NOTES ON II KINGS

II Kings 2 This chapter has parallels to Christ's last days: tarry here, I will not leave you, double 

portion, in a little while you will not see me, clothes rent in two, my father, hold your peace, 

resurrection, receive spirit, taking mantle, after three days, couldn't find master, healing water, 

mockers, go up.

2:8 Elijah returns to Gilead where he was born.

2:14 The original Hebrew may infer that the first striking did not part the water. The emphasis needs to 

be on God's actions, not Elijah's.

2:19-22 Jericho had been earlier cursed.

2:23-24 See I Kings 12 for the background to Bethel's idolatry and rebellion. "Go up" is the same as 

"went up" in v. 11. They may have been mocking his message about Elijah's translation to heaven.

II Kings 3:26-27 A Ugaritic tablet published in 1978 describes Canaanite practices from about 1200 

BC: "If an enemy force attacks your gates...you shall lift up your eyes to Baal. O Baal...we shall 

sacrifice...a child...Then shall Baal hearken to your prayers. He shall drive the enemy force from your 

gates, the aggressor from your walls." In light of this, Baruch Margalit proposes that the word 

translated "indignation" should better be translated to indicate a psychological breakdown or trauma 

leading to mass hysteria.

Based on Amos 2:1, many scholars feel that it was the son of the Edomite king whom the king of 

Moab sacrificed.

II Kings 4:1 The blessing is in proportion to her faith, like the later story of Elisha and the arrows.

4:13 Some people need to be probed to reveal their true needs. Also II Kings 4:26.

4:26 See the note to verse 13; also look at Job 1:20.

4:30 These are the same words that Elisha used to Elijah earlier.

II Kings 6:31 Elisha is blamed for letting Syrian army go.

6:33 Ssee Job 1:20.

II Kings 7 Two examples of groundless fear and the consequences: Arameans and lepers.

7:6-7 This is the opposite of the time when the prophet is suddenly shown an invisible army of the 

LORD.

II Kings 8:25 and 9:27 Two unusual parallel sayings.

II Kings 10:27 An example of desecrating a pagan worship site by using it as a latrine was found in 

Lachish at a city gate altar dating from about that time period. (BAR Nov/Dec. 2017, p. 59)

10:31 see Hosea 1:4 for a hint as to his sins.

II Kings 12:1-16 An ancient Hebrew inscription on stone parallels this text and was the subject of a 

prolonged forgery trial. No forgery was proved to have happened. Traces of gold globules found in the 

inscription may have been due to melting of golden objects in the temple when it was destroyed in 586 

BC.

II Kings 14-15 The seemingly confused chronology is explained by the overlapping reigns of kings. 

Thus, 52 years of Azariah (II Kings 15:2) overlapped 24 of the 29 years of Amaziah (II Kings 14:2), 

and the 27th year of Jeroboam (II Kings 15:1) was the year when Amaziah died and Azariah began 

his sole reign. Also, the 41 years of Jeroboam II (II Kings 14:23) included 12 years of co-regency with 

Jehoash, and the 15th year of Amaziah marked the year when Jehoash died.

II Kings 17 Verse 7 demonstrates ingratitude while verse 9 shows hypocrisy.

Structure: Judah (1-4), Israel (5-18) --  Judah (19-20), Israel (21-41). There are parallels in each half on 

sins and punishment. Question: Does v. 20 refer to Judah or Israel?

17:30 Babylonians called Mars the star of Nergal, the Mesopotamian deity who was the god of death.

II Kings 18:13 A recently discovered tablet dated circa 600 BC uses the same phrase “towns of Judah” 

to describe a trading partner of Sabaea.

II Kings 19-20 Bullae (impressed clay seals) with the names Isaiah and Hezekiah were found 

together.

II Kings 22:8 Hilkiah's ring has been found by archeologists. 

22:14  Interestingly, they go to a prophetess even though Jeremiah and Zephaniah were still alive at the 

time. Huldah authoritatively authenticates the Word of God as canon. This is the first known example. 

II Kings 23:8 This bama (altar) has been found by the noted archeologist Yigael Yadin.

II Kings 25:23 An onyx seal showing a rooster and the inscription "belonging to Jaazaniah, servant of 

the king" was found near Mizpah, north of Jerusalem.