2 Kings 8
Meaning of 2 Kings 8
2 Kings 8 is a part of the Bible in the Old Testament. It is part of the narrative history of the kings of Israel and Judah and it is a continuation of the story line from 1 Kings and 2 Samuel.
Here’s a brief summary of the key events in this chapter:
1. The Shunammite’s Land Restored (8:1-7): This passage tells the story of the Shunammite woman Elisha had befriended. Elisha warned her about an upcoming famine and advised her to leave her land which she did. After seven years, when she returned, her land had been taken over. However, thanks to God’s intervention and King’s order, she got her land back.
2. Hazael Kills Ben-Hadad (8:7-15): Elisha goes to Damascus where the king Ben-Hadad of Syria, who is ill, sends Hazael to ask Elisha if he will recover. Elisha predicts to Hazael that he will replace Ben-Hadad as King of Syria. He also foresees the violent crimes that Hazael will commit against the Israelites. Hazael returns to Ben-Hadad and kills him, beginning his reign as king.
3. Jehoram Reigns in Judah (8:16-24): The text moves back to the affairs of Judah, describing the reign of Jehoram, who did evil in the sight of the Lord by following the ways of the northern kings and the way of Ahab, as his wife was Ahab’s daughter.
4. Ahaziah Reigns in Judah (8:25-29): After Jehoram’s death, his son Ahaziah becomes king and he too did evil in the sight of the Lord. He allied himself with Joram, the son of Ahab, to make war with Hazael king of Syria.
Each section explores varying themes of prophecy, power, faith, and the consequences of turning away from God’s commands.
2 Kings 8 kjv
2 Kings 8 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible consists of 29 verses, describing several events in the history of Israel and Judah. Below is a synopsis of the chapter:
1-6: The chapter starts with Elisha warning the Shunammite woman about a seven-year famine that is about to hit the land, and advises her to leave with her family. She heeds his words and moves with her family to Philistine land for seven years. Upon her return, she finds her house and land taken over, so she appeals to the king for justice. As she is making this appeal, Elisha’s assistant, Gehazi, is with the king, recounting Elisha’s miracles, particularly the one involving this woman and her son. Recognizing her as the woman Gehazi is talking about, the king orders the restitution of her house and land, along with the income from the land during her absence.
7-15: The story shifts to the Aramean king Ben-Hadad who’s ill, and sends his servant Hazael to Elisha, the man of God, to inquire if he will recover. Through a prophecy, Elisha sees that Hazael will not only become king but will also cause extensive devastation to the Israelites. Hazael returns to the king with Elisha’s message that he will recover, but then kills Ben-Hadad and seizes the throne.
16-24: We get an account of the reign of Jehoram in Judah, who, walking in the ways of the kings of Israel and doing evil in God’s sight, leads Judah astray. However, God spares Judah for the sake of His servant David. Jehoram’s rule is characterized by revolts and he eventually dies and is succeeded by his son Ahaziah.
25-29: The chapter ends with Ahaziah aligning with Joram (king of Israel and the son of Ahab) to fight against Hazael, the king of Syria. In battle, Joram is injured, and Ahaziah goes to Jezreel to visit him, setting up the events that take place in the following chapter.
2 Kings 8 nkjv
2 Kings chapter 8 New King James Version (NKJV) introduces various narratives in the time of Biblical kings.
It begins with a story about the Shunammite woman, whose son Elisha previously revived. Elisha had told her to go with her family for a time and reside as a foreigner wherever she could, because the Lord decreed a seven-year famine. After these seven years, the woman returned and pleaded to the king to get her house and her land back. At this time, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, was with the king, telling him about the amazing miracles performed by his master – one of which was bringing this woman’s son back to life. When the woman came with her request, the king was marvelled, and he appointed an official to restore all her land back to her, along with whatever her land produced during her absence.
The chapter then segues to a series of stories about the kings of Aram and Judah. Elisha went to Damascus, where the Aramean king, Ben-Hadad fell sick. When he was told that Elisha was there, Ben-Hadad sent Hazael to meet him with gifts and to ask if he would recover from the illness. Elisha, with supernatural insight, informed Hazael that the king would indeed recover from his sickness but would die anyway, because God revealed to him that Hazael would murder the king. The next day, Hazael suffocated Ben-Hadad with a wet cloth and seized the throne.
The chapter then records the reigns of two kings of Judah: Jehoram and his son Ahaziah. Jehoram, married to Ahab’s daughter, did evil in the eyes of the Lord, leading the people to be unfaithful to Him. After his death, Jehoram’s son Ahaziah reigned in his place and continued to do evil as his father had done.
This chapter provides a glimpse of how God’s prophecy and judgement functioned in the lives and reigns of monarchs, and the consequences of their actions.
2 Kings 8 niv
2 Kings 8 in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible contains several narratives about significant events and figures in the history of Israel and Judah during the time of the divided monarchy.
1. The Shunammite’s Land Restored (Verses 1-6): This section begins with the story of the Shunammite woman, whose son Elisha had brought back to life in a previous chapter. Upon Elisha’s advice, she leaves her land for seven years during a famine. When she returns, she finds someone else has taken her land. When she appeals to the king for help, Gehazi (Elisha’s servant) is in the middle of telling king about all the miracles his master performed, including raising the Shunammite’s son from the dead. Hearing this, the king is moved and orders her land to be restored to her along with the profit it generated during her absence.
2. Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad and Becomes King of Aram (Verses 7-15): Elisha travels to Damascus, where Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, lies ill. The king sends Hazael, a high-ranking officer, to inquire of Elisha if he will recover from his illness. Elisha tells Hazael that the king would recover, but he will die because God has shown Elisha that Hazael will become king. Distressed, Elisha weeps because of the atrocities Hazael will commit against Israel. Hazael goes back to Ben-Hadad, tells him he will recover as per Elisha, but then suffocates the king and takes the throne, just as Elisha had prophesied.
3. Jehoram’s Wicked Reign in Judah (Verses 16-24): This section describes the reign of King Jehoram of Judah who succeeded his father Jehoshaphat. Jehoram is portrayed negatively for leading Judah astray and for his failure to remove the high places. He marries a daughter of King Ahab, aligning Judah more closely with Israel. The Edomites and the town of Libnah revolt against Judah during his reign.
4. Ahaziah’s Evil Reign in Judah (Verses 25-29): The chapter ends with a description of the reign of Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, who followed the example of Ahab’s family and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He makes a fatal alliance with King Ahab’s son, Joram, going to war with him against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead where he is seriously injured.
What is 2 Kings 8 all about?
2 Kings 8 is a chapter in the Old Testament that continues the narrative of the Israelite monarchy and the ministry of the prophet Elisha. The chapter consists of three separate yet related stories:
1. The first story (verses 1-6) is about a Shunammite woman, whose son Elisha had miraculously resurrected earlier. Elisha warns her about an upcoming famine in Israel and advises her to move. She obeys and moves her family to the land of the Philistines for seven years. When the famine ends, she returns and appeals to the king for her land. Coincidentally, Elisha’s servant Gehazi, whom the king has asked to recount the great deeds of Elisha, is telling the king about the resurrection of the Shunammite’s son just as she walks in. As a result of this, the king is moved to restore her land and all the income it produced while she was away.
2. The second story (verses 7-15) takes place in Damascus, where the Aramean king Ben-Hadad is ill. He sends his servant Hazael to Elisha to inquire if he will recover. Using prophetic insight, Elisha sees that not only will the king die, but Hazael will become the next king of Aram and inflict great suffering upon Israel. Hazael returns to Ben-Hadad, tells him that he will recover – which is a lie, and then murders him to become the king.
