Mordechai Cogan and Hayim Tadmor, II Kings: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary

Bibliographical details:
Cogan, M., and H. Tadmor. (1988). II Kings: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. The Anchor Bible, vol. 11. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.

Publisher’s information:
II Kings (Volume 11 in the acclaimed Anchor Bible) is the chronicle of the raging conflicts that tore the United Kingdom of Israel apart, creating the rival nations of Israel to the north and Judah to the south. It tells of the time of the great prophecies of Elijah and Elisha, and of the legendary conquerors of not only the Jews, but the whole of the Middle East – Sennacherib, Hazael, Tiglath-pileser III, Nebuchadnezzar, and Shalmaneser.

The book of II Kings was written with a dual purpose. It provided a chronological history of the divided kingdoms of Israel, from the time of division, through the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and the final exile of the Jews into Babylonia. It also served as a reminder to all Israelite monarchs that their loyalty to the God of Israel, as worshipped in Jerusalem, determined the course of history. In his telling of the story, the book’s author emphasized to his contemporaries and future generations that in order to avert the calamities that befell the Chosen People (their conquest by nonbelievers, the destruction of Jerusalem, and their ignominious exile), they would have to avoid a repetition of the misdeeds of the past. If they remained loyal to their God, their God would remain loyal to them.

Complete with maps, charts, photographs, and extra-biblical documentation, II Kings presents an important and illuminating new translation which explores a tumultuous epoch of change that forever affected theological and world history.

Mordechai Cogan is associate Professor of Bible and Biblical History at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.

Hayim Tadmor is a professor of Assyriology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Table of contents:
Preface to 2 Kings … v
Principal Abbreviations … xi
Other Abbreviations and Signs … xvi
List of Illustrations … xix
Select Bibliography … xxi

INTRODUCTION
Content … 3
Extrabiblical Documentation … 4
Philology … 7
Texts and Versions … 9
On the Translation and Commentary … 10
Outline of Historical Events … 11

2 KINGS
I. The Reign of Ahaziah (Israel) (1 Kings 22:52-54; 2 Kings 1:1) … 21
II. Elijah and Ahaziah (1:2-18) … 23
III. Elijah’s Ascent to Heaven; Succession of Elisha (2:1-18) … 30

THE ELISHA CYCLE
IV. Sweetening the Waters (2:19-22) … 36
V. Youngsters at Beth-El Punished (2:23-25) … 38
VI. Jehoram’s Campaign Against Mesha of Moab (3:1-27) … 40
VII. A Helper in Times of Distress (4:1-44) … 53
VIII. The Conversion of Naaman (5:1-27) … 61
IX. The Floating Axhead (6:1-7) … 69
X. Elisha at Dothan: The Seeing and the Blind (6:8-23) … 71
XI. A Famine in Samaria (6:24–7:20) … 76
XII. The Shunammite’s Land Claim (8:1-6) … 86
XIII. Elisha and the Kings of Damascus (8:7-15) … 89

HISTORY OF THE DIVIDED MONARCHY RESUMED
XIV. The Reign of Jehoram (Israel) (8:16-24) … 94
XV. The Reign of Ahaziah (Israel) (8:25-29) … 98
XVI. Revolt in Israel: Jehu’s Accession (9:1–10:36) … 101
XVII. Revolt in Judah: Athaliah Dethroned (11:1-20) … 124
XVIII. The Reign of Jehoash (Judah) (12:1-22) … 135
XIX. The Reign of Jehoahaz (Israel) (13:1-9) … 142
XX. The Reign of Joash (Israel) (13:10-13) … 145
XXI. A Prophecy of Victory; The Death of Elisha (13:14-25) … 147
XXII. The Reign of Amaziah (Judah) (14:1-22) … 153
XXIII. The Reign of Jeroboam II (Israel) (14:23-29) … 160
XXIV. The Reign of Azariah (Judah) (15:1-7) … 165
XXV. From Zechariah to Pekah: The Decline of Israel (15:8-31) … 169
XXVI. The Reign of Jotham (Judah) (15:32-38) … 181
XXVII. The Reign of Ahaz (Judah) (16:1-20) … 184
XXVIII. The Reign of Hoshea (Israel): The Fall of Samaria (17:1-6) … 195
XXIX. A Homily on the Fall of the Northern Kingdom (17:7-23) … 203
XXX. Samaria Resettled (17:24-41) … 208

THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH UNTIL THE EXILE
XXXI. The Reign of Hezekiah: Reform and Rebellion (18:1-12) … 215
XXXII. Sennacherib’s Campaign to Judah (18:13–19:37) … 223

Excursus. The Biblical and Assyrian Accounts of Sennacherib’s Campaign Compared

XXXIII. Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery (20:1-11) … 253
XXXIV. The Embassy of Merodach-Baladan (20:12-21) … 258
XXXV. The Reign of Manasseh (21:1-18) … 264
XXXVI. The Reign of Amon (21:19-26) … 274
XXXVII. The Reign of Josiah: The Great Reform (22:1–23:30) … 277
XXXVIII. The Reign of Jehoahaz (23:31-35) … 303
XXXIX. The Reign of Jehoiakim (23:36–24:7) … 305
XL. The Exile of Jehoiachin (24:8-17) … 310
XLI. The Reign of Zedekiah: The Fall of Jerusalem (24:18–25:21) … 315
XLII Gedaliah, A Babylonian Governor in Judah (25:22-26) … 325
XLIII Epilogue: Release of Jehoiachin (25:27-30) … 328

APPENDIXES
I A Selection of Extrabiblical Texts Relating to 2 Kings … 333
II The Chronology of the Divided Monarchy … 341
III Chronologies of the Ancient Near East … 342

1 Kings of Assyria … 342

2 Kings of Babylonia … 342

3 Kings of Egypt … 343

INDEXES … 345

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