2 Kings 8

King James Version

Full text for 2 Kings Chapter 8

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.

2And 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.

3And 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.

4And 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.

5And 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.

6And 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.

8And 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?

9So 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?

10And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

11And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

12And 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.

13And 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.

14So 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.

15And 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.

17Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

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 he did evil in the sight of the LORD.

19Yet 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.

20In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

21So 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.

22Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

23And 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?

24And 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.

26Two 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.

27And 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.

28And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.

29And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with Elisha advising the Shunammite woman, whose son he had revived, to flee a coming seven-year famine. After her return, she appeals to the king for her land, and coincidentally, Gehazi is recounting Elisha's miracles, leading the king to restore all her property. Elisha then journeys to Damascus, where the ailing King Benhadad of Syria sends Hazael to inquire about his recovery. Elisha reveals Benhadad will die despite a potential recovery, and weeps as he prophesies Hazael's future reign and his brutal acts against Israel. Hazael subsequently murders Benhadad and assumes the throne. The narrative shifts to the reign of Jehoram, king of Judah, who walked in the wicked ways of Ahab's house, and during whose time Edom successfully revolted. His son, Ahaziah, then reigns for one year, also following Ahab's evil example, and is found visiting Joram of Israel, who was wounded in battle against Hazael.

Long Summary

Second Kings chapter eight begins with the prophet Elisha instructing the Shunammite woman, whose son he had previously restored to life, to depart with her household due to an impending seven-year famine. She obeys, sojourning in the land of the Philistines for the duration of the famine. Upon her return, she seeks an audience with the king to reclaim her house and land. Providentially, as she approaches, the king is conversing with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, who is recounting Elisha's great deeds, including the revival of her son. Recognizing her, the king confirms her story and orders the full restoration of her property and all its produce. The narrative then shifts to Elisha's journey to Damascus, where King Benhadad of Syria is gravely ill. Benhadad sends Hazael, a high-ranking official, with a lavish gift to inquire of Elisha whether he would recover. Elisha informs Hazael that Benhadad could recover from his illness, but simultaneously reveals that the LORD has shown him Benhadad will surely die. Elisha then fixes his gaze upon Hazael and weeps, explaining that he foresees the terrible evil Hazael will inflict upon the children of Israel, including burning their strongholds, slaying their young men, and committing atrocities against their women and children. Hazael expresses shock at the prophecy, but Elisha declares that the LORD has shown him Hazael will become king over Syria. Hazael returns to Benhadad, falsely reporting that Elisha said he would recover, but on the morrow, he smothers the king with a wet cloth, thus usurping the throne. The chapter concludes with an account of the kings of Judah. Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, begins his reign over Judah, ruling for eight years. He is described as walking in the wicked ways of the kings of Israel, specifically the house of Ahab, due to his marriage to Ahab's daughter. Despite his wickedness, the LORD preserves Judah for the sake of His covenant with David. During Jehoram's reign, Edom successfully revolts from Judah's dominion, establishing its own king, and Libnah also revolts. Jehoram dies and is buried, succeeded by his son Ahaziah, who reigns for only one year. Ahaziah also follows the evil example of the house of Ahab, being their son-in-law. The chapter ends with Ahaziah visiting Joram, king of Israel, who had been wounded in battle against Hazael of Syria at Ramothgilead.

Core Concepts

  • Divine ProvidenceThe LORD's foresight is demonstrated through Elisha's warning of a famine and the timely coincidence of the Shunammite woman's appeal to the king, leading to the restoration of her property.
  • Prophetic ForetellingElisha exhibits his prophetic gift by accurately predicting King Benhadad's death and Hazael's violent usurpation of the Syrian throne, along with Hazael's future brutal actions against Israel.
  • Usurpation and TreacheryHazael's actions exemplify usurpation and treachery as he murders King Benhadad to seize the throne, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy concerning his rise to power.
  • Consequences of WickednessThe reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah of Judah illustrate the negative spiritual and political consequences for kings who "did evil in the sight of the LORD" by following the idolatrous practices of the house of Ahab.
  • Covenant FaithfulnessDespite the wickedness of King Jehoram, the LORD's promise to David is highlighted as the reason Judah is not destroyed, demonstrating God's enduring covenant faithfulness.
  • Rebellion and Loss of DominionThe successful revolt of Edom and Libnah from Judah's control during Jehoram's reign signifies a weakening of Judah's power and a consequence of the king's unrighteousness.