• Home /
• Bible /
• BBE /
• 2 Kings

The decline and fall of Israel and Judah.

Second Kings traces roughly three centuries of history as the northern kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria and the southern kingdom of Judah eventually falls to Babylon. Elijah's dramatic ascension and Elisha's ministry open the book, followed by a long line of kings, some wicked and a few reforming. Read it starting at 2 Kings chapter 1.

Second Kings is the twelfth book of the Bible, continuing seamlessly from First Kings and spanning 25 chapters covering roughly 300 years of history from around 850 to 560 BC. It records the parallel decline and fall of both the northern kingdom of Israel (conquered by Assyria in 722 BC) and the southern kingdom of Judah (conquered by Babylon, with Jerusalem and the Temple destroyed in 586 BC). The ministries of the great prophets Elijah (briefly) and his successor Elisha dominate the early chapters, followed by a parade of mostly wicked kings punctuated by the godly reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah. Major themes include the inevitable consequences of persistent apostasy, the power of prophetic intercession, God's patience and warnings through His servants, and the fulfillment of earlier prophetic warnings about exile. Key chapters include 2 Kings 2 (Elijah's ascension), 2 Kings 17 (the fall of Israel), and 2 Kings 22-23 (Josiah's reform). Famous verses include 2 Kings 2:11 -- Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind -- and 2 Kings 17:7 -- All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God. Second Kings KJV Bible reading is sobering and instructive. Read the Book of 2 Kings online here in full.

The reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah briefly slow the nation's decline before Jerusalem and the Temple are finally destroyed in 586 BC. Second Kings continues the royal narrative that runs back through <a href="/bible/bbe/1-samuel">1 Samuel</a> and <a href="/bible/bbe/joshua">Joshua</a>.