1-7 Miracle of the Ax Head
- Elisha's company of prophets tell him they want to build a bigger residence by the Jordan River. Elijah and Elisha haven't worked in isolation. They each attract an entourage of "lesser" prophets, of which Elijah, and now Elisha is the leader. And now Elisha's troupe has become so large, they need a bigger building. I wonder: Were any of them married? Apparently this is where they lived.
- As they cut down trees for the building, one of the prophets' borrowed ax head falls into the water. Elisha throws in a stick after it, and it floats to the top.
8-23 Aramean Attack Thwarted
- The king of Aram (Ben-hadad) plans raids into different parts of Israel, but every time he does so, Elisha warns the king (Jehoram) where the attack will take place.
- The king of Aram suspects one of his men is an informant. When he learns it's Elisha (who, it is reported, tells the king of Israel the words he speaks in his bedchamber), he sends an army to Dothan, Elisha's residence, to seize him.
- The next morning, when Elisha's servant sees the army, he panics, but Elisha tells him not to be afraid, "for there are more with us than there are with them." He asks God to show his servant the myriads of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. One commentator points out that this servant is probably a replacement for the leprous Gehazi so he would be unaware of Elisha's powers. If that is so, then chapter 8 is out of sequence, for there Gehazi is very much alive and telling the king stories.
- Elisha prays that God will blind the soldiers. He leads the blind army to Samaria.
- When they arrive, the soldiers' sights return, and they realize where they are, with no chance of escape. The king of Israel wants to kill them, but Elisha reminds him they are not his prisoners, but God's. He tells the king to feed them and let them go.
- "And the Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel."
- "Some time later" Ben-hadad, king of Aram, musters his whole army and lays siege to Samaria.
- The famine is so great in Samaria because of the siege that a donkey's head is sold for 80 shekels of silver, and 1/4 of a kab (?) of dove's dung sells for 5 shekels of silver.
- As the king is walking (in sackcloth) next to a city wall, a woman cries out and complains to the king that she and another woman have eaten the 1st woman's son, but now the 2nd woman is unwilling to kill her own son for food. This indication of his people's desperation distresses the king, and he vows to have Elisha's head. (He blames God for this famine, and consequently God's prophet.)
- Elisha, sitting in his house with the elders, tells the elders the "murderer" is coming to take off his head, and to shut the door against him. The king asks Elisha why he should continue to trust in God.
- Elisha predicts that on the next day in Samaria, a shekel will buy a measure of choice meal or 2 measures of barley. The king's captain asks how that can be, and Elisha answers: "You shall see it with your own eyes, but shall not eat from it."
- 4 leprous men decide to desert to the Aramean army just to get some food. If the Arameans kill them, it's okay -- they're going to die anyway.
- When they get to the camp, there's no one there, because God has caused the army to hear the sound of chariots, like the approach of a great army, and they think Israel has hired Hittites and Egyptians to help in the fight, so they flee for their lives, leaving everything behind.
- The lepers have their fill of food and carry away all the silver, gold, and clothing they can. Then their consciences begin to hurt, and they decide to give the "good news" to the king. The king thinks it's a trick, so he sends messengers to investigate; they affirm the report.
- The Israelites plunder the Aramean camp, and "a measure of choice meal" is sold for a shekel, as is 2 measures of barley. Also as prophesied, the king's captain is trampled by the people as they rush toward the food. A heavy price to pay for disbelief, reminiscent of Sarah (Genesis 18:12) and Zechariah (Luke 1:18-20), who had their own moments of doubt. They didn't pay such serious consequences, though.
1-6 Land Restored to Shunammite Woman
- Elisha had told the Shunammite woman to go live in Philistia during the 7-year famine. When she returns, she goes to the king to appeal the return of her land to her.
- In the meantime, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, is with the king telling him Elisha's stories, including the one of raising the Shunammite woman's son. Just then, she comes in, and Gehazi identifies her. The king restores all her land to her plus the revenue made from it for the past 7 years. Doesn't Gehazi have leprosy? Wouldn't he be sequestered somewhere?
- Elisha goes to Damascus while King Ben-hadad is ill. The king sends Hazael to inquire of Elisha whether or not he will recover. Hazael goes to meet Elisha, bearing 40 camel loads of goods.
- He asks Elisha about the king's recovery, and Elisha tells Hazael to tell the king that he will recover, but that the LORD has revealed that he will actually die. Then Elisha begins to cry, telling Hazael he knows he will afflict the people of Israel with horrendous violence.
- Hazael "humbly" replies, "What is your servant, a mere dog, that he should do this great thing?" Elisha tells him he will be the next king.
- Hazael conveys the message to the king that he will recover. But the next day Hazael smothers the king to death with a wet bed-cover. This is at last the fulfillment of the prophecy made to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:15-17: "...you will appoint Hazael as king over Aram..."
1-4 Invasion from the East
- Moabites and Ammonites approach Jerusalem.
- In fear, Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast and seeks God's help.
- Recalls the history of God and their dealings with these people, confesses their weakness as a nation without God's help. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
- God's spirit comes on Jahaziel, a Levite, and he assures all the people that the victory will be the LORD's, and they have no reason to be afraid.
- Jehoshaphat bows to the ground, as do all the people, in worship. The Levites stand up to praise God.
- They rise early in the morning to meet their opponents, Jehoshaphat encouraging them to believe and appointing some to sing praises as they go.
