Amplified Bible (AMP)

Ahaziah’s Messengers Meet Elijah

1 Now Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2 Ahaziah [the king of Israel] fell through the lattice (grid) in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became sick [from the injury]. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god ofEkron, if I will recover from this sickness.”

3 But the angel of the Lordsaid to Elijah theTishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’

4 Therefore this is what the Lordsays: ‘You [Ahaziah] will not leave the bed on which you lie, but you will certainly die.’” So Elijah departed.

5 When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he said to them, “Why have you returned [so soon]?”

6 They replied, “A man came up to meet us and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you and tell him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you send to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed on which you lie, but you will certainly die.’”’”

7 The king asked them, “What was the appearance of the man who came up to meet you and said these things to you?”

8 They answered him, “He wasahairy man with a [wide] leatherband bound around his loins.” And Ahaziah said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

9 Then the king sent to Elijah a captain of fifty with his fifty [fighting men to seize the prophet]. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of a hill. And the captain said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’”

10 Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “So if I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty [fighting men].” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11 So King Ahaziah again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty [fighting men]. And he said to him, “Man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’”

12 Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty [fighting men].” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 So Ahaziah again sent a captain of a third fifty with his fifty [fighting men]. And the third captain of fifty went up and came bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him [for compassion] and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of your servants, these fifty, be precious in your sight.

14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.”

15 The angel of the Lordsaid to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he stood and went down with him to the king.

16 Then Elijah said to Ahaziah, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Since you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, god of Ekron–is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?–therefore you will not leave the bed on which you lie, but will certainly die.’”

Jehoram Reigns over Israel

17 So Ahaziah [the son of King Ahab] died in accordance with the word of the Lordwhich Elijah had spoken. And because he had no son, Jehoram [his younger brother] became king [of Israel, the northern kingdom] in his place in thesecond year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah [the southern kingdom].

18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Elijah Taken to Heaven

1 When the Lordwas about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.

2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lordhas sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As the Lordlives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 Now thesons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lordwill take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know it; be quiet [about it].”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lordhas sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lordlives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lordwill take your master away from you today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; be quiet [about it].”

6 Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lordhas sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lordlives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood opposite them [to watch] at a distance; and the two of them stood by the Jordan.

8 And Elijah took his mantle (coat) and rolled it up and struck the waters, and they were divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 And when they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let a doubleportion of your spirit be upon me.”

10 He said, “You have asked for a difficult thing.However,if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

11 As they continued along and talked, behold, a chariot of fire with horses of fire [appeared suddenly and] separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he no longer saw Elijah. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces [in grief].

13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell off him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he too had struck the waters, they divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

15 When the sons of the prophets who were [watching] opposite at Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him [in respect].

16 Then they said to Elisha, “Behold now, there are among your servants fifty strong men; please let them go and search for your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lordhas taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not sendanyone.”

17 But when they urged him until he was embarrassed [to refuse them], he said, “Sendthem.” So they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find Elijah.

18 They returned to Elisha while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not go’?”

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, this city is in a pleasant place, as my lord [Elisha] sees; but the water is bad and the landis barren.”

20 He said, “Bring me a new jar, and putsalt in it.” So they brought it to him.

21 Then Elisha went to the spring of water and threw the salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I [not the salt] have purifiedandhealed these waters; there shall no longer be death or barrenness because of it.’”

22 So the waters have been purified to this day, in accordance with the word spoken by Elisha.

23 Then Elisha went up from Jericho toBethel. On the way, young boys came out of the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, youbaldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

24 When he turned around and looked at them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore to pieces forty-two of the boys.

25 Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Jehoram Meets Moab Rebellion

1 Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in theeighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away thesacredpillar of Baal that his father had made.

3 Nevertheless, he continued in the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.

4 Mesha the king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he used to pay [an annual tribute] to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.

