first and second kings

Background

Author.   On the basis of the unified theme and purpose (see the Argument) it appears that a single author-compiler was responsible for the composition of this work. He made no attempt to disguise his use of written sources.

He also made no effort to identify himself. Suggestions include such exilic heroes as Jeremiah (with Baruch), Ezekiel, and Ezra (post-exilic).

Date.   The earliest date for the composition of the book is the release of Jehoiachin (560; 2 Kings 25:27–30). The latest date might be the decree of Cyrus to return to Jerusalem (538), which seems not yet to have been issued. But that is not strong evidence.

Historical setting.   The book chronicles the history of Israel (though it is not primarily a historical document) from the accession of Solomon (971) to the downfall of Jerusalem (586), adding as well the note about Jehoiachin’s release from prison in Babylon (560).

As the book opens, Israel is one of the most powerful nations in the eastern Mediterranean region, greatly expanded through the military conquests of David. The larger scene saw no great empires at the time. Toward the end of the ninth century the Assyrian empire began to assert itself, and by the middle of the eighth century it constituted a serious threat to both Israelite kingdoms. While Assyria was still only rising, however, both Israel and Judah were able to experience a couple centuries of political expansion and economic prosperity, coupled with social injustice and other internal corruption. Nevertheless, Israel soon fell into vassalage to Assyria (732), subsequently to be annihilated by them just ten years later. In 701 Assyria stormed throughout Judah destroying city after city, but was finally stopped by supernatural defeat at the outskirts of Jerusalem. In the seventh century Assyria’s power waned while Babylon began to rise, defeating Assyria, Egypt, and finally Judah.

Chronological problems.   The problems of dating the kings of Judah and Israel are notorious, surpassing even those of Judges. Thiele’s Mysterious Numbers provides the definitive point of departure, though even this work seems inadequate for the classic question of the Jotham-Ahaz-Hezekiah dates. His greatest contribution is probably the hope that the numbers can be reconciled and shown reliable.

Argument

The book opens portraying Israel with seemingly Messianic potential, experiencing her greatest moments of glory—with the crowning of the son of David and his sponsoring of the temple construction—and immediately proceeds like a toboggan plunging to her greatest shame—with Solomon’s failings, the schism of the kingdom, and eventually the demise of both nations. The cause at every step of the decline is (Sinaitic) covenant disobedience; and correspondingly the cause at each step of revival, however brief, is covenant obedience. The point of the book is obvious: God was prepared to provide Israel with all the glorious blessings of the Mosaic covenant (Deut. 28:1–14), but because Israel failed to keep her covenant responsibilities, being unfaithful to her suzerain, Yahweh, she suffered the ultimate curse of that covenant, expulsion from the Land (Deut. 28:63–65). Despite that catastrophe however there is yet hope—in the Davidic promise, as indicated by the final account of favor toward Jehoiachin.

The transition from the weakened David to the virile Solomon is accomplished, and his throne is established in strength (1–2). Solomon is then portrayed as the wise and powerful and blessed leader God’s people need (3–4), and yet his great weakness is also already faintly in view (3:1–2). The reader’s hopes rise with the king’s temple construction and dedication (5–8); yet once again a signal of weakness is included, as Solomon gives first priority to his own luxurious house (7:1–12). The story of Solomon concludes with the very disappointing contrast between his great potential (9–10) and his actual outcome (11). He could have had the blessing of God (9:1–9); he had accomplished much (9:10–28) and was highly respected (10). Yet because of his disobedience (11:1–8) he came under divine judgment (11:9–13), and the kingdom with which he had been entrusted also suffered the consequences, being divided into two (11:14—12:24).

