April 15, 2025
More Miracles and Elisha
2 Kings 6-9
Elizabeth Armistead
Big Book Idea
The northern kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians, and the southern kingdom was conquered by the Babylonians.
Key Verse | 2 Kings 6:12
And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
2 Kings 6-9
Chapter 6
The Axe Head Recovered
1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
Horses and Chariots of Fire
8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
Ben-hadad's Siege of Samaria
24 Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab 1 6:25 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams; a kab was about 1 quart or 1 liter of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. 26 Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 And he said, “If the LORD will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?” 28 And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” 30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body— 31 and he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”
32 Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence, but before the messenger arrived Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?” 33 And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, “This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”
Chapter 7
Elisha Promises Food
1 But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a seah 2 7:1 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, 3 7:1 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
The Syrians Flee
3 Now there were four men who were lepers 4 7:3 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” 5 So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. 6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” 7 So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.
9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.” 10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” 11 Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's household. 12 And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’” 13 And one of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.” 14 So they took two horsemen, and the king sent them after the army of the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.” 15 So they went after them as far as the Jordan, and behold, all the way was littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.
16 Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. 17 Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. And the people trampled him in the gate, so that he died, as the man of God had said when the king came down to him. 18 For when the man of God had said to the king, “Two seahs of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,” 19 the captain had answered the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 20 And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate and he died.
Chapter 8
The Shunammite's Land Restored
1 Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.”
Hazael Murders Ben-hadad
7 Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but 5 8:10 Some manuscripts say, You shall certainly not recover, for the LORD has shown me that he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth 6 8:15 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.
Jehoram Reigns in Judah
16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, 7 8:16 Septuagint, Syriac lack when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 19 Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
20 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. 21 Then Joram 8 8:21 Joram is an alternate spelling of Jehoram (the son of Jehoshaphat) as in verse 16; also verses 23, 24 passed over to Zair with all his chariots and rose by night, and he and his chariot commanders struck the Edomites who had surrounded him, but his army fled home. 22 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time. 23 Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 24 So Joram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
Ahaziah Reigns in Judah
25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.
28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that 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.
Chapter 9
Jehu Anointed King of Israel
1 Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tie up your garments, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber. 3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee; do not linger.”
4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, “I have a word for you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “To which of us all?” And he said, “To you, O commander.” 6 So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled.
11 When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the fellow and his talk.” 12 And they said, “That is not true; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.’” 13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare 9 9:13 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”
Jehu Assassinates Joram and Ahaziah
14 Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Syria, 15 but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, “If this is your decision, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.
17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’” 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” And the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, “Thus the king has said, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” 20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”
21 Joram said, “Make ready.” And they made ready his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace can there be, so long as the whorings and the sorceries of your mother Jezebel are so many?” 23 Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, “Treachery, O Ahaziah!” 24 And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Take him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the LORD made this pronouncement against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—declares the LORD—I will repay you on this plot of ground.’ Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the LORD.”
27 When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him also.” And they shot him 10 9:27 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Septuagint); Hebrew lacks and they shot him in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.
29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.
Jehu Executes Jezebel
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. 31 And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” 32 And he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. 34 Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter.” 35 But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 36 When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, 37 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’”
Footnotes
[1] 6:25 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams; a kab was about 1 quart or 1 liter[2] 7:1 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters
[3] 7:1 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
[4] 7:3 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
[5] 8:10 Some manuscripts say, ‘You shall certainly not recover,’ for
[6] 8:15 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
[7] 8:16 Septuagint, Syriac lack when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah
[8] 8:21 Joram is an alternate spelling of Jehoram (the son of Jehoshaphat) as in verse 16; also verses 23, 24
[9] 9:13 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
[10] 9:27 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Septuagint); Hebrew lacks and they shot him
Table of Contents
Introduction to 1–2 Kings
Timeline
Author and Date
The author or authors of these two books is unknown. As the titles of the books indicate, 1–2 Kings describe the period of the monarchy in ancient Israel (970–586 B.C.), concentrating on the kings who ruled after David.
Theme
The books show that Israel suffers again and again because of its great sinfulness (2 Kings 17:7–23; 24:1–4). Yet there is still hope for the nation, because God’s chosen family of kings has not come to an end (2 Kings 25:27–30), and God remains ready to forgive those who repent (1 Kings 8:22–61).
Purpose, Occasion, and Background
The fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 B.C. raised several questions: Was Israel’s God not in fact in control of history, as Moses had claimed? If the God of Moses did exist, and was good and all-powerful, how was it that God’s chosen city and temple had been destroyed, and his chosen royal family had all but come to its end?
The books of Kings respond to such questions, explaining why Israel was defeated. Israel’s God is indeed in control of nature and history. There are no other true gods anywhere. It is this good and all-powerful God who has overseen the destruction of his chosen city and his temple, and Israel’s exile to Babylon. Israel’s sin has caused these punishments.
After the division of the kingdom, the northern kingdom of Israel lasted slightly more than 200 years (931–722 B.C.), with 19 different kings, all of whom were wicked. The southern kingdom of Judah had the same number of kings, but many of them were good, and Judah lasted almost 150 years longer (931–586 B.C.). Toward the end of Judah’s monarchy came two of its best kings: Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:1–20:21) and Josiah (2 Kings 22:1–23:30). Yet the people still rebelled against the Lord, and Judah, like Israel, eventually went into exile as punishment for its sin. But hope remained, for God’s chosen royal line had not come to a complete end (2 Kings 25:27–30), and God remained ready to forgive those who repented.
Key Themes
- Yahweh is the only true God, and he controls nature. There is only one living God, and he is the Lord. He alone controls the natural order (1 Kings 17–19; 2 Kings 1:2–17; 4:8–37; 5:1–18; 6:1–7, 27).
- Yahweh controls history. The Lord rules over the past, present, and future. He alone controls the historical process (1 Kings 11:14, 23; 14:1–18; 22:1–38; 2 Kings 5:1–18; 10:32–33; 18:17–19:37).
- Yahweh demands exclusive worship. As the only God, the Lord demands exclusive worship. He alone will be worshiped, by Israelite and foreigner alike (1 Kings 8:41–43, 60; 2 Kings 5:15–18; 17:24–41).
- The content and place of true worship. Much of 1–2 Kings is concerned with exposing false religion. It speaks out against the content of false worship (1 Kings 11:1–40; 12:25–13:34; 14:22–24; 16:29–33; 2 Kings 16:1–4; 17:7–23; 21:1–9). It also exposes the wrongful place of such false worship (1 Kings 3:2; 5:1–9:9; 15:14; 22:43; 2 Kings 18:4; 23:1–20).
