2 Kings study section

2 Kings chapter summaries

A one-line summary of every chapter, with the period it covers. Open any chapter for the full study.

Chapter list

Chapters 1–8

The ministry and miracles of Elijah’s successor.

Chapter 1 (c. 852 BC): Elijah condemns King Ahaziah for consulting Baal-zebub, and the king dies as the prophet foretold.
Chapter 2 (c. 848 BC): Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, and Elisha receives a double portion of his spirit.
Chapter 3 (c. 848 BC): Elisha aids the allied kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab.
Chapter 4 (c. 845 BC): Elisha’s miracles: the widow’s oil, the Shunammite’s son raised, the poisoned stew healed, and bread multiplied.
Chapter 5 (c. 845 BC): Elisha heals Naaman the Syrian leper, who confesses the LORD, while greedy Gehazi is struck with leprosy.
Chapter 6 (c. 844 BC): The floating axe head, the blinding of the Aramean army, and the beginning of Samaria’s terrible siege.
Chapter 7 (c. 844 BC): Four lepers discover the Arameans have fled, and the LORD ends the famine exactly as Elisha foretold.
Chapter 8 (c. 841 BC): The Shunammite’s land is restored, Hazael seizes Aram’s throne, and Judah’s kings Jehoram and Ahaziah reign.

Chapters 9–17

The northern kingdom’s long decline and its exile to Assyria.

Chapter 9 (c. 841 BC): Jehu is anointed and kills Joram and Ahaziah, and Jezebel is thrown down and eaten by dogs.
Chapter 10 (c. 841 BC): Jehu wipes out the house of Ahab and Baal worship in Israel, but keeps Jeroboam’s golden calves.
Chapter 11 (c. 835 BC): Athaliah usurps Judah’s throne, but the hidden boy Joash is crowned and Athaliah is put to death.
Chapter 12 (c. 820 BC): Joash repairs the temple under Jehoiada, but declines after the priest’s death.
Chapter 13 (c. 798 BC): Elisha dies, and even his bones raise a dead man; Israel is oppressed and partly delivered from Aram.
Chapter 14 (c. 790 BC): Amaziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel reign, and the north enjoys a brief resurgence.
Chapter 15 (c. 750 BC): A rapid succession of kings, as Assyria under Tiglath-pileser begins to carry Israel away.
Chapter 16 (c. 732 BC): Ahaz of Judah practices idolatry, appeals to Assyria, and copies a pagan altar for the temple.
Chapter 17 (722 BC): Samaria falls to Assyria and Israel is exiled, explained as the just judgment for covenant sin.

Chapters 18–25

Hezekiah’s and Josiah’s reforms, and Judah’s final collapse into Babylonian exile.

Chapter 18 (c. 701 BC): Hezekiah reforms Judah and trusts the LORD as Sennacherib of Assyria invades and threatens Jerusalem.
Chapter 19 (701 BC): Hezekiah prays, Isaiah promises deliverance, and the angel of the LORD strikes down the Assyrian army.
Chapter 20 (c. 700 BC): Hezekiah is healed and given fifteen more years, but foolishly shows his treasures to envoys from Babylon.
Chapter 21 (c. 690 BC): Manasseh’s long reign fills Jerusalem with idolatry and innocent blood, and Amon follows in his evil.
Chapter 22 (c. 622 BC): Young Josiah repairs the temple, the Book of the Law is found, and the prophetess Huldah warns of coming judgment.
Chapter 23 (c. 622 BC): Josiah leads sweeping reforms and keeps a great Passover, yet the judgment stands, and he later dies at Megiddo.
Chapter 24 (c. 597 BC): Babylon subdues Judah, exiles Jehoiachin and the leaders, and sets Zedekiah, who rebels, on the throne.
Chapter 25 (586 BC): Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed and the people exiled; years later, Jehoiachin is released and honored.

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