Second Kings
2Ki 1:1a Moab cf. 2 Sam. 8:2
2Ki 1:21a Baal-zebub cf. Matt. 10:25; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18-19
See note 251 in Matt. 10.
2Ki 1:8a hairy Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6; Zech. 13:4
2Ki 1:10a fire Luke 9:54; Rev. 11:5
2Ki 1:151 Angel
See note 71 in Gen. 16.
2Ki 1:17a Jehoram cf. 2 Kings 3:1; 8:16
2Ki 2:11 Elijah
Elijah is a type of the Old Testament age with the Old Testament economy, and Elisha is a type of the New Testament age with the New Testament economy. The age was changed by passing through four places—Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the river Jordan (vv. 1-8). Gilgal was a place where God’s people were circumcised to deal with their flesh (Josh. 5:2-9); Bethel is the place to give up the world and turn to God absolutely, taking God as everything (Gen. 12:8); Jericho, the first city that Joshua and the people of Israel had to defeat when they entered into the good land, signifies the head of God’s enemy, Satan (Josh. 6:1-27); and the river Jordan, where the New Testament baptism began, signifies death (Matt. 3:5-6 and note 62). To cross the river Jordan, Elijah struck the water with his mantle, which typifies the outpoured Spirit, the Spirit of power (v. 8). The Spirit of power dealt with the river of death so that the way was opened for Elijah and Elisha to cross over. All this signifies that in order for the age to be changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament in our experience, we must deal with our flesh (Gal. 5:24), give up the world and turn to God (1 John 2:15-17), defeat Satan (Rev. 12:11), and pass through death (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 2:20).
2Ki 2:81a mantle 1 Kings 19:19
Elijah’s mantle typifies the outpoured Spirit, the Spirit of power (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). In order to receive the mantle of Elijah, the Spirit of power, we must follow the Lord from Gilgal to Bethel, from Bethel to Jericho, and from Jericho to the Jordan (see note 11). Furthermore, we must “tear our clothes into two pieces” (v. 12), indicating that we no longer treasure what we are or what we can do (cf. Matt. 16:24). Through all these steps we enter into a new age, the age of the New Testament, where Christ is doing gracious things.
2Ki 2:8b parted cf. Exo. 14:21; Isa. 63:12; Josh. 3:17
2Ki 2:11a chariot 2 Kings 6:17
2Ki 2:11b Elijah Matt. 17:3
2Ki 2:111c went Rev. 11:12; Acts 1:9
Elijah’s rapture typified the termination of the Old Testament age in God’s economy. However, Elijah himself was not terminated. He was taken up into heaven to await the next age, in which he will see Elisha (Christ) doing many gracious and sweet things. The Scriptures say that Elijah will come back again (Mal. 4:5; Luke 1:17; Matt. 11:14; 17:10-13; cf. 17:3-4; Rev. 11:3-12). At the end of the New Testament age Elijah will return to be one of the two witnesses during the three and a half years of the great tribulation (see notes on Rev. 11:3-12).
2Ki 2:13a mantle 1 Kings 19:19
2Ki 2:151 spirit
[ par. 1 2 ]
2Ki 2:151 [1] Although Elisha received the spirit of Elijah, the Spirit, who at Elijah’s time performed great miracles such as shutting up the heavens, opening up the heavens, and calling down fire from heaven (1 Kings 17:1; 18:37-38, 41-45; 2 Kings 1:9-12), acted in a different way through Elisha. Elisha behaved in a way which was very similar to that of the Lord Jesus in the Gospels, doing many gracious and sweet things (vv. 19-22; 4:1—6:7).
2Ki 2:151 [2] Elijah was a type of John the Baptist in convicting people unto death (Luke 1:17; Matt. 11:11, 14; 3:1-2, 6-11a). John the Baptist, who came before Christ, ushered in Christ, as typified by Elijah’s ushering in Elisha, who was a type of Christ (Luke 4:27) in doing miracles of grace in life. Elisha was a type in the Old Testament who represented God’s New Testament economy in grace. Grace is God doing everything for us by giving Himself to us as our enjoyment (John 1:1, 14-17). This grace issues in the divine life, which is rich and high, even unto making us co-kings with Christ (Rom. 5:17).
2Ki 2:16a Spirit 1 Kings 18:12; Acts 8:39
2Ki 2:211 healed
Jericho (v. 4) signifies Satan, with whom is the might of death (Heb. 2:14). The significance of the miracle performed by Elisha in healing the water at Jericho and of the miracle performed by the Lord Jesus in changing water into wine (John 2:3-11) is the same—the changing of death into life.
2Ki 2:23a Go cf. 2 Kings 2:11
2Ki 2:241 cursed
Elisha’s cursing of the mocking boys was the same in principle as what the Lord Jesus did in pronouncing eight woes on the scribes and Pharisees in Matt. 23:13-36.
2Ki 3:1a Jehoram 2 Kings 8:16; cf. 2 Kings 1:17
2Ki 3:2a Baal 1 Kings 16:31-32
2Ki 3:31 sins
Jehoram followed the one who was the founder of division and idol worship in Israel. See 1 Kings 12:27-32 and notes.
2Ki 3:3a sin 1 Kings 12:30; 14:16
2Ki 3:32 them
Lit., it.
