Chapter 1

(Verses 1 through 4) Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. And Ahaziah fell through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

After Ahab died Moab rebelled against Israel, but there are no details given here concerning that. Then Ahaziah had a fall, and was badly injured. So he sent messengers to Ekron to consult the oracle of Baal-zebub (“lord of flies”) to find out whether or not he was going to survive this injury. This shows how far he had drifted from the way the LORD had commanded Israel to follow. So the LORD’S angel commanded Elijah the Tishbite to go and meet these messengers, and give them a message from Him. He was first to ask them if there was not a God in Israel, and for that reason they were going to this idol god. Then he was to tell them the LORD’S answer to their questions. The message the LORD sent to Ahaziah was, “Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shall surely die.” And as soon as Elijah delivered this message to the messengers, he departed.

(Verses 5 through 8) And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back? And they said unto him, There came a man to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shall surely die. And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came to meet you, and told you these words? And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

When these messengers returned to Ahaziah, he asked them why they had not gone on the errand upon which he sent them; and they told him they had met a man who asked them if their reason for going to Baal-zebub at Ekron was not because there was no God in Israel. And he had sent them back to the king with a message. And they gave him the message that the man had given them. Then Ahaziah asked them to describe the man, which they did. Whereupon Ahaziah said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

(Verses 9 through 12) Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of the fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. And Elijah answered and said unto them, if I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And fire came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Ahaziah thought that since he was king of Israel, all he had to do was to give a command, and it must be obeyed. So he sent forth one of his captains with fifty soldiers to take Elijah. They found him sitting on the top of a hill. So this captain called to Elijah, and commanded him, in the name of the king, to come down, thus showing no respect for him or God Whom he served. When he did this, Elijah answered him, “If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.” This was immediately done. Then the king sent another captain with his fifty, and he acted a little more arrogant. He said, “O man of God, thus hath the king said, ‘Come down quickly.’” Seemingly this captain was feeling his importance, and didn’t want any more of what he may have thought was Elijah’s foolishness. But Elijah gave him the same reply he had given the former captain; and with the same result. The captain and his men were all consumed by the fire.

(Verses 13 through 16) And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came down fire from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

The captain of the third fifty seemed to have learned a little respect for Elijah and the LORD Whom he served. When he found the prophet, he approached him, and knelt before him, before making his plea to him. And it was indeed a plea, and not a command. And the angel of the LORD directed Elijah to go with him without fear. When they came to the king, Elijah repeated to him the same message he had sent by the king’s messengers. The sentence for Ahaziah was sure death.

(Verses 17 and 18) So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Thus Ahaziah died just as the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah declared. Some seem to think that the Jehoram that reigned in the place of Ahaziah was Ahaziah’s brother instead of his son, since the last clause of verse 17 says, “because he had no son.”

(Verses 1 through 8) And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were in Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head today? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

The time when the LORD had appointed that Elijah should be taken up from the earth to heaven , by a whirlwind approached. And, evidently, the LORD had revealed this to both Elijah and Elisha. They started to leave Gilgal, and Elijah asked Elisha to remain there while he, at the command of the LORD went to Beth-el. But Elisha refused, and said that he would, in no wise, leave Elijah (or, in this case, allow Elijah to leave him.) So they went on together to Beth-el. Here the sons of the prophets that were in Beth-el asked Elisha if he knew that the LORD was going to take away Elijah that day. And Elisha told them that he did; and he also told them to be quiet about the matter. Then Elijah told Elisha to remain there while he did as the LORD commanded him, and went to Jericho. Elisha gave him the same reply as he had formerly. So they went to Jericho. Elisha had made up his mind to be with Elijah to the end.

(Verses 5 through 8) And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head today? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

At Jericho Elisha had another encounter with the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho. They asked him the same question as had those at Beth-el; and he gave them the same answer he had given the former ones. Then Elijah asked Elisha to remain at Jericho while the LORD sent him to Jordan. Again Elisha refused to let Elijah leave him. So they continued on to Jordan, while fifty of these sons of the prophets stood where they might watch them as they stood by Jordan. At this point Elijah took his mantel, folded it together, and hit the waters of the Jordan with it: and the waters were divided, so that Elijah and Elisha went across the river dry shod.

(Verses 9 through 11) And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

After they had crossed Jordan, they continued walking along, and talking together. And Elijah asked Elisha what was his last request of him. And his answer was that a double portion of the Spirit that was upon Elijah be given to him. Elijah told him that what he had asked was a hard thing to bring about. But that if he did see Elijah when he was taken up from him, it would be granted. Then a chariot of fire and horses of fire came between them, and Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven.

(Verses 12 through 15) And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

After Elijah was taken up, Elisha picked up the mantel Elijah had worn, and which dropped from him as he was taken up, and went back to Jordan. Then he took this mantle, and struck the water of the river, and at the same time said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” At this, the waters of Jordan parted, and he crossed over again. The sons of the prophets who had gathered to watch the taking up of Elijah saw also what took place when Elisha struck the water with the mantle of Elijah. And they said, “The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed before him, signifying that they recognized Elisha as their head, or chief.

(Verses 16 through 18) And they said unto him, “Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek for thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Although these sons of the prophets had known beforehand that Elijah was to be taken up on that day, when it was accomplished, they were afraid that the LORD had only taken him up to transport him to some other mountain, or valley. So they wanted to send forth a search party to see if they could find him. But, at first, Elisha told them to not send such a party. However, as they kept on urging him, he finally agreed that they could send forth the searchers. After three days they returned empty handed, and Elisha reminded them that he had told them not to send forth the party in the first place.

(Verses 19 through 22) And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

Here we have the first miracle, which Elisha performed at the request of the people, after the taking up of Elijah. It is clearly enough set forth that there should be no misunderstanding thereof. And there will be others to follow.

(Verses 23 through 25) And he went up from thence to Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

No doubt, these children had heard of the taking up of Elijah, and, probably that Elisha was to be his successor. So as Elisha passed by, they showed great disrespect for him, and for the LORD Who had given him the great power he had. They, evidently, did not believe that he had the power they were calling upon him to exercise. So they were ridiculing both the LORD and His servant Elisha. Then Elisha looked back upon them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. This does not mean that Elijah used profanity, as we commonly think of, when someone is said to curse. Instead, he called upon them the judgment of the LORD. And the LORD sent the two she bears out to slay forty two of these impious children. After this Elisha went on to mount Carmel, and back to Samaria.

(Verses 1 through 5) Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

We are here reminded that Ahab had died, and was followed by his son Jehoram who reigned twelve years as king of Israel. Jehoram was one of the evil kings of Israel, but not quite so bad as his father and his mother. Yet he followed in the ways of Jeroboam, who had sinned, and had caused Israel to sin. Moab had been under tribute to Israel since the days of Solomon, but now Mesha their king rebelled against Israel. Their tribute to Israel had been “an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool,” per year. Now Mesha stopped paying this.

(Verses 6 through 10) And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through  the wilderness of Edom. So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. And the king of Israel said, Alas! That the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

When Mesha king of Moab rebelled against Jehoram king of Israel, Jehoram called Jehoshaphat to go with him to battle against Moab, and, apparently. he also called the king of Edom. They all agreed to go together, and to approach Moab by way of the wilderness of Edom. After going for seven days in the wilderness, they were out of water, and had found none in the normal watering places. So Jehoram king of Israel was lamenting this situation, and becoming afraid that because of it their armies would be delivered into the hand of the king of Moab.

(Verses 11 through 13) But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

Jehoshaphat was not ready to give up. So he suggested that there should be a prophet of the LORD to whom they could get an answer to their present situation. One of Jehoram’s servants told them that Elisha, who had “poured water on the hands of Elijah,” was available. So the three kings went to him. He let Jehoram know immediately that he wanted nothing to do with him, and that he should go to the prophets of his mother, Jezebel. But Jehoram said he could not do that , for they were in too serious a situation, all three of these kings were about to be delivered into the hand of Moab.

(Verses 14 through 20) And Elisha said, As the LORD liveth, before Whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. And he said make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

Elisha let it be known “up front” that he had no liking for the king of Israel, or for the king of Edom. Had not he had regard for Jehoshaphat king of Judah, he would not have even received them. But since he was present, Elisha had a minstrel come and play for him, and the hand of God came upon him, and gave him an answer for the predicament of the kings. He told them to fill the valley with ditches; for although they would have neither wind nor rain, there would be much water in the valley. Not only so, but the LORD would deliver the Moabites into their hands. And they would smite every fenced city, and every worthwhile city, stop up all wells of water, fell every good tree, and ruin every good piece of land with stones. And at the time of the morning offering the water came flowing into the valley just as he had said.

(Verses 21 through 25) And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: and they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab. to the spoil. And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it and smote it.

This seems fairly clear as to what took place. The Moabites came down to the border of their country, and saw the sun shining upon the water in the valley, causing it to have a red appearance like blood, which they thought was blood. And from this, they thought the kings had made war upon each other, and all were killed. So they rushed down to take the spoils. But when they reached the Israelites, they were surprised to find that they were mistaken. The Israelites arose, and not only drove them back, but even went on fighting against them until they had destroyed all the cities of the Moabites, filled their good fields with stones, and stopped their wells of water, just as Elisha had predicted. The Israelites left only one city of the Moabites standing, and it had been smitten by the slingers

(Verses 26 and 27) And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

Perhaps, the king of Moab thought that if he could get to the king of Edom, he might persuade him to call a truce in the battle. But he could not even do that. So, in complete frustration, he took his own son, the eldest, who should have succeeded him as king, and offered him as a burnt offering to his gods. This sight so upset the Israelites that they left, and went back to their own land.

