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 [prophet's] son said to Elisha, [Look,] 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 & [build] a place there, where we may [live].

[Elisha] answered, You [can] go. [Someone] said, I pray that you are content to go with [us,] your servants. [Elisha] answered, I will go. So, [Elisha] went with them. 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, [So sad, master]! For it was borrowed. The man of God said, Where [did] it [fall]? He showed [Elisha] the place.

[Elisha] cut down a stick & [threw] it in [the water] & the iron [ax head floated]. Therefore, [Elisha] said, [Reach in & get it & he did]. Then, [Syria's] king was [at war] against Israel & [got advice from] his servants, [explaining where his camp would be].

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

Therefore, the heart of [Syria's] king was [very] troubled [about] this & he called his servants & said to them, Will you show me which of us is for the king of Israel? One of his servants said, None, [of us,] my lord, O king.

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

Therefore, [Syria's king] sent horses, chariots & a [large army there] by night & [surrounded] the city. When [Elisha's] servant [rose up] early & went [out] & [he saw the army surrounded] the city by night with both horses & chariots.

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

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

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

It [happened] when they [went] into Samaria, Elisha said, Lord open the eyes of these men, [so] they may see. The Lord opened their eyes & they saw they were in the midst of Samaria.

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

[Put] bread & water before them to eat & drink & go to their master. He prepared [an enormous meal] for them. When they [had] eaten & drunk, he sent them away & they went [back] to their master. So [Syria's] bands didn't [raid] the land of Israel [anymore].

After this, it [happened,] that BenHadad, [Syria's] king, gathered all his [army] & went up & [attacked] Samaria. There was a [severe] famine in Samaria & they [attacked] it, 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.

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

The king said to her, What [troubles] you? 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.

When the king heard the words of this woman, he [tore] his clothes. He passed by on the wall & the people [saw] he had sackcloth [a sign of mourning] [underneath] on his [body].

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

The king sent a man [under] 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, so he can't come in].

Isn't that the sound of his master's feet behind him? While [Elisha still] talked with them, [they heard] the messenger [come] down to him & the king said, [Look, this calamity 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 man of [courage,] but he was a leper. The Syrians had gone out by companies & had brought away [captives] out of Israel & a [small maid who] waited on Namaan's wife.

She said to her mistress, [I wish that my lord, Naaman, would go to the man of God, Elisha,] the prophet in Samaria! For [Elisha] will [heal Naaman] of his leprosy.

[Naaman] went in & told his lord, [the king, what the Israelite maid said.] The king of Syria said, Go & I will send a letter to the king of Israel. [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,] I have sent Naaman, my servant to you, [so] that you may [heal] him of leprosy.

When [Israel's] king read the letter, he [tore] his clothes & said, Am I God, to kill & to make alive & this man sends to me to [heal] a man of his leprosy? I pray that you consider how he [is looking for an argument] with me.

When Elisha, the man of God, heard [Israel's] king [tore] his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, [Why] have you [torn] your clothes? Let [Naaman] come to me, [so] he knows there is a prophet in Israel.

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

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 leprosy].

[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. 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 & dipped himself 7 times in [the] Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God. His flesh [returned] again like the flesh of a little child & he was clean.

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

Therefore, I pray that you take a [gift from] your servant. [Elisha] said, As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I won't receive [any gift]. [Naaman] urged [Elisha] to take it, but he refused.

Naaman said, I pray that you give [me,] your servant [enough dirt from here] for 2 [mules] to carry? For your servant won't offer burnt [offerings or sacrifices to other gods [idols], [from now on,] but [only] to the Lord [God].

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

[Elisha] said, Go in peace & he [left & had gone a little way]. But Gehazi, [Elisha's] servant, [thought, Look,] my master has spared this Syrian, Naaman & didn't receive [anything] he brought.

I will run after [Naaman] & take [something from] him. Gehazi followed Naaman & when Naaman saw [Gehazi] running after him, he [got] down from his chariot to meet him. [Naaman] said, Is all well? [Gehazi] said, All is well.

