22:18–20 See section 2 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Kin.
23:1–25 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Kin.
23:1–3 See section 2 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Kin.
23:1–3 The first step in Josiah’s reform was to call a national assembly to renew Judah’s commitment to its covenant with the Lord.
23:4–14 Josiah’s next step of reform was to eliminate idolatry. These verses graphically display the horror and degradation that were present in Judah. Idols in the temple (vv. 4–6), idolatrous priests (vv. 5, 8), the practice of sodomy and prostitution in the temple (v. 7), astrology (v. 5), and ritual sacrifices of children (v. 10) were only a part of the wickedness that was propagated by Manasseh and Ammon. Josiah promptly set out to destroy all of this. On Baal (v. 4), see note on 1 Kin. 16:31. On Asherah (v. 4), see note on 1 Kin. 18:19. Topheth (v. 10) was the site where children were sacrificed in the worship of Molech. See note on 1 Kin. 11:5. In their worship of the sun, they paraded horses with chariots (v. 11). The altars that were on the roof (v. 12) were used in astrological worship. See Jer. 19:13; 32:29. Because of their wickedness, the Mount of Olives had become known as the Mount of Corruption (v. 13). On Ashtoreth and Milcom (v. 13), see note on 1 Kin. 11:5–7. On Chemosh (v. 13), see note on 1 Kin. 11:5–7. Josiah defiled the high places with bones of men (v. 14), which were regarded as unclean and made the sites unsuitable for worship.
23:8, 9 Josiah brought back all of the Levitical priests who served at the high places. However, he only permitted them to eat the unleavened bread brought to the temple (Lev. 6:9, 10, 16) and did not allow them to serve at the altar.
23:15–20 Josiah even desecrated Jeroboam’s altar (v. 16), and then demolished it (v. 15). He also destroyed the pagan temples (v. 19) and executed the pagan priests (v. 20).
23:21–23 Josiah not only eradicated the bad, but he also established the good. He restored the Passover in a way that no other king in Judah or Israel had ever done.
23:28–30 Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Necho during a battle at Megiddo in 609 B.C.
23:31–34 Jehoahaz succeeded his father Josiah as Judah’s seventeenth ruler. He was the wicked king described by Ezekiel (Ezek. 19:1–9), and he had ruled only 90 days when he was imprisoned by Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt (vv. 29, 33). The Jeremiah mentioned in v. 31 was not the famous prophet Jeremiah.
23:34–37 The eighteenth ruler in Judah was Jehoiakim (the brother of Jehoahaz). His real name was Eliakim (v. 34), and he was only a puppet ruler appointed by Pharaoh Necho. He was as evil as his brother and imprisoned the prophet Jeremiah. See Jer. 22:18, 19; 26:20–23 on the reign of Jehoiakim.
24:1–7 During the reign of Jehoiakim control of Judah passed from the Assyrian-Egyptian alliance to that of Babylon. Jeremiah records the decisive battle of Carchemish where Pharaoh Necho was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Jer. 46:2), which is dated at 605–604 B.C. Chaldeans (v. 2) is a variant name for the Babylonians.
24:8–16 Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim, was the nineteenth of Judah’s rulers. He had reigned for only three months when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, then took Jehoiachin and the royal family captive. Next, Nebuchadnezzar plundered the temple and the palace, and took many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem captive. The prophet Ezekiel was probably among those taken captive at this time. This incident is dated at 597 B.C. and was the beginning of the end for Judah.
24:17–20 The last ruler of Judah was Zedekiah. Like Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, he was the son of Josiah, making him Jehoiachin’s uncle. His original name was Mattaniah, and he is remembered as a wicked ruler who was easily manipulated by others (Jer. 38:5, 24).
25:1–3 After three years of submission to the Babylonians, Zedekiah foolishly rebelled (24:20), resulting in Nebuchadnezzar’s final siege of Jerusalem.
25:4–7 In 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell, and the southern kingdom of Judah was taken captive. Judah had 20 kings of the single dynasty of David, but only 8 of these were considered good. Zedekiah was deported, his sons were killed, and then his eyes were put out.
25:8–21 The Babylonians burned Jerusalem (vv. 8–12), plundered and destroyed the temple (vv. 13–17), and executed Judah’s leaders (vv. 18–21).
