2 Kings

- Ahaziah falls through lattice, sends messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub god of Ekron about recovery; angel tells Elijah to intercept with message: he will die for seeking foreign god instead of Israel's God. - Ahaziah sends captain with 50 men demanding Elijah come down; Elijah calls fire from heaven consuming them; same happens to second captain and 50; third captain pleads for mercy. - Elijah accompanies third captain, tells Ahaziah directly he will die; Ahaziah dies per word of the Lord; Jehoram reigns in his stead because he had no son.

- Elijah's final journey with Elisha from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to Jordan; sons of prophets repeatedly tell Elisha his master will be taken; Elisha already knows, tells them to hold peace. - Elijah parts Jordan with his mantle; asks what Elisha wants; Elisha requests double portion of his spirit; Elijah says if Elisha sees him taken, it shall be so; chariot and horses of fire appear, whirlwind takes Elijah to heaven. - Elisha takes Elijah's fallen mantle, parts Jordan returning; sons of prophets acknowledge Spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha; they search futilely for Elijah three days; Elisha heals Jericho's waters with salt; bears kill 42 mocking children.

- Jehoram reigns 12 years in Israel, does evil but removes Baal image his father made; Moab rebels after Ahab's death, refusing tribute of 100,000 lambs and rams with wool. - Jehoram allies with Jehoshaphat and Edom against Moab; after seven days' march, no water for host or cattle; Jehoshaphat asks for prophet; Elisha reluctantly helps for Jehoshaphat's sake. - Elisha prophesies valley filled with water without wind or rain, and victory over Moab; morning sacrifice brings water from Edom; Moabites see water red as blood, rush to spoil, are defeated; king of Moab sacrifices his eldest son on wall, great indignation against Israel, they depart.

- Widow of prophet's son faces creditor taking her two sons as bondmen; Elisha multiplies her pot of oil to fill all borrowed vessels; she sells oil, pays debt, lives on remainder. - Wealthy Shunammite woman provides chamber for Elisha; he promises her a son though husband is old; son born, later dies of head pain in field; she finds Elisha at Carmel, he returns and raises boy from dead. - At Gilgal during dearth, Elisha purifies deadly pottage with meal; multiplies 20 barley loaves and corn to feed 100 men with leftovers, according to the Lord's word.

- Naaman, Syrian army captain with leprosy, hears from captive Israeli maid about prophet in Samaria; comes with letter and gifts; Israeli king rends clothes fearing trap; Elisha sends for Naaman. - Elisha's messenger tells Naaman to wash seven times in Jordan; Naaman rage leaves, preferring Damascus rivers; servants convince him to obey; flesh restored like child's; returns to honor God, requests earth to build altar. - Gehazi lies to get gifts from Naaman; Elisha knows, curses him with Naaman's leprosy forever; Gehazi goes out white as snow.

- Sons of prophets need larger dwelling; at Jordan, borrowed axe head falls in water; Elisha makes iron swim by casting stick; Syrian king wars against Israel, but Elisha warns Israeli king of ambushes. - Syrian king discovers Elisha reveals his bedroom words to Israeli king; sends horses, chariots, great host to Dothan; Elisha's servant fears; Elisha prays, shows him mountain full of horses and chariots of fire; blinds Syrian army, leads them to Samaria. - Elisha opens their eyes in Samaria; Israeli king asks to smite them; Elisha says feed them; great provision made, sends them away; Syria stops raiding; later Ben-hadad besieges Samaria causing severe famine - donkey's head for 80 silver pieces, dove's dung for five. - Woman appeals to king about agreement to eat their sons; ate hers yesterday, other woman hides her son today; king rends clothes revealing sackcloth, vows to behead Elisha; Elisha predicts tomorrow's plenty while elder sits with him; king's messenger arrives.

- Elisha prophesies tomorrow: fine flour and barley sold cheaply at gate; lord on whose hand king leans doubts, told he'll see but not eat it; four leprous men at gate decide to defect to Syrians, reasoning they'll die anyway. - Find Syrian camp abandoned - the Lord made them hear chariots, horses, great host; they fled at twilight leaving everything; lepers eat, drink, take spoil, then report to city; king suspects trap. - Scouts confirm Syrians fled to Jordan, casting away garments and vessels in haste; people spoil tents; prophecy fulfilled - flour and barley sold cheaply; doubting lord trampled in gate by people, dies as prophesied.

