This book presents a historical account of the divided kingdoms of Israel in the north and Judah in the south. It demonstrates the difference between the blessings that come to those who obey God, and the tragic fate of those who refuse to obey Him.

God sent prophets to deliver His message to both the northern and southern kingdoms and He gave His prophets the ability to perform amazing miracles that demonstrated His power.

Chapters 1-17 A succession of kings in the two divided kingdoms eventually led them both into exile.

When prophet Elijah completed his ministry, God took him to heaven in a whirlwind, and God then raised up a new prophet named Elisha who asked God for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, and God granted it to him.

God then used Elisha in twice as many miracles as he had with Elijah.

The last of the evil kings was Hoshea. Because of his disobedience, God allowed the Assyrians to take the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity because they had ignored God's warnings about the coming judgment that had been foretold by the prophet Hosea.

Because the northern kingdom was more evil than the southern kingdom, it was apparently taken into a permanent captivity, because there is no record or evidence that the 10 northern tribes of Israel ever returned from exile.

Chapters 18-25 The southern kingdom also faced God's judgment. God had warned both Israel and Judah, telling them: Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes according to all the law that I commanded to your fathers, and that I sent to you through my servants the prophets.

But the evil kings stiffened their necks, as their fathers had done, and they refused to listen and heed, and they failed to believe in the Lord their God.