Year 1, Week 52, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 52, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Kings 8.

Today’s reading continues with an emphasis upon the prophet Elisha. Today’s reading, along with yesterday’s reading, provides a good portrait of conditions in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during this era of Elisha’s ministry. On the one hand, 2 Kings 8 notes the reign of two of the kings from the Southern Kingdom of Judah (2 Chronicles 21-22 provide parallel historical information): Jehoram (who is also known as Joram, but not to be confused with Joram, son of Ahab and a king of Israel) and his son Ahaziah. Both kings had ties to Ahab, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, as Jehoram was married to Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, and Ahaziah, was a son of Jehoram and Athaliah. Each king was described as evil: “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 8:18); and: “He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab” (2 Kings 8:27). But on the other hand, 2 Kings 8 reports on the ministry of Elisha as he was sought out by the king of Syria: “Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick…the king said to Hazael, “… go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?” (2 Kings 8:7-8).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is that even though Judah and Israel are under the chastening Hand of the LORD, the LORD shows loving care for His people: “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.” (2 Kings 8:5b-6). These words and actions pertain to the Shunammite woman, who was introduced to us previously: “One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there” (2 Kings 4:8-10). This lady had supported Elisha’s ministry; and Elisha had done much for her by way of praying that she would have a son, and then once she had a son, raising that son from the dead. Elisha had previously warned the Shunammite women of a coming famine and advised her to leave Israel: “So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years” (2 Kings 8:2). But she returned to find her land taken from her: “And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land” (2 Kings 8:3).

About the time that the Shunammite woman was coming back to Israel and seeking possession of her land, the king (presumably Jehoram) was inquiring of Elisha’s servant as to the activities of Elisha: “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” (2 Kings 8:4). The timing was just right: “And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life” (2 Kings 8:5). As Elisha’s servant was telling the king about what Elisha had done for the Shunammite woman and her son, the Shunammite woman walks in to speak with the king about her property loss. The king must have been impressed, not only with all that Elisha had been doing, but also the timing of the Shunammite woman’s entrance to see the king: “And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now” (2 Kings 8:6). The LORD’s care for this Shunammite woman (remember, we still don’t know her name), was exceptional.

Why the LORD was providentially watching over His people, He was also implementing additional pieces for the carrying out of His judgment. Today’s reading notes Elisha’s trip to Damascus, where the Syrian King sends his servant, Hazael, to inquire as to the outcome of his illness: “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?” (2 Kings 8:8). Elisha informs Hazael that Ben-hadad would not die from his illness, however, Elisha did declare what Hazael would do to the king: “The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Syria” (2 Kings 8:13b). Hazael would kill the king, for, as Elijah had prophesied, Hazael was an instrument of reckoning: “And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death” (1 Kings 19:17). The LORD was implementing what He had earlier spoken through Elijah. 

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe