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2 Kings 8

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Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the Lord hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

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And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

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And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

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And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.

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And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

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And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.

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And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben–hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

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And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

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So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben–hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

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And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

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And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

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And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

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And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

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So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

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And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

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And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

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Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

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And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

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Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.

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In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

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So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.

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Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

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And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

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And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

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In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.

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Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

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And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.

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And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth–gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.

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And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

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2 Kings 8

The account of the succession of Hazael as king of Syria and Jehu as king of Israel, both anointed through Elisha's agency or direction, establishes the continuation of the prophetic initiative in shaping the political destiny of Israel and the surrounding kingdoms. The chapter opens with the account of the Shunnamite woman to whom Elisha had promised a son; Elisha advises her to leave her land because YHWH is bringing a famine. The chapter describes Elisha's intervention in the succession to the throne of Syria: Elisha indicates to Hazael that Ben-Hadad will recover from his illness, yet Elisha also indicates that Hazael will become king and will inflict terrible suffering on Israel. Elisha's weeping suggests the prophet's emotional response to the terrible consequences that must nevertheless occur. The chapter then turns to the reign of Jehoram in Judah, noting his apostasy and his marriage to the daughter of Ahab. The theological significance lies in the demonstration that Elisha's prophetic agency extends beyond Israel.

2 Kings 8:23

As for the other events of Jehoram's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? — the editorial formula directs readers to fuller records elsewhere.

2 Kings 8:24

Jehoram rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place — Jehoram's death and burial mark the end of his troubled reign. His son inherits the weakened kingdom.

2 Kings 8:25

In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah — the synchronism marks Ahaziah's accession during Israel's decline.

2 Kings 8:26

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem — the brief reign suggests instability and impending judgment.

2 Kings 8:27

His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel, and he walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, like the house of Ahab — Ahaziah's maternal connection to Ahab's dynasty determines his apostasy. The Omride influence corrupts Judah's throne.

2 Kings 8:28

He went with Joram son of Ahab to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and the Arameans wounded Joram — the military alliance joins Israel and Judah against their common enemy, yet the outcome is defeat. Joram's wounding foreshadows his death.

2 Kings 8:19

Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, as he had promised him that he would always have a lamp before him — God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 7) extends mercy to his unworthy descendant. The dynastic promise preserves Judah despite Jehoram's evil.

2 Kings 8:20

In those days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own — Jehoram's weakness enables Edom's secession from vassalage. The loss of regional control mirrors the north's fragmentation.

2 Kings 8:21

Jehoram crossed over to Zair with all his chariot force, and rose by night and broke through the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders — the military response is desperate and brave, yet ultimately unsuccessful in suppressing the rebellion.

2 Kings 8:17

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem — the length of reign and age establish the historical record, yet the brevity suggests a troubled reign.

2 Kings 8:18

He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife — Jehoram's marriage to Ahab's daughter binds him to northern apostasy. The familial tie proves spiritually toxic.

2 Kings 8:22

Still, Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day — the rebellion persists beyond Jehoram's reign. Once lost, vassalage cannot be recovered; Edom's independence marks Judah's decline.

2 Kings 8:29

King Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel because he was ill — Ahaziah's journey to Jezreel places him in proximity to the revolution about to unfold.

2 Kings 8:1

Elisha said to the Shunammite woman whose son he had restored to life: "Arise, and go with your household and sojourn wherever you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years." — the prophet warns the woman of coming judgment. The seven-year famine will devastate the land.

2 Kings 8:2

The woman arises and does as the man of God had said — her obedience to Elisha's word is immediate and complete. She takes her household into exile to escape the coming devastation.

2 Kings 8:3

At the end of seven years, the woman returns from the land of the Philistines — the exile is lengthy but temporary. Her journey to Philistine territory and back demonstrates her survival and faithfulness.

2 Kings 8:4

Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying: "Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done." — the king's curiosity about Elisha's miracles suggests a restored relationship with the prophet. Gehazi becomes the narrator of God's works.

2 Kings 8:5

Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had restored appeared before the king — the providential timing is striking. The woman's arrival interrupts the narrative with its living proof.

2 Kings 8:6

When the woman cried to the king for help about her house and land, the king appointed an official to restore all that was hers — the royal power is exercised to restore her inheritance. The Shunammite's hospitality to Elisha decades earlier finds its reward in royal justice.

2 Kings 8:7

Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill — the prophet's journey to the enemy capital indicates his spiritual authority transcends political boundaries. Even enemy rulers fall within God's prophetic concern.

2 Kings 8:8

When it was told Ben-Hadad, "The man of God has come here," the king said to Hazael: "Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, 'Shall I recover from this illness?'" — Ben-Hadad's request frames Elisha as an intermediary with the divine. The king seeks favorable prophecy.

2 Kings 8:9

So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel loads, and came and stood before him and said: "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover from this illness?'" — Hazael's approach and gift acknowledge Elisha's standing. The forty camels represent significant wealth.

2 Kings 8:10

Elisha said to him: "Go and say to him, 'You shall surely recover,' but the LORD has shown me that he shall surely die." — the prophet's dual message is cryptic: recovery is possible, yet death is certain. The contradiction allows multiple interpretations.

2 Kings 8:11

The man of God stared at him intently until he was ashamed — Elisha's gaze pierces Hazael's soul, and the prophet weeps. The tears suggest foreknowledge of Hazael's future cruelty.

2 Kings 8:12

Hazael said: "Why does my lord weep?" He answered: "Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel: you will set their fortresses on fire and kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women." — Elisha's prophecy details the atrocities Hazael will commit. The specificity of violence (fortresses burned, young men killed, infants dashed, pregnant women opened) reveals the horror of Hazael's reign.

2 Kings 8:13

Hazael said: "What is your servant, a mere dog, that he should do this great thing?" — Hazael's protestation of innocence denies capacity for such evil. Yet his question admits the prophecy's credibility.

2 Kings 8:14

Elisha answered: "The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Aram." — the prophet's pronouncement ordains Hazael's kingship. What seemed impossible becomes inevitable.

2 Kings 8:15

He departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him: "What did Elisha say to you?" He answered: "He told me that you would surely recover." But the next day he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over the king's face until he died — Hazael murders Ben-Hadad with calculated deception. The thick cloth (samlah) becomes an instrument of assassination; Hazael's hands accomplish what Elisha prophesied.

2 Kings 8:16

In the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah — the synchronism traces the succession in Judah. Jehoram ascends while Joram reigns in the north.