Theme - The history of the Northern Kingdom is carried forward from the point left off by First Kings to its destruction and the captivity of its people by Assyria in 722 B.C.: a history of idolatry, wickedness, internal feuds and bloodshed, and constant decline, with few instances of religious revival and prosperity. The history of Judah is continued from the point left off by First Kings to the Babylonian captivity. It is marked by periods of great apostasy and sufferings, but it is distinguished by outstanding revivals and realignments with God under the reign of a few notably good kings. The religious emphasis is even more strongly found in this book; in both the Northern Kingdom and in Judah, the prophets wrote and spoke the messages of Jehovah. In the Northern Kingdom the translation of Elijah is recorded, and the work of his successor Elisha plays an important role. Amos and Hosea were other prophets of the Northern Kingdom; among the prophets of Judah were Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah.

Outline - An analysis of the Second Book of Kings indicates the following divisions: I. The Closing Years and Translation of Elijah (1:1-2:11) II. The Ministry of Elisha, Elijah's Successor, to the Anointing of Jehu (2:12-9:10) III. Jehu's Reign in Northern Israel (9:11-10:36) IV. The Reigns of Athaliah and Jehoash in Judah (11:1-12:21) V. The Closing Ministry of Elisha under the Reigns of Jehoahaz and Joash in Israel (13:1-25) VI. From the Death of Elisha to the Close of the Northern Kingdom (14:1-17:41) VII. From Hezekiah to the Captivity of Judah (18:1-25:30)

According to Ussher, the events of Second Kings cover a period of 308 years.