2 Kings: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (EEC)

by John Oswalt

Publisher:

Lexham Academic

, 2025

2 Kings

In this detailed commentary on 2 Kings, John N. Oswalt highlights the prophetic value of Old Testament narrative. The kings of Israel and Judah persist in ignoring God’s word. Faithful to his word, God brings judgment on the north and the south. But despite Israel’s covenant failure, 2 Kings ends with a flicker of hope that God will fulfill his word to David. Oswalt explains the book of 2 Kings and reveals its prophetic voice for modern life.

Praise for 1 & 2 Kings

The key to the message of 1–2 Kings is found not in tedious summaries of kings’ reigns but in the living voices of prophets who served as the divinely inspired conscience in their courts and to the nation[s]. This commentary on Scripture reads and writes with prophetic passion; this is evangelical and biblical scholarship for the church at its finest.

—Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Wheaton College

Few rival Oswalt’s ability to speak plainly about even the most complex truths. Oswalt leverages that skill to craft a commentary that productively wrestles with the Hebrew text without leaving anyone behind. Oswalt’s love for Scripture and care for the church shine through on every single page.

—Michelle Knight, associate professor of Old Testament and semitic languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

What an achievement! John Oswalt’s volumes on 1­–2 Kings showcase the characteristics that make him one of the best commentators of his generation: the integration of exegetical insights into an explanation of the whole passage in a way that brings out the message of Scripture. Pastors and students will no doubt treasure Oswalt’s commentary.

—Andrew T. Abernethy, professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College

If you’ve read Oswalt’s work, this project will not surprise. He never fails to move beyond the historical and scholarly conversations to consider the theological import of whatever he’s discussing. For those who believe that discussions about the book of Kings have been tainted by bland historical-critical conversations, this commentary offers an up-to-date, well informed voice that bucks those trends and challenges some of the most dominant assumptions.

—David B. Schreiner, associate professor of Old Testament and inductive biblical studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

Evangelical Exegetical Commentary series

The Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (EEC) series is a premier biblical commentary rooted in the original text of Scripture. Incorporating the latest in critical biblical scholarship and written from a distinctly evangelical perspective, each comprehensive volume features a remarkable amount of depth, providing historical and literary insights, and addressing exegetical, pastoral, and theological details. Readers will gain a full understanding of the text and how to apply it to everyday life.

Learn more about the other titles in this series.

Product Details

• Title: 2 Kings: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (EEC)
• Author: John N. Oswalt
• Editors: Tremper Longman III, David T. Lamb
• Series: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (EEC)
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2025
• Page Count: 560
• Format: Logos Digital, Hardcover
• Trim Size: 6x9
• ISBN: 9781683598343

About John Oswalt

Dr. John Oswalt returned to the Asbury Theological Seminary faculty in 2009 as visiting distinguished professor of Old Testament. He served as research professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., since 1999. Prior to that, he was professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Asbury Seminary from 1989 to 1999. This was his second term on Asbury Seminary’s faculty, having first served from 1970 to 1982. In the interim, he was president of Asbury College from 1983 to 1986 and a member of the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., from 1986 to 1989. Oswalt received a B.A. from Taylor University; a B.D. and Th.M. from Asbury Seminary; and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Brandeis University. His writings have appeared in Bible encyclopedias, scholarly journals and popular religious periodicals. Many of his these articles have dealt with the application of Biblical teachings to modern ethical questions. He has written eight books. His most recent book is a study of I John, entitled On Being a Christian (Francis Asbury Press, 2008). He was the Old Testament editor of the Wesley Bible, a study Bible from the Wesleyan perspective published by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 1990. He also served as consulting editor for the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (Zondervan, 1997). He was a member of the New International Version translation team, and is currently one of a six-member editorial team that has revised the Living Bible (New Living Translation, 1996), and is continuing the revision process with Tyndale House Publishers. Oswalt is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, with membership in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He has served as a part-time pastor to congregations in New England and Kentucky, and is a frequent speaker in conferences, camps and local churches. He is married to the former Karen Kennedy, and they have three children and two grandchildren.