- The consequences of false worship. True worship of God includes obedience to the law of God. The worship of something other than God always leads to mistreating other people.
- Yahweh is the just and gracious Lawgiver. The Lord gave the law, which defines true worship, right thinking, and correct behavior. The Lord is also the one who punishes wrongdoers.
- Yahweh is the promise-giver. Israel’s God is a promise-giver. The divine promises given to the patriarchs and to David are an important theme in 1–2 Kings.
1 Kings Outline
- The Reign of King Solomon (1:1–11:43)
- The Kingdom Is Divided (12:1–14:31)
- Abijam and Asa (15:1–24)
- From Nadab to Ahab (15:25–16:34)
- Elijah and Ahab (17:1–22:40)
- Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah (22:41–53)
2 Kings Outline
- The Death of Ahaziah (1:1–18)
- Elisha and Israel (2:1–10:36)
- Joash (11:1–12:21)
- Jehoahaz and Jehoash (13:1–25)
- Amaziah, Jeroboam II, and Azariah (14:1–15:7)
- Israel’s Last Days (15:8–31)
- Jotham and Ahaz (15:32–16:20)
- The End of Israel (17:1–41)
- Hezekiah (18:1–20:21)
- Manasseh and Amon (21:1–26)
- Josiah (22:1–23:30)
- The End of Judah (23:31–25:30)
The Extent of Solomon’s Kingdom
c. 971–931 B.C.
Solomon’s reign marked the high point of Israel’s power and wealth in biblical times. Solomon’s father, David, had given him a kingdom that included Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, and Zobah. Solomon would later rule over the kingdom of Hamath as well, and his marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter resulted in an alliance with Egypt. Solomon controlled important trade routes between several major world powers, including Egypt, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia (Asia Minor).
Israel and Judah in 2 Kings
c. 853 B.C.
The book of 2 Kings tells of events in Israel and Judah from the death of Ahab to the exile of Israel and Judah. The story involves Israel, Judah, Syria, Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia, as well as Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and other kingdoms far beyond Israel’s borders.
Fact: How does Chronicles differ from Samuel and Kings?
How does Chronicles differ from Samuel and Kings? The books of 1–2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings show that the Lord drove Israel and Judah from their land because of their sin. The books of 1–2 Chronicles agree that Israel sinned and suffered exile as a result. They also show that God still had a purpose for his people.
Fact: “Man of God,”
“Man of God,” meaning “prophet,” is used 37 times in 1–2 Kings. Though God judged the Judean prophet’s disobedience (13:1–32), his prophecy against the temple in Bethel was fulfilled, and King Josiah preserved his burial place (2 Kings 23:15–20).
Fact: What is a siege?
What is a siege? In ancient times, a “siege” occurred when an enemy army surrounded a city and demanded that it surrender. If the city refused, the invaders cut off food and water supplies and attempted to tear down the city’s defensive walls. Cities usually surrendered when they ran out of water. Those who fought to the end faced terrible consequences when their enemies finally overwhelmed them (6:24–7:20; 17:5; 25:1–2).
Fact: Seah
A seah is a dry measurement equal to about 7 quarts or 7.7 liters.
Fact: Was it Joram or Jehoram?
Was it Joram or Jehoram? At about the same time, Israel had a king named Joram who was sometimes called Jehoram, while Judah had a king named Jehoram who was sometimes called Joram. King Joram of Israel was a son of Ahab while King Jehoram of Judah married a daughter of Ahab.
Fact: Anointed with oil
Kings, priests, and prophets were sometimes anointed with oil as a sign that God had set them apart for a special purpose (see 1 Sam. 15:1; Lev. 8:30). More commonly, oil was used in cooking and to clean and moisturize the body (see Deut. 28:40; 2 Sam. 14:2).
Fact: Eunuchs
Eunuchs had many roles in the ancient world. They served in the royal court as cooks, scribes, guards of the harem, and ambassadors. The Hebrew word for “eunuch” usually refers to a castrated man, though it does not always do so (see Gen. 39:1).
Fact: Hazael
Hazael (12:17) was king of Syria from 843–796 B.C. He threatened Israel during the reigns of Jehu (1 Kings 19:17), Joram (8:28), and Jehoahaz (13:22).
Israel and Judah in 2 Kings
c. 853 B.C.
The book of 2 Kings tells of events in Israel and Judah from the death of Ahab to the exile of Israel and Judah. The story involves Israel, Judah, Syria, Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia, as well as Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and other kingdoms far beyond Israel’s borders.
Evaluating Kings of Israel and Judah in 1–2 Kings
The Divided Kingdom: Kings of Judah (all dates B.C.)
| King | Years of Reign | Total Years | Accession Year* | Possible Co-Reigns | References in 1–2 Kings** | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rehoboam | 931/930–915/914 | 17 | 1 Kings 12:1–24; 14:21–31 | |||
| Abijah/Abijam | 915/914–912/911 | 3 | 18 of Jeroboam I | 1 Kings 15:1–8 | ||
| Asa | 912/911–871/870 | 41 | 20 of Jeroboam I | 1 Kings 15:9–24 | ||
| Jehoshaphat | 871/870–849/848 | 25 | 4 of Ahab | with Asa from 873 | 1 Kings 22:41–50 | |
| Jehoram/Joram | 849/848–842 | 7 (8) | 5 of Joram | with Jehoshaphat from 853 | 2 Kings 8:16–24 | Married Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab (Israel) |
| Ahaziah | 842–841 | 1 (2) | 11 of Joram | 2 Kings 8:25–29; 9:21–28 | Killed by Jehu (Israel) in 841 | |
| Athaliah (Q.) | 841–835 | 6 | 2 Kings 11:1–20 | Killed by Jehoiada the priest | ||
| Joash/Jehoash | 835–796/795 | 39 (40) | 7 of Jehu | 2 Kings 12:1–21 | Hidden from Athaliah for 6 years (841–835) by Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah; protected by Jehoiada the priest | |
| Amaziah | 796/795–767 | 29 | 2 of Joash/Jehoash | 2 Kings 14:1–22 | ||
| Uzziah/Azariah | 767–740/739 | 52 | 27 of Jeroboam II | with Amaziah from 791 | 2 Kings 15:1–7 | |
| Jotham | 750–735/730 | 16 (20) | 2 of Pekah | Uzziah is alive in 750 but inactive in rule (see 2 Kings 15:5) | 2 Kings 15:32–38 | |
| Ahaz | 735/730–715 | 16 (20) | 17 of Pekah | 2 Kings 16:1–20 | ||
| Hezekiah | 715–687/686 | 29 | 3 of Hoshea | with Ahaz from 728 | 2 Kings 18:1–20:21 | |
| Manasseh | 687/686–642 | 55 | No further accession dates after fall of Israel in 722 | with Hezekiah from 697/696 | 2 Kings 21:1–18 | |
| Amon | 642–640 | 2 | 2 Kings 21:19–26 | |||
| Josiah | 640–609 | 31 | 2 Kings 22:1–23:30 | Killed by Pharaoh Neco of Egypt | ||
| Jehoahaz | 609 | 3 months | 2 Kings 23:31–34 | Taken by Pharaoh Neco to Egypt | ||
| Jehoiakim | 609–598 | 11 | 2 Kings 23:35–24:7 | Set on the throne by Pharaoh Neco of Egypt | ||
| Jehoiachin/Jeconiah | 598–597 | 3 months | 2 Kings 24:8–17; 25:27–30 | Exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 597; released and honored by Evil-merodach of Babylon in 562 | ||
| Zedekiah | 597–586 | 11 | 2 Kings 24:18–20 | Zedekiah is Jehoiachin’s uncle; Jerusalem and Judah fall to Babylon in 586 |
*This chart follows the dating method found in both Kings and Chronicles: For Judah, accession to the throne is marked by a year within the reign of a king of Israel. Parentheses—e.g., 39 (40)—indicate non-accession year dating (year of accession is counted in the totals of both the predecessor and the new king). The actual number of years in a reign can be determined by subtracting 1 from the number given (40 – 1 = 39 actual years).
