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2 Kings 4
Elisha helps a woman so that she can pay her bills.
A woman came to see Elisha. Her
husband had died. He was one of God's prophets. Her husband respected
God and obeyed His laws. The woman has no money to pay her bills.
A creditor is coming. She owes him money, but she cannot pay him.
He will take her 2 sons, and they will have to work for him.
[1] Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the
prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou
knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to
take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
Elisha asked how he could help her. He
asked her what she had in her house. She said the only thing she
had was a pot of oil. He told her to go and borrow many empty
containers (bowls, cups, jars, etc.)
[2] And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what
hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing
in the house, save a pot of oil.
[3] Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours,
even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
She and her sons should go into their house and
close the door. They should pour the oil into all of the bowls,
cups, and jars. When one is full, they should set it aside and fill the
next one.
[4] And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and
upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt
set aside that which is full.
The woman left and went home. She closed the
door. Her sons brought her the containers. She filled them up with
oil.
[5] So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons,
who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
She continued to fill the containers. Then her
sons said there were no more containers. There was still oil left.
[6] And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto
her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a
vessel more. And the oil stayed.
The woman went and told Elijah. He told her to
go and sell the containers of oil. Then she will have money to pay
her bills. She will also have money to buy things that she and her
family need.
[7] Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the
oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
Elisha makes a dead boy live again.
Elisha traveled to the area named Shunem. There was a rich woman who
lived there, and she invited Elisha to eat at her house. When he
traveled through that area, he always stopped there to eat.
[8] And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a
great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that
as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
The woman talked to her husband. She said that
she believed Elisha was one of God's holy men. She wanted to make a
special room for Elisha in their home. They could put in it a bed,
table, stool, and candlestick. When he travels in that area, he
can stay there.
[9] And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is
an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
[10] Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us
set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick:
and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
When Elisha traveled to that area, he
stayed in his room. Then he called his worker named Gehazi. He
told Gehazi to bring the woman to him. He said that the woman had been
nice to him. Now he wants to do something nice for her. He asked
her if she needed anything. He asked her if she needed him to to ask the
king or the army leader for anything. She said she had friends and
family living around her. She didn't need anything.
[11] And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the
chamber, and lay there.
[12] And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when
he had called her, she stood before him.
[13] And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been
careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest
thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she
answered, I dwell among mine own people.
Elisha asked Gehazi what he could do for her.
Gehazi said that the woman's husband is old, and she has no children.
Elisha told Gehazi to call her. She came and stood in the door.
[14] And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered,
Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
[15] And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the
door.
Elisha told her that at the same time next
year, she will have a baby son. The woman said Elisha should not lie to
her.
[16] And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou
shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not
lie unto thine handmaid.
The woman became pregnant and had a baby son.
It was exactly at the time that Elisha said the baby would be born.
[17] And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha
had said unto her, according to the time of life.
The child grew, and one day he went to his
father out in the field. He said that his head was hurting badly. The father
told his helper to carry the boy to his mother.
[18] And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to
his father to the reapers.
[19] And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a
lad, Carry him to his mother.
They brought the boy to his mother. She sat and
held him until noon. Then the boy died.
[20] And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on
her knees till noon, and then died.
The mother took the boy and laid him on
Elisha's bed. She closed the door and left. She told her husband
to send one of his helpers and a donkey. She wanted to go find Elisha.
Then she would come back.
[21] And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and
shut the door upon him, and went out.
[22] And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee,
one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of
God, and come again.
The father asked her why she wanted to go to
Elisha. It was not the sabbath day or a feast day. She said it
would be ok.
[23] And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither
new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.
The woman put a saddle on a donkey. She told
the helper to go fast. He shouldn't slow down unless she tells him to.
[24] Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go
forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.
She went and found Elisha on Mt. Carmel. He saw
her from the mountain. He told his helper that he saw the woman from
Shunem.
[25] So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it
came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to
Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:
He told his helper to run down the mountain and
meet her. He should ask her if everything is ok. He should ask if her
husband and child are ok. She told Gehazi that everything was ok.
[26] Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well
with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And
she answered, It is well.
She continued up the mountain. When she got
near Elisha, she grabbed his feet. Gehazi tried to push her away.
Elisha said to leave her alone. He could see she was upset, but God had
not told him why.
[27] And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by
the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God
said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath
hid it from me, and hath not told me.
She said that she didn't ask Elisha for a son a
few years ago. She had told him not to trick her.
[28] Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not
deceive me?