2Ki 3:4a tribute 2 Sam. 8:2
2Ki 3:5a died 2 Kings 1:1
2Ki 3:11a prophet 1 Kings 22:7
2Ki 3:11b pour 1 Kings 19:21
2Ki 3:13a prophets cf. 1 Kings 18:19; 22:6
2Ki 3:14a Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 17:3-9
2Ki 3:15a musician 1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Chron. 25:1; cf. 1 Sam. 16:23
2Ki 3:15b hand 1 Kings 18:46; Ezek. 1:3; 3:14, 22; 8:1; 37:1; 40:1; Acts 11:21
2Ki 3:17a water Psa. 107:35; Isa. 41:18; 43:19-20
2Ki 3:20a morning cf. Exo. 29:39-40
2Ki 4:1a children Neh. 5:5; Matt. 18:25
2Ki 4:61 filled
Elisha’s calling things not being as being in vv. 1-7, 8-17, and 42-44 (cf. Rom. 4:17b) was the same thing in principle that the Lord Jesus did when He fed the multitudes in Matt. 14:14-21 and 15:32-39.
2Ki 4:91 man
As the man of God, Elisha behaved himself as God’s representative, as the acting God, on the earth (cf. note 352 in 1 Sam. 2). The New Testament believers should be the same (cf. notes 91 in Acts 28 and 111 in 1 Tim. 6).
2Ki 4:12a Gehazi 2 Kings 5:20-21, 25; 8:4-5
2Ki 4:16a next Gen. 17:21; 18:14
2Ki 4:25a Carmel 1 Kings 18:19-20; 2 Kings 2:25
2Ki 4:29a Gird Exo. 12:11; 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 9:1; Jer. 1:17; Luke 12:35
2Ki 4:29c lay cf. Acts 19:12
2Ki 4:33a shut 2 Kings 4:4; Matt. 6:6
2Ki 4:34a lay 1 Kings 17:21; Acts 20:10
2Ki 4:351 opened
Elisha’s resurrecting the dead from death, giving life to the dead (vv. 18-37), is the same as what the Lord Jesus did, both physically and spiritually (Luke 7:11-17; John 11:41-44; 5:25).
2Ki 4:37a son cf. 1 Kings 17:23; 2 Kings 8:1, 5; Heb. 11:35
2Ki 4:38a famine 2 Kings 8:1
2Ki 4:411 flour
Elisha’s nullifying the poison of the wild gourds with flour is the same in principle as the Lord Jesus’ healing His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees with Himself as the fine flour (Matt. 16:6-12).
2Ki 4:42a Give cf. Matt. 14:16-21; 15:32-38; Mark 6:37-44; 8:4-9; Luke 9:13-17; John 6:5-13
2Ki 5:5a ten cf. 2 Kings 5:22-23
2Ki 5:7a give Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6
2Ki 5:8a man Deut. 33:1; Judg. 13:6; 1 Sam. 2:27; 1 Kings 13:1
2Ki 5:121 Abana
Some MSS read, Amana.
2Ki 5:141 restored
The Lord Jesus also healed lepers in His ministry (Matt. 8:1-3; Luke 17:11-19). See note 262 in Luke 4.
2Ki 5:14b clean Luke 4:27; Mark 1:42
2Ki 5:15a God cf. Dan. 2:47; 6:26-27
2Ki 5:16a receive cf. Gen. 14:23
2Ki 5:27a leper Exo. 4:6; Num. 12:10; 2 Kings 15:5
2Ki 6:61 float
Elisha’s causing an ax head that had fallen into the water to float by means of a wooden stick signifies Christ’s recovering through His cross in resurrection the lost power of sinners that had fallen into the death water (Eph. 2:1-6).
2Ki 6:101 So
Others translate, So Elisha alerted him.
2Ki 6:102 the
Lit., it.
2Ki 6:12a tells cf. Jer. 23:23-24; Dan. 2:22
2Ki 6:16a more 2 Chron. 32:7
2Ki 6:17a horses 2 Kings 2:11; cf. Psa. 68:17; Zech. 1:8-10; 6:1-7
2Ki 6:181 Syrians
Lit., they.
2Ki 6:22a eat Prov. 25:21; Rom. 12:20; Matt. 5:44
2Ki 6:231 feast
The matter of preparing a feast for the enemies portrays the virtues of the Christian life according to the New Testament ministry (Rom. 12:20-21).
2Ki 6:24a besieged 1 Kings 20:1
2Ki 6:251 kab
A measure of capacity equal to approximately one pint.
2Ki 6:29a son Lev. 26:29; Deut. 28:53, 55, 57; Ezek. 5:10
2Ki 6:32a elders Ezek. 8:1; 14:1; 20:1
2Ki 6:331 king
Others read, messenger.
2Ki 7:11 seah
Equal to a third of an ephah, or about six or seven dry quarts.
2Ki 7:2a windows Gen. 7:11; Mal. 3:10
2Ki 7:3a leprous cf. Lev. 13:45-46; Luke 4:27
2Ki 7:6a sound cf. 2 Sam. 5:24; 2 Kings 19:7; Job 15:21
2Ki 7:131 the
Lit., her.
2Ki 7:16a seah 2 Kings 7:1, 18
2Ki 7:19a Even 2 Kings 7:2
2Ki 8:1a woman 2 Kings 4:32-37
2Ki 8:1b famine 2 Sam. 24:13; 1 Chron. 21:12; Psa. 105:16
2Ki 8:1c seven cf. Gen. 41:27
2Ki 8:4a Gehazi 2 Kings 4:12
2Ki 8:7a Ben-hadad 1 Kings 20:1; 2 Kings 6:24
2Ki 8:8a Hazael 1 Kings 19:15, 17
2Ki 8:8b sickness cf. 2 Kings 1:2
2Ki 8:101 Go
Some MSS read, Go and say, You shall certainly not recover.
2Ki 8:12a children cf. 2 Kings 10:32; 13:3, 7, 22
2Ki 8:13a Syria cf. 1 Kings 19:15
2Ki 8:16a Joram 2 Kings 3:1; cf. 2 Kings 1:17
2Ki 8:17a He vv. 17-22: 2 Chron. 21:5-10
2Ki 8:191 David
I.e., because of Christ, who was to be incarnated as one of David’s descendants (Matt. 1:1; Rom. 1:3). See note 71 in Matt. 1.