While Rehoboam was the Davidic king in Jerusalem and was thus heir to those promises, Jeroboam was also granted conditional promises. Rehoboam’s foolishness was the straw that broke the united kingdom’s back (12:1–24); but Jeroboam’s religious rebellion broke the terms of his blessing, and plunged his kingdom into an apostasy from which it never recovered (12:25—14:20). Our writer then merely takes his reader from king to king back and forth between kingdoms, indicating highlights from their reigns, especially those which bear on their covenant responses (i.e., faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the covenant suzerain, Yahweh), and indicating a summary evaluation in black and white terms of their reigns (again in terms of covenant response, rather than political or economic success).

This pattern continues monotonously until it is abruptly interrupted at the reign of Ahab (16:29–34) by the Elijah and Elisha stories (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 10). The bulk of these stories covers about 30 years, or less than 10% of the total history of the book, but consume more than 30% of the total space—roughly the middle third—in the book. Obviously the author sought to emphasize something relative to his purpose-argument by these stories. This division is the heart of the book. It emphasizes the contest for the soul of the nation (especially the northern kingdom) as regards their faithfulness to Yahweh: this era is being presented as a kind of national point of irrevocable decision. The idolatrous Yahwism instituted by Jeroboam was bad enough; but the apostasy of Baalism instituted by Ahab constituted a crisis that demanded immediate challenge and allowed no compromise. This large section begins with the initial victory at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18), and ends with the complete end of Baalism in Samaria through the final purge of Jehu, a kind of inclusio that defines both the limits and the main point of the section (2 Kings 10; thereafter every northern king was guilty only of continuing in the sin of Jeroboam ben Nebat).

The whole Elijah-Elisha pericope is filled with episodes designed to demonstrate symbolically the absolute power of Yahweh in contrast to the utter impotence of Baal. Also, their ministries are complementary, in that Elijah represents (primarily) the absolute righteousness of Yahweh, in his complete intolerance of Baalism and his determination to exterminate it; while Elisha represents (primarily) the Sinaitic fertility Yahweh provides rewarding his people for returning to himself, saving and healing—even foreigners like Naaman (2 Kings 5).

With Baalism finally destroyed through Jehu’s purge, the rest of the book displays the inexorable decline toward the ultimate fall of each kingdom. The author resumes the pattern of chronicling the successive kings of each kingdom as before. By chapter 17 (2 Kings) the northern kingdom’s time has come: the siege and fall of Samaria by Shalmaneser (17:1–6) is then explained in a highly rhetorical Mosaic sermon (17:7–41), hitting at the heart of the book, establishing in unmistakable and unforgettable terms the direct link between the nation’s behavior for two-plus centuries—their covenant unfaithfulness—and their expulsion from the land—the ultimate covenant curse.

After the brief sermonic interlude of chapter 17 the author once again resumes the rehearsal of kings, now of the southern kingdom of Judah only. That next one-plus centuries enjoy the good reigns of Hezekiah and Josiah, but groan under the wickedness of Manasseh and five others because of whom the inevitable finally arrives in chapter 25. Significantly, the goodness of the two kings and the wickedness of the others are invariably related to covenant faithfulness. Finally God’s judgment arrives in the form of the Babylonian army under the direction of Nebuchadnezzar, destroying the temple and the city of Jerusalem and deporting those people who survived the brutal invasion (25:1–26). The concluding reference to Jehoiachin (25:27–30) is itself not without purpose: it tells the exiled and returned Jews (and believers today) that God has not utterly given up on Israel, but that his promises—specifically Davidic—spoken through the prophets of a great eschatological restoration are still in his mind and plans.

Outline

I. The Kingdom under Solomon  I/1–11

A. The establishment of Solomon’s reign  1–2

1. The throne transferred to Solomon  1

a) Contest for the throne  1:1–27

(1) David’s weakness  1:1–4

(2) Adonijah’s presumption of the throne  1:5–10

(3) Solomon’s challenge for the throne  1:11–27

(a) Nathan’s advice to Bathsheba  1:11–14

(b) Bathsheba’s appeal to David  1:15–21

(c) Nathan’s appeal to David  1:22–27

b) Acquisition of the throne  1:28–53

(1) David affirms the choice of Solomon  1:28–37

(a) Reassurance to Bathsheba  1:28–31

(b) Instructions to Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah  1:32–37