Elisha told Gehazi to get ready. He should take
Elisha's staff (walking stick) and go to the child. He should hurry, and
he should not stop to talk to anyone. He should lay the staff on the
child's face.
[29] Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in
thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if
any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of
the child.
The mother said she would not leave
without Elisha. So, Elisha went, too.
[30] And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy
soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.
Gehazi went on in front of them and arrived at
the home first. He laid the staff on the child's face. But nothing
happened. The child did not hear or talk or wake up. Gehazi met
Elisha and told him that the child did not wake up.
[31] And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face
of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he
went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.
Elisha came into the house. He saw the dead
child laying on the his bed.
[32] And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was
dead, and laid upon his bed.
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Elisha makes a boy
live again. |
Elisha went into the room by himself and closed
the door behind him. He prayed to God.
[33] He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed
unto the LORD.
He stretched out over the child. He put his
mouth on the child's mouth. He put his eyes on the child's eyes. He put
his hands on the child's hands. The child's skin became warm.
[34] And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his
mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he
stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
Elisha got up and walked back and forth in the
house. Then he stretched himself on the child again. The child sneezed 7
times and then opened his eyes.
[35] Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up,
and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and
the child opened his eyes.
Elisha called Gehazi and told him to call the
child's mother. Gehazi called her, and she came in. She fell at
Elisha's feet and bowed down to the ground. Elisha told her to pick up
her son. She picked him up and left.
[36] And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called
her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.
[37] Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the
ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Elisha makes some soup safe to eat.
Elisha went back to the place named Gilgal. There was a famine in
the land, and there was not enough food. Some of the prophets were
sitting in front of Elisha. He told his worker to get the big pot and
make some soup for the prophets.
[38] And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the
land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said
unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons
of the prophets.
One of the workers went out and picked some
plants. He got herbs, gourds, and some wild vines. He did not
know what all of the plants were, and he put them into the soup.
[39] And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild
vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred
them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.
They poured out the soup for the men to eat.
But the men tasted the soup and cried to Elisha. They said that they
could not eat the soup. The soup would make them sick, and they would
die.
[40] So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they
were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of
God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.
Elisha told them to bring some meal (flour or
corn that is broken into very small pieces). He told them to put
the meal in the pot. Then the soup was safe for them to eat.
[41] But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he
said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm
in the pot.
Elisha feeds 100 people with just a little food.
A man came from the area named Baal-shalisha. He brought Elisha some
bread and corn. They were from the first things that grew on his farm.
He
brought 20 loaves of barley bread. He brought ears of corn still in the
husks (the green, outside part). Elisha told him to give the food to
the people.
[42] And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God
bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn
in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may
eat.
The man didn't understand. He didn't know
why he should give this food to 100 people. He didn't think it was
enough for 100 people. But Elisha told him again to give the food to the
people. Elisha said that God said there will be enough.
[43] And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred
men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith
the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
The man obeyed Elisha. He gave the food to the
100 people. The people ate, and there was some left over. That is what
God said would happen.
[44] So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof,
according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 5
Naaman comes from Syria so that Elisha
will cure his leprosy.
| Leprosy is a skin disease. It is also called Hansen's Disease. It is caused by bacteria. People with leprosy have light-colored places, sores, and bumps on their skin. Leprosy makes parts of the body numb (can't feel) and muscles weak. |
Naaman was from the country of
Syria. He was a leader in the army. He was brave, and the king of
Syria liked him very much. The king liked him because God had helped
Naaman win a war in the past. Naaman was a leper. He had the
disease named leprosy.
[1] Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great
man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given
deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a
leper.
Naaman's wife had a maid. The maid was an
Israelite. When some of the Syrian soldiers attacked Israel,
they captured the maid and took her back to Syria.
[2] And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away
captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on
Naaman's wife.
The maid told Naaman's wife that if Naaman was
with Elisha in Samaria, Elisha would make his leprosy better.
[3] And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the
prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
Naaman told the king of Syria what the maid
said. The king of Syria wrote a letter to the king of Israel.
Naaman took the letter, 10 pieces of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and
10 outfits (clothes). He went to see the king of Israel.
[4] And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the
maid that is of the land of Israel.
[5] And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto
the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of
silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
Naaman gave the letter to the king. The
letter said that the king of Syria was sending Naaman there so that his
leprosy could get better.