(Verses 1 through 7) 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. 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. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 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. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay the debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

This is a very simple narration of an incident that took place in the days of Elisha. There can, surely, be no misunderstanding of it just as it is told. But its great value to us today is in the lesson it sets forth concerning the wonderful power of God to provide for His own. We may sometimes feel just as desolate and hopeless as did this poor woman when the creditor came to take her two sons for servants to satisfy the debt her husband had owed. She did not think that she had anything that would be of any benefit to her in this crisis. But when she came to the prophet for help, she found that as she was supported by the power of God, He took care of all her needs. Elisha’s answer to her at the end of this event is very similar to the answer the LORD often gives us when He saves us from some event that has been of great stress to us. Not only has He taken care of the immediate need, but He has provided sustenance for the future.

(Verses 8 through 17) And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed on 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. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 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. And it fell on a day, that he came hither, and turned into the chamber, and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunamite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 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. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily, she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 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. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

Elisha must have regularly passed through Shunem. But one day while passing, a great woman who lived there invited him to dine at her house, which he did. So from that day forward, when passing through the area, he would stop there for a meal. So one day this woman and her husband were talking about him, and she suggested that they build a little room onto their house, and furnish it, so that it might be a regular resting place for Elisha when he was passing through. This they did; and one day when Elisha and his servant Gehazi had stopped there, and Elisha was resting, he told his servant to call the woman, who immediately came and stood before him. Then he told his servant to ask her what he might do for her for all the care she and her husband had shown for them. He thought she might want him to make some request for her to either the king, or the captain of the host. But she needed nothing of this sort. Then he asked his servant what would be a fitting gift for her. And he called Elisha’s attention to the fact that she was childless, and her husband was old. This was considered much more important in that day than it usually is today. In fact, in that day a barren wife was considered almost a disgrace to her husband. So she would, likely, rather have a son than anything else that could be named. So Elisha had Gehazi call the woman again. And when she came before him this time, he told her that she would have a son “about this season, according to the time of life.” And it came to pass according to his word.

(Verses 18 through 26) And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 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. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither the new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, it shall be well. Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me except I bid thee. 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 Shunamite: 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.

After the child had grown enough to be allowed to do so, he went out into the field where his father was having his reapers working. He soon began to complain to his father concerning his head; and his father sent him back to his mother at the house. He was ill enough that she held him on her knees until noon, at which time he died. She did not call for help, but carried him into the room they had prepared for the man of God, and laid him on the bed. Then she made arrangements to go to Elisha as quickly as possible. When she arrived at the house of Elisha, he recognized her, and sent his servant to inquire if all was well with her, with her husband, and with the child. To all these questions she answered that all was well.

(Verses 27 through 31) 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 sore vexed within her: and the LORD hath not told me. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? 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 man salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 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. 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.

The woman had told Gehazi that all was well with her, her husband, and the child; but that was, probably, because she felt that none but Elisha himself could do anything for her. And when she came to Elisha, she fell down before him, and held his feet. Gehazi wanted to push her away, but Elisha realized that she was deeply troubled by something, although he did not know what it was. When she mentioned the child, although she said nothing about what was his problem, Elisha knew what was the matter, So he sent Gehazi in an effort to revive the child. But the woman said that she would not leave the prophet, that is, He must go with her, which he did. As he and the woman went on, his servant went on ahead of them, and laid Elisha’s staff on the child as the prophet had told him, but there was no response. So he went back to meet Elisha and the woman, and tell them that the child had not revived.

(Verses 32 through 37) And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. 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. 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. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunamite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. And she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

This is, perhaps, the most outstanding case in The Old Testament of the raising of the dead, although there are, at least, two other cases recorded therein. It is clearly detailed in this account, and therefore needs no explanation. Of course, as is true of all the scriptures, it is easy to find those who do not believe that such ever took place. But we can rest assured that the record is true. And, no matter how incredible it may seem to some, those who believe the word of God have no difficulty in believing these miracles. There are many so called wise men, and many so called ministers of the Gospel today that do not believe such accounts as this. But we feel sure that, at His own good time, the LORD will convince the entire human race that his word is true. However, in that day, there will be much weeping and wailing by those who do not now believe it.

(Verses 38 through 43) 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 seeth pottage for the sons of the prophets. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

Both of these accounts are very clearly set forth, and need no explanation. They simply show that the power of God was the same in the days of The Old Testament that it was in the time in which Jesus was here on earth. Sometimes we hear some very good spiritual lessons taught from these incidents. And, perhaps, that might be one reason for their being recorded. But let us never forget that God is also able to literally bring to pass such miracles as these. And upon that power is based our hope and trust in all the wonderful things He has promised to all who love Him.

(Verses 1 through 7) 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. 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. And she said unto her mistress, Would to God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. 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. 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. And it came to pass, when the king of Israel read the letter, 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.

Syria was one of the kingdoms that had at one time been subjugated to Israel, but had now for a while been free. And, although for the greater part of the time there was peace between them and Israel, they had made some forays against Israel, and taken some captives. The young girl who was maid to the wife of Naaman was one of these captives. Naaman was a great man in Syria, even captain of the host. But he was a leper. One day this maidservant made the remark that she wished Naaman was with the prophet who was in Samaria. If so, he would cure his leprosy. Since leprosy is a disease for which, at that time, there was not only no cure, but not even any treatment, even the slightest hint of a possibility of doing away with it would be immediately sought. So this remark was carried to the king of Syria, who wrote a letter to the king of Israel, calling upon him to cure Naaman’s leprosy, and sent it with Naaman to the king of Israel. Such a demand as this would, of course cause great consternation. The king of Israel had no idea of what to do in this situation.

(Verses 8 through 14) And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king pf 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. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 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. 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 away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had told thee to do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 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.

When the news came to Elisha about the coming of Naaman, and the distress under which it put the king of Israel, he sent the king word to send Naaman to him, and declared that thus would Naaman learn that there is a God in Israel. Accordingly, Naaman came to the house of Elisha; and when he did, he got the surprise of his life. Elisha didn’t even go out to see him, and neither did he invite him into his house. Instead, he sent his servant to tell Naaman to go to Jordan, and wash himself seven times in the water of the river. This angered Naaman so much that he was ready to go home. But his servants came to him with an argument that it would do all of us good to remember. They said, “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.’” Naaman was wise enough to see the wisdom of this argument, and followed it. When he did, his leprosy was gone.

(Verses 15 through 19) 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 the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. And he said, As the LORD liveth, before Whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. 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. 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. And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

Naaman’s experience had a very profound effect upon him. First of all, when he came back to Elisha, he declared that he now knew that there was no God beside the LORD of Israel. And he declared that he would not sacrifice unto any other god. He knew that, as the servant of the king of Syria, he would have to go with the king into the house of his god, and bow before him, so he prayed beforehand that the LORD would pardon him for this. He also requested two mules’ burden of earth, most likely to build an altar to the LORD, that he might make offering to Him. He tried to get Elisha to take a reward for sending him to the Jordan to wash himself and be clean, but Elisha would accept nothing as a reward. So Elisha told him to go in peace, and he departed.

(Verses 20 through 24) 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. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from his chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? 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. 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. 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 felt that Elisha had let Naaman off too lightly. So he decided to acquire part of that which Naaman had brought with him. So he ran after Naaman, and when Naaman stopped to find out what he wanted, he made up a story about two young men having come just as Naaman had left, and they were in need of something. He asked for a talent of silver and two changes of garments for them. Naaman gladly gave him this, and even insisted that he take two talents of silver instead of one. And this he did.

Naaman’s servants even helped him carry all this back to the tower, where he stowed it away, and dismissed these servants.

(Verses 25 through 27) 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. 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? 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.

Surely this is plain enough with no further comments. And we should remember it always. Our Master is able to know what we have done, even if we try to hide it as did Gehazi. When our Master has declared that He will not receive something, we are in grave danger if we accept it, whether it be worldly wealth, or something else. It is our duty and responsibility to honor Him instead of our own greed.

Chapter 6

(Verses 1 through 7) And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 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. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 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. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it unto thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

This would seem to be an unimportant event, except that it shows the great power of God. We all know that for man this would be impossible; but not so with God. For with Him all things are possible. It is another illustration of our Lord’s saying, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, ‘Remove hence to yonder place;’ and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matt. 17:20) Remember that God is the same today as He was in the days of Elisha.

(Verses 8 through 12) 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. 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. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God had warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 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? 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.

There was war between Syria and Israel, and the king of Syria discussed the plans of his campaign with his servants. And every time he would attempt to set up his camp, in an effort to capture the king of Israel, Elisha would warn the king of Israel against going to the place where the Syrian army was waiting, thus many times escaping their trap. Finally the king of Syria had a conference with his servants (or officers) and asked them who among them was spying for the king of Israel. One of them answered him, and said that none of them was passing the word to the king of Israel; but there was a prophet in Israel who was telling the king all their plans.

(Verses 13 through 18) 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. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 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? And he answered , Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 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. 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.

The king of Syria thought he had devised a scheme that would stop Elisha from telling the king of Israel about his secret plans. He would capture Elisha, and either kill him, or hold him prisoner, so that he could not communicate with the king of Israel. He, apparently, did not know that this power to know his secrets was of the LORD, and not of Elisha. So he found where Elisha was staying, and sent a large detachment of his army to surround the town, and take Elisha prisoner. When Elisha’s servant saw this great host, he was somewhat worried about what to do. But Elisha was not at all bothered by it. He prayed that the LORD would open the eyes of his servant that he might see how many more were on their side than there were of the enemy. When the LORD opened the young man’s eyes, he saw the whole mountain filled with horses and chariots around Elisha. And the amazing thing is that they were not just ordinary horses and chariots, but horses and chariots of fire. Thus we see that in the darkest hours through which the LORD leads us, there is an abundant force watching over us. And when the host of the enemy came down around him, Elisha prayed that the LORD would smite them with blindness: and He did, just as Elisha had asked.