**The verses cited in 1–2 Kings do not include the initial mention of a ruler, which occurs in reference to the death of his father (e.g., Abijam in 1 Kings 14:31).
The Divided Kingdom: Kings of Israel (all dates B.C.)
| King | Years of Reign | Total Years | Accession Year* | Possible Co-Reigns | References in 1–2 Kings** | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeroboam I | 931/930–911/910 | 21 (22) | 1 Kings 11:26–40;12:1–14:20 | |||
| Nadab | 911/910–910/909 | 1 (2) | 2 of Asa | 1 Kings 15:25–32 | Killed by Baasha | |
| Baasha | 910/909–887/886 | 23 (24) | 3 of Asa | 1 Kings 15:27–16:7 | ||
| Elah | 887/886–886/885 | 1 (2) | 26 of Asa | 1 Kings 16:8–14 | Killed by Zimri | |
| Zimri | 886/885 | 7 days | 26 of Asa | 1 Kings 16:9–20 | Killed himself by burning the king’s house down while he was in it | |
| Omri | 886/885–875/874 | 11 (12) | 31 of Asa | Tibni reigns after Zimri for 5 years as rival to Omri | 1 Kings 16:16–17, 21–28 | |
| Ahab | 875/874–853 | 21 (22) | 38 of Asa | 1 Kings 16:29–17:1; 18:1–19:3; 20:1–22:40 | ||
| Ahaziah | 853–852 | 1 (2) | 17 of Jehoshaphat | 1 Kings 22:51–53; 2 Kings 1:1–18 | ||
| Joram/Jehoram | 852–841 | 11 (12) | 18 of Jehoshaphat | 2 Kings 3:1–27; (“king of Israel” in 6:8–7:20); 9:14–26 | Killed by Jehu in 841 | |
| Jehu | 841–814/813 | 27 (28) | 2 Kings 9:1–10:36 | |||
| Jehoahaz | 814/813–798/797 | 16 (17) | 23 of Joash/Jehoash | 2 Kings 13:1–9 | ||
| Joash/Jehoash | 798/797–782/781 | 15 (16) | 37 of Joash/Jehoash | 2 Kings 13:10–25; 14:8–16 | ||
| Jeroboam II | 782/781–753 | 41 | 15 of Amaziah | with Joash/Jehoash from 793/792 | 2 Kings 14:23–29 | |
| Zechariah | 753–752 | 6 months | 38 of Uzziah | 2 Kings 15:8–12 | Killed by Shallum | |
| Shallum | 752 | 1 month | 39 of Uzziah | 2 Kings 15:10, 13–16 | Killed by Menahem | |
| Menahem | 752–742/741 | 10 | 39 of Uzziah | 2 Kings 15:14–22 | ||
| Pekahiah | 742/741–740/739 | 2 | 50 of Uzziah | 2 Kings 15:23–26 | Killed by Pekah | |
| Pekah | 740/739–732/731 | 20*** | 52 of Uzziah | 20 years counted from 752 to include the reigns of rivals Menahem and Pekahiah | 2 Kings 15:25, 27–31 | Killed by Hoshea |
| Hoshea | 732/731–722 | 9 | 12 of Ahaz | 2 Kings 15:30; 17:1–6 | Samaria and Israel fall to Assyria in 722 |
* This chart follows the dating method found in both Kings and Chronicles: For Israel, accession to the throne is marked by a year within the reign of a king of Judah. Parentheses—e.g., 21 (22)—indicate non-accession year dating (year of accession is counted in the totals of both the predecessor and the new king). The actual number of years in a reign can be determined by subtracting 1 from the number given (22 – 1 = 21 actual years).
**The verses cited in 1–2 Kings do not include the initial mention of a ruler when it occurs in reference to the death of his father (e.g., Nadab in 1 Kings 14:20).
