AUTHOR: Unknown

MAIN SUBJECT, The History of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, from the latter of the reign of Ahaziah in Israel, and Jehoram in Judah, up to the time of the captivities.As far as the history of Israel is concerned it is a dark picture of degenerate rulers and sinful people ending in slavery. The Kingdom of Judah was also on the down grade, but judgment was not visited upon her so speedily because of the influence of a number of good kings who reigned during this period; SEE analysis of II Chronicles, The interest of the book largely centres around the record of the lives of two prophets, Elijah and Elisha.

SPIRITUAL MESSAGE, The Powerful Influence of rulers upon a nation.

SYNOPSIS. The book man be divided into three parts.

PART I. Mainly the History of the last days of Elijah.
(1) He calls down fire from heaven to destroy his enemies. # 2Ki 1:9-12
(2) The Dividing of the River Jordan # 2Ki 2:8
(3) His translation # 2Ki 2:11

For other references to his life,

PART II. Mainly the History of Elisha
(1) He asks for a double portion of grace # 2Ki 2:9
(2) He divides the Jordan # 2Ki 2:14
(3) He heals the waters # 2Ki 2:19-22
(4) The cursing of the mocking children # 2Ki 2:23,24
(5) The procuring of water for an army # 2Ki 3:15-20
(6) The increasing of the widow’s oil # 2Ki 4:1-7
(7) The raising of the dead child to life # 2Ki 4:18-37
(8) The healing of the deadly pottage # 2Ki 4:38-41
(9) The feeding of the multitude # 2Ki 4:42-44
(10) The healing of Naaman, the leper # 2Ki 5:5-15
(11) The smiting of Gehazi with leprosy # 2Ki 5:20-27
(12) The causing of the iron to swim # 2Ki 6:1-7
(13) The disclosing of the plans of the king of Syria, ch. 6 # 2Ki 6:1
(14) Smites the Syrians with blindness # 2Ki 6:18-20
(15) His prophecy of plenty for a famine-stricken city # 2Ki 7:1-18
(16) Secures the restoration of her land to the Shunammite woman # 2Ki 8:3-6
(17) Prophecies concerning the exaltation of Hazael # 2Ki 8:7-15
(18) Commands the anointing of Jehu as king # 2Ki 9:1-6
(19) Retains his prophetic power on his death-bed # 2Ki 13:14-19
(20) The post-mortem manifestation of divine power at his sepulcher # 2Ki 13:20,21

The Secret of his Power,–His desire for the reception of a double portion of grace enabled him to live in the spirit of continual victory,

PART III. Other Notable Events in the history of Judah and Israel

(1) Jehu’s execution of divine judgment upon Joram, Ahaziah, Jezebel, seventy of Ahab’s children, and the worshippers of Baal, chs. 9,10 # 2Ki 9:1 – 10:1
(2) The good reign of Joash (Jehoash), chs. 11,12 # 2Ki 11:1 – 12:1
(3) The reign of evil kings in Israel, followed by the captivity of the ten tribes, chs. 13-17
# 2Ki 13:1 – 17:1
(4) The good reign of Hezekiah, chs. 18-20 # 2Ki 18:1 – 20:1
(5) The evil reign of Manasseh, ch. 21 # 2Ki 21:1
(6) Josiah, the last of the good kings, chs. 22,23 # 2Ki 22:1 – 23:1
(7) The series of evil kings in Judah lead to the captivity of the nation, and the destruction of Jerusalem, ch. 25 # 2Ki 25:1