The book of 2 Kings continues with Prophets and kings as the main figures in the story and it is predominantly a sad book as it traces the continuing decline of the two kingdoms towards their eventual exile.

Elijah and Elisha

Prophets still continue to have a main role in this book and we start with the dramatic end to Elijah’s ministry.  Right to the very end he is still confronting compromise. Eventually he is taken up into heaven in a whirlwind. Such is the significance of his ministry that he comes to represent all the prophets, in the same way that Moses represents the Law. This accounts for their appearance with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Elijah’s successor, Elisha, asks for a double portion of Elijah’s ministry. This indicates that he wants to be his heir, his son, in the sense of carrying on and building on what Elijah had begun. There were strong supernatural elements to Elisha’s ministry also, particularly in miracles of provision. He also has deep insight into the heavenly realities and into the future. There are miracles of healing, the raising of a boy to life. He was so powerful that his very bones, after he had died, bring a man back from the dead. 

Kings in Israel and Judah

As we have said, the story in 2 Kings is a sad one of the decline of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They are almost continually filled with idolatry and compromise and, as a result, warfare. Other nations attack them and there is ongoing conflict between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The territory of Israel shrinks as a result of this warfare and as judgement for their compromise. There are frequent assassinations and murders of kings. Finally, it all ends in exile – first for Israel, and later for Judah. Amongst this tragic line of kings, two stand out as good kings. These are Hezekiah and Josiah, kings of Judah who oversaw religious revivals. These revivals centred upon the repairing of the Temple and the recovery of the Book of the Law. This reminds us of the importance of the presence of God and the word of God. It is always Spirit and Word that keep us on track and full of life. These two good kings are the exception, sadly, rather than the rule in this tragic line that leads to the exile.