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 Ben-hadad 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 inquire 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 Ben-hadad 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 shewed 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 shewed 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 Ramoth-gilead; 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.

1Then spake Elisha vnto the woman ( whose sonne he had restored to life) saying, Arise, and goe thou and thine housholde, and soiourne whersoeuer thou canst soiourne: for the Lord hath called for a famin, and it shall also come vpon the land seuen yeeres.

2And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her housholde, and soiourned in the land of the Philistines seuen yeeres.

3And it came to passe at the seuen yeeres ende, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went foorth to crie vnto the king for her house, and for her land.

4And the king talked with Gehazi the seruant of the man of God, saying, Tell mee, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.

5And it came to passe as he was telling the King how hee had restored a dead body to life, that behold, the woman whose sonne he had restored to life, cryed 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 sonne, whom Elisha restored to life.

6And when the king asked the woman, shee tolde him. So the King appointed vnto her a certaine officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruites of the field, since the day that she left the land, euen till now.

7 And Elisha came to Damascus, and Benhadad the king of Syria was sicke, and it was tolde him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

8And the king said vnto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and goe meete the man of God, and enquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recouer of this disease?

9So Hazael went to meete him, and tooke a present with him, euen of euery good thing of Damascus, fourtie camels burden, and came, and stood before him, and said, Thy sonne Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recouer of this disease?

10And Elisha said vnto him, Goe, say vnto him, Thou mayest certeinly recouer: howbeit, the Lord hath shewed me, that he shall surely die.

11And hee setled his countenance stedfastly, vntill he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

12And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the euill that thou wilt doe vnto 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 vp their women with childe.

13And Hazael said, But what, is thy seruant a dogge, that he should doe this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed mee that thou shalt be king ouer Syria.

14So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who saide to him, What said Elisha to thee? and hee answered, He told me that thou shouldst surely recouer.

15And it came to passe on the morrow, that he tooke a thicke cloth, and dipt it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.

16 And in the fifth yeere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab king of Israel, Iehoshaphat being then king of Iudah, Iehoram the sonne of Iehoshaphat king of Iudah began to reigne.

17Thirtie and two yeeres old was he when he began to reigne, and hee reigned eight yeeres in Ierusalem.

18And 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 hee did euill in the sight of the Lord.

19Yet the Lord would not destroy Iudah, for Dauid his seruants sake, as hee promised to giue to him alway a light, and to his children.

20 In his dayes Edom reuolted from vnder the hand of Iudah, and made a king ouer themselues.

21So Ioram went ouer to Zair, and all the charets with him, and hee rose by night, and smote the Edomites, which compassed him about: and the captaines of the charets, and the people fled into their tents.

22Yet Edom reuolted from vnder the hand of Iudah vnto this day. Then Libnah reuolted at the same time.

23And the rest of the actes of Ioram, and all that hee did, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the kings of Iudah?

24And Ioram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid: And Ahaziah his sonne reigned in his stead.

25 In the twelfth yeere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab, king of Israel, did Ahaziah, the sonne of Iehoram king of Iudah, begin to reigne.

26Two and twentie yeeres old was Ahaziah when he began to reigne, and he reigned one yeere in Ierusalem, and his mothers name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

27And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did euill in the sight of the Lord, as did the house of Ahab: for hee was the sonne in law of the house of Ahab.

28 And he went with Ioram the sonne of Ahab, to the warre against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth Gilead, and the Syrians wounded Ioram.

29And king Ioram went backe to be healed in Iezreel, of the woundes which the Syrians had giuen him at Ramah, when hee fought against Hazael king of Syria: And Ahaziah the son of Iehoram king of Iudah, went downe to see Ioram the sonne of Ahab in Iezreel, because he was sicke.

