Scripture Readings - II Kings

II Kings (IV Kingdoms)

Like the two books of Samuel, the books of 1 and 2 Kings (known in Orthodox Bibles as 3 and 4 Kingdoms) were originally one book.

Second Kings continues the history of the Hebrew monarchies. Chapters 1–17 cover the period from the reigns of Ahaziah of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah to the fall of Samaria and the destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria in 721 B.C. These chapters also include the ministry of the Prophet Elisha, the successor and spiritual heir of Elijah.

Chapters 18–25 continue the history of the Kingdom of Judah, beginning with the fall of Samaria and concluding with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Southern Kingdom by the Babylonians in 587 B.C., followed by the deportation of the people to Babylon.

The primary purpose of the two books of Kings is to explain the causes of the Fall of the Kingdoms. The catastrophes of 721 B.C., when Samaria fell, and 587 B.C., when Jerusalem fell, are presented as just consequences of the unfaithfulness of the majority of the kings of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. They failed to worship the one true God and to observe the unity of the Sanctuary in Jerusalem as required by the Law.

Israel, rather than God, had been unfaithful to the Sinai Covenant. If Israel was to fulfill once again the mission God had given her, she would need to repent and place her future in God’s unwavering faithfulness and steadfast love.