- Elisha warns Shunammite of seven-year famine; she sojourns in Philistines' land; returns to appeal for house and land; Gehazi telling king of Elisha raising her son when she arrives; king restores all plus field's fruits. - Elisha visits sick Ben-hadad in Damascus; Hazael sent with 40 camels' burden gift asking about recovery; Elisha says tell him he'll recover but the Lord showed he'll die; stares at Hazael until ashamed, weeps. - Explains weeping: knows evil Hazael will do to Israel - burn strongholds, kill young men, dash children, rip up pregnant women; Hazael protests he's but a dog; Elisha reveals he'll be Syrian king; Hazael smothers Ben-hadad with wet cloth next day. - Jehoram of Judah reigns 8 years, walks in Israeli kings' ways, marries Ahab's daughter; Edom and Libnah revolt; Ahaziah succeeds, reigns 1 year, also wicked through Ahab's house influence; visits wounded Joram in Jezreel.

- Elisha sends young prophet to anoint Jehu at Ramoth-gilead; instructs to flee immediately after; prophet anoints Jehu in inner chamber, declares he'll smite Ahab's house for prophets' blood, especially Jezebel - dogs will eat her at Jezreel with none to bury. - Jehu's fellows ask about "mad fellow"; Jehu reveals anointing; they immediately blow trumpets declaring "Jehu is king"; Jehu conspires, speeds to Jezreel where Joram recovers from wounds; watchman reports furious driving "like driving of Jehu." - Joram and Ahaziah meet Jehu in Naboth's field; Joram asks "Is it peace?"; Jehu cites Jezebel's whoredoms and witchcrafts; Joram flees crying treason; Jehu shoots arrow through his heart, casts body in Naboth's field per Elijah's prophecy; pursues and kills Ahaziah. - At Jezreel, Jezebel paints face, tires head, looks out window taunting "Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?"; Jehu calls for supporters; two or three eunuchs throw her down; blood spatters wall; horses tread her underfoot; only skull, feet, and palms found when burial attempted - dogs ate rest per Elijah's word.

- Jehu writes Samaria's rulers about Ahab's 70 sons, challenges them to fight for master's house; they fear greatly, submit; he demands sons' heads; they arrive in baskets, piled at gate; Jehu claims innocence for Joram but notes prophecy fulfillment. - Slays all remaining house of Ahab in Jezreel, kinsfolks, priests; meets Jehonadab, tests his heart, takes him in chariot; in Samaria, destroys all Ahab's remnant "according to saying of the Lord, which he spake to Elijah." - Gathers all Baal worshippers claiming he'll serve Baal much; fills Baal's house; ensures all present; commands slaughter - none escape; destroys Baal images, house, makes it draught house unto this day; thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. - However, Jehu follows Jeroboam's golden calves at Bethel and Dan; the Lord promises four generations on Israel's throne for destroying Ahab's house; but took no heed to walk in God's law with all heart; the Lord begins cutting Israel short - Hazael smites all eastern territories; Jehu reigns 28 years.

- Athaliah (Ahaziah's mother) destroys all royal seed upon son's death; Jehosheba (Ahaziah's sister) steals baby Joash, hides him six years in temple while Athaliah reigns. - Seventh year, Jehoiada the priest organizes coup with captains and guard; shows them king's son; positions guards around temple and king; crowns Joash with testimony, anoints him; people clap saying "God save the king." - Athaliah hears noise, sees king by pillar with princes and trumpeters, cries treason; Jehoiada commands her execution outside temple; killed at horses' entrance; Jehoiada makes covenant between the Lord, king, and people; people destroy Baal's house, altars, images, kill Mattan the priest; king brought to throne; city quiet.

- Joash reigns 40 years, does right all days Jehoiada instructs him, yet high places remain; orders priests to use offerings for temple repairs; by year 23 no repairs made. - Jehoiada makes chest with hole for offerings beside altar; money given to workmen who repair temple faithfully without accounting; trespass and sin money remains priests'; temple vessels not made until repairs complete. - Hazael takes Gath, sets face toward Jerusalem; Joash sends all hallowed things and treasury gold; Hazael withdraws; Joash's servants conspire, kill him at house of Millo; Amaziah his son reigns.

