Dave Yadallee's personal blog

2) Our Daily Bread for 2 July 2023 titled Our Refuge



Psalm 62:5-8



5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) My soul, wait silently for God,

for my hope is from Him.

6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my refuge; I will not be moved.

7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) In God is my salvation and my glory;

the rock of my strength, and my shelter, is in God.

8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Trust in Him at all times;

you people, pour out your heart before Him;

God is a shelter for us. Selah



[5] My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

[6] He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be

moved.

[7] In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my

refuge, is in God.

[8] Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him:

God is a refuge for us. Selah.



A place where the buffalo roamed in North America. That's truly what it was in

the beginning. The Plains Indians followed bison there until settlers moved in

with herds and crops. The land was later used as a chemical manufacturing site

after Pearl Harbor during World War II, then even later for Cold War weapon

demilitarisation. But then one day a roost of bald eagles was discovered

there, and soon the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge was born-

a 15000-acre expanse of prairie, wetland, and woodland habitat on the edges

of the metropolis of Denver, Colorado. It’s now one of the largest urban

refuges, or sanctuaries, in the country-a safe, protected home for more than

three hundred species of animals, from black-footed ferrets to burrowing owls

to bald eagles, and you guessed it: roaming buffalo.



The psalmist tells us that "God is our refuge" (62:8). Far greater than any

earthly place of refuge, God is our true sanctuary, a safe, protected presence

in whom "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). He's our refuge in

whom we can place our trust "at all times" (Psalm 62:8). And He's our

sanctuary where we can boldly bring all our prayers, pouring out our hearts.



God is our refuge. That's who He was in the beginning, who He is now,

and who He always will be.



By: John Blase



Reflect & Pray



What does the phrase "God is our refuge" mean to you?

What is one thing on your heart you'd like to pour out to Him?



Loving God, thank You for being my safe and protected dwelling place.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 1 - Forgiving as God Forgave



Col 3:13



13 Bear with one another and forgive one another. If anyone

has a quarrel against anyone, even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.



13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man

have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.



"No!" Brett slammed his hand against the desk to punctuate his point.

"My wife's infidelity is completely unforgivable. She just wants to make things

look good, to have me condone her new relationship.

I won't do it. I won't forgive her."

Brett was a man in pain, and his perspective on forgiving

his wife is understandable. But unfortunately, many of us are

the victims of "unforgivable" offenses; many of us, as well,

are the perpetrators of such offenses, and we desperately need

to be forgiven.

Brett ultimately came to understand that forgiving and "unforgivable"

hurt is not based on the worthiness of the recipient of forgiveness,

but on the worthiness of Christ himself. The Bible teaches that we are bound

to forgiveness for one simple reason:

because God has forgiven us in Jesus Christ.

"Forgive as the Lord forgave", Paul commands in Col 3:13 . How did Christ

forgive? Freely, completely, without basing his forgiveness on our merit. He

forgave us unilaterally, offering forgiveness before we asked,

before we were aware of our sin and the pain it caused him,

before we came to him in repentance.

Forgiveness does more that release the perpetrator for the bondage of

his wrongdoing. It releases the victim as well. Forgiveness frees

the forgiver from the bondage of anger and bitterness that keeps him distant

from the love of God. We can forgive the most "unforgivable" of offenses

against us when we focus our attention not on the offender, but on Christ,

who forgave us.



Application



a) Have I ever harboured unforgiveness toward another person?

What was the result in my spiritual/emotional life?



b) Is there someone in my life who has hurt me, who I need to forgive?

How can this verse help me extend the forgiveness to that person?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Hebrews 7:8



8 In the one case mortal men receive tithes,

but in the other he of whom it is witnessed

that he is alive receives them.



8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them,

of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



When you are Facing Pain and Suffering



2 Cor 12:7-10



7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance

of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan,

to torment me, lest I be exalted above measure.

8 I asked the Lord three times that this thing might depart from me.

9 But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made

perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in hardships,

in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ's sake.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.