3. The third story (verses 16-29) documents the reigns of two kings, Jehoram of Judah and his nephew Ahaziah, who rule in a way contrary to God’s wishes. They follow the wicked ways of the Israelite kings Ahab and Ahaziah, rather than the upright rule of King David, their ancestor. As a result, God allows their reigns to be troubled, and the nation weakened. These events set up the destructive end of the House of Ahab in the chapters to come.
What does 2 Kings 8 teaches?
2 Kings 8 is a part of the Old Testament that recounts several key events during the period of the Kings of Israel.
1. Restoration of the Shunammite’s Land (Verses 1-6): It begins with Elisha advising the Shunammite woman, whose son he’d brought back to life in a previous chapter, to leave her land for Philistine territory during a seven-year famine. Upon her return, Elisha helped her reclaim her land from the king.
2. Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad and Becomes King of Aram (Verses 7-15): Elisha visits Damascus, where he prophesies to Hazael that he will become king of Aram, even though it leads to atrocious acts. Indeed, Hazael murders Ben-Hadad and takes over his throne.
3. Jehoram Reigns in Judah (Verses 16-24): Then the narrative switches to Judah, where Jehoram becomes king at the age of 32. He’s described as doing evil in the sight of the Lord, contrary to his righteous father, Jehoshaphat. Jehoram’s reign is marked by revolt and he dies without being mourned.
4. Ahaziah Reigns in Judah (Verses 25-29): Jehoram’s son, Ahaziah, becomes king upon Jehoram’s death. Ahaziah is depicted as walking in the ways of Ahab because of the guidance from her mother and Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, fostering injustice and evil in the kingdom.
Overall, there are lessons here about obedience to God, the potential for prophecy, consequences of disobedience and evil deeds.
A Sermon on 2 Kings 8
A sermon on 2 Kings 8 would discuss the events displayed in this chapter of the Bible and its spiritual applications for our life. Here’s a short summary and explanation:
2 Kings 8 talks about a series of events involving the prophet Elisha and the rulers of the kingdoms of Israel and Aram.
The chapter begins with the story of the Shunammite woman. Based on Elisha’s instruction, she and her family left their home to live as sojourners in the land of the Philistines during a seven-year famine. The chapter later reports how Elisha helped her restore her house and land when she returned. The sermon could emphasize the ideas of trusting in God’s plan, staying obedient to God’s instructions in hard times, and the rewards of faithfulness.
2 Kings 8 also covers the story of the king of Aram’s illness. Elisha predicted that the king would recover from his illness, but also that he would die. Hazael, the servant of the king of Aram, murdered his master, and took the throne as Elisha predicted. The sermon may delve into themes such as pride, ambition, and the consequences of sin.
Lastly, the chapter narrates the reigns of both Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah. It explains how they followed the ways of the kings of Israel, committing evil in the eyes of the Lord. A spiritual leader might use these stories to caution against falling into sin and to emphasize the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God, regardless of one’s circumstances or societal pressure.
A sermon on this chapter would explore these narratives and themes, seeking to apply its lessons to modern life for the purpose of spiritual growth and understanding.
Key people in 2 Kings 8
1. Elisha: He is the prophet of God in Israel, serving as God’s spokesperson to the kings and the people. He performed several miracles for the people, including the prediction of the famine in Samaria and the return of the Shunammite woman’s land.
2. The Shunammite woman: She was a wealthy woman and the benefactor of Elisha. She and her household had left their home to stay in Philistia for seven years because of a famine foretold by Elisha. Upon their return, Elisha helped her to reclaim her land.
3. The King of Israel: The unnamed king is believed to be Jehoram. When the Shunammite woman returns to appeal for her land, the king grants it because his servant was just telling him about Elisha resurrecting her son.
4. Gehazi: He was Elisha’s servant. In Chapter 8, he is seen explaining to the King of Israel about Elisha’s miracles, specifically mentioning the incident where Elisha brought a boy (Shunammite woman’s son) back to life.