25:22–26 The poorest class of people remained in the land (v. 11), and Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah to govern Judah. Gedaliah ruled efficiently for two months, but was then murdered by Ishmael (v. 25).
25:27–30 In 562 B.C. Evil-Merodach succeeded Nebuchadnezzar as ruler of Babylon. “Evil” was a variant spelling for his name and does not necessarily imply that he was evil. In fact, he changed the Babylonian policy toward the kings of Judah and released King Jehoiachin in 560 B.C. Thus the Book of 2 Kings ends on a positive note of hope. It was because of God’s mercy that the Jews were being favored and because of His kindness that they would eventually be allowed to return to their land (Ezra 1:1–4).
CHAPTER 1
b 2 Kin. 1:3, 6, 16; Matt. 10:25; Mark 3:22
1 Lit. Lord of Flies
1 Or Angel
1 Ahaziah
a Zech. 13:4; Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6
* See WW at 1 Kin. 8:23.
1 Lit. bowed down
1 Or Angel
a 1 Kin. 22:50; 2 Kin. 8:16; Matt. 1:8
1 The son of Ahab king of Israel, 2 Kin. 3:1
CHAPTER 2
b 1 Sam. 1:26; 2 Kin. 2:4, 6; 4:30
a 1 Kin. 20:35; 2 Kin. 2:5, 7, 15; 4:1, 38; 9:1
1 Lit. from your head
a Ex. 14:21, 22; Josh. 3:16; 2 Kin. 2:14
* See WW at 2 Sam. 23:2.
1 Or at Jericho opposite him saw
a 1 Kin. 18:12; Ezek. 8:3; Acts 8:39
* See WW at Ezek. 16:63.
a Ex. 15:25, 26; 2 Kin. 4:41; 6:6; John 9:6
1 purified
a Ezek. 47:8, 9
a 1 Kin. 18:19, 20; 2 Kin. 4:25
CHAPTER 3
b 1 Kin. 19:21; [John 13:4, 5, 13, 14]
1 Was the personal servant of
a [Ezek. 14:3]
b 1 Sam. 16:16, 23; 1 Chr. 25:1
1 water canals
1 summoned
a Is. 16:7, 11; Jer. 48:31, 36
a [Deut. 18:10; Amos 2:1; Mic. 6:7]
1 wrath
CHAPTER 4
b [Lev. 25:39–41, 48]; 1 Sam. 22:2; Neh. 5:2–5; Matt. 18:25
* See WW at 2 Sam. 7:11.
1 Lit. great
2 Lit. laid hold on him
1 Or a small walled upper chamber
a 2 Kin. 4:29–31; 5:20–27; 8:4, 5
1 Lit. About this season, as the time of life
a Num. 10:10; 28:11; 1 Chr. 23:31
1 Or It will be well
c Ex. 7:19; 14:16; 2 Kin. 2:8, 14; Acts 19:12
1 Lit. Gird up your loins. The skirt of the robe was wrapped around the legs and tucked in the belt to gain freedom of movement.
a 2 Kin. 4:4; [Matt. 6:6]; Luke 8:51
b 2 Kin. 8:1, 5
b 1 Sam. 9:7; [1 Cor. 9:11; Gal. 6:6]
a Matt. 14:20; 15:37; John 6:13
CHAPTER 5
1 Or in bands
2 Served, lit. was before
a [Gen. 30:2; Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6]
1 So with Kt., LXX, Vg.; Qr., Syr., Tg. Amanah
b Gen. 14:22, 23; 2 Kin. 5:20, 26; [Matt. 10:8]; Acts 8:18, 20
a 2 Kin. 4:12; 8:4, 5
1 Lit. the hill
a [1 Tim. 6:10]
b Ex. 4:6; Num. 12:10; 2 Kin. 15:5
CHAPTER 6
a Ex. 15:25; 2 Kin. 2:21; 4:41
b 2 Chr. 32:7; Ps. 55:18; [Rom. 8:31]
b 2 Kin. 2:11; Ps. 34:7; 68:17; Zech. 1:8; 6:1–7
a 2 Kin. 2:12; 5:13; 8:9
a [Rom. 12:20]
a 2 Kin. 5:2; 6:8, 9
1 Approximately 1 pint
a Lev. 26:27–29; Deut. 28:52–57; Lam. 4:10
c 1 Kin. 18:4, 13, 14; 21:10, 13
CHAPTER 7
1 A third of an ephah, or about 8 gallons
* See WW at 1 Kin. 20:8.