7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of

the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,

the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is

made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my

infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,

in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak,

then am I strong.



Remember God's promises when You pray





The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)



Where do Muslims live?



Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers

to our shores. Where do they live? How can we prayfor these areas? Use this as

your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.



Data for those population figures is extrapoled for the 2011 National

Household Survay and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have

also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims

self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on

the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total

Canadian population, not provincial



BC - 136493 - 7.5%

AB - 195240 - 11%

SK - 17279 - 1%

MB - 21349 - 1.2%

ON - 1001542 - 55%

QC - 418946 - 23%

NB - 4543 - 0.003%

NS - 14629 - 0.1%

PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%

NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%

Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%

NWT - 473 - 0.0003%

NU - 86 - 0.00005%



Adding further



30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020



Under the Keep Praying page



When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month

and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days

of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that

usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,

of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be

decorated and festivals will be held.



For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the

distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of

Islam.



You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",

which means Blessed Eid!"



Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you

know, and Muslims around the world:



- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions

in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about

unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such

movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three

decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim

relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.

Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,

"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

18 Even on My menservants and maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]



Footnotes

Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.

- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective

discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for

Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.

Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a

hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under

a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the

house."



Ideas for prayer



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



And



Thank you for praying through the

5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.



"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,

I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to

cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.



Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians

and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the

love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.

One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by

light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.



As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and

confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution

to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.



Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.

Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father

to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.



I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.

God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through

the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom

and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."



13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy

and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,

through the power of the Holy Spirit.



[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that

ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.



ROMANS 15:13



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



2nd Day of the Month



a) Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians (

Rom 10:14-15 -

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not

believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 I And how shall they preach

unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of

those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good

things!"



[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how

shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they

hear without a preacher?

[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How

beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring

glad tidings of good things!



)



b) Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision,wisdom

and direction. (

Jer 33:3

- Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you

great and mighty things which you do not know.



3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee

great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.



)



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray to look beyond your circumstances.



Pray to the Lord and pray to have the humblessness and the character

of Elisha.



Pray to the Lord: "Loving God, thank You for being my safe and protected

dwelling place."



Pray to the Lord and pray to be a generous forgiver.



Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as your strength.



Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as the one who receives

your Tithes and offerings.



Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.



Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective

discipleship movements among Muslim people.



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians



Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision,wisdom

and direction.



Pray that the authorities in Vietnam will stop asking recognised congregations

to disclose their activities and teachings.



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.

Day 183, 2 July 2023



Today at Calvary Community Church ,

Pastor Doug Zieber spoke on Nehemiah, God's Heart to restore - Beyond the Wall



a) Guard the ground we've taken



2 John 1:8



8 Watch yourselves, so that we do not lose those things for which

we have worked, but that we receive a full reward.



[8] Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought,

but that we receive a full reward.



b) Recognise the importance of Key Leaders



Nememiah 7:1-6



1 (Ne 6:1; 6:15) Once the wall was rebuilt and I had erected the doors,

the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were appointed.

2 (Ne 1:2; 2:8) Over Jerusalem, I put in charge both my brother Hanani

and Hananiah, the palace commander, because each was a faithful man

and feared God more than many.

3 I said to them, "The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened

until the sun is hot. Until guards are posted, the doors should be closed

and bolted. Likewise, appoint guards from Jerusalemss inhabitants-

each at his post, across from his own house."

4 Now the city was large and spacious, yet the people in it were few

since there had been no houses built.



The List of Returned Exiles



Ezr 2:1-70



5 So my God put an idea in my mind, and I gathered the nobles, the officials,

and the people together to conduct a genealogy registration. When I found

the book of the genealogical register, it contained the list of those

who first came back. I found written in it:

6 (Ezr 2:1-70) These are the people of the province who returned

from the captivity of the exiles whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon

had carried away, but came back to Jerusalem and to Judah,

everyone to his city.