- Jehoahaz reigns 17 years in Israel, follows Jeroboam's sins; the Lord's anger delivers them to Hazael and Ben-hadad continually; Jehoahaz beseeches the Lord, receives a saviour, yet sins continue; Syrian oppression leaves only 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, 10,000 footmen. - Jehoash reigns 16 years, also evil; Elisha's final sickness; Jehoash weeps "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof"; Elisha has him shoot arrow of deliverance, strike ground with arrows - strikes only thrice, limiting victories over Syria. - Elisha dies; Moabite bands invade yearly; man being buried thrown into Elisha's sepulchre when band appears, revives upon touching Elisha's bones; Jehoash recovers cities from Ben-hadad three times per Elisha's word.

- Amaziah of Judah reigns 29 years, does right but not like David; high places remain; executes father's killers but not their children per Moses' law; slays 10,000 Edomites in salt valley. - Challenges Jehoash of Israel; Jehoash responds with thistle and cedar parable warning against pride; Amaziah persists; defeated at Beth-shemesh; Jehoash breaks down 400 cubits of Jerusalem's wall, takes treasures and hostages. - Jehoash dies; Jeroboam succeeds; Amaziah lives 15 more years; conspiracy in Jerusalem, flees to Lachish, killed there; Azariah (Uzziah) made king at 16; Jeroboam II reigns 41 years in Israel, does evil but restores Israel's borders from Hamath to Dead Sea per Jonah the prophet, because the Lord saw Israel's bitter affliction.

- Azariah (Uzziah) reigns 52 years in Judah, does right but high places remain; the Lord smites him with leprosy; dwells in separate house while son Jotham judges; rapid succession in Israel: Zachariah 6 months (Shallum kills him publicly, ending Jehu's fourth generation). - Shallum reigns 1 month before Menahem kills him; Menahem reigns 10 years, does evil, gives Pul (Assyria) 1,000 silver talents to confirm kingdom, exacting 50 shekels from each mighty man; Pekahiah his son reigns 2 years. - Pekah conspires with 50 Gileadites, kills Pekahiah in palace; reigns 20 years; Tiglath-pileser of Assyria takes multiple cities, carries captives to Assyria; Hoshea conspires against Pekah, kills him; Jotham of Judah reigns 16 years, does right but high places remain; builds higher gate of temple; Rezin and Pekah begin attacking.

- Ahaz reigns 16 years in Judah, does not right, makes son pass through fire after heathen abominations, sacrifices in high places and under every green tree; Rezin and Pekah besiege Jerusalem unsuccessfully; Rezin recovers Elath for Syria. - Ahaz sends temple and palace treasures to Tiglath-pileser saying "I am thy servant and thy son," requesting help against Syria and Israel; Assyria takes Damascus, carries people to Kir, kills Rezin. - Ahaz meets Tiglath-pileser at Damascus, sees altar, sends pattern to Urijah the priest who builds it before return; Ahaz offers on new altar, moves brass altar, changes temple furniture and practices to please Assyrian king; buried with fathers; Hezekiah succeeds.

- Hoshea reigns 9 years in Israel, evil but not as former kings; becomes Shalmaneser's servant paying tribute; conspires with Egypt, stops tribute; Assyria besieges Samaria three years, carries Israel to Assyria in Hoshea's 9th year. - Detailed explanation of exile: Israel sinned against God who brought them from Egypt, feared other gods, walked in heathen and king statutes, did secretly wrong things, built high places, set up images and groves, burned incense, served idols despite warnings. - The Lord testified through all prophets to turn from evil ways; they hardened necks like fathers, rejected statutes and covenant, followed vanity, made molten images, worshipped host of heaven, served Baal, used divination, sold themselves to do evil; only Judah left, and Judah also walked in Israel's statutes. - Assyrian king brings people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, Sepharvaim to Samaria's cities; lions kill some; priest sent back to teach God's manner; result: mixed worship - fear the Lord and serve own gods; pattern continues - fear not the Lord truly nor follow His statutes.

- Hezekiah reigns 29 years, does right like David; removes high places, breaks images, cuts down groves, breaks Moses' brass serpent (Nehushtan) people burned incense to; trusts the Lord, cleaves to Him, keeps commandments; the Lord with him, prospers wherever he goes. - Rebels against Assyria, smites Philistines to Gaza; in year 4, Shalmaneser besieges Samaria, takes it in Hezekiah's 6th year because Israel obeyed not God's voice; in year 14, Sennacherib takes Judah's fenced cities. - Hezekiah submits, pays 300 silver and 30 gold talents demanded, stripping temple doors and pillars he had overlaid; Sennacherib sends great host with Rabshakeh to Jerusalem; stands by conduit of upper pool; Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah come out. - Rabshakeh's speech: mocks trust in Egypt (bruised reed), claims Hezekiah removed God's high places, offers 2,000 horses if they can set riders, claims the Lord sent him to destroy; officials request Aramaic not Jews' language; Rabshakeh shouts louder in Hebrew to men on wall about Hezekiah's inability to deliver, warns against trusting God, promises deportation to good land, cites gods of other nations failing against Assyria; people silent per king's command.

