2 Kings 8

This chapter focuses on the Shunammite woman’s return from Philistine land after seven years of famine, the rise and reign of Hazael over Syria, and Jehoram's rule over Judah. It shows the consequences of God’s prophetic word through Elisha and the political turmoil in the region.

2 Kings 8:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the Lord has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.”
2 So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.
3 It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land.
4 Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.”
5 Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing 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.”

The Shunammite woman, whose son Elisha brought back to life, is warned of a coming famine. Obediently, she leaves Israel for the land of the Philistines. After seven years, she returns to find her property taken, so she appeals to the king. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, happens to be recounting Elisha’s miracles to the king when the woman appears. This is a providential moment, showing how God works in perfect timing to restore her land and rights.

2 Kings 8:6 (NKJV)
6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”

The king, convinced by the testimony of Gehazi and the woman, immediately acts to restore her property. Not only does she get her land back, but she also receives compensation for the income her land would have generated during the seven years of famine. This highlights God’s justice and provision for those who trust in Him.

2 Kings 8:7-9 (NKJV)
7 Then Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.”
8 And the king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’”
9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’”

Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, hears of Elisha's presence and seeks his counsel regarding his illness. Hazael, a high-ranking servant, is sent with lavish gifts to inquire if Ben-Hadad will recover. This interaction shows the reputation of Elisha extending beyond Israel, and it reveals the custom of giving large gifts to prophets as a sign of respect and hope for favorable answers.

2 Kings 8:10-12 (NKJV)
10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However, the Lord has shown me that he will really die.”
11 Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept.
12 And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”

Elisha informs Hazael that although the king will recover from his illness, he will still die. Elisha's emotional response reveals that he foresees Hazael’s rise to power and the terrible atrocities he will commit against Israel. This is a sobering prophecy, showing the heartache that comes with knowing future events, especially those involving suffering and destruction.

2 Kings 8:13-15 (NKJV)
13 So Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become king over Syria.”
14 Then he 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 surely recover.”
15 But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place.

Though Hazael initially expresses disbelief at the horrors he would commit, Elisha’s prophecy is fulfilled. Hazael murders Ben-Hadad, suffocating him, and seizes the throne of Syria. This act marks the beginning of a ruthless reign, confirming Elisha’s vision of the destruction Hazael will bring upon Israel.

2 Kings 8:16-19 (NKJV)
16 Now in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat having been king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat began to reign as king of Judah.
17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
19 Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah, for the sake of His servant David, as He promised him to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

In this passage, we encounter a unique situation where two kings with nearly identical names—Joram (or Jehoram) of Israel and Joram (or Jehoram) of Judah—are ruling at the same time. The passage begins by noting that Joram, son of Jehoshaphat, became king of Judah in the fifth year of Joram, son of Ahab, who was king of Israel. This overlap, or co-regency, means that Jehoram of Judah began ruling while his father Jehoshaphat was still alive. This co-regency arrangement is likely to have been set up to ensure a smooth transfer of power in Judah. Unfortunately, influenced by his marriage to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, Jehoram of Judah followed the idolatrous practices of Israel’s royal family, leading Judah away from the faithfulness of his father, Jehoshaphat. Despite his actions, God’s promise to David preserved the line of kings in Judah, as noted in verse 19, where God remembers His covenant with David and refrains from destroying Judah for David’s sake. This passage illustrates the close ties—and negative influence—between the two kingdoms during this time.

2 Kings 8:20-22 (NKJV)
20 In his days Edom revolted against Judah’s authority, and made a king over themselves.
21 So Joram went to Zair, and all his chariots with him. Then he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots; but his troops fled to their tents.
22 Thus Edom has been in revolt against Judah’s authority to this day. And Libnah revolted at that time.

During Jehoram’s reign, Edom successfully rebels against Judah's control, marking a significant loss for Judah. This is a consequence of Jehoram’s disobedience to God. Libnah’s revolt further weakens his kingdom, showing that political instability often follows a departure from God's ways.

2 Kings 8:23-24 (NKJV)
23 Now 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?
24 So Joram rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

Jehoram’s reign comes to an end, and his deeds are recorded in the chronicles of the kings of Judah. His death brings the transition to his son Ahaziah’s rule. His burial in the City of David signifies his royal lineage, though his legacy is marred by his wickedness.

2 Kings 8:25-27 (NKJV)
25 In the twelfth year of Joram 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 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab, for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.

Ahaziah becomes king of Judah, but like his father, he follows the evil practices of the house of Ahab. His mother, Athaliah, from Ahab’s lineage, influences his actions. His brief reign continues the pattern of disobedience to God, resulting in further moral and political decline for Judah.

2 Kings 8:28-29 (NKJV)
28 Now he went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
29 Then King Joram went back to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

Ahaziah, king of Judah, aligns with Joram, king of Israel, to fight against Hazael, the rising power in Syria. During the battle at Ramoth Gilead, Joram is wounded, prompting him to return to Jezreel for recovery. Ahaziah visits his ally and relative in Jezreel. This demonstrates the political and familial ties between the two kings, as Ahaziah's mother is from the house of Ahab. However, this alliance is built on a legacy of idolatry and disobedience, setting the stage for God's judgment on both kingdoms.