Book of 2 KingsOverview, summary & 25 chapters

Second Kings continues the narrative of Israel's divided monarchy from First Kings, chronicling the parallel histories of the northern and southern kingdoms from Ahaziah of Israel through their respective destructions—Samaria falling to Assyria in 722 BC and Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 BC. This sobering historical account interprets these national catastrophes as divine judgment for persistent covenant unfaithfulness, particularly regarding idolatry. The book divides naturally into two principal sections: the parallel monarchies until Israel's fall (chapters 1-17) and Judah's lone survival until its eventual destruction (chapters 18-25).