- Hezekiah rends clothes, covers with sackcloth, enters temple; sends Eliakim, Shebna, and elder priests in sackcloth to Isaiah; message: day of trouble, rebuke, blasphemy - children come to birth but no strength to deliver; asks prayer for remnant. - Isaiah's response: Fear not Sennacherib's words; God will send spirit, he'll hear rumour, return home, fall by sword there; Rabshakeh returns, finds Sennacherib warring against Libnah; Sennacherib hears of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, sends threatening letter. - Hezekiah spreads letter before the Lord, prays acknowledging God as sole creator, asks Him to see Sennacherib's reproach, save them that all kingdoms may know; Isaiah sends word: God heard prayer, virgin daughter of Zion despises Sennacherib who reproached Holy One of Israel. - God's message: knew Sennacherib's rage, will put hook in nose, bridle in lips, turn him back; sign for Hezekiah - eat this year what grows of itself, second year same, third year sow and reap; remnant will again take root and bear fruit; concerning Sennacherib - won't come to city, shoot arrow, come with shield, or cast bank; will defend city for God's sake and David's sake. - That night angel kills 185,000 in Assyrian camp; Sennacherib departs to Nineveh; while worshipping in Nisroch's house, sons Adrammelech and Sharezer kill him with sword, escape to Armenia; Esar-haddon reigns.

- Hezekiah sick unto death; Isaiah says "Set house in order; thou shalt die"; Hezekiah turns face to wall, weeps sore, prays reminding God of faithful walk; Isaiah not yet in middle court when word comes: return, tell Hezekiah God heard prayer, saw tears, will heal him, third day he'll go to temple, adds 15 years, delivers from Assyria. - Isaiah prescribes lump of figs on boil; Hezekiah asks for sign; Isaiah offers shadow forward or back 10 degrees; Hezekiah chooses harder backward movement; Isaiah cries to the Lord, shadow returns 10 degrees backward on dial of Ahaz. - Berodach-baladan of Babylon sends letters and present hearing of sickness; Hezekiah shows all treasures, precious things, armor, nothing hidden; Isaiah asks about visitors, predicts all will be carried to Babylon, sons will be eunuchs; Hezekiah accepts as good - peace and truth in his days; makes pool and conduit bringing water to city; Manasseh succeeds.

- Manasseh reigns 55 years, does evil after heathen abominations; rebuilds high places Hezekiah destroyed, rears Baal altars, makes grove like Ahab, worships all host of heaven, builds altars in temple where God said His name would be. - Makes son pass through fire, observes times, uses enchantments, deals with familiar spirits and wizards, sets graven image in temple; God had promised David and Solomon to put His name in Jerusalem forever if Israel observes all Moses commanded; Manasseh seduces them to do more evil than destroyed nations. - The Lord speaks through prophets: because Manasseh did worse abominations than Amorites, made Judah sin with idols, will bring such evil ears will tingle; stretch over Jerusalem Samaria's line and Ahab's plummet, wipe Jerusalem as dish wiped and turned upside down; forsake remnant, deliver to enemies. - Manasseh sheds innocent blood till Jerusalem full from end to end; Amon his son reigns 2 years, walks in all father's ways; servants conspire, kill him in house; people slay conspirators, make Josiah king at age 8.

- Josiah reigns 31 years, does right, walks in David's way, turns not aside; year 18, sends Shaphan to Hilkiah the high priest to sum silver for temple repairs by faithful workers needing no accounting. - Hilkiah finds book of law in temple, gives to Shaphan who reads it and brings to king with repair report; Shaphan reads it before king; Josiah rends clothes, commands Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, Asahiah: "Inquire of the Lord for me, people, and Judah concerning book's words; great is the Lord's wrath because fathers have not hearkened." - They go to Huldah the prophetess (wife of Shallum keeper of wardrobe) in Jerusalem's college; she prophesies: God will bring all book's evil on this place because they forsook Him, burned incense to other gods; but to Judah's king - because his heart was tender, he humbled himself hearing words against this place, wept before God - he'll be gathered to grave in peace, not see coming evil.