5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

6 So King Jehoram left Samaria at that time and assembled all [the fighting men of] Israel.

7 Then he went and sentwordto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he replied, “I will go; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

8 Jehoram said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoshaphat answered, “The way through the Wilderness of Edom.”

9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They made a circuit of seven days’ journey, but there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.

10 Then the king of Israel said, “We are doomed, for the Lordhas called these three kings to be handed over to Moab.”

11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lordhere from whom we may inquire of the Lord?” One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, whoused to pour water over Elijah’s hands.”

12 Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lordis with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to Elisha.

13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Whatbusinessdo you have with me? Go to the prophets of your [wicked] father [Ahab] and to the prophets of your [pagan] mother [Jezebel].” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lordhas called these three kingstogetherto be handed over to Moab.”

14 Elisha said, “As the Lordof hosts (armies) lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you [king of Israel].

15 But now bring me a musician.” And it came about while the musician played, that the hand (power) of the Lordcame upon Elisha.

16 He said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Make this valley (the Arabah) full of trenches.’

17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You will not see wind or rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, so you and your cattle and yourotheranimals may drink.

18 ~‘This is but a simple thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also hand over the Moabites to you.

19 ~‘You shall strike every fortified city and every choice (principal) city, and cut down every good tree and stop up all sources of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’”

20 It happened in the morning, when the sacrifice was offered, that suddenly water came [miraculously] from the area of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

21 Now all the Moabites heard that the [three] kings had come up to fight against them, and allwho were able to put on armor, as well as those who were older, were summoned and stood [together in battle formation] at the border.

22 When they got up early thenextmorning, the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water across fromthemas red as blood.

23 And they said, “This is blood! Clearly the kings have fought together, and have killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil [and the plunder of the dead soldiers]!”

24 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land, killing the Moabites [as they went].

25 They destroyed the [walls of the] cities, and each man threw a stone on every piece of good land, covering it [with stones]. And they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees, until they leftnothingin Kir-hareseth [Moab’s capital city] but its stones. Then the [stone] slingers surrounded the city and destroyed it.

26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.

27 Then the king of Moab took hiseldest son, who was to reign in his place, andoffered him [publicly] as a burnt offering [to Chemosh] on the [city] wall [horrifying everyone]. And there was great wrath against Israel, and Israel’s allies [Judah and Edom] withdrew from King Jehoram and returned to their own land.

The Widow’s Oil

1 Now one of the wivesof a manof thesons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], saying “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the Lord; but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan].”

2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have [of value] in the house?” She said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a [small] jar of [olive] oil.”

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers–and notjusta few.

4 Then you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out [the oil you have] into all these containers, and you shall set aside each one when it is full.”

5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing herthe containersas she poured [the oil].

6 When the containers were all full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” And he said to her, “There is not a one left.” Then the oil stopped [multiplying].

7 Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

The Shunammite Woman

8 Now there came a day when Elisha went over to Shunem, where there was a prominentandinfluential woman, and she persuaded him to eat a meal. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal.

9 She said to her husband, “Behold, I sense that this is a holy man of God who frequently passes our way.

10 Please, let us make a small, fully-walled upper room [on the housetop] and put a bed there for him, with a table, a chair, and a lampstand. Then whenever he comes tovisitus, he can turn in there.”

11 One day he came there and turned in to the upper room and lay down to rest.

12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her and she stood before him.

13 Now he said to Gehazi, “Say to her now, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us; what can I do for you? Would youliketo be mentioned to the king or to the captain of the army?’” She answered, “I live among my own people [in peace and security and need no special favors].”

14 Later Elisha said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son and her husband is old.”

15 He said, “Call her.” So Gehazi called her, and she [came and] stood in the doorway.

16 Elisha said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord. O man of God, do not lie to your maidservant.”

17 But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at that season the next year, just as Elisha had said to her.

The Shunammite’s Son

18 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father, to the reapers.

19 But he said to his father, “My head, my head.” The man said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

20 When he had carried and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, andthenhedied.

21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shutthe door[of the small upper room] behind him and left.