2Ki 8:19a lamp 2 Sam. 21:17; 1 Kings 11:36; 15:4
2Ki 8:20a Edom 2 Kings 3:9; cf. 1 Kings 22:47; Gen. 27:40
2Ki 8:211 Joram
A spelling variant of Jehoram in v. 16 (cf. 2 Chron. 21:9). He is the king of Judah.
2Ki 8:24a city cf. 2 Chron. 21:20
2Ki 8:25a Ahaziah vv. 25-29: 2 Chron. 22:1-6
2Ki 8:261 daughter
I.e., granddaughter.
2Ki 8:28a struck 2 Kings 9:15
2Ki 8:29a Jezreel 2 Kings 9:16
2Ki 9:1a Gird 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 4:29; Jer. 1:17; Luke 12:35
2Ki 9:1b oil 1 Sam. 10:1
2Ki 9:2a Jehu 1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 9:14, 20
2Ki 9:3a anointed cf. 1 Kings 19:16; 2 Chron. 22:7
2Ki 9:7a blood 1 Kings 18:4
2Ki 9:71b Jezebel 1 Kings 21:5-15; Rev. 2:20; 6:10
See notes on Rev. 2:20.
2Ki 9:8a Ahab 2 Kings 10:17
2Ki 9:9a house 1 Kings 14:10; 15:29; 16:3; 21:22
2Ki 9:9b Baasha 1 Kings 16:11; 21:22
2Ki 9:10a eat 1 Kings 21:23; 2 Kings 9:35-36
2Ki 9:11a mad Jer. 29:26; Hosea 9:7; cf. Acts 26:24
2Ki 9:13a garment Matt. 21:7-8; Mark 11:7-8
2Ki 9:13b trumpet 2 Sam. 15:10; 1 Kings 1:34
2Ki 9:141 Joram
A spelling variant of Jehoram in v. 15. He is the king of Israel.
2Ki 9:14a Ramoth-gilead 1 Kings 22:3; 2 Kings 8:28
2Ki 9:14b Hazael 1 Kings 19:17
2Ki 9:15a wounds 2 Kings 8:29; 2 Chron. 22:6
2Ki 9:16a Ahaziah 2 Kings 8:28-29; 2 Chron. 22:6-7
2Ki 9:21a Jehoram 2 Chron. 22:7
2Ki 9:21b Naboth 1 Kings 21:1
2Ki 9:231 reins
Lit., his hands.
2Ki 9:26a blood 1 Kings 21:19; 22:38
2Ki 9:27a Ahaziah 2 Chron. 22:9
2Ki 9:29a Ahaziah 2 Kings 8:24-26
2Ki 9:31a Zimri 1 Kings 16:9-20
2Ki 9:311 your
Lit., his.
2Ki 9:361 In
The pitiful ending of Jezebel foreshadows the ending of the great harlot, the apostate Roman Catholic Church (Rev. 17:16-17 and notes).
2Ki 10:11 guardians
Or, nursing fathers; as in Num. 11:12. So also in v. 5.
2Ki 10:7a sons cf. 1 Kings 21:29
2Ki 10:9a conspired 2 Kings 9:14
2Ki 10:10a spoke cf. 1 Kings 21:17-21
2Ki 10:10b fall cf. 1 Sam. 3:19
2Ki 10:121 shepherds’
Or, Beth-eked of the shepherds.
2Ki 10:141 meeting
Or, Beth-eked.
2Ki 10:15a Jehonadab Jer. 35:6-10, 14, 16, 18
2Ki 10:16a zeal 1 Kings 19:10, 14
2Ki 10:17a Ahab 2 Kings 9:8; 2 Chron. 22:8
2Ki 10:19a prophets 1 Kings 18:19; 22:6
2Ki 10:21a house 1 Kings 16:32; 2 Kings 11:18
2Ki 10:251 inner
Lit., city.
2Ki 10:291 by
Or, who caused Israel to sin. So also in v. 31.
2Ki 10:29a sin 1 Kings 12:30; 14:16
2Ki 10:292 golden
See note 281 in 1 Kings 12.
2Ki 10:301 Because
This indicates that to enjoy the good land we must be right. How much we enjoy Christ as our good land depends on what we are and how right we are according to God’s heart.
2Ki 10:30a fourth 2 Kings 15:12
2Ki 10:32a cut cf. 1 Kings 11:30-31
2Ki 10:32b Hazael cf. 1 Kings 19:17; 2 Kings 8:12
2Ki 10:33a Gilead Amos 1:3, 13
2Ki 11:1a Now vv. 1-3: 2 Chron. 22:10-12
2Ki 11:1b Athaliah 2 Kings 8:26; 2 Chron. 24:7
2Ki 11:2a Joash 2 Kings 11:21; 12:1
2Ki 11:21 she
Following 2 Chron. 22:11; the Hebrew text lacks she put.
2Ki 11:4a Then vv. 4-20: 2 Chron. 23:1-21
2Ki 11:10a shields 2 Sam. 8:7; 1 Chron. 18:7
2Ki 11:14a pillar 2 Kings 23:3
2Ki 11:17a covenant cf. Josh. 24:25; 2 Sam. 5:3
2Ki 11:18a house 2 Kings 10:21, 23, 26
2Ki 11:191 Jehoiada
Lit., he.
2Ki 11:211a Jehoash 11:21–12:16: 2 Chron. 24:1-14
A spelling variant of Joash.
2Ki 12:31 high
See note 312 in 1 Kings 12.
