Ahaziah’s Reign In Judah

II Kings 8:22-29

“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.  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.” (II Kings 8:25-26) 

“And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.  Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.” (II Chronicles 22:1-2)

When Jehoram or Joram, king of Judah died during the twelfth  year of Jehorm or Joram of Israel’s reign, the people in Jerusalem made his youngest son Jehoahaz, also known as Ahaziah king in his place because all his other sons had been killed during the Arabian invasion.  His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and granddaughter of Omri.  In Hebrew  the word used refers to any female descendant.  The translators simply translated it exactly, without adding the qualifying ‘grand’.  Unfortunately, in English that can cause confusion.

In Hebrew writing, it is very easy to confuse numbers, and while II Kings says Ahaziah was twenty two when he became king, II Chronicles says he was forty two.  Since we know that his father was thirty two when he became king and reigned eight years, he was only forty when he died and it is impossible for his youngest son to be forty two.  The discrepancy probably arises from a clerical error in copying the records.  It raises no doubt of the validity of the story.

“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.” (II Kings 8:27) 

“He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.  Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.” (II Chronicles 22:3-4)

The word translated son -in-law is correctly translated.  Whether a scribe incorrectly substituted it for the word meaning a grandson, or whether he actually married one of his mother’s sisters or half sisters is not known, but considering Ahab and Jezebel’s attitude toward God’s commands either is possible.

Coming to the throne as a very young man, Jehoahaz depended on his mother Athaliah  and his uncle Joram, king of Israel for advice, even adopting their older brother’s name for himself.  His administration was patterned on the of king Ahab as a result.  His father had done the same thing and the people were glad when he died, but Ahaziah did not recognize that it was the cause of his father’s problems.  He would only reign about a year.

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

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.” (II Kings 8:28-29a)


Following Athaliah’s and Jehoram’s advice, Ahaziah went with Jehoram to fight against Hazael, the Syrian king who had taken over Ramothe Gilead.  Jehoram was wounded in the battle and was forced to return to Jezreel to recover, and Ahaziah returned home.

“And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.” (II Kings 29b)

 “And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.” (II Chronicles 22:7)

 Almost twenty five years before, God had commanded Elijah to annoint Jehu as king over Israel to destroy Ahab’s family.  Although Jehoram was still suffering from his wounds by the Syrians, when Ahaziah came to see him, he enlisted his help in an effort to destroy Jehu.  It was God’s plan to eliminate Ahaziah.

It is interesting that his uncle whose name he took only reigned about two years in Israel, and Ahaziah only reigned in Judah about a year.

God’s Judgment On Jehoram

II Kings 8:23-24

“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?” (II Kings 8:23)

While Judah had had kings who did wickedly in worshipping other gods and and ignoring his law, Jehoram was the first to go to such extremes of evil, even murdering his own family.  II Chronicles 21 gives additional details of his reign.

“Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.” (II Chronicles 21:11)

Like many wicked people, Jehoram wasn’t content to do wrong himself.  He actively tried to involve others in his sin.  He rebuilt the high places his father and grandfather had destroyed, encouraging the people to resume the old religions, which a far more promiscuous moral standard.  He caused the people of Jerusalem to get involved in sexual sin, much like our present day American culture.  He even went so far as to force people in other areas into similar sins to satisfy government officials.

“And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself: Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.” (II Kings 21:12-15)

God was angered by Jehoram’s wickedness and his deliberately getting others involved, and especially since his father and grandfather had taught him better.  He knew how God had blessed them for doing right, and had deliberately chosen the opposite.  While Jehoshaphat had set a bad example in associating himself with Ahab and his family, It was wholly Jehoram’s choice to emulate them.

As a result of his sin, a great plague would kill many of his people, even including his own wives and children.  In addition, he would have a disease, perhaps some kind of an intestinal or colon cancer that finally would result in his intestines falling out.

