Outline of 2 Kings: The rejected word and the exile

Ahaziah rejects the LORD's authority and dies according to Elijah's word.

An inquiry meets a divine answer 1:1–8 · Royal force cannot command the prophet 1:9–15 · The sentence is fulfilled 1:16–18

The LORD takes Elijah and confirms Elisha as his successor through signs of life and judgment.

The companions cross the Jordan 2:1–8 · Elijah departs and Elisha returns 2:9–18 · Jericho's water is healed 2:19–22 · Mockery receives judgment 2:23–25

The LORD supplies water and defeats Moab, but the campaign ends after a dreadful royal sacrifice.

The kings plan a campaign 3:1–8 · Elisha announces provision 3:9–20 · Victory ends in withdrawal 3:21–27

Through Elisha the LORD rescues a widow, restores a son and feeds His servants.

Oil rescues a family 4:1–7 · Hospitality and a promised son 4:8–17 · The promised son is restored 4:18–37 · Harmful food is made safe 4:38–41 · A small gift feeds many 4:42–44

Naaman receives cleansing through humble trust, while Gehazi's greed brings judgment.

A captive girl points to help 5:1–7 · The commander submits to the word 5:8–14 · Gratitude confesses the only God 5:15–19 · Greed corrupts the witness 5:20–27

The LORD protects His servants, while Samaria's siege reveals the king's helplessness and hostility.

A borrowed axe is recovered 6:1–7 · Unseen protection and mercy 6:8–23 · Siege drives the city to horror 6:24–33

The LORD ends Samaria's famine exactly as Elisha announces, while the scoffing officer misses the relief.

A startling promise meets unbelief 7:1–2 · Four outcasts discover the rescue 7:3–11 · The city receives the supplies 7:12–16 · The warning also comes true 7:17–20

God restores the Shunammite's property and preserves David's line amid coming violence and royal apostasy.

A timely hearing restores land 8:1–6 · Hazael hears his future 8:7–15 · Jehoram follows Ahab's house 8:16–24 · Ahaziah joins the northern alliance 8:25–29

Jehu is anointed and executes judgment on Joram and Jezebel, while Ahaziah is caught in their alliance.

Jehu receives his commission 9:1–13 · The allied kings fall 9:14–29 · Jezebel's end fulfills the warning 9:30–37

Jehu destroys Ahab's house and Baal worship but refuses wholehearted obedience to the LORD.

Ahab's remaining household is destroyed 10:1–11 · Jehu extends his purge 10:12–17 · Baal's temple is destroyed 10:18–27 · Partial obedience receives a mixed verdict 10:28–36

Joash survives Athaliah's violence and is crowned as Judah renews its covenant with the LORD.

Jehosheba hides the child 11:1–3 · Jehoiada prepares the coronation 11:4–12 · Athaliah is removed 11:13–16 · King and people renew their allegiance 11:17–21

Joash organizes faithful temple repairs, but tribute and assassination expose the kingdom's weakness.

Repairs require a new arrangement 12:1–8 · Contributions reach the workers 12:9–16 · Treasures buy relief from Hazael 12:17–18 · The king is assassinated 12:19–21

The LORD shows covenant mercy to oppressed Israel and confirms His life-giving word even after Elisha dies.

Jehoahaz pleads under oppression 13:1–9 · Jehoash continues the old sin 13:10–13 · The final prophetic sign promises victory 13:14–19 · Life and victory follow the word 13:20–25

Amaziah's pride brings defeat, while the LORD mercifully restores Israel's borders through an evil king.

Amaziah begins with measured justice 14:1–7 · Pride brings Judah low 14:8–22 · Jeroboam receives undeserved success 14:23–29

Northern instability and persistent idolatry accompany Assyrian advance, while Judah's reforms remain incomplete.

Azariah reigns while afflicted 15:1–7 · Short reigns and violent coups 15:8–16 · Menahem buys Assyrian support 15:17–22 · Assyria removes northern territory 15:23–31 · Jotham rules under growing threat 15:32–38

Ahaz seeks Assyria's rescue and remodels the sanctuary around a foreign altar.

An evil king seeks imperial protection 16:1–9 · A foreign altar displaces the appointed one 16:10–16 · The temple is altered for Assyria 16:17–20

Israel rejects the LORD's repeated warnings, and exile exposes the failure of divided worship.

Samaria falls to Assyria 17:1–6 · Persistent unbelief explains the exile 17:7–23 · New settlers add the LORD to their gods 17:24–33 · Divided worship remains disobedience 17:34–41

Hezekiah trusts the LORD, but Assyria demands that Jerusalem abandon that trust and surrender.

Hezekiah reforms while Israel falls 18:1–12 · Tribute fails to end the threat 18:13–16 · The envoy attacks Judah's confidence 18:17–25 · Assyria addresses the people 18:26–37

The LORD hears Hezekiah and delivers Jerusalem, humbling Assyria for His own sake and David's.

Hezekiah seeks the prophetic word 19:1–13 · The king brings the letter before God 19:14–19 · The LORD answers Assyria's pride 19:20–34 · Assyria withdraws and its king later dies 19:35–37

The LORD heals Hezekiah, yet the king's display to Babylon leads to a warning of future exile.

Prayer receives healing and a sign 20:1–11 · The envoys see the royal treasures 20:12–19 · Hezekiah's reign ends 20:20–21

Manasseh leads Judah into grave evil, and the LORD announces Jerusalem's coming judgment.

Manasseh reverses the reform 21:1–9 · The LORD announces devastation 21:10–18 · Amon continues the rebellion 21:19–26

Josiah hears the Book of the Law, humbles himself and receives God's word through Huldah.

Temple repairs proceed 22:1–7 · The book exposes Judah's guilt 22:8–13 · Huldah announces judgment and mercy 22:14–20

Josiah reforms worship under God's law, yet Judah's judgment remains and foreign rule follows his death.

The covenant is publicly renewed 23:1–3 · Idolatrous worship is removed 23:4–20 · Passover and wholehearted obedience 23:21–27 · Death brings foreign domination 23:28–37

The LORD's warning comes to pass as Babylon subdues Judah and exiles Jehoiachin and the leading people.

Jehoiakim rebels under judgment 24:1–7 · Jehoiachin surrenders 24:8–17 · Zedekiah continues the evil 24:18–20

Jerusalem and its temple are destroyed, yet mercy to Jehoiachin leaves hope beyond the exile.

Siege ends in the king's capture 25:1–7 · City and temple are dismantled 25:8–21 · The remnant flees after murder 25:22–26 · Jehoiachin receives royal kindness 25:27–30