2 Kings 6:1-33 The Lord Blinds the Attacking Army at Elisha's Request

 

The Lord Blinds the Attacking Army at Elisha's Request

2 Kings 6:1-33                              2 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

The [prophets'] sons said to Elisha, [Look] now, the place where we [live] with you is too [small] for us. We pray [that] you let us go to Jordan, & every man take a beam [there,] & let us [build] a place there, where we may [live.]

And [Elisha] answered, You [can] go. And [someone] said, I pray [that] you are content to go with [us,] your servants. And [Elisha] answered, I will go. So, [Elisha] went with them. And when they came to [the] Jordan [River,] they cut down wood.

But as [someone] was [cutting] a beam, the [iron] [ax] head fell into the water; & he cried [out,] & said, Alas, master! For it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where [did] it [fall?] And he showed [Elisha] the place. And [Elisha] cut down a stick, & [threw] it in [the water,] & the iron [ax head] [floated.] Therefore, [Elisha] said, You, [pick] it up. And he put out his hand, & took [the iron as head.

Then, [Syria's] king [was at] [war] against Israel, & [got advice from] his servants, saying, My camp [is] in [this] place.

And the man of God sent to [Israel's] king, saying, Beware that you [don't] pass [through] [that] place, for the Syrians [have] come down [there.] And [Israel's] king sent to the place [where] the man of God [had] told him & warned [the king about,] & saved himself  there [more than] twice.

Therefore, the heart of [Syria's] king was [severely] troubled [because of] this thing. And he called his servants, & said to them, [Won’t] you [declare to] me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, [of us,] my lord, O king.

But Elisha, the prophet, [who] is in Israel, [tells Israel's] king the words that you [speak] [privately] in your [bedroom.] And [Syria's king] said, Go spy where [Elisha] is, [so] that I may send [you,] & [return with] him. And [Syria's king] was told, [Look, Elisha] is in Dothan.

Therefore, [Syria's king] sent [there:] horses, chariots, & a [large army,] & they came [there] by night, & [surrounded all around] the city. And when [Elisha's] servant [rose up] early, & [went out,] [he] [saw, an army surrounded] the city, with both horses & chariots.

And his servant said to [Elisha, So sad,] my master! [What] shall we do? And [Elisha] answered, [Don't be] [fearful:] for [there] are more that [are] with us, than [those who are] with them. And Elisha prayed, & said, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes, [so] he may see.

And the Lord [God] opened the eyes of the young man, & he saw: the mountain was full of: horses & chariots of fire [all around] Elisha. And when [the enemy] came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, & said, I pray You [strike these] people with blindness.

And [the Lord struck] them with blindness, according to the [words] of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, This isn't the [road, & neither] is this the city. Follow me, & I will [take] you to the man whom you seek, [a.k.a. look for,] but [Elisha] led them to Samaria.

And it [happened,] when they [came] into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, [so] they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, & they saw, & [became aware,] they were in the midst of Samaria.

And [Israel's] king said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I [kill] them? Shall I [kill] them? And [Elisha] answered, You [shall] not [kill] them. [Would] you [have] [killed] those whom you [had] taken captive, with your sword & with your bow?

[Put] bread & water [in front of] them, [so] that they may eat & drink, & go to their master. And he prepared [an enormous meal] for them. And when they had eaten & drunk, he sent them away, & they went [back] to their master. So [Syria's] bands of [raiders,] no [longer] came into the land of Israel.

And after this, it [happened,] that BenHadad, [Syria's] king, gathered all his [army,] & went up & [surrounded, & cut off] Samaria. There was a [severe] famine in Samaria, & [look] they [cut] it [off from getting supplies,] until a [mule's] head sold for 80 pieces of silver, & 1/4 of a [piece] of dove's [feces] [sold] for 5 pieces of silver.

And as [Israel's] king was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried [out] to him there, saying, Help [me,] my lord, O king. And [the king] said, If the Lord [doesn't] help you, [how] shall I help you? Out of the barn floor floor, or out of the wine press?

And the king said to her, What [troubles] you? And she answered, This woman said to me, Give [me] your son, [so] we may eat him today, & we will eat my son tomorrow. So, we boiled my son, & [ate] him, & I said to her the next day, Give [me] your son, [so] we may eat him, & she has [hidden] her son.

And it [happened,] when the king heard the words of this woman, he [tore] his clothes. And he passed by upon the wall, & the people looked, & [saw,] he had sackcloth upon his [skin.] [Genesis 37:34 And Jacob [tore] his clothes, & put sackcloth upon his [waist,] & mourned for his son many days.]

