Old Testament

II Kings

Second Kings, twenty-five chapters, goes on to tell
The tale, from First Kings, of Judah and Israel.
Elijah's chariot-driv'n to heav'n by whirlwind,
Elisha's giv'n his mantle, double anointing.
He raises the dead to life, and, 'mongst other things,
Makes an axe float, calls down fire, and frightens kings.
E'en Elisha's dead bones raised a corpse to life,
A foreshadowing of the ministry of Christ!
Good Kings bring peace, bad: Israel's idolatry
And God-provoked Assyrian captivity.
In the Kingdom of Judah, to their equal shame,
God lets the Babylonians punish the same.