2 kings 24 and 25

Read 2 Kings 24 and 25 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Kin 23:36-24:7 {p} Jehoiakim (son of Josiah) reigned 11 years: did evil, rebelled against Babylon
2 Kin 24:8-17 {p} Jehoiachin reigned 3 months (allied with Egypt) Nebuchadnezzar took him captive
2 Kin 24:18-20 {s} Zedekiah (son of Josiah) reigned 11 years: did evil, rebelled against Babylon
2 Kin 25:1-7 {s} Babylonians slew Zedekiah’s sons, put out his eyes, take him captive to Babylon
2 Kin 25:8-24 {p} Babylonians burned down the Temple, the palaces, broke down the walls, carried captives captive
2 Kin 25:25-26 {s} Judeans slew the governor + fled to Egypt for fear of Babylonian reprisal
2 Kin 25:27-30 {p} In the first year of Evil-Merodach’s reign, Jehoiachin released from prison (after 37 years)

The chiastic structure of the final kings of Judah (2 Kin 21:1-25:30):

1a) 2 Kin 21:1-18 {s+p} Manasseh: because of the sins of Manasseh, Jerusalem will be destroyed;

1b) 2 Kin 21:19-26 {p} Amon: did evil + forsook YHVH his God, removed by assassination (father of Josiah);

central axis) 2 Kin 22:1-23:30 {px3} Josiah: did right + destroyed idolatry + restored YHVH’s worship;

2b) 2 Kin 23:31-35 {s} Jehoahaz: did evil, removed after 3 months by Pharaoh Necho (son of Josiah);

2a) 2 Kin 23:36-25:30 Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah: destruction of Jerusalem, because of the sins of Manasseh.

1a) 2 Kin 23:36-24:20 {p+p+s} Sons of Josiah did evil in YHVH’s eyes, rebelled against Babylon;

1a) 2 Kin 23:36-24:7 {p} Jehoiakim (son of Josiah) reigned 11 years: did evil, rebelled against Babylon;
central axis) 2 Kin 24:8-17 {p} Jehoiachin reigned 3 months (allied with Egypt); Nebuchadnezzar took him captive;
2a) 2 Kin 24:18-20 {s} Zedekiah (son of Josiah) reigned 11 years: did evil, rebelled against Babylon;

1b) 2 Kin 25:1-7 {s} Babylonians slew Zedekiah’s sons, put out his eyes, took him captive to Babylon;
central axis) 2 Kin 25:8-24 {p} Babylonians destroyed the Temple, palaces, walls + carried captives captive;
2b) 2 Kin 25:25-26 {s} Judeans slew governor appointed by Babylon, fled to Egypt for fear of Babylonian reprisal;
2a) 2 Kin 25:27-30 {p} In the first year of Evil-Merodach’s reign, Jehoiachin released from prison (after 37 years).

The chiastic structure of the book of Kings:

1a) 1 Kin 1:1-10:29, David established Solomon king + successor/ he built YHVH’s Temple;

1b) 1 Kin 11:1-43, Solomon’s unfaithfulness + apostasy + filled the land with idolatry;

1c) 1 Kin 12:1-16:34, Northern kingdom established, the reign of its first 7 kings;

1d) 1 Kin 17:1-2 Kin 1:18, Ministry of Elijah in the northern kingdom/ Ahab’s dynasty established;

1e) 2 Kin 2:1-25, Transfer of authority from Elijah to Elisha, Elijah taken up;

central axis) 2 Kin 3:1-8:6, Elisha’s miracles + kindnesses in the northern kingdom (despite Israel’s apostasy);

2e) 2 Kin 8:7-9:10, Transfer of authority from Ben-hadad to Hazael (Syria) + Ahab to Jehu (Israel);

2d) 2 Kin 9:11-13:25, Ahab’s dynasty ended/ ministry of Elisha in the northern kingdom;

2c) 2 Kin 14:1-17:41, Reign of the last 7 kings of the northern kingdom/ kingdom ended by the Assyrians;

2b) 2 Kin 18:1-20:21, Hezekiah’s faithfulness + righteousness + cleansed the land of idolatry;

2a) 2 Kin 21:1-25:30, Final 7 kings of Judah, Solomon’s dynasty ended/ YHVH’s Temple destroyed.