Introduction
The second summary of the kings of Yisrael/Israel and Yehudah/Judah is a continuation of the first summary about the northern kingdom of Yisrael and the Southern kingdom of Yehudah (Judah). This account can be divided into two: 1. The account about the two kingdoms from around 850 before Yeshua/Jesus (B.C.) through to the defeat of Shomron (Samaria) and the fall of the northern king in 721 before Yeshua/Jesus (B.C.) 2. The account about the Southern kingdom of Yehudah from the defeat of the northern kingdom of Yisrael through to the capture and destruction of Yerushalem (Jerusalem) by the Babylonian King Nevukadnetsar in 586 before Yeshua/Jesus (B.C.) This account ends with Gedalyah governing Yehudah under Babylonian instructions, and then the release of King Yehoyakin who’d been imprisoned in Bavel.
Those disasters and destruction occurred because the leaders and inhabitants of the divided kingdom didn’t obey God. The demolition of Yerushalem and the exile of most of the people of Yehudah was a major tragedy in Yisrael’s history.
Prophet Elisha is highlighted here in this second summary. Elisha was the dominant prophet who continued on after Eliyah’s death.
Main components of this account
The divided kingdom (1:1–17:41)
a. The prophet Elisha (1:1–8:15)
b. The kings of Yehudah and Yisrael (8:16–17:4)
c. The defeat of Shomron/Samaria (17:5-41)
The kingdom of Yehudah (18:1–25:30)
a. From Hizkiyah going to Yoshiyah (18:1–21:26)
b. The kingdom of Yoshiyah (22:1–23:30)
c. Yehudah’s final king (23:31–24:20)
d. The defeat of Yerushalem (25:1-30)
This is still an early look into the unpolished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.