2Ki 12:3a not 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 14:4; cf. 2 Kings 18:4
2Ki 12:4a money 2 Kings 22:4; cf. Lev. 27:2-8
2Ki 12:9a put Mark 12:41; Luke 21:1
2Ki 12:10a count cf. 2 Kings 22:4
2Ki 12:11a did 2 Kings 22:5-6
2Ki 12:16a trespass Lev. 5:15-19
2Ki 12:16b priests’ Lev. 7:7-9
2Ki 12:17a At vv. 17-18: 2 Chron. 24:23-24
2Ki 12:17b Hazael 1 Kings 19:17; 2 Kings 8:12
2Ki 12:18a house 1 Kings 15:18; 2 Kings 16:8; 18:15-16; cf. 1 Kings 14:26; 2 Kings 14:14
2Ki 12:20a And vv. 20-21: 2 Chron. 24:25-27
2Ki 12:21a struck 2 Kings 14:5
2Ki 13:21 by
Or, who caused Israel to sin. So also in vv. 6 and 11.
2Ki 13:3a Hazael 1 Kings 19:17; 2 Kings 8:12
2Ki 13:3b Ben-hadad 2 Kings 13:24-25
2Ki 13:4a saw 2 Kings 14:26; Exo. 3:7
2Ki 13:61 Asherah
The image of a female deity.
2Ki 13:101 Joash
A spelling variant of Jehoash, found in ch. 12. He was the king of Judah.
2Ki 13:102 Jehoash
A spelling variant of Joash (cf. vv. 12-13).
2Ki 13:12a And vv. 12-13: 2 Kings 14:15-16
2Ki 13:12b Amaziah 2 Kings 14:8-14
2Ki 13:141 ill
Elisha performed miracles of divine healing for others, but, in the will of God, he himself was not healed by a miracle (cf. note 202 in 2 Tim. 4).
2Ki 13:14a chariots 2 Kings 2:12
2Ki 13:171 victory
Or, salvation; deliverance.
2Ki 13:19a three 2 Kings 13:25
2Ki 13:211 touched
Elisha was deceased in his body yet still ministered in the spirit to enliven one of the dead. Even the dead Elisha could enliven people. This is a picture of Christ in resurrection. Whoever touches Him is enlivened. Regeneration involves a spiritually dead person touching the dead and resurrected Christ and being enlivened (cf. John 5:25; Eph. 2:1-6a).
2Ki 13:21a came Isa. 26:19; cf. 2 Kings 4:35
2Ki 13:23a covenant Exo. 2:24-25; cf. Exo. 32:13
2Ki 13:25a Ben-hadad cf. Amos 1:4
2Ki 13:25b three 2 Kings 13:18-19
2Ki 13:25c recovered 2 Kings 14:25, 28
2Ki 14:1a In vv. 1-6: 2 Chron. 25:1-4
2Ki 14:11 Joahaz
A spelling variant of Jehoahaz.
2Ki 14:1b Amaziah 2 Kings 12:21
2Ki 14:4a not 2 Kings 12:3; 15:4
2Ki 14:5a struck 2 Kings 12:20-21
2Ki 14:6a Fathers Deut. 24:16; cf. Jer. 31:29, 30; Ezek. 18:4, 20
2Ki 14:8a Then vv. 8-14: 2 Chron. 25:17-24
2Ki 14:9a saying cf. Judg. 9:7-15
2Ki 14:10a lifted Deut. 8:14; 2 Chron. 26:16; 32:25; cf. Ezek. 28:2, 5, 17
2Ki 14:13a gate Neh. 8:16; 12:39
2Ki 14:13b Corner 2 Chron. 26:9; Jer. 31:38; Zech. 14:10
2Ki 14:14a house 1 Kings 14:26; cf. 2 Kings 12:18
2Ki 14:15a And vv. 15-16: 2 Kings 13:12-13
2Ki 14:17a And vv. 17-22: 2 Chron. 25:25–26:2
2Ki 14:211 Azariah
Called Uzziah in 2 Chron. 26 (cf. 2 Kings 15:13).
2Ki 14:241 by
Or, who caused Israel to sin.
2Ki 14:25a restored 2 Kings 13:25; 14:28
2Ki 14:251 sea
I.e., the Dead Sea.
2Ki 14:25b Jonah Jonah 1:1; cf. Matt. 12:39-40
2Ki 14:26a saw Exo. 3:7; 2 Kings 13:4
2Ki 14:28a Damascus cf. 2 Sam. 8:6; 1 Kings 11:24; 1 Chron. 18:5-6; 2 Chron. 8:3-4
2Ki 15:11a Azariah 2 Chron. 26:1
Called Uzziah in 2 Chron. 26. Cf. note 131 in this chapter.
2Ki 15:2a He vv. 2-3: 2 Chron. 26:3-4
2Ki 15:4a not 2 Kings 14:4; 15:35
2Ki 15:5a And vv. 5-7: 2 Chron. 26:21-23
2Ki 15:51 leper
This was because of Azariah’s overstepping in not keeping God’s ordinance, which said that only the priests ordained by God could participate in the priestly service (2 Chron. 26:16-21).
2Ki 15:5b separate cf. Lev. 13:46
2Ki 15:91 by
Or, who caused Israel to sin. So also in vv. 18, 24, and 28.
2Ki 15:10a struck cf. 2 Kings 12:20; 15:25, 30
2Ki 15:12a fourth 2 Kings 10:30
2Ki 15:131 Uzziah
I.e., Azariah of vv. 1-7. So also in vv. 30, 32, and 34.