[1] Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the

doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

[2] That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace,

charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

[3] And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the

sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them:

and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch,

and every one to be over against his house.



[4] Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and

the houses were not builded.

[5] And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the

rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I

found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and

found written therein,

[6] These are the children of the province, that went up out of the

captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king

of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every

one unto his city;





c) Develop faithfulness



Nehemiah 7:2



2 (Ne 1:2; 2:8) Over Jerusalem, I put in charge both my brother Hanani

and Hananiah, the palace commander, because each was a faithful man

and feared God more than many.



[2] That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace,

charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.



How can we develop faithfulness in our lives?



- Do what you say

- Do what God has given you to do and do it well

- Start with the little things

- Lead by example



d) Always be watchful



1 Peter 5:8



8 (Job 2:2; Eph 6:11) Be sober and watchful, because your adversary

the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.



[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring

lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:



Isaiah 62:6



6 (Isa 52:8; Ps 74:2) I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem,

who shall never hold their peace day nor night.

You who remind the Lord,

do not keep silent;



[6] I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold

their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not

silence,



Nehemiah 7:4-5



4 Now the city was large and spacious, yet the people in it were few

since there had been no houses built.

5 So my God put an idea in my mind, and I gathered the nobles, the officials,

and the people together to conduct a genealogy registration. When I found

the book of the genealogical register, it contained the list of those

who first came back. I found written in it:



[4] Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and

the houses were not builded.

[5] And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the

rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I

found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and

found written therein,



e) We all play a role



f) Live generously



Nehemiah 7:30-32



30 the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one;

31 the men of Mikmash, one hundred and twenty-two;

32 (Ezr 2:28) the men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three;

33 the men of the other Nebo, fifty-two;



[30] The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.

[31] The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.

[32] The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

[33] The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.



Malachi 3



The Coming Messenger



1 (Mal 4:5; Isa 63:9) I will send My messenger, and he will prepare

the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come

to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant,

in whom you delight. He is coming, says the Lord of Hosts.

2 (Zec 13:9; Rev 6:17) But who can endure the day of his coming,

and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire

and like fullers' soap.

3 (Isa 1:25; Da 12:10) He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;

he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver,

and they will present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.

4 (2Ch 7:1-3) Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant

to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 (Lev 19:13; Dt 24:17) Then I will draw near to you for judgment.

I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers,

against the perjurers, against those who oppress the hired worker

in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who turn aside

the stranger, and do not fear Me, says the Lord of Hosts.



Withholding Tithes



6 (Nu 23:19; Jas 1:17; Heb 13:8) For I am the Lord, I do not change;

therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

7 (Zec 1:3) From the days of your fathers you have gone away from

My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return

to you, says the Lord of Hosts.

But you say, "How shall we return?"

8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me.

But you say, "How have we robbed You?"

In tithes and offerings.

9 (Mal 2:2) You are cursed with a curse, your whole nation,

for you are robbing Me.

10 (Ge 7:11; 2Ki 7:2) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,

says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows

of heaven and pour out for you a blessing, that there will not be room

enough to receive it.

11 I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that it will not

estroy the fruit of your ground, and the vines in your field will not

fail to bear fruit, says the Lord of Hosts.

12 (Isa 61:9; 62:4) Then all the nations will call you blessed,

for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts.

13 (Mal 2:17) Your words have been hard against Me, says the Lord.

Yet you say, "What have we spoken against You?"

14 (Isa 58:3; Zep 1:12) You said, "It is vain to serve God.

What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,

and that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of Hosts?

15 (Mal 4:1; Ps 95:9) And now we call the proud blessed,

for those who do wickedness are built up; they even test God and escape."



The Reward of the Faithful



16 (Ps 56:8) Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another.

The Lord listened and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written

before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.

17 (Ex 19:5; Dt 7:6) They shall be Mine, says the Lord of Hosts,

on the day when I make up My jewels. And I will spare them as a man

spares his son who serves him.