***See note on 2 Kings 15:27–31.
Comparison of 1–2 Chronicles with 2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings
| 1 Chronicles | 2 Samuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Genealogies | 1:1–9:44 | |
| Death of Saul and sons | 10:1–14 | 1 Sam. 31:1–2 Sam. 1:16 |
| Lament for Saul | 1:17–27 | |
| David king of Judah | 2:1–7 | |
| War between house of Saul and David; Ish-bosheth made king | 2:8–3:1 | |
| David’s sons in Hebron | 3:2–5 | |
| Abner helps David | 3:6–21 | |
| Joab kills Abner | 3:22–39 | |
| Ish-bosheth killed | 4:1–12 | |
| David king of Judah and Israel | 11:1–3 | 5:1–5 |
| Conquest of Jerusalem | 11:4–9 | 5:6–10 |
| David’s mighty men | 11:10–47 | 23:8–39 |
| David’s men at Ziklag | 12:1–22 | |
| Celebration at Hebron | 12:23–40 | |
| Attempted return of ark; death of Uzzah | 13:1–14 | 6:1–11 |
| David’s house built | 14:1–2 | 5:11–12 |
| David’s children in Jerusalem | 14:3–7 | 5:13–16 |
| David defeats Philistines | 14:8–17 | 5:17–25 |
| Spiritual preparation for the ark’s return | 15:1–24 | |
| Ark brought to Jerusalem | 15:25–16:6 | 6:12–19 |
| David and Michal | 6:20–23 | |
| David’s psalm of praise | 16:7–43 | |
| David’s desire to build the temple | 17:1–2 | 7:1–3 |
| Davidic covenant | 17:3–15 | 7:4–17 |
| David’s prayer of praise | 17:16–27 | 7:18–29 |
| David’s victories | 18:1–13 | 8:1–14 |
| David’s officials | 18:14–17 | 8:15–18 |
| David helps Mephibosheth | 9:1–13 | |
| Ammonites defeated | 19:1–15 | 10:1–14 |
| Syrians defeated | 19:16–19 | 10:15–19 |
| Ammonites defeated | 20:1–3 | 11:1; 12:26–31 |
| David and Bathsheba | 11:2–12:25 | |
| Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom | 13:1–14:33 | |
| Absalom’s rebellion | 15:1–19:43 | |
| Sheba’s rebellion | 20:1–26 | |
| Famine; death of Saul’s sons | 21:1–14 | |
| War with Philistines; the Philistine giants | 20:4–8 | 21:15–22 |
| David’s psalm of deliverance | 22:1–51 | |
| David’s last words | 23:1–7 | |
| David’s census | 21:1–27 | 24:1–25 |
| David plans for the temple | 21:28–22:5 | |
| David’s charge to Solomon and the leaders | 22:6–19 | |
| David organizes temple personnel | 23:1–26:32 | |
| Israel’s military | 27:1–15 | |
| Israel’s leaders | 27:16–34 | |
| David’s charge to Israel; affirmation of Solomon | 28:1–10 | |
| Pattern for the temple | 28:11–21 | |
| Offerings for the temple | 29:1–9 | |
| David’s prayer of thanks for the temple | 29:10–19 | |
| 1 Kings | ||
| David and Abishag | 1:1–4 | |
| Adonijah claims the throne | 1:5–27 | |
| Solomon’s coronation | 29:20–25 | 1:28–40 |
| David instructs Solomon | 2:1–9 | |
| Death of David | 29:26–30 | 2:10–11 |
| Solomon establishes his kingdom | 2:12–46 | |
| 2 Chronicles | ||
| Solomon marries Pharaoh’s daughter | 3:1–3 | |
| Solomon at Gibeon | 1:1–6 | 3:4 |
| God gives Solomon wisdom | 1:7–12 | 3:5–14 |
| Solomon’s wise judgment | 3:16–28 | |
| Solomon’s prosperity | 1:14–17 | 4:20–34 |
| Preparations for the temple | 2:1–18 | 5:1–18 |
| Temple built | 3:1–5:1 | 6:1–38;7:13–51 |
| Solomon’s palace | 7:1–12 | |
| Ark brought to the temple | 5:2–12 | 8:1–9 |
| God’s glory fills the temple | 5:13–14 | 8:10–11 |
| Solomon blesses the people | 6:1–11 | 8:12–21 |
| Solomon consecrates the temple | 6:12–42 | 8:22–61 |
| Fire from the Lord consumes the sacrifices | 7:1–3 | |
| Solomon and the people offer sacrifices | 7:4–7 | 8:62–64 |
| Feast of Tabernacles | 7:8–10 | 8:65–66 |
| The covenant confirmed | 7:11–22 | 9:1–9 |
| Solomon’s territory increases | 8:1–6 | 9:10–19 |
| Solomon’s enemies defeated | 8:7–10 | 9:20–23 |
| Solomon’s religious practices | 8:11–16 | 9:24–25 |
| Solomon’s economic operations | 8:17–18 | 9:26–28 |
| Queen of Sheba visits | 9:1–12 | 10:1–13 |
| Solomon’s wealth | 9:13–28 | 10:14–29 |
| Solomon’s apostasy and adversaries | 11:1–40 | |
| Death of Solomon | 9:29–31 | 11:41–43 |
| Division of the kingdom | 10:1–11:23 | 12:1–33 |
| Man of God from Judah warns Jeroboam (Israel) | 13:1–34 | |
| Ahijah’s prophecy against Jeroboam | 14:1–18 | |
| Death of Jeroboam | 14:19–20 | |
| Shishak invades Judah | 12:1–12 | 14:25–28 |
| Reign of Rehoboam (Judah) | 12:13–16 | 14:21–24,29–31 |
| War between Judah and Israel | 13:1–22 | 15:1–8 |
| Evaluation of Asa (Judah) | 14:1–8 | 15:9–12 |
| Ethiopians defeated | 14:9–15 | |
| Azariah the prophet | 15:1–7 | |
| Asa’s reforms | 15:8–19 | 15:13–15 |
| Asa defeats Syria | 16:1–10 | 15:16–22 |
| Death of Asa | 16:11–14 | 15:23–24 |
| Reigns of Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri (Israel) | 15:25–16:28 | |
| Ahab becomes king (Israel) | 16:29–34 | |
| Elijah | 17:1–19:18;21:17–29 | |
| Call of Elisha | 19:19–21 | |
| Ahab conquers Syria, acquires Naboth’s vineyard | 20:1–21:29 | |
| Evaluation of Jehoshaphat (Judah) | 17:1–9 | |
| Expansion of Judah | 17:10–19 | |
| Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab; death of Ahab | 18:1–34 | 22:1–40 |
| Jehoshaphat’s reforms, crisis, and deliverance | 19:1–20:30 | |
| Reign of Jehoshaphat | 20:31–37 | 22:41–50 |
| Reign of Ahaziah (Israel) | 22:51–53 | |
| 2 Kings | ||
| Death of Ahaziah; Elijah’s prophecy | 1:1–18 | |
| Elijah and Elisha | 2:1–25 | |
| Evaluation of Jehoram (Israel) | 3:1–3 | |
| Moab rebels | 3:4–27 | |
| The widow’s oil | 4:1–7 | |
| The Shunammite woman | 4:8–37 | |
| Miracles for the prophets | 4:38–44 | |
| Naaman healed | 5:1–27 | |
| The axe head recovered | 6:1–7 | |
| Chariots of fire | 6:8–23 | |
| Siege of Samaria | 6:24–7:20 | |
| Shunammite’s land restored | 8:1–6 | |
| Hazael kills Ben-hadad | 8:7–15 | |
| Evaluation of Jehoram (Judah) | 21:1–7 | 8:16–19 |
| Edom and Libnah rebel | 21:8–11 | 8:20–22 |
| Warning of Elijah | 21:12–15 | |
| Invasion of Philistia and Arabia | 21:16–17 | |
| Death of Jehoram | 21:18–20 | 8:23–24 |
| Reign of Ahaziah (Judah) | 22:1–9 | 8:25–29; 9:15–16, 27–28; 10:12–14 |
| Reign of Jehu (Israel) | 22:7–9 | 9:1–10:36 |
| Reign of Athaliah (Judah) | 22:10–23:15 | 11:1–16 |
| Jehoiada’s reforms (Judah) | 23:16–21 | 11:17–20 |
| Evaluation of Joash (Judah) | 24:1–3 | 11:21–12:3 |
| Joash repairs the temple | 24:4–14 | 12:4–16 |
| Death of Jehoiada | 24:15–16 | |