Here we have also another copying error.  Elijah had been dead for several years by this time and the prophet was Elisha instead.  Just as in English, there is only a very small difference in spelling.  That such errors are so few in repeated copying by hand for about three thousand years is amazing.  God has clearly preserved his word, although not in the way some KJV only believers would have us to believe.

“Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.” (II Chronicles 21:16-17) 

In addition to the plague, and the disease God promised, the Philistines, from the west, and the Arabs from farther south in the Arab peninsula invades Judah, carrying away most of Jehoram’s wives and sons except his son Jehoahaz and his wife Athaliah, as well as all his belongings that were in his house at the time.  Jehoahaz would be called Ahaziah after his mother's brother, the former king of Israel.

“And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.  And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.” (II Chronicles 21:18-19)

Elisha’s prophecy about his disease came to pas exactly as described.  Jehoram suffered for about two years before finally succumbing to cancer.  It must have been a horrible period.  When he died, they didn’t even have much of a funeral or mourning period for him.

“Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.” (II Chronicles 21:20)

After eight years as king, there was so much corruption and wickedness his people were just glad to see him gone.  He was so unpopular they wouldn’t even bury him in the same graveyard as the other kings, although they did allow him to be buried in the same city.

“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. (II Kings 8:24)

Jehoram of Judah

II Kings 8:16-22

“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.

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

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.”  (II Kings 8:16-19)

Jehoshaphat was one of the best kings Judah had, doing his best to please God and turn the nation to God, getting rid of the homosexuals, the idolatry, and the perverted worship of God.  Unfortunately, he chose to affiliate himself with the kings of Israel because they were family.  As a result, his son Jehoram married one of Ahab’s daughters, a sister to Jehoram, the king of Israel, making it somewhat confusing because for several years, the kings of both Israel and Judah were named Jehoram, and were brother-in-laws.

To further complicate matters, Jehoram, king of Israel is called Joram here,  Strong’s Concordance describes Joram as an alternative spelling of Jehoram, and we find both spelling used for Jehoram of Judah as well.

It is very difficult to maintain one’s moral standards when married to some one with different standards, because they are in constant conflict.  As II Corinthians 6:14-15 warns, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”  As usually happens, having chosen to live with the evil standard, Jehoram adopted it as his own.

“Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.  And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.  And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.

Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.” (II Chronicles 21:1-4)

Before his death, Jehoshaphat divided up his property among his sons, giving each one their own.  He then made Jehoram king of Judah.  One of Jehoram’s first actions after his father’s death was to murder all his brothers, as well as other leaders of Judah and seize their property.

"Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.  Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.” (II Chronicles 21:5-7)

By aligning himself with Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram, Jehoshaphat implied what they did was okay.  Jehoram developed a similar attitude that was further encouraged when he married Ahab’s daughter.  People seldom stop to think that the people we choose as friends affect both our attitudes and those of our children.  With a wife who had the same attitude to encourage him, Jehoram really went into sin.

Because of his wickedness, Jehoram would only be allowed to reign eight years, but because of his promise to David, God would not destroy the whole line and start over like he had with several of the kings of Israel.  Under his administration, Judah lost much of it’s former power.  Both II Kings 8:20-21 and II Chronicles 21:8-10 Edom’sand Libnah’s successful secession from Judah.

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

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. 

 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.  Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.” (II Chronicles 21:8-9)

The Edomites set up their own king, and when Jehoram brought his army to stop them, surrounded him.  Though he was able to defeat their army and drive them away, he was not able reclaim their land.

 “Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.”  (II Kings 8:22)

“…The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.” (II Chronicles 21:10b) 

Because of Jehoram’s turning away from God, Judah would never again have control of the area south of the Dead Sea extending down to the Gulf of Aqaba.  About eight hundred years after Isaac made the prophecy to Esau, Genesis 27:39-40 was fulfilled.  “And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”  God had never forgotten.

God Is In Control

II Kings 8:1-15

“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. 