22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may run to the man of God and return.”

23 He said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It will beall right.”

24 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Drive [the animal] fast; do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.”

25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammitewoman.

26 Please run now to meet her and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she answered, “It is well.”

27 When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is desperateandtroubled within her; and the Lordhas hiddenthe reasonfrom me and has not told me.”

28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not give me false hope’?”

29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins (prepare now!) and take my staff in your hand, and go [to the woman’s house]; if you meet any man [along the way], do not greet him and if a man greets you, do not [stop to] answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the boy [as soon as you reach the house].”

30 The mother of the child said, “As the Lordlives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So Elisha arose and followed her.

31 Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response [from the boy]. So he turned back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened (revived).”

32 When Elisha came into the house, the child was dead and lying on his bed.

33 So he went in, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.

34 Then he went up and lay on the child and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself out on himandheld him, the boy’s skin became warm.

35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up [again] and stretched himself out on him; and the boy sneezed seven times and he opened his eyes.

36 Then Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”

37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing herself to the ground [in respect and gratitude]. Then she picked up her son and left.

The Poisonous Stew

38 Elisha came back to Gilgal during a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and cook stew for the sons of the prophets.”

39 Then one [of them] went into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, although they did not knowwhat they were.

40 So they served it for the men to eat. But as they ate the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot.” And they could not eat it.

41 But he said, “Bringflour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it for the people so that they may eat.” Then there was nothing harmful in the pot.

42 Now [at another time] a man from Baal-shalisha came and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and fresh ears of grain [in the husk] in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give it to the people [affected by the famine] so that they may eat.”

43 His servant said, “How am I to set [only] this before a hundred [hungry] men?” He said, “Give it to the people so that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and havesomeleft.’”

44 So he set it before them, and they ate and leftsome, in accordance with the word of the Lord.

Naaman Is Healed

1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), wasconsidereda great man by his king, and was highly respected because through Naaman the Lordhad given victory to Aram (Syria). He was also a man of courage,but he wasaleper.

2 The Arameans (Syrians) had gone out in bands [as raiders] and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife [as a servant].

3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master [Naaman] were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”

4 Naaman went in and told his master [the king], “The girl who is from the land of Israel said such and such.”

5 Then the king of Aram (Syria) said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel (Jehoram the son of Ahab).” So he left and took with him ten talents of silver and 6,000shekelsof gold, and ten changes of clothing.

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, “And now when this letter comes to you, I will have sent my servant Naaman to you, so thatyou may heal him of his leprosy.”

7 When the king of Israel read the letter, hetore his clothes [in shock and outrage at the request] and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me [a request] to heal a man of his leprosy? Just consider [what he is asking] and see how he is seeking an opportunity [for a battle] with me.”

8 Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sentwordto the king, asking, “Why have you torn your clothes? Just let Naaman come to me, and he shall know that there is a [true] prophet in Israel.”

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha’s house.

10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you andyou willbe clean.”

11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought ‘He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lordhis God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 Then his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told youto do somegreat thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’”

14 So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was clean.

Gehazi’s Greed

15 Then Naaman returned to the man of God, he and all the people in his group, and stood before him. He said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; so now accept a blessingandgift from your servant.”

16 But Elisha said, “As the Lordlives, before whom I stand, I will accept nothing.” He urged him to take it, but Elisha refused.

17 Naaman said, “If not, then please, let your servant be given a load ofearth for a team of mules; for [from this day on] your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering nor a sacrifice to other gods, but only to the Lord, [the God of Israel].

18 In this matter may the Lordpardon your servant: when my master [the king] goes into the house of [his god] Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down in the house of Rimmon, may the Lordpardon your servant in this matter [of attending the king when he worships].”

19 Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” So Naaman departed and was a good distance away from him,

20 when Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “My master has spared this Naaman the Aramean (Syrian), by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lordlives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”

22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘Just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them atalent of silver and two changes of clothes.’”