5. Hazael: Hazael was a servant of King Ben-Hadad of Aram (Syria). Elisha prophesied that Hazael would become the king of Aram and bring great distress to Israel, which happens when Hazael murders his master Ben-Hadad and takes the throne.
6. Ben-Hadad: He was the king of Aram who fell ill. Sent his servant Hazael to Elisha to ask if he would recover from his illness but Elisha prophesied his death and Hazael’s rise to the throne.
7. Joram: Also known as Jehoram, the King of Judah who is wounded in a battle against Hazael, King of Aram, and returns to Jezreel to recover.
8. Ahaziah: The youngest son of Jehoram, King of Judah, who becomes king after Jehoram’s death. He followed the evil ways of the house of Ahab since his mother, Athaliah, was Ahab’s daughter.
Real world examples on 2 Kings 8
2 Kings 8 discusses various events in the history of ancient Israel and Judah. To make sense of it in the real world, it’s important to understand the book’s context. It revolves around the narratives of various kings and their actions, depicting political, social, spiritual, and sometimes even health scenarios.
1. **Leaders and their advisors:** The story of Elisha advising Hazael can be correlated to real-world instances where advisors and counselors play crucial roles in the decisions made by leaders. Whether in governments, corporations, or other institutions, advisors’ insights and predictions shape the direction of those institutions, for better or worse.
2. **Succession of power and leadership:** Joram’s succession by Ahaziah in Judah can be compared to modern processes of passing power or leadership. This often happens in monarchies, but also in democratic societies where leaders are replaced through elections.
3. **Medical miracles & predictions:** The narrative of the Shunammite woman’s land restoration could be viewed as a form of restitution. In today’s world, it may compare to situations where justice is sought and compensation is given, such as in legal judgements. The prediction of her needing to leave to survive a famine would mirror warnings given by meteorologists or disaster relief experts today.
4. **Assassinations and shifts in power:** The account of Hazael killing Ben-Hadad and taking over his kingdom can relate to instances in history and modern times when leaders are overthrown by coups, assassinations, or rebellions.
Please note that these explanations aren’t meant to endorse or condone the actions presented in these scriptures; instead, they are to provide a sense of how the scenarios they depict could be understood in today’s terms.
Brief Explanation of 2 Kings 8
2 Kings 8 continues narrating the episodes in the kingdom of both Judah and Israel, focusing on the prophets’ role during this volatile time.
The chapter begins with Elisha helping a Shunammite woman who had formerly shown him kind hospitality. He advises her to leave her home for seven years due to an approaching famine. After the famine, she returns and appeals to the king for the restoration of her land. The king grants this when Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, confirms her story.
Next, Elisha visits Damascus while King Ben-Hadad is ill. Elisha prophesies that Hazael, not Ben-Hadad, would become the next king of Aram. Hazael does become king after smothering Ben-Hadad in his bed.
The latter part of the chapter discusses the reign of King Jehoram in Judah and then his son, Ahaziah. Their reigns are described as evil, with the kings choosing to do what was wrong in the eyes of the Lord, walking in the way of the kings of Israel. Ultimately, Ahaziah follows the counsel of the house of Ahab which leads to his death.
Frequently asked questions for 2 Kings 8
1. Who is the woman mentioned in 2 Kings 8:1-6?
The woman mentioned in these verses is the Shunammite woman who had previously shown hospitality to Elisha and had received a son through his prophecy (2 Kings 4).
2. Why did the king restore the woman’s property?
The king restored the woman’s property after hearing her story recounted by Gehazi, Elisha’s servant. The woman and her family had left her land because of a seven-year famine prophesied by Elisha. Upon her return, she appealed to the king for her land. It was a miraculous coincidence that Gehazi was telling the king about her as she came to appeal to the king. Moved by the story, the king not only restored her land but also gave her the profits from the land during the seven years she was absent.
3. Who is Hazael and what is his role in 2 Kings 8?
Hazael is an official of the Aramean king Ben-Hadad. He plays a significant role in fulfilling a prophecy that Elisha gave to his mentor Elijah in 1 Kings 19:15. Elisha prophesies that Hazael will become king over Aram and will cause great harm to the Israelites (2 Kings 8:12-13). In fact, Hazael kills his master, Ben-Hadad, and ascends to the throne (2 Kings 8:15).
4. Who are the kings mentioned in 2 Kings 8?
Three kings are generally mentioned in 2 Kings 8. These include Ben-Hadad king of Aram (Syria), Jehoram/Joram king of Israel, and Jehoram/Joram king of Judah. Hazael is also mentioned, who later becomes king of Aram.
5. What happens to King Jehoram of Judah in 2 Kings 8?
King Jehoram of Judah is stricken with an incurable intestinal disease, as prophesied by Elijah, due to his evil deeds including leading Judah into idol worship (2 Chronicles 21). After a two-year struggle with the disease, he dies in severe pain.
6. Why does Ahaziah become king after Jehoram in 2 Kings 8:24?
Upon Jehoram’s death, his youngest son Ahaziah takes over the throne because all his older brothers had been killed in raids by Arabians and Philistines (2 Chronicles 21:16-17). Ahaziah was the only son left to Jehoram.
Possible References for 2 Kings 8
2 Kings 8 refers to the eighth chapter of the Second Book of Kings in the Holy Bible. This book is part of the historical books in the Old Testament. The references in 2 Kings 8 could be about:
1. The Story of the Shunammite’s Land (2 Kings 8:1-6): This story tells about a Shunammite woman who Elisha had previously helped, advising her to leave her land for seven years during a famine. Upon her return, the king restores her land after hearing about her story from Gehazi, Elisha’s servant.
2. King Ben-Hadad’s Illness (2 Kings 8:7-15): Elisha prophesies that Hazael will become king over Syria. He reveals this while also telling Hazael that he will cause the Israelites great suffering. Hazael kills Ben-Hadad, the Syrian king, the next day and takes the throne.
3. Jehoram’s Reign over Judah (2 Kings 8:16-24): This part of the chapter discusses the reign of Jehoram, the son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, who did evil in the sight of the Lord, following the ways of the kings of Israel. This includes the rebellion of Edom against Judah and the death of Jehoram.
4. Reign of Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:25-29): This recounts the reign of Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram. Like his father, Ahaziah also did evil and followed the ways of the house of Ahab since his mother was Ahab’s daughter. The chapter concludes with Ahaziah joining Joram, the son of Ahab, to fight against Hazael, king of Syria.
It’s worth noting that each specific verse may contain deeper meanings and contexts based on different theological perspectives. Different interpretations may exist within various branches of Christianity, Judaism, and other religions that utilize the Bible for spiritual teachings and understandings.
Conclusion on 2 Kings 8
The Book of 2 Kings 8 in the Bible contains several accounts revolving around different kings.
The chapter begins with the story of a woman whose son Elisha had previously brought back to life. Here, he advises her to leave for seven years due to a coming famine, and she complies. She returned after seven years and pleaded to the king for her house and land which had been taken. The king, upon hearing the miracles Elisha had performed for her, returned her property.
The rest of the chapter then shifts its focus to the kings. Elisha visits the sick king of Aram, Hazael. The prophet weeps because God has shown him the terrible things that Hazael will do to Israel. The next day, Hazael kills the king and seizes the throne.
Then, the narrative shifts again to discuss the rule of Jehoram in Judah. It mentions his wicked acts and his death, followed by the short reign of his son Ahaziah, who was influenced negatively by his mother Athaliah and his uncle, Joram, the king of Israel.
So, to conclude, 2 Kings 8 features various events, including miracles by Elisha, the rise of Hazael the king of Aram, and changes in leadership in Judah. The chapter essentially depicts how the righteous are rewarded, how power can corrupt and lead to evil deeds, and it foreshadows the troubles that Israel and Judah would face due to their disobedient and wicked kings.