My master has sent me, saying, [Look,] 2 young men of the [prophet's] sons, from Mount Ephraim are [coming] to me now. I pray that you give them a talent of silver & 2 changes of [clothing]. Naaman said, Be [happy,] take 2 talents [of silver].

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

When [Gehazi] got 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, [Elisha].

Elisha said, [Where were you,] Gehazi? He said, [I,] your servant, [didn't go anywhere]. [Elisha] said to him, [Didn't my heart go with you,] when the man turned from his chariot to meet you?

Is it time to receive money, [clothing,] olive [groves,] vineyards, sheep, oxen & male & female servants? Therefore, [Naaman's] leprosy shall [cling] to you & your [descendants] forever. [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]

One of the wives of the [prophet's] sons cried [out] to Elijah, saying, My husband, your servant, is dead & you know [he] feared [respected] the Lord: The creditor has come to take my 2 sons [into indentured servitude to repay my husband's debt].

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

When you & your sons [have] come [inside,] shut your door & pour oil [into the jugs] & set [aside those that are] full. She [left Elisha & did so] & shut the door with her & her sons [inside, her sons] brought the [jugs] to her & she poured the [oil] out.

It [happened] when the [jugs] were full, she [asked] her son, Bring me [another jug,] but [there were no] more & the oil [ceased]. She told the man of God & [Elisha] said, Go, sell the oil & pay your debt [you owe] & you & your children live [off] the rest.

On a day when Elisha [crossed] to Shunem, there was [an important] woman & she [stopped] him to eat bread. So it was, as [often] as he passed by, he turned in [there] to eat bread.

She said to her husband, [Look,] I [know] 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. Let us put a bed, table, stool & a candlestick there for him, so he [can lodge there] when he comes to us.

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

[Elisha told Gehazi,] 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 the captain of the [army]? She answered, I [live] among [my] own people.

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

[Elisha] said, [About this time next year,] you shall embrace a son. She said, [No,] my lord, man of God, don't lie to [me,] your handmaid. The woman conceived & bore a son, according to [what] Elsiah had said.

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

She went up & laid him on the bed of the man of God & shut the door & went out. She [asked] her husband, I pray that you send me 1 of the young men & a [mule, so] I may [go] to the man of God & [return].

He said, [Why would] you go to him today, [Since it's] neither a new moon or a Sabbath? She said, It shall be [alright]. She saddled [the mule] & said to her servant, Drive [fast & don't slow down] for me [unless] I [ask] you.

She went & came to the man of God [at] Mount Carmel. When [Elisha] saw her [in the distance,] he said to Gehazi, his servant, [Look,] the Shunamite is yonder. I pray that you run to meet her & [ask her,] Is all well with you? Your husband? Your child? She answered, It is well.

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. [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? [Elisha told] Gehazi, [Strap up your belt] on your [waist] & take my staff [like a walking stick, left to him from the prophet, Elijah] & go [on] your way.

If you meet any [men don't] salute them & if they salute you, don't answer them. Lay my staff on the child [when you get there]. The [child's] mother said, As the Lord lives & as your soul lives, I will not leave you & [Elisha] arose & followed her.

Gehazi [went ahead] & laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. [Gehazi] sent to meet [Elisha] & told him, The child [hasn't] awakened.

When Elisha [came] into the house, [he saw that] the child [lying] on his bed was dead. [Elisha] went in [the room] & shut the door on [them] & prayed to the Lord.

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 out upon the child. The flesh of the child [became] warm.

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

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.

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

[Someone] went [out] to the field to gather herbs & found a wild vine. [He] gathered wild gourds until his lap [was] full & [shredded] them into the pot of [stew,] for they weren't [familiar with them].

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

[Elisha] said, Then bring [corn] meal. [Elisha threw] it into the pot & said, Pour [it] out for the people, [so] they may eat. There was no harm in the pot. A man came from Baal Shalisha & brought the man of God 24 loaves  of bread of the first fruits [from his harvest] of barley & full ears of corn in the husks.