- King gathers all elders, goes to temple with all men of Judah, Jerusalem inhabitants, priests, prophets, all people small and great; reads all words of covenant book; makes covenant before the Lord to walk after Him, keep commandments with all heart and soul; all people stand to covenant. - Massive reform: removes all idolatrous vessels from temple, burns them at Kidron, carries ashes to Bethel; deposes idolatrous priests; brings out grove from temple, burns at Kidron, stamps to powder, casts on graves; breaks down sodomites' houses where women wove hangings for grove. - Brings all priests from Judah's cities, defiles high places from Geba to Beersheba; breaks down high places of gates; priests of high places come not to Jerusalem's altar but eat unleavened bread among brethren; defiles Topheth in Hinnom valley where children passed through fire to Molech; removes horses given to sun, burns sun chariots. - Destroys altars on roof of Ahaz's upper chamber, altars Manasseh made in temple courts; defiles high places Solomon built for Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Milcom; breaks images, cuts groves, fills places with men's bones; at Bethel, destroys Jeroboam's altar and high place per prophecy. - Sees sepulchres, burns bones on altar per man of God's word; spares prophet's sepulchre who cried against altar; destroys all high place houses in Samaria's cities Israeli kings made; slays all high place priests on altars, burns men's bones; commands Passover kept as written - none like it since judges' days. - Despite reforms, the Lord turns not from fierce wrath kindled by Manasseh's provocations; declares He'll remove Judah as Israel, cast off Jerusalem and temple; Josiah killed by Pharaoh-nechoh at Megiddo when going against him; people make Jehoahaz king.

- Jehoahaz reigns 3 months, does evil; Pharaoh-nechoh imprisons him at Riblah, taxes land 100 silver talents and gold talent; makes Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim) king; Jehoahaz taken to Egypt, dies there; Jehoiakim reigns 11 years, does evil, gives Pharaoh silver and gold by taxing people. - In Jehoiakim's days, Nebuchadnezzar comes; Jehoiakim serves three years then rebels; the Lord sends Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites against Judah to destroy per prophets' words, for Manasseh's sins and innocent blood the Lord would not pardon. - Jehoiachin reigns 3 months, does evil; Nebuchadnezzar's servants besiege Jerusalem; Jehoiachin surrenders with mother, servants, princes, officers in 8th year of Nebuchadnezzar; all treasures taken from temple and palace, all golden vessels Solomon made cut in pieces. - Carries away all Jerusalem - princes, mighty men of valor (10,000 captives), craftsmen, smiths; only poorest remain; Jehoiachin to Babylon with mother, wives, officers, mighty of land; 7,000 mighty men, 1,000 craftsmen and smiths; makes Mattaniah (renamed Zedekiah) king.

- Zedekiah reigns 11 years, does evil, rebels against Babylon; Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem in 9th year, 10th month, 10th day with forts round about; siege until 11th year, 4th month, 9th day; famine prevails, no bread for people. - City broken up; all men of war flee by night through gate between two walls by king's garden; Chaldees pursue, overtake Zedekiah in Jericho plains; army scattered; bring him to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah; kill his sons before his eyes, put out his eyes, bind with fetters, carry to Babylon. - 5th month, 7th day (Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year), Nebuzar-adan burns temple, king's house, all Jerusalem houses; army breaks down Jerusalem's walls; carries away remnant except poor of land left as vinedressers and husbandmen. - Breaks brass pillars, bases, brass sea; carries brass to Babylon; takes all temple vessels of gold and silver; two pillars, one sea, bases beyond weight; detailed description of pillars' and chapiters' workmanship; takes chief priest Seraiah, second priest Zephaniah, three door keepers, officer over men of war, five of king's presence, principal scribe, 60 people - Nebuzar-adan takes them to Riblah; Nebuchadnezzar smites them dead; Judah carried away out of their land. - Nebuchadnezzar makes Gedaliah governor over remnant; captains come to Mizpah; Gedaliah swears serve Chaldees and it will be well; 7th month, Ishmael (royal seed) with ten men kills Gedaliah, Jews, and Chaldees there; all people flee to Egypt fearing Chaldees. - Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in 1st year, lifts up Jehoiachin's head from prison in his 37th year of captivity, 12th month, 27th day; speaks kindly, sets throne above other kings in Babylon; changes prison garments; Jehoiachin eats bread continually before him, given daily allowance all his life.