In this book we have the history of the kingdom continued from about the conclusion of the Elijah ministry till the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar It also records the downfall of the ten tribed kingdom, and the captivity of Israel to Assyria, which took place about 130 years before that of Judah to Babylon The book opens with fresh illustrations of the judicial character of Elijah's ministry in midst of an apostate people (2 Kings 1.), and in type (Jordan and the ascension of Elijah) sets forth the start of the ministry of grace (Elisha) to be, whether for the church or Israel, the death and ascension of Jesus It was outside the land of Israel, on the other side of the Jordan, and consequently outside the range of the law; this is important as to moral teaching and application The Elijah ministry was prominent in first book of Kings, while the Elisha ministry is prominent in second book of Kings.
The gradual decline and irretrievable ruin of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah is the great subject of this book Increasing wickedness and idolatry, spite of prophetic testimony divinely attested, soon led to the utter ruin of the house of Israel God in righteousness removed them out of His sight, and Assyria became the country of their captivity, and the center from whence they were scattered world wide (2 Kings 17) After the deportation and complete blotting out of their nationality till restored in sovereign goodness by the hand of Jehovah Himself (Ezek. 20), the history is that of Judah only, who, instead of learning from the fate of her guilty sister Samaria, also played the harlot, and filled Immanuel's land with wickedness and murder (Hosea). Judah's last king, Zedekiah, caused Jehovah’s name and glory to be dishonored before the Gentiles (Rom 11:24) by breaking the oath extorted from him by Nebuchadnezzar, the heathen monarch. This filled up the cup of iniquity. The king, priest, and people filled Jerusalem and the temple with the vilest idolatry and practices of the heathen. For three-and-twenty years did Jeremiah (Jer. 25:3) expostulate with and weep over the house of Judah. "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers rising up betimes and sending: because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling-place." What was the people's answer to Jehovah's grace and patience?-"But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy" (2 Chron. 36).
Judah's last king, princes, priests, and people were sent into captivity to Babylon; Jerusalem's walls were broken down, her temple destroyed after being plundered of its sacred treasures, and the dread sentence "Lo-ammi not my people" written upon the nation. A few of the poorest of the people were left in the land under the governorship of the kindly-disposed and humane Gedaliah. Such is the sorrowful history and terrible end of the kingdom established in responsibility in David. All blessing of a divine and permanent character await the reign of Jesus. A little while, and the coming One will come and establish His kingdom over Zion and all the earth.
It may be well to remark that each monarch's reign was written separately; thus, for the reign of Solomon we are referred for a fuller account to "the book of the acts of Solomon." (1 Kings 11:41.) Besides many individual records and histories, we have more general documents referred to; thus the expression after each monarch's reign, "the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah," and of Israel's monarchs, "the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel." Those kingdom records have not been preserved to us, but the Holy Spirit has registered every official and individual act, and all must pass in calm and solemn review before the judgment seat of Christ. Solemn thought to us each one. May we personally lay it to heart! (2 Cor. 5 10; Rom. 14:12.)
The first book of Kings comprehends a period of about 126 years; the second book about 300 years.
MONARCHS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
1. Saul, who reigned 40 years. 2. David, who reigned 40 years.
3. Solomon, who reigned 40 years.
SOVEREIGNS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL.
Rehoboam reigned 17 years.
Jeroboam reigned 22 years.
GENERAL DIVISIONS.
1.-Conclusion of the Elijah ministry. 2 Kings 1, 2.
2.-Elisha's ministry of grace to Israel. 2 Kings 2:12-8:15.
3.-The royal succession in Israel and Judah continued till the captivity of Israel to Assyria. 2 Kings 8:16 to 2 Kings 17.
4.-History of the Kingdom of Judah from Hezekiah till the capture of Jerusalem, destruction of the temple, and deportation of the King, nobles, and people to Babylon. 2 Kings 18-25.
NOTE.
The origin of the Samaritans is given in 2 Kings 17.