18 (Ge 18:25) Then you will again discern between the righteous

and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.



Malachi 3

[1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before

me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the

messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith

the LORD of hosts.

[2] But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he

appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

[3] And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify

the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer

unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

[4] Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the

LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

[5] And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness

against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false

swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the

widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right,

and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

[6] For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not

consumed.

[7] Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine

ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto

you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

[8] Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we

robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

[9] Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole

nation.

[10] Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in

mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will

not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there

shall not be room enough to receive it.

[11] And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy

the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the

time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

[12] And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome

land, saith the LORD of hosts.

[13] Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What

have we spoken so much against thee?

[14] Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we

have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD

of hosts?

[15] And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set

up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

[16] Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD

hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him

for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

[17] And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I

make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that

serveth him.

[18] Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked,

between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.



1) 2 King 5, 6, 7 ,8



2 Kings 5



Naaman Healed of Leprosy



1 (Lk 4:27) Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram,

was a great man before his master and held favor because by him the Lord had

given deliverance to Aram. He was also a mighty warrior, but he had leprosy.

2 (2Ki 6:23; 13:20) The Arameans had gone out raiding and had taken captive

a little girl from the land of Israel, and she waited on the wife of Naaman.

3 She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were before the prophet who is

in Samaria! Then he would take away his leprosy from him."

4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the girl

from the land of Israel."

5 (Jdg 14:12; 2Ki 8:8-9) The king of Aram said, "Go, and I will send a letter

to the king of Israel." So he went and took with him ten talents

[About 150 pounds, or 69 kilograms.] of silver, six thousand shekels

[About 150 pounds, or 69 kilograms.] of gold, and ten sets of clothes.

6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read,

"Now when this letter comes to you, know that I have sent Naaman

my servant to you, that you may take away from him his leprosy."

7 (1Sa 2:6; Ge 30:2; 1Ki 20:7) When the king of Israel had read the letter,

he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to give life,

that this man sends a man to me to take away his leprosy?

But consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me."

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel

had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king, saying,

"Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me,

and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stood at the entrance

to the house of Elisha.

10 (Jn 9:7; Lev 14:7) Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying,

"Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be returned

and cleansed."

11 But Naaman became angry and went away and said to himself,

"Surely he could have come out, and stood and called on the name

of the Lord his God, and waved his hand over the infected area,

and taken away the leprosy.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters

of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away

in a rage.

13 (2Ki 6:21; 2:12) But his servants approached and spoke to him,

"My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not

have done it? How much more when he said to you, 'Wash and be clean'?"

14 (Job 33:25; Lk 4:27) So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan

seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh returned

like the flesh of a little boy, and he was clean.

15 (1Sa 25:27; Da 2:47) Then he returned to the man of God, he

and all his company. He came and stood before him, and he said,

"Now I know that there is no God in all the land, except in Israel.

Now take a gift from your servant."

16 (2Ki 3:14; 5:20) But he said, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand,

I will take no gift." He urged him to take it, but he refused.

17 Then Naaman said, "If not, let two mule loads of dirt be

given to your servant, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering

or sacrifice to any god, except the Lord.

18 (2Ki 7:2; 7:17) But may the Lord pardon your servant on one account:

When my master enters the house of Rimmon to worship, and he leans

on my hand, and I bow down in the house of Rimmon, when I do bow

down in the house of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant

on this one account."

19 (1Sa 1:17; Ex 4:18) He said to him, "Go in peace."

So he departed from him a short distance.



Gehazi's Greed



20 (Ex 20:7; 2Ki 4:12) Then Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said,

"My master has spared Naaman the Aramean by not taking from his hands

what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him

and take something from him."

21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. Then Naaman saw him running after him,

jumped down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is everything all right?"

22 (2Ki 5:5) And he said, "Everything is all right. My master has sent me

and says, 'Even now two servants from Ephraim, from the sons of the prophets,

have come to me. Give them a talent

[About 75 pounds, or 34 kilograms.] of silver and two changes of clothes.' "

23 Naaman said, "Please, take two talents." He urged him and tied up

two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes

and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them before Gehazi.