[Elisha] said, Give [it] to the people, [so] they may eat. His [servant] said, What, should I set 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 & leave [some]. So he set it before them & they [ate] & left [some of it,] according to the word of the Lord.

 

2 Kings 3:1-27 Three Kings Attack Moab

 

Three Kings Attack Moab

2 Kings 3:1-27                             2 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, in the 18th year Jehoshaphat, [Judah's] king, [ruled,]  Jehoram, [a.k.a. Joram], [Ahab's] son, [ruled] over Israel in Samaria & [ruled] 12 years. [Joram did wickedly,] in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father & mother; for he put away the image of Baal [a false god] that his father had made.

[But Joram still clung] to the sins of Jeroboam, [Nebat's] son, [who] made Israel sin [by worshiping the false gods Jeroboam made for Israel to worship, instead of the Lord God] & he didn't depart from [doing so].

Mesha, [Moab's] king, was a sheep [breeder & he gave] to [Israel's] king, 100,000 lambs & 100,000 rams with the wool. It [happened] when when Ahab was dead, [Moab's] king rebelled against [Israel's] king.

King [Joram] went out of Samaria the same time & [mustered] all Israel. [Joram] went & sent to Jehoshaphat, [Judah's] king, saying, The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go to battle with me against Moab?

[Jehoshaphat] said, I will go up. I am [like] you [are,] my people [like] your people & my horses [like] your horses & [asked,] Which [road] will we go up? [Joram] answered, The [road] through the Wilderness of Edom.

The [kings of:] Israel, Judah & Edom  [got] a compass & [traveled] 7 days & there wasn't [any] water for the [army or] the [livestock] that followed them. The king of Israel said, Alas! [Has] the Lord called these 3 kings together to deliver them into the king of [Moab's] hand!

But Jehoshaphat said, Isn't there a prophet of the Lord, [so] we can [ask] of the Lord by him? One of the king of Israel's servants answered, [There] is Elisha, [Shaphat's] son, [who] poured water on the hands of Elijah.

Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So, Jehoshaphat & [Israel's] king & [Edom's] king went down to [Elisha]. Elisha said to [Israel's] king, What do I have [to] do with you? [Go] to the [false] prophets of your father & mother.

[Israel's] king said to [Elisha, No,] for the Lord [has] called these 3 kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. Elisha said, As the Lord of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, if it weren't that I [respected] Jeshophat so much, I wouldn't [even] look toward you, nor see you.

Now, bring me a musician. It [happened,] when the [musician] played, the hand of the Lord came upon [Elisha]. [Elisha] said, The Lord says [this,] Make this valley full of ditches.

The Lord says [this,] You shall not see wind nor rain, [but still] the valley shall be filled with water, [so] both you & your [livestock] can drink. But this is a [little] thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

You shall [attack] every [fenced] city & the [best cities] & shall [cut down] every good tree & stop [up] all the wells of water & [ruin] every good piece of land, with [rocks].

It [happened] in the morning when the [meat/grain sacrifice] was offered. [Suddenly,] water came [down] by the [roadside] of Edom & the country was filled with water.

When all the Moabites heard the kings [had] come up to fight against them, they gathered all [who] were able to put on armor & [older] & stood [at] the border. They rose up early in the morning, the sun shone upon the water & the Moabites saw the water on the other side & [it looked] red [like] blood.

The [Moabites] said, This is blood. The kings have [killed] one another & are surely [dead]. Therefore, Moab, [Go & get the plunder]. When they came to the [Israelite's] camp, the Israelites rose up & [attacked] the Moabites.

So, the [Moabites] fled [in front of] them. But the [Israelites] went forward, attacking the Moabites. [The Israelites] beat down the cities & each man [threw rocks] on every good piece of land & they stopped [up] all the wells of water & [cut down] all the good trees.

