Overview Article
The book of 2 Kings is filled with leaders who did not learn from the past. By virtue of their spiritual failure, these kings brought doom upon themselves and their nation. However, there are also sparkling examples of people who put God and his word first and enjoyed the blessings God promised. Reading the accounts of the kings’ lives inspires us to avoid their mistakes and to enjoy the blessings that God promises to those who love and serve him.
Key People, Places, and Terms
People 165
Places 104
Key Terms 72
Themes
The Dangers of Sin 48 Choosing sin instead of remaining faithful to the one true God leads to disaster. This has been true since the beginning, when Adam and Eve's disobedience brought curses and separation from their first home ( Genesis... God’s Judgment of His People 35 The kings of Israel and Judah were very important in the history of the divided kingdom. But the people also influenced events. They followed their wicked rulers ( 2 Kings 3:3 ; 17:22 ; 21:9 , 11 , 16 ). They stopped... The Sovereignty of God 14 People often think they can control everything that happens in their lives through their own choices and actions. But the Bible teaches us something different. It shows us that God has the highest power and authority... The Land 10 The land was very important to ancient Israel because agriculture was the main way people made a living. Most Israelites were farmers or herders, and their survival depended on the land’s ability to produce crops and... God’s Covenant with Israel’s Kings 4 Solomon understood his role as David’s successor ( 1 Kings 3:7 ). The elderly King David advised Solomon to follow all of God's laws from Moses to " prosper in all you do and wherever you turn " ( 2:3 ). Solomon's fai... True Success 4 God wants his people to fully commit to him ( Deuteronomy 6:4–6 ; compare Matthew 22:37 ). True success comes from seeking God and acknowledging him as the ruler, avoiding all false gods ( Matthew 6:33 ; 1 John 5:21 )... Canaanite Religion 3 The Canaanites explained creation or nature in relation to their gods. Each god represented a natural force. They considered the moon, sun, important stars, and visible planets as gods or goddesses. Canaanite gods had... Famine 3 Famine happened early in the lives of the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac ( Genesis 12:10 ; 26:1 ). When the patriarch Jacob’s family experienced famine, God had already placed his son Joseph in Egypt to help God's peopl...
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Jerusalem 3 Jerusalem was an active city as early as four hundred years before the time of King David. The Israelites never fully captured it when they conquered Canaan or during the time of the judges ( Joshua 15:63 ; Judges 1:8... The Promise of New Life 3 The resurrection is a key belief in Christianity. Without it, the Christian faith has no value ( 1 Corinthians 15:14 ). God promises that his people will share in this resurrection with Christ ( Colossians 3:1 ). It i... Angels 3 In the Bible, angels are God's messengers who carry out his plans and tell his will to humans ( Genesis 16:7–12 ; Numbers 22:22–34 ; Judges 13:3–21 ; 2 Kings 1:3 , 15 ; Zechariah 1:4–12 ). The Hebrew Old Testament and... The Collapse of Culture 2 Impressive cultures with creative and skilled people sometimes come to an end suddenly and completely. When digging, archaeologists often find a layer of ash between layers of impressive artifacts. The ash shows the c... God’s Anger 2 God is just and righteous in his judgment ( Psalm 7:11 ). He responds with righteous anger toward sin and injustice. God's anger is not like human anger. It is not an emotional outburst or loss of control. It is his p... Invasion 2 In the ancient world, foreign invasions were common. They caused great difficulty. If invaders succeeded, they brought destruction and suffering. Victorious invaders killed adult men, raped women, enslaved children, s... Making Sense of the Exile 2 The kings and people of Israel repeatedly disobeyed God and failed to keep their special agreement (the covenant) with him. As a result, God announced that he would bring the covenant curses upon them (see Deuteronomy... Calling up the Dead 2 The Old Testament forbids magical practices like spiritism, divination, and necromancy. Necromancy involves contacting dead spirits, usually to seek future guidance (see Deuteronomy 18:9–12 ). Practicing necromancy an... Community Responsibility: Achan’s Sin 2 Is the whole community responsible for the wrongs of a few people? Why did many of Israel’s soldiers die at Ai due to Achan’s sin ( Joshua 7 )? Why did the Israelites stone Achan’s family with him? Understanding commu... God’s Instructions 2 The common Hebrew word torah is usually translated "law" in most English versions. This translation comes from the Greek word nomos , which often means "law." The Septuagint (the ancient Greek Old Testament) used nomo... Promised Land 2 God gave the first man and woman the task of governing the earth and ruling over creation. This was to meet their needs and honor the creator ( Genesis 1:28–30 ). But when humanity sinned, they became separated from G... Purity and Identity 2 God is holy, and he made a covenant (special agreement) with Israel to establish a holy nation ( Exodus 19:4–6 ; Leviticus 19:2 ). Being God's people meant Israel needed to be pure in worship and social relationships....