23 Naaman said, “Please take two talents.” And he urged him [to accept], and tied up two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them in front of Gehazi.

24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house [for safekeeping]; and he sent the men away, and they left.

25 Then he went in and stood before his master. Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”

26 Elisha said to him, “Did my heart not gowith you,when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a [proper] time to accept money and clothing and olive orchards and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?

27 Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So Gehazi departed from his presence, a leperas whiteas snow.

The Axe Head Recovered

1 Now thesons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look now, the place where welive near you is too small for us.

2 Please let us go to the Jordan [River] and let each man take from there a beam [for the building]; and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” And he answered, “Go.”

3 Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” So he answered, “I shall go.”

4 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down [some of] the trees.

5 But it happened that as one was cutting down a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Oh no, my master! It was borrowed!”

6 The man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron [axe head] float.

7 He said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out with his hand and took it.

The Arameans Plot to Capture Elisha

8 Now the king of Aram (Syria) was making war against Israel, and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp shall be in such and such a place.”

9 The man of God sentwordto the king of Israel saying, “Be careful not to pass by this place, because the Arameans are pulling back to there.”

10 Then the king of Israel sentwordto the place about which Elisha had warned him; so he guarded himself there repeatedly.

11 Now the heart of the king of Aram (Syria) was enraged over this thing. He called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is helping the king of Israel?”

12 One of his servants said, “None [of us is helping him], my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send [men] and seize him.” And he was told, “He is in Dothan.”

14 So he sent horses and chariots and a powerful army there. They came by night and surrounded the city.

15 The servant of the man of God got up early and went out, and behold, there was an army with horses and chariots encircling the city. Elisha’s servant said to him, “Oh no, my master! What are we to do?”

16 Elisha answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lordopened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

18 When the Arameans came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lordand said, “Please strike this people (nation) withblindness.” And God struck them with blindness, in accordance with Elisha’s request.

19 Then Elisha said to the Arameans, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me and I will lead you to the man whom you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of thesemen,so that they may see.” And the Lordopened their eyes and they saw. Behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel (Jehoram) saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

22 Elisha answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and bow? Serve them bread and water, so that they may eat and drink, and go back to their master [King Ben-hadad].”

23 So the king prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Aram did not come into the land of Israel again.

The Siege of Samaria–Cannibalism

24 But it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) gathered his whole army together and went up and besieged Samaria.

25 Now there was a great famine in Samaria; and theybesieged it until adonkey’s head was sold for eightyshekelsof silver, and a fourth of akab ofdove’s dung for fiveshekelsof silver.

26 As the king of Israel (Jehoram) was passing by on the [city] wall a woman cried out to him, “Help, my lord, O king!”

27 He said, “If the Lorddoes not help you, from where shall I get you help? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”

28 And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son so we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’

29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give your son so that we may eat him’; but she had hidden her son.”

30 When the king heard the woman’s words, hetore his clothes–now he was still walking along on the wall–and the people looked [at him], and he had onsackcloth underneath [his royal robe] next to his skin.

31 Then he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today!”

32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Andthe kingsent a man ahead of him [to behead Elisha]; but before the messenger arrived, Elisha told the elders, “Do you see how this son of [Jezebel] a murderer has sent [a man] to remove my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it securely against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet [just] behind him?”

33 While Elisha was still talking with them, the messenger came down to him [followed by the king] and the king said, “This evil [situation] is from the Lord! Why should I wait for [help from] the Lordany longer?”

Elisha Promises Food

1 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord, ‘Tomorrow about this time ameasure of finely-milled flour will sell for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’”

2 Then the royal officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “If the Lordshould make windows in heaven [for the rain], could this thing take place?” Elisha said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but [because you doubt] you will not eat of it.”

Four Lepers Relate Arameans’ Flight

3 Now four men who werelepers were at the entrance of the [city’s] gate; and they said to one another, “Why should we sit here until we die?

