2 Kings

by Cohn, Robert L.

• ISBN13: 9780814650547
• ISBN10: 0814650546
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-04-01
• Publisher: Michael Glazier

Summary

Opening with the prophet Elijah's ascent into heaven and closing with the people of Judah's descent to Babylonia, 2 Kings charts the story of the two Israelite kingdoms until their destruction. This commentary unfolds the literary dimensions of 2 Kings, analyzes the strategies through which its words create a world of meaning, and examines the book's tales of prophets, political intrigue, royal apostasy, and religious reform as components of larger patterns.
2 Kings is divided into four parts including Part One "The Story of Elisha: 2 Kings 1:1-8:6"; Part Two "Revolutions in Aram, Israel, and Judah: 2 Kings 8:7-13:25": Part Three "Turmoil and Tragedy for Israel: 2 Kings 14-17"; and Part Four "Renewal and Catastrophe for Judah: 2 King 18-25."

Author Biography

Robert L. Cohn is the Philip and Muriel Berman Professor of Jewish Studies and Head of the Department of Religion at Lafayette College.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. xi
The Story of Elisha: 2 Kings 1:1-8:6
Elijah and the Dying Monarch: 2 Kings 1:2-18	p. 3
From Elijah to Elisha: 2 Kings 2:1-18	p. 10
Miraculous Water in the Battle with Moab: 2 Kings 3:1-27	p. 18
Multiplication of Oil: 2 Kings 4:1-7	p. 25
Revival of a Dead Boy: 2 Kings 4:8-37	p. 27
Feeding the Hungry: 2 Kings 4:38-44	p. 34
Healing a Foreign Leper: 2 Kings 5:1-27	p. 35
Divining a Borrowed Tool: 2 Kings 6:1-7	p. 43
Diverting the Aramean Army: 2 Kings 6:8-23	p. 44
Ending the Siege of Samaria: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20	p. 48
Recalling the Great Deeds of Elisha: 2 Kings 8:1-6	p. 55
Revolutions in Aram, Israel, and Judah: 2 Kings 8:7-13:25
Elisha Triggers a Coup in Aram: Hazael Takes Power: 2 Kings 8:7-15	p. 59
The Reigns of Joram and Ahaziah of Judah: 2 Kings 8:16-29	p. 62
The Revolution of Jehu in Israel: 2 Kings 9:1-10:36	p. 65
Jehoiada Engineers the Overthrow of Athaliah and the Accession of Jehoash in Judah: 2 Kings 11:1-20	p. 77
The Achievement and Failure of King Jehoash: 2 Kings 12:1-22	p. 81
Yhwh Delivers Jehoahaz of Israel from Aram: 2 Kings 13:1-9	p. 85
Dying Elisha Promises Joash of Israel Victory over Aram: 2 Kings 13:10-25	p. 87
Excursus	p. 91
Turmoil and Tragedy for Israel: 2 Kings 14-17
Amaziah of Judah and Joash of Israel: 2 Kings 14:1-22	p. 99
Jeroboam Restores Israel's Territory: 2 Kings 14:23-29	p. 103
Coups in Israel but Stability in Judah: 2 Kings 15:1-38	p. 105
Ahaz of Judah Submits to Assyria: 2 Kings 16:1-19	p. 111
The Fall of Israel and Its Interpretation: 2 Kings 17:1-23	p. 116
Renewal and Catastrophe for Judah: 2 Kings 18-25
Hezekiah's Reform, Rebellion, and Recanting: 2 Kings 18:1-16	p. 125
The First Assyrian Mission to Hezekiah and Isaiah's Oracles: 2 Kings 18:17-19:9a	p. 128
The Second Assyrian Mission to Hezekiah and Isaiah's Oracles: 2 Kings 19:9b-37	p. 135
Hezekiah's Illness and Its Consequences: 2 Kings 20:1-21	p. 140
Two Dreadful Kings: 2 Kings 21:1-26	p. 146
Josiah Finds a Scroll and Orders a Reformation: 2 Kings 22:1-23:30	p. 151
The Last Four Kings of Judah: 2 Kings 23:31-25:7	p. 163
The Aftermath in Jerusalem, Judah, and Babylon: 2 Kings 25:8-30	p. 169
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 174
General Index	p. 176
Index of Scriptural References	p. 181
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