(Verses 19 through 23) And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city; follow me, and I will bring you unto the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 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. And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, My father, shall I smite them? 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. 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.

While this army was blinded by the hand of the LORD, Elisha told them that they were at the wrong place, but he would lead them to the man they sought. And they followed him. Thus he led them to Samaria. After they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed the LORD to open their eyes. And when they were given their sight, they discovered that they were in the city of Samaria. At this point the king of Israel wanted to kill them; but this Elisha would not permit. He asked the king if he would murder the enemy whom he had taken captive in a battle. If not, certainly he would not kill those who have been taken without a battle. Instead he fed them, and gave them drink, and sent them home to their king. This stopped the war for the present.

(Verses 24 through 29) And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 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. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? 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 today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. 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.

Without repeating all that is said in these verses, we see that in this siege the people were almost starved to death. They had even been brought to practicing cannibalism in order to live. And all this came about because that after Elisha had caused the king of Israel to show mercy to the Syrians, and send them home after Elisha had brought them to him, Ben-hadad king of Syria had not remained at peace with Israel; but had come and besieged Samaria in an effort to starve out the inhabitants thereof. As we consider this cause of the present situation it will let us have a clearer understanding of the anger of the king of Israel against Elisha. But the LORD would still protect Elisha.

(Verses 30 through 33) 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. 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. 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? 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?

When the king of Israel heard what the woman said, he tore his clothes in the ritual used to show great sorrow, or, in this case, indignation, and blaming Elisha for this, because he had not permitted him to kill the Syrians whom he had led to Samaria, he spoke a threat of death against Elisha. At this time Elisha was in his house with the elders sitting before him. But he knew exactly what the king was thinking. He also knew that the king was sending a messenger to assassinate him. So he told the elders just what was taking place, and gave them some instructions by which to thwart the king’s plans. Even while Elisha talked to the elders, the messenger arrived. And Elisha said, “This evil is of the LORD.” His question, “What should I wait for the LORD any longer?” seems to be strangely worded. But it seems to mean that the time for waiting is over, for the LORD has already started the work.

(Verses 1 through 7) And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 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. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 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. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it unto thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

This would seem to be an unimportant event, except that it shows the great power of God. We all know that for man this would be impossible; but not so with God. For with Him all things are possible. It is another illustration of our Lord’s saying, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, ‘Remove hence to yonder place;’ and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matt. 17:20) Remember that God is the same today as He was in the days of Elisha.

(Verses 8 through 12) 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. 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. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God had warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 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? 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.

There was war between Syria and Israel, and the king of Syria discussed the plans of his campaign with his servants. And every time he would attempt to set up his camp, in an effort to capture the king of Israel, Elisha would warn the king of Israel against going to the place where the Syrian army was waiting, thus many times escaping their trap. Finally the king of Syria had a conference with his servants (or officers) and asked them who among them was spying for the king of Israel. One of them answered him, and said that none of them was passing the word to the king of Israel; but there was a prophet in Israel who was telling the king all their plans.

(Verses 13 through 18) 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. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 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? And he answered , Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 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. 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.

The king of Syria thought he had devised a scheme that would stop Elisha from telling the king of Israel about his secret plans. He would capture Elisha, and either kill him, or hold him prisoner, so that he could not communicate with the king of Israel. He, apparently, did not know that this power to know his secrets was of the LORD, and not of Elisha. So he found where Elisha was staying, and sent a large detachment of his army to surround the town, and take Elisha prisoner. When Elisha’s servant saw this great host, he was somewhat worried about what to do. But Elisha was not at all bothered by it. He prayed that the LORD would open the eyes of his servant that he might see how many more were on their side than there were of the enemy. When the LORD opened the young man’s eyes, he saw the whole mountain filled with horses and chariots around Elisha. And the amazing thing is that they were not just ordinary horses and chariots, but horses and chariots of fire. Thus we see that in the darkest hours through which the LORD leads us, there is an abundant force watching over us. And when the host of the enemy came down around him, Elisha prayed that the LORD would smite them with blindness: and He did, just as Elisha had asked.

(Verses 19 through 23) And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city; follow me, and I will bring you unto the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 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. And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, My father, shall I smite them? 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. 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.

While this army was blinded by the hand of the LORD, Elisha told them that they were at the wrong place, but he would lead them to the man they sought. And they followed him. Thus he led them to Samaria. After they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed the LORD to open their eyes. And when they were given their sight, they discovered that they were in the city of Samaria. At this point the king of Israel wanted to kill them; but this Elisha would not permit. He asked the king if he would murder the enemy whom he had taken captive in a battle. If not, certainly he would not kill those who have been taken without a battle. Instead he fed them, and gave them drink, and sent them home to their king. This stopped the war for the present.

(Verses 24 through 29) And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 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. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? 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 today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. 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.

Without repeating all that is said in these verses, we see that in this siege the people were almost starved to death. They had even been brought to practicing cannibalism in order to live. And all this came about because that after Elisha had caused the king of Israel to show mercy to the Syrians, and send them home after Elisha had brought them to him, Ben-hadad king of Syria had not remained at peace with Israel; but had come and besieged Samaria in an effort to starve out the inhabitants thereof. As we consider this cause of the present situation it will let us have a clearer understanding of the anger of the king of Israel against Elisha. But the LORD would still protect Elisha.

(Verses 30 through 33) 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. 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. 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? 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?

When the king of Israel heard what the woman said, he tore his clothes in the ritual used to show great sorrow, or, in this case, indignation, and blaming Elisha for this, because he had not permitted him to kill the Syrians whom he had led to Samaria, he spoke a threat of death against Elisha. At this time Elisha was in his house with the elders sitting before him. But he knew exactly what the king was thinking. He also knew that the king was sending a messenger to assassinate him. So he told the elders just what was taking place, and gave them some instructions by which to thwart the king’s plans. Even while Elisha talked to the elders, the messenger arrived. And Elisha said, “This evil is of the LORD.” His question, “What should I wait for the LORD any longer?” seems to be strangely worded. But it seems to mean that the time for waiting is over, for the LORD has already started the work.

Chapter 8

(Verses 1 through 6) Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years. And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done. And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.

Elisha warned the woman whose son he had restored to life, that there would be famine over the land of Israel for seven years, and her best course of action was to go wherever she could, and reside until this famine should be over. This she did; and after the seven years she returned to Israel, and went before the king asking that her land and house be restored to her. She came in just as Gehazi was, at the request of the king, telling him about how Elisha had restored her son to life. So Gehazi told the king that this was the woman, and that the young man with her was the son Elisha had restored to life. So when she asked the king for the return of her property, he ordered it, together with all that it had produced, to be given to her.

(Verses 7 through 15) And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, Saying, Shall I recover of this disease? So Hazael went to meet him, and took the present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest surely recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die. And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. and Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover. And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

There is no indication as to whether Hazael already had in mind to assassinate king Ben-hadad, or if the idea came to him after Elisha had told him that he was to be king over Syria. But, at any rate, he put the idea into practice on the next day after returning to the king

(Verses 16 through 19) And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David His servant’s sake, as He promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.

This returns us to Judah and Israel, and reminds us as to who was king in each at this time. Heretofore the kings of Judah seem to have done a little better about following the LORD, than did those of Israel. But, at this point Jehoram, who had married the daughter of Ahab, was king in Judah. And he turned all the way to the practices of Ahab, and his house. Yet the LORD, for the sake of the promise He had given David, did not destroy 6he house of Jehoram.

(Verses 20 through 24) In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made kings over themselves. So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and all the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents. Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time. And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

This is the record of a battle between Judah and Edom, occasioned by the rebellion of the Edomites against Israel. And although Judah was victorious in this battle, the overall revolt of the Edomites was successful. And, at the same time Libnah also revolted against Judah, and were never again subdued by Judah. We are then referred to the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah for any further acts of Joram king of Judah. Although Joram king of Judah followed the evil ways of Ahab and the other kings of Israel, the LORD did not cast away the house of Joram, but Joram died, and was buried in Jerusalem. And the kingdom passed down to his son Ahaziah. Notice that there are two men who are variously called, “Jehoram,” and “Joram.” The Joram, who was the son of Jehoshaphat, was king of Judah; and the one who was king of Israel was the son of Ahab.

(Verses 25 through 29) In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel. And he walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab. And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth-gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram. And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

As mentioned above, there were two men who were either Joram, or Jehoram, as the writer wanted to use the names, and one has to watch closely to know which subject is under consideration at any time.. In this text we are told that Joram, king of Israel was wounded in battle, and while he was recovering, Ahaziah, the king of Judah, and grandson of Jehoram of Judah went to see him.

Chapter 9

(Verses 1 through 3) And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead: and when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

Elisha was, no doubt, moved by the LORD to give such a commandment to one of the children of the prophets. So he ordered him to take the box of oil, go to Ramoth-gilead, and secretly anoint Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi king over Israel. Then he was to flee immediately. No doubt, had he been caught, it might have cost him his life.

(Verses 4 through 10) So the young man came, even the young man the prophet went to Ramoth-gilead. And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? and he said, Unto thee, O captain. And he arose, and went into the house; and poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: 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: and the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

Thus Elisha’s messenger took care of the errand upon which the LORD had sent him. He not only anointed Jehu king, but also gave to him the charge of the LORD against the house of Ahab.

(Verses 11 through 15) Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow unto thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication. And they said, It is false, tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying Jehu is king. So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria. But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.

When a man tries to build up a nucleus for a revolution, it usually takes much time and effort to get it organized. But when the LORD calls for one, it is amazing how quickly it can be organized, and ready to function. When Jehu reported to his companions what the messenger of God had done and said, there was instant agreement, and he was immediately declared king, and his army was ready for action.