(2) Solomon proclaimed king  1:38–40

(3) The report to Adonijah  1:41–48

(4) Adonijah’s fear, Solomon’s mercy  1:49–53

2. The throne secured by Solomon  2

a) Solomon’s confirmation  2:1–12

(1) David’s final charges to Solomon  2:1–9

(2) David’s death, Solomon’s accession to the throne  2:10–12

b) Adonijah’s death  2:13–25

(1) His fatal request for Abishag  2:13–21

(2) Solomon’s death sentence  2:22–25

c) Abiathar’s banishment  2:26–27

d) Joab’s death  2:28–35

(1) His fear  2:28

(2) Solomon’s death sentence  2:29–35

e) Shimei’s death  2:36–46

(1) His internal exile  2:36–38

(2) His violation and execution  2:39–46

B. The glories of Solomon’s reign  3–4

1. Compromises: Egyptian wife, high places  3:1–2

2. Solomon’s wisdom  3:3–28

a) His dream  3:3–15

(1) His request for wisdom  3:3–9

(2) God’s gift of wisdom, wealth, honor  3:10–15

b) His test  3:16–28

(1) The prostitutes’ dispute  3:16–22

(2) His discernment  3:23–27

(3) His reputation  3:28

3. Solomon’s administration  4:1–28

a) His officials  4:1–6

b) His territorial deputies  4:7–19

c) His prosperity  4:20–28

4. Solomon’s international reputation for wisdom  4:29–34

C. The temple  5–8

1. Preparations  5

a) Provisions through Hiram of Tyre  5:1–12

(1) Solomon’s request of Hiram  5:1–6

(2) Hiram’s cooperation  5:7–12

b) Labor through conscription  5:13–18

2. Construction  6–7

a) The floor plan  6:1–10

b) God’s promise: conditional blessing  6:11–13

c) The interior decorations  6:14–36

d) Summary of the temple construction  6:37–38

e) Solomon’s palace  7:1–12

f) Hiram’s work in bronze  7:13–47

(1) Introduction to Hiram  7:13–14

(2) The pillars  7:15–22

(3) The sea and supporting oxen  7:23–26

(4) The ten stands, basins  7:27–39

(5) Summary  7:40–47

g) The temple furnishings  7:48–50

h) The work completed  7:51

3. Dedication  8

a) The ark procession  8:1–11

b) Solomon’s blessing: God is faithful  8:12–21

c) Solomon’s prayer of dedication  8:22–53

(1) “Keep your promise to David”  8:22–26

(2) “Listen to our prayers from here”  8:27–30

(3) “Be merciful: forgive, deliver”  8:31–53

d) Solomon’s blessing: May God keep us faithful  8:54–61

e) Feast of dedication  8:62–66

D. The failures of Solomon  9–11

1. Solomon’s potential  9–10

a) God’s appearance: conditional blessing  9:1–9

b) Solomon’s achievements  9:10–28

(1) Solomon’s sale of cities to Hiram  9:10–14

(2) Solomon’s forced labor, building projects  9:15–22

(3) Solomon’s officers, wives, offerings  9:23–25

(4) Solomon’s merchant marine at Elath  9:26–28

c) Queen of Sheba’s visit  10:1–13

d) Solomon’s great wealth  10:14–29

(1) Ostentation  10:14–22

(2) Reputation  10:23–25

(3) Horses and chariots  10:26–29

2. Solomon’s downfall  11

a) Solomon’s sin: His wives, apostasy  11:1–8

b) God’s judgment: division of the kingdom  11:9–13

c) Rise of enemies of Solomon  11:14–40

(1) Hadad of Edom  11:14–22

(2) Rezon of Syria  11:23–25

(3) Jeroboam of Israel  11:26–40

