2 Kings 12 – “Jehoash King of Judah”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Jehoash collects money to repair the temple, appeases Hazael with the temple’s vessels, and is assasinated by his servants.

II. Photo
The priests raise funds for the temple: “The priest Jehoiada took a chest and bored a hole in its lid… the priestly guards of the threshold deposited there all the money that was brought into the House of the Lord.” (v. 10)

III. Important Verses
10-13: And the priest Jehoiada took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it at the right side of the altar as one entered the House of the LORD, and the priestly guards of the threshold deposited there all the money that was brought into the House of the LORD. Whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would come up and put the money accumulated in the House of the LORD into bags, and they would count it. Then they would deliver the money that was weighed out to the overseers of the work, who were in charge of the House of the LORD. These, in turn, used to pay the carpenters and the laborers who worked on the House of the LORD, and the masons and the stonecutters. They also paid for wood and for quarried stone with which to make the repairs on the House of the LORD, and for every other expenditure that had to be made in repairing the House.
18-19: At that time, King Hazael of Aram came up and attacked Gath and captured it; and Hazael proceeded to march on Jerusalem. Thereupon King Joash of Judah took all the objects that had been consecrated by his fathers, Kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah of Judah, and by himself, and all the gold that there was in the treasuries of the Temple of the LORD and in the royal palace, and he sent them to King Hazael of Aram, who then turned back from his march on Jerusalem.
21-22: His courtiers formed a conspiracy against Joash and assassinated him at Beth-millo that leads down to Silla. The courtiers who assassinated him were Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his fathers in the City of David; and his son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

IV. Outline
1-3. Introductory statement
4. Jehoash’s sins
5-6. Jehoash makes a plan to repair the temple
7-9. The temple is not repaired; A new plan
10-17. Money is collected for the temple
18-19. Jehoash propitiates Hazael with the temple vessels
20-22. Jehoash’s assasination; Summary statement

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Cogan, Mordechai and Hayim Tadmor. “II Kings” The Anchor Bible v. 11 (USA: Doubleday, 1988).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Hobbs, T.R. “2 Kings” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 13 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1985).
Photo taken from http://www.collectorsinternet.com/images/Gold001.jpg

2 Kings 11 – “Athaliah is Dethroned”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Athaliah kills Ahaziah’s descendants and becomes queen of Judah. Joash escapes and hides for six years. The people declare him king, kill Athaliah, and uproot the temples of Baal.

II. Photo
Young Joash goes into hiding: “And they kept him hidden from Athaliah so that he was not put to death.” (v. 2b)

III. Important Verses
1-3: When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, learned that her son was dead, she promptly killed off all who were of royal stock. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, secretly took Ahaziah’s son Joash away from among the princes who were being slain, and [put] him and his nurse in a bedroom. And they kept him hidden from Athaliah so that he was not put to death. He stayed with her for six years, hidden in the House of the LORD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
9-12: The chiefs of hundreds did just as Jehoiada ordered: Each took his men — those who were on duty that week and those who were off duty that week — and they presented themselves to Jehoiada the priest. The priest gave the chiefs of hundreds King David’s spears and quivers that were kept in the House of the LORD. The guards, each with his weapons at the ready, stationed themselves — from the south end of the House to the north end of the House, at the altar and the House — to guard the king on every side. [Jehoiada] then brought out the king’s son, and placed upon him the crown and the insignia. They anointed him and proclaimed him king; they clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13-16: When Athaliah heard the shouting of the guards [and] the people, she came out to the people in the House of the LORD. She looked about and saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, the chiefs with their trumpets beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah rent her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!” Then the priest Jehoiada gave the command to the army officers, the chiefs of hundreds, and said to them, “Take her out between the ranks and, if anyone follows her, put him to the sword.” For the priest thought: “Let her not be put to death in the House of the LORD.” They cleared a passageway for her and she entered the royal palace through the horses’ entrance: there she was put to death.
17-18: And Jehoiada solemnized the covenant between the LORD, on the one hand, and the king and the people, on the other — as well as between the king and the people — that they should be the people of the LORD. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal. They tore it down and smashed its altars and images to bits, and they slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. [Jehoiada] the priest then placed guards over the House of the LORD.