2Ki 15:14a Tirzah 1 Kings 16:23, 24
2Ki 15:29a Tiglath-pileser 2 Kings 16:7; 1 Chron. 5:6, 26; 2 Chron. 28:20
2Ki 15:29b Naphtali Isa. 9:1; 2 Chron. 16:4
2Ki 15:30a Hoshea cf. 2 Kings 17:1; 18:1
2Ki 15:32a In vv. 32-35: 2 Chron. 27:1-3
2Ki 15:35a not 2 Kings 15:4; cf. 2 Kings 18:4
2Ki 15:37a Rezin 2 Kings 16:5; Isa. 7:1
2Ki 16:1a In vv. 1-4: 2 Chron. 28:1-4
2Ki 16:3a fire Lev. 18:21; cf. Psa. 106:37-38
2Ki 16:3b abominations Deut. 12:31; 18:9; 2 Kings 21:2
2Ki 16:4a tree Deut. 12:2; 1 Kings 14:23
2Ki 16:5a Rezin 2 Kings 15:37; Isa. 7:1
2Ki 16:7a Tiglath-pileser 1 Kings 15:29
2Ki 16:8a house 2 Kings 12:18; 18:15-16; 2 Chron. 28:21
2Ki 16:10a Urijah Isa. 8:2
2Ki 16:12a offered cf. 2 Chron. 26:16-19
2Ki 16:14a altar 2 Chron. 4:1
2Ki 16:15a morning Exo. 29:39-41
2Ki 16:17a bases 1 Kings 7:27-28, 38
2Ki 16:17c oxen 1 Kings 7:25
2Ki 16:19a And vv. 19-20: 2 Chron. 28:26-27
2Ki 17:1a Hoshea cf. 2 Kings 15:30; 18:1
2Ki 17:3a Shalmaneser vv. 3-7: cf. 2 Kings 18:9-12
2Ki 17:61 took
God’s judgment on the northern kingdom of Israel through the Assyrians should have been a warning to the southern kingdom of Judah, but the people continued in their evil ways more than ever (v. 19), forcing God to take action and to judge them through the Babylonians (chs. 24—25).
2Ki 17:6a Samaria cf. Hosea 13:16
2Ki 17:6b Halah cf. 1 Chron. 5:26
2Ki 17:7a out Exo. 20:2; Lev. 25:38; 2 Kings 17:36
2Ki 17:12a idols Exo. 20:4
2Ki 17:131a prophets Neh. 9:30; 1 Sam. 9:9
In His love God sent the prophets to the people of Israel to testify to them against their evils, sins, and wickednesses and to help them return to God, but instead of hearing the prophets, the people stiffened their necks (vv. 13-14).
2Ki 17:14a necks Deut. 9:6; 31:27; 2 Chron. 30:8; Acts 7:51
2Ki 17:15a covenant Deut. 29:25
2Ki 17:15b vanity Deut. 32:21; 1 Kings 16:13
2Ki 17:15c vain Jer. 2:5; Rom. 1:21
2Ki 17:16a calves 1 Kings 12:28; cf. Exo. 32:4
2Ki 17:16b Asherah 1 Kings 15:13; 16:33; 2 Kings 13:6
2Ki 17:16c host Deut. 4:19; 2 Kings 21:3; 23:5; Jer. 8:2
2Ki 17:16d Baal 1 Kings 16:31; 22:53
2Ki 17:17a fire Lev. 18:21; 2 Kings 16:3; 17:31; Ezek. 23:37
2Ki 17:17b sold 1 Kings 21:20, 25
2Ki 17:18a tribe cf. 1 Kings 11:13, 32; 12:20
2Ki 17:19a walked 2 Kings 8:18; 17:8
2Ki 17:20a delivered Judg. 2:14; 2 Kings 13:3
2Ki 17:21a tore 1 Kings 11:11, 31
2Ki 17:21b king 1 Kings 12:20
2Ki 17:211c sin 1 Kings 12:30; 13:34; 14:16
See 1 Kings 12:27-32 and notes.
2Ki 17:23a Assyria 2 Kings 17:6
2Ki 17:24a Assyria Ezra 4:2
2Ki 17:241b Samaria Matt. 10:5
Eventually, the heathens brought in by the king of Assyria intermarried with the Jews who remained in Israel. As a result, a confused and mixed worship was produced, such as that referred to by the Samaritan woman in John 4:20. This confusion and mixture may be regarded as a type of the kind of worship, found especially in Catholicism, that is a mixture of the worship of God with heathen practices and the pagan worship of idols.
2Ki 17:271 him
Lit., them.
2Ki 17:28a Bethel 1 Kings 12:29
2Ki 17:33a feared cf. Zeph. 1:5; John 4:22
2Ki 17:34a Israel Gen. 32:28; 35:10; 1 Kings 18:31
2Ki 17:36a brought Exo. 6:6; Deut. 4:34; 26:8; Jer. 32:21
2Ki 17:41a feared John 4:22
2Ki 18:1a And vv. 1-3: 2 Chron. 29:1-2
2Ki 18:1b Hoshea cf. 2 Kings 15:30; 17:1
2Ki 18:4a removed 2 Kings 23:8; 2 Chron. 14:3; 17:6; 31:1
2Ki 18:41 Nehushtan
Meaning a piece of bronze. Moses, according to God’s instructions, had made that bronze serpent in order to rescue the people from death (Num. 21:8-9). However, in their superstition the people eventually regarded the bronze serpent as an idol, and for this reason Hezekiah broke it in pieces.
2Ki 18:5a no cf. 2 Kings 23:25
2Ki 18:9a And vv. 9-12: cf. 2 Kings 17:3-7
2Ki 18:131a And vv. 13-37: Isa. 36:1-22; 2 Chron. 32:1-16
For 18:13—20:19, see notes in Isa. 36:1—39:8.
