Bible in one year 6/13/ 2022 2Kings Introduction & Chapter1-2 Elijah and Elisha By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 6/13/ 2022  2Kings Introduction & Chapter1-2 Elijah and Elisha  

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Introduction to the Second Book of the Kings

Author : Jeremiah            Date: C.550 B.C.

Contents    Continuing where 1 Kings concluded (with Ahaziah), 2 Kings traces the decline and captivity of both Israel and Judah. Israel endured a succession of evil kings reigning during a 130-year period until the Assyrian captivity. Briefly told is the history of Judah, culminating in the Babylonian captivity. The book also records the miracle-filled ministry of Elisha. Well-known passages include the raising of the Shunammite’s son (chapter 4), the healing of Naaman, the Syrian leper(chapt.5), the death of Jezebel chapt.9), the revivals under Hezekiah(chapt.8) and under Josiah (chapt.23). During this period Amos and Hosea prophesied in Israel, and Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah in Judah.

 

2 Kings Chapter 1  The reign of Ahaziah in Israel (853-852)

             After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.”(vv.1-2). But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “ go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, this is what the Lord says, “ you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” (vv.3-4). So Elijah went and tell the messengers. Ahaziah sent a captain with his company of fifty men to say to him, “ Man of God, the king says, ‘ come down’”. Elijah answered the captain, “ if I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell form heaven and consumed the captain and his men. (vv.9-10). Second time, Ahaziah sent another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “ Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘ come down at once! ’Elijah responded the same, “ If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your men!” then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. (vv.11-12).  So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God, please have respect for my life, and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” (vv.13-14) The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah go up and went down with him to the king.(v.15). And told Ahaziah because he sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, rather than consult God in Israel, therefore, he will never leave the bed and will certainly die!. So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.  

 

2 Kings Chapter 2 The Reign of Jehoram (Joram) in Israel (852-841); Elijah and Elisha

            When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gigal. Elijah said to Elisha, “ Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel”. But Elisha said, “ As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. (vv.1-2). Second time,  Elijah said to Elisha, “ Stay here, Elisha, the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. Third time Elijah said to him, “ Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. And he replied, “ As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “ Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you!” Elisha replied, “ Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” (v.9) Not a request that Elisha have or do twice as much as Elijah, but a plea that he might be the recognized heir of Elijah in the prophetic office (the firstborn received a double portion of his father’s inheritance,Deut.21:17). What Elisha requested was not Elijah’s to bestow. Elijah, like Enoch (Gen.5:22-24), was taken to heaven without dying. This will also be the experience of believers living at the time of Christ’s return (1Cor.15:51;1Thess.4:17).  As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire, and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. (v.10).

            Elisha saw this cried out, “ My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” and Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. He picked up the cloak that had fallen form Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.  Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it.  When he stuck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. (vv.12-14). The sons of the prophets did not believe what Elisha apparently had told them had happened to Elijah, and insisted on sending out a search party.(vv.16-18). But they didn’t find Elijah.

 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!”(v.23). Youths , Young men, not irresponsible youngsters. They were challenging Elisha’s prophetic office. Go on up. I.e., ascend, as you claimed Elijah did. Baldhead. Whether Elisha was bald at this time or not is beside the point  ( he did live fifty years,13:14). Elisha turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. (v.24). the young men were in effect cursing Elisha. (Isa.3:17,24).

 

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986