Old Testament

The Second Book of Kings

The Second Book of Kings is the twelfth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 25 chapters and 719 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 4 Kings.

Start reading: 2 Kings 1

About 2 Kings · Royal history

The second book of Kings carries the story from Elijah's successor Elisha to the fall of both kingdoms — Israel to Assyria, Judah to Babylon — and the burning of the temple. Anonymous and continuous with the book before it, it was written for exiles who needed the disaster explained: not that God had failed, but that centuries of warnings had finally come due. Even so it refuses despair, ending with a small mercy shown to a captive heir of David, a hint that the promise was not dead.

2 Kings in Bless
Testament	Old Testament — book 12 of 46, 12 of 73 in the Bible
Canon	Protocanonical (in every Christian canon)
Chapters	25
Verses	719, as Bless numbers them
In the Douay-Rheims	4 Kings
Latin	Clementine Vulgate, every chapter
Bp. Challoner	Summaries of all 25 chapters · 42 notes
Catechism	1 paragraph cite it

Chapter by chapter

All 25 chapters, in brief.

Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.

2 Kings 1
18 verses
Ochozias sendeth to consult Beelzebub: Elias foretelleth his death: and causeth fire to come down from heaven, upon two captains and their companies.
2 Kings 2
25 verses
Eliseus will not part from Elias. The water of the Jordan is divided by Elias' cloak. Elias is taken up in a fiery chariot, and his double spirit is given to Eliseus. Eliseus healeth the waters by casting in salt. Boys are torn by bears for mocking Eliseus.
2 Kings 3
27 verses
The kings of Israel, Juda, and Edom, fight against the king of Moab. They want water, which Eliseus procureth without rain: and prophesieth victory. The king of Moab is overthrown, his city is besieged: he sacrificeth his firstborn son: so the Israelites raise the siege.
2 Kings 4
44 verses
Miracles of Eliseus. He raiseth a dead child to life.
2 Kings 5
27 verses
Naaman the Syrian is cleansed of his leprosy. He professeth his belief in one God, promising to serve him. Giezi taketh gifts of Naaman, and is struck with leprosy.
2 Kings 6
33 verses
Eliseus maketh iron to swim upon the water: he leadeth the Syrians that were sent to apprehend him into Samaria, where there eyes being opened, they are courteously entertained. The Syrians besiege Samaria: the famine there causeth a woman to eat her own child. Upon this the king commandeth Eliseus to be put to death.
2 Kings 7
20 verses
Eliseus prophesieth a great plenty, which presently ensueth upon the sudden flight of the Syrians; of which four lepers bring the news to the city. The incredulous nobleman is trod to death.
2 Kings 8
29 verses
After seven years' famine foretold by Eliseus, the Sunamitess returning home, recovereth her lands, and revenues. Eliseus foresheweth the death of Benadad, king of Syria, and the reign of Hazael. Joram's wicked reign in Juda. He dieth, and his son Ochozias succeedeth.
2 Kings 9
37 verses
Jehu is anointed king of Israel, to destroy the house of Achab and Jezebel. He killeth Joram king of Israel, and Ochozias king of Juda. Jezebel is eaten by dogs.
2 Kings 10
36 verses
Jehu destroyeth the house of Achab: abolisheth the worship of Baal, and killeth the worshippers: but sticketh to the calves of Jeroboam. Israel is afflicted by the Syrians.
2 Kings 11
21 verses
Athalia's usurpation and tyranny. Joas is made king. Athalia is slain.
2 Kings 12
21 verses
The temple is repaired. Hazael is bought off from attacking Jerusalem. Joas is slain.
2 Kings 13
25 verses
The reign of Joachaz and of Joas kings of Israel. The last acts and death of Eliseus the prophet: a dead man is raised to life by the touch of his bones.
2 Kings 14
29 verses
Amasias reigneth in Juda: he overcometh the Edomites: but is overcome by Joas king of Israel. Jereboam the second reigneth in Israel.
2 Kings 15
38 verses
The reign of Azarias, and Joatham in Juda: and of Zacharias, Sellum, Manahem, Phaceia, and Phacee in Israel.
2 Kings 16
20 verses
The wicked reign of Achaz: the kings of Syria and Israel war against him: he hireth the king of the Assyrians to assist him: he causeth an altar to be made after the pattern of that of Damascus.
2 Kings 17
41 verses
The reign of Osee. The Israelites for their sins are carried into captivity: other inhabitants are sent to Samaria, who make a mixture of religion.
2 Kings 18
37 verses
The reign of Ezechias: he abolisheth idolatry and prospereth. Sennacherib cometh up against him: Rabsaces soliciteth the people to revolt; and blasphemeth the Lord.
2 Kings 19
37 verses
Ezechias is assured of God's help by Isaias the prophet. The king of the Assyrians still threateneth and blasphemeth. Ezechias prayeth, and God promiseth to protect Jerusalem. An angel destroyeth the army of the Assyrians, their king returneth to Nineve, and is slain by his two sons.
2 Kings 20
21 verses
Ezechias being sick, is told by Isaias that he shall die; but praying to God, he obtaineth longer life, and in confirmation thereof receiveth a sign by the sun's returning back. He sheweth all his treasures to the ambassadors of the king of Babylon: Isaias reproving him for it, foretelleth the Babylonish captivity.
2 Kings 21
26 verses
The wickedness of Manasses: God's threats by his prophets. His wicked son Amon succeedeth him, and is slain by his servants.
2 Kings 22
20 verses
Josias repaireth the temple. The book of the law is found, upon which they consult the Lord, and are told that great evils shall fall upon them, but not in the time of Josias.
2 Kings 23
37 verses
Josias readeth the law before all the people. They promise to observe it. He abolisheth all idolatry, celebrateth the phase: is slain in battle by the king of Egypt. The short reign of Joachaz, in whose place Joakim is made king.
2 Kings 24
20 verses
The reign of Joakim, Joachin, and Sedecias.
2 Kings 25
30 verses
Jerusalem is besieged and taken by Nabuchodonosor: Sedecias is taken: the city and temple are destroyed. Godolias, who is left governor, is slain. Joachin is exalted by Evilmerodach.

Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries

Coming up

Read at Mass.

From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 2 Kings is read at the principal Mass on 2 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:

Date	Celebration	Reading	Citation
Mon, Mar 1, 2027	Monday of the Third Week of Lent	First Reading	2 Kings 5:1-15ab
Sun, Jul 25, 2027 computed	Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time	First Reading	2 Kings 4:42-44
Wed, Jun 21, 2028 computed	St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious	First Reading	2 Kings 2:1, 6-14
Mon, Jun 26, 2028 computed	Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time	First Reading	2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18
Tue, Jun 27, 2028 computed	Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time	First Reading	2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36
Wed, Jun 28, 2028 computed	St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr	First Reading	2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3
Fri, Jun 30, 2028 computed	Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time	First Reading	2 Kings 25:1-12
Sun, Oct 15, 2028 computed	Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time	First Reading	2 Kings 5:14-17

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.