Then, [the king] said, If the head of Elisha, [Shaphat's] son, shall [stay] on him this day, God [should] do [the same] to me, & also more. But Elisha sat in his house, [with] the elders.

And [the] king sent a man from [in front of] him, but [before] the messenger came to him, [Elisha] said to the elders, See how this son of a murderer [has] sent to [remove my] head? Look, when the messenger [comes,] shut the door, & hold the door [tight.]

Isn't [that] the sound of his master's feet [following] behind him? And while [Elisha still] talked with them, [they became] [aware,] the messenger [had] [come] down to him, & he, [the master, who followed the messenger,] said, [Look, this calamity, [a.k.a. famine,] is [from] the Lord; [Why] should I wait any longer for the Lord?

2 Kings 5:1-27 God Allows Elisha to Heal a Leper

 

God Allows Elisha to Heal a Leper

2 Kings 5:1-27                              2 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, Naaman, [the] captain of the king of Syria's [army,] was [an important] man with his master. [He] was [honorable,] because [through Naaman,] the Lord had given deliverance to Syria.

Also, [Naaman] was a mighty man of [valor, a.k.a. bravery,] but he was a leper. The Syrians had gone out by companies, & had brought away captive; a [short] maid, out of the land of Israel, & she waited on Namaan's wife.

And she said to her mistress, Would [that] God, & my lord were with the prophet, [who] is in Samaria! For [Elisha] would [heal Naaman] of his leprosy.

And [someone] went in, & told his lord, saying, [This is what] the maid, [who] is [from] the land of Israel said. The king of Syria said, Go to [him.] Go, & I will send a letter to the king of Israel. And [Naaman left,] & took 10 talents of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, & 10 changes of [clothing] with him.

[Naaman] brought the letter to [Israel's] king, [that said,] Now when this letter [comes] to you, [see, with this,] I have sent Naaman, my servant, to you, [so] that you [may heal] him of his leprosy.

And it [happened,] when [Israel's] king had read the letter, he [tore] his clothes, & said, Am I God, to kill & to make alive, that this man [sends] to me to [heal] a man of his leprosy? [For this reason,] I pray [that] you, consider, & see how he [seeks] [to have] a quarrel against me.

And it [happened,] when Elisha, the man of God, heard that [Israel's] king had [torn] his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, [For what reason have] you [torn] your clothes? Let [Naaman] come to me now, & he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

So, Naaman came with his horses & chariot, & stood at the door of [Elisha's] house. And Elisha sent a messenger to [Naaman,] saying, Go, & wash in [the] Jordan [River] 7 times, & your flesh shall [return,] & you [shall] be clean.

But Naaman was [angry,] & went away, & said, [Look,] I thought [Elisha would] surely come out to me, & stand, & call on the Name of the Lord, his God, & [wave] his hand over the place, & [heal] [my being a] leper.]

Aren't [the] Abana, & Pharpar, Rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? [Can't] I wash in them, & be clean? So, he went away in a rage. And his servants came near, & [spoke] to him, & said, My father, [Naaman,] if the prophet had [asked] you to do some [big] thing, [wouldn't] you have done it?

How much [more] then, when he [says] to you, Wash, & be clean? Then [Naaman] went down, & dipped himself 7 times in [the] Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God. And his flesh [returned] again [similar to] the flesh of a little child, & he was clean.

And [Naaman] & all his company returned to the man of God, & came, & stood [in front of Elisha,] & [Naaman] said, [Look,] now I know there is no [other] God in all the earth, but [only the Lord God,] in Israel.

Therefore, I pray [that] you now take a blessing, [a.k.a. gift, from] your servant. But [Elisha] said, As the Lord [Lives,] before Whom I stand, I [won't] receive [any gift.] And [Naaman] urged [Elisha] to take it, but he refused.

And Naaman said, I pray [that] you [reconsider.] [Shouldn't] there be given to your servant [enough dirt for] 2 [mules to carry?] For [I,] your servant [won't] offer burnt [offerings,] nor [sacrifices] to other gods [from now on,] but [only] to the Lord [God.]

[I want] the Lord to pardon [me,] your servant, in this thing, that when my master [goes] into the house of Rimmon to worship there, & he [leans] on my hand, [a.k.a. arm,] & when I bow myself [down] in the house of Rimmon, the Lord [God] [pardons] [me,] your servant, in this thing.