(Verses 16 through 23) So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram. And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace? So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again. Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously. And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And Jehu answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.

There is certainly nothing about this that is difficult to understand. The LORD anointed Jehu king over Israel. And as soon as he had been confirmed king by the army that was with him, he went with a company of his followers to Jezreel, where king Joram was recuperating from wounds he had received in battle. When Joram’s lookout saw him and his company approaching, he alerted Joram, who sent out a messenger to Jehu to ask if he came in peace. Jehu gave him no answer, except to command him to fall in behind him; and, this the messenger did. When Joram knew that the messenger was not going to return to him, he sent forth another messenger, with the same result as with the first. Finally Joram got into his chariot, and rode out to meet Jehu.. He asked Jehu the same question he had had his messengers ask him. And Jehu told him there could be no peace so long as his mother Jezebel’s whoredoms and witchcrafts were not brought to justice. So Joram knew that he was in trouble, and tried to flee away, declaring to Ahaziah that there was treachery before them.

(Verses 24 through 26) And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out through his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him; Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

Thus we have the end of Joram king of Israel. Jehu killed him, and disposed of the body just as it had been prophesied by the prophet of the LORD.

(Verses 27 through 29) But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there. And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David. And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

Not only did Jehu slay Joram king of Israel; but since Ahaziah king of Judah was with him, and tried to run away, he also was wounded so badly that, although he did get to Megiddo, he died there. His servants carried his body back to Jerusalem, and buried it in his sepulchre. He had reigned only about one year in Jerusalem.

(Verses 30 through 37) And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which He spake by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: and the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the field in the portion of Jezreel; so they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

This certainly needs no explanation. We might be prone to think this a very harsh judgment against Jezebel. But it is exactly as the LORD had caused Elijah to prophesy several years earlier. And it is proof that His word, whether concerning a blessing or a curse, never fails. He is always able to bring about exactly what He has declared. And none can hinder Him.

(Verses 1 through 7) And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying, Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour; look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house. But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand? And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city. the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes. Then he wrote the second time unto them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up. And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jezreel.

Ahab the father of Joram had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu, knowing this, knew also that if they were permitted to continue to live, there would be much contention against his claim as king, although the LORD had Himself had Jehu so anointed. So he sent immediately a challenge to all the elders of the city, as well as to all those who had been occupied with bringing up the sons of Ahab. He called upon them to quickly select a king from among the sons of Ahab, and prepare for war. When the leaders to whom he had written received Jehu’s letters, they were too frightened to fight. So they answered that they would receive Jehu as their master, and do whatsoever he would bid them. Then he wrote to them that if they were sincere in this declaration they must kill all the seventy sons of Ahab, and send their heads to him. And this they did.

(Verses 8 through 12) And there came a messenger , and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning. And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these. Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which He spake by His servant Elijah. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, and his prophets, until he left him none remaining.

When a messenger told Jehu that the people had come bringing the heads of Ahab’s sons, he gave orders that those heads be placed in two heaps at the gate of the city. Then on the next day, in the morning, he went out, and stood by those heads to make an address to the people. The first thing he said to them was that they were righteous. This was designed to lead them to what he wanted to tell them. Certainly they were pleased by his calling them righteous. Then, to show them that they could not condemn him for what he had done, He confessed that he had conspired against his master, and had slain him. But , with that said, he called their attention to the heads that were in the two heaps before them, and asked who it was who had slain them; thus pointing out to them that as righteous as they considered themselves to be, they had, without provocation, slain seventy men. Thus they could bring no charge against him. He continued, and told them that he was going to bring upon the house of Ahab all the calamities that the LORD had declared against it by Elijah the prophet of the LORD.

(Verses 12 through 14) And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way, Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We be the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king, and the children of the queen. And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

Jehu left Jezreel to go to Samaria. When he came to the shearing house that was along the way, he met a party of men, and he inquired who they were. They answered that they were the brethren of Ahaziah the king of Judah; and they were going to offer their condolences to the wife and children of Joram. Jehu immediately ordered them taken alive, and this command was obeyed. He then had them taken down to the pit of the shearing house, and slain. There were forty two of them, and all were slain, with none remaining.

(Verses 15 through 17) And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up into the chariot. And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which He spake to Elijah.

As Jehu was going from the shearing house where he had slain the brethren of Ahaziah, he met a friend, Jehonadab the son of Rechab. After they had greeted each other, Jehu had Jehonadab get into the chariot with him, and go to Samaria, to observe his zeal for the LORD. When they arrived at Samaria Jehu set to work, killing all that remained in Samaria of the family of Ahab, just as Elijah had prophesied would be done.

(Verses 18 through 23) And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but worshippers of Baal only.

Jehu had devised a plan to rid the country of the worshippers of Baal. He proclaimed a great sacrifice for Baal, and called for every worshipper of Baal in the land to be present, under the pain of death. They were all called into the house of Baal, and commanded to search, and look, to make sure that none of the worshippers of the LORD were among them. They even provided vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. Thus they prepared that all the worshippers of Baal, and none of the worshippers of the LORD would be in the building. Those attending thought that they were to take part in a great sacrifice to Baal; but they did not know that they were to be the sacrifice itself.

(Verses 24 through 28) And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

This gives full details of the execution of Jehu’s plan for ridding Israel of the worshippers of Baal. It seems that he did a very thorough job of getting rid of the adherents to Baal. And, although it may seem to some as a very bloody plan, it was that in which the LORD led Jehu. And we have to remember that the worshippers of Baal, as well as other idols, were enemies of the LORD. And he had declared that they would be brought to judgment.

(Verses 29 through 31) Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan. And the LORD said to Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which was right in Mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.

The LORD commended Jehu for having done to the house of Ahab exactly what He had determined to be done; and He promised that even the fourth generation of Jehu’s descendants would sit upon the throne of Israel. Yet Jehu never measured up to following the LORD with all his heart, because he continued to keep the golden calves Jeroboam had made for Israel to worship instead of going up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD.

(Verses 32 through 36) In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; from Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead. And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.

Thus we close out the reign of Jehu. Although he was quite an improvement over Joram and Ahab, he still followed after the sins of Jeroboam. However the LORD permitted him to rein for twenty eight years. And he was buried in Samaria.

(Verses 1 through 3) And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

Jealousy, ambition, and intrigue were just as common around the royal family in Judah as anywhere else in the world. When Athaliah saw that her son Ahaziah was dead, she did not hesitate to attempt the eradication of all the other possible heirs to the throne. However one of the sons of her son Ahaziah, was stolen away, so that she did not find him to kill him. Her sister in law Jehosheba was the one who stole the child away, and by the help of some who conspired with her. she hid him in the house of the LORD for six years. During that time Athaliah reigned over the land.

(Verses 4 through 12) And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king’s son. And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; a third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house. And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep watch of the house , that it be not broken down. And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king. And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in. And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David’s spears and shields that were in the temple of the LORD. And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple. And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

In the seventh year of the reign of Athaliah, the priest Jehoiada called  certain officers and others who were in favor of anointing the young son of Ahaziah, whom they had saved from the murderous work of Athaliah, and crowning him king. He made a covenant with them, and put them all under an oath of the LORD for the work he would set before them. The company was very strictly organized, so that the young king would be protected. Then they brought forth the king’s son, crowned him, and anointed him, and gave to him the “testimony,” or covenant of the king according to the commandment of the LORD. When all this was accomplished, they gave him the blessing of “God save the king.”

(Verses 13 through16) And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew the trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried Treason, Treason. But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them. Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. And they laid hands on her; and she went by way of the way by which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain.

When Athaliah came into the house of the LORD, and saw the king and all the people rejoicing, she was very much upset, and began to cry “Treason.” But the priest Jehoiada ordered her arrested, and her attendants slain. He did not want her slain in the house of the LORD. so they waited until they had taken her out by the way in which the horses used for coming in and going out of the king’s house; and there they slew her.

(Verses 17 through 21) And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people; between the king also and the people. And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD. And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house. Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.

Thus ends the reign of Athaliah the one who murdered all the children of the king that she could find. Now begins the reign if Jehoash the king’s son. There seems to be no need of further commentary on this text.

(Verses 1 through 3) In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

Jehu was the king of Israel who obtained that position by bringing an end to the house of Ahab. And he had reigned for seven years when Jehoash began to reign. As we saw in the preceding chapter, Jehoash was seven years of age when he began to reign. So, apparently, he was born in the year that Jehu began his reign. Jehoiada the priest had a major hand in making him king; and as long as Jehoiada continued to be his advisor, he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, except for one thing. He did not brake down the “high places” in which the people offered their sacrifices, and burned incense.

(Verses 4 through 10) And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD, let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found. But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house. And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house. But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.

The temple seemed to be needing repairs. So Jehoash told the priests to take all the money that was brought as offering to the house of the LORD, and with it take care of the repairs of the building. They began taking the money, but never did start the repairs until He changed their manner of taking up the money. Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and set it in a most convenient position, and bored a hole in the lid thereof. And through this hole the priests had to put all the money they collected. The chest was, evidently, locked, and the key given to the king’s scribe. Then when the chest appeared to be full of money the scribe and Jehoiada the priest went together, opened the chest, and counted the money, putting it in bags as they counted it. Thus the priests could not pocket the money.

(Verses 11 through 16) And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD, and to the masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD: but they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD. Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on the workmen: for they dealt faithfully. The trespass money and the sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests’.

After the manner of collection of the money was changed, enough money was accumulated to do the work of repairing the house. So some were appointed as overseers of the project, and by them the money for the work was delivered to the workmen, who, in turn bought materials, and did the work of the repairs. It seems that their overseers were of a better caliber than some we have today to do public works of any kind. “They reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on the workmen: for they dealt faithfully.” The trespass money and the sin money was not counted as part of this general fund; for it belonged to the priests.

