American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
2 Kings 8
1
Then spoke Elisha to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn: for the LORD has called for a famine; and it shall also come on the land seven years.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 105:16
Ruth 1:1
Haggai 1:11
Genesis 12:10
2 Kings 4:18
Luke 4:25
1 Kings 18:2
Leviticus 26:26
References Lord
1 Kings 17:1
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 to 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 you, all the great things that Elisha has 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Kings 4:35
6
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to 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.
Reference
Kingdom
Proverbs 21:1
1 Chronicles 28:1
Judges 11:13
Parallel theme
Proverbs 16:7
2 Samuel 9:7
2 Kings 9:32
Genesis 37:36
Deuteronomy 22:2
7
And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come here.
Reference
8
And the king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
Reference
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, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
10
And Elisha said to him, Go, say to him, You may certainly recover: however, the LORD has showed me that he shall surely die.
11
And he settled his countenance steadfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
Reference
12
And Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strong holds will you set on fire, and their young men will you slay with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
Reference
Parallel theme
Nahum 3:10
2 Kings 12:17
2 Kings 15:16
Isaiah 13:16
2 Kings 13:7
Isaiah 13:18
Hosea 10:14
References Lord
2 Kings 13:3
Amos 1:13
Word
Hosea 13:16
13
And Hazael said, But what, is your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD has showed me that you shall be king over Syria.
Reference
Kingdom
1 Kings 19:15
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 17:43
2 Samuel 9:8
Psalm 22:20
Psalm 22:16
Matthew 7:6
Micah 2:1
References Lord
2 Kings 8:10
14
So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to you? And he answered, He told me that you should surely recover.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Kings 8:10
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.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Kings 8:13
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 Je hoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.
Reference
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.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Kings 8:26
19
Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him always a light, and to his children.
Reference
20
In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
Reference
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.
📍 Zair
22
Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
Reference
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.
Reference
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.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Kings 9:29
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.
Reference
People
Kingdom
2 Chronicles 22:2
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 Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Chronicles 22:5
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.
📍 Ramah 5
Summary of 2 Kings 8
This chapter combines personal restoration, prophetic revelation, and political change to show God's control over both individual lives and the affairs of nations. The chapter begins with the return of the Shunammite woman, whose story connects back to Elisha's earlier miracles.
Elisha warns the woman of a coming seven-year famine, allowing her to leave Israel and protect her family. After the famine ends, she returns and appeals to the king for the restoration of her property. At the exact moment she arrives, Gehazi is telling the king about Elisha's miracle of raising her son. The king recognizes the truth of her story and orders that everything she lost be restored. This event shows God's providence and His ability to arrange circumstances beyond human planning.
The chapter then shifts to the international scene involving Aram. King Ben-hadad of Aram becomes sick and sends Hazael to ask Elisha whether he will recover. Elisha reveals that Ben-hadad will die and that Hazael will become king. The prophet also reveals that Hazael will bring suffering upon Israel. Hazael later murders Ben-hadad and takes the throne, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy.
The chapter then returns to Judah, where Jehoram becomes king. Influenced by Ahab's family through marriage, Jehoram follows the sinful practices of Israel rather than the faithfulness of his father. Although Judah suffers because of his leadership, God preserves the kingdom because of His covenant with David.
Jehoram's reign is followed by Ahaziah, who continues the alliance with Ahab's family and joins Israel's king Joram in battle against Aram. His close relationship with Israel's corrupt royal family leads him into the same spiritual failures.
Overall, the chapter reveals that God's plans continue despite human weakness, political ambition, and national rebellion. God protects His promises, fulfills His prophetic word, and remains sovereign over kings and kingdoms.
Elisha warns the woman of a coming seven-year famine, allowing her to leave Israel and protect her family. After the famine ends, she returns and appeals to the king for the restoration of her property. At the exact moment she arrives, Gehazi is telling the king about Elisha's miracle of raising her son. The king recognizes the truth of her story and orders that everything she lost be restored. This event shows God's providence and His ability to arrange circumstances beyond human planning.
The chapter then shifts to the international scene involving Aram. King Ben-hadad of Aram becomes sick and sends Hazael to ask Elisha whether he will recover. Elisha reveals that Ben-hadad will die and that Hazael will become king. The prophet also reveals that Hazael will bring suffering upon Israel. Hazael later murders Ben-hadad and takes the throne, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy.
The chapter then returns to Judah, where Jehoram becomes king. Influenced by Ahab's family through marriage, Jehoram follows the sinful practices of Israel rather than the faithfulness of his father. Although Judah suffers because of his leadership, God preserves the kingdom because of His covenant with David.
Jehoram's reign is followed by Ahaziah, who continues the alliance with Ahab's family and joins Israel's king Joram in battle against Aram. His close relationship with Israel's corrupt royal family leads him into the same spiritual failures.
Overall, the chapter reveals that God's plans continue despite human weakness, political ambition, and national rebellion. God protects His promises, fulfills His prophetic word, and remains sovereign over kings and kingdoms.