4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city’–then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit still here, we will also die. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans (Syrians). If they let us live, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”

5 So they got up at twilight to go to the Aramean camp. But when they came to the edge of the camp, there was no one there.

6 For the Lordhad caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, the sound of a great army. They had said to one another, “The king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come [and fight] against us.”

7 So the Arameans set out and fled during the twilight, and left their tents, horses, and donkeys,even leftthe camp just as it was, and fled for their lives.

8 When these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried away from there silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. Then they went back and entered another tent and carried [some valuable things] from therealso, and went and hid them.

9 Then they said one to another, “We are not doing the right thing. This is a day of good news, yet we are keeping silent. If we wait until the morning light, some punishment [for not reporting this now] will come on us. So now come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, “We went to the camp of the Arameans (Syrians), and behold, there was no one there, nor the sound of man there–only the horses and donkeys tied up, and the tents [had been left] just as they were.”

11 Then the gatekeepers called out and it was reported to the king’s household inside [the city].

12 Then the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’”

13 One of his servants replied, “Please let somementake five of the horses which remain inside the city. Consider this: [if they are caught then at worst] they will be like all the people of Israel who are left in the city; [even if they are killed then] they will be like all the people of Israel who have already died. So let us send [them] and see [what happens].”

14 So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”

The Promise Fulfilled

15 They went after them to the Jordan, and all the road was entirely littered with clothing and equipment which the Arameans (Syrians) had thrown away when they hurriedly fled. And the messengers returned and told the king.

16 Then the people [of Israel] went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So [goods were so plentiful that] a measure of finely-milled flour [was sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in accordance with the word of the Lord[as spoken through Elisha].

17 Now the king had appointed the royal officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the [city] gate; and the [starving] people trampled him at the gate [as they struggled to get through for food], and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to him.

18 It happened just as [Elisha] the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley will be sold for a shekel and a measure of finely-milled flour for a shekel tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.”

19 The royal officer had answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, [even] if the Lordshould make windows in heaven, could such a thing happen?” And Elisha had answered, “You will see it with your own eyes, but [because of your doubt] you will not eat it.”

20 And so it happened to him; for the people trampled him at the gate, and he died.

The King Restores the Shunammite’s Land

1 Now Elisha had said to the [Shunammite] woman whose son he had restored to life, “Prepare and go, you and your household, andstay temporarily wherever you can; for the Lordhas called for a famine, and moreover, it will come on the land [and continue] for seven years.”

2 So the woman set out and did everything in accordance with the word of the man of God. She and her household went andstayed temporarily as foreigners 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 she went to appeal to the king [of Israel] for her house and for her land.

4 Now the king was talking withGehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.”

5 And [just] as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed 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 When the king asked the woman, she told him [everything]. So the king appointed for her a certain high official, saying, “Restore everything that was hers, including all the produce of the field since the day that she left the land until now.”

Elisha Predicts Evil from Hazael

7 Now Elisha came to Damascus, and Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) was sick; and he was told, “The man of God has come here.”

8 And the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lordby him, saying, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

9 So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took a gift with him of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ loads; and he came and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, asking, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You will certainly recover,’ but the Lordhas shown me that he will certainly die.”

11 Elisha stared steadily at Hazael until he was embarrassed, and then the man of God wept.

12 Hazael said, “Why are you weeping, my lord?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons (descendants) of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to pieces, and rip up their pregnant women.”

13 Then Hazael said, “Surely not!For what is your servant,who is nothing more thana dog, that he would do this monstrous thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lordhas shown me that you will be king over Aram.”

14 Then Hazael departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would certainly recover.”

15 But the next day Hazael took the bedspread and dipped it in water and covered the king’s face, so that he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

Another Jehoram Reigns in Judah

16 Now in the fifth year ofJoram (Jehoram) the son of Ahab king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah became king.

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

18 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for [Athaliah] the daughter of Ahab became his wife. He didevil in the sight of the Lord.

