Study notes

2 Kings 1

Introducing 2 KingsWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:1

After Ahab died, the Moabites felt confident enough to declare independence from their Israelite rulers (see 2 Kings 3:4–5). This historical note foreshadows the problems Israel faced after Ahaziah's brief rule (see 1 Kings 22:51).

1:1–8:15 Section

The story of Israel recorded in 1 Kings is continued in 2 Kings.

The nation of Israel had divided into the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. The northern kingdom was called Israel and the southern kingdom was called Judah.

In the northern kingdom, Elijah spoke messages from God against King Ahaziah. Both Ahaziah and Joram worshipped false gods like Jeroboam and Ahab had done.

Before God took Elijah to heaven, Elisha asked for a double share of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha wasn’t talking about the spiritual part of Elijah. He was talking about the power of the Holy Spirit in Elijah’s life and work. This was how Elisha showed that he wanted to serve God as a faithful prophet.

Like Elijah, Elisha served families in Israel and served the groups of prophets. He also served the leaders of Israel and of other nations. Elisha helped a woman from Shunem with her son and with her land. He helped the prophets with problems like debt, lost items and having enough food. He helped soldiers and officials from Aram. God did many miracles through Elisha. One of these was to heal Naaman of his skin disease. This showed Naaman that Israel’s God is the true God.

God protected Elisha from Aram’s soldiers by making them blind. Then Elisha protected Aram’s soldiers. Elisha had Israel’s king feed the soldiers instead of killing them. Elisha was very sad when he gave a message to an Aramean officer named Hazael. Later Hazael would do many evil things against the Israelites. Elisha served Israel’s king by warning him of where Aram’s army was going to attack. He also served the king by prophesying about how God would take care of the Israelites.

Elisha prophesied about this when Joram, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom attacked Moab. God rescued the armies by sending water in the desert. Elisha also prophesied when the Israelites in Samaria were about to die of hunger. He made it clear that God would rescue the city by the next morning. God did this by making Aram’s army hear the noise of chariots and horses. The noise scared them and they ran away.

God used chariots and horses made of fire to protect Elisha. These were spiritual beings and people could only see them if God allowed them to. They were one way that God took care of his people (God’s people).

1:2

An upper room or balcony with latticework was common. It allowed air to flow freely and offered some privacy, but lattice was easy to break.
Baal-zebub (which means lord of flies) might be a mockery of a Canaanite god named Baal-zebul (which means Baal is prince). People later used this god's name for Satan (see study note on Matthew 10:25). Ahaziah worshiped Baal, like his father Ahab.

1:3–4

The angel of the Lord in the book of Kings does not appear to be a christophany (a special appearance of Christ before his birth), unlike in other Old Testament texts such as Judges 6:11–18.
Elijah, who had previously confronted Ahaziah’s father, Ahab, delivered a two-part message to the king:
- he condemned the king for failing to recognize that the Lord, not Baal, is God (see 1 Kings 18:16–18), and
- he announced God’s judgment of doom (see 1 Kings 21:17–24).

1:9–10

The proud words of the army captain contradicted themselves. Elijah showed this: If Elijah was truly a man of God (a prophet of God), then his authority came from God. To ignore him was to invite danger (see Deuteronomy 18:15–19).
Fire often represents God's presence in the Scriptures (see Exodus 3:1–6; 19:18; compare 1 Kings 18:38).
Fifty soldiers was a typical group size (1 Kings 18:4); here it shows a division in Israel's military organization.

2 Kings 1

1:1

1:1–8:15 Section

1:2

1:3–4

1:9–10

1:11–13

1:13–14

1:15

1:16

1:17