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Recounts
Elisha's activities and the fall of Samaria
and Jerusalem.
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Assyrians captured Samaria and
threatened Jerusalem
Assyrian
soldier
Relief from 8th - 7th cent. B.C.
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2 Kings 1-13 centers
on the prophet Elisha. Elisha accompanies Elijah to the Jordan River, where
Elijah is swept into heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha works miracles
and anoints new leaders Hazael and Jehu over Syria and Israel. These
leaders defeat the ruling house of Ahab and Jezebel, which had promoted
foreign worship in Israel. The section concludes with Elisha's death.
2
Kings 14-17 chronicles Israel's history until
the fall of Samaria. After several
more kings reign in Israel
and Judah,
the Assyrians
conquer Samaria,
the capital of the northern kingdom, in 722
BC. Many Israelites go into exile and
the Assyrians settle colonists from other nations
in central Palestine. This region becomes
known as Samaria.
2 Kings 18-25
continues the story of the southern kingdom until the fall of Jerusalem.
King Hezekiah reforms Israel's worhip and is delivered from a siege by
the Assyrians, but several of his successors revert to idolatry.
King Josiah also undertakes reforms, but is killed in battle. Within
a generation the Babylonians capture Jerusalem
and destroy the Temple.
2
Kings 2:1-18 - Elijah and the fiery chariot
2
Kings 17 - Fall of Samaria
2
Kings 18:1-8 - Hezekiah's reforms
2
Kings 23 - Josiah's reforms
2
Kings 25 - Fall of Jerusalem
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