Elisha succeedeth Elijah. BEFORE CHRIST 896. i ch. 13. 14. 2 Heb. lip. kver. 8. I ver. 7. 8 Heb.sons of strength. m See 1 Kings 18. 12. Ezek. 8.3. Acts 8. 39. 4 Heb. one of the mountains. 5 Heb. causing to miscarry. n See Ex. 15. 25. ch. 4. 41. & 6.6. John 9. 6. II. KINGS, III. 12 ¶ 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. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the 2 bank of Jordan; 14 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. 15 And when the 1 k 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. 17 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. 18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not? 19 ¶ And themen 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. 5 20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. 21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. 22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake. 23 ¶ And he went up from thence unto 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. Jehoram's reign. 24 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. 25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria. CHAPTER III. Jehoram's reign. 4 Mesha rebelleth. 6 Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water, by Elisha obtaineth water, and promise of victory. 21 The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome. 26 The king of Moab, by sacrificing the king of Edom's son, raiseth the siege. NOW а BEFORE CHRIST 896. 896. OW a Jehoram the son of Ahabach. 1. 17. began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 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 Heb. had made. с 3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. statue. b 1 Kings 16.31, 32. 1 Kings 12. 28, 31, 32. Elisha obtaineth water. BEFORE CHRIST 895. hch. 2. 25. II. KINGS, IV. 13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, 'What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and 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. 14 And Elisha said, TM As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. m 15 But now bring me "a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minEzek. 1.3. strel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. & 3. 14, 22. & 8. L. pch. 4.8. 2 Heb. grieve 40. 16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, P Make this valley full of ditches. 17 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. 18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and 2mar every good piece of land with stones. 20 And it came to pass in the Ex. 29. 39, morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. 8 Heb. were cried together. 3 21 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, 4 Heb. gird and upward, and stood in the border. 22 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: himself with a girdle. 5 Heb. destroyed. 23 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up 2 Or, in it even smiting. 25 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 the stones went about it, and smote it. 3 26 ¶ 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. until he left thereof Amos 2.1. 27 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 t ch. 8.20. departed from him, and returned to their own land. man of the wives of a the sons 1 Kings 20.35. 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 bSee Lev. sons to be bondmen. 2 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. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; c4 borrow not a few. 25.39. • See ch. 3. 16. 4 Or, 4 And when thou art come in, scant not. 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. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7 Then she came and told the 24 And when they came to the man of God. And he said, Go, sell Elisha raiseth the BEFORE CHRIST 895. 2 Or creditor. 8 Heb. there was a day. d Josh. 19. 18. 4 Heb. laid hold on him. • Gen. 18.10, 14. 5 Heb. set time. f ver. 28. II. KINGS, IV. the oil, and pay thy 2 debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. 8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed 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. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10 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. 11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 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. 14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. 15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 5 16 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. 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. 18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, Shunammite's son. one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. 25 So she went and came unto the man of God 5 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 Shunammite: 26 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. 27 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 vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Doh ver. 16. not deceive me? 46. ch.9.1. 29 Then he said to Gehazi, 'Gird 1 Kings 18. 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 salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30 And the mother of the child said, mAs the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31 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. 32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. Luke 10.4. See Ex. 7. 19. & 14. 16. ch. 2. 8, 14. Acts 19.12. m ch. 2. 2. Heb. attention. n John 11. 11. in the house to and fro; and went 36 And he called Gehazi, and said, 1 Kings17. Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy 21. ch. 8.1, 5. Heb. 11.35. cir. 891. a ch. 2. 1. x ch. 8. 1. 3 ch. 2. 3. Luke 10.39. Acts 22.8. went out. : y 38 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 seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39 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. 40 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 Ex. 10. 17. God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. A See 3 Heb. evil b1 Sam.9.4. •1 Sam.9.7. 1 Cor. 9. 11. Gal. 6. 6. 4 Or, in his scrip, or, garment. d Luke 9.13. John 6. 9. 41 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. 42 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. 43 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 Lake 9.17. the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. John 6. 11. 44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, acJohn 6. 13. cording to the word of the LORD. f Matt. 14. 20. & 15. 37. Naaman sent to Samaria. LORD had given 2 deliverance unto BEFORE CHRIST cir. 894 2 Or, 2 And the Syrians had gone out by victory. companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on 3 Heb. was before. Naaman's wife. before. 3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the Heb. prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 4 And one went in, and told his gather in. 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 a 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 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 Nhost of the king of Syria, was and went away in a rage. 67 a great man with his master, and 13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My Naaman cured of his leprosy. BEFORE CHRIST cir. 894. II. KINGS, VI. him. Gehazi smitten with leprosy. father, if the prophet had bid thee servants; and they bare them before 14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of Job 33. 25. God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and 8 Luke 4.27. 5 he was clean. Dan. 2.47. & 3. 29. 1 Gen.33.11. k ch. 3. 14. 1 Gen.14.23. See 20. m ch. 7.2, 17. 8 Heb. 8 Heb. Is there peace! 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 the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. i 16 But he said, As the LORD 18 In this thing the LORD pardon 19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him 2 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? 3 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 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. BEFORE CHRIST cir. 894. 2 Or, secret place. 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 Heb. not 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. CHAPTER VI. 1 Elisha, giving leave to the young prophets to A ND 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. hither or thither. 1Tim.6.10. Ex. 4.6. Num. 12.10. ch. 15. 5. cir. 893. A eh. 4. 38. 5 But as one was felling a beam, the 'axe head fell into the water: and Heb. iron. 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, bch. 2.21 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 5. Or, encumping. |