Study Desk

Elisha said to him, "Did I not go with you in spirit when the man turned from his war-wagon to meet you? Was it a time to receive money and clothes and olive fields and grape-fields and sheep and cattle and men servants and women servants?

He said, "Pick it up." So his servant put out his hand and took it.

Now the king of Syria was fighting a war against Israel. He had a meeting with his servants, and said, "This is the place where I will be staying."

The heart of the king of Syria was angry because of this. He called his servants and said to them, "Will you show me which one of us is helping the king of Israel?"

And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king. Elisha, the man of God who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you say in your bedroom."

Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, I pray, open his eyes, that he may see." And the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw. He saw that the mountain was full of horses and war-wagons of fire all around Elisha.

After this, Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army and went up against Samaria.

When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. He was passing by on the wall, and the people looked. They saw that he wore cloth made from hair under his clothes.

Now Elisha was sitting in his house. And the leaders were sitting with him. The king sent a man, but before the man came to him, Elisha said to the leaders, "Do you see how this son of a killer has sent to take off my head? See, when the king's man comes, shut the door. Hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his owner's feet behind him?"

The king got up in the night and said to his servants, "I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. So they have left the tents to hide themselves in the field. They are saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and get into the city.'"

One of his servants said, "Let some men take five of the horses that are left. Those who are left in the city are not doing better than all those who have died. So let us send men out to see."

Then he left Elisha and returned to his owner. Ben-hadad said to him, "What did Elisha tell you?" And Hazael answered, "He told me that you will get better for sure."

But the next day Hazael took the bed covering and put it in water. Then he spread it on Ben-hadad's face so that he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as those of Ahab's house had done. Ahab's daughter became his wife. He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord.

But the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, because of His servant David. The Lord had promised to give David one to rule through his sons always.

In his days Edom turned against the rule of Judah and chose a king of their own.

Then Joram crossed over to Zair, with all his war-wagons. He and his war-wagon captains got up during the night and fought against the Edomites who had gathered around them. But his army ran away to their tents.

Then Joram died and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaziah became king in his place.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

When you get there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi. Go in and have him come away from his brothers. Bring him into a room in the house.