[6] And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when
this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my
servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
When the king of Israel read the letter, he was
upset. He tore his clothes to show that he was upset. He asked if
the Syrian king thought he was God. He asked if the Syrian king thought
he could make people live again. He thought the king of Syria really wanted to
start a war with Israel.
[7] And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter,
that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive,
that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy?
wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against
me.
Elisha heard that the king of Israel was upset
and tore his clothes. He sent a message to the king. He asked him why he
tore his clothes. He said to send Naaman to him. Then Naaman will know
that there is a prophet of God in Israel.
[8] And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of
Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore
hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know
that there is a prophet in Israel.
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Naaman arrives at
Elisha's house. |
Naaman and his horses and
chariot went to Elisha's house. He stood by the door, and Elisha
sent a message to him. He told him to go and wash 7 times in the Jordan
River. Then his skin will get better, and he will be clean.
[9] So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at
the door of the house of Elisha.
[10] And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the
Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou
shalt be clean.
But Naaman was mad and left. He had thought
that Elisha would come out to him, call God's name, and use his hand to
heal his leprosy. He thought that the rivers in the area of Damascus,
Syria were better than the Jordan River. He said he could wash in the
Syrian rivers named Abana and Pharpar.
[11] But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought,
He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the
LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
[12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the
waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and
went away in a rage.
But Naaman's workers talked to him. They said
if Elisha had told him to do something big, he would have done it.
But Elisha told him to do something small when he told him to wash 7
times in the Jordan River.
[13] And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My
father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou
not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and
be clean?
Then Naaman did what Elisha
told him to do. He went to the Jordan River and washed 7 times. Then his
skin was better, and he was clean. His skin was like a child's skin
again.
[14] Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan,
according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like
unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Naaman and the people with him went back to
Elisha. Naaman said that now he knows that Israel's God is the
only God. He wanted to give Elisha a blessing.
[15] And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and
came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there
is no God in all earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take
a blessing of thy servant.
Elisha said that as God lives, he will not take
Naaman's blessing. Naaman encouraged him to take his blessing, but
Elisha refused.
[16] But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will
receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
Naaman asked if he could take some dirt from
Israel. He wanted to fill up two carts that mules could pull. He said
from now on, he will not make offerings or sacrifices to false
gods. He will only make offerings to the true God.
[17] And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy
servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth
offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the
LORD.
Naaman said that sometimes he has to go with
the king of Syria to the place named Rimmon. This is the place
where the king worships false gods. Naaman asks for God to forgive him
for this.
[18] In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master
goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my
hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in
the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
Elisha told him to go in peace. Then Naaman
left.
[19] And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little
way.
Elisha's worker, Gehazi, didn't like that
Elisha refused Naaman's blessing. He decided to follow Naaman and get
something from him.
[20] But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my
master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands
that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him,
and take somewhat of him.
Gehazi ran and followed Naaman. When
Naaman saw him, he got off his chariot. He asked Gehazi if everything
was ok.
[21] So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running
after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is
all well?
Gehazi said everything was ok. He lied and said
that Elisha sent him. He said that 2 young prophets came from Mt.
Ephraim, and they needed money and clothes. He asked Naaman to give him a
talent (about 75 pounds) of silver and 2 outfits of clothing.
[22] And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold,
even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the
sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and
two changes of garments.
Naaman said he would give him twice as much
silver (150 pounds) and 2 outfits of clothing. He let 2 of his workers
carry them for Gehazi.
[23] And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him,
and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of
garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them
before him.
After Gehazi and Naaman's
workers got to his city, Gehazi took the silver and clothes from them. He
put the things in his house and sent the workers back to Naaman.
[24] And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and
bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
Gehazi went in and stood in front of Elisha.
Elisha asked him where he had been. Gehazi said nowhere.
[25] But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto
him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no
whither.
Elisha said he knew that Gehazi followed Naaman
and his chariot. He said it was not right for him to accept money,
clothing, or anything else.
[26] And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man
turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive
money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and
sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
Elisha said that now Naaman's leprosy will go
onto Gehazi and all of his descendants. Then Gehazi left, and his
skin was very white because he had leprosy.
[27] The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto
thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as
snow.
2 Kings 6
Elisha makes an iron ax head float.
The prophets talked to Elisha. They said that the place where they stayed was too small. They wanted to build a new place by the Jordan River. They said that each of them could carry a large piece of wood. Then they will use the wood to build a new place. Elisha told them to go ahead.
[1] And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
[2] Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
One of the prophets asked Elisha to go with them. He said he would go.