(Verses 17 and 18)  Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

Here we have a potential threat of war which Jehoash avoided by paying all the gold and silver he could get hold of, to get the enemy to go away. By doing this he avoided having such a large casualty list, but he had to pay a very high financial price for peace.

(Verses 19 through 21) And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla. For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Although nothing is said directly to that effect, it seems that those who conspired against Joash (or Jehoash, as it is also spelled) must have been dissatisfied, not with Joash pre se, but with the fact that he paid off Hazael instead of fighting him; for even though they killed him, they buried him in his family sepulchre in Jerusalem, and let his son Amaziah reign in his stead.

(Verses 1 through 7) In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all their days. And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained a grove also in Samaria.) Neither did He leave of the people of Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and he made them like dust by threshing.

Again we turn back to Israel instead of Judah. Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash king of Judah, and he reigned for seventeen years. However he was an evil king, following the sins of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel after the separation of the kingdom of Israel from that of Judah. Then the LORD delivered then into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and he greatly oppressed Israel. But the LORD raised up one who delivered Israel from the oppression of Syria. Yet their army was so diminished that they were left with only ten chariots, fifty horsemen, and ten thousand foot soldiers. The rest of their once mighty host had been destroyed by the Syrians.

(Verses 8 through 13) Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead. In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin: but he walked therein. And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

This takes us through the reign of both Jehoahaz and his son Joash kings of Israel, a total of thirty-three years. Both of these kings are said to have walked in the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which was a wicked way, and was the cause of the departure of Israel from serving the LORD to the serving of the golden calves of Jeroboam.

(Verses 14 through 19) Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot, And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five of six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

This is the last recorded prophecy of Elisha before his death. It is clearly enough set forth that it requires little, if any, explanation. One noteworthy point concerning it is the fact that king Joash, when given of the LORD the opportunity to establish the utter destruction of the enemy of Israel, did not take advantage of it, and thereby lost the opportunity of completely freeing Israel from the harassment by Syria. He did not put forth the proper vigor in doing what the LORD commanded him to do. Therefore he would only win three victories over Syria.

(Verses 20 and 21) And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

Here the LORD wrought a miracle by Elisha, even after the prophet was dead. We do not know how long Elisha had been dead. But the inference is that it had been quite a while: for it is said that when the dead man was let down and touched, not the carcase of Elisha, but “the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.”

(Verses 22 through 25) But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had respect unto them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His Presence as yet. So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead. And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities , which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

As long as Hazael lived, Syria gave Israel much trouble. However the LORD would not suffer Israel to be completely destroyed, because of the covenant he had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When Hazael died and his son Ben-hadad was made king of Syria, Jehoash also having become king of Israel, Jehoash had more success in his war with Syria. He was victorious over Ben-hadad. In three battles, and took from him the cities that Hazael had taken from Israel.

(Verses 1 through 4) In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

Joash king of Judah was murdered, and his son Amaziah became king in his stead in the second year of the reign of Joash king of Israel. He was only twenty-five years old at the time, and he reigned twenty-nine years. He served the LORD, but not quite to the point that David had done. But he did walk as had his father Joash. He still did not destroy the “high places” where the people offered their sacrifices, and burned incense. Nevertheless he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.

(Verses 5 through 7) And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin. He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

As soon as Amaziah was confirmed in his kingdom, he had those who murdered his father put to death. However, although it was a common practice in that day to have the whole family of those who committed such sins put to death, he followed the commandment of the LORD which had been written by Moses, and did nothing to any but the guilty. He went to war against Edom, and had very good success, killing ten thousand of them and taking the city of Selah, which he re-named Joktheel, which means, “subdued of God.”

(Verses 8 through 16) Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face, And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory in this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou and Judah with thee? But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents. And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.

After having success in warring against Edom, Amaziah thought he could hold his own against anyone. So he challenged Jehoash the king of Israel to have a war with him, seemingly without any cause except that he was feeling that he wanted to fight. But Jehoash sent him word that he had better stay at home, and savor the victory he had had over Edom. It would be dangerous for both him and his country to make war on Israel. But Amaziah would not heed his advice. So they came together at Beth-shemesh, and Judah was defeated. Jehoash and the army of Israel took Amaziah captive, went to Jerusalem, and made a great breach in its wall. Then Jehoash took all the gold, silver, and precious vessels that were in the treasures of the king’s house and the house of the LORD, and took hostages, and returned to Samaria. After a while Jehoash died, and his son Jeroboam became king of Israel.

(Verses 17 through 20) And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

Although it is said that Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, it still seems that he must have been somewhat foolish in his provoking a war with Jehoash, without further cause than is here given. And for the rest of his acts we are referred to the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah. Finally a conspiracy was made against him, and though he fled from Jerusalem to Lachish, the conspirators sent to Lachish and killed him. But they brought his body back to Jerusalem, and buried it with his fathers in the city of David. There is no reason given as the cause of the conspiracy.

(Verses 21 and 22) And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

More will be given later concerning what Azariah did in his reign. Here we are told of only one thing that he accomplished. That was the rebuilding of Elath and the restoring of it to Judah.

(Verses 23 through 29) In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which He spake by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher. For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel: and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

Although this Jeroboam followed in the evil ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who led Israel into sin, he still did some things that were beneficial to Israel. He delivered them when they were under extreme oppression, and were greatly afflicted. He reigned forty-one years in Samaria. Then he died, and was buried with the kings of Israel at Samaria. And his son Zachariah became king in his stead.  

(Verses 1 through 7) In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. And he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land. And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

Here we turn again to Judah. It was in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Jeroboam king of Israel, that Azariah the son of Amaziah began to reign in Judah. He was only sixteen years of age at that time; and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. He walked in the way of the LORD, except that he, just as had his fathers, let the people continue to sacrifice and burn incense in the high places. But the LORD smote him with leprosy, which afflicted him as long as he lived. His son Jotham had to take over the business of judging and ruling even before his death because of the leprosy of Azariah. And when Azariah died, Jotham reigned in his stead.

(Verses 8 through 12) In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. This was the word of the LORD which He spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

Zachariah was the last of the descendants of Jehu that sat on the throne of Israel. And he did not reign long, just six months. Then he was assassinated by Shallum the son of Jabesh. His short reign was, apparently, no improvement over those who had gone before him, for he followed in the evil way of his fathers. And there seems to have been nothing of any great importance done during his reign. However, the fact that he did reign for a little while did fulfill the promise the LORD had made to Jehu, that his descendants to the fourth generation would sit upon the throne of Israel.

(Verses 13 through 15) Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

This is a very short and clear account of the reign of Shallum son of Jabesh as king over Israel. He did not have time to accomplish very much, since he only reigned for a full month; at which time Menahem the son of Gadi slew him, and took the kingdom. He did not have time enough to show whether he would have been a good king, or an evil one. One thing is brought up in this text that seems a little unclear. Verse 13 says, “Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Israel.” But heretofore there has been no mention made of a king of Israel by the name of Uzziah. We are told that the LORD smote king Azariah with leprosy so that he was a leper for the remainder of his life. We are told in another place in the scriptures that Uzziah also was stricken with leprosy. Also Azariah had a son named Jotham; and so did Uzziah. So it seems that these are just two different names for the same man.

(Verses 16 through 20) Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein he ripped up. In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

Because Tiphsah and Tirzah did not open themselves up to Menahem, he made war upon them, and was very cruel to them in his overthrow of them. He began his reign over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of Azariah (Uzziah, see verse 13) king of Judah. He reigned for only ten years, but in all that time he followed in the evil footsteps of king Jeroboam who made Israel to sin. He was once threatened by Pul the king of Assyria, but he bought him off by a great amount of silver, which he exacted from the people of Israel.

(Verses 21 and 22) And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah the son of Menahem reigned in his stead.

Thus Menahem died, and was succeeded by his son Pekahiah.

(Verses 23 through 26) In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room. And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Here is another assassination of the king of Israel, which had been a very common manner of death for them for some time. Pekahiah reigned only two years in Samaria, and one of his own captains, Pekah the son of Remaliah, of whom we hear somewhat in the prophecy of Isaiah, conspired against him and killed him, even in his own palace, and took over the kingdom, and reigned twenty years. But he was no better than those before him. Little is said about any accomplishments he may have had.

(Verses 27 through 31) In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam  the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon and Abel-beth-maacha, and Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

This indeed confirms that Azariah and Uzziah are one and the same man. The changing from one name to the other is at times a little confusing. Notice that in verse 27 we are told that it was in the fifty second year of Azariah king of Judah that Pekah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned for twenty years. Then in verse30 we are told that Hoshea made a conspiracy against Pekah, and slew him in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. It was also during the reign of Pekah that Tiglath-pileser over ran Israel, and took many of the people captive, and carried them away to Assyria.

(Verses 32 through 37) In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

According to this Jotham the son of Uzziah (Azariah) began to reign in Judah the second year of Pekah king of Israel, which, if we figure everything strictly as the increments given would add up, might become a little confusing. In verse 1 of this chapter we are told that Azariah reigned fifty-two years. Then, in verse 27, we find that it was in the fifty-second year of Azariah that Pekah began to reign; and in verse32 tells us that it was in the second year of Pekah that Jotham began to reign, which, seemingly would add up to at least a reign of fifty four years for Azariah. But apparently the increments count years that were not complete. Jotham was only twenty five years of age when he began to reign. (Since he had to take over the business of ruling in place of his father because of his father’s leprosy, his reign may not have been counted until the death of his father, at which time he would be officially the king.) However we are old that he did reign for sixteen years. And, except for the fact that he let the high places still remain for the people to use in making their sacrifices and offerings, he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD. It was in his rein that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the king of Israel began to give Judah much trouble. When Jotham died he was buried in the city of David, and his son Ahaz reigned in his place.