I == 2nd Kings 4:35; Ps 105:16 ; Hag 1:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV == 2nd Kings 5:27

 

V == 2nd Kings 4:35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIII == 1st Sa 9:7 ; 1st Kings 14:3 ; 19:15 ; 2nd Kings 1:2 ; 5:5

 

 

 

 

 

X == 2nd Kings 8:15

 

XI == Luke 19:41

 

XII == 2nd Kings 10:32 ; 12:17 ; 13:3 , 7 ; 15:16 ; Hos 13:16 ; Amos 1:3 , 13

 

 

XIII == 1st Sam 17:43 ; 1st Kings 19:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVI == 2nd Chr 21:3-4

 

XVII == 2nd chr 21:5

 

XVIII == 2nd Kings 8:26

 

 

XIX == 2nd Sam 7:13 ; 1st Kings 11:36 ; 15:4 ; 2nd Chr 21:7

 

XX == Gen 27:40 ; 1st Kings 22:47 ; 2nd Kings 3:27 ; 2nd Chr 21:8-10

 

 

 

XXII == Gen 27:40 ; 2nd Chr 21:10

 

 

 

XXIV == 2nd Chr 21:17 ; 22:1 , 6 ; 25:23

 

 

 

XXVI == 2nd Kings 8:18 ; 2nd chr 22:2

 

 

XXVII == 2nd Chr 22:3-4

 

 

XXVIII == 2nd Chr 22:5

 

XXIX == 2nd Kings 8:28 ; 9:15-16 ; 2nd Chr 22:6-7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Elisha once said to the woman whose son he had restored to life: "Get ready! Leave with your family and settle wherever you can, because the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine which is coming upon the land."

2 The woman got ready and did as the man of God said, setting out with her family and settling in the land of the Philistines for seven years.

3 At the end of the seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines and went out to the king to claim her house and her field.

4 The king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. "Tell me," he said, "all the great things that Elisha has done."

5 Just as he was relating to the king how his master had restored a dead person to life, the very woman whose son Elisha had restored to life came to the king to claim her house and field. "My lord king," Gehazi said, "this is the woman, and this is that son of hers whom Elisha restored to life."

6 The king questioned the woman, and she told him her story. With that the king placed an official at her disposal, saying, "Restore all her property to her, with all that the field produced from the day she left the land until now."

7 Elisha came to Damascus at a time when Ben-hadad, king of Aram, lay sick. When he was told that the man of God had come there,

8 the king said to Hazael, "Take a gift with you and go call on the man of God. Have him consult the LORD as to whether I shall recover from this sickness."

9 Hazael went to visit him, carrying a present, and with forty camel loads of the best goods of Damascus. On his arrival, he stood before the prophet and said, "Your son Ben-hadad, king of Aram, has sent me to ask you whether he will recover from his sickness."

10 "Go and tell him," Elisha answered, "that he will surely recover. However, the LORD has showed me that he will in fact die."

11 Then he stared him down until Hazael became ill at ease. The man of God wept,

12 and Hazael asked, "Why are you weeping, my lord?" Elisha replied, "Because I know the evil that you will inflict upon the Israelites. You will burn their fortresses, you will slay their youth with the sword, you will dash their little children to pieces, you will rip open their pregnant women."

13 Hazael exclaimed, "How can a dog like me, your servant, do anything so important?" "The LORD has showed you to me as king over Aram," replied Elisha.

14 Hazael left Elisha and returned to his master. "What did Elisha tell you?" asked Ben-hadad. "He told me that you would surely recover," replied Hazael.

15 The next day, however, Hazael took a cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king's face, so that he died. And Hazael reigned in his stead.

16 In the fifth year of Joram, son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, became king.

17 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

18 He conducted himself like the kings of Israel of the line of Ahab, since the sister of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the LORD'S sight.

19 Even so, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, because of his servant David. For he had promised David that he would leave him a lamp in the LORD'S presence for all time.

20 During Jehoram's reign, Edom revolted against the sovereignty of Judah and chose a king of its own.

21 Thereupon Jehoram with all his chariots crossed over to Zair. He arose by night and broke through the Edomites when they had surrounded him and the commanders of his chariots. Then his army fled homeward.

22 To this day Edom has been in revolt against the rule of Judah. Libnah also revolted at that time.

23 The rest of the acts of Jehoram, with all that he did, are recorded in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah.

24 Jehoram rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.

25 Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, king of Judah, became king in the twelfth year of Joram, son of Ahab, king of Israel.

26 He was twenty-two years old when he began his reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was daughter of Omri, king of Israel.

