Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Blindness » Instances of » Moab
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
the Burnt offering » Of human victims execrated
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
Do not behave this way toward Jehovah your God, for every abominable act Jehovah hates they have done for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire. I did not command this. I would never think of such a thing. (It would not come from my heart.)
They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal. This is not something I commanded or spoke of, nor did it ever enter my mind (heart) (conscience).'
Jehoshaphat » When surrounding nations attacked him he trusted in the lord and gained a great victory 2ch 20 » He manifested weakness in forming alliances with wicked kings
There was peace between Israel and Syria for the next two years. In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to see King Ahab of Israel. Ahab asked his officials: Why have we not done anything to get back Ramoth in Gilead from the king of Syria? It is ours! read more.
Ahab asked Jehoshaphat: Will you go with me to attack Ramoth? I am ready when you are, Jehoshaphat answered. And so are my soldiers and my cavalry. First let us inquire of Jehovah. So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them: Should I attack Ramoth, or not? They answered: Attack, Jehovah will give you victory. Jehoshaphat asked: Is there another prophet through whom we can consult Jehovah? Ahab answered: There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, always something bad. The king should not say such things! Jehoshaphat replied. Then Ahab called a court official and told him to get Micaiah at once. They dressed in their royal robes and sat on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. The two kings listened to all the prophets prophesy in front of them. One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: Jehovah says: 'With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.' All the other prophets said the same thing: March against Ramoth and you will win, they said. Jehovah will give you victory. The messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him: All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same. Micaiah answered: By the living God Jehovah I promise that I will say what he tells me to say! He appeared before King Ahab. The king asked him: Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not? Attack! Micaiah answered. You will win. Jehovah will give you victory. But Ahab replied: Tell the truth when you speak to me in the name of Jehovah! How many times do I have to tell you that? Micaiah answered: I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Jehovah said: These men have no leader. Let them go home in peace. Israel's king said to Jehoshaphat: Did I not say to you, He will prophesy about me? It is always something bad! Micaiah continued: Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. Jehovah asked: Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, until a spirit stepped forward, approached Jehovah, and said: I will deceive him. How will you deceive him? Jehovah asked. The spirit replied: I will make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies. Jehovah said: Go and deceive him. You will succeed. Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster! The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: Since when did Jehovah's spirit leave me and speak to you? You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide. Micaiah replied. The king of Israel said: Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son. Tell them: 'It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.' Micaiah said: If you come back at all in peace, Jehovah has not sent his word by me. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went to Ramoth-gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: I will change my clothing, so that I do not seem to be the king. Then I will go into the fight. You put on your royal robes. So the king of Israel changed his dress and went into the battle. Now the king of Aram had given orders to the thirty-two captains of his war-carriages, saying: Make no attack on small or great, but only on the king of Israel. So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said: Truly, this is the king of Israel. They turned against him and surrounded him. Jehoshaphat gave a cry. When the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel they withdrew from him. A stray arrow wounded the king of Israel a wound where his breastplate was joined to his clothing. He said to the chariot driver: Go to the side. Take me away from the fight for I am badly wounded. The fight grew more violent as the day went on. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians (Aramaeans). The floor of the chariot was covered with the blood from his wound. By evening he died. About sundown a cry went up from all parts of the army, saying: Let every man go back to his town and his country, for the king is dead.
Ahab asked Jehoshaphat: Will you go with me to attack Ramoth? I am ready when you are, Jehoshaphat answered. And so are my soldiers and my cavalry. First let us inquire of Jehovah. So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them: Should I attack Ramoth, or not? They answered: Attack, Jehovah will give you victory. Jehoshaphat asked: Is there another prophet through whom we can consult Jehovah? Ahab answered: There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, always something bad. The king should not say such things! Jehoshaphat replied. Then Ahab called a court official and told him to get Micaiah at once. They dressed in their royal robes and sat on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. The two kings listened to all the prophets prophesy in front of them. One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: Jehovah says: 'With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.' All the other prophets said the same thing: March against Ramoth and you will win, they said. Jehovah will give you victory. The messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him: All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same. Micaiah answered: By the living God Jehovah I promise that I will say what he tells me to say! He appeared before King Ahab. The king asked him: Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not? Attack! Micaiah answered. You will win. Jehovah will give you victory. But Ahab replied: Tell the truth when you speak to me in the name of Jehovah! How many times do I have to tell you that? Micaiah answered: I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Jehovah said: These men have no leader. Let them go home in peace. Israel's king said to Jehoshaphat: Did I not say to you, He will prophesy about me? It is always something bad! Micaiah continued: Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. Jehovah asked: Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, until a spirit stepped forward, approached Jehovah, and said: I will deceive him. How will you deceive him? Jehovah asked. The spirit replied: I will make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies. Jehovah said: Go and deceive him. You will succeed. Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster! The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: Since when did Jehovah's spirit leave me and speak to you? You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide. Micaiah replied. The king of Israel said: Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son. Tell them: 'It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.' Micaiah said: If you come back at all in peace, Jehovah has not sent his word by me. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went to Ramoth-gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: I will change my clothing, so that I do not seem to be the king. Then I will go into the fight. You put on your royal robes. So the king of Israel changed his dress and went into the battle. Now the king of Aram had given orders to the thirty-two captains of his war-carriages, saying: Make no attack on small or great, but only on the king of Israel. So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said: Truly, this is the king of Israel. They turned against him and surrounded him. Jehoshaphat gave a cry. When the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel they withdrew from him. A stray arrow wounded the king of Israel a wound where his breastplate was joined to his clothing. He said to the chariot driver: Go to the side. Take me away from the fight for I am badly wounded. The fight grew more violent as the day went on. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians (Aramaeans). The floor of the chariot was covered with the blood from his wound. By evening he died. About sundown a cry went up from all parts of the army, saying: Let every man go back to his town and his country, for the king is dead.