| Jehoiada’s son killed | 24:17–22 | |
| Syria invades Judah | 24:23–24 | 12:17–18 |
| Death of Joash | 24:25–27 | 12:19–21 |
| Reign of Jehoahaz (Israel) | 13:1–9 | |
| Reign of Jehoash (Israel) | 13:10–13 | |
| Elisha’s final prophecy and death | 13:14–25 | |
| Reign of Amaziah (Judah) | 25:1–16 | 14:1–20 |
| Israel defeats Judah | 25:17–24 | 14:8–14 |
| Death of Amaziah | 25:25–28 | 14:17–20 |
| Evaluation of Uzziah (Judah) | 26:1–5 | 14:21–22; 15:1–5 |
| Reign of Jeroboam II (Israel) | 14:23–29 | |
| Victories of Uzziah | 26:6–15 | |
| Sinful offering of Uzziah | 26:16–21 | |
| Death of Uzziah | 26:22–23 | 15:6–7 |
| Reign of Zechariah (Israel) | 15:8–12 | |
| Reign of Shallum (Israel) | 15:13–16 | |
| Reign of Menahem (Israel) | 15:17–22 | |
| Reign of Pekahiah (Israel) | 15:23–26 | |
| Reign of Pekah (Israel) | 15:27–31 | |
| Reign of Jotham (Judah) | 27:1–9 | 15:32–38 |
| Evaluation of Ahaz (Judah) | 28:1–4 | 16:1–4 |
| Israel defeats Judah | 28:5–21 | 16:5–9 |
| Ahaz’s idolatry and death | 28:22–27 | 16:10–12 |
| Fall of Israel | 17:1–23 | |
| Resettlement of Israel | 17:24–41 | |
| Evaluation of Hezekiah (Judah) | 29:1–2 | 18:1–8 |
| Hezekiah cleanses the temple | 29:3–19 | |
| Hezekiah restores temple worship | 29:20–36 | |
| Hezekiah restores Passover | 30:1–27 | |
| Hezekiah destroys idols, organizes priests | 31:1–21 | |
| Fall of Israel (restated) | 18:9–12 | |
| Assyria invades Judah | 32:1–23 | 18:13–19:37 |
| Hezekiah’s illness and restoration | 32:24–26 | 20:1–11 |
| Hezekiah’s wealth and foolish pride | 32:27–31 | 20:12–19 |
| Death of Hezekiah | 32:32–33 | 20:20–21 |
| Reign of Manasseh (Judah) | 33:1–9 | 21:1–18 |
| Manasseh’s repentance | 33:10–20 | |
| Reign of Amon (Judah) | 33:21–25 | 21:19–26 |
| Evaluation of Josiah (Judah) | 34:1–2 | 22:1–2 |
| Josiah’s early reforms | 34:3–7 | |
| Josiah repairs the temple | 34:8–13 | 22:3–7 |
| Book of Law discovered; Josiah’s reforms | 34:14–33 | 22:8–23:20 |
| Passover celebrated | 35:1–19 | 23:21–27 |
| Death of Josiah | 35:20–27 | 23:28–30 |
| Reign of Jehoahaz (Judah) | 36:1–3 | 23:31–33 |
| Reign of Jehoiakim (Judah) | 36:4–8 | 23:34–24:7 |
| Reign of Jehoiachin (Judah); Babylonian captivity | 36:9–10 | 24:8–17 |
| Evaluation of Zedekiah (Judah) | 36:11–12 | 24:18–20 |
| Destruction of Jerusalem | 36:13–21 | 25:1–21 |
| Remnant flees to Egypt | 25:22–26 | |
| Jehoiachin released | 25:27–30 | |
| Proclamation by Cyrus | 36:22–23 |
The LORD of Hosts: Frequency and Use in the OT
Why does the title “LORD of hosts” appear more frequently in Malachi than in any other OT book, and in the time of prophetic books more than during other time periods? In the period of Isaiah, the northern kingdom was overrun and destroyed and the southern kingdom almost destroyed by the “hosts” (armies) of Assyria. God’s people had so few troops that the Assyrian King Sennacherib could mockingly challenge King Hezekiah with the offer of a gift of 2,000 horses if Hezekiah could find enough soldiers to ride them (Isa. 36:8). Similarly, in the period of Jeremiah, the southern kingdom was wiped out by the hosts (armies) of Babylon.
In the postexilic period of Malachi, the postage-stamp-sized Judah, as a tiny province within the vast Persian Empire, had no army of its own. It is precisely in such times, when God’s people are painfully aware of how limited their own resources are, that there is no greater comfort than the fact that the Lord has his invincible heavenly armies standing at the ready. It is like the comfort that Elisha prayed for his servant at Dothan when they were surrounded by the Syrian armies: “‘O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). Perhaps it is like the comfort felt by Jesus before the cross: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53).
The following chart shows the percentages of verses in a book containing at least one occurrence of the phrase, “LORD of hosts” (or related variation):
| Malachi | (43.6%) |
| Haggai | (31.6%) |
| Zechariah | (21.8%) |
| Amos | (6.1%) |
| Jeremiah | (5.9%) |
| Isaiah | (4.7%) |
| Nahum | (4.3%) |
| Zephaniah | (3.8%) |
| Habakkuk | (1.8%) |
| Micah | (1.0%) |
| 2 Samuel | (0.9%) |
| Psalms | (0.7%) |
| 1 Samuel | (0.6%) |
| Hosea | (0.5%) |
| 1 Kings | (0.4%) |
| 1 Chronicles | (0.3%) |
| 2 Kings | (0.3%) |
Jezebel
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab and the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon. Because she was so wicked, her name, “Jezebel,” has become synonymous with evil (Rev. 2:20). As queen of Israel, Jezebel acted with power and influenced King Ahab. She promoted the worship of Baal and ruthlessly killed many prophets of God. When she learned of the defeat of her false god on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20–40), she tried to kill Elijah, forcing him to flee into the wilderness. When Ahab sulked because Naboth would not sell his vineyard to him, Jezebel arranged the murder of Naboth. Jezebel met a gruesome end when she was thrown from a window by her own servants and was eaten by dogs, in fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy (2 Kings 9:30–37). (2 Kings 9:36–37)
Jehu
Jehu was an army commander who became king of Israel. He was famous for his reckless driving (9:20) but also for his great zeal for the Lord. He set out to destroy every trace of Baal worship in Israel. He killed the kings of both Israel and Judah, and then the entire household of Ahab. He killed the wicked queen Jezebel and then all Ahab’s sons, royal officials, and priests. Jehu then brought together all the followers of Baal by pretending that he himself wanted to worship their false god. Once all the Baal worshipers had assembled, Jehu killed them all. He destroyed the temple of Baal, turning it into a latrine. Sadly, though God used Jehu to completely eradicate Baal worship in Israel, he continued to worship the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up. (2 Kings 10:28–31)
2 Kings 6:1–7 A member of the prophetic community loses a borrowed axe head. Elisha, by the Lord’s power (2:14), miraculously makes the iron float, so that it is found.
