The Shunammite’s Land Restored
Elisha had told the woman whose son he had restored to life, to leave their household and sojourn wherever they could; for the Lord had called for a famine, and it would be on the land for seven years. The woman did as she was told and went to the land of the Philistines for seven years.
At the end of the seven years, the woman and her son returned to their home. She appealed to the king that she wanted all that was hers; her house and land restored to her.
At that time Gehazi, the servant of the man of God was talking to the king about all the great things that Elisha had done. So when the woman showed up with her son who Elisha had restored to life, the king said that all she had would be restored to her; with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.
Hazael Murders Ben-hadad
Elisha went to Damascus and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. When the king heard that the man of God was there, he told Hazael to take a present to him and seek his guidance on whether he would recover from his sickness.
Elisha told Hazael to tell the king that he would certainly recover, but the Lord had shown him that he would certainly die. Then he fixed his gaze and stared at him until he was embarrassed and the man of God wept.
Hazael asked why he wept, and Elisha replied that he knew the evil that he would do to the people of Israel. “He would set fire to their fortresses, and kill their young men with the sword, and dash in pieces their little ones, and rip open their pregnant women.”
Elisha explained how the Lord had shown him that Hazael would be king over Syria. Then he left Elisha and went to his king, and told him that he would certainly recover. But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. Then Hazael became king.
Jehoram Reigns in Judah
Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife.
And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.
In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king in their own. Joram took his chariots and struck the Edomites who had surrounded him, but his army fled home. So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
Joram slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
Ahaziah Reigns in Judah
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign. He reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah and she was granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.
He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Hazael king of Syria. The Syrians wounded king Joram, and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him. Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram because he was sick.
Jehu Anointed King of Israel
Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and told him to take a flask of oil to Ramoth-gilead. When he got there he was to look for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat and have him rise and follow him into an inner chamber. Then he would pour the flask of oil on his head and anoint him king over Israel. When he was done he was to get out of there and not linger.
The man did all that he was told and anointed Jehu king. Then he told him that he was to strike down the house of Ahab so the blood of the prophets could be avenged. He said that the whole house of Ahab should perish, and he opened the door and fled.
Jehu Assassinates Joram and Ahaziah
Jehu conspired against Joram, and went to Jezreel to see him. Ahaziah king of Judah was there too visiting Joram. When word came to them that there was a company coming toward the city they sent out a horseman to check it out. But he did not return. So they sent another one.
When they got close enough they could see that it was Jehu. Joram told them to make ready and Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out in their chariots to meet Jehu.
When they discovered it was not in peace, Joram turned to flee, but Jehu shot him between the shoulders with his bow and arrow so the arrow pierced his heart.
When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this he fled, but Jehu pursued him. He was shot in his chariot also and he died.
Jehu Executes Jezebel
When Jehu went to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. She painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. When he entered, she asked if he was there for peace, and he looked up at her in the window. He asked who was on his side, and two or three eunuchs looked down at him. He said to throw her down.
So they threw her out of the window and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on her horses, and they trampled on her. Then he went in and ate and drank.
He said to take care of the cursed woman and bury her because she was the king’s daughter. But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull, feet, and the palms of her hands.
When they went back and told Jehu what they had seen, they said that it was the word of the Lord which he spoke by his servant Elijah. “In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, ‘This is Jezebel.'”