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.  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.” (II Kings 8:1-3)

Throughout the reigns of Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram, God had sent periods of famine because of their refusal to keep Israel’s contract with God, just as he had promised to do.  Repeatedly, he had demonstrated his power to take away the famine if they would, as exemplified in the destruction of the prophets of Baal in Ahab’s day, or the flight of the Syrians in the previous passage.  Even when they recognized that God had saved them, Israel didn’t change, and there was only a temporary respite.

In much the same way over the last hundred years, the United States has faced crisis after crisis, and after a period, when God has demonstrated his power to resolve it, we have gone back to the same or even worse wickedness.  We can only expect things to get worse until we make a concerted effort to change.

The Shunammite woman of II Kings 4 wanted to serve God.  When God decided to really apply pressure to Israel, he had Elisha warn her to leave Israel so she could avoid most of the suffering the rest of the nation would suffer for the next seven years.  She and her family moved southwest to the Philistine lands, although the drought didn’t greatly affect most of Judah either.

After seven years, she returned to Israel and went to the king to reclaim their family land, as under the Law, the land was always to belong to the family.

“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.  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.

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.” (II Kings 8:4-6) 

Jehoram was a wicked king, but he was still interested in what God had done with Elisha.  He was listening to Elisha’s servant Gehazi describe what he had seen when the Shunammite woman came in seeking help in reclaiming the land.  Gehazi recognized her and introduced her to Jehoram.  She confirmed Gehazi’s story and the king ordered that she be given back her land, and that she be repaid for what others had gotten from her land while she was gone.

“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.

 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?” (II Kings 8:7-8)

 Abraham was originally a Syrian, and although it was nearly nine hundred years later, their languages were still enough alike they could communicate fairly well, and Syria still had respect for God, although they didn’t worship him.  The King of Syria was sick, and when he heard that Elisha was there, he sent one of his officials, Hazael, to find out whether God said he would recover or not.  It is troubling when those who make no pretense of serving God value his opinion more than those who claim to believe.

“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 Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 

And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die.  And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.” (II Kings 8:9-11)

When Hazael asked him whether Benhadad would recover, Elisha told him t
o say he would, but that he knew it wasn’t true, and that he would die.  Elisha then broke down crying.

“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. 

And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? 

And Elisha answered, The LORD hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.” (II Kings 8:12-13)

Hazael couldn’t figure out why Elisha was crying.  When Elisha described what Hazael would do to Israel, He was offended that he suspected such behavior of him.   Elisha declared that he knew Hazael was to be the next king of Syria.  Elijah had been commanded to anoint him king when God spoke to him on Mount Carmel in I Kings 19:15, about twenty years before.   While Hazael had kind of given up on it, God had not.

“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. 

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.” (II Kings 8:14-15)

Benhadad had asked if he would recover of the disease, and he would have.  However, Hazael saw it as an opportunity to seize the throne, and used a thick cloth soaked in water to suffocate him so it would appear he died naturally.  Hazael then assumed the throne.

While it seems harsh that God would allow Hazael to become king, knowing what he would do to Israel, we need to realize God also knew Israel would not turn from their sin, and was placing him in a position to punish them for it.  Instead of blaming God for what happens, we need to find out why he allowed it.  Most problems we face are a direct result of our own actions.  We need to understand God is still in control whether to protect us like he did the Shunammite woman or to judge us like he did Israel..

Missing The Blessing

II Kings 7:3-20

“And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?  If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.” (II Kings 7:3-4)

The famine was so bad the Israelites were even eating their own children in Samaria thanks to the siege by Syria.  Four homeless lepers were hanging around the entrance of the city hoping to get some food.  As they talked the realized there wasn’t much point in going into the city to beg because the people were starving too.  They decided to take a chance and beg from the Syrians.  The worst they could do would be to kill them and they were going to die anyway.  If they decided to feed them, they would have a chance to live.

“And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.  For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.  Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.” (II Kings 7:5-7)

The lepers got to the Syrian camp just before dark when everyone should have been finishing up their meals and getting ready for bed.  They were shocked to find nobody home but everything arranged like they had just been interrupted.