2Ki 18:15a house cf. 2 Kings 12:18; 16:8
2Ki 18:18a Eliakim 2 Kings 18:37; 19:2; Isa. 22:20
2Ki 18:18b Shebnah Isa. 22:15
2Ki 18:21a Egypt cf. Ezek. 29:6-7; Isa. 30:2-3
2Ki 18:261a Aramaic Ezra 4:7; Dan. 2:4
The language of Syria.
2Ki 18:262 Jews’
I.e., Hebrew.
2Ki 18:291 my
Many MSS read, his.
2Ki 18:311 your
Lit., a blessing.
2Ki 18:31a vine 1 Kings 4:25
2Ki 18:32a land Exo. 3:8; Deut. 8:7-8
2Ki 18:33a Have vv. 33-34: cf. 2 Kings 19:12-13
2Ki 18:37a Eliakim 2 Kings 18:18, 26; 19:2; Isa. 22:20
2Ki 19:1a And vv. 1-37: Isa. 37:1-38; 2 Chron. 32:17-23
2Ki 19:1b sackcloth 2 Sam. 3:31; 1 Kings 20:31; Joel 1:13; Rev. 11:3
2Ki 19:21a Isaiah Isa. 1:1
The link between the Old Testament books of history and the New Testament is God’s economy, which is for Christ and His Body, the church. This link is shown in the kings’ history, which includes the prophets, who, as God’s overcomers, prophesied concerning God’s New Testament economy. Again and again the prophets came in either to help the kings or to deal with them, as illustrated here by Isaiah’s helping Hezekiah (cf. 2 Sam. 7:1-17; 12:1-15a; 1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 3). The prophecies in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 indicate that God would put humanity upon Himself, mingling His divinity with humanity, and the prophecy in Isaiah 53 unveils that in His humanity the God who had become man would be man’s Redeemer who would be slain for man’s sin. Thus, in typology the history of the kings is linked through the prophecies of the prophets to God’s becoming a man to redeem man back to Himself that He might make His redeemed people the same as God in life and in nature but not in the Godhead so that God can consummate His economy in the Body of Christ as the enlargement of Christ. This Body of Christ will consummate in the New Jerusalem as God’s universal, corporate expression and enlargement for eternity.
2Ki 19:4a remnant cf. Isa. 1:9
2Ki 19:7a sword 2 Kings 19:37
2Ki 19:8a Lachish 2 Kings 18:14
2Ki 19:12a Have cf. 2 Kings 18:33-34
2Ki 19:15a cherubim Exo. 25:22
2Ki 19:15b God cf. Rev. 1:5
2Ki 19:18a work Psa. 115:4; Isa. 44:10-17; Jer. 10:3-5; Acts 19:26
2Ki 19:21a Zion Lam. 2:13
2Ki 19:241 Egypt
Some versions translate, besieged places.
2Ki 19:25a did Isa. 8:6-8; 10:5-6
2Ki 19:26a grass Psa. 129:6
2Ki 19:27a know Psa. 139:2
2Ki 19:28a hook Job 41:2; Ezek. 29:4; 38:4; Amos 4:2
2Ki 19:29a year cf. Lev. 25:22
2Ki 19:30a remnant Isa. 1:9; 10:20-22
2Ki 19:30b root Isa. 27:6; Hosea 14:5
2Ki 19:31a zeal Isa. 9:7
2Ki 19:311 of
Some MSS omit, of hosts.
2Ki 19:34a enclosure 2 Kings 20:6; Isa. 31:5
2Ki 19:34b servant 1 Kings 11:13
2Ki 19:35a angel 2 Chron. 32:21-22; 2 Sam. 24:17; Acts 12:23
2Ki 19:371 his
Some MSS omit, his sons.
2Ki 20:1a In vv. 1-11: Isa. 38:1-8; 2 Chron. 32:24
2Ki 20:1b Put cf. 2 Sam. 17:23
2Ki 20:41 court
Lit., city.
2Ki 20:5a heard 2 Kings 19:20; Psa. 65:2; cf. James 5:16
2Ki 20:5b tears Psa. 39:12; 56:8
2Ki 20:6a enclosure 2 Kings 19:34
2Ki 20:8a sign 2 Chron. 32:24; cf. Matt. 16:1; 1 Cor. 1:22
2Ki 20:11a steps cf. Josh. 10:12-13
2Ki 20:12a At vv. 12-19: Isa. 39:1-8
2Ki 20:121 Berodach-baladan
Some MSS and the parallel in Isa. 39:1 read, Merodach-baladan.
2Ki 20:13a them 2 Chron. 32:31
2Ki 20:13b treasury 2 Chron. 32:27
2Ki 20:17a Babylon 2 Kings 25:13; 2 Chron. 36:18; Jer. 20:5; 27:22
2Ki 20:18a take 2 Kings 24:15; 2 Chron. 33:11; 36:20
2Ki 20:20a And 2 Chron. 32:25-32
2Ki 21:1a Manasseh vv. 1-9: 2 Chron. 33:1-9
2Ki 21:3a high 2 Kings 18:4
2Ki 21:3b Ahab cf. 1 Kings 16:32-33
2Ki 21:4a My Deut. 12:11; 1 Kings 8:16, 29; 9:3; 2 Kings 23:27; Jer. 7:30; 32:34
2Ki 21:5a courts 1 Kings 7:12; 2 Kings 23:12
2Ki 21:8a wander 2 Sam. 7:10
2Ki 21:111a Manasseh 2 Kings 21:2, 16; 23:26; 24:3; Jer. 15:4
It was Manasseh’s sin in particular that caused God to determine not to tolerate the people any longer but to destroy the temple, devastate the Holy Land, and send the people away into captivity. With the reign of Manasseh God’s toleration reached its limit, and He gave up the holy people, the holy temple, the holy city, and the Holy Land.
