The Fall of a Kingdom: From Reform to Ruin

Welcome to Day 101 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are continuing the book of 2 Kings. In 2 Kings 23-25, these chapters capture the dramatic conclusion of Judah’s monarchy. After King Josiah’s passionate reforms to restore covenant faithfulness and remove idolatry, his untimely death sparks a rapid spiritual and political decline. His successors revert to wickedness, leading Judah further into rebellion against God. Babylon rises in power and becomes the tool of divine judgment, bringing siege, exile, and destruction. Jerusalem falls, the temple is burned, and the people are taken into captivity. The book ends on a somber note, yet with a flicker of hope as Jehoiachin, once imprisoned, is shown mercy in Babylon.

2 Kings 23: King Josiah launches a powerful campaign to reform Judah according to God’s covenant, purging the land of idolatry, false worship, and pagan altars. He renews the covenant publicly, leading the people in a national rededication to the Lord. His obedience is unparalleled, and he is praised as one of the most righteous kings of Judah. However, despite his efforts, God’s judgment against Judah remains due to the sins of previous generations, especially those of Manasseh. Josiah dies in battle at Megiddo, and his death marks a turning point. His son Jehoahaz reigns briefly before being deposed by Pharaoh Neco, who installs Jehoiakim as king.

2 Kings 24: Jehoiakim initially serves Babylon but later rebels, prompting attacks from Chaldeans and allied nations as instruments of divine punishment. The text emphasizes that all this happened in fulfillment of God's word due to the sins of Manasseh. Jehoiakim dies, and his young son Jehoiachin reigns for just three months before Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem. Jehoiachin surrenders, and Babylon plunders the temple and exiles many key people, including officials and skilled workers. Nebuchadnezzar places Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, on the throne as a vassal king. Despite this change, Judah’s unfaithfulness continues, setting the stage for final judgment.

2 Kings 25: Jerusalem falls under the weight of Babylonian siege during Zedekiah’s rule. After a brutal famine and the city’s capture, the temple, palace, and walls are destroyed, and the people are exiled. Zedekiah tries to escape but is caught, and his sons are executed before his eyes are put out. The Babylonians show no mercy, burning Jerusalem and taking its treasures and leaders to Babylon. Only a few poor people remain in the land under the governor Gedaliah, who is soon assassinated, causing the rest to flee to Egypt. The book closes with a small glimmer of hope as Jehoiachin is released from prison and given a seat of honor in Babylon.

Origin & Meaning of the Name:

The name 2 Kings continues from 1 Kings, as both books were originally one single work in the Hebrew Bible. The title "Kings" comes from the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) translation of the Hebrew word Melekhim, meaning “Kings.” It records the reigns of various monarchs in Israel and Judah, detailing their faithfulness or rebellion against God.

Purpose of the Book:

The purpose of 2 Kings is to document the spiritual and political decline of Israel and Judah, ultimately leading to their exiles. It highlights the consequences of disobedience to God’s covenant, contrasting faithful and unfaithful kings. The book serves as a historical and theological lesson that obedience to God brings blessings, while disobedience leads to judgment.

Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:

The authorship of 2 Kings is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, though this is not explicitly stated in the text. Several pieces of evidence support this claim:

Internal Biblical Evidence:
- 2 Kings 24–25 closely parallels Jeremiah 39 and 52, describing the fall of Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah was a prophet during the final days of Judah and personally witnessed the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 1:1-3).
External References & Historical Sources:
- The Talmud (Baba Bathra 15a) credits Jeremiah as the author of 1 & 2 Kings.
- 2 Kings frequently refers to historical records such as:
  - The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (2 Kings 8:23, 12:19, etc.)
  - The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (2 Kings 1:18, 10:34, etc.)

While some scholars suggest a later anonymous compiler from the exilic period, the traditional view holds that Jeremiah, or a disciple influenced by him, compiled the book using these historical records under divine inspiration.

Key People:

Elijah – A prophet of God who ascends to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2).
Elisha – Successor of Elijah, performing many miracles (2 Kings 2-13).
Jehu – A king of Israel who eradicates Ahab’s family and Baal worship (2 Kings 9-10).
Hezekiah – A righteous king of Judah known for his reforms and miraculous healing (2 Kings 18-20).
Manasseh – A wicked king of Judah who later repents (2 Kings 21).
Josiah – A godly king who restores worship and finds the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22-23).
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who conquers Judah and exiles its people (2 Kings 24-25).
Zedekiah – The last king of Judah before the Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 24-25).