IV. Outline
1. Athaliah the queen mother kills Ahaziah’s descendants
2-3. Joash is hidden for six years
4-8. Jehoiada protects Joash
9-12. Joash is crowned king
13-16. Athaliah is killed
17. The people rededicate themselves to God
18. The people destroy Baal’s temples
19-20. The king is brought to the palace

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 10 – “Jehu’s Murderous Rule”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Jehu wipes out the house of Ahab and kills Ahaziah’s supporters. He convenes the Baal worshipers, murders them, and destroys their temple. He dies, but is promised four generations of power.

II. Photo
Jehu destroys Baal’s temple: “They destroyed the pillar of Baal, and they tore down the temple of Baal and turned it into latrines, as is still the case.” (v. 27)

III. Important Verses
5-7: The steward of the palace and the governor of the city and the elders and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: “We are your subjects, and we shall do whatever you tell us to. We shall not proclaim anyone king; do whatever you like.” He wrote them a second time: “If you are on my side and are ready to obey me, take the heads of the attendants of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the princes, seventy in number, were with the notables of the town, who were rearing them. But when the letter reached them, they took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them; they put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel.
11: And Jehu struck down all that were left of the House of Ahab in Jezreel — and all his notables, intimates, and priests — till he left him no survivor.
20-21: Jehu gave orders to convoke a solemn assembly for Baal, and one was proclaimed. Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, not a single one remained behind. They came into the temple of Baal, and the temple of Baal was filled from end to end.
25-28: When Jehu had finished presenting the burnt offering, he said to the guards and to the officers, “Come in and strike them down; let no man get away!” The guards and the officers struck them down with the sword and left them lying where they were; then they proceeded to the interior of the temple of Baal. They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them. They destroyed the pillar of Baal, and they tore down the temple of Baal and turned it into latrines, as is still the case. Thus Jehu eradicated the Baal from Israel.
32-33: In those days the LORD began to reduce Israel; and Hazael harassed them throughout the territory of Israel east of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead — the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites — from Aroer, by the Wadi Arnon, up to Gilead and Bashan.

IV. Outline
1-3. Jehu’s order to the people of Samaria
4-5. The people capitulate
6. Jehu demands the heads of 70 princes
7. The heads are delivered
8-10. Jehu kills Ahab’s descendants; Elijah’s prophecy is completed
11-14. Jehu kills 42 of Ahaziah’s supporters
15-17. Jehu and Jehonadab wipe out Ahab’s descendants
18-24. Jehu sets convenes the worshipers of Baal
25-28. Jehu wipes out all the Baal worshipers and destroys the temple
29. Jehu’s sins
30. God promises Jehu 4 generations of rulership
31. Jehu’s sins
32-33. Hazael harasses the Israelites
34-36. Summary statement

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 9 – “Jehu’s Murderous Coup”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Jehu is anointed king during the lifetime of Joram king of Israel. Jehu murders Joram, Ahaziah king of Judah, and Jezebel the queen mother.

II. Photo
Elisha tells his servant to anoint Jehu: “Then take the flask of oil and pour some on his head, and say, ‘Thus said the Lord: I anoint you king over Israel.’” (v. 3)

III. Important Verses
5-10: When he arrived, the army commanders were sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.” “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. He answered, “For you, commander.” So [Jehu] arose and went inside; and [the disciple] poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel: I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. You shall strike down the House of Ahab your master; thus will I avenge on Jezebel the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of the other servants of the LORD. The whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off every male belonging to Ahab, bond and free in Israel. I will make the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the House of Baasha son of Ahijah. The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the field of Jezreel, with none to bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled.
13: Quickly each man took his cloak and placed it under him, on the top step. They sounded the horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”
21-24: Joram ordered, “Hitch up [the chariot]!” They hitched up his chariot; and King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is all well, Jehu?” But Jehu replied, “How can all be well as long as your mother Jezebel carries on her countless harlotries and sorceries?” Thereupon Joram turned his horses around and fled, crying out to Ahaziah, “Treason, Ahaziah!” But Jehu drew his bow and hit Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart; and he collapsed in his chariot.
27: On seeing this, King Ahaziah of Judah fled along the road to Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him down too!” [And they shot him] in his chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there.
30-33: Jehu went on to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard of it, she painted her eyes with kohl and dressed her hair, and she looked out of the window. As Jehu entered the gate, she called out, “Is all well, Zimri, murderer of your master?” He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side, who?” And two or three eunuchs leaned out toward him. “Throw her down,” he said. They threw her down; and her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled her.