Chapter 16

(Verses 1 through 4) In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Before the time of Ahaz, the people of Judah had been offering their sacrifices and burning incense in the high places they had set up. But when Ahaz became king, he opened the floodgates of evil by not only taking part in such offerings, but even in setting up still more altars all over the land, and making offerings upon them to idol gods. He even participated in the great abomination of offering his son as a burnt offering to Molech, or Malcham, as he was sometimes called, an act expressly forbidden by the LORD. So he led them farther from the LORD than they had been before.

(Verses 5 through 9) Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war; and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

It was about this time that Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the king of Israel began to wage war against Judah. They could not completely overthrow Judah, but they did take some cities from Judah, drive out the Jews, and place their own people in the cities. So Ahaz took all the gold and silver that was available, and hired Tiglath-pilezer to go to war against Damascus. He took the city, and killed Rezin, and carried the people captive to Kir.

(Verses 10 through 16) And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pilezer king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering , and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire by. Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

When king Ahaz went up to meet king Tiglath-pileser at Damascus, he was faced with a temptation so great that he could not resist it. He saw a great altar that he thought was so wonderful that he had to have one like it. He forgot that the LORD had long before told Moses that altars made to Him were to be very simple. Or, perhaps, like some today, he thought he could improve upon what the LORD had commanded. Perhaps, as many think today, he thought that if the LORD were there at that time, He would have given commandment for the old altar to be set aside, and a much more ornate one be made. We have many today who say, “If our Lord Jesus, and His apostles were here today, they would speak much differently from what they did when on earth.” People do not realize that God has known all things from even before the beginning of time; and those things that come to pass do not show Him anything new. At any rate, Ahaz examined the altar that was shown him, and sent to Urijah the priest all details and dimensions of it, with instructions that he build one like it for the house of God. Urijah had this all finished when Ahaz returned to Jerusalem. So Ahaz had it installed in the house of the LORD, and moved the old altar to a location different from that which it had occupied. Then he gave orders that the new altar be used for all the offering of sacrifices and burnt offerings, and the old altar be reserved for him to use in making inquiries of the LORD. Urijah the priest followed all his commandments.

(Verses 17 through 20) And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

It seems that the things for which Ahaz was most noted were the changes he made in those things pertaining to the house of God, and his walking after the way of the kings of Israel instead of the ways of the LORD. Whatever else he may have done is said to be written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah. He died and was buried in the city of David with his fathers. and his son Hezekiah reigned in his stead.

Chapter 17

(Verses 1 through 4) In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

This is a short, but very clear account of the reign of Hoshea the son of Elah who reigned over Israel for nine years, although part of that time he was only a puppet king for Shalmaneser king of Assyria. Because of his trying to get So the king of Egypt to help him against the king of Assyria, Shalmaneser shut him up in prison. And that was the end of his reign.

(Verses 5 through 14) Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went into Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, Which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, and walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: and there they burnt incense in all high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried out before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: for they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks like unto the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.

Not only does this tell us that Shalmaneser over ran the country of Israel, took the people captive, and carried them away, but it tells us why the LORD let this be done. They had, in spite of His commandments, and His warnings to them by His prophets, turned so far from His laws and from fearing and respecting Him, that He turned them over to the enemy, as chastisement for their evil ways. They had turned so far away from Him that they “did not believe in the LORD their God.” This is the same reason that causes men today to not obey His commandments. If one believes in the LORD, he has to believe in His power, and has to believe that His word is true. Therefore he shows by his failure to put forth honest effort to keep His commandments that he does not believe in Him. Certainly, he may proclaim that he believes that there is a God. But his failure to keep His commandments shows that he does not “believe in,” that is have confidence in God. If so, he would believe that His promises of chastisement, or even destruction, are just as true as His promises of blessings.

(Verses 15 through 23) And they rejected His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He testified against them: and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight. For He rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them. Until the LORD removed them out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

Thus is completed the account of why the LORD let the Assyrians take Israel captive, and remove them from their own land. They had none to blame but themselves. They had so far removed themselves from following the commandments of the LORD, that He sent this calamity upon them, just as He had many times told them He would. Their failure to believe in Him, and follow His word, was the cause of their captivity. And that captivity is still existing today; and it will until the day the LORD has promised, in which He will re-gather all Israel, and bring them back to their homeland which He gave to their fathers.

(Verses 24 through 28) And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore He hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. And the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

Not only did the king of Assyria have the Israelites removed from the cities of Israel, but he also had other people brought in to live in the cities that had thus been deserted. At the beginning of this arrangement the lions were so bad in the area that they killed many of the new inhabitants. These people decided that this plague was because they did not know what manner of God there was in the land. Some today might think this to be foolishness; but it was a serious thing to these people. So they went to the king of Assyria with a complaint. He ordered that one of the priests who had been removed from the area be brought back and settled there. He commanded this priest to teach the people how they should fear the LORD. and this he did while dwelling at Beth-el.

(Verses 29 through 33) Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities where they dwelt. And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

Even though the priest tried to teach these people concerning the LORD, they would not turn from their idols. It seems strange to us to say it as is said here, but it seems that many today do as did these people. They fear the LORD, but serve their own gods. For whatever we set between ourselves and the LORD becomes our god.

(Verses 34 through 41) Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandments which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel; with whom the LORD made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: but the LORD, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, Him shall ye fear, and Him shall ye worship, and to Him shall ye do sacrifice. And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which He wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods. And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods. But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and He will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

So all the efforts of the priest to teach these nations to fear and serve the LORD accomplished nothing more than it had with the children of Israel whom the LORD had turned over to their enemies to be taken away captive. It all seems to be summed up in verse 41. “So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images.” As we remarked above, this seems to fit many of us today.

Chapter 18

This chapter, together with the next two, seem to be almost a copy of Chapters 36 through 39 of the book of the prophecy of Isaiah. There may be some slight differences, but they tell us of the same events.

(Verses 1 through 8) Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother/s name was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense unto it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

We now take up the reign of Hezekiah the son of Ahaz. Ahaz was, perhaps one of the worst kings of Judah up to his time. But When his son Hezekiah took over, the whole matter changed. Hezekiah not only did the good things that most of the kings of Judah had done, but he went farther in reforming the service they rendered to the LORD. Even the good kings before him had not done away with the “high places” where the people offered their sacrifices and burned incense. But Hezekiah removed the high places, broke down their images, cut down their groves, and even destroyed the brasen serpent which Moses had made according to the commandment of the LORD; because the people had made an idol of it, and burned incense to it. He personally trusted and served the LORD, and did all that he could to turn Judah back to doing the same. And the LORD made him to prosper in all that he undertook. He was even successful in rebelling against the king of Assyria, and he smote the Philistines in all their cities and villages, (“from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.”)

(Verses 9 through 12) And it came to pass in the fourth year of Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign the Assyrians under Shalmaneser besieged Samaria, and after three years took it, and carried away captive the whole nation of Israel. But they did not make war against Judah at that time. The reason the LORD permitted them to take Israel was that they had for so long forsaken the LORD, and worshipped and served the gods of the nations around them, in spite of all the prophets the LORD had sent to them to warn them of what he was going to do. They would give no heed to any of His warnings, nor would they follow his statutes and ordinances. So He finally sent judgment upon them, and they were carried away and settled in other cities and other lands.

(Verses 13 through 16) Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Senacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house. At that time did Hezekiah cut off all the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

So for five more years Hezekiah and the kingdom of Judah were not bothered by the king of Assyria. However, in that time a new king, Senacherib, had replaced Shalmaneser as king of Assyria, and he came forth and made war against the cities of Judah, except Jerusalem, and took them. Then Hezekiah sent a message to Senacherib offering to pay him whatever he should assess against him, to have him leave Judah alone. The king of Assyria set a price for Hezekiah to pay; and Hezekiah gathered all the gold and silver he could and gave it to Senacherib. Nothing is said about the value of the gold and silver Hezekiah was able to get together. So we do not know whether it was not as much as Senacherib had demanded, or whether Senacherib just decided to take the gold and silver, and attack Jerusalem anyway.

(Verses 17 through 25) And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field. And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder. And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? Thou sayest (but they are but vain words), I have counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust on him. But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he Whose high places and Whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

This is just the message that Senacherib sent to Hezekiah. He was trusting in his own strength, and felt that he could do anything he pleased. He had been successful against Israel, because the LORD let him bring desolation upon them. But he thought it was because he was so great that he had accomplished this. He knew nothing about the power of the great God of heaven and earth. What he has said is clear enough to be easily understood. And no doubt it caused great fear in the hearts of those to whom he was speaking. Nevertheless, as we shall see, he was not able to stand against the Almighty God.

(Verses 26 through 37) Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall. But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you? Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his own fig tree, and drink ye every one of the waters of his own cistern: until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he presuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath, and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? Have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of Mine hand? But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not. Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

This is quite lengthy, but as it is only the boasting of a man who knew nothing about the power of God, it really amounts to very little. No doubt, it did cause a great deal of fear, not only in the delegation who were present, but in all who heard it. But all the gods of whom he spoke, and said they had not been able to deliver their countries out of the hand of the king of Assyria, were idol gods anyhow. So how could they deliver anyone. But not so with the great GOD of Heaven and earth.

Chapter 19

(Verses 1 through 5) And it came to pass, when Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

All the great talk which Rabshakeh had done caused great fear, not only in those who heard him, but also in the mind of king Hezekiah, for he knew that he did not have sufficient power to withstand the whole Assyrian army. But He did have faith in God; and he knew that Isaiah was also a prophet of the LORD. So he sent his servants to Isaiah to tell him what Rabshakeh had said, and to ask him to pray unto the LORD for deliverance from this threat.