2 Kings 6:8 the king of Syria was warring against Israel. Relations between Syria and Israel have worsened since ch. 5.
2 Kings 6:9 the man of God sent word. Elisha intervenes to help Jehoram. Nothing has changed in Jehoram’s behavior (compare 3:2–3, 13), but the time has not yet arrived for final judgment on this royal dynasty (see chs. 9–10).
2 Kings 6:13 Dothan is only 10 miles (16 km) north of the capital city of Samaria. The Syrians have been able to advance a long way into Israel. But the Syrian king is deluded in thinking he can send and seize Elisha.
2 Kings 6:16 those who are with us. Elisha knows that the Lord has sent an army of angels to protect him.
2 Kings 6:17 the mountain was full. Syrian troops may surround the city (v. 15), but Elisha himself is supported all around by the army of the Lord.
The LORD of Hosts: Frequency and Use in the OT
Why does the title “LORD of hosts” appear more frequently in Malachi than in any other OT book, and in the time of prophetic books more than during other time periods? In the period of Isaiah, the northern kingdom was overrun and destroyed and the southern kingdom almost destroyed by the “hosts” (armies) of Assyria. God’s people had so few troops that the Assyrian King Sennacherib could mockingly challenge King Hezekiah with the offer of a gift of 2,000 horses if Hezekiah could find enough soldiers to ride them (Isa. 36:8). Similarly, in the period of Jeremiah, the southern kingdom was wiped out by the hosts (armies) of Babylon.
In the postexilic period of Malachi, the postage-stamp-sized Judah, as a tiny province within the vast Persian Empire, had no army of its own. It is precisely in such times, when God’s people are painfully aware of how limited their own resources are, that there is no greater comfort than the fact that the Lord has his invincible heavenly armies standing at the ready. It is like the comfort that Elisha prayed for his servant at Dothan when they were surrounded by the Syrian armies: “‘O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). Perhaps it is like the comfort felt by Jesus before the cross: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53).
The following chart shows the percentages of verses in a book containing at least one occurrence of the phrase, “LORD of hosts” (or related variation):
| Malachi | (43.6%) |
| Haggai | (31.6%) |
| Zechariah | (21.8%) |
| Amos | (6.1%) |
| Jeremiah | (5.9%) |
| Isaiah | (4.7%) |
| Nahum | (4.3%) |
| Zephaniah | (3.8%) |
| Habakkuk | (1.8%) |
| Micah | (1.0%) |
| 2 Samuel | (0.9%) |
| Psalms | (0.7%) |
| 1 Samuel | (0.6%) |
| Hosea | (0.5%) |
| 1 Kings | (0.4%) |
| 1 Chronicles | (0.3%) |
| 2 Kings | (0.3%) |
2 Kings 6:18 blindness. Probably a dazed mental condition in which the Syrians are open to suggestion and manipulation but still able to follow the prophet to Samaria.
2 Kings 6:19 I will bring you to the man whom you seek. The statement is somewhat puzzling, but rather than leaving the Syrians, Elisha did in fact bring them face to face with the man they were looking for.
2 Kings 6:22 You shall not strike them down. Jehoram would not kill men taken captive with your sword and with your bow, and these are not even men like that. They are to be treated as guests.
2 Kings 6:1–23 With the healing of Naaman, Elisha has involved himself with Syria for the first time. That involvement now occupies most of the next two chapters, as the authors prepare the reader for the bloody events of chs. 8–10.
2 Kings 6:25 donkey’s head . . . dove’s dung. The siege was so severe that Samaria’s inhabitants were reduced to eating valuable animals. They also were eating parts of the animals they normally would not eat, and they were purchasing them for high prices.
2 Kings 6:26–27 Help, my lord, O king. The plea is directed to the king as the ultimate court of human justice, as in 1 Kings 3:16–28. Israel has strayed a long way from that glorious era when a wise king could ensure justice. The normal food supply is exhausted, and nothing comes from the threshing floor (see note on 1 Kings 22:10–12) or winepress.
2 Kings 6:28–29 Give your son. The Bible reports other cases of cannibalism because of a long siege (e.g., Lam. 4:10; Ezek. 5:10).
2 Kings 6:30–31 he tore his clothes. See notes on 2:11–13; 5:5–7. Likewise, sackcloth symbolizes mourning and distress. Jehoram appears to believe that removing Elisha will remove the problems he is facing.
2 Kings 6:32 the elders were sitting with him. The elders of Samaria are gathered together in Elisha’s house (compare the similar situation in Ezek. 8:1; 20:1).
2 Kings 7:1 a seah of fine flour . . . two seahs of barley. A seah is about 7 quarts (7.7 liters). Rescue is coming, and normal business at the gate of Samaria will be resumed on the following day (the prices are much lower here than in 6:25).
Fact: Seah
A seah is a dry measurement equal to about 7 quarts or 7.7 liters.
2 Kings 7:2 windows in heaven. This officer cannot imagine how such an economic recovery could happen overnight. Will God hand out material blessings (see Mal. 3:10)? To mock the prophetic word is to mock the Lord himself, however, so he shall see it . . . but . . . not eat.
2 Kings 7:3–4 four men who were lepers. Faced with certain death if they enter the city or sit where they are, they instead choose possible death in the camp of the Syrians.
2 Kings 6:24–7:20 The uneasy peace of ch. 5 gave way in 6:8–23 to occasional Syrian raids into Israelite territory. These were beginning to decrease (6:23), but now there is a full-blown invasion.
2 Kings 7:20 the people trampled him. The skeptical officer of v. 2 is trampled in the scramble to take the Syrians’ supplies, fulfilling Elisha’s prophecy.
Fact: What is a siege?
