Book of 2 Kings: Overview and Scholarly Commentary
25 chapters · 109 video commentaries · covered in 21 courses
Second Kings continues the Deuteronomistic History, narrating the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah from the mid-9th century BCE until the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE. It details the ongoing theological struggle between Yahweh worship and idolatry, culminating in the downfall of both kingdoms.
AuthorThe book is part of the Deuteronomistic History, compiled and edited by anonymous authors during the Babylonian exile, drawing on earlier court records and prophetic traditions.
WrittenPrimarily compiled during the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), incorporating earlier historical sources.
GenreHistorical narrative
AudienceWritten for the exiled Judean community to explain the reasons for their national catastrophe and to reinforce the covenant with Yahweh.
PurposeTo provide a theological explanation for the destruction of Israel and Judah, attributing it to the nations' disobedience and idolatry, particularly the sins of their kings.
Covered inThe Genius of Mark: Jesus the Secret Messiah · Before the Bible: Mesopotamia and the Myths that Shaped Scripture · Cities of the Bible · Demons and Ghosts in the Bible · Digging Up Eden: The Immortality of Adam and Eve · Earliest Christian Heresies +15
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on 2 Kings highlights the Deuteronomistic historian's theological agenda, particularly in attributing the Northern Kingdom's downfall to Jeroboam's sin and Judah's destruction to Manasseh's wickedness, even after Josiah's reforms. We explore how archaeological findings, such as Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Jehoiachin Ration Tablets, corroborate some biblical accounts, while extra-biblical sources like the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III reveal significant omissions in the biblical narrative, such as King Jehu's tribute to Assyria. Bart Ehrman and other scholars discuss how the book's portrayal of prophets like Elisha, who curses boys mauled by bears, contrasts sharply with New Testament portrayals of Jesus, a point Marcion used to argue for two different gods. We also examine the conflicted history of Asherah worship in Israel, condemned by Deuteronomistic authors but widely attested archaeologically, and the differing accounts of Manasseh's reign in Kings versus Chronicles, which raises questions about transgenerational punishment.
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
The Deuteronomistic historian consistently judges every king of the Northern Kingdom negatively, often using the phrase 'he did what was displeasing to the Lord' or similar condemnations. This uniform negative assessment stems from Jeroboam's initial sin of establishing alternative worship sites, which the historian views as a foundational transgression that tainted all subsequent reigns.
Summarized by AI · The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings · Lecture 7: The Empires Strike Back | Israel Under Assyria and Babylon · watch the clip
The history ends with the exiled king, suggesting a mid-exilic composition
The history concludes with the Judahite king Jehoiachin in exile in Babylonia, receiving food rations from the Babylonian emperor. This ending, which does not mention the end of the exile, suggests that the history was composed during the middle of the Babylonian exile, as the historian likely would have noted the exile's conclusion if it had already occurred.
Summarized by AI · The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings · Lecture 1: A Beginner's Guide to the History of Israel · watch the clip
Daniel's Chronological Inaccuracies
The book of Daniel contains historical inaccuracies regarding the Babylonian period. For instance, Daniel 1:1 states that Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in the third year of King Jehoiakim, but historical and biblical accounts (like the Book of Kings) indicate this event occurred later, during the reign of Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 26: Daniel | The Latest Text of the Hebrew Bible · watch the clip
Jeroboam's Sin and the Northern Kingdom's Downfall
Jeroboam I, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established two alternative worship sites at Bethel and Dan to rival Jerusalem (1 Kings 12). This act violated the Deuteronomic law of centralization, leading the Deuteronomistic historian to condemn every subsequent Northern king and attribute the kingdom's eventual destruction and exile by Assyria to this foundational sin (2 Kings 17).
