Verses 1-6

God"s ability to control timing to bring blessing on the faithful8:1-6

Several details in this incident hinge on timing that God supernaturally controlled to bring blessing on the Shunamite woman, as God had promised. God directed her away from the famine before it came on Israel for the nation"s apostasy ( 2 Kings 8:1; cf. Deuteronomy 11:16-17; Deuteronomy 28:38-40; 1 Kings 18:2; et al.). The timing of the length of the famine showed it was an act of God ( 2 Kings 8:1; cf. 2 Kings 4:38; 2 Kings 6:25; 2 Kings 7:4). Evidently the woman had sold her property before she left Israel and now wished to buy back her family inheritance. This was a right that the Mosaic Law protected ( Leviticus 25:23-28; Numbers 36:7; cf. 1 Kings 21:3). Another view is that the woman had left her property and "the crown" had taken it over. In such a situation the state held the land until the legal owner reclaimed it ( Exodus 21:2; Exodus 23:10-11; Deuteronomy 15:1-2). [Note: Jones, 2:440.] Her position was similar to that of Naomi in the Book of Ruth. She had fled a famine, lost her male supporter, and was at the mercy of the political system. [Note: A. Graeme Auld, I and II Kings, p178.] Jehoram was responsible to enforce the Law, and he did so in this case. What God used to move him to grant the woman"s request was the story that Gehazi happened (!) to tell him about this woman ( 2 Kings 8:5). This event evidently happened before Gehazi became a leper. God blessed the woman for her obedience to God"s instructions that came to her through Elisha ( 2 Kings 8:1). He not only restored her house and land but also the produce of her land (its fertility; 2 Kings 8:6). Thus the Israelites saw that Yahweh is the lord of time who brings blessing on the faithful.

"Elisha wields as much political influence as any biblical prophet." [Note: House, p281.]

Verses 7-15

Elisha"s preparation of God"s instrument of judgment on Israel8:7-15

Hazael was the governor of Damascus. [Note: J. A. Brinkman, "Additional Texts from the Reigns of Shalmaneser III and Shamshi-Adad V," Journal of Near Eastern Studies32 (1973):43-44.] The Gentile King of Aram had more interest in inquiring of Yahweh than Jehoram"s predecessor did ( 2 Kings 8:8; cf. 2 Kings 1:2). It was customary in the Near East to make a great show of giving gifts. It was also common to have one camel carry only one gift to make the present appear even greater. [Note: Keil, p334.]

Ben-Hadad would have recovered ( 2 Kings 8:10) if Hazael had not murdered him ( 2 Kings 8:15). Elisha probably knew Hazael would murder him. The prophet fixed his gaze steadily on Hazael, perhaps hoping to embarrass him out of doing the deed ( 2 Kings 8:11). Hazael evidently became ashamed because he felt Elisha could read his mind ( 2 Kings 8:11). Hazael would be God"s instrument of judgment on Israel ( 2 Kings 8:12; cf. 1 Kings 19:15). He referred to himself humbly as a mere dog incapable of such a feat ( 2 Kings 8:13). Hazael did come from lowly stock. On one Assyrian record Shalmaneser referred to him as "the son of a nobody." [Note: D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, 1:246.]

Like Saul, David, and Song of Solomon, Hazael learned that he would be king by special revelation from the Lord ( 2 Kings 8:13). Whether this announcement accompanied Elisha"s anointing by Elijah ( 1 Kings 19:15), or whether that took place at another time, we do not know. Rather than waiting for God to place him on Aram"s throne at the proper time, as David so admirably did, Hazael murdered Ben-Hadad. He did so in a manner that made it look as though the king had died of natural causes ( 2 Kings 8:15).

Ben-Hadad II died in841 B.C. and Hazael ruled from841-801 B.C. during the reigns of Jehoram, Jehu, and Jehoahaz of Israel, and Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash of Judah.

Kings of Aram in2Kings [Note: Adapted from The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, p509.]

Kings

Dates

References

Ben-Hadad II

860-841 B.C.