[3] And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
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Elisha makes the ax
head float. |
Elisha went with them. When they got to the
Jordan River, they cut down some wood.
[4] So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down
wood.
One of the prophets was cutting down a tree,
and the ax head fell into the water. He yelled to Elisha. He said he did
not own the ax. He borrowed the ax from someone else.
[5] But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and
he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
Elisha asked the man where the ax head fell.
The prophet showed him. Elisha cut down a stick and put it in
the water. Then the ax head floated up. Elisha told the prophet to
get it. The prophet reached out and got the ax head.
[6] And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place.
And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
[7] Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and
took it.
The king of Syria tries to capture Elisha.
The king of Syria fought a war against Israel. The king told some of his
helpers where they would make their camp.
[8] Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with
his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
Elisha sent a message to the king of Israel.
He told him to be careful. He should not go through the place where the
Syrians were camped.
[9] And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that
thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
The king of Israel listened to Elisha, and he
did not go to the place where the Syrians were camped. He saved his army
more than 2 times.
[10] And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told
him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
The king of Syria was upset about this. He
thought one of his helpers was a traitor working for the king of Israel.
[11] Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this
thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew
me which of us is for the king of Israel?
His worker said that none of them were working
for the king of Israel. They said that Israel's prophet, Elisha, was
telling the king of Israel what the king of Syria said in his bedroom.
[12] And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha,
the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that
thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
The king of Syria said to go and find out
where Elisha was. The king wanted them to bring him back there.
The king's helper said that Elisha was in Dothan.
[13] And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him.
And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
The king of Syria sent horses, chariots, and a
big army to Dothan. They got there at night and made a circle
around the city.
[14] Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host:
and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
Elisha's helper got up early in the morning. He
went out and saw the army, horses, and chariots circled around the city.
The helper asked Elisha what they should do.
[15] And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone
forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots.
And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
Elisha told his helper that he should not be
afraid. He said that the ones helping them are more powerful than the
ones helping the Syrian king.
[16] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than
they that be with them.
Elisha prayed to God. He asked God to open the
helper's eyes. When
the helper's eyes were open, he could see the mountain full of horses
and chariots made of fire. They made a circle around Elisha.
[17] And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that
he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw:
and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round
about Elisha.
When the Syrian army came down, Elisha prayed
to God. He asked God to make the army blind. God made the army blind.
[18] And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and
said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them
with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Elisha pretended to be someone else. He told
the Syrian army they were in the wrong place. He told them it was
the wrong road and the wrong city. He told them to follow him. He
said he would take them to the person they were looking for. But he took
them to Samaria instead.
[19] And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the
city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he
led them to Samaria.
When they got to Samaria, Elisha prayed and
asked God to make the men see again. God let the men see again,
and the men saw that they were in Samaria.
[20] And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha
said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD
opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of
Samaria.
The king of Israel saw the Syrian army. He
asked Elisha if he should kill them.
[21] And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My
father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
Elisha said that he should not kill them.
The king did not catch them in a war, so he should not kill them.
Elisha said he should give them food and something to drink. Then
he should let them go back to the king of Syria.
[22] And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite
those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set
bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to
their master.
The king gave the Syrians food and drink. When
they were finished, he sent them back to the king of Syria. Then
the army of Syria did not attack Israel for a while.
[23] And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten
and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the
bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
There is a famine in Samaria, and the king blames
Elisha and God.
Later, the king of Syria and his army attacked
Samaria again.
[24] And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria
gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
There was a famine in Samaria. There was no
food. The Syrians attacked the city until a donkey's head and dove's
droppings were valuable.
[25] And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged
it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the
fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
The king of Israel was walking past the city wall. A woman was there,
and she was crying. She asked the king to help her. He said he
could not help her if God did not help her. There was no more food in
the barn and no wine in the winepress.
[26] And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried
a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
[27] And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help
thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
The king asked the woman what was wrong with
her. She said that she and another woman made a deal. They agreed to eat
their sons. They ate her son that day and planned to eat the other
woman's son the
next day. But the next day, the other woman hid her son so they could
not eat him.
[28] And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered,
This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and
we will eat my son to morrow.
[29] So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the
next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
When the king heard what the woman said, he
became very upset. He tore his clothes to show that he was upset. As he
walked on the city wall, the people could see that he was wearing
sackcloth (very rough cloth).
[30] And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman,
that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people
looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
The king made a vow that Elisha would be
killed. The king said that Elisha's head would be cut off the next day.