(Verses 6 and7) And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

This is a very short, but very potent answer to all that the servants of the king of Assyria had said. The LORD had spoken; and He would surely bring to pass that which He had decreed. So Isaiah sent word to Hezekiah to be not afraid of all that he had heard. What the king of Assyria had threatened, would not come to pass.

(Verses 8 through 13) So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come up to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in Whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

When Rabshakeh returned to his king, he found that he had moved from Lachish to Libnah, and was making war against it. Then the king of Assyria heard that Tirhakah king of Ethiopia was coming to fight against him. So, at the moment, he could not go against Jerusalem; but he thought that he could scare its inhabitants a little more by sending more threats against them, and reminding them of what the kings of Assyria had done to the other nations and cities they had conquered. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah in an effort to scare him.

(Verses 14 through 19) And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou alone of all the kingdoms of the earth; Thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, now bow down Thine ear, and hear: open Thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Senacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech Thee, save Thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the LORD God, even Thou only.

When Hezekiah received and read the letter from Senacherib, he immediately took it with him to the house of the LORD. Then he spread the letter before the LORD, and began his prayer to Him. Some might think it unnecessary to spread a document of any sort before the LORD for Him to read it. But Hezekiah was in earnest about the matter. He wanted the LORD to take notice of the situation. Then he prayed to the LORD, confessing that all that Senacherib had said concerning the success of the Assyrians against other nations was true; but also declaring that the gods of these other nations were only the work of men’s hands, and not to be compared to the LORD God, Who had made heaven and the earth. And he prayed for deliverance , not for his glory, but “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the LORD God, even Thou alone.” That is, he was praying that the LORD would take this matter into His own hands for His own glory. That should be the moving cause of all our prayers.

(Verses 20 through 28) Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to Me against Senacherib king of Assyria I have heard. This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against  whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? Even against the Holy One of Israel. By thy messengers thou hast reproached the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of His borders, and into the forest of His Carmel. I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places. Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up. But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against Me. Because thy rage against Me and thy tumult is come up into Mine ears, therefore I will put My hook in thy nose, and My bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

This is the LORD’S answer to all the boasts and threats of Senacherib the king of Assyria. He calls attention to the fact that the only reason for the success of the Assyrians against the other cities and nations they have overcome is that He, the LORD, has brought it to pass. And since Senacherib has become so lifted up because of his victories, the whole picture will be changed. The LORD’S statement in verse 27, “But I know thy abode,” is one that is often used today by one who is threatening another with some kind of reprisal for something that one has done, or might do. It points out very forcefully that he not only knows where Senacherib lives, but will send calamity upon him. Now, because Senacherib has vented his rage against the LORD by blaspheming Him, and trying to equate Him with the gods of the nations over whom he has been successful, He will put his hook in Senacherib’s nose, and His bridle in his mouth, and turn him back to go home by the way he came.

(Verses 29 through 34) And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow by themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third tear sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city saith the LORD. For I will defend this city, to save it, for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.

This is addressed, not to Senacherib, but to Hezekiah. When the LORD says, “And this shall be a sign unto thee,” He does not mean that you will have to wait until the third year to see this sign, and thereby know that what He has said will come to pass. Rather, He is saying, “This is what you are to do as a memorial of this wonderful deliverance that I will give you.” Certainly, although the LORD does not at this point explain how He will bring about this miracle, He does promise that Senacherib shall not even shoot an arrow into the city nor lay any siege to it in any way. He declares that He will deliver the city for His own sake, and for the sake of His servant David.

(Verses 35 through 37) And it came to pass that night that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Senacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned , and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

The LORD had promised that Senacherib would not attack Jerusalem. And He promptly took care of that matter. His Angel went through the host of the Assyrians and killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand of their soldiers in a single night. When the Assyrians arose the next morning, and discovered all these dead, they were ready to leave the area, and go back home to Nineveh. Then while Senacherib was at worship in the house of his god, two of his own sons killed him, and fled to Armenia. Another of his sons became king in his stead.

Chapter 20

(Verses 1 through 7) In those days  was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech Thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which was good in Thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle of the court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years, and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took it and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

This is a text which has brought forth many arguments concerning whether or not the LORD ever changes His mind. Apparently Isaiah was speaking the word of the LORD when he told Hezekiah that he was going to die, and not live. Nevertheless, after Hezekiah’s prayer, the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, commanding him to tell Hezekiah that the LORD had heard his prayer, and would add fifteen years to his life. There have been so many arguments put up on both sides of this matter, that it seems unprofitable to engage in such. We are willing to take it just exactly as written, and confess that not only this, but many other things concerning the operations of the LORD are known only to Him. He has told us that the hidden things belong to Him, and those that are revealed belong to us and to our children. So far as Hezekiah’s recovery from his sickness is concerned, that was altogether by the power of the LORD, and not by the power of the figs. It is much the same as a miracle of our Lord Jesus. When He put the mud on the eyes of the blind man, it was obvious that the power of healing was in Him, and not in the medium He used.

(Verses 8 through 11) And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return ten degrees. And Isaiah  the prophet cried unto the LORD: and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

Hezekiah wanted a sign to confirm that the promise of the LORD would be fulfilled. So he asked Isaiah what would be the sign of confirmation. Isaiah asked him which he wanted of two choices. One was that the shadow in the sundial would move forward ten degrees, and the other was that it would move backward ten degrees. It would seem that there is actually no difference in the power shown by the two. But Hezekiah thought that it would be only a little thing for the shadow to move forward ten degrees, so he wanted it to move backward that amount. And the LORD graciously granted this.

(Verses 12 and 13) At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

It was not uncommon for one king to send a letter and a delegation to another king to congratulate him on his recovery from some sickness, or other calamity. So Hezekiah was well pleased with the king of Babylon’s having sent this delegation to him. And, evidently feeling a little like bragging about what he had, he showed them all his treasures, holding back nothing.

(Verses 14 through 19) Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? and Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

After Hezekiah had shown everything of his treasures to the men from Babylon, Isaiah the prophet came to him, and questioned him about what he had shown them. After Hezekiah told him what he had shown the men, he told Hezekiah by the word of the LORD that the time would come when all these things, together with even Hezekiah’s sons would be carried to Babylon, and his sons would be made eunuchs, and servants to the king of Babylon. Hezekiah’s answer seems to be what many people today seem to think. That is, that just so in their day there will be pleasant things, let come what may upon future generations. It may be that he did not mean exactly that, but it sounds very much like he did.

(Verses 20 and 21) And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

Thus is concluded the reign of Hezekiah, one of the best of the kings of Judah.

Chapter 21

(Verses 1 through 9) Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzibah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put My name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. And he set a graven image of the grove that he made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever: neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them. But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

It seems that commentary on this can make it no plainer than it is as written. Unquestionably, Manasseh was the worst of the kings of Judah up to this point. Nothing of his father’s righteousness could be found in him. It seems that he was determined to outdo all others in working evil.

(Verses 10 through 18) And the LORD spake by His servants the prophets, saying, Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth it, both his ears shall tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of Mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; because they have done that which was evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day. Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

The LORD did not forsake Judah nor Manasseh, but sent His servants the prophets to them with His word, declaring that they were doing even worse than the Amorites had done before them. And He had driven them out before the children of Israel. But these warnings fell upon deaf ears. Instead of getting better, Manasseh and Judah got worse. So He declared that he would send upon them such judgment that it would cause both ears of anyone who heard it to tingle. He declared that He would forsake the remnant of His inheritance. He had already turned Israel over to the Assyrians, and they had carried them captive to other lands. Now Judah is all that is left of what the LORD had declared was His inheritance: and He has declared that He will forsake that remnant. He declared that he would stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab. That is, He would bring upon them the same destruction He had brought upon Israel and Ahab. Not only was Manasseh’s reign an evil one, in that he led Judah into idolatry, but it was also a bloody reign. He filled the streets with innocent blood. No doubt, to this point, it was the worst reign ever of a king in Judah. Whatever else there was of the acts of Manasseh, including his sin wherewith he caused Judah to sin, is all to be found in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah. He died, and his son Amon reigned in his stead.

(Verses 19 through 26) Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshulemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did. And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD. And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house. And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

Amon was only twenty-two years old when he became king of Judah. And he only reigned two years, and was killed by his own servants in his own house. The people killed all those who were in the conspiracy against Amon, and made his son Josiah king in his stead. Apparently Amon did nothing of any importance during his reign, except to lead the Jews farther into idolatry. But if there is anything of value recorded of his reign, it is to be found in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah. He was buried in his own sepulchre in the garden of Uzza.

Chapter 22

(Verses 1 through 7) Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adauah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying, Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: and let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house, unto the carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered unto their hands because they dealt faithfully.

Josiah was only eight years of age when he began to reign. But he was one of the kings of Judah who followed the LORD, and did that which was right in His eyes. He did not vary from that which David had followed. In the eighteenth year of his reign, the Temple was again in need of repairs. So he appointed the proper men to take the money that was in the temple, collected from the people for that purpose, and they, in turn delivered it to the ones who would be the paymasters for the workers, and the purchasers of the materials needed for the work. The most amazing thing of all to us today, who are accustomed to all manner of graft being in all government contracts, is that they had “no reckoning with them of the money that was delivered into their hands, because they dealt faithfully.” Would it not be wonderful if our people entrusted with the money for public works were faithful enough in their dealings, that no reckoning would be necessary?

(Verses 8 through 14) And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD. And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam  the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest , and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

Some how, while they were doing the repairs to the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law. He told Shaphan about it, and also gave it to him, and Shaphan read it. Then when Shaphan went to make his report to the king about the progress of the repairs to the house of the LORD, he showed it to the king, and read it before him. Josiah was greatly troubled about what might lie before Judah because of the judgments recorded in that book concerning the departure of their fathers from the ways of the LORD. He could understand that the wrath of the LORD was great against them for their sins. “So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah went to Huldah the prophetess,” to inquire of the word of the LORD concerning what they could do. It is sometimes thought that the LORD dealt with His people only by men to whom he would reveal His word and his will. But, in this instance the one to whom they went was a woman, “the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe.” So the LORD made use of women as well as men, in revealing His word.

