• Judah’s Return to Wickedness -- Comments on 2 Kings 21–25

"By now it is a familiar theme. It has been heard again and again from the prophets: 'Repent or perish! Turn to God or face your enemies alone.' Israel heard it and ignored it. They went to destruction. But even more tragic is the story of Judah. Judah heeded the cry of the Lord’s servants and was delivered from Assyria in a most dramatic way. But they were like someone who, snatched from the path of a speeding train, jumps in front of a moving truck. The lesson of deliverance was quickly forgotten. Idol worship was begun again, and Babylon became the Lord’s instrument of punishment. As Mormon noted, affliction seems the only way the Lord’s children learn (see Helaman 12:1–5), so Judah was enrolled in the bitter school of experience."

This is the introduction to the notes and commentary on 2 Kings 21–25 in the church educational system's institute course on the Old Testament. If you wish to read this, please click on this link.

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• The Fall of the Northern Kingdom -- Comments on 2 Kings 14–20

"The story is told of two young men in a canoe sailing down the river to Niagara Falls. Although the water was placid and calm, they were approaching the area where the water began to pick up speed as it headed for the falls. A man on the shore, sensing the danger, called out, 'Young men, ahoy, the rapids are below you!'
"But the young men, who heard the warning, did not heed the call. Instead they went on laughing and joking, paying no attention to the danger.
"On the shore, the man watching began to run and shouted in desperation, 'Ahoy, the rapids are below you!'
"Still the young men did not heed his warning. Faster and faster ran the current until the young men were entrapped in the rapids and began to fear. With all the power at their command they tried to turn the canoe but it was too late. Over the falls they went—all because they refused to heed the warning voice. (Adapted from David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, p. 512.)
"Ancient Israel could be compared to these two young men. Repeated warnings from the prophets were ignored. The withholding of blessings failed to check Israel in their mad rush to destruction. In the year 721 B.C. the Northern Kingdom fell before the vigorous attack of the Assyrian enemy, and its people were taken to a foreign land as captives. Later some escaped and went into the north countries. They are often referred to as the lost ten tribes.
"This material will deal with the history of this tragic fall. These chapters of the Old Testament answer this question: Could God have done more to bring this recalcitrant people back to Him?"

This is the introduction to the notes and commentary on 2 Kings 14–20 in the church educational system's institute course on the Old Testament. If you wish to read this, please click on this link.

• Hearkening unto the Counsel of God -- Comments on 2 Kings 3–13

“'O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.' (2 Nephi 9:28–29).
"This scripture applies very well to the children of Israel in ancient times. Israel seems to have had great difficulty listening to and obeying the counsel of their prophets. They trusted in their own wisdom and rejected the counsel of the Lord. Elisha found no better response, even though his ministry was as remarkable as Elijah’s. As he wrestled with the problems of prophetic leadership, he found the nation of Israel plagued with apostate kings and leaders. The common people followed the example of their leaders in having trouble heeding the prophetic call to righteousness.
"Second Kings 3–13 tells of such people as Gehazi, Naaman, and a woman of Shunem. The wicked kings of Moab, Israel, and Syria are also encountered. Each person responded to Elisha’s counsel in a different way and for different reasons."

This is the introduction to the notes and commentary on 2 Kings 3–13 in the church educational system's institute course on the Old Testament. If you wish to read this, please click on this link.