1 Kings 20; 2 Kings 6:24; 2 Kings 8:7; 2 Kings 8:9; 2 Kings 8:14

Hazael

841-801 B.C.

1 Kings 19:15; 1 Kings 19:17 : 2 Kings 8; 2 Kings 9:14-15; 2 Kings 10:32; 2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:22; 2 Kings 13:24-25

Ben-Hadad III

801-773 B.C.

2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:24-25

Rezin

773-732 B.C.

2 Kings 15:37; 2 Kings 16:5-6; 2 Kings 16:9 (cf. Isaiah 7:1; Isaiah 7:4; Isaiah 7:8; Isaiah 8:6; Isaiah 9:11)

The episodes in this Elisha narrative ( 2 Kings 2:1 to 2 Kings 8:15) give us many insights into Jehoram and his reign over Israel. Like Ahab and Ahaziah before him, he had little regard for Yahweh. Consequently he did not enjoy much blessing from God personally, and Israel experienced severe discipline in the form of famines, invasions by foreign neighbors, and lack of influence. Nevertheless there were a few in Israel who remained faithful to the Lord, including the prophets (about7,000 individuals in all; 1 Kings 19:18).

The meanings of the miracles Elisha performed that I have suggested rest on standard principles of historical grammatical interpretation. I have sought to understand what the original readers of Kings would have seen these miracles as signifying. The meanings of the words in the text, the relationship of the miracle to its context, and the meaning of symbols that biblical and extrabiblical references reveal are key interpretive factors. Commentators differ, of course, in their understandings of these matters as well as the interpretive problems. However, on the basis of the study I have done, the views expressed above seem to me to be what these miracles signified when they occurred. Some evangelical expositors have seen Elisha"s miracles as typifying Jesus Christ and His ministry. [Note: E.g, Arno C. Gaebelien, The Annotated Bible, 1:307-26.] There are many similarities.

Verses 16-24

5. Jehoram"s evil reign in Judah8:16-24

Jehoshaphat appointed his son Jehoram coregent the year Jehoshaphat went off to join forces with Ahab in battle at Ramoth-gilead (853 B.C.). For the next five years Jehoram served with his father. In848 B.C. he began ruling alone and did so for the next eight years (until841 B.C.). His reign overlapped the reigns of Ahaziah and Jehoram (whom the NASB called Joram from now on) in Israel. It is possible that the writing prophet Obadiah ministered and wrote the Bible book that bears his name during Jehoram"s reign. [Note: Walter L. Baker, " Obadiah," in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, pp1453-54.]

Rather than following the godly example of his father, Jehoram chose to pursue idolatry and infidelity to Yahweh like his wife Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. If it had not been for His promise to David ( 2 Samuel 7:12-15), God would have cut off Jehoram"s line for his wickedness ( 2 Kings 8:19). Instead, he disciplined him and Judah by allowing Edom and Libnah to revolt against Judah successfully. Edom had come under Judah"s control during Jehoshaphat"s administration ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-29; cf. 1 Kings 22:47). Zair is another name for Seir or Edom. Chariots did not save Jehoram from defeat ( 2 Kings 8:21). Libnah was a town near the border between Judah and Philistia that seems to have revolted when the Philistines invaded Judah ( 2 Chronicles 21:16-17). Judah became weaker under Jehoram because of his wickedness. The king himself died a painful death ( 2 Chronicles 21:18-19).

Verses 25-29

6. Ahaziah"s evil reign in Judah8:25-9:29

There were two King Ahaziahs as there were two King Jehorams, one of each in each kingdom. Both Ahaziahs reigned only one year each, but their administrations did not overlap. The administrations of the two Jehorams did overlap. Ahaziah of Israel reigned11years earlier than Ahaziah of Judah. In Judah, Jehoram (853-841 B.C) preceded Ahaziah (841 B.C.), but in Israel Ahaziah (853-852 B.C.) preceded Jehoram (852-841 B.C.).

Year

Southern (Judean) King

Northern (Israelite) King

853

Ahaziah

852

851

850

849

848

Jehoram

847

846

J(eh)oram

845

844

843

842

841

Ahaziah