(Verses 15 through 20) And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to Me, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, as touching the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

The answer of the LORD was that He would surely bring upon this place and its inhabitants exactly what the words of the book had described. But He would not bring it in the days of Josiah the king. Instead, He would let him die in peace, and be brought to his grave in peace, and not see all the evils that would come upon this place. The LORD did not tell Josiah that he would be taken away immediately, so His word was no threat to Josiah, but rather a blessing in that the evil would be stayed until after Josiah had died. But the judgment that was coming was sure, and would not be set aside.  

Chapter 23

(Verses 1 and 2) And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.

After receiving the word of the LORD from the prophetess, Josiah sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the house of the LORD, together with all the priests, prophets, and the people, both great and small. Then he read to them all the words of the book of the covenant which Hilkiah had found in the house of the LORD.

(Verses 3 through 8) And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant. And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el. And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. And he brake down the house of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beer-sheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city.

The first thing Josiah did after reading this whole book to the people was to make a covenant with the LORD that he would keep His commandments, statutes, and testimonies, and perform all those things called for in the book. Then he had all the people to enter into the same covenant. Then he set to work in getting rid of all the altars and vessels, and everything else that had been used in worshipping all the idols after which the people had followed. He destroyed all the graven images, did away with all the “high places” where the people had been burning incense and making offerings, destroyed the house of the sodomites, and, in general, tried to clean up the kingdom, so far as the idolatry was concerned.

(Verses 9 through 14) Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren. And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs and burned the chariots of the sun with fire. And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron. And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

This is so fully detailed that there is little, if any, room for comment concerning it. There can be no question that Josiah went further than anyone else had ever gone in attempting to rid the country of idolatry. This is the work which he did around Jerusalem. The next segment will concern Beth-el.

(Verses 15 through 20) Moreover the altar that was at Beth-el, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove. And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God had proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of beth-el. And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria. And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Beth-el. And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.

After breaking down all the altars of idols around Jerusalem, Josiah went to Beth-el, and began destroying idolatrous altars and emblems in that area. He even took the bones of those who had long been buried out of their tombs, and burned them on the altars, thus polluting the altars, and he also destroyed those altars. Then he saw an inscription (“title”) and asked what it was. Upon being told that it was the inscription of the tomb of the prophet who had come out of Judah and prophesied all these things which Josiah was doing, he gave orders that none should disturb this sepulchre or its contents. He even went also to Samaria, and destroyed all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria, and killed “all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.”

(Verses 21 through 23) And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the Passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. Surely there was not holden such a Passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor the kings of Judah; but in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this Passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.

After all this work of purifying the land, Josiah commanded all the people to celebrate the Passover unto the LORD. And it was such a great celebration of the Passover that there had been none like it since the days in which the judges ruled over Israel. But this Passover was  held unto the LORD in the eighteenth year of Josiah in Jerusalem.

(Verses 24 and 25) Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

This text is so strongly worded, and so clearly written that it allows no further comment. It is a complete testimonial in itself concerning the righteousness of Josiah.

(Verses 26 through 30) Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of His great wrath, wherewith His anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him withal. And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I have said, My name shall be there. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? In his days Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.

Although Josiah served the LORD faithfully, and tried to lead Judah back from idolatry to serve the living God, the LORD did not turn away from His great anger toward Judah. But He was still determined to lay upon the nation the judgment He had decreed. So in the days of Josiah, Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria, even to the river Euphrates. Of course, in so doing, he had to go across the land of Judah; and Josiah went out against him at Megiddo. In the battle king Josiah was slain, and his people took him in his chariot back to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. Then they made his son Jehoahaz king of Judah in his father’s stead.

(Verses 31 through 37) Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign ; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. And Pharaoh-necho put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. And Pharaoh-necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. And Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaoh-necho. Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

This was the end of the good kings of Judah. When it is said, in verses 32 and 37, “And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done,” there were some exceptions to this. Two exceptions were Hezekiah and Josiah. Theye did what was right in the sight of the LORD: but the other kings, for the greater part, did not. And neither of these two sons of Josiah followed in his steps. This is also the end of the “free” kings of Judah. All the others were set up by foreign powers. Pharaoh-necho made Jehoiakim king; and the remaining ones were set up by the king of Babylon, until the carrying away of the Jews to the Babylonian captivity.

Chapter 24

(Verses 1 through 4) In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which He spake by His servants the prophets. Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of His sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; and also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

This text is one which surely would not be welcomed by some whom we have heard as they spoke concerning God. For they say that He is so gentle, loving, and kind, that He would never bring evil upon anyone. It was during the days of Jehoiakim that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, overcame him, and made him his servant. That is, Jehoiakim became only a puppet king, with Nebuchadnezzar as the master. And almost as soon as Jehoiakim agreed to serve Nebuchadnezzar, he turned and rebelled against him. This makes no mention of any of this having been by the LORD. But just wait a moment. Verse 2 declares that the LORD sent all the bands of people who are there named against him, and against Judah to destroy it. And all of this was “according to the word of the LORD, which He spake by His servants the prophets. Then the opening statement of verse 3 clinches the matter: “Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah.” In the light of this, can there be any doubt that the LORD did this. The purpose for all this being sent upon Judah was that Judah might be destroyed because of the terrible sins of Manasseh who had been one of her kings who had been notoriously evil. His sins were such that the LORD would not pardon them.

(Verses 5 through 9) Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

Thus Jehoiakim departs the scene, and is succeeded by his son Jehoiachin. And Jerusalem was no more troubled by the king of Egypt, because the king of Babylon had moved in, and taken all that pertained to the king of Egypt, from the river of Egypt all the way to the river Euphrates. Jehoiachin was only eighteen years of age when he began to reign, and he also was an evil king, like his father.

(Verses 10 through16) At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants besieged it. And Jehoiachin went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. And carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said. And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

When comparing this text to the one just previous to it, one might become slightly confused. In verse 8 we are told that Jehoiachin reigned in Jerusalem three months. But, apparently, at the end of the three months is the time when the siege was set against Jerusalem, and lasted for eight years before Jehoiachin and his people were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Yet with Jerusalem under siege, although he was still the king of Judah, he was not able to carry on the business of governing, and was considered as not really reigning during that time. In the eighth year of Jehoiachin king of Judah he, his mother, his wives, his servants, his princes, his officers, and many of the people of Judah were taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and carried to Babylon, with none but the poorest of the land left in Judah. The king of Babylon left none that he thought were strong enough to try to start a war against him.

(Verses 17 through 20) And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until He had cast them out from His presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar carried Jehoiachin captive to Babylon, and made Jehoiakim’s brother king in his place. This seemed to be a poor choice, for he rebelled against the king of Babylon until the Babylonians finally destroyed Jerusalem, after eleven years. But all of this was according to the purpose of the LORD, since He had decreed that Judah and Jerusalem should be destroyed because of the sin of Manasseh.

Chapter 25

(Verses 1 through 3) And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it: and they built forts against it round about. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

Zedekiah was permitted to reign for almost ten years before Nebuchadnezzar decided that he had had enough of Zedekiah’s rebellious ways. So on the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, he brought siege against Jerusalem. He continued the siege until the ninth day of the fourth month of the eleventh year, and at that time the famine in the city had become so bad that there was nothing for the people to eat, and they had to give up.

(Verses 4 through 7) And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went by the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

Although it is not here mentioned, the prophet Jeremiah had told Zedekiah that if he would surrender to the king of Babylon, he would be spared, and Jerusalem would not be destroyed. But, instead, he tried to escape, and for that, his sons were killed before him, his eyes were put out, and he was carried in fetters to Babylon. What a price he paid for his obstinacy!

(Verses  8 through 11) And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month which is the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon unto Jerusalem: and he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.

After Nebuchadnezzar had taken his prisoners to Babylon, his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, came with his forces, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem, and burned the house of the LORD, the king’s house, and the houses of all the rich or important men of the city, and the surrounding area.. They also took all the people captive who were left after Nebuchadnezzar had taken away his captives.

(Verses 12 through 17) But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen. And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon. And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away. The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight. The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

The captain of the guard left of the poor people some to be vinedressers and keepers of cattle. He and his forces took everything that was made of gold, silver, or brass that they could find in the house of the LORD. There is little value in going through all of this, and trying to mention all the things that were found. But the soldiers of Nebuzaradan left nothing of value.

(Verses 18 through 21) And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door: and out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: and Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah: and the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

Nebuzaradan found a few people, including some whom he deemed important, who had somehow been left in Jerusalem. And he carried them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. And the king killed them. Thus the Jews were carried out of their land.

(Verses 22 through 26) And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler. And when all the captains of the armies, and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, and their men. And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you. But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah. And all the people both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

In chapters 40 through 44 of Jeremiah’s book can be found much more detail of all this that is here mentioned. Evidently, the king of Babylon had felt that Gedaliah would be a faithful man to have in charge of the people who were left in Judah. But Ishmael was jealous of him, and thought himself better qualified to rule than was Gedaliah.. As it turned out, he completely ruined the whole matter, and caused the LORD to give, by Jeremiah, some prophecies of some very serious calamities that would befall those who followed him to Egypt.

(Verses 27 through 30) And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; and he spake kindly to him. and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; and changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day all the days of his life.

This is almost exactly, if not exactly, the same as verses 31 through 34 of the book of Jeremiah. Although Jehoiachin was kept in prison for thirty-seven years, he was finally released, and elevated to one who sat at the king’s table for the rest of his life.