WE have four very important points brought before us in the second Book of Kings. 1. The history of the Kings of Israel from Ahaziah till the people were taken captives for their sin by Shalmanezer, king of Assyria. 2. The history of the Kings of Judah till their captivity into Babylon. 3. The conclusion of Elijah's course and his translation: 4. The ministry and death of Elisha.
The book opens with King Ahaziah appealing on account of his disease to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, and he died, according to Elijah's word, for thus despising the God of Israel. He was succeeded by Jehoram the son of Ahab, who did evil in the sight of the Lord; for though he put away the image of Baal, which his father had made, still he slave to the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat (ch. 3:1-3). He was slain by Jehu, who had been anointed king by one of the prophets, who, according to the word of the Lard, was to smite the house of Ahab, and avenge the blood of all the servants of the Lord at the hand of Jezebel (ch. 9:1-10, 22-24). Jehu trode Jezebel under foot (32-37). Ahab's seventy sons were slain also at the word of Jehu; he slew also the worshippers of Baal, brake down the image of Baal, in fact destroyed Baal out of Israel, Still Jehu reads us a most solemn lesson, for with all his boasted zeal for the Lord (ch. 10:16), the Holy Ghost tells us that "Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin" (v. 31). After a reign of 28 years Jehu was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz. Sad, however, it is to find that "he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, who delivered them into the hand of Hazael, king of Syria." The king, however, besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him, for He saw the oppression of Israel. (How compassionate was the heart of God to these sinful people!) But, though God delivered them, they turned not from their evil ways, and departed not from the sins of Jeroboam. Jehoahaz reigned 17 years, and was succeeded by Joash, his son, (ch. 13:1-10). Again, however, the terrible record is given that Rash "did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat" (v. 11). His son Jeroboam succeeded him, and of him also it is said that "he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" (ch. 14:24). In his reign, we are told that "God saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the Lord said not that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam, the son of Joash" (vv. 26, 27). After his death Zachariah, his son, reigned in his stead, and though only for six months, he also did that which was evil as his fathers had done, “he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin " (ch. 15:9). Shallum, the son of Jabesh, however, conspired against him and slew him, and reigned in his stead, but only one month; for Menahem, the son of Gadi, smote Shallum, slew him, and reigned in his stead for ten years. Still, of yin" also, it is said that, "he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" (v. 18). After his death Pekahiah, his son, reigned in his stead, of whom it is also said that he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, and he reigned only two years; for Pekah, a captain, conspired against biro and slew "hire, and reigned in his room. He reigned 20 years, but" did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. "(v. 28). Hoshea, however, conspired against Pekah, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, and of him it is said that he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him (ch. 17:2). In the ninth year of Hoshea, Shalmaneser, King of Assyria, took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria;" for the children of Israel had so sinned against the Lord, that the Lord was very angry, and rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hands of spoilers... for the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam, which he did; they departed not from them until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight.. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day" (v. 18-23).
With regard to the kings of Judah, the first mentioned in this second book of Kings is Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, who married the daughter of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord. His son Ahaziah succeeded him, and he also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord (chap. 8:18, 27). He was slain by Jehu (9:27). Athaliah, his mother, also was afterward slain with the sword (11:20). Jehoash reigned forty years in Jerusalem, and he did that which was right in the sigh of the Lord all the days wherein Jehoiada, the priest, instructed him (12:2). Of Amaziah too, his son, who succeeded him, it is said that "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not like David his father" (14:3). His son also, Azariah (or Uzziah), did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, save that the high places were not removed, &c. Jotham, his son, also did that which was right in the sight of the Lord; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done (15:3, 34). Ahaz, his son, succeeded him, of whom it is said that he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, &c. (16:1-3). Hezekiah, his son, succeeded him, and of him it is said that "he trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the Lord," &c. (18:5, 6). Very different, however, was his son Manasseh, who reigned after him, for he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel (21:2). His son Amon also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh did (20). His own servants slew him, and Josiah his son reigned in his stead. We are told that Josiah "did that which was light in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left" (22:2). "Notwithstanding, the Lord turned not from the fierceness of His great wrath, wherewith His anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him withal. And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel," &c. (23:26, 27). The son of Josiah, Jehoahaz, succeeded him, but he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. After three months he was deposed by Pharaohnechoh, who made his brother Jehoiakim king in his room, who also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and in his days Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took Jerusalem, and carried Judah captive to Babylon, as well as all the treasures and golden vessels out of the temple of the Lord. God removed Judah "out of His sight for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did.”
In this book we see also that God 'sent forth His servants Elijah and Elisha to testify to the people of Israel; and also in the days of Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, Jonah, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, Joel, Micah, and Nahum prophesied. It was in the face of all this prophetic testimony and frequent intervention of the compassion and power of God that Israel and Judah so sinned.