a 2 Kin. 5:18; 7:17, 19, 20
a [Lev. 13:45, 46; Num. 5:2–4; 12:10–14]
a 2 Sam. 5:24; 2 Kin. 19:7; Job 15:21
1 Calamity
1 Hide themselves in ambush
CHAPTER 8
c 2 Sam. 21:1; 1 Kin. 18:2; 2 Kin. 4:38; 6:25
b 1 Sam. 9:7; 1 Kin. 14:3; 2 Kin. 5:5
1 fixed his gaze
a 2 Kin. 10:32; 12:17; 13:3, 7; Amos 1:3, 4
b 2 Kin. 15:16; Hos. 13:16; Amos 1:13; Nah. 3:10
1 Co-regent with his father
a 2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Kin. 11:36; 15:4; 2 Chr. 21:7
a Josh. 21:13; 2 Kin. 19:8; 2 Chr. 21:10
1 Died and joined his ancestors
2 Or Azariah or Jehoahaz
CHAPTER 9
1 Lit. Gird up your loins
a 1 Sam. 2:7, 8; 1 Kin. 19:16; 2 Kin. 9:3; 2 Chr. 22:7
a [Deut. 32:35, 41]
a 1 Kin. 14:10; 21:21; 2 Kin. 10:17
* See WW at Judg. 5:31.
a 1 Kin. 21:23; 2 Kin. 9:35, 36
* See WW at Zech. 2:12.
a Jer. 29:26; Hos. 9:7; Mark 3:21; John 10:20; Acts 26:24; [1 Cor. 4:10]
a Matt. 21:7, 8; Mark 11:7, 8
1 Lit. under his feet
1 Are you peaceful?
1 Lit. Turn behind me
1 Harness up
2 Lit. found
1 Lit. filled his hand
1 on this property
1 Lit. The Garden House
2 Lit. Strike
a 1 Kin. 16:9–20; 2 Kin. 9:18–22
CHAPTER 10
1 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX Samaria; Vg. city
2 the guardians of
1 most upright
1 Lit. stand before
a Judg. 9:5; 1 Kin. 21:21; 2 Kin. 11:1
a 1 Sam. 3:19; 1 Kin. 8:56; Jer. 44:28
1 Or The Shearing House
1 Or The Shearing House
1 Lit. found
1 Consecrate
1 Lit. house
1 Lit. city
a [Deut. 7:5, 25]; 1 Kin. 14:23; 2 Kin. 3:2
1 Lit. house
a 2 Kin. 9:6, 7
b 2 Kin. 13:1, 10; 14:23; 15:8, 12
1 was not careful
a 1 Kin. 19:17; 2 Kin. 8:12; 13:22
1 Died and joined his ancestors
CHAPTER 11
1 Jehoshabeath, 2 Chr. 22:11
2 Or Jehoash
1 guards
1 Lit. enter in
1 companies
1 Lit. shoulder
1 Law, Ex. 25:16, 21; Deut. 31:9
1 Lit. between ranks
b Josh. 24:24, 25; 2 Chr. 15:12–15
b [Deut. 12:3]
1 Idols
2 Lit. offices
CHAPTER 12
1 Joash, 2 Kin. 11:2ff.
a 1 Kin. 15:14; 22:43; 2 Kin. 14:4; 15:35
1 Places for pagan worship
1 Lit. the money coming over
2 any man’s heart prompts him to bring
1 Lit. breaches
1 guarded at the door
a 2 Sam. 8:17; 2 Kin. 19:2; 22:3, 4, 12
1 secretary
2 tied it up
1 Lit. weighed
a 2 Kin. 22:7; [1 Cor. 4:2]; 2 Cor. 8:20
* See WW at Prov. 28:20.
