Study Desk

At the time, there was a severe famine in Shomron; and they maintained their siege until a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver and half a pint of doves' dung for five pieces of silver.

While he was still speaking, the messenger arrived with this message from the king: "Here, this evil is from Adonai . Why should I wait for Adonai any longer?"

Elisha answered, "Listen to the word of Adonai . Here is what Adonai says: ‘Tomorrow, by this time, six quarts of fine flour will sell for only a shekel, and half a bushel of barley for a shekel [in the market] at the gate to Shomron."

For Adonai had caused the army of Aram to hear the sound of chariots and horses; it sounded like a huge army; and they said to each other, "The king of Isra'el must have hired the kings of the Hitti and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us."

So they jumped up and fled in the twilight, leaving their tents, horses, donkeys and the whole camp just as it was, and ran for their lives.

Then the people went out and ransacked the camp of Aram — with the result that six quarts of fine flour was sold for only a shekel and half a bushel of barley for a shekel, in keeping with what Adonai had said.

For the man of God had said to the king, "Tomorrow by this time six quarts of barley will sell for only a shekel and half a bushel of fine flour for a shekel [in the market] at the gate of Shomron";

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, "Move away, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; because Adonai has called for a famine; and it will be on the land for seven years."

The woman acted at once and did as the man of God had said — she went with her household and stayed in the land of the P'lishtim for seven years.

Just as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead person to life, at that very moment the woman whose son he had restored to life came to the king with her claim for her house and land. Geichazi said, "My lord, king, this is the woman; and this is her son, the one Elisha restored to life."

Then the man of God fixed his gaze on him for so long that Haza'el became embarrassed; finally Elisha began to cry.

Achazyah was twenty-two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for one year in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was ‘Atalyahu the daughter of ‘Omri king of Isra'el.

He lived after the example of the house of Ach'av; he did what was evil from Adonai 's perspective, as had the house of Ach'av; for he was a son-in-law in the house of Ach'av.

Elisha the prophet summoned one of the guild prophets and said to him, "Prepare for traveling, take this flask of oil in your hand and go to Ramot-Gil‘ad.

When you get there, look for Yehu the son of Y'hoshafat, the son of Nimshi. Enter, have him step away from his companions, and take him to an inside room.

So the young prophet left for Ramot-Gil‘ad.

When he arrived, he found the senior army officers sitting there. He said, "I have a message for you, commander." Yehu asked, "For which one of us?" "For you, commander," he said.

So Yehu, riding in a chariot, went to Yizre‘el, for Yoram was laid up there. Achazyah king of Y'hudah had come down to visit Yoram.

"Pick him up," said Yehu to Bidkar his servant, "and throw him into the field of Navot the Yizre‘eli; for remember how, when you and I were riding together after Ach'av his father, Adonai pronounced this sentence against him:

choose the best and most suitable of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne and fight for your master's dynasty."