And [Elisha] said, Go in peace. So, [Naaman left] [& had gone] a little way from him. But Gehazi, [Elisha's] servant said [within himself,] [Look,] my master [has] spared this Syrian, Naaman, [by] not receiving [from] his hands, [what] he brought.

But as the Lord [Lives,] I will run after [Naaman,] & take [something from] him. So, Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw [Gehazi] running after him, he [got] down from the chariot to meet him. [Naaman] said, Is all well?

And [Gehazi] said, All is well. My master [has] sent me, saying, [Look,] even now, there [are] 2 young men of the [prophets'] sons, [who are] [coming] to me  from Mount Ephraim. I pray [that] you give them a talent of silver, & 2 changes of [clothing.] And Naaman said, Be content, [a.k.a. satisfied,] & take 2 talents [of silver.]

And [Naaman] urged [Gehazi] [to take them,] & [tied] [up] 2 talents of silver in 2 bags, with 2 changes of [clothing,] & laid them upon 2 of his servants; & they [carried] them [in front of Gehazi.]

And when [Gehazi] came to the tower, he took them from their [hands, & [stored them away] in the house, & he let the men go, & they [left.] But Gehazi went in, & stood [in front of] his master, [a.k.a. Elisha.]

And Elisha said to him, [From] [where] [do] you [come,] Gehazi? And  he said, [I,] your servant, went no [where.] And [Elisha] said to him, [Didn't] [my] heart [go] with you, when the man turned [back] again from his chariot to meet you?

Is it a time to receive: money, [clothing,] [olive groves,] vineyards, sheep, oxen & [male & female servants?] Therefore, [Naaman's] leprosy shall [cling] to you, & to your seed, [a.k.a. descendants,] forever. And [Gehazi] went out from [Elisha's] presence, a leper, white as snow.

2 Kings 4:1-49 The Lord Saves the Widow's 2 Sons Through Elijah

The Lord Saves the Widow's 2 Sons Through Elijah

2 Kings 4:1-49                              2 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, [one] of the wives of the [prophets'] sons cried [out] to Elijah, saying, My husband, your servant, is dead; & you [know] that [he,] your servant [feared, a.k.a. respected,] the Lord: And the creditor [has] come to take [with] him, my 2 sons to be bondmen, [a.k.a. indentured servitude to repay debts.]

And Elisha [asked] her, What shall I do for you? Tell me, what [do] you [have] in the house? And she said, Your handmaid [has nothing] in the house, [except for] a pot of oil. Then, [Elisha] said, Go, [all around,] & borrow [lots] of empty vessels, [a.k.a. containers or jugs,] from your [neighbors.]

And when you & your sons [have] come [inside,] you [shall] shut the door [after] you & your sons, & [shall] pour out [the pot of oil,] into all those [containers,] & you [shall] set aside [those that are] full. So, she went from [Elisha,] & shut the door [after] her, & her sons, who [had] brought the [containers] to her; & she poured [the pot of oil] out.

And it [happened,] when the [containers] were full, that she [asked] her son, Bring me [another container.] And he said to her, There isn’t [even 1] more [container,] & the oil [ceased.] Then, she came & told the man of God. And [Elisha] said, Go, sell the oil, & pay your debt, & you & your children live [off] of the rest.

And it [happened] on a day, that Elisha [crossed] to Shunem, where [there] was [an important] woman; & she [compelled] him to eat bread. And so it was, that as [often] as he passed by, [Elisha] turned in [there] to eat bread.

And she said to her husband, [Look,] I now [know] that this is [a] holy man of God, [who continues to pass] by us. I pray [that] you, let us make him a little [room] on the wall. And let us [put:] a bed, table, stool, & a candlestick there for him, so he shall turn in [there,] when he [comes to us.

And it [happened] on a day, that [Elisha] came [there,] & he turned into the [bedroom,] & lay there. And [Elisha] said to Gehazi, his servant, Call [the] Shunammite [woman,] & when he had called her, she stood [in front of] him.

And [Elisha told] Gehazi, his servant, Now say to her, [Look,] you [have taken great care of] us, what [can] be done for you? [Would] you [like us to] [speak] to the king, or to the captain of the [army] for [you?] And she answered, I [live] among [my] own people.

And [Elisha asked,] Then what is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, [Truly,] she [doesn't] [have a] child, & her husband is old. And [Elisha] said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the [doorway.]

