2 Kings8

Elisha warns a Shunammite woman of a seven-year famine, prompting her to sojourn, and upon her return, the king restores her property. Elisha then travels to Damascus, where he prophesies King Benhadad's death and Hazael's violent succession and future atrocities against Israel, which Hazael promptly fulfills. The chapter concludes by detailing the wicked reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, both of whom followed the evil ways of Ahab's house. During Jehoram's reign, Edom successfully revolts from Judah's control.

Listen to this chapter

The Shunammite Woman's Land Restored

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”

So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines.

At the end of seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to the king to appeal for her house and her land.

Now the king had been speaking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things Elisha has done.”

And Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life. Just then the woman whose son Elisha had revived came to appeal to the king for her house and her land. So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life.”

When the king asked the woman, she confirmed it. So the king appointed for her an officer, saying, “Restore all that was hers, along with all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the country until now.”

Elisha Prophesies Hazael's Reign

Then Elisha came to Damascus while Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God has come here.”

So the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift in your hand, go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel loads of every good thing from Damascus. And he went in and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.”

Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep.

“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”

“But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael. And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”

So Hazael left Elisha and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he replied, “He told me that you would surely recover.”

But the next day Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face. So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned in his place.

Jehoram Reigns in Judah

In the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat succeeded his father as king of Judah.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

Yet for the sake of His servant David, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king.

So Jehoram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked by night. His troops, however, fled to their homes.

So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.

As for the rest of the acts of Jehoram, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

And Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.

Ahaziah Reigns in Judah

In the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

And Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.

Then Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and the Arameans wounded Joram.

So King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.

Study Notes for 2 Kings 8

Verse 1

Elisha instructs the woman to flee a coming seven-year famine, demonstrating his prophetic foresight and ongoing care for those who serve him. The famine is described as 'called for' by the LORD, indicating divine judgment or sovereign control over natural events.

Verse 4

The king’s conversation with Gehazi, Elisha’s former servant (who had been cursed with leprosy in 2 Kgs 5), suggests that either Gehazi was still accessible to the king, or this conversation took place chronologically before his judgment, though placed here to complete the Shunammite narrative.

Verse 5

The timing of the woman’s appeal, coinciding exactly with Gehazi recounting the miracle of her son’s resurrection, highlights divine providence at work to ensure the restoration of her property.

Verse 6

The king’s decree goes beyond simply restoring the land; he commands the restoration of all the profits and fruits of the field for the entire seven-year period, demonstrating a complete measure of restitution.

Verse 7

Elisha travels to Damascus, the capital of Syria (Aram), indicating that his prophetic ministry and reputation extended even into enemy territories. Benhadad, the Syrian king, seeks Elisha’s guidance regarding his illness.

Verse 9

The lavish gift of forty camel-loads emphasizes the wealth of Damascus and the seriousness with which Hazael, Benhadad’s chief minister, took the prophet’s counsel.

Verse 10

Elisha gives a cryptic, two-part answer: Benhadad’s illness is not fatal, but the LORD has revealed that he will die by other means. This sets up the immediate context for regicide.

Verse 11

Elisha stares intently at Hazael until the Syrian official is uncomfortable, then weeps. This weeping is a profound expression of prophetic sorrow, signaling the terrible suffering Hazael would inflict upon Israel.

Verse 12

Elisha foretells the horrific atrocities Hazael will commit against Israel. This prophecy fulfills the divine commission originally given to Elijah to anoint Hazael as king of Syria (1 Kgs 19:15).

Verse 13

Hazael’s rhetorical question ('is thy servant a dog?') feigns shock at the idea of such cruelty, yet Elisha confirms that God has chosen him specifically to be the next king of Syria.

Verse 15

Hazael immediately fulfills the prophecy by assassinating Benhadad. This regicide establishes Hazael as a new, formidable enemy of Israel, marking a major turning point in regional power dynamics.

Verse 16

This verse marks a transition from the Elisha narratives back to the standard historical summary of the kings of Judah and Israel. Note that both kings ruling simultaneously are named Joram/Jehoram, requiring careful attention to context.

Verse 18

Jehoram's marriage to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, cemented a dangerous political alliance and introduced the idolatry and wickedness of the Omride dynasty into the southern kingdom of Judah.

Verse 19

This verse provides a crucial theological explanation for Judah’s survival despite the king's apostasy. God preserved the kingdom not because of the present king, but because of the everlasting covenant promise made to David (2 Sam 7) regarding his perpetual 'light' or royal line.

Verse 20

Edom’s successful revolt signified a major geopolitical setback for Judah, which had controlled Edom since the time of David. This loss of territory and trade routes weakened Jehoram’s reign.

Verse 22

The phrase 'unto this day' indicates that the revolt was permanent from the perspective of the biblical author. Libnah, a city in the Judean lowlands, revolted concurrently, showing internal instability and widespread loss of control.

Verse 26

Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, is identified as a daughter of Omri (grandfather of Ahab), emphasizing her deep roots in the wicked northern dynasty. Her influence ensured Ahaziah continued the apostate path.

Verse 28

Ahaziah maintains the military alliance with Israel, joining Joram (of Israel) to fight against the newly enthroned and dangerous Hazael of Syria at Ramoth-gilead.

Verse 29

The alliance between the two kingdoms is reaffirmed by Ahaziah’s visit to the wounded Joram in Jezreel. This close association sets the stage for the dramatic events of the next chapter (2 Kgs 9), where both kings will face judgment.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

2 Kings8

The Shunammite Woman's Land Restored

Elisha Prophesies Hazael's Reign

Jehoram Reigns in Judah

Ahaziah Reigns in Judah

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options