2 Kings8
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Now Elisha had spoken unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thy household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for Jehovah hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.
2And the woman arose, and did according to the word 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.
4Now the king was talking 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 to life him that was dead, 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.
7And 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.
8And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thy hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Jehovah by him, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
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 Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
10And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou shalt surely recover; howbeit Jehovah hath showed me that he shall surely die.
11And he settled his countenance stedfastly upon him, 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 strongholds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child.
13And Hazael said, But what is thy servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, Jehovah hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
14Then 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 wouldest surely recover.
15And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
16And 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 he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.
19Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy Judah, for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give unto him a lamp for his children alway.
20In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
21Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents.
22So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then did Libnah revolt 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.
25In 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 that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, 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 war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.
29And king Joram returned 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A famine in Israel, The Shunammite obtains her land. (1–6). Elisha consulted by Hazael, Death of Benhadad. (7–15). Jehoram's wicked reign in Judah. (16–24). Ahaziah's wicked reign in Judah. (25–29).
vv1-6
The kindness of the good Shunammite to Elisha, was rewarded by the care taken of her in famine. It is well to foresee an evil, and wisdom, when we foresee it, to hide ourselves if we lawfully may do so. When the famine was over, she returned out of the land of the Philistines; that was no proper place for an Israelite, any longer than there was necessity for it. Time was when she dwelt so securely among her own people, that she had no occasion to be spoken for to the king; but there is much uncertainty in this life, so that things or persons may fail us which we most depend upon, and those befriend us which we think we shall never need. Sometimes events, small in themselves, prove of consequence, as here; for they made the king ready to believe Gehazi's narrative, when thus confirmed. It made him ready to grant her request, and to support a life which was given once and again by miracle.
vv7-15
Among other changes of men's minds by affliction, it often gives other thoughts of God's ministers, and teaches to value the counsels and prayers of those whom they have hated and despised. It was not in Hazael's countenance that Elisha read what he would do, but God revealed it to him, and it fetched tears from his eyes: the more foresight men have, the more grief they are liable to. It is possible for a man, under the convictions and restraints of natural conscience, to express great abhorrence of a sin, yet afterwards to be reconciled to it. Those that are little and low in the world, cannot imagine how strong the temptations of power and prosperity are, which, if ever they arrive at, they will find how deceitful their hearts are, how much worse than they suspected. The devil ruins men, by saying they shall certainly recover and do well, so rocking them asleep in security. Hazael's false account was an injury to the king, who lost the benefit of the prophet's warning to prepare for death, and an injury to Elisha, who would be counted a false prophet. It is not certain that Hazael murdered his master, or if he caused his death it may have been without any design. But he was a dissembler, and afterwards proved a persecutor to Israel.
vv16-24
A general idea is given of Jehoram's badness. His father, no doubt, had him taught the true knowledge of the Lord, but did ill to marry him to the daughter of Ahab; no good could come of union with an idolatrous family.
Key Words
אֱלִישָׁע: Elisha, the famous prophet
אִשָּׁה: a woman
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
חָיָה: to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
קָרָא: to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
2 Kings 8Fulfills the commission given to Elijah at Horeb to anoint Hazael king over Syria.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of Jehoram's wicked reign in Judah and the fatal influence of Ahab's daughter.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The promise to preserve a 'light' or lamp for David in Jerusalem, preventing total destruction.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Fulfillment of Isaac's ancient prophecy that Edom would eventually break Judah's yoke from its neck.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the identity of the woman whose son Elisha previously restored to life.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Provides the crucial background context explaining Gehazi's status as a leper talking to the king.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Records the brutal realization of Elisha's prophecy concerning the terrible evil Hazael would do to Israel.
Supported by JFB
Detailed parallel of Ahaziah's reign, highlighting Athaliah's destructive, idolatrous influence as his counselor.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains the seven-year duration of the famine as Levitical escalation for Israel's persistent idolatry.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the common practice of sending elaborate presents to inquire of prophets during illness.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the self-deprecating Eastern expression 'is thy servant a dog' to denote insignificance or revulsion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the immediate historical sequel of Joram recovering in Jezreel from Hazael's wounds.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts Ben-Hadad inquiring of Yahweh with Ahaziah wickedly inquiring of Baal-zebub in sickness.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the profound prophetic grief and weeping over the impending destruction of God's people.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Chronicles parallel noting the simultaneous rebellion of Edom and Libnah from Judah's control.
Supported by Matthew Poole