THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS

INTRODUCTION
This second book of the Kings is a continuation of the former book. The former book
had an illustrious beginning, in the glories of the kingdom of Israel. This one has a
melancholic conclusion, in the desolations of the kingdoms of Israel first, and then of
Judah, after they had been long broken into two: for a kingdom divided against itself
comes to destruction. But, as Elijah's mighty works constituted the glory towards the
end of the former book, so were Elisha's the glory towards the beginning of this book.
These prophets out-shone their princes; and therefore, as far as they go, the history
shall be accounted for in them. Here is therefore outlined, I. Elijah fetching fire from
heaven and ascending in fire to heaven, 2 Kings 1&2, II. Elisha working many
miracles, both for prince and people, Israelites and foreigners, 2 Kings 3-7, III.
Hazael and Jehu anointed, the former for the correction of Israel, the latter for the
destruction of the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal, 2 Kings 8-10, IV. The
reign of several kings, both of Judah and Israel, 2 Kings 11-16, V. The captivity of
the ten tribes, 2 Kings 17, VI. The good and glorious reign of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18-
20, VII. Manasseh’s wicked reign, and Josiah's good one, 2 Kings 21-23, VIII. The
destruction of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon, 2 Kings 24&25. This history, in the
several passages of it, confirms the observation of Solomon, “that righteousness
exalts a nation, but sin is the reproach of any people” (Pro. 14:34)

1. ELIJAH FETCHING FIRE FROM HEAVEN AND ASCENDING IN FIRE

TO HEAVEN, 2 Kgs. 1 & 2
In chapter 1, we find Ahaziah, the genuine son and successor of Ahab, on the throne
of Israel. His reign continued for two years; he died by a fall in his own house, after
the mention of the revolt of Moab (v. 1). In chapter 2, we have, I. the extraordinary
event of the translation of Elijah (In the close of the foregoing chapter we had a
wicked king leaving the world in disgrace, here we have a holy prophet leaving it in
honour; the departure of the former was his greatest misery, of the latter his greatest
bliss: men are as their end is) and II. The manifestation of Elisha, as a prophet.

2. ELISHA WORKING MANY MIRACLES, BOTH FOR PRINCE AND

PEOPLE, ISRAELITE AND FOREIGNERS, 2 Kgs. 3-7.
In Chapter 3, we are called to attend the public affairs of Israel, in which we shall
find Elisha concerned. In the foregoing chapter, Elisha had rendered great service to
the three Kings: to his prayers and prophecies they owed their lives and triumphs.
One would have expected that the next chapter would tell us what honours and what
dignities were conferred on Elisha for this, that he should immediately be preferred at
court, and made prime-minister of state, that Jehoshaphat should take him home with
him, and advance him in his kingdom. But God magnified him, and that sufficed for
him. God magnified him indeed for we have him in chapter 4 employed in working
no fewer than five miracles. I. He multiplied the poor widow's oil (v. 1-7), II. He
obtained for the good Shunammite the blessing of a son in her old age (v. 8-17), III.
He raised that child to life when it was dead (v. 18-27), IV. He healed the deadly
pottage (v. 38-41). V. He fed 100 men with twenty small loaves (v. 42-44). In
chapter 5, two more of Elisha's miracles are recorded in this chapter, I. The
cleansing of Naaman, a Syrian, and a stranger, from his leprosy. II. The smiting of
Gehazi, his own servant, with that leprosy (v.20-27). Chapter 6 continues with these
miracles - His making iron to swim (v. 1-7), disclosing to the king of Israel the secret
counsels of the king of Syria (v. 8-12), saving himself out of the hands of those who
were sent to apprehend him (v. 13-23). Chapter 7 narrates how Relief is here
brought to Samaria and her king, when the case is, in a manner, desperate, and the
king despaired. Elisha is just a great blessing to the state religiously and politically;
both to the sons of the prophets and to his prince.

3. HAZAEL AND JEHU ANNOINTED; THE FORMER FOR THE

CORRECTION OF ISRAEL, THE LATER FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE HOUSE OF AHAB AND THE WORSHIP OF BAAL, 2 Kgs. 8-10
The passages of the story recorded in chapter 8 oblige us to look back. I. We read
before of a Shuuammite woman that was a kind benefactor to Elisha; now, here, we
are told how she fared the better for it, afterwards, in the advice Elisha gave her, and
the favour the king showed her for his sake (v. 1-6). II. We read before of the
designation of Hazael to be king of Syria (1 Kings 19:15), and here we have an
account of his elevation to that throne and the way he forced himself to it, by killing
his master (v. 7-15). III. We read before of Jehoram's reigning over Judah in the
room of his father Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:50), now here we have a short and sad
history of his short and wicked reign (v. 16-24), and the beginning of the history of
the reign of his son Ahaziah (v. 25-29). In chapter 9, Hazael and Jehu were the men
that were designed to be the instruments of God's justice in punishing and destroying
the house of Ahab. Elijah was told to appoint them to this service; but, upon Ahab's
humiliation, a reprieve was granted, and so it was left to Elisha to appoint them. We
read of Hazael's elevation to the throne of Syria in the foregoing chapter; and we
must now see how Jehu ascended the throne of Israel. Chapter 10 accounts for I.
Jehu's execution of his commission. He cuts off, all Ahab's sons (v. 1-10), all Ahab's
kindred (v. 11-14, 17) and Ahab's idolatry: by his zeal against this he took Jonadab to
be witness to (v.15, 16). He summoned all the worshippers of Baal to attend and slew
them all (v. 24, 25), and then abolished idolatry (v. 26-28). II. the administration of
his government.