1 Advance upon
a 1 Kin. 15:18; 2 Kin. 16:8; 18:15, 16
1 Lit. The Landfill
1 Zabad, 2 Chr. 24:26
2 Shimrith, 2 Chr. 24:26
CHAPTER 13
1 Jehoash, 2 Kin. 12:1–18
1 Lit. turn
b [Ex. 3:7, 9; Judg. 2:18]; 2 Kin. 14:26
a 2 Kin. 13:25; 14:25, 27; Neh. 9:27
1 Heb. Asherah, a Canaanite goddess
1 Died and joined his ancestors
2 Or Jehoash
c 2 Kin. 14:9; 2 Chr. 25:17–25
1 Died and joined his ancestors
1 Having prophesied at least 55 years
c Gen. 13:16, 17; 17:2–7; Ex. 32:13
CHAPTER 14
1 Places for pagan worship
a Deut. 24:16; [Jer. 31:30; Ezek. 18:4, 20]
b 2 Sam. 8:13; 1 Chr. 18:12; Ps. 60:title
1 Lit. The Rock; the city of Petra
1 Joash, 2 Kin. 13:9, 12–14, 25; 2 Chr. 25:17ff.
a Deut. 8:14; 2 Chr. 32:25; [Ezek. 28:2, 5, 17; Hab. 2:4]
1 Made you proud
1 About 600 feet
a 1 Kin. 7:51; 2 Kin. 12:18; 16:8
1 Died and joined his ancestors
1 Uzziah, 2 Chr. 26:1ff.; Is. 6:1; etc.
a 1 Kin. 9:26; 2 Kin. 16:6; 2 Chr. 8:17
1 Heb. Eloth
2 Amaziah died and joined his ancestors.
a 2 Kin. 10:32; 13:5, 25
b Num. 13:21; 34:8; 1 Kin. 8:65
1 border
2 The Dead Sea
a Ex. 3:7; 2 Kin. 13:4; Ps. 106:44
a [2 Kin. 13:5, 23]
b 2 Sam. 8:6; 1 Kin. 11:24; 2 Chr. 8:3
1 Died and joined his ancestors
CHAPTER 15
b 2 Kin. 14:21; 2 Chr. 26:1, 3, 4
1 Places for pagan worship
1 Died and joined his ancestors
1 Azariah, 2 Kin. 14:21ff.; 15:1ff.
1 Lit. conspired
a 1 Chr. 5:26; Is. 66:19; Hos. 8:9
2 Support
1 took
1 Died and joined his ancestors
1 Lit. struck
a 2 Kin. 16:7, 10; 1 Chr. 5:26
a 2 Kin. 17:1; [Hos. 10:3, 7, 15]
1 Jerushah, 2 Chr. 27:1
a 2 Kin. 15:3, 4; 2 Chr. 26:4, 5
1 Places for pagan worship
1 Died and joined his ancestors
CHAPTER 16
a [Lev. 18:21]; 2 Kin. 17:17; 2 Chr. 28:3; Ps. 106:37, 38; Is. 1:1
b [Deut. 12:31]; 2 Kin. 21:2, 11
1 Lit. Large Tree; sing. of Eloth
2 A few ancient mss. Syrians
a 2 Kin. 15:29; 1 Chr. 5:26; 2 Chr. 28:20
1 A later name of Pul, 2 Kin. 15:19
* See WW at Jer. 17:14.
a 2 Kin. 12:17, 18; 2 Chr. 28:21
a Ex. 27:1, 2; 40:6, 29; 2 Chr. 4:1
1 Lit. house
CHAPTER 17
b [Deut. 28:36, 64; 29:27, 28]
a [Josh. 23:16]
1 Places for pagan worship
c [Deut. 12:2]
1 Heb. Asherim, Canaanite deities
* See WW at 1 Kin. 16:2.
a [Ex. 20:3–5]
b [Deut. 4:19]
c [Jer. 18:11; 25:5; 35:15]
a Ex. 32:9; 33:3; Deut. 31:27; [Prov. 29:1; Acts 7:51]
c Deut. 32:21; 1 Kin. 16:31; [1 Cor. 8:4]
d 2 Chr. 13:7; Jer. 2:5; [Rom. 1:21–23]
e [Deut. 12:30, 31]
c [Deut. 4:19]
a [Lev. 18:21]; 2 Kin. 16:3; Ezek. 23:37
b [Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10–12]
a Judg. 2:14; 2 Kin. 13:3; 15:29
1 Places for pagan worship
c [Deut. 10:20]
* See WW at Deut. 8:18.