They only left the [rocks in place] in Kir Haraseth. [However the rock] slingers [surrounded Moab & attacked] it. When [Moab's] king saw the battle was too [powerful] against him, he took 700 men & [their] swords with him to break through to the king of Edom, but couldn't.

Then, [Moab's king] took his eldest son [who] should have [ruled] in his [place] & offered him for a burnt sacrifice [a pagan ritual of those who worship false gods,] [at] the wall. The Israelites [were horrified] & [left] & returned to their own land.

2 Kings 2:1-25 Elijah is Taken Up to Heaven in a Whirlwind

 

Elijah is Taken Up to Heaven in a Whirlwind

2 Kings 2:1-25                              2 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

It [happened,] when the Lord [wanted to] take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha, from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, I pray that you [wait] here; for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.

Elisha said to [Elijah,] As the Lord lives & your soul lives, I won't leave you. So, they went down to Bethel. The sons of the prophets in Bethel, came to Elisha & said to him, Don't you know the Lord will take away your master from you today? Elisha said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.

Elijah said to Elisha, I pray that you [wait] here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho. And [Elisha] said, As the Lord lives & your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho.

And the sons of the prophets that were [in] Jericho came & said to Elisha, Don't you know the Lord will take away your master from you today? [Elisha] answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.

And Elijah said to [Elisha] I pray that you [wait] here; for the Lord has sent me to Jordan. And [Elisha] said, As the Lord lives & as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two went on.

And 50 of the sons of the prophets went & stood by [the] Jordan [River] to [watch far away]. And Elijah took his [cloak] & wrapped it together & [struck] the waters & they were [parted to opposite sides,] so the two went [across the Jordan] on dry ground.

When they had [crossed] over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I'm taken away from you. Elisha said, I pray that you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. [Elijah] said, You ask a [difficult] thing: [but] if you see me when I'm taken up from you, it shall be [done].

[But] if you don't see me, it won't be so. It [happened] as they still went on & talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire & horses of fire & [separated] them. And Elijah went up [in] a whirlwind into heaven.

Elisha saw it & cried [out,] My Father, My Father, the chariot of Israel & [its] horses. [Elisha no longer saw Elijah]. [Elisha] took hold of his own clothes & [tore] them in 2 pieces.

[Elisha] took up [Elijah's cloak] that fell from him & went back & stood by the bank of [the] Jordan. [Then, Elisha] took [Elijah's cloak] that fell from him & [struck] the waters & said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah?

When [Elisha struck] the waters, they were parted [to opposite sides] & Elisha went [across]. When the sons of the prophets of Jericho, who were watching, saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah [rests] on Elisha.

They came to [greet Elisha] & bowed to the ground [in front of] him & said, [Look,] there are 50 strong men, with [us,] your servants. We pray that you let them go [search] for your master [in case] the Spirit of the Lord took him up & [threw him] upon some mountain or into some valley.

[Elisha,] said, You shall not send [them]. When they urged [Elisha' until he was ashamed, he said, Send [them]. They searched for 3 days, but didn't [find Elijah]. [Elisha waited] in Jericho & when they [returned, Elisha] said to them, Didn't I [tell you not to go]?

The men of the city said to Elisha, I pray that you [see] the [this pleasant] city is [well situated], as my lord sees; but the water is [bad] & the ground is barren [& can't grow crops]. [Elisha] said, Pult salt [in it].

They brought [salt] to him & Elisha went to the spring & [threw] salt in there & said, The Lord says [this,] I have healed these waters & there shall no [longer] be any death or barren land. So, the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha [that] he spoke.

[Elisha] went up from [there] into Bethel. As he was going by the [road, youths] came out of the city & mocked [harassed] him & said to [Elisha,] Go up, you bald [headed man;] go up, you bald [man].

[Elisha] turned back & looked [at] them & cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came [out] of the [woods,] 2 [mother] bears & [tore] 42 [of the] children. [Elisha] went from [there] to Mount Carmel & from [there] he returned to Samaria.