2 Kings Resources

This site has pretty much every translation and version of the Bible you could possibly desire—except for maybe a translation into Klingon. Someone needs to get on that.

The Hasidic Jewish organization, Chabad, has muchos interesting articles on Elisha, Elijah, and other 2 Kings related characters. Explore.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/111858/jewish/The-Prophet-Elisha-Elijahs-Succesor.htm

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112074/jewish/Joram-Ahaziah-and-Joash.htm

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112315/jewish/Joash-King-of-Judea.htm

These articles from "My Jewish Learning" give some valuable, level-headed historical context and background info on 2 Kings.

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Bible/Prophets/Former_Prophets/Book_of_Kings/Elijah_and_Elisha.shtml

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Bible/Prophets/Former_Prophets/Book_of_Kings.shtml

The Grand Poobah of Catholic Theologians (or would-be Grand Poobah, if it wasn't for Thomas Aquinas) dishes out his own Jesus-intensive interpretation of the events from 2 Kings.

The Methodist theologian and founder, John Wesley, gives us his own reading of 2 Kings, at the same time, schooling y'all in what he liked to call the method.

Protestant Uber-Reformer and beard aficionado, John Calvin, offers up his own commentary on 2 Kings.

Beaches… running… a classic, synthesizer-enhanced jam… a vague allusion to 2 Kings: this is what it's all about, people. This is the real thing.

This movie has a lot less to do with the Biblical character Jezebel than you might be inclined to think. Watch out, though: Bette Davis's eyes may "look right through you."

The West Point Cadet Glee Club nails this hymn-version of Blake's great poem.

In this clip from The Fighting Temptations, Beyonce sings a classic spiritual that makes reference to Elijah's chariot, reeling in the audience in the process.

This is the best music video ever made. You should watch it. Admittedly, it doesn't have that much to do with 2 Kings except for the classic line, "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me."

You've seen the video, now bask in the pure audio version. You'll have to imagine that you're running on a beach instead of seeing it, though.

Here's another choral version of Blake's Elijah-inspired hymn. We just can't get enough.

Etta James provides another rendition of the essential American spiritual.

This might not initially seem to have literally anything to do with 2 Kings… until you keep listening and realize that they've started singing, "Swing down sweet chariot, stop / And let me ride."

Elijah ascends to heaven in style. In the mural, he rubs elbows with Jesus, a timid looking ox, and some other folks. An angel guides the chariot's reins.

As Elijah takes flight in the chariot, Elisha takes hold of his prophetic mantle—literally. He's sort of tearing it off Elijah's shoulders while Elijah begins his ascent.

Appropriately bald, Elisha is the elegant, bearded gentleman we've come to know and respect.

Screaming children run in all directions, as two bears (a little on the small side, in our opinion—they sort of look like big dogs) tackle and devour them. But some of the kids aren't deterred and go on mocking Elisha, anyway—brave, or incredibly dense?

A dead guy who accidentally gets dumped into Elisha's tomb wakes up alive and refreshed… well, okay maybe not exactly refreshed. He looks a little bedraggled. In fact, he might be asking those women for some Listerine.

In yet another old-school Dutch painting, Elisha does something unexpected. This time, he's kindly refusing gifts from Naaman after having cured him.

Well, there he is—standing around with a crown and scepter and stuff. He appears to be looking at the sun, probably in reference to the miracle where God moved the sun back and granted Hezekiah a few more years of life.

The famous illustrator Gustave Dore (who illustrated, like, everything in the nineteenth century) shows Jezebel's demise—though she isn't dead yet. Her eunuchs have just about chucked her out the window, while Jehu's men and some hungry dogs wait below.

This depiction of Jerusalem makes it look like a sort of Dr. Seuss-style city of winding walls and towers. Some of the buildings are falling, and part of the city is catching on fire as the Babylonians destroy it. Though most of it looks like it's still holding up—so far.

Michelangelo gives us a surprisingly clean-shaven Isaiah, who chats with a little angel while holding his place in a book with one of his fingers.