Elishas story is related in the book of kings second scroll, chapters 214 in the hebrew bible in judaism, part of the neviim. The main events in the book of second kings ii kings. Both of these prophets had to minister in times of terrible national decay, and we can see, in moving from the ministry of elijah to that of elisha, a transition that took place in the history of israel. But in the hebrew text of 2 kings it is used almost more frequently, especially for elisha. The book was divided into the two books of first kings and second kings in the historical books of the greek septuagint old testament, and continues as such in the latin vulgate and our christian old testament of the bible. The second book of kings tells of elisha, the prophet and wonderworker who succeeded elijah. We hear it from the lips of the servant of jehoram, as well as from the king of judahthe word of the lord is with elisha 2 kings 3. It continues the story of the kings over the divided kingdom israel and judah. The second book of kings online library of resources.
According to tradition this woman was the widow of obadiah the minister of king ahab. Elijahs activity spanned the reigns of ahab reigned c. The present division into two books was first made by the lxx. Solomon conscripts laborers to help build the temple. Second kings features many unique events and people.
It was through elisha that god spared jehoshaphat and the kings of israel and edom, along with their armies. Elisha tells the shunammite woman that the famine will continue for seven years and directs her to flee from israel. Carmella lyann elishasolomon served as a communications specialist in the us army while stationed in baumholder, germany, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Enoch was the only other man in the bible to do so genesis 5. The second book of kings in the books of 1 and 2 kings, nineteen evil kings from nine different dynasties rule the northern kingdom of israel. It continues the story of the kings over the divided.
Elijah kept telling them about god and reminding the people to worship god. According to this story, he was a prophet and a wonderworker of the northern kingdom of israel who was active during the reign of joram, jehu, jehoahaz, and jehoash joash. The tradition is that the prophet jeremiah was the author of both 1 and 2 kings. The author also refers to the official records about israels kings and judahs kings. The main events in the book of second kings hubpages. Lesson 5 2nd kings 4 than being eliminated as an enemy of gods kingdom. Even in the story in chapter 3 of moab rebelling against israel, and the subsequent attempt by yhoram king of israel. Elisha is one of a line of men whom god used to save his people. Doctrine is signified by the pot in which by command of elisha pottage was boiled for the sons of the prophets of which we read in the second book of kings.
For an outline of both 1 and 2 kings see introduction to 1 kings. The book of 2 kings, along with 1 kings, was likely written between 560 and 540 b. She answered, your servant has nothing in the house but a. The second book of kings has very largely to do with the life and ministry of elisha, the prophet. He wants to be there when his elijah is taken away. Dec 19, 2014 elisha is one of the disciples of elijah. Elijah is called man of god by others and by himself in in 1. The siege and famine of samaria 28 then the king asked her, what is the matter. Elisha returned to gilgal when there was a famine in the land, when the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves. And she answered, this woman said to me, give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son. They will lead the people into idol worship and apostasy from yahwehs covenant. The two books of kings formed originally but one book in the hebrew scriptures. Elisha was the son of shaphat, a wealthy landowner of abelmeholah.
Elisha then assumed the mantle and presided over the. Kings, or in greek, was originally a book of the former prophets in hebrew scripture. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible.
An introduction to the books of first and second kings. Sep, 2012 this is the holy book of 1 kings, known as the second book of the kings, otherwise called the fourth book of the kings. Elijahs eight miracles from first and second kings. Solomon requests cedars be sent to israel from tyre so he can build a temple for the lord. The first and second book of kings chronicle the life of the prophet elisha. The six episodes have a more wonderworking quality than the other miracles attributed to elisha in 6. This is the holy book of 1 kings, known as the second book of the kings, otherwise called the fourth book of the kings. The holy bible book 12 2 kings kjv dramatized audio.
This book relates the transactions from the death of saul until the end of davids reign, being a history for the space of about fortysix years. Book of second kings overview insight for living ministries. Elijah had to go into hiding for awhile to be safe. Introduction to grasp the significance of the miracles of elijah and elisha, it is important to remember that nearly everything they did in their ministries, especially their miracles, was done against the backdrop of the idolatrous cult of baalism as a polemical statement against the evil of baalism and its futility in contrast to the righteousness, power, and activity of yahweh, the true and. The second book of the kings the argument this second book containeth the acts of the kings of judah and israel. Elijah and elisha are by far the most prominent prophets in the books of kings and chronicles, and of the two, elisha is especially notable for the attention he pays to the work of ordinary israelites. All this took place because the israelites had sinned against the lord their god, who had brought them up out of egypt from under the power of pharaoh king of egypt. The relation between elijah and elisha was that of master 2 kings 2. It concludes the deuteronomistic history, a history of israel also comprising the books of joshua and judges and the book of samuel, which biblical commentators believe was written to provide a theological explanation for the destruction of the kingdom of judah by babylon in. Elisha visits benhadad king of aram and tells the king s servant hazael that he will replace benhadad as king. The waters of the jordan river rolled back twice 2 kings 2. Hiram praised the lord for solomon and sent the requested materials for the temple. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves. But elisha said, as the lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, i will not leave thee.
It concludes the deuteronomistic history, a history of israel also comprising the books of joshua and judges and the book of samuel, which biblical commentators believe was written to provide a theological explanation for the destruction of. Shutting heaven and stopping the rain for three years. In the second chapter of two kings, elisha asks elijah for a doubleshare of his spirit before he flies away in gods whirlwind. The book of second kings reveals the time when elisha came to gilgal. Dec 14, 2010 gehazi the servant of elisha tells the king of israel the story of how elisha raised the womans son from the dead and the king agrees orders his officials to return her land. Elisha had been elijahs disciple for 10 years when this story takes place.
And he uses collections of stories about the prophets elisha, micaiah and isaiah. The book of kings is the ninth book of the hebrew bible or the eleventh and twelfth books of the christian old testament. Lesson 5 2nd kings 4 2nd kings week 5, chapter 4 as we continue in the book of 2nd kings, elisha is now firmly entrenched as the most spiritfilled and honored prophet in israel. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of israel and judah by a deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century bce, with a supplement added in the sixth century bce. She has lived in many cities throughout the united states, and resided in germany for eight years as a civilian, working as a travel agent and car insurance salesperson, and as a. The king sent messengers to consult baalzebub, god of ekron and ask him for recovery from his illness. In 2 kings 2, we have story of the translation of elijah which also begins the ministry of elisha. Carmella lyann elisha solomon served as a communications specialist in the us army while stationed in baumholder, germany, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The second book of kings the prophet elisha ahaziah had fallen from the balcony of his upper room in samaria and he lay ill in bed when the moabites rebelled against israel. The prophet elijah left this earth without dying 2. But elisha said, as the lord lives, and as you yourself live, i will not leave. The cast of characters in 2 kings is pretty sprawling, and theres no real protagonist or one hero, butif you had to pick oneelisha would probably be the top guy, given the number of chapters he appears in. We are familiar with the point at which the ministry of elijah gives place to that of elisha.
In which book of the bible is elisha found answers. To carry out the responsibility as a prophet to israel, elisha would need the same spirit that elijah had shown, that of courage and fearlessness. The widows oil 1 now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to elisha, your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the lord. The shunamit woman saves the day women of distinction. Since 1 and 2 kings were originally on book, see the introduction to 1 kings for a discussion of these matters. May 02, 2020 the book of 2 kings concludes with the final overthrow and deportation of the people of israel and judah to assyria and babylon, respectively. Buy book packed full of adventure and eyeopening insights, children can explore the wonders of gds creations in in natures wonderland, discover leaders of our people in gallery of our great, and much more. The stories of the prophet elijah and his protege elisha are found at the end of first kings and the beginning of second kings 1 kings 172 kings. The prophet elishas attention to ordinary work 2 kings 2. The books of kings were written between 560 and 538539 b. Oil multiplied, the grain increased daily, the widow woman. The main events in the book of first kings hubpages.
This summary of the book of 2 kings provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 kings. Read 2nd kings chapter 4 all chapter 4 moves us back to a focus upon the life and works of. The prophet elishas attention to ordinary work 2 kings 26. The book of 2 kings is a sequel to the book of 1 kings. Elisha is called to stand against israels rebellious kings throughout a long career 2 kings 2. Contents continuing where 1 kings concluded with ahaziah, 2 kings traces the decline and captivity of both israel and judah.
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