24 (Jos 7:1; 7:11-12) When he came to Ophel, he took them from their hand

and put them away in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they departed.

25 (2Ki 5:22) Then he entered and stood before his master. And Elisha said

to him, "Where have you come from, Gehazi?"

And he said, "Your servant went here and there."

26 (2Ki 5:16) He said to him, "Did my heart not go with you when the man

turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to take money,

and to take garments, olives and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male

and female servants?

27 (Ex 4:6; Nu 12:10) The leprosy of Naaman will cling to you

and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence, leprous

like snow.



2 Kings 5

[1] Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man

with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given

deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a

leper.

[2] And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive

out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

[3] And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet

that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

[4] And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid

that is of the land of Israel.

[5] And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto

the

king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver,

and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

[6] And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this

letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my

servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

[7] And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that

he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that

this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore

consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

[8] And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of

Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore

hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that

there is a prophet in Israel.

[9] So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the

door of the house of Elisha.

[10] And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan

seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

[11] But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He

will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his

God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

[12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the

waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and

went away in a rage.

[13] And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if

the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done

it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

[14] Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according

to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the

flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

[15] And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came,

and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God

in all earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of

thy servant.

[16] But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive

none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

[17] And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy

servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer

neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

[18] In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth

into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I

bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of

Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.

[19] And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

[20] But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my

master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that

which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take

somewhat of him.

[21] So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after

him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

[22] And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even

now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the

prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of

garments.

[23] And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and

bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and

laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

[24] And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and

bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

[25] But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him,

Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

[26] And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man

turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money,

and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen,

and menservants, and maidservants?

[27] The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy

seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.



2 Kings 6



The Floating Axe Head



1 (2Ki 2:3; 4:38) Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the

place where we are living with you is too small for us.

2 Let us go to the Jordan and take from there one beam per man,

and let us make for ourselves a place to live there."

And Elisha said, "Go."

3 Then one of them said, "Please come with your servants."

And he said, "I will come."

4 So he went with them.

And they came to the Jordan and cut down trees.

5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the axe head fell into the water.

He cried, "Ah, master! It was borrowed."

6 (2Ki 2:21; Ex 15:25) Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?"

When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick, and threw it in there,

and he made the iron float.

7 So Elisha said, "Pick it up." And he reached out his hand and took it.



The Blinded Arameans Captured



8 Then the king of Aram was fighting against Israel, and he took counsel

with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place will be my camp."

9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, saying,

"Take care not to pass through this place, for the Arameans are marching

down there."

10 The king of Israel sent word to the place of which the man of God spoke.

He warned him and was on his guard there more than once.

11 The mind of the king of Aram was troubled by this, so he called

his servants and said to them, "Will you not tell me who among us sides

with the king of Israel?"

12 Then one of his servants said, "No one, my lord, O king. Elisha,

the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that

you speak in your bedroom."

13 (Ge 37:17) He said, "Go and see where he is, so that I may send for him

and take him." And it was told to him, "He is in Dothan."

14 So he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. They came by night

and surrounded the city.

15 When a servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out,

a force surrounded the city both with horses and chariots.

And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What will we do?"

16 (Ro 8:31; Ps 55:18) And he said, "Do not be afraid, for there are more with

us than with them."

17(2Ki 2:11; Ps 68:17) Then Elisha prayed, "Lord,

open his eyes and let him see."

So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the mountain

was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

18 (Ge 19:11; Ac 13:11) When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord,

"Strike this people with blindness." And He struck them with blindness

according to the word of Elisha.

19 Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city.

Follow me, and let me bring you to the man whom you seek."

But he led them to Samaria.

20 (2Ki 6:17) When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes

of these men and let them see." And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw

that they were in the middle of Samaria.

21 (2Ki 5:13; 8:9) The king of Israel said to Elisha when he saw them,

"My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?"

