LESSON 13
The Book of II Kings
The Book
A. The Book of II Kings continues the drama that began in I Kings - the history of two Nations on a collision course
with captivity.
B. Nineteen consecutive evil Kings rule in Israel, leading to the captivity by Assyria.  In Judah, an occasional godly King emerges to reform, but
in the end, sin out weighs righteousness and Judah is marched off to Babylon.
C. Chapters 1-17 cover the 131 years from 853 B.C. (King Ahazial of Israel) to 722 B.C. (the Assyrian captivity of
Israel).  Chapters 18-25 cover the 155 years from the beginning of Hezekiah's reign in 715 B.C. through the release of
Jehoiachin in Babylon in 560 B.C.
D. The Book of II Kings shows that judgment comes to the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah because of idolatry,
immorality and a lack of unity. Judah lasts 136 years longer than Israel because of the relative goodness of
eight of its twenty Kings.
E. By the end of this book many well known prophets will have prophesied in Judah. They are - Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah,
Micah, Nehum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Jeremiah. The prophets in Israel were - Jonah, Amos and Josea.
Key Word: Captivities of the Kingdoms
Chapter 17:22-23__________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Chapter 23:27_____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Survey of II Kings
Events of the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
Assyrian Captivity - Chapters 1-17
Events of the Southern Kingdom (Judah)
Babylonian Captivity - Chapters 17-25
Part I
Events in Israel and their Kings 1-17
These Chapters record the story of Israel's corruption in a relentless succession of bad Kings from Ahaziah to
Hoshea. Rather than take chapter by chapter concerning these Kings, we will look at the main points.
The ministry of Elisha, after Elijah leaves, is covered in these first 13 chapters. 2:11____________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Elisha performed many Miracles:
Chapter 4 The increase of the widow's oil The Shumammite's son The deadly pottage
The multiplication of the loaves Chapter 5 Healing of Naaman
Chapter 6 Floating ax head The first Syrian attack The second Syrian attack
NOTE: One even after death. 13:20-21_____________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Through Elisha and Elijah much effort and concern is put forth by God for a Nation that never served the true God
nor worshiped at the Temple.
In chapters 9-10 Jehu reigns in Israel to fulfill the prophecy of Elisha concerning Ahab's descendents, his wife
Jezebel and the priest of Baal. 9:8_______________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

The loss of the house of Ahab widens the gap between Israel and Judah making both Nations weaker.
Meanwhile in Judah Jezebel's daughter Athaliah kills all of the descendents of David, except for Joash.
However, one of the ruling purposes of Scriptural history is to show the faithfulness of God to the Davidic Covenant
in the preservation of the line of David. 8:18-19________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Syria gains virtual control over Israel, but there is no response to God's chastisement; the Kings and the people
refuse to repent. 17:13-14_______________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

This Northern Kingdom of Israel has been known ever since as "The 10 lost tribes of Israel". They inter-married and
thus became half-breeds called Samaritians in the New Testament.
Part II
Events of Judah 18-25
These chapters read more easily than chapters 1-17 because alternating the histories of the Northern & Southern
Kingdoms are no longer necessary. Only Judah remains.
Six years before the overthrow of Israel's capital of Samaria, Hezekiah becomes King of Judah. 18:3-4__________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Because of Hezekiah's exemplary truth and reforms, God spares Jerusalem from Assyria and brings a measure of
prosperity to Judah.
Note the miraculous recovery of Hezekiah. 20:2____________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Chapters 36-40 of Isaiah also give an account of this recovery. After the death of Hezekiah it was sin as usual.

Judah would not turn to God and remain faithful.  Even Josiah's later reforms cannot stem the tide of evil.
This King was without question the finest of Judah's Kings and carried out thorough religious reform.
All of these efforts of reformation only postponed the awaited consequences, and as a result, the four Kings that
succeeded him were exceedingly wicked. Judah became sandwiched between two superpowers, Egypt and Babylon,
which was God's providence to bring repentance and chastisement.
Judgment comes with three deportations to Babylon 24:3____
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Chapter 25 tells of Nebuchadnezzar destroying Jerusalem and the Temple. 25:9______________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

QUESTIONS
1. What is in the Book of II Kings?

_________________________________________________________

2. Who is Elisha and what did he do?

__________________________________________________________

3. How did Jezebel die?

__________________________________________________________

4. Who captured Israel (The Northern Kingdom)?

__________________________________________________________

5. Who captured Judah (The Southern Kingdom)?

__________________________________________________________

6. Is this the end of these Nations?

__________________________________________________________


Next Lesson: Read I Chronicles