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 11: The History | From Joshua to Josiah · watch the clip
Dating the Deuteronomistic History to the Exile
The Deuteronomistic History likely concluded during the Babylonian exile, specifically in the mid-6th century BCE. Its narrative arc, spanning from Moses' death to the destruction and exile, ends abruptly without mentioning Israel's return from exile, suggesting it was written or completed while the exile was still ongoing.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Deuteronomistic Historian's Judgment of Kings
The Deuteronomistic historian consistently evaluates each king in the book of Kings based on their adherence to Deuteronomic standards, particularly regarding centralized worship. Kings of Judah are generally viewed more favorably, while northern kings are almost universally condemned for continuing the 'sin of Jeroboam' by maintaining multiple sanctuaries outside Jerusalem.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Background and context
Archaeological Evidence of Syncretism
Archaeological evidence, such as inscriptions mentioning 'Yahweh and his Asherah' alongside symbols of Baal, clearly demonstrates that ancient Israelites engaged in syncretistic worship, venerating Yahweh alongside Canaanite deities like Asherah and Baal.
Summarized by AI · Everyday Life in Ancient Israel · Lecture 3: Household Religion · watch the clip
Kings and Chronicles' historical reliability
The lists of kings in the books of Kings and Chronicles are considered more historically reliable than earlier biblical narratives. This is partly due to the existence of corroborating extra-biblical evidence for many of these monarchs, which helps to confirm their historical presence.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · History vs Myth: Can We Trust the Stories in the Hebrew Bible? · watch the clip
The Bible's Local Focus vs. Regional Powers
The Bible often presents a localized history, focusing on Israel's squabbles with immediate neighbors like the Arameans, as if these were the most significant events. However, this perspective overlooks the larger geopolitical reality where major empires like Assyria were already exerting influence, making Israel's internal conflicts seem like minor distractions in a much bigger picture.
Summarized by AI · The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings · Lecture 7: The Empires Strike Back | Israel Under Assyria and Babylon · watch the clip
Assyrian Accounts of Sennacherib's Invasion
The biblical account of King Sennacherib's invasion of Judah in 2 Kings 18:13 can be further illuminated by consulting external historical sources. Assyrian records provide Sennacherib's own version of the assault, offering a comparative perspective to the Israelite narrative. This comparison not only helps reconstruct what happened but also reveals how both texts were shaped by their respective authors' purposes and perspectives.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 2: The Historical Critical Method Explained · watch the clip
Amos's Social Status as a Sheep Breeder
The description of Amos as a sheep breeder in the opening of his book provides important historical context. While it might sound like a low-class occupation, the only other person identified as a sheep breeder in the Bible is King Mesha of Moab, who was wealthy enough to pay tribute in vast quantities of livestock. This suggests that Amos, despite his humble-sounding title, was likely a person of considerable means and not a professional prophet.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 16: Amos, Hosea, and Micah · watch the clip
The Bible's Local History vs. Regional Reality
The biblical account, exemplified by the narrative of King Hazael of Aram oppressing Israel, often presents a localized history focused on Israel's immediate neighbors and internal squabbles. This perspective, which was the primary historical record for nearly 2000 years, obscures the larger geopolitical realities of the ancient Near East, where major empires like Assyria were the dominant forces.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 14: Of Kings and Kingdoms · watch the clip
The Scroll of Deuteronomy as a Pious Fraud
Scholars propose that the 'discovery' of the Torah scroll during Josiah's reign, as narrated in 2 Kings, might have been a 'pious fraud.' Instead of finding an ancient text, the scroll (Deuteronomy) may have been written during Josiah's time to provide divine authority for his reforms, which served his political and economic interests by centralizing power and wealth in Jerusalem.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Jesus Curses a Playmate
In a darker turn, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas recounts an incident where a five or six-year-old Jesus is bumped by another child. In a fit of anger, Jesus curses the child, who immediately falls dead. This demonstrates Jesus' potent and destructive power, even at a young age.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · He's a Very Naughty Boy: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas · watch the clip
Courses that cover 2 Kings
The Genius of Mark: Jesus the Secret Messiah
Before the Bible: Mesopotamia and the Myths that Shaped Scripture
Cities of the Bible
Demons and Ghosts in the Bible
Digging Up Eden: The Immortality of Adam and Eve
Earliest Christian Heresies
Everyday Life in Ancient Israel
Finding Moses: What Scholars Know About the Exodus and the Jewish Law
Jesus and the Old Testament
Judaism Before Jesus
Luke's Maverick Gospel
The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel
The History of Biblical Interpretation
The Israelite Goddess Asherah
The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke
The Other Virgin Births in Antiquity
The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings
The Scribal Corruption of Scripture: How the Bible Was Changed and Why Readers May Never Know
