THE SHUNAMMITE, NOW A WIDOW, HAS HER LAND RESTORED TO HER BY THE KING OF ISRAEL (2 KINGS 8:1). The prophetic author has two purposes in this incident. Firstly to emphasis the miraculous powers of Elisha, and secondly to bring out that YHWH watches over those who are faithful to Him. The incident in... [ Continue Reading ]
BENHADAD OF ARAM, THROUGH HIS SERVANT HAZAEL, SEEKS ELISHA'S ASSURANCE THAT HIS ILLNESS IS NOT FATAL, BUT ELISHA DISCERNS DARK DEEDS AHEAD AT THE HANDS OF HAZAEL (2 KINGS 8:7). This incident presumably occurred during a period of peace between Aram and Israel. On hearing that Elisha had paid a visit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF JEHORAM, KING OF JUDAH (2 KINGS 8:16). C. 848-841 BC CO-REGENT WITH JEHOSHAPHAT FROM 853 BC. During the time that Jehoram of Judah was on the throne of Judah, Jehoram of Israel (see 2 Kings 3:1) was on the throne of Israel, which can tend to result in confusion. It is true that in 2 Kin... [ Continue Reading ]
AN INITIAL SUMMARY OF THE REIGN OF AHAZIAH KING OF JUDAH (2 KINGS 8:25). C. 841 BC. Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram of Judah, would only reign for a few months before he was killed by Jehu during the latter's rebellion against Jehoram of Israel. Nevertheless during that short reign he continued in his... [ Continue Reading ]
AHAZIAH UNWITTINGLY BECOMES INVOLVED WITH THE PROBLEMS OF JEHORAM, KING OF ISRAEL AND THE REBELLION OF JEHU (2KI 8:28; 2 KINGS 9:14 A). Once he had come to the throne Ahaziah and Judah joined in an alliance with Jehoram and Israel against Aram, and it was during one of the battles that ensued that... [ Continue Reading ]