(a) His elevation  11:26–28

(b) His commission as king by Ahijah  11:29–39

(c) His flight from Solomon  11:40

d) Solomon’s end and summary  11:41–43

II. The Divided Kingdoms of Judah and Israel  I/12–II/17

A. From the schism to Omri  I/12–16

1. The schism  12:1–24

a) Israel’s demands of Rehoboam  12:1–5

b) Rehoboam’s foolish decision  12:6–15

c) Israel’s revolt  12:16–20

d) Rehoboam’s attempt to recapture Israel  12:21–24

2. Jeroboam’s bad reign in Israel (22 years)  12:25—14:20

a) His religious perversions: golden calves at Bethel and Dan  12:25–33

b) His failure to reform  13

(1) Warning by a prophet  13:1–10

(2) The prophet’s disobedience and death  13:11–25

(a) His disobedience  13:11–19

(b) His doom  13:20–22

(c) His death  13:23–25

(3) The moral: God’s word is sure  13:26–32

(4) Jeroboam’s lack of repentance  13:33–34

c) Doom of his dynasty pronounced  14:1–18

(1) The occasion: his son’s illness  14:1–3

(2) The prophet’s pronouncement  14:4–16

(a) Jeroboam’s scheme to deceive the prophet  14:4–5

(b) The prophet’s denunciation of Jeroboam’s sin  14:6–9

(c) The prophet’s pronouncement  14:10–16

(3) The son’s death  14:17–18

d) Concluding formula  14:19–20

3. Rehoboam’s bad reign in Judah (17 years)  14:21–31

a) Summary  14:21

b) Judah’s idolatry  14:22–24

c) Judah’s losses to Shishak  14:25–28

d) Concluding formula  14:25–28

4. Abijam’s bad reign in Judah (3 years)  15:1–8

a) Summary  15:1–2

b) Kingdom spared for David’s sake  15:3–6

c) Concluding formula  15:7–8

5. Asa’s good reign in Judah (41 years)  15:9–24

a) Summary  15:9–11

b) Religious reform  15:12–15

c) War with Israel: alliance with Syria  15:16–22

d) Concluding formula  15:23–24

6. Nadab’s bad reign in Israel (2 years)  15:25–32

a) Summary  15:25–26

b) Baasha’s ‘cleansing’ of Jeroboam’s family  15:27–30

c) Concluding formula  15:31–32

7. Baasha’s bad reign in Israel (24 years)  15:33—16:7

a) Summary  15:33–34

b) Prophecy of his destruction  16:1–4

c) Concluding formula  16:5–7

8. Elah’s bad reign in Israel (2 years)  16:8–14

a) Summary  16:8

b) His assassination by Zimri  16:9–13

c) Concluding formula  16:14

9. Zimri’s bad reign in Israel (7 days)  16:15–20

a) Summary  16:15a

b) His overthrow by Omri  16:15b–19

c) Concluding formula  16:20

10. Omri’s bad reign in Israel (12 years)  16:21–28

a) Victory over the rival Tibni  16:21–22

b) Summary  16:23

c) Purchase and building of Samaria  16:24

d) Concluding formula  16:25–28

11. Ahab’s bad reign in Israel (22 years)  16:29–34

a) Summary  16:29–30

b) His establishment of Baal worship  16:31–33

c) The rebuilding of Jericho  16:34

B. The Elijah-Elisha stories: The Omri Dynasty and Baalism  I/17–II/10

1. Elijah’s initial conflict with Ahab: Rain  I/17–18

a) Elijah’s announcement to Ahab of drought  I/17:1

b) His hiding with divine provision  I/17:2–24

(1) Raven feeding at Cherith  17:2–7

(2) Widow feeding at Zarephath  17:8–24