God had caused the Syrians to hear noises that sounded like a huge number of chariots.  Most of the horses and chariots and horses came from Egypt and the Syrians concluded that Israel must have hired the Egyptians to come fight for them.  Knowing how badly they had beaten them without help, the Syrians panicked and fled, leaving everything just as it was and fled on foot in hopes the Egyptians would not know they were gone in time to catch them.

“And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.” (II Kings 7:8)

The lepers were starving and when they  saw the food on the table in the first tent they gobbled up as much as they could eat.  When nobody came back, they took a bunch of stuff from the tent and hid it.  They came back and started looting other tents as well.  After all, the Syrians were there to fight and kill a bunch of them.

“Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.  So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.” (II Kings 7:9-11)

After a little bit, the lepers realized that the people in the city were still starving.  They figured that if they didn’t share the food, with them, God would punish them, so they went to spread the news.  They went and told the guard at the city gate what happened.  He relayed the message to the palace guards, who told the king.

“And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.” (II Kings 7:12)

When Jehoram heard what the lepers said, he assumed it was some kind of a trick to entrap them.  The Syrians knew how desperate they were for some food, and were setting some out in hopes some of them would forget about the danger.

“And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.” (II Kings 7:13)

Acknowledging that it might be a trap, one of the servants suggested a scouting party of five men be sent to find out where the Syrians had gone.  Mounted on horseback they would be difficult to capture, and if they were caught it wouldn’t make much difference because the horses were just as starved as the people.

“They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.” (II Kings 7:14-15)

The king agreed to send two horsemen to track them and see where they had gone,  The trail led to the Jordan river because it was the quickest way to get to and area where the Syrians could be fairly sure of getting away. and there was a lot of stuff scattered along the way indicating the Syrians had been fleeing from something.   The scouts went back and told the king what they saw.

“And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. “ (II Kings 7:16)

The people went out and took what the Syrians had left behind.  Those who couldn’t go themselves bought from those who could, and since there was so much food, the prices dropped down to just where Elisha had prophesied.

“And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him. 

And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria: And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?

 And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.  And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.” (II Kings 7:17-20)

The official who had doubted Elisha’s prophecy was assigned to keep the gate while the others went to the Syrian camp, just in case it was a trap after all.  The people were in such a rush to get to the food, he was unable to get out of the way when he opened the gates and they trampled him, much like the spectators who got trampled at the soccer game in England.  He got to see the people going after the food, but he died of his injuries before he got to eat any of it.

The official’s lack of faith did not prevent God from doing what he promised, it just prevented the official from benefiting the promise. II Timothy 2:13 declares, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

Worse Than They Ever Imagined

I Kings 6:24-7:2

“And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.  And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.” (II Kings 6:24-25)

Though small groups were afraid to invade Israel, the Syrian king still wanted to take control.  He attacked, besieging the capital and cutting it off from outside help.  Before long the food was depleted and people became desperate for food.   Finally a donkey’s head, which Jews would not even consider eating was selling for almost a year’s wages.  A quart of a plant called doves dung because of it’s appearance would sell for about two weeks wages even though it served only to make the stomach feel full. Sawdust would have been as nutritious.

“And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. 

And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?  And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? 

And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.  So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.” (II Kings 6:26-30)

People were so hungry they had even begun to kill and eat their own children to avoid starvation.  The two women had agreed to eat their two children, but when it came time to eat the second woman’s child she refused to keep her agreement even though she had helped eat the first child.  The first woman was asking the king to force the second woman to live up to her agreement and kill her child.

He couldn’t conscientiously comply with her request although he fully sympathized with  her situation.  He just  ripped his clothing and walked away in frustration, and the people observed that he was wearing the traditional signs of sorrow and distress.  He was aware of his people’s suffering.

“Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day. 