19 Yet for the sake of His servant David the Lordwas not willing to destroy Judah, since He had promised to give him a lamp (enthroned descendant) through his sons always.

20 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah, and set up a king over themselves.

21 So Jehoram [king of Judah] went over to Zair [in Edom] with all his chariots. He set out by night and struck down the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of his chariots; but the people [of his army] fled to their tents.

22 So Edom revoltedagainst Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

23 The rest of the acts of Jehoram and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah

24 Jehoram slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with them in the City of David. Ahaziah his son became king in his place.

25 In the twelfth year of Joram (Jehoram) the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.

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

27 He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the Lord, asdidthe house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.

28 Ahaziah went with Joram the son of Ahab to battle against Hazael king of Aram (Syria) in Ramoth-gilead; and 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 when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

Jehu Reigns over Israel

1 Now Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Gird up your loins (prepare for action), take this flask of oil in your hand and go to Ramoth-gilead.

2 When you arrive there, look for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and have him arise from among his brothers, and take him into an inner room.

3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee and do not delay.”

4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.

5 When he arrived, the captains of the army were sitting [outside]; and he said, “I have a message for you, O captain.” Jehu said, “To which one of us?” And he said, “For you, O captain.”

6 So Jehu got up, and they went into the house. And he poured the oil on Jehu’s head and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel.

7 ~‘You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, [who have died] at the hands of Jezebel.

8 ~‘For the entire house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free, in Israel.

9 ~‘I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

10 ~‘And the dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.

11 When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” And he said to them, “You know [very well] the man and his talk.”

12 And they said, “It is a lie; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’”

13 Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it [as a cushion] under Jehu on the top of the [outside] stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”

Jehoram (Joram) Is Assassinated

14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram [to dethrone and kill him]. Now Joram with all Israel was protecting Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram (Syria),

15 but KingJoram had returned to Jezreel to heal from the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said, “If this is your intent, let no one survive and leave the city (Ramoth-gilead) to go and tellof the planin Jezreel [the capital].”

16 So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was lying there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the crowd with Jehu as he approached, and said, “I see a company.” AndJoram said, “Send a horseman to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’”

18 So the horseman went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger approached them, but he has not returned.”

19 Then Joram sent out a second horseman, who approached them and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’” Jehu replied, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.”

20 And the watchman reported, “He approached them, but he has not returned; and the driving [of the chariot] is like that of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

21 ThenJoram said, “Harness [the chariot].” When they harnessed his chariothorses, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu and met him on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.

22 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?” And he answered, “What peace [can exist] as long as the fornications of your mother Jezebel and her sorceries are so many?”

23 So Joram reined [his chariot] around and fled, and he said to Ahaziah, “Treacheryandbetrayal, Ahaziah!”

24 But Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his shoulders; and the arrow went out through his heart and he sank down in his chariot.

25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and throw him on the property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for I remember when you and I were riding together after his father Ahab, that the Lorduttered this prophecy against him:

26 ‘I certainly saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will repay you on this property,’ says the Lord. Now then, pick him up and throw him into the property [of Naboth], in accordance with the word of the Lord.”

Jehu Assassinates Ahaziah

27 When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him too, [while he is] in the chariot.”So they shot himat the ascent to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And Ahaziah fled to Megiddo and died there.

28 Then his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him in his grave with his fathers in the City of David.

29 In the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Judah.

30 So when Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, and she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked down from the [upper] window.

31 As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, “Is it well,Zimri, your master’s murderer?”

32 Then Jehu raised his face toward the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” And two or three officials looked down at him.

Jezebel Is Killed

33 And he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her underfoot.

34 When he came in, he ate and drank, and said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.”

35 They went to bury her, but they found nothing left of her except the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.

36 So they returned and told Jehu. Then he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘In the property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel.

37 ~‘The corpse of Jezebel will be like dung on the surface of the field in the property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, “This is Jezebel.”’”