CHAPTER 18
1 Abijah, 2 Chr. 29:1ff.
1 Places for pagan worship
2 Heb. Asherah, a Canaanite goddess
3 Lit. Bronze Thing, also similar to Heb. nahash, serpent
a [2 Chr. 15:2]
1 Lit. struck
1 Lit. them
1 A title, probably Commander in Chief
2 A title, probably Chief Officer
3 A title, probably Chief of Staff or Governor
1 secretary
a 2 Chr. 32:10; [Ps. 118:8, 9]
1 Lit. a word of the lips
a 2 Kin. 18:4; 2 Chr. 31:1; 32:12
1 Places for pagan worship
1 Lit. Judean
1 Lit. Judean
1 By paying tribute
CHAPTER 19
a 2 Kin. 18:13; 2 Chr. 32:20–22; Is. 37:1
1 give birth
* See WW at 2 Chr. 6:20.
a Ex. 25:22; Ps. 80:1; Is. 37:16
b Ps. 115:4; Jer. 10:3; [Acts 17:29]
a Job 41:2; Ezek. 29:4; 38:4; Amos 4:2
a Ex. 3:12; 1 Sam. 2:34; 2 Kin. 20:8, 9; Is. 7:11–14; Luke 2:12
1 Without cultivation
a 2 Kin. 19:4; 2 Chr. 32:22, 23
1 So with many Heb. mss. and ancient vss. (cf. Is. 37:32); MT omits of hosts
a Ex. 12:29; Is. 10:12–19; 37:36; Hos. 1:7
1 Or Angel
CHAPTER 20
a 2 Kin. 18:13; 2 Chr. 32:24; Is. 38:1–22
a Judg. 6:17, 37, 39; Is. 7:11, 14; 38:22
a Num. 23:19; Is. 38:7, 8
1 Lit. steps
1 Lit. steps
1 So with many Heb. mss., Syr., Tg.; MT omits all
2 Lit. the house of his armor
a Jer. 27:21, 22; 52:17
1 be born from
1 aqueduct
1 Died and joined his ancestors
CHAPTER 21
c [Deut. 4:19; 17:2–5]
1 Places for pagan worship
2 Heb. Asherah, a Canaanite goddess
3 The gods of the Assyrians
a [Lev. 18:21; 20:2]
1 A Canaanite goddess
2 Temple
a [Prov. 29:12]
a 2 Kin. 23:26, 27; 24:3, 4
1 Died and joined his ancestors
a 2 Kin. 21:2–6, 11, 16
a Judg. 2:12, 13; 1 Kin. 11:33; 1 Chr. 28:9
a 1 Chr. 3:14; 2 Chr. 33:24, 25; Matt. 1:10
CHAPTER 22
a Deut. 31:24–26; 2 Chr. 34:14
1 Lit. poured out
1 Abdon the son of Micah, 2 Chr. 34:20
a [Deut. 29:23–28; 31:17, 18]
a Deut. 29:25–27; 2 Kin. 21:22
a 1 Sam. 24:5; [Ps. 51:17; Is. 57:15]
b Ex. 10:3; 1 Kin. 21:29; [2 Chr. 7:14]
a 2 Kin. 23:30; [Ps. 37:37; Is. 57:1, 2]
1 Cause you to join your ancestors in death
2 Die a natural death
CHAPTER 23
a 2 Sam. 19:11; 2 Chr. 34:29, 30
1 A Canaanite goddess
2 The gods of the Assyrians
1 Of the Zodiac
1 Heb. Asherah, a Canaanite goddess
1 Lit. houses
2 Heb. qedeshim, those practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals
c [Lev. 18:21]
1 Kt. Sons
1 given
1 Places for pagan worship
2 Lit. right of
3 The Mount of Olives
1 A place for pagan worship
a 1 Kin. 13:1, 30, 31
1 Lit. houses
2 Places for pagan worship
3 So with LXX, Syr., Vg.; MT, Tg. omit the LORD