In the opening chapters elijah the prophet is seen once more in his final ministrations, followed by his translation. Then we read, and fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood to view afar off. Kings, or in greek, was originally a book of the former prophets in hebrew scripture. Apr 06, 2015 the book of 2nd kings is narrative history and prophecy concerning the affairs of the divided kingdoms. In addition, there are many prophecies in 1 and 2 kings that are now being fulfilled. New heart english bible elisha said to the king of israel, what have i to do with you. It is an account of 29 kings12 from the northern kingdom of israel and 17 from the southern kingdom of judah. As stated in the introduction to the book of kings, both books were originally undivided. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of second kings in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Highlights from the book of second kings the bible book of second kings takes up where the book of first kings leaves off. However, elisha was not the only spiritual son of elijah.
The king sent messengers to consult baalzebub, god of ekron and ask him for recovery from his illness. The story of the beginning of his apprenticeship 1 kings 19. The second book of the kings arno clemens gaebelein. Biblical literature biblical literature the significance of elisha. Elisha s story is related in the book of kings second scroll, chapters 214 in the hebrew bible in judaism, part of the neviim. The book was divided into the two books of first kings and second kings in the historical books of the greek septuagint old testament, and continues as such in the latin. Ahaziah had fallen from the balcony of his upper room in samaria and he lay ill in bed when the moabites rebelled against israel. We hear it from the lips of the servant of jehoram, as well as from the king of judahthe word of the lord is with elisha 2 kings 3. And the sons of the prophets said unto elisha, behold now, the place where we dwell before thee is too strait for us. The second book of kings reigns of kings ahaziah and. Elijah and elisha associated with a group of men known as the sons of the prophets.
It was through elisha that god spared jehoshaphat and the kings of israel and edom, along with their armies. Second kings also relates activities of the prophets elijah, elisha, and isaiah. The stories of the prophet elijah and his protege elisha are found at the end of first kings and the beginning of second kings 1 kings 172 kings. In line with the above, the second book of kings takes a pretty black and white view of the rulers it discusses. Other prophets also witnessed and suffered for their faithfulness. But elisha said, as surely as the lord lives and as you live, i will not leave you. The historical accounts are based on the viewpoints and biases of the monarchy, nobility, and military leaders. The condition cannot be leprosy since gehazi will continue as elishas servant. It continues the story of the kings over the divided kingdom israel and judah. Beloved heavenly father, the miracles of your prophet elijah were surpassed by elisha, and the miracles of elisha were surpassed by your supreme prophet, jesus christ. The book of 2 kings is a sequel to the book of 1 kings. The book of 2nd kings is narrative history and prophecy concerning the affairs of the divided kingdoms. The divided kingdoms of israel and judah reigns of kings ahaziah and jehoram of israel the end of the elijah cycle and the beginning of elisha s mission. Additionally, the inscription sheds light on the religion of the area in the 8th century bce, with direct parallels to stories from the hebrew bible.
An angel of god warned elijah the prophet and elijah, wearing. The two books of kings, originally a single book, is the tenth of the hebrew bible or the eleventh and twelfth books of the christian old testament. Nothing is known about these prophets except some lived in bethel 2 kings 2. And the sons of the prophets that were at bethel came forth to elisha, and said unto him, knowest thou that the lord will take away thy master from thy head to day. Elisha was a very powerful prophet who performed many miracles, some of which remind of the life of jesus. Elisha was elijahs successor and the secondmost important prophet without a book.
Elisha didnt ask for worldly honor or for a high place among men. How many prophets are in the 2 books of kings answers. The book before this is called patriarchs and prophets, which is also an excellent resource. Seven miracles of elisha 2 kings 35 wayne galloway 102714 na. Apr 02, 2016 watch our overview video on the books of 12 kings, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. This summary of the book of 1 kings provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 kings. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Here are seven key bible verses taken from the book of second kings. And the sons of the prophets that were at jericho came to elisha, and said unto him. Biblical literature the significance of elisha britannica. For an outline of both 1 and 2 kings see introduction to 1 kings.
