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Pages you visit will appear hereThe divided kingdom and the decline into exile
| Chapter | Summary | Commentary |
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| 1 |
King Ahaziah seeks Baal-zebub’s counsel after an injury. Elijah confronts messengers, calls down fire on captains, and foretells Ahaziah’s death.
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Commentary
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| 2 |
Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha inherits his mantle, parts the Jordan, and performs miracles, including healing water and cursing mocking youths.
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| 3 |
Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and Edom ally against Moab. Elisha prophesies victory; God miraculously provides water and defeats Moab.
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| 4 |
Elisha performs miracles: multiplying oil for a widow, raising a Shunammite’s son, purifying poisoned stew, and feeding a hundred men with limited bread.
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| 5 |
Naaman, a Syrian commander, is healed of leprosy after washing in the Jordan. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, lies for profit and is struck with leprosy.
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| 6 |
Elisha makes an iron axe head float. He reveals Aramean ambushes. God blinds the enemy army. During siege, famine grips Samaria.
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| 7 |
Elisha prophesies relief from famine. Four lepers discover the Arameans have fled. Samaria plunders the abandoned camp, fulfilling prophecy.
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| 8 |
Elisha foretells seven years of famine and Hazael’s rise in Syria. Jehoram and Ahaziah reign in Judah, walking in wickedness like Ahab’s house.
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| 9 |
Elisha’s prophet anoints Jehu king. Jehu kills Joram, Ahaziah, Jezebel, and Ahab’s household, fulfilling prophecy.
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| 10 |
Jehu massacres Ahab’s seventy sons and destroys Baal worship in Israel, but does not turn from Jeroboam’s sins. God promises his dynasty four generations.
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| 11 |
Athaliah seizes power in Judah but is overthrown by Jehoiada the priest, who crowns Joash as king. Athaliah is executed, and covenant worship is restored.
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| 12 |
Joash repairs the temple but later compromises. He pays tribute to Hazael of Syria. His officials assassinate him, and Amaziah reigns.
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| 13 |
Jehoahaz and Jehoash reign in Israel. They sin but occasionally seek God’s help. Elisha dies, leaving a legacy of miracles, including a resurrection.
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| 14 |
Amaziah reigns in Judah, defeating Edom but losing to Israel. Jeroboam II reigns in Israel, expanding territory. Both walk in sin.
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| 15 |
Multiple kings reign in Israel—Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah—marked by instability and assassination. In Judah, Azariah (Uzziah) prospers but is struck with leprosy.
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| 16 |
Ahaz reigns in Judah, practicing idolatry and appealing to Assyria for help against Syria and Israel. He alters temple worship to please Assyria.
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| 17 |
Hoshea, last king of Israel, rebels against Assyria. Samaria falls, and Israel is exiled. The cause: persistent idolatry and disobedience to God’s covenant.
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| 18 |
Hezekiah reigns in Judah, reforms worship, and trusts God. Assyria invades; Rabshakeh mocks God. Hezekiah resists and seeks God’s help.
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| 19 |
Hezekiah prays. Isaiah prophesies Assyria’s fall. That night, God’s angel strikes down 185,000 Assyrians. Sennacherib retreats and is killed by his sons.
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| 20 |
Hezekiah falls ill but prays; God heals him, adding 15 years. The shadow on the sundial moves backward as a sign. Hezekiah shows envoys his treasures, prompting Isaiah’s warning of future Babylonian exile.
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| 21 |
Manasseh reigns wickedly, filling Jerusalem with idolatry and bloodshed. Amon reigns briefly and is assassinated.
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| 22 |
Josiah reigns and repairs the temple. The Book of the Law is found. Huldah the prophetess foretells judgment but promises Josiah mercy in his lifetime.
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| 23 |
Josiah renews the covenant, destroys idols, and restores proper worship. Despite reforms, God decrees judgment. Josiah dies in battle at Megiddo.
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| 24 |
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieges Judah. Jehoiachin is taken captive, and Zedekiah becomes king. Babylon dominates Judah.
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| 25 |
Jerusalem falls. The temple, palace, and city walls are destroyed. Many are exiled to Babylon. Gedaliah governs the remnant but is assassinated. Jehoiachin is later released from prison in Babylon.
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