He said that God could punish him if he did not keep his vow.
[31] Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha
the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
Elisha was sitting in his home with some other
leaders. The king sent a person in front of him. As the messenger got
close, Elisha talked to his elders. He told them that the king
planned to cut off his head. He told them to shut the door and hold it
shut when the messenger got there. He said that the king would be coming
after the messenger.
[32] But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the
king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he
said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take
away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold
him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?
While Elisha was talking, the messenger
arrived. He said God had caused the problems in Samaria. He
asked why he should wait for God any longer.
[33] And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down
unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I
wait for the LORD any longer?
2 Kings 7
Elisha told the king to listen to what God says. God says that there will be food tomorrow. People will be able to buy flour and barley very cheaply. They will buy it at Samaria's gate. One measure of flour will cost only a shekel (small coin). Two measures of barley will also cost a shekel.
[1] Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
One of the king's leaders answered Elisha. He did not believe what Elisha said. He said that even if God made it rain, grain wouldn't grow that fast. Elisha said that the man will see the food, but he will not be allowed to eat any of it.
[2] Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
God's promise comes true, and the Israelites get food.
There were 4 men with leprosy sitting in the
city gate. They asked each other why they should sit there until
they die. If they go into the city, they will not have food, and they
will die. If they sit outside the city, they will die. They decided to
give up to the Syrian army. If the Syrians capture them,
they will have a chance to live. They Syrians may keep them alive, or the
Syrians may kill them.
[3] And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and
they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
[4] If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the
city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now
therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they
save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
When it was getting dark, they got up and went
to the Syrian camp. When they got to the edge of the camp, they saw that
no Syrians were there.
[5] And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the
Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of
Syria, behold, there was no man there.
God had made the Syrian army hear chariots,
horses, and a big army. The Syrians thought that the king of Israel hired the groups of
people named the Hittites and the Egyptians to attack them. They
were afraid and ran away quickly. They left their tents, horses,
donkeys, and everything in the camp.
[6] For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of
chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and
they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us
the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon
us.
[7] Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents,
and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for
their life.
The men with leprosy came to the camp. They
went into one tent. They found food in the tent, and they ate and drank. They found gold, silver, and
clothes. They carried the things away and hid them. Then they went to
the next tent and took more valuable things to hide.
[8] And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they
went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver,
and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered
into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
The men decided that they should let the king
of Israel know about the Syrians. They said it was a day of good news.
If they wait until the morning to tell, something bad might happen to
them.
[9] Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of
good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light,
some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and
tell the king's household.
The men went and told the guard at the gate of the
city. They told him that the Syrians were gone, but their animals and
tents were left.
[10] So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told
them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was
no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and
the tents as they were.
The gate guard told the other
guards, and they told the king's workers.
The king thought it was a trick. He thought the Syrians were hiding.
He said the Syrians knew the Israelites were hungry. They might
be hiding in the fields and waiting for the Israelites to come out.
When they see the Israelites come out, they will attack them and take the
city.
[11] And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house
within.
[12] And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will
now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be
hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in
the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them
alive, and get into the city.
One of the king's workers had a plan. Many
horses and Israelites had died from the famine, but there were some
horses left. He asked if he could take 5 of the horses and go check.
[13] And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray
thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city,
(behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it:
behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that
are consumed:) and let us send and see.
They took 2 chariots and went to check on the
Syrian army. They followed the Syrians all the way to the Jordan River.
They found many things that the Syrians had thrown away. The Syrians
left in a hurry, and they threw away clothes, bowls, cups, and other
things.
[14] They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the
host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
[15] And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full
of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste.
And the messengers returned, and told the king.
The Israelites went to the Syrian camp and took
things from the Syrian tents. There was a lot of flour and barley. There
was so much that flour and barley were not valuable anymore. People could buy
flour and barley cheaply. 1 measure of flour cost only 1 shekel (a small
coin), and 2
measures of barley also cost 1 shekel. That was exactly what God said
would happen.
[16] And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a
measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley
for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
Back in verse 2, one of the king's helpers (he
was in charge of the gate) said he didn't believe that there would be a
lot of flour and barley. He did not think God's promise would come true. He
said that even if it rained a lot, there would not be a lot of flour and
barley. But now, God's promise has come true, and the people going through the gate stepped on him, and he died.
[17] And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the
charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he
died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to
him.
[18] And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king,
saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour
for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
[19] And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if
the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he
said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat
thereof.|
[20] And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the
gate, and he died.
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