(a) Miraculous supply of flour and oil  17:8–16

(b) Her son revived  17:17–24

c) Provision of rain: Contest with Baal prophets  I/18

(1) The challenge  18:1–19

(a) Rendezvous arranged through Obadiah  18:1–15

(b) Reciprocal accusations  18:16–19

(2) The contest  18:20–40

(a) The plan  18:20–24

(b) Baal’s failure  18:25–29

(c) Yahweh’s response by fire  18:30–38

(d) Popular responses  18:39–40

i) “Yahweh is God!”  18:39

ii) Destruction of Baal prophets  18:40

(3) The rain  18:41–46

2. Elijah’s flight and new commissioning  I/19

a) His journey to Horeb  19:1–8

b) His encounter with God in the gentle blowing  19:9–14

c) His commission from God  19:15–18

d) Elijah’s commissioning of Elisha  19:19–21

3. Conflict with Syria, Ben-hadad  I/20

a) Ben-hadad’s threat  20:1–12

b) Israel’s victory (in the mountain)  20:13–21

c) Syria’s ‘plain’ strategy  20:22–25

d) Israel’s victory (on the plain)  20:26–30

e) Ahab’s treaty with Ben-hadad  20:31–34

f) His curse from a prophet  20:35–43

4. Ahab’s guilt concerning Naboth  I/21

a) Murder of Naboth  21:1–16

(1) Ahab’s coveting  21:1–4

(2) Jezebel’s bloody scheme  21:5–10

(3) The bloody deed  21:11–16

b) Elijah’s pronouncement of doom  21:17–24

c) Summary on Ahab’s life  21:25–26

d) His humility and reprieve  21:27–29

5. Death of Ahab  I/22:1–40

a) His plan to retake Ramoth–gilead  22:1–28

(1) Consultation with Jehoshaphat  22:1–4

(2) Consultation with prophets  22:5–28

(a) Summons to Micaiah  22:5–9

(b) Prophecy from Baal prophets  22:10–12

(c) Prophecy from Micaiah  22:13–23

i) Demise of Ahab  22:13–18

ii) Strategy of spirits  22:19–23

(d) Threat to Micaiah  22:24–28

b) His battle to retake Ramoth-gilead  22:29–38

(1) Disguise of Ahab  22:29–33

(2) Death of Ahab  22:34–38

c) Concluding formula  22:39–40

6. Summary of good reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah (25 years)  22:41–50

a) Summary  22:41–44

b) List of accomplishments  22:45–50

7. Summary of bad reign of Ahaziah in Israel (2 years)  22:51–53

8. Death of Ahaziah  II/1

a) His injury  1:1–2

b) Elijah’s prophecy of death  1:3–8

c) Ahaziah’s arresting troops  1:9–16

(1) The first 50  1:9–10

(2) The second 50  1:11–12

(3) The third 50  1:13–15

(a) Plea for mercy  1:13–14

(b) Divine direction to go  1:15

(4) Elijah’s message of death  1:16

d) Concluding formula  1:17–18

9. Transition from Elijah to Elisha  II/2

a) Elijah’s departure  2:1–12

(1) Elisha’s constancy  2:1–6

(2) Elisha’s request  2:7–10

(3) Elisha’s vision  2:11–12

b) Elisha’s power  2:13–14

c) Elijah’s disappearance confirmed  2:15–18

d) Jericho water purified  2:19–22

e) Elisha’s detractors destroyed  2:23–25

10. Victory over Moab  II/3

a) Summary of Jehoram’s bad reign in Israel (12 years)  3:1–3

b) Mesha’s rebellion  3:4–5

c) Jehoram’s reprisal  3:6–27

(1) Alliance with Jehoshaphat  3:6–7

(2) Their predicament: thirst  3:8–10

(3) Elisha’s miracle  3:11–20

(4) Mesha’s defeat  3:21–27