Conclusion

The book of 2 Kings concludes with the tragic fall of both Israel and Judah due to their persistent disobedience to God’s covenant, culminating in the Babylonian exile. Despite the judgment, a glimmer of hope remains as King Jehoiachin of Judah is shown mercy in Babylon (2 Kings 25:27-30), hinting at God’s ongoing plan for restoration. This ending reinforces the book’s central theme: faithfulness to God brings blessings, while rebellion leads to downfall, yet His mercy endures beyond judgment.

What is God's Name in these Chapters?

In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.

Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.

"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.

Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:

REVIEW GOD'S NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

In 2 Kings 23,God's character is revealed through His holiness, justice, and desire for covenant faithfulness. Though God is deeply moved by Josiah’s sincere repentance and sweeping reforms, His holiness demands that sin be addressed. The chapter shows that God values obedience from the heart and honors leaders who lead others toward righteousness. However, His justice does not overlook long-standing rebellion; even Josiah’s faithfulness cannot erase the accumulated sins of past generations. This chapter teaches that true reform must begin with a reverence for God's Word and a deep desire to align with His will.

While no explicit Hebrew names of God are mentioned in the text, His attributes point to El Qanna — the Jealous God, who desires exclusive devotion, and YHWH — the LORD, the covenant-keeping God. Josiah’s actions demonstrate a response to YHWH’s covenant commands found in the Book of the Law, reaffirming God as the righteous standard for worship. The lesson from this chapter is that wholehearted devotion and repentance can bring personal favor with God, even if national judgment is not withheld. God seeks leaders who will stand for truth, no matter the cost.

In 2 Kings 24, God's character is displayed through His sovereignty and righteous judgment. He is portrayed as the One who allows nations to rise and fall according to His purposes. The chapter emphasizes that the exile of Judah is not merely political but divine in nature—God is orchestrating events as a consequence of generational sin and rebellion. Though patient for many years, God ultimately brings justice, showing He does not ignore evil. He remains in control even in the darkest moments of Judah’s history.

This chapter reinforces God as Adonai — Lord and Master, who governs over kings and kingdoms. Even though His name is not directly mentioned, His sovereign hand moves through Babylon's power, fulfilling His prophetic word. The lesson God teaches here is that rebellion against His authority brings consequences, and delayed judgment should not be mistaken for approval. God's Word always stands, and He disciplines those He loves to bring about repentance and dependence on Him.

In 2 Kings 25, God's character is seen through His justice, wrath, and mercy. He fulfills His word by allowing Jerusalem to fall and the temple to be destroyed—a devastating judgment after centuries of warning. This shows God’s unwavering commitment to righteousness and truth, even when it means allowing suffering for correction. Yet, in the final verses, His mercy emerges as King Jehoiachin is lifted from prison and given a seat of honor in Babylon, hinting at restoration and hope beyond judgment.

Although no specific Hebrew names are recorded in this chapter, God’s role aligns with El Elyon — God Most High, who rules above all earthly powers. The chapter teaches that God's justice is sure, but so is His mercy. Even when everything seems lost, God’s plan continues, and He preserves a remnant. His story of redemption is not over, even after exile.

Christ in Every Book of the Bible

Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.

The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!

Questions:

Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.

Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?

What does Josiah’s story reveal about God’s response to genuine repentance and covenant obedience?
How does God show both mercy and justice in these chapters, and how are they balanced?
In what ways do we see God's holiness influencing His decisions regarding Judah’s future?
Why does God still choose to bring judgment on Judah even after Josiah’s reforms?
How do these chapters show God’s sovereignty over nations and rulers?
What can we learn about God's patience throughout Judah’s repeated disobedience?
How does the final act of mercy toward Jehoiachin reflect God's enduring faithfulness?

Questions About Themes:

What is the significance of covenant renewal in Josiah’s reign, and how does it shape the theme of reform?
How is the theme of judgment consistently portrayed across these final chapters?
How do these chapters emphasize the consequences of long-term disobedience to God?
In what ways does leadership influence the spiritual direction of a nation, based on these chapters?
What theme do we see in the destruction of the temple, and what does it symbolize about God’s presence?
How is hope woven into the closing of 2 Kings despite the nation’s downfall?
What role does prophecy play in confirming the fulfillment of God’s promises and warnings?

Reflective Application Questions:

Are there any areas in your life where God is calling you to reform or return to His Word, like Josiah did?
How do you respond when God's timing or discipline doesn’t align with your expectations?
What idols—physical or internal—might you need to tear down in your own life to fully honor God?
How do these chapters challenge the way you view God’s justice and mercy in your personal circumstances?
In what ways do your actions influence the spiritual atmosphere of your home, community, or church?
How can you hold onto hope and faith in God’s plan, even when life feels like it’s in ruins?
What can you do today to remain faithful to God, even when culture or leadership around you rejects Him?

These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.

Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans