An Introduction to the Book of Second Kings

Read 11 Kings 1:1-4

Author: Again like 1 Kings, the author is really unknown, probably Jeremiah. Scholars are basing this on the fact that 1st and 2nd Kings has many similarities to the book or Jeremiah.

Date and Setting: The last recorded event in 2nd Kings in the release of Jehoiachin which takes place in 560 B.C. “In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, Evil-merodach ascended to the Babylonian throne. He was kind to Jehoiachin and released him from prison on April 2 of that year. 28 He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and gave him a higher place than all the other exiled kings in Babylon."

The books of Kings shows us that judgment comes to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah because of their idolatry, immorality, and dis-unity. Judah however lasts 136 years longer than Israel because of the “relative goodness” of eight of its twenty kings.

27 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, Evil-merodach ascended to the Babylonian throne. He was kind to Jehoiachin and released him from prison on April 2 of that year. 28 He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and gave him a higher place than all the other exiled kings in Babylon.

Israel never breaks away from Jeroboam’s idolatrous calf worship, but Judah experiences some periods of revival in the worship of Yahweh.

During this time God sends many of His prophets, Elijah, Elisha, Amos, and Hosea are in the northern Kingdom while Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Habakkuk are prophesying in the southern kingdom.

Theme and Purpose: 1st and 2nd Kings as we know were originally one. They both however record pivotal events in the careers of the kings of Israel and Judah and we see how disobedience and rebellion against God led to the failure and overthrow of the monarchy.

Why the prophets? God sent His prophets to remind the Kings of their covenant responsibilities as the Kings acted as God’s administrators of the people and land.

So, like today, when the Kings kept God’s covenant, the nation would be richly blessed, life was good. When the Kings did not keep God’s covenant, judgment fell upon those who refused His (God’s) laws.

Key Verses: And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins 23 until the Lord finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day.

22 And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins 23 until the Lord finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day. (NLT) 27 For the Lord said, “I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel. And I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem and the Temple where my name was to be honored.”

For the Lord said, “I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel. And I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem and the Temple where my name was to be honored.”

(NLT)

27 For the Lord said, “I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel. And I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem and the Temple where my name was to be honored.”

Key Chapter: Listen church, Are we ready for God’s coming? let’s see what happened to Israel when the people disobeyed God’s covenant:

(NLT) “1 So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. 2 Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. 3 By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone. 4 Then a section of the city wall was broken down. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, the soldiers waited for nightfall and escaped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden. Then they headed toward the Jordan Valley. 5 But the Babylonian troops chased the king and overtook him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered.”

Contribution to the Bible: Second Kings continues and completes the history of Israel and Judah as nations. The kingdom was established in 1st Samuel, consolidated in 2nd Samuel. 1st Kings records its division and decline, and 2nd Kings tells of the nations deterioration and destruction.

1 So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. 2 Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. 3 By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone. 4 Then a section of the city wall was broken down. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, the soldiers waited for nightfall and escaped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden. Then they headed toward the Jordan Valley. 5 But the Babylonian troops chased the king and overtook him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered.

Theologically, Kings stressed that God is the sovereign Lord over the history of Israel and the other (border) nations. God predicts and controls history and uses enemy nations as His (God’s) instruments of judgment for Israel’s failure to keep the covenant.

The king was to act as the servant of God by leading the nation into righteousness and fellowship with the Lord but most of the kings perverted the purpose of their office because of their moral and spiritual rebellion.

FACT: Out of nineteen kings in Israel, not one is righteous in God’s sight! NOT ONE!!! Who is righteous among us?

FACT: Out of nineteen kings in Israel, not one is righteous in God’s sight! NOT ONE!!! Who is righteous among us?

Moral of the story: As in the previous books that we have covered, God is in charge. Apply this to our lives today and ask the questions:

Are we seeking God? Are we being obedient? Are we seeking God’s guidance in all we do? Lastly, “Are we doing what is pleasing in the eyes of The Lord?”

AMEN