27 He conducted himself like the house of Ahab, doing evil in the LORD'S sight as they did, since he was related to them by marriage.

28 He joined Joram, son of Ahab, in battle against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth-gilead, where the Arameans wounded Joram.

29 King Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah in his battle against Hazael, king of Aram. Then Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to Jezreel to visit him there in his illness.

v 1,2. This is the same Shunamite woman as in chapter four, whose son had died and been restored to life at Elisha’s prayer. He has gone back and instructed her to move elsewhere during the seven years of drouth which would follow, and they did.

V 3-7. At the end of the seven years with the Philistines, she came to appeal to the king that others had taken over her land. The king was inquiring as a matter of curiosity concerning Elisha’s miracles, and in God’s timing, Gehazi had just been telling the king about the restoration of this woman’s son to life. The king got the same story from the woman, and assigned an officer to see that she got everything restored that was due her. (This is not in chronological order if Gehazi is not yet a leper.)

v 8-12. Elisha wandered far at God’s command, and ended up in Damascus. Ben-hadad was sick and sent his captain, Hazael with a bountiful present to ask Elisha if the king would recover. Elisha probably refused the gift, but told him the king could recover but he would die. He began to be sorrowful and wept until Hazael asked him to proceed. He then explained he was weeping because of all the destruction Hazael would bring upon the Israelites. This was a cruel thing of some countries to rip up pregnant women. Even Israel’s King Menahem did this, 2 Ki. 15:16.

v 13-15. Hazael acted insulted and suggested he would be a dog to do the things Elisha said. However, he went home and told the king he would recover, but he must have already had designs on the throne, because the next day he smothered the king. He may have already been anointed by Elijah, 1 Ki. 19:15 or this may have been considered it, but at any rate, he wasn’t going to wait for God to remove Ben-hadad.

v 16-19. The narrative shifts to the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram.  This is quite confusing because the kings of Israel and Judah both have the name. This is the Jehoram that Jehoshaphat had given to Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah, as a marriage alliance. This is another warning against believers marrying unbelievers. She caused him to do great evil, but the Lord did not destroy Judah for David’s sake. 2 Chr. 21:1-7 adds information here and to 1 Ki. 22:50. Jehoshaphat had given all his sons wealth and cities, but he had given Jehoram, his firstborn, the kingdom. As Jehoram increased in power, he killed those who might pose a threat to his kingdom, including all his brothers ( probably jealous because, they were better than him, v 13). The reason, very simply, was that he had married Ahab and Jezebel’s wicked daughter, Athaliah, and she influenced him into sinful behavior.

v 20-22. Edom had surrounded Joram, but he surprise attacked at night and threw them off, but could not get them under control. Libnah also revolted because he had forsaken the Lord, built high places, and led Judah to sin. Read 2 Chr. 21:8-11. 

v 23-27.  Insert here comments from 2 Chr. 21:12-20.
2 Chr. 21:12-15. This part of history is out of context because it is presumed Elijah was translated before this. It may be that Elijah was writing prophetically and left this letter with Elisha to be delivered at a later time. At any rate, plague came upon the people and his family because they were participants in his sin. However, he was responsible, and the loathsome bowel disease came upon him only.
2 Chr. 21:16,17. God instigated his enemies to bypass the other people and seek only the family and possessions of Jehoram. As he had killed all his brothers, the enemy now carries off and kills, 22:1, all his sons but Jehoahaz. He was also called Ahaziah, 22:1, and was spared only because of God’s promise to David.
2 Chr. 21:18-20. Jehoram’s loathsome disease made him even more repulsive to the people, and he died a lonely man and with an ignoble burial for a king.
In 2 Chr. 22.v 1-4. Ahaziah’s age, 42, is a scribal error, as he was only 22, 2 Ki. 8:26. Athaliah was the granddaughter of Omri. Not only did she teach her son to sin, but her other relatives, the in-laws, did too.

v 28,29. Because of their influence, he assisted Joram of Israel in the defense of Ramoth-gilead against Hazael. Joram was wounded and later Ahaziah came to see his uncle, Athaliah’s brother, where he had gone to Jezreel to recover. This visit was part of God’s timing for the destruction of wicked young Ahaziah.  It is important to the setting of chapter 9.