2Ki 21:11b Amorites 1 Kings 21:26
2Ki 21:12a ears 1 Sam. 3:11; Jer. 19:3
2Ki 21:13a line Isa. 28:17; Lam. 2:8; Amos 7:7-8
2Ki 21:17a And 2 Chron. 33:10-19
2Ki 21:19a Amon vv. 19-24: 2 Chron. 33:21-25
2Ki 22:1a Josiah vv. 1-2: 2 Chron. 34:1-2
2Ki 22:3a In vv. 3-20: 2 Chron. 34:8-28
2Ki 22:4a money 2 Kings 12:4, 9-10
2Ki 22:7a accounting 2 Kings 12:15
2Ki 22:8a book Deut. 31:24-26; 2 Kings 23:24
2Ki 22:13a anger Deut. 29:27; 2 Chron. 28:25
2Ki 22:19a desolation Lev. 26:31-32; Jer. 9:11
2Ki 23:1a Then vv. 1-3: 2 Chron. 34:29-32
2Ki 23:2a read Deut. 31:11
2Ki 23:2b book cf. 2 Kings 22:8; Deut. 31:26
2Ki 23:3a covenant 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chron. 15:12
2Ki 23:4a Baal 2 Kings 17:16; 21:3
2Ki 23:5a Baal 1 Kings 16:31-32
2Ki 23:71 hangings
Or, tents; lit., houses.
2Ki 23:8a broke 2 Kings 18:4; 2 Chron. 14:3; 17:6
2Ki 23:10a Topheth Isa. 30:33; Jer. 7:31-32; 19:6, 11-14
2Ki 23:101 valley
Gehenna of the New Testament (see note 228 in Matt. 5).
2Ki 23:12a courts 2 Kings 21:5
2Ki 23:151a altar 1 Kings 12:33
What Josiah did in vv. 15-16 concerning the altar, the high place, that Jeroboam the son of Nebat built was a fulfillment of the prophecy by the man of God in 1 Kings 13:1-3.
2Ki 23:15b caused 1 Kings 14:16
2Ki 23:16a bones 1 Kings 13:2; cf. Matt. 23:27
2Ki 23:18a bones 1 Kings 13:31
2Ki 23:21a Passover cf. Exo. 12:3-11; Lev. 23:5-8; Num. 9:2-4; Deut. 16:2-8; 2 Chron. 35:1-17; cf. 2 Chron. 30:1-2
2Ki 23:22a no vv. 22-23: 2 Chron. 35:18-19
2Ki 23:24a mediums Lev. 19:31; 20:27; Deut. 18:11; 2 Kings 21:6
2Ki 23:24b book 2 Kings 22:8
2Ki 23:261 Jehovah
Because of all that Manasseh did to provoke God (21:1-18), even Josiah’s goodness could not rescue Judah out of God’s destroying hand.
2Ki 23:26a Manasseh 2 Kings 21:11; 24:3; Jer. 15:4
2Ki 23:27a remove 2 Kings 24:3, 20; cf. 2 Kings 17:18, 20
2Ki 23:29a In vv. 29-30a: 2 Chron. 35:20-24
2Ki 23:29b Pharaoh Jer. 46:2
2Ki 23:291 Pharaoh
Lit., he.
2Ki 23:30a And vv. 30b-34: 2 Chron. 36:1-4
2Ki 23:33a Riblah 2 Kings 25:6, 20-21; Jer. 39:5-6; 52:9-10, 26-27
2Ki 23:34a changed cf. 2 Kings 24:17; Dan. 1:7
2Ki 23:34b died cf. Jer. 22:11-12
2Ki 23:36a Jehoiakim vv. 36-37: 2 Chron. 36:5
2Ki 24:1a Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chron. 36:6; Jer. 25:1, 9; 35:11; Dan. 1:1
2Ki 24:2a Chaldeans 2 Kings 25:4; Jer. 32:28-29; 35:11
2Ki 24:3a remove 2 Kings 23:27; 24:20; cf. 2 Kings 17:18, 20
2Ki 24:4a innocent 2 Kings 21:16
2Ki 24:5a And vv. 5-6: 2 Chron. 36:8
2Ki 24:6a Jehoiakim Jer. 22:18-19; 36:30
2Ki 24:6b Jehoiachin cf. Esth. 2:6
2Ki 24:7a Babylon Jer. 46:2, 13, 26
2Ki 24:8a Jehoiachin vv. 8-9: cf. 2 Chron. 36:9
2Ki 24:8b Nehushta Jer. 13:18; 29:2
2Ki 24:10a Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 1:1
2Ki 24:121 his
I.e., Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.
2Ki 24:13a vessels 2 Chron. 36:7, 10; Ezra 1:7; Dan. 1:2; 5:2-3
2Ki 24:15a Jehoiachin 2 Chron. 36:10; Matt. 1:11
2Ki 24:15b carried Esth. 2:6
2Ki 24:171 Jehoiachin’s
Lit., his.
2Ki 24:17a Zedekiah Jer. 37:1; cf. 2 Chron. 36:10
2Ki 24:181a Zedekiah vv. 18-20: 2 Chron. 36:11-13; Jer. 52:1-3
[ par. 1 2 3 4 ]
2Ki 24:181 [1] There were altogether forty-one kings in the history of Israel. The first three, Saul, David, and Solomon, reigned over the entire people of Israel. Nineteen kings, from Rehoboam to Zedekiah (not counting the illegitimate reign of Athaliah—11:1-16), reigned over Judah in the south, and nineteen, from Jeroboam to Hoshea, reigned over Israel in the north. Among these forty-one kings, nine, including David, were comparatively good in the eyes of God. Thirty, including Saul, were evil in the sight of God. Two, Solomon and Jehu, were partly good and partly evil.