IV. Outline
1-3. Elisha sends a disciple to anoint Jehu king of Israel
4-10. The disciple anoints Jehu and augurs doom for the house of Ahab
11-14a. The soldiers declare Jehu king
14b-15a. Joram rests in Ramoth-gilead
15b-20. Jehu presumptuously advances towards Joram
21-24. Jehu murders Joram
25-26. Joram is thrown onto Naboth’s vineyard
27. Jehu murders Ahaziah
28-29. Ahaziah’s burial; Regnal summary statement
30-33. Jehu murders Jezebel
34-37. Elijah’s prophecy comes true

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 8 – “Elisha’s Predictions; The Reigns of Joram and Ahaziah”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Elisha predicts seven years of famine, the death of Ben-hadad, and the cruel reign of Hazael king of Aram. The reigns of Joram and Ahaziah, both kings of Judah, are described.

II. Photo
Ben-hadad sends lavish gifts to Elisha: “Hazael went to meet him, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the bounty of Damascus.” (v. 9)

III. Important Verses
1-2: Elisha had said to the woman whose son he revived, “Leave immediately with your family and go sojourn somewhere else; for the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine upon the land, and it has already begun.” The woman had done as the man of God had spoken; she left with her family and sojourned in the land of the Philistines for seven years.
4: Now the king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and he said, “Tell me all the wonderful things that Elisha has done.”
7-9: Elisha arrived in Damascus at a time when King Ben-hadad of Aram was ill. The king was told, “The man of God is on his way here,” and he said to Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go meet the man of God, and through him inquire of the LORD: Will I recover from this illness?” Hazael went to meet him, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the bounty of Damascus. He came and stood before him and said, “Your son, King Ben-hadad of Aram, has sent me to you to ask: Will I recover from this illness?”
11-12: The man of God kept his face expressionless for a long time; and then he wept. “Why does my lord weep?” asked Hazael. “Because I know,” he replied, “what harm you will do to the Israelite people: you will set their fortresses on fire, put their young men to the sword, dash their little ones in pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”
15: The next day, [Hazael] took a piece of netting, dipped it in water, and spread it over his face. So [Ben-hadad] died, and Hazael succeeded him as king.
18-19: [Joram] followed the practices of the kings of Israel — whatever the House of Ahab did, for he had married a daughter of Ahab — and he did what was displeasing to the LORD. However, the LORD refrained from destroying Judah, for the sake of His servant David, in accordance with His promise to maintain a lamp for his descendants for all time.
21-22: Joram crossed over to Zair with all his chariotry. He arose by night and attacked the Edomites, who were surrounding him and the chariot commanders; but his troops fled to their homes. Thus Edom fell away from Judah, as is still the case. Libnah likewise fell away at that time.

IV. Outline

1-6. Elisha helps his supporter
    1. Elisha warns his supporter of an impending famine
    2. She and her family flee to Philistia
    3-6. The king, who was being told her story, helps her reclaim her farm
7-15. Elisha meets with Hazael, future king of Aram
    7-8. Ben-hadad is ill and is told that Elisha is in Damascus
    9-10. Elisha tells Hazael what to tell Ben-hadad
    11-13. Elisha tells Hazael that he will depredate the Israelites
    14-16. Hazael returns to Ben-hadad and succeeds him as the next king
16-24. Joram king of Judah
    16-17. Introductory statement
    18. Joram marries Ahab’s daughter and angers God
    19. God shows mercy for David’s sake
    20. The Edomites secede
    21-22. The Edomites are victorious and become independent
    23-24. Summary statement
25-29. Ahaziah king of Judah
    25-26. Introductory statement
    27. Ahaziah’s sins
    28-29. Ahaziah and Joram are defeated by Hazael

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 7 – “The Israelites Plunder the Aramean Camp”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
God frightens the Arameans, they abandon their camp, and the Israelites enjoy the booty. An Israelite is killed for questioning Elisha’s predictions.

