2 Kings 15: Group Study Handout

How to use: read 2 Kings 15 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Azariah, son of Amaziah, began to reign in Judah at sixteen years old and ruled for fifty-two years (vv. 1-2). He did right in Yahweh's eyes but did not remove the high places where people still sacrificed (vv.

Key verse

“Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?”
2 Kings 15:6 (WEB)

Outline

2 Kings 15:1–7 Azariah's Reign in Judah
2 Kings 15:8–12 Zechariah's Brief Rule
2 Kings 15:13–21 Menahem's Cruelty and Assyria
2 Kings 15:22–31 Pekahiah and Pekah's Leadership
2 Kings 15:32–38 Jotham's Reign and Challenges

Discussion questions

In v5, why does Yahweh strike Azariah with leprosy?
What do the high places in vv. 4 and 35 signify about the kings' faithfulness?
In v9, Zechariah does 'evil' in Yahweh's sight: what does this imply about his leadership?
Shallum's conspiracy in v10 raises questions: what motives might drive his actions against Zechariah?
When have you encountered a leader who acts in ways similar to the kings in this chapter?

Go deeper

Passages that echo 2 Kings 15: 1 Chronicles 5, 2 Kings 14, 2 Kings 16.

Before next time: read 2 Kings 16.