2 Kings

Definition and Meaning

Second Kings is the twelfth book of the Old Testament and is classified among the historical books in the Protestant tradition. It contains twenty-five chapters. The title "Kings" reflects the book's sequential account of the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah. In the Hebrew Bible it originally formed a single book with 1 Kings. The division into two books arose in the Septuagint, the Greek translation, and was later adopted in printed editions of the Hebrew Bible as well.

Biblical and Historical Background

• Chapters 1–17: These chapters cover the taking up of Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11), the ministry and miracles of Elisha, and the revolt of Jehu, continuing through the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel. The northern kingdom came to an end around 722 BC, when its capital, Samaria, fell to Assyria. Chapter 17 attributes the kingdom's destruction to idolatry and the abandonment of the covenant.
• Chapters 18–25: These chapters treat the period in which only the southern kingdom of Judah remained. They include the Assyrian invasion during the reign of Hezekiah and the activity of the prophet Isaiah, as well as the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple and the religious reforms carried out under King Josiah (chapters 22–23). The book then records Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in Jerusalem (587 or 586 BC). It closes with the release of the captive King Jehoiachin from prison (25:27–30).

The book does not identify its author. Jewish tradition ascribes it to Jeremiah. Many scholars regard it as part of the so-called "Deuteronomistic History," which presents the history of Israel from the theological perspective of Deuteronomy. Conservative scholars often hold that a single compiler assembled the work from various sources, including royal records. Its content overlaps with that of 2 Chronicles, which covers the same period.

Use in the Korean Church

Passages frequently addressed in Korean church preaching include the following:

• Elisha's request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit (2:9): This passage is often cited under the theme of "a double portion of the spirit" at revival meetings and in churches that emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit. Other interpreters, however, argue that in light of the custom of giving the firstborn a double share of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), the passage should be read as Elisha asking to become Elijah's spiritual successor.
• The widow's vessels of oil and the account of the Shunammite woman (chapter 4), and the healing of the Aramean commander Naaman (chapter 5): These passages are frequently used in sermons on faith and obedience and in Sunday school lessons.
• Hezekiah's prayer and the extension of his life (chapter 20): This passage is widely used as a text on answered prayer.
• Josiah's reforms (chapters 22–23): These chapters are cited in sermons on the restoration of the Word and the reform of the church.

Denominations do not differ regarding the book's canonical status or its position in the canon. In whole-Bible reading programs, it is sometimes read alongside 2 Chronicles so that the two accounts can be compared.