2. SUMMARY
Both Israel and Judah are secure at first, but because they abandoned the covenant both are destroyed by God through Assyria and Babylon.
II Kings aims to present a theological analysis of the people and events that culminated in the destruction of Israel.
Beginning with Elijah, prophets begin representing God’s power and authority.
Elisha’s ministry brought about the destruction of Omri’s dynasty in Israel.
When the kingdom followed the leadership of the prophets, it succeeded.
The Assyrians captured Samaria (capital of Israel) after a three year siege.
Israel was destroyed because it broke God’s commandments, and followed worthless idols, becoming worthless themselves.
When Jerusalem was destroyed, Judah began a period of Babylonian exile.
Two important theological themes in Kings are:
Israel’s history told from the viewpoint of the Mosaic/Sinai covenant.
the significant role played by prophecy

3. BAD BOYS, BALD PROPHETS, AND BEARS, OH MY!

4. 2:23 He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, "Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!" 2:24 When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

5. 2 KINGS 2:1-8
Introduction 2:1 Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
A 2:2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as BETHEL." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 2:3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent."
B 2:4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to JERICHO." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 2:5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent."
C 2:6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to THE JORDAN." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 2:7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 2:8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

6. 2 KINGS:9-12
X 2:9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you."
Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit."
2:10 He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not."
2:11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.
2:12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces

7. 2 KINGS 2:13-25
C’ 2:13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of THE JORDAN. 2:14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
B’ 2:15 When the company of prophets who were at JERICHO saw him at a distance, they declared, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 2:16 They said to him, "See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the LORD has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley." He responded, "No, do not send them." 2:17 But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him. 2:18 When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho), he said to them, "Did I not say to you, Do not go?" 2:19 Now the people of the city said to Elisha, "The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful." 2:20 He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 2:21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it." 2:22 So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
A’ 2:23 He went up from there to BETHEL; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, "Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!" 2:24 When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
Conclusion 2:25 From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria

8. Intro 2:1 Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
A 2:2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as BETHEL." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 2:3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent."
B 2:4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to JERICHO." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 2:5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent."
C 2:6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to THE JORDAN." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 2:7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 2:8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
X 2:9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." 2:10 He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." 2:11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 2:12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
C’ 2:13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of THE JORDAN. 2:14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
B’ 2:15 When the company of prophets who were at JERICHO saw him at a distance, they declared, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 2:16 They said to him, "See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the LORD has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley." He responded, "No, do not send them." 2:17 But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him. 2:18 When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho), he said to them, "Did I not say to you, Do not go?" 2:19 Now the people of the city said to Elisha, "The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful." 2:20 He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 2:21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it." 2:22 So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
A’ 2:23 He went up from there to BETHEL; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, "Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!" 2:24 When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
Conclusion 2:25 From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria

9. STRUCTURE: 2 KINGS 2
Introduction (v 1) A Bethel (vv 2-3) B Jericho (vv 4-5) C Jordan (vv 6-8) X Trans Jordan (vv 9-12) C’ Jordan (vv 13-14) B’ Jericho (vv 15-22) A’ Bethel (vv 23-24) Conclusion (v 25)

10. STRUCTURE: 2 KINGS 2:23-25
A Elisha goes up to Bethel “from there” משׁם (23a)
B Boys “come out” יצא “from the city” מן־היער
and mock Elisha (23b)
X Elisha turns, looks, and curses the boys in the name of the LORD (24a)
B’ Bears “come out” יצא “from the forest” מן־היער
and maul 42 of the boys (24b)
A’ Elisha goes on to Mount Carmel “from there” משׁם (25)

11. ELIJAH’S ASCENSION OR ELISHA’S CALL?
Scene I Elisha the faithful disciple (vv 2-8)
Three tests of loyalty at
Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan
Scene II Transfer of authority (vv 9-12)
Necessary for what will follow
in chapters 3-12
Scene III Elisha the prophet like Elijah (vv 13-24)
Three attestations at
the Jordan, Jericho, and Bethel

12. Naaman, the Layman

13. STORY ONE: NAAMAN IS CURED (2 KINGS 5:1-14)
1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel, and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord could be with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the maiden from the land of Israel." 5 And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten festal garments. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.“ 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he rent his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.“ 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you rent your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. 12a Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" 12b So, he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, `Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

14. THE WHOLE TEXT IS IN VERSE ONE
Naaman:
commander of the army of the king of Syria
great man with his master
in high favor, because
by him the LORD had given victory to Syria
mighty man of valor . . .
ATHNACH . . .
but he was a leper!

