2 Kings

Author: Unknown
Date of Writing: 6th Century BC
Type of Book: Historical
Theme: Israel and Judah

At the end of 1 Kings, God was dealing with the northern kingdom under the reign of Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel. They had brought the northern kingdom of Israel into its lowest state morally and spiritually as they led the people into idolatry - the worship of Baal - introduced by Jezebel. Israel was sinking into a state of great spiritual apostasy.

Second Kings is a continuation of 1 Kings, as the stories are told of the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. The various kings in the north and south are depicted, and their reigns are evaluated, based on whether or not they followed after God and walked in the way of David, who was the prototypical righteous king over the nation of Israel.

We see the blessings that come from following and serving God and the troubles that arise from ignoring and disobeying Him. Second Kings ultimately tells the story of God's people turning away from Him and being carried off into captivity. We see God using various prophets throughout this period of history, including Elisha, as He warned the people of the consequences of their wrong choices. These prophets also bring the message of God's faithfulness to ultimately restore His people in the future.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith: The Word for Today Bible