Answer
In our modern Bibles, the book of 2 Kings is a sequel to 1 Kings, but they were originally written as one book in the Hebrew Bible. The book of 1 Kings recounts the rise and fall of Solomon, the division of Israel into two kingdoms, and the series of kings that came after that, through Ahab and Jehoshaphat. Second Kings pick up the baton and carries the history forward from there.
Despite its title, the book of 2 Kings also features prominent prophets, notably Elijah and Elisha. After a series of warnings fell on deaf ears and hardened hearts, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah fall to the hands of Assyria and Babylon, respectively. Although Judah had notable good kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, the overall trajectory leaned toward rebellion against God. The concluding chapters of 2 Kings are tragic, but they offer a glimmer of hope as the Babylonian king releases Jehoiachin, a descendant of David who could have rightfully been king (2 Kings 25:27–30).
Authorship of 2 Kings isn’t explicitly stated in the text, and there isn’t much external evidence to reach a certain verdict, but Jewish tradition attributes the book to Jeremiah. Other plausible options include Ezra and Ezekiel. All three men lived during the period when 2 Kings was likely written. However, reaching a conclusive verdict is challenging due to the absence of biblical attestation. Even if Jeremiah played a role in the writing, it’s likely that someone else wrote at least the final parts of the book.
Covering over 400 years of history, the author of 2 Kings likely compiled information from older sources during the exile. Many Bible commentators suggest that the book aims to explain the reason behind the exile and prepare the way for the return of the Jews to their land. This aligns with motives consistent with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Ezra.
Modern scholars often assert that the book of Kings was initially written during the reform of King Josiah, with a second edition appearing later. In this view, the book is considered a conclusion to the so-called Deuteronomistic History, an overarching history of Israel that encompasses the books of Joshua, Judges, and Samuel.
The book of 2 Kings remains anonymous, though the traditional identification of Jeremiah is feasible, along with other possibilities such as Ezra and Ezekiel. As is the case with many ancient texts, the content holds more significance than the authorship. In 2 Kings we observe the moral decline of Israel and Judah through their kings, witness God’s patience in warning through the prophets, and ultimately see His judgment. Amid the struggles of the nation, hope emerges in the person of Jehoiachin, an ancestor of Jesus, the Messiah who will fulfill the Davidic Covenant (Matthew 1:11; cf. 2 Samuel 7:8–17).