11. Oil provided for a prophet’s widow  II/4:1–7

12. The Shunammite woman  II/4:8–37

a) Her kindness to Elisha: food and a room  4:8–10

b) Her reward: a son  4:11–17

c) The boy’s death  4:18–21

d) His resurrection  4:22–37

(1) The lady’s plea  4:22–28

(2) Elisha’s response: a miracle  4:29–37

13. The poison pot (famine)  II/4:38–41

14. The multiplication of bread (famine)  II/4:42–44

15. Leprosy of Naaman, Gehazi  II/5

a) Naaman’s leprosy cured  5:1–19

(1) Naaman’s appeal to the prophet of Yahweh  5:1–7

(2) Elisha’s prescription  5:8–10

(3) Naaman’s indignation  5:11–12

(4) Naaman’s humble obedience  5:13–14

(5) Naaman’s gratefulness to Yahweh  5:15–19

b) Gehazi’s greed cursed with leprosy  5:20–27

(1) His pursuit of wealth  5:20–24

(2) His receipt of curse  5:25–27

16. Miraculous rescue of ax head  II/6:1–7

17. Elisha’s mercy to marauding Syrians  II/6:8–23

a) Syrian war plans thwarted by Elisha  6:8–12

b) Syria’s intent to capture Elisha  6:13–14

c) Elisha’s conquest of the Syrian army  6:15–19

d) Elisha’s release of the Syrian army  6:20–23

18. Syrian siege of Samaria  II/6:24—7:20

a) Israel’s cannibalism in the famine  6:24–30

b) The king’s rage toward Elisha  6:31–33

c) Elisha’s prophecy of plenty, with judgment  7:1–2

d) The fulfillment of the prophecy  7:3–20

(1) The desperate daring of four lepers  7:3–8

(2) Their sharing the good news  7:9–15

(3) Enjoyment of the bounty  7:16–19

(4) Death of the skeptical officer  7:20

19. Restoration of the Shunammite woman’s land  II/8:1–6

a) Her flight from famine  8:1–3

b) Gehazi’s recital to the king of the resurrection  8:4–5

c) The king’s decree for the woman  8:6

20. Hazael’s usurpation of Syrian throne  II/8:7–15

a) Ben-hadad’s inquiry concerning his recovery  8:7–10

b) Elisha’s message concerning Hazael’s crown  8:11–13

c) Hazael’s assassination of the king  8:14–15

21. Elisha’s prophesied anointing of Jehu  II/8:16—10:36

a) Jehoram’s bad reign in Judah (8 years)  8:16–24

(1) Summary of his wickedness  8:16–19

(2) Revolts by Edom and Libnah  8:20–21

(3) Concluding formula  8:22–23

b) Ahaziah’s bad reign in Judah (1 year)  8:25–29

(1) Summary of his wickedness  8:25–27

(2) His battle wound  8:28–29

c) Jehu’s prophesied destruction of Omri’s dynasty  9–10

(1) His anointing by Elisha’s servant  9:1–10

(a) Elisha’s instructions  9:1–3

(b) The servant’s anointing and message  9:4–10

(2) His seizure of the throne  9:11–29

(a) His claim to the throne  9:11–13

(b) His assassination of Joram  9:14–26

i) His conspiracy  9:14–16

ii) His furious approach  9:17–20

iii) His pitiless execution  9:21–26

(c) His assassination of Ahaziah  9:27–28

(d) Summary  9:29

(3) His elimination of Jezebel  9:30–37

(4) His elimination of Ahab’s survivors  10:1–17

(a) Ahab’s sons  10:1–8

(b) Survivors at Jezreel  10:9–11

(c) Ahaziah’s relatives  10:12–14

(d) Survivors at Samaria  10:15–17

(5) His elimination of Baal worshipers  10:18–28

(a) The bait  10:18–24

(b) The trap  10:25–28

(6) His incomplete faithfulness  10:29–31

(7) Concluding formula  10:32–36

C. From Jehu to the fall of Samaria  II/11–17

1. Athaliah’s bad reign in Judah (6 years)  11:1–20

a) Her elimination of heirs to the throne  11:1

b) Joash’s preservation by Jehosheba  11:2–3

c) Jehoiada’s revolt  11:4–16

(1) Instructions to the soldiers  11:4–8

(2) Crowning of Joash  11:9–12

(3) Execution of Athaliah  11:13–16

d) Jehoiada’s revival  11:17–20

2. Joash’s good reign in Judah (40 years)  11:21—12:21

a) Summary  11:21—12:3

b) Temple repairs  12:4–16

(1) The royal order  12:4–5

(2) Priestly delinquency  12:6–8

(3) The collection  12:9–10

(4) The repairs  12:11–16

c) Joash’s peace offering to Hazael  12:17–18

d) Concluding formula  12:19–21

3. Jehoahaz’ bad reign in Israel (17 years)  13:1–9

a) Summary  13:1–2

b) Syrian oppression  13:3

c) Divine deliverance  13:4–5

d) Continued apostasy  13:6–7

e) Concluding formula  13:8–9

4. Jehoash’s bad reign in Israel (16 years)  13:10–13

a) Summary  13:10–11

b) Concluding formula  13:12–13

5. Death of Elisha  13:14–25

a) Victory over Syria promised  13:14–19

b) Miracle of resurrection  13:20–21

c) Victory over Syria given (Abrahamic)  13:22–25

6. Amaziah’s good reign in Judah (29 years)  14:1–22

a) Summary  14:1–4

b) Vengeance on his father’s murderers  14:5–6

c) Victory over Edom  14:7

d) War with Israel  14:8–14

(1) Posturing  14:8–10

(2) Judah’s defeat  14:11–14

e) Concluding formula of Jehoash repeated  14:15–16

f) Concluding formula  14:17–22

7. Jeroboam’s (II) bad reign in Israel (41 years)  14:23–29

a) Summary  14:23–24

b) Divine deliverance  14:25–27

c) Concluding formula  14:28–29

8. Azariah’s (Uzziah) good reign in Judah (52 years)  15:1–7

a) Summary  15:1–4

b) His leprosy  15:5

c) Concluding formula  15:6–7

9. Zechariah’s bad reign in Israel (6 months)  15:8–12

a) Summary  15:8–9

b) His assassination  15:10

c) Concluding formula  15:11–12

10. Shallum’s bad reign in Israel (1 month)  15:13–16

a) Summary  15:13

b) His assassination  15:14

c) Concluding formula  15:15

d) His murderer’s further violence  15:16

11. Menahem’s bad reign in Israel (10 years)  15:17–22

a) Summary  15:17–18

b) Peace offering to Assyria  15:19–20

c) Concluding formula  15:21–22

12. Pekahiah’s bad reign in Israel (2 years)  15:23–26

a) Summary  15:23–24

b) His assassination  15:25

c) Concluding formula  15:26

13. Pekah’s bad reign in Israel (20 years)  15:27–31

a) Summary  15:27–28

b) Assyria’s invasion  15:29

c) His assassination  15:30

d) Concluding formula  15:31

14. Jotham’s good reign in Judah (16 years)  15:32–38

a) Summary  15:32–34

b) His failings and accomplishments  15:35

c) Concluding formula  15:36–38

15. Ahaz’ bad reign in Judah (16 years)  16

a) Summary: abominable  16:1–4

b) Sycophancy to Assyria (Israel-Syria offensive)  16:5–18

(1) The northern threat  16:5–6 (cf., Isa 7)

