The Book of 2 Kings
2 Kings traces the decline and exile of both Israel and Judah, with the ministry of Elisha, as the people's unfaithfulness leads to captivity in Assyria and Babylon.
- Testament
- Old (25 chapters)
- Type
- History
- Date
- Events span from the mid-9th century BC to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
The cost of covenant infidelity
Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BC; Judah falls to Babylon in 586 BC. The book makes plain that exile is not random — it is the covenant's stated consequence for centuries of idolatry. The Deuteronomistic theology shows here: blessing follows obedience, curse follows breach.
Reformer kings and their limits
Hezekiah and Josiah's reforms (chapters 18-20, 22-23) are bright spots — Josiah's rediscovery of the Book of the Law is one of the great revivals in Scripture. But the rot is too deep; the reforms slow the fall, but don't reverse it.
Key verses (KJV)
“There is none like unto the LORD our God.” — 2 Kings 5:15 (cf. Exodus 8:10) (KJV)
“I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” — 2 Kings 22:8 (KJV)
“So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria.” — 2 Kings 17:23 (KJV)
How to read 2 Kings
Elisha's ministry (chapters 2-13) is gripping. The Hezekiah / Sennacherib episode (18-19) is one of Scripture's great rescue stories. The closing chapters (22-25) are heavy — read them with Lamentations.
Read 2 Kings on your iPhone
Read the full book of 2 Kings in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
Read 2 Kings free on iPhone.
Download on the App StoreMore Old Testament books
- The Book of 1 Chronicles
- The Book of 2 Chronicles
- The Book of Ezra
- The Book of Nehemiah
- The Book of Esther
From the blog
Frequently asked questions
What is the Book of 2 Kings about?
2 Kings is a book of History, running to 25 chapters. Its main threads: The cost of covenant infidelity; Reformer kings and their limits.
Who wrote the Book of 2 Kings?
Anonymous; traditionally Jeremiah. Final form likely during the Babylonian exile.
Where does 2 Kings come in the Bible?
2 Kings is one of the 39 books of the Old Testament in the Protestant canon, grouped with the History books. You can walk the canon in order using the previous and next links on this page.