1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.
8 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?
9 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 Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
10 And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die.
11 And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
12 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.
13 And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
18 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.
19 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.
20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
21 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.
22 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
23 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?
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 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.
28 And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
29 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.
The book of 2 Kings is a continuation of the historical narrative of the Israelites, starting from the reign of King Solomon to the fall of the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Chapter 8 of this book focuses on the reign of King Joram of Judah and the prophet Elisha. It also mentions the reign of Jehu in Israel and the fate of Queen Jezebel. This chapter highlights the themes of God's faithfulness, judgment, and restoration in the lives of His people.
The chapter begins by mentioning the famine that had been going on in the land of Israel for seven years. Elisha, the prophet of God, has been instrumental in warning the people of Israel about this famine, and it is believed that he also had a role in ending it. In the midst of this famine, Elisha instructs a woman whose son he had previously resurrected to leave the land and go to the land of the Philistines for seven years. This was a time of great difficulty for the Israelites, and it was a test of their faith and obedience to God's commands.
After seven years, the woman returns to the land of Israel and appeals to the king for the restoration of her house and land. Interestingly, the king is talking to Gehazi, Elisha's servant, about the miracles that Elisha had performed. It is evident that even the king, who was not known for his faith in God, was in awe of the power of God displayed through Elisha. Gehazi shares the story of the woman and her son with the king, and he is amazed. He orders the restoration of all her possessions and the value of all the produce from the land for the past seven years.
This story highlights the faithfulness of God and His provision for His people even in the midst of trials and difficulties. The woman's obedience to Elisha's instructions and her faith in God's promises resulted in the restoration of everything she had lost during the famine. It also shows that God can use any means to provide for His people, even through a foreign land and through unlikely people like the king of Israel.
Jehoram, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, becomes the king of Israel after the death of his brother Ahaziah. He reigns for eight years and continues in the wicked ways of his parents, leading the people of Israel into idolatry and disobedience to God's commands. During his reign, Elisha visits the city of Damascus, and the king of Syria, Ben-hadad, is sick. He sends his servant Hazael to inquire from Elisha about his recovery. Elisha reveals to Hazael that Ben-hadad will die, and Hazael will become the next king of Syria.
Hazael returns to Ben-hadad and suffocates him to death, fulfilling the prophecy of Elisha. Hazael then becomes the king of Syria and wages war against Israel, causing great harm to the people of Israel. Jehoram, the king of Israel, falls sick, and his brother Jehu is anointed as the next king of Israel by Elisha. Jehu carries out God's judgment on the house of Ahab, killing Jehoram, Jezebel, and all the descendants of Ahab, fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah.
This story highlights the theme of judgment and the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. Jehoram, the king of Israel, continued in the wicked ways of his parents, and his reign brought great suffering to the people of Israel. Elisha's prophecy about Hazael becoming the king of Syria also shows that God is in control of all nations and uses them as instruments of His judgment. The anointing of Jehu as the next king of Israel also shows God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and His plan for the nation of Israel.
The chapter ends with the brief mention of the reign of Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, in Judah. He reigns for one year and continues in the wicked ways of his father and his mother Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Ahaziah is killed by Jehu, fulfilling God's judgment on the house of Ahab and Jezebel.
This story serves as a reminder of the consequences of following in the footsteps of wicked rulers and the importance of obedience to God's commands. Ahaziah's short reign also highlights the instability and chaos that comes with disobedience to God's laws and the lack of godly leadership.
Chapter 8 of 2 Kings serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness, judgment, and restoration in the lives of His people. The stories of the famine, the restoration of the woman's possessions, the anointing of Jehu, and the reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah highlight the consequences of disobedience to God's commands and the importance of faith and obedience in times of trial.
It also shows that God is in control of all nations and uses them as instruments of His judgment. The story of Hazael becoming the king of Syria and carrying out God's judgment on the house of Ahab and Jezebel is a reminder that God's plans will always come to pass, and no one can stand against His will.
Furthermore, this chapter also highlights the importance of godly leadership. The reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah in Israel and Judah brought great suffering and instability due to their disobedience to God's commands. It serves as a warning to leaders to seek God's guidance and follow His laws to bring peace and prosperity to their nations.
In conclusion, chapter 8 of 2 Kings is a reminder of God's faithfulness, judgment, and restoration in the lives of His people. It also emphasizes the consequences of disobedience to God's commands and the importance of faith and obedience in difficult times. This chapter serves as a warning to leaders and individuals to seek God's guidance and follow His laws to bring peace and stability to their lives and nations.
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