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?  And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?” (II Kings 6:31-33)

Like Ahab in I Kings 18:17-18, Jehoram blamed the prophet for what the problems they were having and decided to have him killed.  One of the biggest problems in modern society is the tendency to blame others for our own faults.   We don’t like to consider the possibility that it is our actions causing the problem.   For forty years under Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram, Omri’s descendants had led Israel to do wickedly.  There had been crisis after crisis, although this was the worst they had ever experienced.

The elders of the city had already gone to Elisha for help and were present when the king’s hit man came to kill Elisha.  Elisha directed the leaders to seize the hit man.  If he didn’t report back, the king would come to see that the job was finished.

Elisha recognized that the situation was the result of their sin, but even he was frustrated by the ongoing famine and felt he couldn’t take any more, questioning why God didn’t stop it.  Why did they have to keep suffering?  Christians often feel this same way.

“Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 

Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?

 And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.” (II Kings 7:1-2)

God took pity on their despair, promising that the following day, about two bushels of good flour would sell for less than a tenth of what a quart of the doves dung was selling for that day, and about four bushels of barley for the same.

One of the kings top officials figured it was impossible unless it actually rained grain and flour from heaven.  There was no way he could imagine them being able to even ship in enough to feed everyone in such a short time.

Elisha warned him that because of his unbelief, he would see it happen, but not get to partake of it. A lot of us miss out on God’s blessing because we don’t trust him.

While I was in Bible college, I found myself short of enough to pay off some fees so I could graduate.  Desperate, I went and borrowed the money.  Just a few minutes after I had made the payment, the man in charge of the financial affairs met me and asked if I had been able to pay my bill.  I told him I had just done so.  He then told me that someone had donated the money for to do so, but that if I had paid it off, it was to be given to someone else.  I spent the next two years paying off the loan because I didn’t trust God to keep his promise.

Surrounded By God’s Forces

II Kings 6:8-23

“Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 

And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.   And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.” (II Kings 6:8-10)

Though Israel had repeatedly defeated Syria, they still had a desire to rule Israel and continually tried to invade them.  When they tried to secretly invade Israel and catch them by surprise, Elisha warned the king of Israel of their location.   As a result, the king of Israel was able to catch the Syrians by surprise and defeat them several times.

“Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? 

And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 

And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. 

And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.” (II Kings 6:11-14)

After several times, the Syrian king became convinced there was a traitor spying for Israel among them and demanded to know who it was,  Some of his advisors said even a spy couldn’t get the information to Israel that fast.  Instead, they said it was like Elisha had a listening device in the king’s bedroom and could hear exactly what his plans were.  The king was convinced that it would be impossible to defeat Israel as long as Elisha remained free and ordered him to be found.

Learning that Elisha was staying at Dothan, the king sent troops surround the city by night in hopes of capturing him.

"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. 

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (II Kings 6:15-17)

When Elisha’s servant came out to run some errands, he discovered the city was surrounded and asked Elisha what they were going to do.  Elisha told him that though they were surrounded, there were more on their side than the king had.  He then prayed that the servant could see them and believe.

When God let him see, there was an army surrounding Elisha and his servant, and they were angels with chariots of fire.  They just couldn’t be seen with the normal eye.  There was nothing to fear when seen through eyes of faith.

“And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 

And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.” (II Kings 6:18-19)

When they tried to come down to arrest him, Elisha asked the Lord to make them blind and he did.  Then Elisha told them they were in the wrong place and led them to the capitol in Samaria,

“And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.” (II Kings 6:20)

One can only imagine the dismay of the Syrian army to suddenly find themselves surrounded by the Israelite army in a completely different city.

“And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 

And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.” (II Kings 6:21-22)

The king of Israel wanted to just execute the whole bunch.  Elisha pointed out that it would be murder to kill people who had surrendered.  Instead he advised that they feed them and send them home.  

“And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.” (II Kings 6:23)

Up to that time, there had been frequent raids by small bands of Syrian After Elisha caught the entire army, the raids stopped.  It was obvious that the risks were too high for small groups.  Future attacks would have to have full military support.