4. THE REIGN OF SEVERAL KINGS, BOTH OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL, 2

Kgs. 11-16.
Chapter 11 captures that the revolution in the kingdom of Israel soon perfected in
Jehu's settlement. It showcases the rise and fall of Athaliah and another rise of a new
Kingdom of Joash. Chapter 12 gives us the history of the reign of Joash. Chapter 13
brings us again to the history of the kings of Israel and particularly of the family of
Jehu (Jehoahaz, which continued seventeen years, v.1-9, his grandson Joash, which
continued sixteen years, v.10-25). Chapter 14 continues the history of the succession
in the kingdoms both of Judah and Israel (Amaziah’s reign, v.1-20, Azariah’s reign
21&22, also 15:1-7, Jeroboam, v.23-29). Chapter 15 records Azariah, or Uzziah, v.
1-7, Jotham his son, v. 32-38, Zachariah, the last of the house of Jehu, reigned six
months and then was slain and succeeded by Shallum, v. 8-12, Shallum reigned one
month, and then was slain and succeeded by Menahem v. 13-15, Menahem
tyrannized for ten years and died v.16-22, Pekahiah reigned two years, and then was
slain and succeeded by Pekah v. 23-26, Pekah reigned twenty years, and then was
slain and succeeded by Hoshea, the last of all the kings of Israel v. 27-31, for things
were now working and hastening apace towards the final destruction of that kingdom.
Chapter 16 is wholly taken up with the reign of Ahaz; one of the worst kings of
Judah v.1-20.

5. THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TEN TRIBES, 2 Kgs.17

.
This chapter 17 gives us an account of the captivity of the ten tribes, and so finishes
the history of that kingdom, after it had continued about 265 years, from the setting
up of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. In it we have, I. A short narrative of this destruction
(v. 1-6). II. Remarks upon it, and the causes of it, for the justifying of God in it and
for warning to others (v. 7-23). III. An account of the nations which succeeded them
in the possession of their land, and the mongrel religion set up among them (v. 24-
41).

6. THE GOOD AND GLORIOUS REIGN OF HEZEKIAH 2 Kgs. 18-20

Chapter 18 shows us the affairs of Judah in a good posture, that it may appear that
God has not quite cast off the seed of Abraham, Hezekiah is here upon the throne, I.
Reforming his kingdom (v. 1-6). II. Prospering in all his undertakings (v. 7, 8), and
this at the same time when the ten tribes were led captive (v. 9-12). III. Yet invaded
by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria (v. 13). Chapter 19 presents an account of its
glorious deliverance, not by sword or bow, but by prayer and prophecy, and by the
hand of an angel. Chapter 20 shows I. Hezekiah's sickness, and his recovery from
that, in answer to prayer, in performance of a promise, in the use of means, and
confirmed with a sign (v. 1-11). II. Hezekiah's sin, and his recovery from that (v. 12-
19). In both of these, Isaiah was God's messenger to him. III. The conclusion of his
reign (v. 20, 21).

7. MANASSAH’S WICKED REIGN AND JOSIAH’S GOOD ONE, 2Kgs.21-23

In chapter 21 we have a short but sad account of the reigns of two of the kings of
Judah, Manasseh and Amon. Manasseh devoted himself to sin, to all manner of
wickedness, idolatry, and murder (v. 1-9 and 16) therefore God devoted him, and
Jerusalem for his sake, to ruin (v. 10-18). Concerning Amon we are only told that he
lived in sin (v. 19-22), died quickly by the sword, and left good Josiah his successor
(v. 23-26). Chapter 22 begins the story of the reign of good king Josiah (v.1-20); the
respect he paid I. To God's house, which he repaired (v. 3-7). II. To God's book,
which he was much affected with the reading of (v. 8-11). III. To God's messengers,
whom he thereupon consulted (v. 12-14). And by whom he received from God an
answer threatening Jerusalem's destruction (v. 15-17), but promising favour to him
(v. 18-20). Chapter 23 continues in this goodness of Josiah but ends unhappily in his
untimely death as a continuance of God's wrath against Jerusalem (v. 26-30) and the
bad reign of his two sons Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, that came after him (v. 31-37).

8. THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY THE KING OF BABYLON, 2

Kgs. 24&25
Things are in chapter 24 ripening for, and hastening towards, the utter destruction of
Jerusalem. We left Jehoiakim on the throne, placed there by the king of Egypt: now
here we have, I. The troubles of his reign, how he was brought into subjection by the
king of Babylon, and severely chastised for attempting to shake off the yoke (v. 1-6),
and how Egypt also was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar (v. 7). II. The desolations of
his son's reign, which continued but three months; and then he and all his great men,
being forced to surrender at discretion, were carried captives to Babylon (v. 8-
16). III. The preparatives of the next reign (which was the last of all) for the utter
ruin of Jerusalem, which the next chapter will give us an account of (v. 17-20).

In this final chapter 25, we read, I. The utter destruction of Jerusalem by the
Chaldeans, the city besieged and taken (v. 1-4), the houses burnt (v. 8, 9), and wall
broken down (v. 10), and the inhabitants carried away into captivity (v. 11, 12). The
glory of Jerusalem was lost. It was a royal city, where were set “the thrones of the
house of David;” but that glory has now departed. It was the holy city, where the
testimony of Israel was; but that glory has departed. Thus has Jerusalem become as a
Widow. “Ichabod — Where is the glory?” (Lam.1:1). II. The distraction and
dispersion of the remnant that was left in Judah under Gedaliah (v. 22-26). III. The
countenance which, after thirty-seven years' imprisonment, was given to Jehoiachin
the captive king of Judah (v. 27-30).