2 Kings: Summary & Key Themes

The Book of 2 Kings at a glance, before you read it.

Written by	unknown
Written for	Israel in exile
Type	History
Chapters	25
Position	Book 12 of 66 · book 12 of the Old Testament

Summary

Elisha succeeds Elijah. Kings of Israel and Judah rise and fall until Israel is taken by Assyria and Judah by Babylon, with Jerusalem and the temple destroyed.

Main themes

faithfulness of a few
judgment
hope kept alive

Key verse

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

2 Kings 6:16 (KJV)

How to read 2 Kings

Try one chapter a day: 25 days to finish. Ask three questions as you go: what did this mean to the first readers, what does it show about God, and what does it ask of me?

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