:7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, ^17:8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. ^17:9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. ^17:10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: ^17:11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: ^17:12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. ^17:13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. ^17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. ^17:15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. ^17:16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. ^17:17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. ^17:18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. ^17:19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. ^17:20 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. ^17:21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. ^17:22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; ^17:23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.2 Kings 17:7–23 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Reform under Josiah in 2 Kings 23. Hope in 2 Kings 25:27–302 Kings 25:27–30 · King James Version^25:27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; ^25:28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; ^25:29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. ^25:30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.2 Kings 25:27–30 · King James VersionOpen the Source.

Apologetics Questions

Sennacherib’s campaign in 2 Kings 18–19 is also described in his own annals, which claim he shut Hezekiah in Jerusalem like a bird in a cage and do not claim the city’s capture. This page did not check a museum page for those annals and gives the claim only as widely reported. The account of the angel striking the Assyrian camp in 2 Kings 19:352 Kings 19:35 · King James VersionAnd it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.2 Kings 19:35 · King James VersionOpen the Source is debated.

How the Book Points to Christ

The Davidic line survives in Jehoiachin, and Matthew’s genealogy traces Jesus through Jechonias in Matthew 1:11–12Matthew 1:11–12 · King James Version^1:11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: ^1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;Matthew 1:11–12 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Elisha’s miracles of feeding and raising the dead, in 2 Kings 4, are echoed in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is God.

Text and Manuscripts

Kings is among the books found at Qumran. (5)

Canon Reception

Never disputed. (3)

Further Reading

Who Wrote the Bible?.