22 (Ge 48:22; Dt 20:11-16) And he said, "You shall not kill them.

Did you capture with your sword and with your bow those whom you want to kill?

Set bread and water before them, and let them eat and drink and then go to

their master."

23 (2Ki 5:2; 24:2) So he prepared for them a great banquet. When they had

eaten and had drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master.

So the Aramean raiders did not enter into the land of Israel again.



Ben-Hadad Besieges Samaria



24 (1Ki 20:1; Dt 28:52) After this, Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered

all his army, went up, and besieged Samaria.

25 There was a great famine in Samaria, and they besieged it until a donkey's

head was sold for eighty shekels [About 2 pounds, or 920 grams.]

of silver, and one-fourth of a kab [Likely about 1/4 pound, or 100 grams.]

of dove droppings for five shekels [About 2 ounces, or 58 grams.] of silver.

26 As the king of Israel was walking across the city wall,

a woman cried out to him, "Help, my lord king."

27 He said, "If the Lord will not help you, how can I help you?

From the threshing floor or from the winepress?"

28 (Jdg 18:23) And the king said to her, "What is wrong with you?"

And she said, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son and let us eat him today,

and we will eat my son tomorrow.'

29 (Lev 26:29; Dt 28:53) So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I said

to her, 'Give your son, that we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son.”

30 (1Ki 21:27) When the king heard the words of the woman,

he tore his clothes. And since he was walking across the city wall,

the people saw that he had sackcloth on his body underneath.

31 (Ru 1:17; 1Ki 19:2) Then he said, "So may God do to me, and even more,

if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stands on his shoulders after today."

32 (1Ki 18:4; Eze 8:1) Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders

were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger, but before the messenger

came to him, Elisha said to the elders, "Are you aware that this son

of a murderer has sent a man to take off my head? When the messenger enters,

shut the door and hold it against him.

Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?"

33 (Job 2:9; Isa 8:21) And while he was speaking with them, the messenger came

down to him, and then the king said, "This calamity is of the Lord!

Why should I hope in the Lord any longer?"



2 Kings 6

[1] And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place

where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.

[2] Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam,

and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.

[3] And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he

answered, I will go.

[4] So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

[5] But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he

cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

[6] And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place.

And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

[7] Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took

it.

[8] Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his

servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

[9] And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that

thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

[10] And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him

and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

[11] Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this

thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me

which of us is for the king of Israel?

[12] And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the

prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou

speakest in thy bedchamber.

[13] And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him.

And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

[14] Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and

they came by night, and compassed the city about.

[15] And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth,

behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his

servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

[16] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they

that be with them.

[17] And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he

may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and,

behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about

Elisha.

[18] And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said,

Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with

blindness according to the word of Elisha.

[19] And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the

city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led

them to Samaria.

[20] And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha

said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD

opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of

Samaria.

[21] And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father,

shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

[22] And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those

whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and

water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

[23] And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and

drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of

Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

[24] And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered

all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

[25] And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it,

until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth

part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.

[26] And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a

woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

[27] And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee?

out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

[28] And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This

woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will

eat my son to morrow.

[29] So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next

day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.

[30] And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that

he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked,

and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

[31] Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the

son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

[32] But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king

sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to

the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine

head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at

the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?

[33] And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto

him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for

the LORD any longer?



2 Kings 7



1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord: Tomorrow

about this time a measure [Likely about 12 pounds, or 5.5 kilograms of flour,

and in vv. 16 and 18.] of fine flour will be sold for a shekel,

[About 2/5 ounce, or 12 grams, and in vv. 16 and 18.]

and two measures [Likely about 20 pounds, or 9 kilograms of barley,

and in vv. 16 and 18.]

of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria."

2 (Ge 7:11; 2Ki 5:18) Then an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered

the man of God, "If the Lord were to make windows in heaven,

could this thing happen?"

And he said, "You will see it with your eyes, but you will not eat from it."