King Mesha of Moab raised sheep. Yearly he gave as tribute to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool from one hundred thousand sheep. When King Ahab of Israel died Mesha rebelled against Israel. At once King Joram mobilized his troops and left Samaria. read more.
He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab? King Jehoshaphat replied: I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal. Which way shall we go to the attack? Joram answered: We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom. King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals. Alas, all is done, King Joram exclaimed. Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab? King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha. Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab. Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones. The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground. The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border. They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood. They said: It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp! When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites. They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it. The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed. He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab? King Jehoshaphat replied: I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal. Which way shall we go to the attack? Joram answered: We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom. King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals. Alas, all is done, King Joram exclaimed. Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab? King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha. Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab. Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones. The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground. The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border. They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood. They said: It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp! When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites. They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it. The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed. He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Jehoram, or joram
Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He ruled in Samaria for twelve years. Though he was not as bad as his father or his mother Jezebel; he sinned against Jehovah. He removed the image his father had made for the worship of Baal. Like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he caused Israel to sin. He would not turn away from sin. read more.
King Mesha of Moab raised sheep. Yearly he gave as tribute to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool from one hundred thousand sheep. When King Ahab of Israel died Mesha rebelled against Israel. At once King Joram mobilized his troops and left Samaria. He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab? King Jehoshaphat replied: I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal. Which way shall we go to the attack? Joram answered: We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom. King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals. Alas, all is done, King Joram exclaimed. Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab? King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha. Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab. Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones. The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground. The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border. They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood. They said: It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp! When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites. They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it. The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed. He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country. The widow of a member of a group of prophets said to Elisha: My husband has died! As you know, he was a man who respected God. A man to whom he owed money came to take away my two sons as slaves in payment for my husband's debt. Elisha said: Tell me what shall I do for you? What do you have at home? She answered: Except for a small jar of olive oil, I have nothing. Ask your neighbors for empty jars. Borrow as many as you can, Elisha told her. You and your sons go into the house and shut the door behind you. Pour oil into the jars. Set each one aside as soon as it is full. The woman went into her house with her sons. They closed the door and took the small jar of olive oil, and poured oil into the jars as her sons brought them to her. When the jars were full she asked if there were any more. That was the last one, one of her sons told her. So the olive oil stopped flowing. She returned to Elisha, the prophet. He said: Sell the olive oil and pay all your debts. There will be enough money left over for you and your sons to pay your living expenses. Elisha went to Shunem, where a rich woman lived. She invited him to a meal. From that time on every time he went to Shunem he would have his meals at her house. She said to her husband: I know that this man who comes here often is a holy man. Let us build a small room on the roof, and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it. He can stay there when he visits us. One day Elisha returned to Shunem and went to his room to rest. He told his servant Gehazi to call the woman. When she came, he said to Gehazi: Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or the army commander and put in a good word for her. I have all I need here among my own people, she answered. Elisha asked Gehazi: What can I do for her? He answered: She has no son, and her husband is an old man. Tell her to come here, Elisha ordered. She came and stood in the doorway. Elisha said to her: By this time next year you will hold a son in your arms. Please do not lie to me. You are a man of God! She said. Just as Elisha said, about that time the following year she gave birth to a son. Years later at harvest time, the boy went out one morning to join his father, who was in the field with the harvest workers. Suddenly he cried out to his father: My head hurts! My head hurts! Carry the boy to his mother, the father said to a servant. The servant carried the boy back to his mother. She held him in her lap until noon. Then the boy died. She carried him up to Elisha's room and put him on the bed. She closed the door behind her and left. She called her husband and said to him: Send a servant here with a donkey. I need to go to the prophet Elisha. I will be back as soon as I can. Why must you go today? Her husband asked. It is neither a Sabbath nor a New Moon Festival. She replied: Never mind. She had the donkey saddled, and ordered the servant: Make the donkey go as fast as it can. Do not slow down unless I tell you. She left for Mount Carmel, where Elisha was. Elisha saw her coming while she was still far off. He said to his servant Gehazi: Look, there comes the woman from Shunem! Hurry to her and find out if everything is all right with her and her family. She told Gehazi that everything was all right, but when she came to Elisha, she bowed down before him and took hold of his feet. Gehazi was about to push her away. Elisha said: Do not bother her. You can see she is deeply distressed. Jehovah has not told me a thing about it. The woman said to him: Did I ask you for a son? Did I not tell you not to get my hopes up? Elisha told Gehazi: Hurry! Take my walking stick. Do not stop to talk to anyone. If anyone speaks to you do not respond. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy. The woman said to Elisha: I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you! So the two of them started back together. Gehazi went ahead and held Elisha's stick over the child. There was no sound or any other sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and said: The boy did not wake up. When Elisha arrived he went alone into the room. He saw the boy lying dead on the bed. He closed the door and prayed to Jehovah. Then he lay down on the boy, placing his mouth, eyes, and hands on the boy's mouth, eyes, and hands. As he lay stretched out over the boy, the boy's body started to get warm. Elisha got up and walked around the room. He returned and again stretched himself over the boy. The boy sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes. Elisha called Gehazi and told him to call the boy's mother. When she came in, he said to her: Take your son! She fell at Elisha's feet with her face on the ground. Then she took her son and left. When there was a famine throughout the land, Elisha returned to Gilgal. He was teaching a group of prophets. He told his servant to put a big pot on the fire and make some stew for them. One of them went out in the fields to gather herbs. He found a wild vine and picked as many gourds as he could carry. He brought them back and sliced them into the stew, not knowing what they were. The stew was poured out for the men to eat. They tasted it and exclaimed to Elisha: It is poisoned! They would not eat it. Elisha asked for some meal. He threw it into the pot and said: Pour out some more stew for them. Then there was nothing wrong with it. A man came from Baal Shalishah. He brought Elisha twenty loaves of bread made from the first barley harvested that year and some freshly cut heads of grain. Elisha told his servant to feed the group of prophets with this. He asked: How am I to feed a hundred hungry men with this? Elisha replied: Give it to them to eat, because Jehovah says that they will eat and still have some left over. (Matthew 14:20) So the servant set the food before them. Just as Jehovah said, they ate and had some left over. Naaman was a great soldier. He was commander of the Syrian army and highly respected and esteemed by the king of Syria (Aram). Jehovah gave victory to the Syrian forces through Naaman. He suffered from a dreaded skin disease. The Syrians carried off a little Israelite girl during one of their raids against Israel. The girl became a servant of Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress: I wish my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy. Naaman heard of this and told the king what the girl said. The king said: Go to the king of Israel and take this letter to him. Naaman departed. He took thirty thousand pieces of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of fine clothes. The letter stated: This letter will introduce my officer Naaman. I want you to cure him of his leprosy. The king of Israel read the letter and tore his clothes and said: How can the king of Syria expect me to cure this man? Does he think that I am God, with the power of life and death? It is plain that he is trying to start a quarrel with me! When the prophet Elisha heard what happened, he sent word to the king: Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me. I will show him that there is a prophet in Israel! Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance to Elisha's house. Elisha sent a servant to tell him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. He would then be completely cured of his disease. Naaman left in a rage, saying: I thought he would at least come out to me, pray to Jehovah his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me! Are not the Abanah and Pharpar rivers in Damascus better than any river in Israel? I could have washed in them and been cured! His servants went up to him and said: If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can you not just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured? So Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed. He was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child. Naaman returned to Elisha with all his men and said: Now I realize there is no god but the God of Israel. Please accept a gift from me. Elisha the prophet answered: By the living God Jehovah whom I serve, I swear that I will not accept a gift. Naaman insisted that he accept it, but he would not. So Naaman said: If you will not accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me. From now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except Jehovah. I hope Jehovah will forgive me when I accompany my king to the temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely Jehovah will forgive me! Elisha said: Go in peace. And Naaman left. He had gone only a short distance, when Elisha's servant Gehazi said to himself: My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living God Jehovah I will run after him and get something from him. He ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw a man running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him, and asked: What is wrong? Nothing is wrong, answered Gehazi. But my master sent me to tell you that just now two members of the group of prophets in the hill country of Ephraim arrived. He would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes. Please take six thousand pieces of silver, Naaman replied. He tied the silver in two bags and gave them and two changes of fine clothes to two of his servants, and sent them on ahead of Gehazi. They reached the hill where Elisha lived. Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman's servants back. He went into the house. Elisha asked him: Where have you been? Oh, nowhere, he answered. Elisha said: Was I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants! Naaman's leprosy will come upon you. You and your descendants will have it from generation to generation! When Gehazi left, he had the disease. His skin was as white as snow. The group of prophets Elisha was in charge of complained to him: The place where we live is too small! Allow us to go to the Jordan and cut down some trees. We can build a place to live. Elisha answered: Go. One of them urged him to go with them and he agreed. They set out together and when they arrived at the Jordan they cut down trees. One of them was cutting down a tree when suddenly his ax head fell in the water. It was a borrowed ax, he exclaimed to Elisha. What will I do? Elisha said: Where did it fall? The man showed him the place. Elisha cut off a stick. Then he threw it in the water and made the ax head float. Pick it up, he ordered. The man put his hand in the water and picked it up. The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his officers and chose a place to set up camp. Elisha sent word to the king of Israel. He warned him not to go near that place, because the Syrians were waiting to ambush him. The king of Israel warned the people who lived there. So they were on guard. This happened several times. The Syrian king was greatly upset over this. He called in his officers and asked them: Show me who of us is on the side of the king of Israel? One of his servants said: No one is, Your Majesty. The prophet Elisha tells the king of Israel what you say even in the privacy of your own bedroom. Locate him! the king ordered, and I will capture him. He was told: Elisha is in Dothan. He sent a large force there with horses and chariots. They surrounded the town at night. Early the next morning Elisha's servant got up and went out of the house. He saw the Syrian troops with their horses and chariots surrounding the town. He went to Elisha and said: Alas my master what shall we do? Do not be afraid, Elisha answered. We have more on our side than they have on theirs. Elisha prayed: O Jehovah, open his eyes that he may see. Jehovah answered his prayer. Elisha's servant looked up and saw the hillside covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. The Syrians attacked! Elisha prayed, O Jehovah, strike these men blind! Jehovah answered his prayer and struck them blind. Elisha said to the Syrians: This is not the way or the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after. He led them to Samaria. When they entered the city, Elisha prayed: Open their eyes and let them see. Jehovah answered his prayer. He restored their sight, and they saw that they were inside Samaria. When the king of Israel saw the Syrians, he asked Elisha: Shall I kill them? No, Elisha answered. Would you put to death soldiers