And [Elisha] said, [About this season, [a.k.a. time,] [next year,] you [shall] embrace a son, according to the time [a] life [is born.] And she said, [No,] my lord, you man of God, don't lie to [me,] your handmaid. And the woman conceived, & [bore] a son at that [time,] according to [what] Elsiah had said to her.

And when the child was grown, [he] fell on a day, that he went out to his father, [who was with] the reapers. And he said to his father, My head, my head. And [his father] said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, & brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees [until] noon, & then died.

And she went up, & laid him on the bed of the man of God, & shut the door, & went out. And she called to her husband, I pray [that] you send me 1 of the young men, & 1 [mule, so] I may run to the man of God, & [return] again.

And he said, [For what reason will] you go to him today? [Since] it's neither [a:] New Moon, nor [a] Sabbath? And she said, It shall be [alright.] Then, she saddled [the mule,] & said to her servant, Drive, & go [fast & don't slow down] for me, [unless] I [ask] you.

So, she went & came to the man of God, [at] Mount Carmel. And it [happened,] when [Elisha] saw her [in the distance,] that he said to Gehazi, his servant, [Look,] the Shunammite is yonder. I pray [that] you run now to meet her, & [ask] her, Is [all] well with you? Is [all] well with your husband? Is [all] well with the child? And she answered, It is well.

And when she came to the hill, to the man of God, she caught [Elisha] by the feet, but Gehazi came [close] to [push] her away. And [Elisha] said, [Leave] her alone; for her soul is [troubled] within her, & the Lord [has hidden] it from me, & [hasn't] told me.

Then, she said, Did I [request] a son [from] [you,] my lord? Didn't I say, Don't deceive me? Then, [Elisha told] Gehazi, [Strap] up [your belt on] your [waist,] & take my staff in your hand, & go [on] your way.

If you meet any man, [don't] salute him, & if [anyone salutes] you, [don't] answer him [in return.] And lay my staff upon the face of the child. And the [child's] mother said, As the Lord [Lives,] & as your soul [lives,] I will not leave you. And [Elisha] arose, & followed her.

And Gehazi [went on ahead of] them, & laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. [For this reason, Gehazi] went again to meet [Elisha,] & told him, saying, The child [hasn't awakened.]

And when Elisha [came] into the house, [he] [saw] the child [lying] on his bed was dead. Therefore, [Elisha] went in [the room,] & shut the door upon the [2 of them,] & prayed to the Lord.

And [Elisha] went up, & lay upon the child, & put his mouth upon [the child's] mouth, & his eyes upon [the child's] eyes, & his hands upon [the child's] hands, & stretched himself [out] upon the child. And the flesh of the child [grew] warm.

Then, [Elisha] returned, & walked [back & forth] in the house. And [Elisha] went up, & stretched] himself upon [the child,] & the child sneezed 7 times, & opened his eyes. And [Elisha told] Gehazi, Call the Shunammite [woman.]

So, he called her. And when she [came] to [Elisha,] he said, [Pick] up your son. Then, she went in, & fell at [Elisha's] feet, & bowed herself to the ground, & [picked] up her son, & went out.

And Elisha [went] again to Gilgal, & there was a [famine] in the land; & the sons of the prophets were sitting [in front of] him. And [Elisha] said to his servant, [put] the [large] pot on, & [boil stew] for the [prophets'] sons.

And [someone] went out into the field to gather herbs, & found a wild vine. And [he] gathered wild gourds [from it, until] his lap [was] full, & came, & [shredded] them into the pot of [stew,] for they [didn't know] them, [a.k.a. what they were.]

So, they poured out [the stew] for the men to eat. And it [happened,] as they were eating the [stew,] they cried out, O you man of God, there is death in the pot. And they couldn't eat [of it.]

But [Elisha] said, Then, bring meal, [a.k.a. flour or cornmeal.] And [Elisha threw] it into the pot; & he said, Pour [it] out for the people, [so] they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. And a man came there from Baal Shalisha, & brought the man of God [from] the first fruits [of his harvest,] 24 loaves of barley [bread, ] & full ears of corn in [its husks.]

And [Elisha] said, Give [it] to the people, [so] they may eat. And his [servant] said, What, should I [put] this before [these] 100 men? [Elisha] said again, Give [it to] the people, [so] they may eat.

For the Lord [says this,] They shall eat, & shall leave [some of it.] So, he set it before them, & they [ate,] & left [some of it,] according to the Word of the Lord.