- Somehow the Ammonites and Moabites destroy the inhabitants of Mount Seir, then each other in battle.
- The people of Judah come upon the battlefield, covered in corpses, but with an immense amount of booty: livestock, goods, clothing, precious things, so much it takes them 3 days to carry it away.
- On the 4th day they assemble for praise in the Valley of Beracah (Blessing).
- Jehoshaphat's accomplishments summarized:
- He followed God, like his father had, and also made peace with the king of Israel (not necessarily a good thing, as we see the way his sons turn out.)
- Got rid of a remnant of male temple prostitutes left over from his father's reign
- Brought people back to God (see also 2 Chron. 17:7ff)
- Appointed judges, instructing them to judge on the LORD's behalf, and not to pervert the law or take bribes.
- Charged the heads of the families of Israel to act with justice: "Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good!"
- He is buried in the city of David, succeeded by his son Jehoram.
1-7 Jehoram's Reign
- Jehoshaphat names his oldest son, Jehoram, as his successor, giving his other six sons many gifts and fortified cities.
- He begins to reign in the 5th year of King Joram (aka Jehoram) son of Ahab of Israel.
- When Jehoram comes to power, he kills all his brothers and some of the officials of Israel.
- He is 32 years old when he begins to reign, reigning for 8 years, lives in the ways of the king of Israel, as Ahab did, for his wife was the daughter of Ahab. (2 Chron. 18:1 -- One explanation for Jehoshaphat's friendship with Ahab.)
- God does not destroy his house, for it is David's house.
Revolt of Edom (See also 1 Kings 22:47 for passing reference to this)
- Edom revolts and sets up their own king, and Jehoram attacks Zair by night, causing Edom to revolt against Judah from then on.
- Libnah also revolts against Jehoram, because he has forsaken God.
This is puzzling, of course, because I thought Elijah had been "translated" by now. Commentaries have 3 explanations:
1) Elijah wrote the letter before he ascended, and it was delivered by another prophet (John Gill);
2) This is a translator's error, it should say Elisha, not Elijah (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown);
3) Jehoram came to the throne before Elijah's ascension (Matthew Henry). Note: John Wesley's commentary says the same thing as Matthew Henry's, word for word!
- Jehoram builds high places and causes Judah to stray.
- Elijah (prophet to Israel) sends him a letter, warning him that because of his disobedience, God will bring a plague on his people, his family, and even on him.
- The Philistines also come up against Judah and carry away the king's possessions, as well as all his wives and his sons, except Jehoahaz (AKA Ahaziah).
- Jehoram is stricken with an incurable bowel disease and dies in great agony. No one regrets his death.
- He is 32 years when he begins to reign and reigns 8 years, buried in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
- Jehoram's son Ahaziah (by Athaliah, granddaughter of Omri of Israel) becomes king in the 12th year of King Joram of Israel, at the age of 22, and reigns for one year. He follows Ahab's ways, because he is a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.
- He goes to war with King Joram of Israel against King Hazael of Aram, and Joram is wounded. Ahaziah goes to visit Joram in Jezreel.
1-13 Anointing of Jehu
And here comes the 2nd part of God's prophecy to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:15-17.
- Elisha instructs one of the prophets to take a flask of oil, go to Ramoth-gilead and anoint Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel. "Then open the door and flee; do not linger." Isn't this funny? "Anoint Jehu, and run!"
- So the young prophet goes to Ramoth-gilead, asks to speak to Jehu, who is an army commander. He anoints him with oil, and instructs him to strike down Ahab's house, as vengeance on Jezebel for the blood of the LORD's prophets and servants. He prophesies that Jezebel will be eaten by dogs. Then he opens the door and flees.
- Jehu goes back to his company and tells the other commanders a "madman" has anointed him king over Israel. They take it seriously -- take off their cloaks, spread them on the bare steps, blow trumpets and declare him king.
- Jehu sets out for Jezreel, where Joram is lying wounded from battle with Aram. Ahaziah of Judah is with him.
- Joram's sentinel sees the horsemen, and Joram sends out messengers one at a time to see if the horsemen come in peace, but Jehu answers each one, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me." And they do. Finally the sentinel recognizes Jehu, because "he drives like a maniac."
- Joram seems to be expecting him. He and Ahaziah go out to meet Jehu at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite, whom Jezebel had killed.
- He asks Jehu if he's come in peace, but Jehu tells him there can be no peace "as long as the many whoredoms and sorceries of your mother Jezebel continue."
- Joram says to Ahaziah, "Treason, Ahaziah!" Jehu shoots Joram between his shoulders, and instructs his aide Bidkar to throw him on Naboth's plot.
- King Ahaziah tries to get away, but they chase him and shoot him in his chariot. (The Chronicles account says that Ahaziah is hiding in Samaria, found, and brought to Jehu and killed.)
- He gets as far as Megiddo and dies there. In respect for his grandfather Jehoshaphat, they bury him in his ancestral tomb in the city of David.
- When Jezebel hears of Jehu's arrival, she paints her eyes and adorns her head, looks out the window, asks Jehu "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?"
- Jehu appeals to 2 or 3 eunuchs to throw her out the window, which they do, and horses trample on her. He goes in to eat and drink, then gives instructions to bury the "cursed woman," since she is a king's daughter, after all. But they find nothing of her except her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands, fulfilling Elijah's (and Elisha's) prophecies.
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