The Arameans Flee



3 (Nu 5:2-4; 12:14) There were four leprous men at the entry of the gate,

and they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die?

4 If we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city,

and we shall die there. But if we sit here, we die also.

Now come, let us fall into the camp of the Arameans.

If they spare our lives, we will live, and if they kill us, we will die."

5 So they rose at twilight to enter the camp of the Arameans.

When they came to the edge of the camp of the Arameans,

there was no one there.

6 (2Sa 5:24; 1Ki 10:29) For the Lord had caused the Aramean camp

to hear the sound of chariots, horses, even the sound of a large army,

so that they said to one another, "Listen, the king of Israel has hired

the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to come against us."

7 (Ps 48:4-6; Pr 28:1) So they got up and ran away in the twilight

and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys.

The camp remained just as it was, and they ran for their lives.

8 (Jos 7:21) When these leprous men came to the edge of the camp,

they went into one tent. They ate and drank, carried off silver, gold,

and clothes, and went and hid them. Then they went back, entered

another tent, and carried off things from there and went and hid them.

9 Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right today. This is a day

of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, we will be

found guilty. Let us go now and enter the city and tell the king's household."

10 So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and they told them,

"We came to the camp of the Arameans, and there was no one there.

There was no sound of a man's voice, only horses tied, donkeys tied,

and the tents as they were."

11 Then the gatekeepers called out and told the king's household inside.

12 The king got up in the night and said to his servants, "I will show you

what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are starving,

so they left the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying,

'When they come out of the city,

we will capture them alive and get into the city.' "

13 One of his servants answered, "Let some men take five of the remaining

horses, since those remaining will suffer the fate of the whole multitude

of Israel that have perished already; so let us send them and see."

14 So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them

after the army of the Arameans, saying, "Go and see."

15 So they went after them to the Jordan, and the whole way was full

of clothes and vessels, which the Arameans had thrown away in their haste.

Then the messengers returned and told the king.

16 (2Ki 7:1; Isa 33:4) Then the people went out and looted the camp

of the Arameans. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel,

and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.

17 (2Ki 6:32; 7:2) The king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned

to have charge over the gate, and the people trampled him in the gate,

and he died, just as the man of God had said when the king came down to him.

18 Then the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two seahs of barley

shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this

time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria."

19 (2Ki 7:2) The officer had answered the man of God, "If the Lord should

make windows in heaven, could such a thing happen?" And he had said,

"You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it."

20 So it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate,

and he died.



[1] Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To

morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel,

and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

[2] Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and

said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing

be?

And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat

thereof.

[3] And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and

they

said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

[4] If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city,

and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now

therefore

come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive,

we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

[5] And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians:

and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold,

there was no man there.

[6] For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of

chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they

said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings

of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

[7] Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents,

and

their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their

life.

[8] And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went

into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold,

and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another

tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

[9] Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of

good

tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some

mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the

king's household.

[10] So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told

them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no

man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the

tents as they were.

[11] And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.

[12] And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now

shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry;

therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field,

saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get

into the city.

[13] And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee,

five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they

are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they

are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let

us send and see.

[14] They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the

host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

[15] And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of

garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And

the messengers returned, and told the king.

[16] And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a

measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for

a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

[17] And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the

charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died,

as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

[18] And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying,

Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a

shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:

[19] And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the

LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said,

Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

[20] And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the

gate, and he died.



2 Kings 8



The Shunammite's Land Restored



1 (Ps 105:16; Hag 1:11) Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son

he had restored to life, "Get up and go, you and your household,

and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine,

and it will come on the land for seven years."

2 So the woman got up and did according to the word of the man of God.

She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines

for seven years.

3 At the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land

of the Philistines, and she went forth to appeal to the king for her house

and her field.

4 (2Ki 5:20-27) Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man

of God, saying, "Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done."

5 (2Ki 4:35) As he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body

to life, the woman whose son he had restored to life started appealing

to the king for her house and her land.