II. Photo
The famine comes to an end: “The people then went out and plundered the Aramean camp. So a seah of choice flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel — as the Lord had spoken.” (v. 16)

III. Important Verses
1-2: And Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus said the LORD: This time tomorrow, a seah of choice flour shall sell for a shekel at the gate of Samaria, and two seahs of barley for a shekel.” The aide on whose arm the king was leaning spoke up and said to the man of God, “Even if the LORD were to make windows in the sky, could this come to pass?” And he retorted, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
5-7: They set out at twilight for the Aramean camp; but when they came to the edge of the Aramean camp, there was no one there. For the LORD had caused the Aramean camp to hear a sound of chariots, a sound of horses — the din of a huge army. They said to one another, “The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Mizraim to attack us!” And they fled headlong in the twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and asses — the [entire] camp just as it was — as they fled for their lives.
14-16: They took two teams of horses and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and find out.” They followed them as far as the Jordan, and found the entire road full of clothing and gear which the Arameans had thrown away in their haste; and the messengers returned and told the king. The people then went out and plundered the Aramean camp. So a seah of choice flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel — as the LORD had spoken
17: Now the king had put the aide on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate; and he was trampled to death in the gate by the people — just as the man of God had spoken, as he had spoken when the king came down to him.

IV. Outline
1. Elisha predicts a precipitous wealth
2. The king’s messenger is in disbelief
3-5. A group of lepers find the Aramean camp abandoned
6-7. Explanation: God frightened the men
8-10. The lepers inform the gatekeepers
11-13. The king is circumspect
14-15. The truth is found out
16. Elisha’s prophecy comes true
17-20. The messenger is killed, just as Elisha had predicted

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 6 – “Elisha’s Miracles and the Aramean Wars”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Elisha helps the Israelites evade the king of Aram. He also captures a group of Arameans and feeds them a lavish meal. After a brief episode of peace, the king of Aram besieges Samaria and puts it in dire straits.

II. Photo
Elisha fights back: “[The Arameans] came down against him, and Elisha prayed to the Lord: ‘Please strike this people with a blinding light!’ And He struck them with a blinding light, as Elisha had asked.” (v. 18)

III. Important Verses
5-6: As one of them was felling a trunk, the iron ax head fell into the water. And he cried aloud, “Alas, master, it was a borrowed one!” “Where did it fall?” asked the man of God. He showed him the spot; and he cut off a stick and threw it in, and he made the ax head float.
8-10: While the king of Aram was waging war against Israel, he took counsel with his officers and said, “I will encamp in such and such a place.” But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Take care not to pass through that place, for the Arameans are encamped there.” So the king of Israel sent word to the place of which the man of God had told him. Time and again he alerted such a place and took precautions there.
15-18: When the attendant of the man of God rose early and went outside, he saw a force, with horses and chariots, surrounding the town. “Alas, master, what shall we do?” his servant asked him. “Have no fear,” he replied. “There are more on our side than on theirs.” Then Elisha prayed: “LORD, open his eyes and let him see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw the hills all around Elisha covered with horses and chariots of fire. [The Arameans] came down against him, and Elisha prayed to the LORD: “Please strike this people with a blinding light.” And He struck them with a blinding light, as Elisha had asked.
21-23: When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “Father, shall I strike them down?” “No, do not,” he replied. “Did you take them captive with your sword and bow that you would strike them down? Rather, set food and drink before them, and let them eat and drink and return to their master.” So he prepared a lavish feast for them and, after they had eaten and drunk, he let them go, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean bands stopped invading the land of Israel.
26-30: Once, when the king of Israel was walking on the city wall, a woman cried out to him: “Help me, Your Majesty!” “Don’t [ask me],” he replied. “Let the LORD help you! Where could I get help for you, from the threshing floor or from the winepress? But what troubles you?” the king asked her. The woman answered, “That woman said to me, ‘Give up your son and we will eat him today; and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ So we cooked my son and we ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son and let’s eat him’; but she hid her son.” When the king heard what the woman said, he rent his clothes; and as he walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing sackcloth underneath.

