an overview of 2 kings
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From Elijah To Exile . An Overview of 2 Kings. Prepared for the Church of Christ in Champions. The Setup. The 2 had been 1 1 and 2 Kings were one book that was divided around 200 B.C. when translated into Greek. Final Installment of the history of the kings - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
An Overview of 2 Kings
FROM ELIJAH TO EXILE
Prepared for the Church of Christ in Champions
The Setup
The 2 had been 1 1 and 2 Kings were one book that was divided
around 200 B.C. when translated into Greek. Final Installment of the history of the
kings Began with the books of Samuel (Saul to
Jehoiachin) Hebrew Bible actually calls the books of
Samuel and the books of Kings, 1-4 Kings. Israel had kings from 1050 B.C. to 562 B.C.
The Setup
Who wrote the book? Jewish tradition says Jeremiah Jeremiah is possible except for the last 4
verses We are not really sure (could be Jeremiah,
could be someone else during Babylonian captivity)
Historical sources used: Book of the annals of the kings of Judah Book of the annals of the kings of Israel
The Timeline (850 B.C- 562 B.C.)
The Structure
2 Kingdoms Northern Kingdom of Israel. Capitol was
Samaria. Southern Kingdom of Judah. Capitol was
Jerusalem. 2 Kings is structured around the
kings of Israel and Judah This flip-flopping between the kings of
the north and south can be confusing.
The Kings of Israel in 2 Kings
Notice:
Not descendants of David
All evil kings except Jehu
Conduct gets worse until captured by Assyria
Elijah, Elisha, and Jonah mentioned as prophets in Israel
Amos and Hosea not mentioned but ministered in Israel
King Reign Significant EventAhaziah 2 yrs Consulted Baal-ZebubJoram / Jehoram
12 yrs King during the famine in Samaria
Jehu 28 yrs Only obedient king but still continued in sins of
JeroboamJehoahaz 17 yrs God helped him defeat
AramJehoash 16 yrs Met with a dying Elisha
Jeroboam II 41 yrs Restored the boundaries of Israel
Zechariah 6 months Killed by ShallumShallum 1 month Killed by Menahem
Menahem 10 yrs Bought off king of AssyriaPekahiah 2 yrs Killed by Pekah
Pekah 20 yrs Lots of Israel taken by Assyria
Hoshea 9 yrs Assyria captures all of Israel
Why Israel Fell (17:7-12)
7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns.
Why Israel Fell (17:7-12)
10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that provoked the LORD to anger. 12 They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, "You shall not do this."
Why Israel Fell (17:7-12)
They sinned against the Lord Followed the practices of
the nations Followed the practices of
the kings of Israel Did things in secret
against God Worshipped other Gods Worshipped sacred stones Worshipped idols
The Kings of Judah
Notice:
Descendants of David
Athaliah was interim queen
Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah are best kings
Manasseh is worst
Isaiah and Huldah were mentioned as prophets
Evil behavior finally leads to its capture by Babylon
King Reign SignificanceJehoram 8 yrs Descendant of AhabAhaziah 1 yr Killed by Jehu; desc. of AhabAthaliah 6 yrs Mother of Ahaziah
Joash 40 yrs Anointed king in hiding as child
Amaziah 29 yrs Followed the Book of the Law
Azariah/Uzziah
52 yrs Inflicted with Leprosy for disobedience
Jotham 16 yrs Did not remove high placesAhaz 16 yrs Conspired with Assyria against
IsraelHezekiah 29 yrs His faith saved Judah from
AssyriaManasseh 55 yrs Provoked Lord to anger
Amon 2 yrs Evil like ManassehJosiah 31 yrs Renewed the covenant after
the Book of the Law was discovered
Jehoahaz 3 months
Taken captive by Egyptian king
Jehoiakim 11 yrs Judah raided by many nations
Jehoiachin 3 months
Taken as prisoner to Babylon
Zedekiah 11 yrs Jerusalem finally destroyed
The Fall of Judah The sins of Manasseh
are to blame for the fall of Judah
Jerusalem and the Temple burnt to the ground (722 B.C.)
King Jehoiachin and most of Judah taken captive to Babylon
Was God through with Israel? The last 4 verses gives hope!
Major Characters
Elisha, the prophet to Israel
Jehu, King of IsraelHezekiah, King of JudahManasseh, King of JudahJosiah, King of Judah
Elisha- Prophet in Israel
Replaces Elijah as main prophet in Israel
Main character in 2 Kings 2-8
Multiplies a widows oil; blesses a woman with a child then raises him from the dead; multiplies food; heals a man of leprosy; blinds an army; prophesized the end of a famine.
Jehu- Agent of Punishment
Anointed king of Israel by a young prophet sent by Elisha
Wipes out the descendents of the evil king Ahab in Israel, the ministers of Baal, and Jezebel
Kills both the king of Israel and Judah
Was obedient to God but still was in the sin of Jeroboam
Hezekiah- Man of Prayer “There was no one like
him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.”
The LORD listened to his prayer and kept Judah safe from Assyria
The LORD listened to his prayer and healed him from his illness
Manasseh- Most Evil King
King after Hezekiah Longest reigning king Did a lot of evil: sacrificed
his own children, worshipped other gods and idols, shed innocent blood, and even set up the Asherah pole in the temple.
He was ultimately given the blame for the fall of Judah
Josiah- King of Reform Grandson of Manasseh Hilkiah the priest
discovered the Book of the Law in the Temple.
Huldah speaks for the Lord
Renews the covenant among the people Follows the commands of God Ultimately too late to save Judah. God
already decided to destroy Judah because of Manasseh
What do we learn from 2 Kings?
Sin destroys The nations of Israel and Judah fell because of sin God punishes the sins of nations and of individuals
As a whole, the leadership of the Kings failed God’s people needed a better king, a Messiah, a Savior God sent His perfect son to rule and to save His people Some kings (like Hezekiah) were able to temporarily
save Israel from destruction, but not forever All authority was given to Him to rule spiritual Israel We submit to him not by observing the Law of Moses
but through faith in Him
What do we learn from 2 Kings? God is faithful to His promises
He promised David that a member of his family would always sit on the throne (2Sam 7)
Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to David Jesus will rule over God’s kingdom until the
end (1Cor 15:24-28) With God, there is always hope
2 Kings ends with a glimmer of hope Through Jesus there is always hope for the
sinner