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BOOK 12 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Kings 8

2 Kings book home•Chapter 8 of 25•29 verses
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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

2 Kings 8 Overview

The Shunammite woman returns after a seven-year famine and appeals for her house and land at the very moment Gehazi is telling the king how Elisha restored her son. Her property and lost produce are restored. Elisha then goes to Damascus. Hazael asks whether sick Ben-hadad will recover. Elisha says the illness itself is survivable but weeps because he knows Hazael will become king and brutally harm Israel. Hazael murders Ben-hadad. The chapter then records evil reigns in Judah tied by marriage to Ahab’s house.

2 KingsBook
8Chapter
29Verses
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Before you read 2 Kings 8

Coming from

Chapter 7 ended with Samaria delivered and Elisha’s word fulfilled exactly.

In this chapter

Earlier prophetic words keep unfolding in private, international, and dynastic settings.

Leads into

Chapter 9 fulfills another long-delayed commission when a prophetic messenger anoints Jehu to strike Ahab’s house.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The Shunammite’s restoration occurs through remarkable providential timing. Hazael’s episode carefully distinguishes Elisha’s words from Hazael’s report: Ben-hadad could recover from the illness itself, yet Hazael will become king by murder. Elisha’s tears show foreknowledge of judgment is not approval of cruelty.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God’s warning preserves the Shunammite family through famine.

Truth 2

Elisha weeps over suffering he foresees.

Truth 3

Hazael misrepresents the answer, murders his king, and fulfills the prediction of his rise.

Truth 4

Ahab’s family influence spreads corruption into Judah.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Kings 19:15-16 announced Hazael and Jehu.

Connection 2

Second Kings 4 introduced the Shunammite woman and her restored son.

Connection 3

Second Chronicles 21-22 adds detail about Judah’s rulers tied to Ahab’s house.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not say Elisha commands Hazael’s murder or atrocities.

Keep this clear 2

Do not confuse Hazael’s false report with Elisha’s exact words.

Keep this clear 3

The Shunammite’s restored property is specific providence, not a guarantee every loss will be repaid the same way.

Read 2 Kings 8 watching for…

Why the woman had left Israel.

The timing of her appeal.

Elisha’s words versus Hazael’s report.

Why Elisha weeps.

How Hazael becomes king.

The connection of Judah’s kings with Ahab’s house.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline4 sections
1-6The Shunammite returns after famine and has her land restored7-15Elisha foretells Ben-hadad’s death and Hazael’s rule over Syria16-24Jehoram reigns wickedly in Judah25-29Ahaziah reigns in Judah and joins Joram in war against Hazael
1

Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

2

And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

3

And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

4

And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.

5

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

6

And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.

7

And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

8

And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

9

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

10

And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

11

And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

12

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

13

And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

14

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

15

And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

16

And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

17

Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

18

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.

19

Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.

20

In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

21

So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.

22

Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

23

And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

24

And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

25

In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.

26

Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

27

And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.

28

And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.

29

And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

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2 Kings 8:7

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