IV. Outline

1-7. Elisha floats an ax head
    1-4. Elisha and the prophets travel to the Jordan for more space
    5-7. Elisha floats a missing ax head
8-23. Elisha’s military miracles and diplomatic acumen
    8-10. Elisha foils Aram’s battle plans
    11-14. The king sends soldiers to Elisha
    15-18. Elisha blinds the soldiers with light
    19-20. Elisha leads the men to Samaria
    21-23a. Elisha has the soldiers fed a lavish banquet
    23b. The Arameans stop invading Israel
24-33. Samaria’s dire straits
    24. Ben-hadad of Aram lays siege to Samaria
    25. Famine
    26-30. The king of Israel is told of infanticide
    31. The king curses Elisha
    32-33. The king inquires Elisha about the future

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 5 – “Elisha Cures Naaman’s Leprosy”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Naaman asks Elisha to cure his leprosy. Although Elisha cures him, he eschews his gifts. Elisha’s servant is struck with leprosy when he asks Naaman for the gifts.

II. Photo
Elisha cures Naaman’s leprosy: “So he went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had bidden; and his flesh became like a baby boy’s, and he was clean.” (v. 14)

III. Important Verses
1-3: Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was important to his lord and high in his favor, for through him the LORD had granted victory to Aram. But the man, though a great warrior, was a leper. Once, when the Arameans were out raiding, they carried off a young girl from the land of Israel, and she became an attendant to Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “I wish Master could come before the prophet in Samaria; he would cure him of his leprosy.”
10-14: Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go and bathe seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angered and walked away. “I thought,” he said, “he would surely come out to me, and would stand and invoke the LORD his God by name, and would wave his hand toward the spot, and cure the affected part. Are not the Amanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? I could bathe in them and be clean!” And he stalked off in a rage. But his servants came forward and spoke to him. “Sir,” they said, “if the prophet told you to do something difficult, would you not do it? How much more when he has only said to you, ‘Bathe and be clean.’” So he went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had bidden; and his flesh became like a little boy’s, and he was clean.
17-19a: And Naaman said, “Then at least let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will never again offer up burnt offering or sacrifice to any god, except the LORD. But may the LORD pardon your servant for this: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow low in worship there, and he is leaning on my arm so that I must bow low in the temple of Rimmon — when I bow low in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this.” And he said to him, “Go in peace.”
25-27: He entered and stood before his master; and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He replied, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.” Then [Elisha] said to him, “Did not my spirit go along when a man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to take money in order to buy clothing and olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves? Surely, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” And as [Gehazi] left his presence, he was snow-white with leprosy.

IV. Outline
1. Naaman, the Aramean general, suffers from a leprosy
2-3. An Israelite girl tells him about Elisha
4-5a. A plan is made to visit Israel
5b-7. Naaman demands that the king of Israel cure him
8. Elisha summons Naaman
9-10. Elisha tells Naaman to bathe in the Jordan
11-13. Naaman’s servants convince him to listen to Elisha
14. Naaman is cured
15-16. Elisha refuses Naaman’s gifts
17-19. Elisha pardons Naaman’s role in the temple of Rimmon
20-24. Gehazi makes a request from Naaman in Elisha’s name
25-27. Elisha transfers Naaman’s leprosy onto Gehazi and his descendants

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 4 – “Elisha’s Four Miracles”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Elisha provides a widow with oil, resurrects a dead boy, feeds a group of hungry prophets, and feeds a hundred people with twenty loaves of bread.

II. Photo
The prophets are served a piquant stew: “While they were still eating of the stew, they began to cry out: ‘O man of God, there is death in the pot!’ And they could not eat it.” (v. 40b)