15. SCENE ONE
A Introduction 2 B cure his leprosy 3 C cure his leprosy 4-6 D cure his leprosy 7 X 8-9 Aha! D’ you shall be clean 10 C’ and be clean 11-12a B’ 12b-13 be clean A’ And he was clean 14
A little maid Prophet And he went And he sent so he may know there is a prophet in Israel A little child

16. STORY TWO: A LEPER BECOMES A BELIEVER (2 KINGS 5:15-19a)
A NAAMAN’S ARRIVAL 15a Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; B NAAMAN’S REQUEST 15b and he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present (BLESSING) from your servant." C ELISHA’S RESPONSE 16a But he said, "As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will receive none." X NAAMAN ‘URGES’ 16b And he urged him to take it, but he refused. B’ NAAMAN’S REQUEST 17 Then Naaman said, "If not, I pray you, let there be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth; for henceforth your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. 18 In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter." C’ ELISHA’S RESPONSE 19a He said to him, "Go in peace." A’ NAAMAN’S DEPARTURE 19a But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance,

17. SCENE TWO
A Naaman’s arrival 15a B Naaman’s request 15b C Elisha’s response 16a X Naaman “urges” Elijah to take “blessing” 16b B’ Naaman’s request C’ Elisha’s response 19a A’ Naaman’s departure 19b

18. NAAMAN’S CONVOLUTED CONCERN
In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship, and leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this matter

19. STORY THREE: A BELIEVER BECOMES A LEPER (2 KINGS 5:19b-27)
A GEHAZI PLOTS TO GET SOMETHING FROM NAAMAN 20 Ghazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him, and get something from him." B JOURNEY 21 So Ghazi followed Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, C QUESTION TO GEHAZI and said, "Is all well?" D GEHAZI’S RESPONSE 22 And he said, "All is well. E ELISHA’S ‘ALLEGED’ SPEECH My master has sent me to say, `There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets; pray, give them a talent of silver and two festal garments.'" X NAAMAN ‘URGES’ GEHAZI 23 And Naaman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two festal garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; B’ JOURNEY and they carried them before Ghazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and put them in the house; and he sent the men away, and they departed. C’ QUESTION TO GEHAZI 25 He went in, and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Ghazi?" D’ GEHAZI’S RESPONSE And he said, "Your servant went nowhere." E’ ELISHA’S SPEECH 26 But he said to him, "Did I not go with you in spirit when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you and to your descendants for ever." A’ GEHAZI GETS SOMETHING FROM NAAMAN So he went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

20. SCENE THREE
A Ghazi plots to get something from Naaman B Journey C Question to Ghazi D Ghazi's response E Alleged Elisha speech X Naaman urges Ghazi to take B’ Journey C’ Question to Ghazi D’ Ghazi's response E’ Elisha speech A’ Ghazi ‘receives’ something of Naaman
I will take something from him From his chariot to meet Question to Ghazi Ghazi's response Silver, garments Urges him to take Was it a time to ‘accept’?

21. Naaman the Layman
A 1 Naaman’s leprosy B 2-5 Negotiations (Naaman and the king of Syria) C 6-8 Negotiations (Naaman and the king of Israel) D 9 Naaman comes to Elisha E 10 Elisha’s command F Naaman’s 1st response: anger F’ 13 Naaman’s 2nd response: obedience E’ 14 Elisha’s command obeyed D’ 15a Naaman returns to Elisha C’ 15b-19a Negotiations (Naaman and Elisha) B’ 19b-26 Negotiations (Naaman and Ghazi/Ghazi and Elisha) A’ 27 Ghazi’s leprosy

22. WITH WHOM DO YOU IDENTIFY?
Elisha? Naaman? Ghazi? Little Girl? Or Naaman’s Servants?