Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 1
In the Bible, the Books of Samuel and Kings form a continuous account of Israel’s history for about 500 years.
At the end of 1 Kings, there is the record of the death of King Ahab in battle (1 Kings 22:34-37). He was the powerful and evil king who ruled over northern and central Israel. His son Ahaziah became king after him.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah – that is, southern Israel – almost died in the same battle. Perhaps that is why he started to pass power over Judah to his son, Jehoram, at that time (1:17). He would later give Jehoram complete control over Judah (8:16).
The kings of northern and central Israel had, until this time, also controlled the nation called Moab. Moab was on the east side of Judah. The king of Moab had to pay an annual tax to Ahab (3:4). However, when Ahaziah became king, the king of Moab refused to pay that tax. Ahaziah’s rule was too short to deal with this matter. However his brother Joram, who became king after him, fought a war against Moab (2 Kings chapter 3).
The Book of 2 Kings begins with the account of how Ahaziah died. 1 Kings 22:51-53 has already introduced this king. He was an evil man who, like Ahab, usually served the false god Baal. That is a different false god from Baal-Zebub, a false god in Ekron in Philistia. In 2 Kings chapter 1, Ahaziah will make the decision to inquire of the false god Baal-Zebub.
Next part: The false god Baal-Zebub (2 Kings 1:2)
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