2 Kings 1

1. Moab rebelled against Israel.** The Moabites had been subdued by David; but when the Hebrew power was weakened by the division of the kingdom, they had in great measure regained their independence. But they were subdued by Omri and Ahab, and compelled to pay a heavy tribute. Upon Ahab’s ill-success and death they revolt again.

2. Baal-zebub.** Literally, “Lord of flies”; i.e., the Fly-god; the tutelary god of Ekron; so called because he was worshipped either under the form of a fly (like the beetle-god of the Egyptians), or as the supposed protector against such annoying insects.

3. Is it not, etc.** Rather, “Is it because,” etc. (R.V.); and so in vers. 6, 16.

6 a man. Though they seem not to have known Elijah, his authoritative message and manner caused them to return without further inquiry.

8 a hairy man. This refers to his dress, a garment of coarse camel’s hair, like that worn by John the Baptist: see Matt. iii. 4; Mark i. 6; cp. Zech. xiii. 4.

10 consumed him and his fifty. This was a severe but well-merited rebuke of the king and people for their impious rejection of Jehovah; and a solemn admonition of His absolute control over life. The spirit of the Gospel is different (Luke ix. 55).

17 the second year of Jehoram. The chronology of this period has not at present been arranged satisfactorily.

WHAT has been said in the Introduction to 1 Kings applies largely to this Book also. It records the reigns of fifteen kings of Judah, beginning with Ahaziah and ending with Zedekiah, and of eleven kings of Israel, beginning with Jehoram and ending with Hoshea. Of the former, Hezekiah (xviii. 1–xx. 21) and Josiah (xxii. 1–xxiii. 30) are the most notable. Jehu (ix. 2–x. 36), with his strange mixture of zeal for the Lord and following the bad example of Jeroboam, is the most memorable among the kings of Israel.

But once more it is a prophet who is the real hero of the Book. After Elijah’s ascension (ii. 11) he was succeeded by Elisha. The contrast between the two great religious teachers and leaders has been well drawn by Professor Strachan (Hastings’ Dict. of the Bible, art. “Elisha”): “Elisha is no son of the desert. Brought up at a peaceful farm in the Jordan Valley, amid the sweet charities of home (1 Kings xix. 20), he always prefers human companionship. He is generally found in cities, sojourning at Jericho among the sons of the prophets, or dwelling in his own house at Samaria or at Dothan (2 Kings vi. 13, 32). . . . Elijah’s short career was memorable for a few grand and impressive scenes, Elisha’s long career is marked by innumerable deeds of mercy. . . . He enters palaces not as an enemy, but as a friend and counsellor. . . . Even more than in palaces is he welcome in the homes of the people. . . . Most of his miracles are deeds of gracious and homely beneficence. . . . Yet he has his master’s sternness when it is needed (iii. 13; vi. 32).”

This Book records the first invasion by the Assyrians (xv. 19) and the beginning of Jewish captivities (xvii. 6), the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, the destruction of the city and temple, and the second captivity in Babylon (xxiv. 18–xxv. 21).