(2) The Assyrians’ aid  16:7–9

(3) The Assyrian altar in Jerusalem  16:10–16

(4) Destruction of Mosaic worship items  16:17–18

c) Concluding formula  16:19–20

16. Hoshea’s bad reign in Israel (9 years)  17:1–6

a) Summary  17:1–2

b) Assyrian deportation  17:3–6

17. Editorial explanation of Israel’s downfall  17:7–41

a) Catalog of Israel’s sins  17:7–12

b) Israel’s rejection of divine warnings  17:13–17

c) Divine judgment: deportation  17:18–23

d) The resettlement of Samaria  17:24–41

(1) Plague of lions  17:24–26

(2) Religious syncretism  17:27–33

(3) Mosaic unfaithfulness  17:34–41

III. The Surviving Kingdom of Judah  II/18–25

A. Hezekiah’s good reign (29 years)  18–20 (cf., Isa. 36–39)

1. Summary: Faithful to Yahweh and blessed  18:1–8

2. Assyria’s defeat of Samaria  18:9–12

3. Assyria’s threat to Jerusalem  18:13–37

a) Hezekiah’s peace offering  18:13–16

b) Assyria’s intimidating ultimatum  18:17–37

(1) Addressed to the leaders  18:17–25

(2) Addressed to the people  18:26–37

4. Assyria’s miraculous defeat  19

a) The promise of deliverance  19:1–7

(1) Hezekiah’s appeal to Isaiah  19:1–5

(2) Isaiah’s answer of hope  19:6–7

b) Rabshakeh’s renewed threat  19:8–13

c) Hezekiah’s humble prayer  19:14–19

d) God’s answer through Isaiah  19:20–34

(1) Poetry  19:20–28

(a) Assyria has reproached Yahweh  19:20–24

(b) Yahweh’s sovereignty over Assyria  19:25–28

(2) Prose: The sign of deliverance  19:29–34

e) Ends of Sennacherib and his army  19:35–37

5. His illness  20:1–19

a) His prayer for recovery  20:1–7

b) The sign of the shadow on the stairs  20:8–11

c) The spies from Babylon  20:12–15

d) The prophecy of exile in Babylon  20:16–19

6. Concluding formula  20:20–21

B. Manasseh’s bad reign (55 years)  21:1–18

1. Summary  21:1–2

2. His propagation of religious perversion  21:3–9

3. God’s announcement of judgment  21:10–15

4. His bloodshed  21:16

5. Concluding formula  21:17–18

C. Amon’s bad reign (2 years)  21:19–26

1. Summary  21:19–20

2. His apostasy  21:21–22

3. His assassination  21:23–24

4. Concluding formula  21:25–26

D. Josiah’s good reign (31 years)  22:1—23:30

1. Summary  22:1–2

2. His zeal for God  22:3—23:25

a) Order to restore the temple  22:3–7

b) Discovery of the Book of the Law  22:8–13

c) Huldah’s prophecy  22:14–20

(1) Jerusalem to be destroyed  22:14–17

(2) Josiah to enjoy peace  22:18–20

d) His covenant renewal  23:1–3

e) His destruction of idolatrous objects  23:4–20

(1) In and around Jerusalem  23:4–14

(2) In and around Bethel and Samaria  23:15–20

f) His Passover  23:21–23

g) Approving comment on Josiah’s zeal  23:24–25

3. God’s unrelenting wrath against Judah  23:26–27

4. Concluding formula  23:28

5. His death and burial  23:29–30

E. Jehoahaz’ bad reign (3 months)  23:31–35

1. Summary  23:31–32

2. His removal by Pharaoh Neco  23:33–34

3. His son’s tribute to Egypt  23:35

F. Jehoiakim’s bad reign (11 years)  23:36—24:7

1. Summary  23:36–37

2. His rebellion against Babylon  24:1

3. God’s punishment of Judah for Manasseh’s sins  24:2–4

4. Concluding formula  24:5–7

G. Jehoiachin’s bad reign (3 months)  24:8–17

1. Summary  24:8–9

2. His surrender to and deportation by Nebuchadnezzar  24:10–17

H. Zedekiah’s bad reign (11 years)  24:18–20

1. Summary  24:18–19

2. Rebellion against Babylon  24:20

I. Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem  25:1–26

1. Defeat of Jerusalem, King Zedekiah  25:1–7

2. Destruction of Jerusalem  25:8–12

3. Pillage of the temple  25:13–17

4. Execution of priests in Babylon  25:18–21

5. Gedaliah’s rule in Jerusalem  25:22–24

6. Assassination of Gedaliah  25:25–26

J. Jehoiachin’s favor in Babylon  25:27–30