What is a siege? In ancient times, a “siege” occurred when an enemy army surrounded a city and demanded that it surrender. If the city refused, the invaders cut off food and water supplies and attempted to tear down the city’s defensive walls. Cities usually surrendered when they ran out of water. Those who fought to the end faced terrible consequences when their enemies finally overwhelmed them (6:24–7:20; 17:5; 25:1–2).
2 Kings 8:1 Elisha had said. The prophecy had been delivered around the same time that Elisha restored the Shunammite woman’s son to life (4:8–37), and the famine had followed soon after (see 4:38). This event is different from the more severe famine in Samaria described in 6:24–7:20.
2 Kings 8:2 The land of the Philistines was a natural place to seek refuge during a famine in Israel (compare Gen. 26:1). It was also close to Egypt, the breadbasket of the ancient world (e.g., Gen. 12:10; 47:4).
2 Kings 8:3 her house and her land. Someone has taken the woman’s property in her absence—perhaps Jehoram himself, showing the same land-grabbing tendencies as his parents (see 1 Kings 21). In Israel the end of the seventh year was a time for restoration of property and cancellation of debt (Ex. 21:2–3; Deut. 15:1).
Fact: Was it Joram or Jehoram?
Was it Joram or Jehoram? At about the same time, Israel had a king named Joram who was sometimes called Jehoram, while Judah had a king named Jehoram who was sometimes called Joram. King Joram of Israel was a son of Ahab while King Jehoram of Judah married a daughter of Ahab.
Fact: Anointed with oil
Kings, priests, and prophets were sometimes anointed with oil as a sign that God had set them apart for a special purpose (see 1 Sam. 15:1; Lev. 8:30). More commonly, oil was used in cooking and to clean and moisturize the body (see Deut. 28:40; 2 Sam. 14:2).
2 Kings 8:1–6 After the long narrative about the siege of Samaria (6:24–7:20), the Shunammite woman of 4:8–37 reappears. In 4:13, the woman declined Elisha’s offer of help, saying that she could get help from her own people. In 8:1–6, however, she is no longer with her own people, for she has followed Elisha’s advice and avoided famine by going to live in Philistia.
2 Kings 8:6 all the produce. The king also provides her with all the income from her land that she would have received had she stayed.
2 Kings 8:8–9 meet the man of God. It appears to have been customary when consulting prophets to offer some payment, in this case an extravagant gift of forty camels’ loads of goods (see 1 Sam. 9:1–9; 1 Kings 14:1–4; 2 Kings 5:1–6). The messenger Hazael enters the narrative without details of his background or role.
2 Kings 8:10 say to him, “You shall certainly recover.” Verses 11–12 indicate that Elisha knows that whatever Hazael says, he intends to kill the king.
2 Kings 8:11 he fixed his gaze. The text does not identify “he” and “him” in this verse. Most interpreters understand the first “he” to be Elisha, who “fixed his gaze” on Hazael, staring at him but also seeing with prophetic vision what Hazael would do in the future. Hazael does not know how to respond and is embarrassed, and then Elisha weeps.
2 Kings 8:7–15 The house of Omri has now held the throne of Israel since 1 Kings 16:23, and in spite of Elijah’s prophecy about its end (1 Kings 21:21–24), one now reads of Ahab’s second apostate son holding on to his kingdom with the help of Elisha. Did Elijah sabotage God’s plan by failing to anoint Hazael and Jehu (1 Kings 19:15–18)? The answer is no. Hazael is now introduced, to be followed shortly by Jehu.
2 Kings 8:15 Hazael became king. Hazael came to power in Syria sometime between 845 B.C., when it is known that Ben-hadad was still on the throne, and 841. He reigned for about 40 years and was one of Israel’s most bitter enemies.
2 Kings 8:16 Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat. First introduced briefly in 1 Kings 22:50, this king is mentioned again in 2 Kings 1:17. In 8:21, 23–24, his name appears as “Joram,” which is also the name of Israel’s king in this period (v. 16). This Israelite king is himself called “Jehoram” in 1:17 and 3:1. At precisely the point when the southern monarchy has come to resemble the northern monarchy most closely in its worship (see note on 8:18), their kings are called by the same name. One must work hard to distinguish their actions in the text.
2 Kings 8:18 Jehoram walked in the way of the kings of Israel. His father, Jehoshaphat, had made peace with the king of Israel (1 Kings 22:44). From Jehoshaphat’s reign onward, the fortunes of the house of Omri and the house of David were closely interconnected. Jehoram had married the daughter of Ahab, and the two kingdoms followed a similar religious policy (as the house of Ahab had done).
2 Kings 8:19 he promised to give a lamp to him. See 1 Kings 11:36; 15:4. Sins in David’s family are to be punished with the “rod of men” (2 Sam. 7:14–16), not with the destruction of his dynasty.
2 Kings 8:20–22 In his days Edom revolted. The punishment of David’s house in this case (see note on v. 19) comes in Jehoram’s failure to subdue a rebellion by Edom, a country ruled by a king appointed by Judah (1 Kings 22:47; see note on 2 Kings 3:7–9). A city within Judah was also rebelling. Libnah was located southwest of Jerusalem (see also 2 Chron. 21:16–17).
2 Kings 8:23 Chronicles of the Kings. See note on 1 Kings 14:19.
Fact: Hazael
Hazael (12:17) was king of Syria from 843–796 B.C. He threatened Israel during the reigns of Jehu (1 Kings 19:17), Joram (8:28), and Jehoahaz (13:22).
2 Kings 8:16–29 Judah was last mentioned in ch. 3, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Another Judean king has come and gone in the meantime, however, and the reader must be told about him and be introduced to his successor in order to understand chs. 9–10.
2 Kings 8:28–29 war against Hazael king of Syria. Another joint battle against the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead (see 1 Kings 22:1–4) is followed by withdrawal to the stronghold of Jezreel, so that the Israelite king can recover from his wounds. Ramoth-gilead is apparently back in Israelite hands (2 Kings 9:14), perhaps abandoned in the general Syrian retreat in 7:3–7.
Evaluating Kings of Israel and Judah in 1–2 Kings
2 Kings 9:1 Tie up your garments. See 1 Kings 18:46 and 2 Kings 4:29. Speed will be important for this messenger from among the sons of the prophets (see note on 2:3). The army is still at Ramoth-gilead, even though the king has withdrawn to Jezreel (8:29).
2 Kings 9:2 Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Jehu was described in 1 Kings 19:16 only as “son of Nimshi” (see also 2 Kings 9:20). Nimshi is actually his grandfather rather than his father (who is not the Judean king Jehoshaphat). It is unusual for the grandfather to be referred to in citations of this kind. Perhaps Nimshi was a particularly well-known person.