III. Important Verses
5-7: He went away and shut the door behind her and her children. They kept bringing [vessels] to her and she kept pouring. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” He answered her, “There are no more vessels”; and the oil stopped. She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your children can live on the rest.”
8-10: One day Elisha visited Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to have a meal; and whenever he passed by, he would stop there for a meal. Once she said to her husband, “I am sure it is a holy man of God who comes this way regularly. Let us make a small enclosed upper chamber and place a bed, a table, a chair, and a lampstand there for him, so that he can stop there whenever he comes to us.”
17-21: The woman conceived and bore a son at the same season the following year, as Elisha had assured her. The child grew up. One day, he went out to his father among the reapers. [Suddenly] he cried to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” He said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” He picked him up and brought him to his mother. And the child sat on her lap until noon; and he died. She took him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and left him and closed the door.
27-28: But when she came up to the man of God on the mountain, she clasped his feet. Gehazi stepped forward to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Didn’t I say: ‘Don’t mislead me’?”
34-35: Then he mounted [the bed] and placed himself over the child. He put his mouth on its mouth, his eyes on its eyes, and his hands on its hands, as he bent over it. And the body of the child became warm. He stepped down, walked once up and down the room, then mounted and bent over him. Thereupon, the boy sneezed seven times, and the boy opened his eyes.

IV. Outline

1-7. Elisha performs a miracle for a widow
    1. A widow’s outcry
    2-4. Elisha tells her to gather vessels
    5-6. The vessels are filled with oil
    7. Elisha tells her to sell the oil
8-37. Elisha resurrects a dead boy
    8-10. A couple in Shunem host Elisha
    11-14. Elisha is informed that they have no son
    15-16. Elisha promises the woman a son
    17. The child is born
    18-20. The child dies
    21-23. The woman prepares to see Elisha
    24-28. The woman visits Elisha and pleads her case
    29-30. The woman convinces Elisha to see the boy
    31. Gehazi is unable to help the boy
    32-37. Elisha heals the boy and returns him to his mother
38-41. Elisha feeds the hungry prophets
    38a. Famine
    38b. Elisha sets out a large pot for food
    39-40. The stew is inedible’
    41. Elisha rectifies the situation
42-44. Elisha increases the amount of bread
    42a. Elisha is brought twenty loaves of bread
    42b-44. The bread supports one hundred men, and there is some leftover

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

2 Kings 3 – “War with Moab”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Moab secedes from Israel. An army consisting of Israelites, Judahites, and Edomites lays waste to the land of Moab. The Moabite king sacrifices his son and pushes the invading armies back.

II. Photo
Elisha seeks inspiration: “‘Now then, get me a musician.’ As the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him.” (v. 15)

III. Important Verses
4-5: Now King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he used to pay as tribute to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6-7: So King Jehoram promptly set out from Samaria and mustered all Israel. At the same time, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me; will you come with me to make war on Moab?” He replied, “I will go. I will do what you do: my troops shall be your troops, my horses shall be your horses.”
9-10: So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and they marched for seven days until they rounded [the tip of the Dead Sea]; and there was no water left for the army or for the animals that were with them. “Alas!” cried the king of Israel. “The LORD has brought these three kings together only to deliver them into the hands of Moab.”
15-16: Now then, get me a musician.” As the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him, and he said, “Thus said the LORD: This wadi shall be full of pools.
22-25: Next morning, when they rose, the sun was shining over the water, and from the distance the water appeared to the Moabites as red as blood. “That’s blood!” they said. “The kings must have fought among themselves and killed each other. Now to the spoil, Moab!” They entered the Israelite camp, and the Israelites arose and attacked the Moabites, who fled before them. They advanced, constantly attacking the Moabites, and they destroyed the towns. Every man threw a stone into each fertile field, so that it was covered over; and they stopped up every spring and felled every fruit tree. Only the walls of Kir-hareseth were left, and then the slingers surrounded it and attacked it.
26-27: Seeing that the battle was going against him, the king of Moab led an attempt of seven hundred swordsmen to break a way through to the king of Edom; but they failed. So he took his first-born son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him up on the wall as a burnt offering. A great wrath came upon Israel, so they withdrew from him and went back to [their own] land.

IV. Outline
1. Introductory statement
2-3. Jehoram’s evil ways
4-5. Moab rebels
6-8. Israel and Judah join forces
9-10. The kings of Judah, Israel, and Edom run out of water
11-15. Elisha begrudgingly agrees to help
16-19. Elisha’s prediction of inundated wadis and victory over Moab
20. Water
21-23. The Moabites attack
24-25. The Israelites depredate the land of Moab
26-27. The king of Moab sacrifices his son and pushes Israel back

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.