Tag Archives: 2 Kings

1 and 2 Kings*

I took this from Jerome Walsh’s Style and Structure in Biblical Hebrew Narrative, Liturgical press, Minnesota, 2001, though it looks as though it was published before by Savran.

A. Solomon and the united Monarchy (1 Kings 1-11)

B. The separation of the the northern kingdom (1 Kings 12)

C. Kings of Israel and Judah (1Kings 13-16:20)

D. Civil war:the Omrid dynasty (1 Kings 16:21-34)

E. Elijah, the prophets, and the Omrids (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 1)

F. Elisha succeeds Elijah (2 Kings 2)

E’. Elisha, the prophets, and the Omrids (2 Kings 3:1-9:13)

D’. Civil war: the Omrid dynasty ends (2 Kings 9:14-11:20)

C’. Kings of Israel and Judah (2 Kings 12-16)

B’. The fall of the northern kingdom (2Kings 17)

A’. The kingdom of Judah alone (2 Kings 18-25)

Note: Walsh notes that the focus of the books is on the prophets and says “Hidden beneath an apparent historical account of kings and kingdoms lies the deeper story, the real story, of which political vicissitudes are merely epiphenomena: the story of the word of God and its bearers, around whom the true history turns”.

 

2 Kings 19:6-8

A (6) And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Yahweh, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of THE KING OF ASSYRIA have blasphemed me.

B (7) Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and SHALL RETURN

C (7) to HIS OWN LAND;

D (7) and I will cause him to fall by the sword

C′ (7) in HIS OWN LAND.

B′ (8) So Rabshakeh RETURNED,

A′ (8) and found THE KING OF ASSYRIA warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

2 Kings 17:24-33

A.(24) And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

B.

a1. (25) And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD:

b1. therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.

a2.(26) Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land:

b2. therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them,

a3. because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

C.(27) Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.

C’.(28) Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

A’. (29) Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. (30) And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (31) And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

B’. (32) i.  So they feared the LORD,

ii. and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

     i’.(33) They feared the LORD,

ii’. and served their own gods,  after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

 

2 Kings 13:18-25

This section of the death of Elisha frames the long-suffering of the LORD towards  wayward Israel.

A.(18) And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. (19) And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

(20) And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. (21) And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

B. (22) But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

C.(23) And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.

B’.(24) So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.

A.(25) And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

2 Kings 3:19-25

A (19) And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and SHALL FELL EVERY good TREE,

B (19) and STOP ALL WELLS of water,

C (19) and mar every good PIECE of land with stones.

D (20) And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, THERE CAME water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

E (21) And when all the Moabites heard that THE KINGS were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.

F (22) And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as BLOOD:

G (23) And they said,

F′ (23) This is BLOOD:

E′ (23) THE KINGS are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

D′ (24) And when THEY CAME to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.

C′ (25) And they beat down the cities, and on every good PIECE of land cast every man his stone, and filled it;

B′ (25) and THEY STOPPED ALL THE WELLS of water,

A′ (25) and FELLED ALL THE good TREES: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

2 Kings 2

(1) And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

A. (2) And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel.

B. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

C.(3) And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day?

D. And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

A’. (4) And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho.

B’. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

C’.(5) And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day?

D’. And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

A”.(6) And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan.

B”. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

2A.(7) And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

2B.(8) And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

2C.(9) And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. (10) And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

2D,(11) And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2C’.(12) And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

2B’.(13) He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; (14) And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

2A’.(15) And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

3A. 16  And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley.

3B. And he said, Ye shall not send.

3C. 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send.

3A’. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

3B’. 18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

4A. 19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

4B. 20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

4B’. 21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

4A’. 22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

5A. 23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel:

5B. and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

5C. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD.

5B’. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

5A’. 25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 5:20-26

A.(20a) But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian,

B. (20b)in not receiving at his hands that which he brought:

C. (20c-21) but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

D. (22a)And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying,

E. (22b)Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets:

F. (22c)give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

G. (23a)And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents.

F’. (23b)And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments,

E’. (23c-24) and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house:and he let the men go, and they departed.

D’. (25) But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi?

C’. (25b-26a)And he said, Thy servant went no whither. And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee?

B’. (26b)Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

A’. (27) The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

2 Kings 5:15-19*

A. (15b) and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel:

B. (15c) now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

C. (16a) But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.

D. (16b) And he urged him to take it;

C’. (16d) but he refused.

B’. (17a) And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth?

A’. (17b) for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

2A.(18a) In this thing 

2B. (18b) the LORD pardon thy servant,

2C.(18c) that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand,

2D. (18d) and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon:

2C’. (18e) when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon,

2B’. (18f ) the LORD pardon thy servant …

2A’. (18g-19 ) …  in this thing. 

And he said unto him, Go in peace.

So he departed from him a little way.

2 Kings 5:8-15*

A. (8-9) And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

B. (10) And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

C.(11) But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

D. (12a) Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?

C’. (12b- 13) So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

B’. (14)Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

A’. (15) And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him:and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

2 Kings 5:3-8

A.(3-4) And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord,  saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

B. (5-6a) And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee,

C. (6b) behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

B’. (7) And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

A’. (8). And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.