Melachim Bet (II Kings) is the second part of Sefer Melachim, the fourth book of Neviim (the Prophets). It continues the story of the kings of Yisrael and Yehudah (Judah) from the death of King Achav (Ahab) to the end of both kingdoms (Israel and Yehudah), when Shomron (Samaria) falls to Ashur (Assyria) and Bavel (Babylon) destroys Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and the Beit HaMikdash (the Holy Temple).
King Achazyahu (Ahaziah), son of Achav, turns to Baal Zevuv and dies, as Eliyahu (Elijah) foretold. Eliyahu is taken up to the heavens in a storm, and Elisha, the disciple of Eliyahu, takes up his mantle. Elisha revives the son of the Shunamit woman, and Naaman, the commander of Aram, is cured of tzaraat in the Yarden (Jordan) at his word.
Yehu (Jehu) ben Nimshi is anointed king of Yisrael and wipes out the house of Achav, killing Yehoram son of Achav, Izevel (Jezebel) and the servants of the Baal. In Yehudah, Atalyah (Athaliah), daughter of Achav and mother of Achazyahu king of Yehudah, kills the royal family and seizes the throne. Only the infant Yoash son of Achazyahu is hidden, and after six years Yehoyada the kohen (priest) crowns him.
The kings of Yisrael, Yehu among them, keep the golden calves of Yeravam (Jeroboam) at Beit El and Dan. In the days of Hoshea, Ashur captures Shomron and exiles the ten shevatim (tribes). The Navi explains that Bnei Yisrael served avodah zarah (idol worship) and ignored the neviim Hashem sent to warn them.
In Yehudah, King Chizkiyahu (Hezekiah), son of Achaz, trusts in Hashem. When Sancheriv (Sennacherib) of Ashur threatens Yerushalayim, Chizkiyahu davens, and a malach (angel) of Hashem strikes the camp of Ashur, as Yeshayahu (Isaiah) the navi promised. Menasheh (Manasseh), son of Chizkiyahu, brings idols into the Beit HaMikdash and fills Yerushalayim with innocent blood, and Hashem decrees the city's destruction.
Yoshiyahu (Josiah), son of Amon and grandson of Menasheh, finds a Sefer Torah in the Beit HaMikdash and clears the land of idols, but the decree stands. Nevuchadnetzar (Nebuchadnezzar) king of Bavel exiles King Yehoyachin (Jehoiachin), and later his army burns the Beit HaMikdash and Yehudah goes into exile. In Bavel, Yehoyachin is released from prison and given a place of honor.
Melachim Bet has twenty-five perakim. Five haftarot are read from this sefer, for Parshat Vayeira, Tazria, Metzora and Shekalim, and for the second day of Pesach (outside Israel).