In kings, davids son solomon leads israel to greatness, only to. The second book of kings continues the history of the two separated kingdoms, judah and israel. Chapter 4 of 2 kings new american standard bible nasb prev. The second book of the kings the argument this second book containeth the acts of the kings of judah and israel. The condition cannot be leprosy since gehazi will continue as elisha s servant. The tradition is that the prophet jeremiah was the author of both 1 and 2 kings. The divided kingdoms of israel and judah the miracles of elisha previous kings 2 lessons list next. Watch our overview video on the books of 12 kings, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The same thing happened with the books of samuel and chronicles immediately before and after the books of kings. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible. He was most likely a prophet, because many of the historical events. In ii kings 2, we read of the school of the prophets, the sons of the prophets. We read about them at the time that elijah was taken into heaven.
This is book two in a series of five books, and it is a great devotional book. The book was divided into the two books of first kings and second kings in the historical books of the greek septuagint old testament, and continues as such in the latin vulgate and our christian old testament of the bible. Your own life will be changed forever if you apply even one truth that the lord reveals to you in this book. Elisha said to the king of israel, why are you here. The prophets of israel viewed as a whole their designation the first division of the old testament was known as the law with the second being called the former prophets, but these included four books which have already been outlinedjoshua, judges, samuel, and kings. Prophets and kings, the second volume in the conflict of the ages series, opens with the story of solomons glorious reign over israel and ends with the nations exile and captivity. The text is especially relevant for discussions of prophets and prophecy in the book of kings because it associates the inscription with israels war against the arameans see 2 kings 814. It contains a history of the kings of judah and of israel from the last days of david till the capture of zedekiah by nebuchadnezzar.
Though these books deal with the history of israel, they were composed from a prophetic viewpoint and possibly even the. He wished to be acknowledged as elijahs firstborn spiritual son albert barnes notes on the bible, 2 kings 2. Go to your fathers prophets or your mothers prophets. As we noted in the previous chapter, 1 and 2 kings originally comprised one book of history. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of israel and judah by a deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century bce, with a supplement added in the sixth century bce. The book of 2 kings, along with 1 kings, was likely written between 560 and 540 b. You might be a king who prevents starvation and improves sanitation, but if you bow down to one sacred pole dedicated to a female goddess, you get discarded into 2 kings totally wicked pile. And elisha said unto him, as the lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, i will not leave thee. The king of israel replied to him, no, for the lord is the one who summoned these three kings so that he can hand them over to moab.
It traces the history of a favored and chosen people, vacillating between allegiance to god and to the gods of the nations around them. Second book of kings nasb audio bible non dramatized youtube. The lives of elijah and elisha are written in the books of 1 and 2 kings. Originally this book and the preceding book were combined into one longer book in the hebrew bible. The author is neither indicated in the text nor known by scholars. It concludes the deuteronomistic history, a history of israel also comprising the books of joshua and judges and the book of samuel, which biblical commentators believe was written to provide a theological explanation for the destruction of the. It begins with the reign of king solomon to the restoration of jerusalem. Seven miracles of elisha 2 kings 35 bible studies fort. The stories of elijah and his successor, elisha, are of a different literary genre from the historical accounts of the political developments of the 9th century.
Let us go, we pray thee, unto the jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we. A miracle in scripture by definition involves god setting aside the usual laws of nature. The bible book of second kings takes up where the book of first kings leaves off. Elisha is one of a line of men whom god used to save his people. Elisha told the woman to sell the oil and pay the man. According to this story, he was a prophet and a wonderworker of the northern kingdom of israel who was active during the reign of joram, jehu, jehoahaz, and jehoash joash. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the lord had given victory to aram. The major prophets is a classification of those prophets that wrote books in the bible namely isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel. If you are reading through the old testament, especially through the prophets and the kings of israel, this book will clarify a lot of the questions that come up as you read. This summary of the book of 2 kings provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 kings. May 24, 2016 here are seven key bible verses taken from the book of second kings. Prophets and kings is the second book in the conflict of the ages series. Book of second kings overview insight for living ministries.
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