Gehazi said, "My lord king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom

Elisha restored to life."

6 When the king questioned the woman, she told him.

So the king appointed to her an official, saying,

"Restore all that was hers and all the proceeds of the field from

the day that she abandoned the land until now.



Ben-Hadad Is Murdered



7 (1Ki 11:24; 2Ki 6:24) Then Elisha came to Damascus while Ben-Hadad

the king of Aram was ill, and he was told,

"The man of God has come here."

8 (1Ki 19:15; 2Ki 1:2) The king said to Hazael, "Take a present with you

and go to meet the man of God. Inquire of the Lord through him, saying,

'Will I recover from this illness?'"

9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, all sorts

of good things from Damascus, forty camel loads.

He came and stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram

has sent me to you, asking, 'Will I recover from this illness?'"

10 And Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, 'You will certainly recover,'

but the Lord has shown me that he will certainly die."

11 (Lk 19:41) Hazael stared at him until he was ashamed.

Then the man of God wept.

12 (2Ki 12:17; 13:3) Hazael said, "Why are you weeping, my lord?"

He said, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel.

You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with

the sword. You will smash their children and rip open their pregnant women."

13 (1Sa 17:43; 1Ki 19:15) Hazael said, "What? Is your servant a dog that

he should do this great thing?"

And Elisha said, "The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram."

14 (2Ki 8:10) Then he left Elisha and went to his master, who said to him,

"What did Elisha say to you?"

And he said, "He told me that you would surely recover."

15 (2Ki 8:13) But the next day he took a blanket, dipped it in water,

and spread it on his face, so that he died. And Hazael reigned in his place.



Jehoram, King of Judah



2Ch 21:5-20



16 (2Ki 1:17; 3:1) In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel,

Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, became king.

17 He was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned 8 years

in Jerusalem.

18 (2Ki 8:26) He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as

the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord.

19 (1Ki 11:36; 2Sa 7:12-13; 7:15) Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy

Judah, for the sake of His servant David, since He promised to give a lamp

to him and his sons perpetually.

20 (1Ki 22:47; 2Ki 3:9) In his days Edom rebelled against the rule of Judah,

and they put a king over themselves.

21 So Jehoram crossed over to Zair, all his chariots with him, and he rose

at night and struck Edom and the captains of their chariots who had

surrounded him. But the people fled to their tents.

22 (Jos 21:13; 2Ki 19:8) So Edom has been in rebellion against the rule

of Judah until this day. Libnah rebelled at the same time.

23 The rest of the deeds of Jehoram and all that he did, are they not written

in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

24 (2Ch 21:1; 21:17) So Jehoram slept with his fathers and was buried

with his fathers in the City of David. Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.



Ahaziah, King of Judah



2 Ch 22:1-6



25 (2Ki 9:29) In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel,

Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, became king.

26 (2Ch 22:2) Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king. He reigned

one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah,

the daughter of Omri, king of Israel.

27 He walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight

of the Lord, as the house of Ahab did, for he was the son-in-law

of the house of Ahab.

28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Aram

at Ramoth Gilead, and the Arameans struck Joram.

29 (2Ki 9:15-16) King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds

which the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought

against Hazael king of Aram.

And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Joram

the son of Ahab in Jezreel because he was ill.



2 Kings 8

[1] 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.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] 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?

[9] So Hazael went to meet him, and took a 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?

[10] And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly

recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

[11] And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and

the man of God wept.

[12] 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.

[13] 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.

[14] 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.

[15] 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.

[16] 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.

[17] Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned

eight years in Jerusalem.

[18] 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.

[19] 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.

[20] In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king

over themselves.

[21] 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 the captains

of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.

[22] Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then

Libnah revolted at the same time.

[23] 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?

[24] 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.

[25] 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.

[26] 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.

[27] And he walked in the way 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.

[28] And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king

of Syria in Ramoth-gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.

[29] 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.