2 Kings

2 Kings 1

King Ahaziah falls ill and sends messengers to consult Baalzebub, but Elijah intervenes, sending a series of captains with their fifties to confront him. Each captain is consumed by fire from heaven for disobeying Elijah's instructions. The chapter concludes with Ahaziah's death as prophesied by Elijah.

2 Kings 2

Elijah prepares to ascend into heaven, but first asks Elisha what he can do for him before leaving. Elisha requests a double portion of Elijah's spirit, which is granted. As they part ways, Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind, and Elisha witnesses the chariot of fire that carries him away.

2 Kings 3

King Jehoram of Israel forms an alliance with King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Edom to fight against Moab. Elisha the prophet is consulted for guidance, and he prophesies that God will deliver the Moabites into their hands. The battle is won, but King Mesha of Moab sacrifices his eldest son as a burnt offering in desperation.

2 Kings 4

A widow approaches Elisha, seeking help after her husband's death leaves her with debt and two sons in danger of being taken as slaves. Elisha performs a miracle by filling empty vessels with oil, which she uses to pay off her debts. Later, the woman's son falls ill and appears dead, but Elisha revives him through prayer and physical contact.

2 Kings 5

Naaman, the captain of the king of Syria's host, is healed of his leprosy by Elisha after being instructed to wash in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman initially refuses to follow Elisha's instructions, but eventually complies and is cured. He then returns to Elisha and acknowledges that there is no God like the Lord in all the earth.

2 Kings 6

Elisha helps a man retrieve his lost axe head from a river, then warns the king of Israel about an impending Syrian attack. The Syrians are eventually blinded and led to Samaria by Elisha, where they are fed and sent back home. Later, Benhadad's army besieges Samaria, causing a great famine.

2 Kings 7

Four lepers at the city gate decide to venture into the camp of the Syrians, which they find abandoned due to a perceived threat from Israel's allies. They plunder the Syrian tents and return to Samaria, where the king is informed of their discovery. The people then go out and spoil the Syrian tents, fulfilling God's prophecy.

2 Kings 8

Elisha prophesies a seven-year famine and advises a woman to leave her home. Later, Elisha is told that Benhadad, king of Syria, is ill and sends Hazael to meet him. Elisha tells Hazael that Benhadad will recover but ultimately die. Meanwhile, Joram, king of Judah, begins his reign after the death of Jehoshaphat, and he does evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 9

Elisha sends a young prophet to anoint Jehu king over Israel, who then conspires against King Joram and King Ahaziah. Jehu kills both kings in battle and goes on to kill the house of Ahab. Meanwhile, Jezebel is thrown out of her window by Jehu's men and left to be eaten by dogs.

2 Kings 10

Jehu, a military commander, assassinates King Ahab's seventy sons in Jezreel, then proceeds to kill all remaining descendants of Ahab in Samaria. He also destroys the worship of Baal by having its priests and worshippers slaughtered inside the temple. Jehu is praised for his actions but ultimately fails to eradicate idolatry from Israel.

2 Kings 11

Jehosheba, sister of Ahaziah, secretly takes her nephew Joash from among his slain brothers and hides him in the temple for six years. Jehoiada, a priest, forms an alliance with the captains and guard to protect the young king. Athaliah is eventually killed by the guards after attempting to seize power.

2 Kings 12

King Jehoash rules Judah for 40 years, instructed by Jehoiada the priest. He orders the priests to collect money from the people to repair the breaches in the Temple, but they fail to do so until he intervenes. The chapter concludes with Jehoash's death at the hands of his servants, who conspire against him.

2 Kings 13

Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel but does evil in God's sight, leading to oppression by Syria under Hazael and Benhadad. Jehoahaz eventually turns back to God and is given a savior, allowing Israel to regain some territory. Elisha falls ill and dies, but his bones miraculously bring a man back to life when touched.

2 Kings 14

Amaziah, king of Judah, reigns for 29 years but fails to remove high places where people continue to sacrifice. He clashes with Jehoash, king of Israel, who ultimately defeats Amaziah and captures Jerusalem. The chapter also introduces Jeroboam II, who succeeds his father Joash as king of Israel.

2 Kings 15

Azariah begins to reign over Judah at 16 years old, reigning for 50 years. He does right in God's sight but fails to remove high places where people continue to sacrifice. Meanwhile, Israel is plagued by a series of short-lived kings who do evil in the Lord's sight.

2 Kings 16

King Ahaz of Judah begins to reign at 20 years old, but he does not follow God's ways like his father David. He is attacked by Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, but they are unable to overcome him. Ahaz sends messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria for help and offers him tribute.

2 Kings 17

Hoshea becomes king of Israel in the twelfth year of Ahaz's reign over Judah. However, he does evil in God's sight and is eventually captured by the Assyrian king Shalmaneser. The chapter concludes with the Assyrians deporting the Israelites to Halah, Habor, Gozan, and the cities of the Medes. Meanwhile, the Samaritans who replace them continue to worship their own gods.

2 Kings 18

King Hezekiah begins his reign in Judah at age 25 and rules for 29 years. He removes pagan altars and idols, trusting in God's guidance. Meanwhile, Assyria's King Sennacherib sends a delegation to Jerusalem, threatening to destroy the city unless Hezekiah surrenders.

2 Kings 19

King Hezekiah receives a threatening letter from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, but instead of panicking, he prays to God for deliverance and sends Isaiah to tell him that the Lord will defend Jerusalem. The chapter concludes with a miraculous killing of 185,000 Assyrian soldiers by an angel of the Lord, causing Sennacherib to retreat.

2 Kings 20

Hezekiah, king of Judah, falls ill and is told by Isaiah that he will die. However, after praying to God, Hezekiah is healed and given an additional 15 years of life. The chapter also includes a miraculous sign where the shadow on a sundial moves backwards.

2 Kings 21

Manasseh, twelve years old when he began to reign, did evil in the sight of the LORD by rebuilding high places for Baal and worshipping the host of heaven. The LORD spoke through prophets that He would bring evil upon Jerusalem and Judah due to their sins, including Manasseh's shedding of innocent blood. Amon, Manasseh's son, followed in his father's footsteps by doing evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 22

King Josiah sends Shaphan to Hilkiah, who finds a book of the law that has been forgotten. Upon reading it, Josiah is deeply disturbed and orders his officials to seek God's judgment through the prophetess Huldah. Huldah delivers a message from God condemning Judah for its idolatry but promising Josiah personal salvation.

2 Kings 23

King Josiah leads a grand ceremony where he reads the covenant from the book of the law and makes a vow to follow God's commandments. He then orders the destruction of idolatrous objects, including altars, images, and groves, throughout Judah. The chapter concludes with Josiah's successful Passover celebration in Jerusalem.

2 Kings 24

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon captures Jehoiakim, who rebels against him after initially serving as a servant for three years. The LORD sends various bands to destroy Judah due to its sins, including Manasseh's and Jehoiakim's innocent bloodshed. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem, capturing many people, treasures, and vessels, and installs Zedekiah as the new king.

2 Kings 25

The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar besiege Jerusalem and eventually break through its walls, leading to the capture of King Zedekiah. The city is plundered, including the destruction of the Temple, and many Jews are taken captive, with Gedaliah appointed as governor over those who remain. Later, Ishmael kills Gedaliah, prompting many Jews to flee to Egypt.