Purpose

To record the decline and fall of both kingdoms and show God's justice in judgment.

Author

Likely the same compiler as 1 Kings, using official court records and prophetic sources. The author witnessed or had access to eyewitness accounts of the final years before exile.

Historical Context

Written: 560-538 BC. The decline and fall of both the northern kingdom (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah).

Significance

Shows that God's justice is real, but also demonstrates His mercy through the prophetic ministry.

Key Themes

Divine Justice, Prophetic Ministry, Consequences of Sin, God's Patience, Exile

Interesting Facts

• Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind without dying - only he and Enoch never died
• Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah (he asked for a double portion)
• A dead man came back to life just by touching Elisha's bones

Prophecies

• Josiah would be born and destroy idolatrous altars (1 Kings 13:2) Fulfilled: Fulfilled 300 years later when Josiah became king (300 years later)

2 Kings 12 narrates the reign of King Jehoash (also known as Joash) of Judah, who ascended to the throne at a young age during the seventh year of Jehu's reign in Israel. His mother, Zibiah from Beersheba, likely played a role in his upbringing. Jehoash is noted for doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, guided by Jehoiada the priest, who served as a mentor and advisor throughout Jehoash's reign. Despite his righteousness, the chapter highlights a significant failure: the high places of worship remained, where the people continued to sacrifice, indicating a persistent issue of idolatry and improper worship practices. Jehoash's desire to repair the Temple is a focal point of this chapter. He initiates a fundraising effort to gather money for the repairs, instructing the priests to collect offerings from the people. However, disappointment sets in as he discovers that by the twenty-third year of his reign, no repairs have been made. This leads to a decisive moment where Jehoash confronts Jehoiada and the priests, effectively halting the collection of funds and demanding that the money already collected be used for the repairs. A new system is established when Jehoiada creates a chest for collecting funds, which is set beside the altar. This method proves successful, as the money is collected, counted, and allocated to the workers repairing the Temple. Notably, the workers are not held to strict accounting for the funds, signifying trust and integrity in their dealings. The chapter also mentions that money from guilt and sin offerings was not used for the repairs, remaining under the priests' authority. In the midst of his reign, external threats loom large as Hazael, the king of Syria, attacks neighboring territories, including Gath. Jehoash responds by stripping the Temple of its sacred treasures and sending them to Hazael to secure peace, reflecting a moment of desperation and a lack of faith in God’s protection. The chapter concludes with a brief mention of Jehoash's assassination by his own servants, marking a tragic end to his reign and echoing the themes of betrayal and the instability of leadership in Judah.

Purpose

To record the decline and fall of both kingdoms and show God's justice in judgment.

Author

Likely the same compiler as 1 Kings, using official court records and prophetic sources. The author witnessed or had access to eyewitness accounts of the final years before exile.

Historical Context

Written: 560-538 BC. The decline and fall of both the northern kingdom (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah).

Significance

Shows that God's justice is real, but also demonstrates His mercy through the prophetic ministry.

Key Themes

Divine Justice, Prophetic Ministry, Consequences of Sin, God's Patience, Exile

Interesting Facts

• Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind without dying - only he and Enoch never died
• Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah (he asked for a double portion)
• A dead man came back to life just by touching Elisha's bones

Prophecies

• Josiah would be born and destroy idolatrous altars (1 Kings 13:2) Fulfilled: Fulfilled 300 years later when Josiah became king (300 years later)

2 Kings 12 narrates the reign of King Jehoash (also known as Joash) of Judah, who ascended to the throne at a young age during the seventh year of Jehu's reign in Israel. His mother, Zibiah from Beersheba, likely played a role in his upbringing. Jehoash is noted for doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, guided by Jehoiada the priest, who served as a mentor and advisor throughout Jehoash's reign. Despite his righteousness, the chapter highlights a significant failure: the high places of worship remained, where the people continued to sacrifice, indicating a persistent issue of idolatry and improper worship practices. Jehoash's desire to repair the Temple is a focal point of this chapter. He initiates a fundraising effort to gather money for the repairs, instructing the priests to collect offerings from the people. However, disappointment sets in as he discovers that by the twenty-third year of his reign, no repairs have been made. This leads to a decisive moment where Jehoash confronts Jehoiada and the priests, effectively halting the collection of funds and demanding that the money already collected be used for the repairs. A new system is established when Jehoiada creates a chest for collecting funds, which is set beside the altar. This method proves successful, as the money is collected, counted, and allocated to the workers repairing the Temple. Notably, the workers are not held to strict accounting for the funds, signifying trust and integrity in their dealings. The chapter also mentions that money from guilt and sin offerings was not used for the repairs, remaining under the priests' authority. In the midst of his reign, external threats loom large as Hazael, the king of Syria, attacks neighboring territories, including Gath. Jehoash responds by stripping the Temple of its sacred treasures and sending them to Hazael to secure peace, reflecting a moment of desperation and a lack of faith in God’s protection. The chapter concludes with a brief mention of Jehoash's assassination by his own servants, marking a tragic end to his reign and echoing the themes of betrayal and the instability of leadership in Judah.