you captured in combat? Give them something to eat and drink. Then let them return to their king. So the king of Israel provided a great feast for them. After they ate and drank he sent them back to the king of Syria. From then on the Syrians stopped raiding the land of Israel. After that King Benhadad of Syria led his entire army against Israel in siege of the city of Samaria. The siege caused a great food shortage in the city. It was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and half a pound of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver. The king of Israel walked by on the city wall when a woman cried out: Help me, Your Majesty! The king replied: If Jehovah will not help you, what help can I provide? Where can I get you help from the threshing floor or the wine press? The king asked: What is your trouble? She answered: The other day a woman suggested that we eat my child. Then we could eat her child the next day. So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I told her that we would eat her son, but she had hidden him! Hearing this, the king tore his clothes. The people close to the wall could see that he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes. He exclaimed: May God strike me dead if Elisha is not beheaded before the day is over! He sent a messenger to get Elisha. Meanwhile Elisha was at home with some elders who were visiting him. Before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders: That murderer is sending someone to kill me! When he gets here, shut the door. Do not let him come in. The king will follow him. While Elisha was still talking the king arrived and said: Jehovah brought this trouble on us! Why should I wait any longer for him to do something? Elisha answered: Hear the word of Jehovah: 'By this time tomorrow you will be able to buy in Samaria ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley for one piece of silver.' The personal attendant of the king said to Elisha: If Jehovah could make floodgates in the heavens could this happen? Elisha replied: You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it. Four men who were suffering from a dreaded skin disease were outside the gates of Samaria. They said to each other: Why should we wait here until we die? If we go into the city we will starve to death. If we stay here we will also die. So let us go to the Syrian camp. The worst they can do is kill us. Maybe they will spare our lives. They arose in the twilight and went to the Syrian camp. When they reached it, no one was there. Jehovah made the Syrians hear what sounded like the advance of a large army with horses and chariots. The Syrians thought that the king of Israel had hired Hittite and Egyptian kings and their armies to attack them. The Syrians arose and fled while it was yet dark. They left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys in the camp and fled for their lives. The lepers came to the edge of the camp. They went into one tent and ate and drank. They took silver and gold and clothing. They entered another tent and carried away spoil and hid it. They said to each other: We should not do this! We have good news. We should not keep it to ourselves. If we wait until morning to tell it we will be punished. Let us go tell the king's officers! They left the Syrian camp and went to Samaria. They called out to the guards at the gates: We went to the Syrian camp and did not see or hear anyone. The horses and donkeys have not been untied. The tents are just as the Syrians left them. The guards announced the news. It was reported in the palace. The king got out of bed even though it was night. He said to his officials: I will tell you what the Syrians are planning! They know about the famine here, so they have left their camp to go and hide in the countryside. They think that we will leave the city to find food. Then they will take us alive and capture the city. One of his servants said: The people in the city are doomed like those who have already died. Send some men with five of the horses that are left and find out what happened. They chose some men and the king sent them in two chariots with instructions to go and find out what had happened to the Syrian army. The men went to the Jordan. Along the road they saw the clothes and equipment that the Syrians had abandoned as they fled. Then they returned and reported to the king. The people of Samaria rushed out and looted the Syrian camp. Just as Jehovah said, ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley were sold for one piece of silver. The king of Israel put the city gate under the command of the officer who was his personal attendant. The officer was trampled to death there by the people and died, as Elisha had predicted when the king went to see him. Elisha told the king that by that time the following day ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley would be sold in Samaria for one piece of silver. The king's attendant answered: If Jehovah could open floodgates in the heavens could this happen? Elisha had replied: You shall see with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it. And that is just what happened! He died. The people at the city gate trampled him to death. Elisha told the woman who lived in Shunem, whose son he brought back to life: Jehovah is sending a famine on the land. It will last for seven years. Leave with your family and go live somewhere else. She followed his instructions and left with her family to live in Philistia for the seven years. When the seven years ended she returned to Israel. She went to the king to ask that her house and her land be restored to her. The king was talking with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, when she found him. The king wanted to know about Elisha's miracles. Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead person back to life. The woman made her appeal to the king. Gehazi said to him: Your Majesty, here is the woman and here is her son whom Elisha brought back to life! She responded to the king's question by confirming Gehazi's story. The king called an official and told him to give back to her everything that was hers. This included the value of all the crops that her fields produced during the seven years she was away. Elisha went to Damascus when King Benhadad of Syria was sick. The king was told that Elisha was there. He said to Hazael, one of his officials: Take a gift to the prophet and ask him to consult Jehovah to find out whether or not I am going to get well. Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. Hazael said: Your servant, King Benhadad sent me to ask if he will recover from his sickness. Elisha answered: Jehovah has revealed to me that he will die. However go to him and tell him that he will recover. Elisha stared at him in horror until Hazael became ill at ease. Suddenly Elisha burst into tears. Why are you crying? Hazael asked. Because I know the horrible things you will do against the people of Israel, Elisha answered. You will burn their fortresses, slaughter their finest young men, batter their children to death, and rip open their pregnant women. How could I ever be that powerful? Hazael asked. I am nobody, only a dog. Elisha replied: Jehovah has revealed to me that you will be king of Syria. Hazael returned to Benhadad, who asked him: What did Elisha say? He told me that you will certainly get well, Hazael answered. The following day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king. Hazael succeeded Benhadad as king of Syria. Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. It was the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab as king of Israel. He was thirty-two years old. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. His wife was Ahab's daughter. Like the family of Ahab he followed the evil ways of the kings of Israel. He sinned against Jehovah. Jehovah was not willing to destroy Judah. He promised his servant David that his descendants would always continue to rule. Edom revolted against Judah and became an independent kingdom. Jehoram and his chariots went to Zair. The Edomite army surrounded them. He and his chariot commanders managed to break out and escape. His soldiers scattered to their homes. Edom has been independent of Judah ever since. The city of Libnah also revolted at that time. Everything Jehoram did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. Jehoram died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king. Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. This was in the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab as king of Israel. He was twenty-two years old. He ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab and granddaughter of King Omri of Israel. Ahaziah was related to King Ahab by marriage. He sinned against Jehovah as Ahab's family did. King Ahaziah joined King Joram of Israel in a war against King Hazael of Syria. The armies clashed at Ramoth in Gilead. Joram was wounded in battle. He returned to the city of Jezreel to recover from his wounds. Ahaziah went there to visit him. Elisha the prophet called one of the young prophets and said to him: Prepare to go to Ramoth in Gilead. Take this jar of olive oil with you. When you get there look for Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Take him to a private room away from his companions. Pour this olive oil on his head, and say: 'Jehovah anoints you king of Israel. Then leave there as fast as you can.' The young prophet went to Ramoth. He found the army officers in conference. He said: I have a message for you. Jehu asked: Who are you speaking to? To you, captain. He replied. The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king of my people Israel. You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah. Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.' After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled. Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you? Jehu answered: You know what he wanted. No we do not! They replied. Tell us what he said! They asked. He told me that Jehovah says: 'I anoint you king of Israel.' At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: Jehu is king! So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram: King Joram went back to Jezreel to recuperate from the wounds he received from the Aramaeans when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. Jehu said: If this is your purpose let no one get away to give news of it in Jezreel. So Jehu got into his carriage and went to Jezreel. Joram was ill in bed there and Ahaziah, king of Judah came to see him. The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?' So a horseman went out to them and said: The king asks: 'Do you come in peace? ' Jehu said: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning. A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: Do you come in peace? Jehu replied: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported: He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently. Joram said: Get ready. They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu he said: Do you come in peace, Jehu? He said in reply: What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts of witchcraft? Then Joram turned his horses and fled. He said to Ahaziah: Broken faith, O Ahaziah! Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted.
King Mesha of Moab raised sheep. Yearly he gave as tribute to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool from one hundred thousand sheep. When King Ahab of Israel died Mesha rebelled against Israel. At once King Joram mobilized his troops and left Samaria. He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab? King Jehoshaphat replied: I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal. Which way shall we go to the attack? Joram answered: We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom. King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals. Alas, all is done, King Joram exclaimed. Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab? King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha. Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab. Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones. The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground. The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border. They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood. They said: It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp! When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites. They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it. The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed. He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country. The widow of a member of a group of prophets said to Elisha: My husband has died! As you know, he was a man who respected God. A man to whom he owed money came to take away my two sons as slaves in payment for my husband's debt. Elisha said: Tell me what shall I do for you? What do you have at home? She answered: Except for a small jar of olive oil, I have nothing. Ask your neighbors for empty jars. Borrow as many as you can, Elisha told her. You and your sons go into the house and shut the door behind you. Pour oil into the jars. Set each one aside as soon as it is full. The woman went into her house with her sons. They closed the door and took the small jar of olive oil, and poured oil into the jars as her sons brought them to her. When the jars were full she asked if there were any more. That was the last one, one of her sons told her. So the olive oil stopped flowing. She returned to Elisha, the prophet. He said: Sell the olive oil and pay all your debts. There will be enough money left over for you and your sons to pay your living expenses. Elisha went to Shunem, where a rich woman lived. She invited him to a meal. From that time on every time he went to Shunem he would have his meals at her house. She said to her husband: I know that this man who comes here often is a holy man. Let us build a small room on the roof, and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it. He can stay there when he visits us. One day Elisha returned to Shunem and went to his room to rest. He told his servant Gehazi to call the woman. When she came, he said to Gehazi: Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or the army commander and put in a good word for her. I have all I need here among my own people, she answered. Elisha asked Gehazi: What can I do for her? He answered: She has no son, and her husband is an old man. Tell her to come here, Elisha ordered. She came and stood in the doorway. Elisha said to her: By this time next year you will hold a son in your arms. Please do not lie to me. You are a man of God! She said. Just as Elisha said, about that time the following year she gave birth to a son. Years later at harvest time, the boy went out one morning to join his father, who was in the field with the harvest workers. Suddenly he cried out to his father: My head hurts! My head hurts! Carry the boy to his mother, the father said to a servant. The servant carried the boy back to his mother. She held him in her lap until noon. Then the boy died. She carried him up to Elisha's room and put him on the bed. She closed the door behind her and left. She called her husband and said to him: Send a servant here with a donkey. I need to go to the prophet Elisha. I will be back as soon as I can. Why must you go today? Her husband asked. It is neither a Sabbath nor a New Moon Festival. She replied: Never mind. She had the donkey saddled, and ordered the servant: Make the donkey go as fast as it can. Do not slow down unless I tell you. She left for Mount Carmel, where Elisha was. Elisha saw her coming while she was still far off. He said to his servant Gehazi: Look, there comes the woman from Shunem! Hurry to her and find out if everything is all right with her and her family. She told Gehazi that everything was all right, but when she came to Elisha, she bowed down before him and took hold of his feet. Gehazi was about to push her away. Elisha said: Do not bother her. You can see she is deeply distressed. Jehovah has not told me a thing about it. The woman said to him: Did I ask you for a son? Did I not tell you not to get my hopes up? Elisha told Gehazi: Hurry! Take my walking stick. Do not stop to talk to anyone. If anyone speaks to you do not respond. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy. The woman said to Elisha: I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you! So the two of them started back together. Gehazi went ahead and held Elisha's stick over the child. There was no sound or any other sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and said: The boy did not wake up. When Elisha arrived he went alone into the room. He saw the boy lying dead on the bed. He closed the door and prayed to Jehovah. Then he lay down on the boy, placing his mouth, eyes, and hands on the boy's mouth, eyes, and hands. As he lay stretched out over the boy, the boy's body started to get warm. Elisha got up and walked around the room. He returned and again stretched himself over the boy. The boy sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes. Elisha called Gehazi and told him to call the boy's mother. When she came in, he said to her: Take your son! She fell at Elisha's feet with her face on the ground. Then she took her son and left. When there was a famine throughout the land, Elisha returned to Gilgal. He was teaching a group of prophets. He told his servant to put a big pot on the fire and make some stew for them. One of them went out in the fields to gather herbs. He found a wild vine and picked as many gourds as he could carry. He brought them back and sliced them into the stew, not knowing what they were. The stew was poured out for the men to eat. They tasted it and exclaimed to Elisha: It is poisoned! They would not eat it. Elisha asked for some meal. He threw it into the pot and said: Pour out some more stew for them. Then there was nothing wrong with it. A man came from Baal Shalishah. He brought Elisha twenty loaves of bread made from the first barley harvested that year and some freshly cut heads of grain. Elisha told his servant to feed the group of prophets with this. He asked: How am I to feed a hundred hungry men with this? Elisha replied: Give it to them to eat, because Jehovah says that they will eat and still have some left over. (Matthew 14:20) So the servant set the food before them. Just as Jehovah said, they ate and had some left over. Naaman was a great soldier. He was commander of the Syrian army and highly respected and esteemed by the king of Syria (Aram). Jehovah gave victory to the Syrian forces through Naaman. He suffered from a dreaded skin disease. The Syrians carried off a little Israelite girl during one of their raids against Israel. The girl became a servant of Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress: I wish my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy. Naaman heard of this and told the king what the girl said. The king said: Go to the king of Israel and take this letter to him. Naaman departed. He took thirty thousand pieces of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of fine clothes. The letter stated: This letter will introduce my officer Naaman. I want you to cure him of his leprosy. The king of Israel read the letter and tore his clothes and said: How can the king of Syria expect me to cure this man? Does he think that I am God, with the power of life and death? It is plain that he is trying to start a quarrel with me! When the prophet Elisha heard what happened, he sent word to the king: Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me. I will show him that there is a prophet in Israel! Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance to Elisha's house. Elisha sent a servant to tell him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. He would then be completely cured of his disease. Naaman left in a rage, saying: I thought he would at least come out to me, pray to Jehovah his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me! Are not the Abanah and Pharpar rivers in Damascus better than any river in Israel? I could have washed in them and been cured! His servants went up to him and said: If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can you not just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured? So Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed. He was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child. Naaman returned to Elisha with all his men and said: Now I realize there is no god but the God of Israel. Please accept a gift from me. Elisha the prophet answered: By the living God Jehovah whom I serve, I swear that I will not accept a gift. Naaman insisted that he accept it, but he would not. So Naaman said: If you will not accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me. From now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except Jehovah. I hope Jehovah will forgive me when I accompany my king to the temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely Jehovah will forgive me! Elisha said: Go in peace. And Naaman left. He had gone only a short distance, when Elisha's servant Gehazi said to himself: My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living God Jehovah I will run after him and get something from him. He ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw a man running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him, and asked: What is wrong? Nothing is wrong, answered Gehazi. But my master sent me to tell you that just now two members of the group of prophets in the hill country of Ephraim arrived. He would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes. Please take six thousand pieces of silver, Naaman replied. He tied the silver in two bags and gave them and two changes of fine clothes to two of his servants, and sent them on ahead of Gehazi. They reached the hill where Elisha lived. Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman's servants back. He went into the house. Elisha asked him: Where have you been? Oh, nowhere, he answered. Elisha said: Was I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants! Naaman's leprosy will come upon you. You and your descendants will have it from generation to generation! When Gehazi left, he had the disease. His skin was as white as snow. The group of prophets Elisha was in charge of complained to him: The place where we live is too small! Allow us to go to the Jordan and cut down some trees. We can build a place to live. Elisha answered: Go. One of them urged him to go with them and he agreed. They set out together and when they arrived at the Jordan they cut down trees. One of them was cutting down a tree when suddenly his ax head fell in the water. It was a borrowed ax, he exclaimed to Elisha. What will I do? Elisha said: Where did it fall? The man showed him the place. Elisha cut off a stick. Then he threw it in the water and made the ax head float. Pick it up, he ordered. The man put his hand in the water and picked it up. The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his officers and chose a place to set up camp. Elisha sent word to the king of Israel. He warned him not to go near that place, because the Syrians were waiting to ambush him. The king of Israel warned the people who lived there. So they were on guard. This happened several times. The Syrian king was greatly upset over this. He called in his officers and asked them: Show me who of us is on the side of the king of Israel? One of his servants said: No one is, Your Majesty. The prophet Elisha tells the king of Israel what you say even in the privacy of your own bedroom. Locate him! the king ordered, and I will capture him. He was told: Elisha is in Dothan. He sent a large force there with horses and chariots. They surrounded the town at night. Early the next morning Elisha's servant got up and went out of the house. He saw the Syrian troops with their horses and chariots surrounding the town. He went to Elisha and said: Alas my master what shall we do? Do not be afraid, Elisha answered. We have more on our side than they have on theirs. Elisha prayed: O Jehovah, open his eyes that he may see. Jehovah answered his prayer. Elisha's servant looked up and saw the hillside covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. The Syrians attacked! Elisha prayed, O Jehovah, strike these men blind! Jehovah answered his prayer and struck them blind. Elisha said to the Syrians: This is not the way or the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after. He led them to Samaria. When they entered the city, Elisha prayed: Open their eyes and let them see. Jehovah answered his prayer. He restored their sight, and they saw that they were inside Samaria. When the king of Israel saw the Syrians, he asked Elisha: Shall I kill them? No, Elisha answered. Would you put to death soldiers you captured in combat? Give them something to eat and drink. Then let them return to their king. So the king of Israel provided a great feast for them. After they ate and drank he sent them back to the king of Syria. From then on the Syrians stopped raiding the land of Israel. After that King Benhadad of Syria led his entire army against Israel in siege of the city of Samaria. The siege caused a great food shortage in the city. It was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and half a pound of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver. The king of Israel walked by on the city wall when a woman cried out: Help me, Your Majesty! The king replied: If Jehovah will not help you, what help can I provide? Where can I get you help from the threshing floor or the wine press? The king asked: What is your trouble? She answered: The other day a woman suggested that we eat my child. Then we could eat her child the next day. So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I told her that we would eat her son, but she had hidden him! Hearing this, the king tore his clothes. The people close to the wall could see that he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes. He exclaimed: May God strike me dead if Elisha is not beheaded before the day is over! He sent a messenger to get Elisha. Meanwhile Elisha was at home with some elders who were visiting him. Before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders: That murderer is sending someone to kill me! When he gets here, shut the door. Do not let him come in. The king will follow him. While Elisha was still talking the king arrived and said: Jehovah brought this trouble on us! Why should I wait any longer for him to do something? Elisha answered: Hear the word of Jehovah: 'By this time tomorrow you will be able to buy in Samaria ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley for one piece of silver.' The personal attendant of the king said to Elisha: If Jehovah could make floodgates in the heavens could this happen? Elisha replied: You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it. Four men who were suffering from a dreaded skin disease were outside the gates of Samaria. They said to each other: Why should we wait here until we die? If we go into the city we will starve to death. If we stay here we will also die. So let us go to the Syrian camp. The worst they can do is kill us. Maybe they will spare our lives. They arose in the twilight and went to the Syrian camp. When they reached it, no one was there. Jehovah made the Syrians hear what sounded like the advance of a large army with horses and chariots. The Syrians thought that the king of Israel had hired Hittite and Egyptian kings and their armies to attack them. The Syrians arose and fled while it was yet dark. They left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys in the camp and fled for their lives. The lepers came to the edge of the camp. They went into one tent and ate and drank. They took silver and gold and clothing. They entered another tent and carried away spoil and hid it. They said to each other: We should not do this! We have good news. We should not keep it to ourselves. If we wait until morning to tell it we will be punished. Let us go tell the king's officers! They left the Syrian camp and went to Samaria. They called out to the guards at the gates: We went to the Syrian camp and did not see or hear anyone. The horses and donkeys have not been untied. The tents are just as the Syrians left them. The guards announced the news. It was reported in the palace. The king got out of bed even though it was night. He said to his officials: I will tell you what the Syrians are planning! They know about the famine here, so they have left their camp to go and hide in the countryside. They think that we will leave the city to find food. Then they will take us alive and capture the city. One of his servants said: The people in the city are doomed like those who have already died. Send some men with five of the horses that are left and find out what happened. They chose some men and the king sent them in two chariots with instructions to go and find out what had happened to the Syrian army. The men went to the Jordan. Along the road they saw the clothes and equipment that the Syrians had abandoned as they fled. Then they returned and reported to the king. The people of Samaria rushed out and looted the Syrian camp. Just as Jehovah said, ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley were sold for one piece of silver. The king of Israel put the city gate under the command of the officer who was his personal attendant. The officer was trampled to death there by the people and died, as Elisha had predicted when the king went to see him. Elisha told the king that by that time the following day ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley would be sold in Samaria for one piece of silver. The king's attendant answered: If Jehovah could open floodgates in the heavens could this happen? Elisha had replied: You shall see with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it. And that is just what happened! He died. The people at the city gate trampled him to death. Elisha told the woman who lived in Shunem, whose son he brought back to life: Jehovah is sending a famine on the land. It will last for seven years. Leave with your family and go live somewhere else. She followed his instructions and left with her family to live in Philistia for the seven years. When the seven years ended she returned to Israel. She went to the king to ask that her house and her land be restored to her. The king was talking with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, when she found him. The king wanted to know about Elisha's miracles. Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead person back to life. The woman made her appeal to the king. Gehazi said to him: Your Majesty, here is the woman and here is her son whom Elisha brought back to life! She responded to the king's question by confirming Gehazi's story. The king called an official and told him to give back to her everything that was hers. This included the value of all the crops that her fields produced during the seven years she was away. Elisha went to Damascus when King Benhadad of Syria was sick. The king was told that Elisha was there. He said to Hazael, one of his officials: Take a gift to the prophet and ask him to consult Jehovah to find out whether or not I am going to get well. Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. Hazael said: Your servant, King Benhadad sent me to ask if he will recover from his sickness. Elisha answered: Jehovah has revealed to me that he will die. However go to him and tell him that he will recover. Elisha stared at him in horror until Hazael became ill at ease. Suddenly Elisha burst into tears. Why are you crying? Hazael asked. Because I know the horrible things you will do against the people of Israel, Elisha answered. You will burn their fortresses, slaughter their finest young men, batter their children to death, and rip open their pregnant women. How could I ever be that powerful? Hazael asked. I am nobody, only a dog. Elisha replied: Jehovah has revealed to me that you will be king of Syria. Hazael returned to Benhadad, who asked him: What did Elisha say? He told me that you will certainly get well, Hazael answered. The following day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king. Hazael succeeded Benhadad as king of Syria. Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. It was the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab as king of Israel. He was thirty-two years old. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. His wife was Ahab's daughter. Like the family of Ahab he followed the evil ways of the kings of Israel. He sinned against Jehovah. Jehovah was not willing to destroy Judah. He promised his servant David that his descendants would always continue to rule. Edom revolted against Judah and became an independent kingdom. Jehoram and his chariots went to Zair. The Edomite army surrounded them. He and his chariot commanders managed to break out and escape. His soldiers scattered to their homes. Edom has been independent of Judah ever since. The city of Libnah also revolted at that time. Everything Jehoram did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. Jehoram died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king. Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. This was in the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab as king of Israel. He was twenty-two years old. He ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab and granddaughter of King Omri of Israel. Ahaziah was related to King Ahab by marriage. He sinned against Jehovah as Ahab's family did. King Ahaziah joined King Joram of Israel in a war against King Hazael of Syria. The armies clashed at Ramoth in Gilead. Joram was wounded in battle. He returned to the city of Jezreel to recover from his wounds. Ahaziah went there to visit him. Elisha the prophet called one of the young prophets and said to him: Prepare to go to Ramoth in Gilead. Take this jar of olive oil with you. When you get there look for Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Take him to a private room away from his companions. Pour this olive oil on his head, and say: 'Jehovah anoints you king of Israel. Then leave there as fast as you can.' The young prophet went to Ramoth. He found the army officers in conference. He said: I have a message for you. Jehu asked: Who are you speaking to? To you, captain. He replied. The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king of my people Israel. You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah. Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.' After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled. Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you? Jehu answered: You know what he wanted. No we do not! They replied. Tell us what he said! They asked. He told me that Jehovah says: 'I anoint you king of Israel.' At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: Jehu is king! So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram: King Joram went back to Jezreel to recuperate from the wounds he received from the Aramaeans when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. Jehu said: If this is your purpose let no one get away to give news of it in Jezreel. So Jehu got into his carriage and went to Jezreel. Joram was ill in bed there and Ahaziah, king of Judah came to see him. The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?' So a horseman went out to them and said: The king asks: 'Do you come in peace? ' Jehu said: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning. A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: Do you come in peace? Jehu replied: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported: He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently. Joram said: Get ready. They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu he said: Do you come in peace, Jehu? He said in reply: What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts of witchcraft? Then Joram turned his horses and fled. He said to Ahaziah: Broken faith, O Ahaziah! Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted.
Moabites » Israelites had war with
Jehovah sent raiding parties of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites against Jehoiakim to destroy Judah as Jehovah predicted through his servants the prophets.
Elisha died and they buried him. Now in the spring of the year, armed bands of Moabites frequently came, overrunning the land.
When King Ahab of Israel died Mesha rebelled against Israel. At once King Joram mobilized his troops and left Samaria. He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab? King Jehoshaphat replied: I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal. read more.
Which way shall we go to the attack? Joram answered: We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom. King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals. Alas, all is done, King Joram exclaimed. Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab? King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha. Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab. Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones. The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground. The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border. They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood. They said: It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp! When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites. They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it. The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed. He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
Which way shall we go to the attack? Joram answered: We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom. King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals. Alas, all is done, King Joram exclaimed. Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab? King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha. Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab. Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones. The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground. The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border. They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood. They said: It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp! When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites. They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it. The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed. He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
Moabites » King of, sacrificed his son to excite animosity against israel
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
Murder » Connected with idolatry
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
Tell it: 'This is what the Lord Jehovah says: Jerusalem, you are the city that murders people who live in you. Your time has come. You dishonor yourself with disgusting idols. You are guilty because of the blood you have shed (people you have killed). You are unclean (dishonored) because of the disgusting idols you have made. You have brought an end to your days, and you have come to the end of your years. That is why I will make you a disgrace to the nations and a joke in every land.
Offerings » Human sacrifices » Offered by » Moabites
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
Sacrifices » Human beings offered as
Never give your children as sacrifices to the god Molech by burning them alive. If you do, you are dishonoring the name of your God. I am Jehovah!
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their own sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land became polluted with blood.
Do not behave this way toward Jehovah your God, for every abominable act Jehovah hates they have done for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal. This is not something I commanded or spoke of, nor did it ever enter my mind (heart) (conscience).'
He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom. He sacrificed his son by burning him alive. This was one of the disgusting things done by the nations that Jehovah had driven out from the land Israel possessed.
He walked in ways of the kings of Israel. He even offered his son to walk through the fire. He copied the disgusting ways of the nations. Jehovah sent the people of the nations out of the land before the children of Israel.
Are you inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
You took your sons and daughters, who belonged to me, and you sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?
Walls » Of cities » Idolatrous rites performed on
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.