WORD

BIBLICAL

COMMENTARY

VOLUME 13

2 Kings

T. R. HOBBS

General Editors

Bruce M. Metzger

David A. Hubbard†

Glenn W. Barker†

Old Testament Editor

John D. W. Watts

New Testament Editor

Ralph P. Martin

WORD BOOKS, PUBLISHER • DALLAS, TEXAS

Word Biblical Commentary.

2 Kings

Copyright © 1985 by Word, Incorporated

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Main entry under title:

Word biblical commentary.

Includes bibliographies.

1. Bible—Commentaries—Collected works.

BS491.2.W67 220.7´7 81-71768

ISBN 0-8499-0212-6 (vol. 13) AACR2

Scripture quotations in the body of the commentary marked rsv are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946 (renewed 1973), 1956, and © 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and are used by permission. Those marked niv are from the New International Version of the Bible, copyright © 1973 by New York Bible Society International. The author’s own translation of the text appears in italic type under the heading “Translation.”

This volume is dedicated to Heather,

Catherine, and Gregory, whose love is

a source of joy and strength

Table of Contents

Author’s Preface

Editorial Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

Outline

General Observations

The “Double Redaction” of 2 Kings

On Reading 2 Kings

2 Kings and History

The Milieu and Thought of 2 Kings

2 Kings and Old Testament Chronology

The Text of 2 Kings

Main Bibliography

Text and Commentary

Ahaziah and Elijah (1:1–18)

Excursus: 2 Kings 1:17–18

The Ascension of Elijah (2:1–25)

Excursus: On the Term בני המביאים “Sons of the Prophets”

Jehoshaphat And Joram against Moab (3:1–27)

Excursus: The Moabite Stone and 2 Kings 3

Elisha’s Works (4:1–44)

Naaman’s Cure (5:1–27)

Excursus: The Form of the Letter in 2 Kings 5

Elisha and the Syrians (6:1–33)

The Lepers and the Syrians (7:1–20)

Hazael, King in Damascus (8:1–29)

Jehu (9:1–3 7)

The Reign of Jehu (10:1–36)

The Revolt against Athaliah (11:1–20)

The Reign of Joash (12:1–22 [11:21–12:21])

Excursus: The Account of Joash’s Reign and the Account of Idri-Mi of Alalakh

Syrian Oppression and the Death of Elisha (13:1–25)

Amaziah and Jeroboam II (14:1–29)

Excursus: The Chronology of 2 Kings 13–15

Kings of the Eighth Century B.C. (15:1–38)

Excursus: Additional Note on the Chronology

The Apostasy of Ahaz (16:1–20)

The Fall and Resettlement of Samaria (17:1–41)

Hezekiah and the Siege of Jerusalem (18:1–37)

Excursus: 2 Kings 18:17

Isaiah’s Prophecy and the Assyrian Retreat (19:1–37)

Hezekiah and Isaiah (20:1–21)

The Reigns of Manasseh and Amon (21:1–26)

The Reign of Josiah (22:1–20)

The Reign of Josiah, Continued (23:1–37)

Attack and Deportation (24:1–20)

Jerusalem Destroyed and Second Deportation (25:1–30)

Indexes