If you’re interested in a quick overview of the key events, perhaps you would like to read the book of 2 Kings summary by chapter. This comprehensive post provides a carefully summarized account of the entire book, highlighting the significant events chapter by chapter.
Read: The Book of 1 Kings Summary by Chapter (1-22)
Table of Contents
The Book of 2 Kings Summary by Chapter
Chapter 1: Ahaziah and Elijah
Ahaziah, king of Israel, falls and seeks counsel from false gods. God sends Elijah to deliver His word to Ahaziah’s messengers.
Ahaziah tries to capture Elijah. Fire consumes two groups sent by Ahaziah, while a third is spared. Elijah tells Ahaziah he will die.
Chapter 2: Elijah Taken to Heaven and Elisha’s Miracles
Elijah is taken to Heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha witnesses it and takes Elijah’s mantle.
Elisha parts the Jordan River. In Bethel, he summons bears to protect himself from mocking youths and performs other miracles.
Chapter 3: Moabite Rebellion
Jehoram becomes king of Israel. He’s wicked but not as bad as his parents. He faces the Moabite rebellion.
Israel, Judah, and Edom ally against Moab. Elisha helps them with a miracle, providing water and prophesying victory. Moab is defeated.
Chapter 4: Elisha’s Miracles Continue
Elisha performs miracles to help the needy, including multiplying a widow’s oil to pay debts.
He raises a Shunammite’s son from the dead and purifies poisoned stew. He also feeds a hundred men with twenty loaves.
Chapter 5: Naaman Healed and Gehazi’s Greed
In chapter 5, Naaman, a Syrian commander, is cured of leprosy by Elisha. Elisha refuses payment.
Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, lies to take gifts from Naaman. Gehazi is struck with leprosy as punishment.
Chapter 6: Elisha’s Miracles and the Syrian Siege
Elisha makes an iron ax head float. He reveals the enemy’s plans to the king of Israel and renders the Syrian army blind.
Syrians besiege Samaria, causing famine. The king blames Elisha, who prophesies an end to the famine.
Chapter 7: Prophecy Fulfilled – End of Famine
Elisha prophesies that the famine will end. Four lepers discover the deserted Syrian camp and the famine ends as predicted.
People trample the unbelieving officer at the city gate, fulfilling Elisha’s prophecy about him seeing the end of the famine but not eating the food.
Chapter 8: The Shunammite Woman, Hazael, and Jehoram
The Shunammite woman is told by Elisha to flee a seven-year famine. She returns later to regain her land.
Elisha goes to Damascus; Hazael kills the Syrian king and becomes king. Jehoram becomes king of Judah and follows the ways of the kings of Israel.
Chapter 9: Jehu Anointed and Jezreel’s Bloodshed
Jehu is anointed king of Israel. He kills Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah.
Jezebel is thrown from a window and dogs consume her, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy.
Chapter 10: Jehu’s Rampage and Baal’s Worshipers Destroyed
Jehu kills the rest of Ahab’s descendants. He gathers Baal’s worshipers in a temple and slaughters them.
Jehu destroys Baal’s temple, but doesn’t depart from Jeroboam’s sins.
Chapter 11: Athaliah and Joash
Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, seizes the throne in Judah and kills the royal family. Joash is hidden in the temple for six years.
Joash is crowned king; Athaliah is killed. Joash repairs the temple.
Chapter 12: Joash Repairs the Temple
Joash does what is right under Jehoiada the priest. He repairs the temple using dedicated money.
Hazael attacks Jerusalem; Joash buys him off with temple treasures. Joash is assassinated.
Chapter 13: Jehoahaz and Jehoash of Israel
Jehoahaz reigns in Israel but follows in Jeroboam’s sins. Israel is oppressed; Jehoahaz seeks God’s favor.
Jehoash, his son, becomes king. Elisha dies. A dead man revives upon touching Elisha’s bones.
Chapter 14: Amaziah and Jeroboam II
In this chapter, Amaziah becomes king of Judah. He defeats the Edomites but worships their gods.
Jeroboam II reigns in Israel, doing evil. Jonah’s prophecy is fulfilled as Jeroboam II restores Israel’s borders.
Chapter 15: Azariah, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah
Six kings in rapid succession. Azariah is struck with leprosy. Zechariah is assassinated by Shallum, who is killed by Menahem.
Pekahiah and Pekah follow; both do evil. Pekah is assassinated by Hoshea.
Chapter 16: Ahaz Reigns in Judah
Ahaz reigns in Judah and does evil. He worships idols and desecrates the temple.
Israel and Syria attack Judah. Ahaz seeks help from Assyria, giving away temple treasures.
Chapter 17: Fall of Israel
Hoshea, the last king of Israel, does evil. Shalmaneser of Assyria conquers Israel.
Israelites are exiled. Their disobedience is blamed for their downfall. Foreigners settle in Samaria.
Chapter 18: Hezekiah’s Righteous Reign
Hezekiah reigns in Judah and does what is right. He removes idol worship.
Assyria attacks Judah. Hezekiah pays tribute but Assyria plans to conquer Jerusalem.
Chapter 19: God’s Deliverance through Isaiah
Hezekiah seeks Isaiah’s counsel. Isaiah prophesies that Jerusalem will be spared.
An angel strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Assyrian king Sennacherib is assassinated.
Chapter 20: Hezekiah’s Illness and Pride
Hezekiah becomes ill, prays, and is healed. God gives him a sign by turning back the sun’s shadow.
Hezekiah unwisely shows Babylonian envoys his treasures. Isaiah predicts they will be taken away.
Chapter 21: Manasseh and Amon’s Wicked Reigns
Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, does great evil. He worships idols and desecrates the temple.
Amon follows Manasseh’s evil ways. His officials assassinate him, but the people kill them and make Josiah king.
Chapter 22: Josiah’s Good Reign and the Book of the Law
Josiah reigns in Judah and does what is right. The Book of the Law is found in the temple during renovations.
Josiah tears his clothes in repentance when he hears the words of the Law. He renews the covenant with God.
Chapter 23: Josiah’s Reforms and Death
In this chapter, Josiah eliminates idol worship and celebrates Passover. Despite his faithfulness, God’s wrath remains because of Manasseh’s sins.
Josiah is killed in battle with Egypt. Jehoahaz, his son, succeeds him but is quickly deposed by Egypt.
Chapter 24: Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and the First Exile
Jehoiakim, placed by Egypt, taxes the land. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacks, and Jehoiakim becomes his vassal.
Jehoiachin succeeds Jehoiakim but is taken into Babylonian exile. Nebuchadnezzar makes Zedekiah king.
Chapter 25: Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Captivity
Zedekiah rebels against Babylon. Jerusalem falls after a long siege. The temple is destroyed, and the people are exiled.
Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, is assassinated. The remaining people flee to Egypt. Jehoiachin is released from prison in Babylon.
Read also: The Book of 1 Chronicles Summary by Chapter (1-29)
In Conclusion:
As we wrap up our brief journey through the book of 2 Kings, let’s pause and reflect.
Though the accounts are historical, the echo of God’s voice in 2 Kings still speaks to our hearts today. We are reminded of the importance of faithfulness, obedience, and the pursuit of righteousness.
May these summaries serve as an inspiration for you to immerse yourself in the Word of God. May it stir us up to dig deeper into the Word. Cherished friends, may your hearts be enlivened and your spirits be fortified through the divine wisdom found in the Holy Scriptures.
God bless you abundantly!