2Ki 24:181 [2] The root of the evil of the evil kings, like that of the evil of the people of Israel, was their forsaking the very God as the fountain of living waters and their turning away to the pagan idols as broken cisterns that hold no water (Jer. 2:13). These two evils drowned them in the death waters of idolatry, of the indulgence of lusts, and of injustice in shedding the blood of the innocent. Their evils offended their God to such an extent that He would not turn His anger from them but cast them off, first into the hands of the Assyrians (17:6) and then into the hands of the Babylonians (24:10—25:21), who destroyed and burned the holy temple and the holy city, carried away into captivity the holy people to a pagan land of idol worship, and desolated the Holy Land for seventy years (Jer. 25:11). Thus, they, as God’s elect, lost the enjoyment of the God-given good land and, instead of remaining the citizens of God’s kingdom in the Holy Land, became captives in a heathen land.
2Ki 24:181 [3] All the kings should have had a thorough realization that they were to be kings who ruled not for their own interest and prosperity but for God’s eternal economy, that God could have a nation on the earth to keep the land of Immanuel (Isa. 8:8) for Christ’s reign and a people for a genealogy to bring Christ to the earth. For this purpose the kings had to be Nazarites, who take God as their Head, their authority, who submit themselves to Him as His servants, and who abandon all the pleasures (wines) of the world (see note 31 in Num. 6). But all the kings failed God in this, including David, the best one among them (2 Sam. 11). Thus, they did not fulfill God’s purpose for His economy. Rather, they lost their reign in God’s kingdom, which is the top portion of the enjoyment of the good land (the all-inclusive Christ—see note 71 in Deut. 8).
2Ki 24:181 [4] The tragic result of such a pitiful history of the kings among God’s chosen and blessed elect should be a serious warning to us, God’s elect in the New Testament age, and should indicate to us how sober we should be to take heed to the particular points of each case. Just to be one who is according to God’s heart, like David, and just to be partly right and good in the eyes of God, like many honest Christians today, do not qualify us to partake of Christ in full and to enjoy all the rights in Him that we may adequately become the church as the Body of Christ and as the kingdom of God and of Christ. Conformity to Christ’s death by the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:10) is required of us, the New Testament overcomers, that we may die to ourselves, our natural man, and live to God in resurrection. A life of living Christ, magnifying Christ, and moving and acting with Christ by the bountiful supply of the all-inclusive, life-giving Spirit, doing everything in and according to the Spirit (Phil. 1:19-21a; Gal. 5:16, 25; Rom. 8:4), is indispensable for us, God’s New Testament seekers, to be winners in the racecourse of the divine life that we may fully enjoy Christ as the God-given good land in the church age and be gloriously rewarded to partake of Christ, in the fullest sense, in the kingdom age (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 3:12-14).
2Ki 24:20a rebelled Ezek. 17:15, 18
2Ki 25:1a In vv. 1-12: Jer. 39:1-10; 52:4-16
2Ki 25:1b Jerusalem Jer. 34:1-2; Ezek. 24:2
2Ki 25:1c siege Ezek. 21:22; 26:8
2Ki 25:3a famine cf. Lam. 4:9-10
2Ki 25:7a eyes cf. Ezek. 12:13
2Ki 25:9a house 2 Chron. 36:19; cf. Jer. 17:27; Hosea 8:14; Amos 2:5; Psa. 79:1
2Ki 25:10a broke Neh. 1:3
2Ki 25:11a deserted 2 Kings 24:12
2Ki 25:11b carried 2 Chron. 36:20
2Ki 25:12a poorest 2 Kings 24:14; Jer. 40:7
2Ki 25:13a And vv. 13-17: Jer. 52:17-23
2Ki 25:13b pillars 1 Kings 7:15; Jer. 27:19
2Ki 25:13c bases 1 Kings 7:27
2Ki 25:13d sea 1 Kings 7:23; 2 Kings 16:17
2Ki 25:14a vessels cf. Exo. 27:3; 1 Kings 7:45-51
2Ki 25:17a height cf. 1 Kings 7:15-18; 2 Chron. 3:15
2Ki 25:171 pillar
For the details concerning the pillars, see notes in 1 Kings 7:15-22.
2Ki 25:18a And vv. 18-21: Jer. 52:24-27
2Ki 25:211 exile
[ par. 1 2 ]
2Ki 25:211 [1] The children of Israel forsook God and went after idols, so God dispersed them into all the nations; yet, in His eternal love (Jer. 31:3) He would bring them back to their fathers’ land. Although Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and God’s people were carried away into captivity, God still carried out the return from captivity (see Ezra) in order to preserve the fourteen generations of Christ’s genealogy “from the deportation to Babylon until the Christ” (Matt. 1:17). God was gracious to David, Solomon, and the nation of Israel in order to keep the line of Christ’s genealogy that Christ might come into humanity and in order to maintain a people to possess the land of Immanuel (Isa. 8:8), so that Christ could come to establish His kingdom on the earth. Through the return from captivity the good land was recovered, and God carried out His intention to bring Himself in His Trinity into humanity and to set up His spiritual kingdom.
2Ki 25:211 [2] Because of Israel’s failure and God’s judgment, the line of the genealogy of Christ became very thin, but in God’s sovereignty that line was never broken. The royal Davidic family was destroyed, but God kept David’s lineage so that He could come to be a man through incarnation (see notes 162 in Matt. 1 and 233 in Matt. 2). This brought God to humanity and into humanity, and it changed the age in the whole universe, including the heavens.
2Ki 25:22a Gedaliah Jer. 39:14; 40:5
2Ki 25:23a And vv. 23-24: Jer. 40:7-9
2Ki 25:25a Ishmael Jer. 40:14-15
2Ki 25:27a In vv. 27-30: Jer. 52:31-34