2 Kings 9:3 flask of oil. Elijah had been commanded to anoint Jehu king over Israel (1 Kings 19:16), but had failed to do so. The reasons for Elisha’s advice to the messenger to open the door and flee are not given. The reference to Jehu’s reckless chariot driving (2 Kings 9:20) perhaps suggests that he has a reputation for reckless behavior and could be dangerous to the messenger.
2 Kings 9:7 you shall strike down the house of Ahab. The pronouncement the messenger delivered is much longer than the one Elisha gave in v. 3 and the one Jehu later gave to his fellow officers (v. 12). The authors probably shortened the other versions of the message to avoid repetition.
2 Kings 9:10 none shall bury her. It was considered a terrible thing in Israel not to be given a proper burial (see Deut. 28:25–26; Jer. 16:4).
2 Kings 9:13 they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.” The people’s eagerness to do this suggests that there was instability in the army because of Jehoram’s lack of military success.
2 Kings 9:17–20 I see a company. As Jehu approaches with his army, the people in the city are not sure what is happening.
2 Kings 9:22 Is it peace, Jehu? It seems unlikely that Jehoram and Ahaziah would have left the safety of Jezreel to meet Jehu if they had doubted Jehu’s peaceable intentions. The Hebrew phrase probably could be translated, “Is all well?” What peace can there be? Jehu’s response is to ask how things can be well in a kingdom dominated by the Baal religion and the whorings of Joram’s mother Jezebel.
2 Kings 9:25–26 plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. See note on 1 Kings 21:19.
2 Kings 9:27–28 he fled to Megiddo and died there. Linked with Ahab in marriage and practicing the same idol worship, Ahaziah also shares in his fate. He is shot . . . in the chariot, later to be transported dead to his capital city for burial.
2 Kings 9:30 she painted her eyes and adorned her head. Jezebel met her end proudly, dressed up as a queen should be.
2 Kings 9:31 Jezebel sarcastically compares Jehu to a previous king, Zimri, whose reign lasted only seven days (1 Kings 16:8–20). She implies that Jehu will not survive his own revolution.
2 Kings 9:32 Kings in ancient times often hired eunuchs (castrated males) to guard their harems. This assured the king that the males close to his women were not capable of sexual relations with them. Eunuchs also served as cooks, scribes, ambassadors, and in administrative roles.
Fact: Eunuchs
Eunuchs had many roles in the ancient world. They served in the royal court as cooks, scribes, guards of the harem, and ambassadors. The Hebrew word for “eunuch” usually refers to a castrated man, though it does not always do so (see Gen. 39:1).
2 Kings 9:36 the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah. Elijah earlier prophesied the gruesome death of Jezebel (1 Kings 21:23). dogs shall eat. Leaving Jezebel’s corpse to devouring dogs meant disgrace, since burial was now impossible.
Jezebel
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab and the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon. Because she was so wicked, her name, “Jezebel,” has become synonymous with evil (Rev. 2:20). As queen of Israel, Jezebel acted with power and influenced King Ahab. She promoted the worship of Baal and ruthlessly killed many prophets of God. When she learned of the defeat of her false god on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20–40), she tried to kill Elijah, forcing him to flee into the wilderness. When Ahab sulked because Naboth would not sell his vineyard to him, Jezebel arranged the murder of Naboth. Jezebel met a gruesome end when she was thrown from a window by her own servants and was eaten by dogs, in fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy (2 Kings 9:30–37). (2 Kings 9:36–37)
Jehu
Jehu was an army commander who became king of Israel. He was famous for his reckless driving (9:20) but also for his great zeal for the Lord. He set out to destroy every trace of Baal worship in Israel. He killed the kings of both Israel and Judah, and then the entire household of Ahab. He killed the wicked queen Jezebel and then all Ahab’s sons, royal officials, and priests. Jehu then brought together all the followers of Baal by pretending that he himself wanted to worship their false god. Once all the Baal worshipers had assembled, Jehu killed them all. He destroyed the temple of Baal, turning it into a latrine. Sadly, though God used Jehu to completely eradicate Baal worship in Israel, he continued to worship the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up. (2 Kings 10:28–31)
What's going on in 2 Kings 7?
Listen NowDive Deeper | 2 Kings 6-9
In 2 Kings 6, as Syria and Israel engage in ongoing conflict, God, through his prophet, continues to warn the king of Israel about the location of the Syrians. Understandably, the Syrian king suspected one of his own men had turned into a traitor. The truth was revealed to him in 2 Kings 6:12 by one of his servants: "And one of his servants said, 'None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.'" This is just one of a string of miracles in these chapters, and it emphasizes that our God is so powerful that even Israel's enemies recognize it.
After God delivered the Syrians into Israel's hand by blinding them in 2 Kings 6:18-20, the Syrians under King Ben-hadad later besieged Samaria. I doubt anyone who has not experienced these conditions can imagine the desperation and sheer terror induced by a siege and famine. The story of the woman eating her own son gives insight into this pain. It is horrific, unimaginable, and desperately sad. And it breaks the king of Israel to hear of it, even to the point that he in his grief attempts to have Elisha killed.
However, when Elisha counters this attempt on his life by sharing the upcoming deliverance God had revealed to him, the king meets Elisha with disbelief. This is evident in the way the king believed it was a trick when the lepers arrived in the city the following day with the news of the flight of the Syrians, in spite of God's words through Elisha.
Often, when reading the Old Testament, I get frustrated with the Israelites. I wonder how they, despite seeing so many of God's miracles, can possibly doubt or turn from Him. But don't we do the same? Somehow when we read about God's miracles, the "lesser" ones slowly become less miraculous until it takes the resurrection to catch our attention. What is making iron float compared to the blinding of an entire army? Yet in each of these miracles, through His faithful servants, God demonstrated His power and love for His people. And He recorded it in Scripture so we can know Him better.
This month's memory verse
"God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?" (NLT)
– 2 Samuel 22:31-32
Discussion Questions
1. Where are you growing numb or deaf to God in your life, and how can you prevent this?
2. In 2 Kings 6:30-31, we see the king overcome by despair, vowing to kill God's servant. Later, in 2 Kings 7:12, we see the king doubting the deliverance that God promised. How do strong emotions affect your perception of God?
3. God performed many miracles throughout 2 Kings 7. Often, I struggle to pray the big prayers out of doubt or even fear that God won't answer. Where are you struggling to trust Him with the miraculous in your own life?
4. These chapters contain some horrific stories, including cannibalism in 2 Kings 6, as well as the murder and usurpation of a reigning king in 2 Kings 8. How do you engage with these painful pieces of biblical history?