Elisha tells the woman whose son he had restored back to life, 2 Kings 4:8-37, to go away for a while because God had declared a famine that will land seven years, 2 Kings 8:1. He wants the Shunammite woman to go to another country, which she did, 2 Kings 8:8.
She went to Philistia for seven years, 2 Kings 8:2, after the seven years had passed, she makes an appeal to the king, probably Jehoram, for her land, 2 Kings 8:3. It’s quite clear that someone else had taken possession of her land whilst she was away.
It’s important to note that this account of Gehazi, 2 Kings 8:5, isn’t in chronological order. This incident would have taken place before the healing of Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-17, because Gehazi hadn’t yet been struck with leprosy. After the king learned that Elisha had brought the Shunammite woman’s son back to life, he gave her case to an ‘official’, 2 Kings 8:6, who was probably a eunuch, 1 Chronicles 28:1 / Isaiah 56:3-4.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Eunuchs were now in common use at the Samaritan court, 2 Kings 9:32. They are ascribed to the court of David in Chronicles, 1 Chronicles 28:1, and we may conjecture that they were maintained by Solomon. But otherwise we do not find them in the kingdom of Judah until the time of Hezekiah, Isaiah 56:3-4.’
The official then gave the Shunammite woman back everything that was rightfully hers, along with the income, which was raised from her land, 2 Kings 8:6 / Esther 6:1-14 / Romans 8:28. What happened here shows that Elisha’s previous offer to speak to the king for the Shunammite woman, 2 Kings 4:13, wasn’t a waste of time.
Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill, 2 Kings 8:7. Some commentators suggest that because God had earlier commanded Elijah to anoint Hazael as king of Aram, 1 Kings 19:15, it’s here that we read that Elisha carried out this command, this is why he is in Damascus, 2 Kings 8:7.
However, Coffman, in his commentary, offers the following objections.
‘Several scholars suppose that Elisha anointed Hazael king over Syria on this trip, but there is nothing here to support such a view. God had commanded Elijah at Horeb to anoint Hazael, 1 Kings 19:15, and there are two ways of understanding what happened.
1. Either Elijah went to Damascus and anointed him without any Scriptural record of it being recorded, or
2. Elijah transferred the obligation to Elisha who anointed him without any record of it being placed in the Bible.’
Ben-Hadad was ill and when he was told Elisha was around, he sent Hazael to Elisha with a gift, 2 Kings 8:7-8. It was the practice of the day for someone to make a gift to God’s prophet as a kind of offering, if they didn’t take a gift it was seen as disrespectful.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Hazael was no doubt a high officer of the court. The names of Hazael and Ben-Hadad occur in the Assyrian inscription on the Black Obelisk now in the British Museum. Both are mentioned as kings of Damascus, who contended with a certain Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, and suffered defeat at his hands. In one of the battles between this king and Benhadad, ‘Allah of Jezreel’ is mentioned among the allies of the latter. This same Shalmaneser took tribute from Jehu. This is the point at which the Assyrian records first come in direct contact with those of the Jews.’
We should also note that the Hazael here shouldn’t be confused with the father of Ben-Hadad, who was called the son of Hazael, 2 Kings 13:3. This Hazael was the son of a nobody, who murdered Ben-Hadad and seized his throne. Hazael was to consult God through Elisha and ask if Ben-Hadad will recover from his illness, 2 Kings 8:8.
Because of the number of gifts Ben-Hadad gave Elisha, 2 Kings 8:9, shows us just how much he respected Elisha and by default the God of Israel. However, just because he showed Elisha and the God of Israel a lot of respect, doesn’t mean that Ben-Hadad was a convert to the God of Israel.
Because Ben-Hadad was ill, he wanted to find out if he would recover from his illness, 2 Kings 8:9, and when Hazael asks Elisha about Ben-Hadad, Elisha tells him that the king will certainly recover, nevertheless, God has revealed to Elisha that he will in fact die, 2 Kings 8:10.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘That is, God has not determined thy death, nor will it be a necessary consequence of the disease by which thou art now afflicted; but this wicked man will abuse the power and trust thou hast reposed in him, and take away thy life. Even when God has not designed nor appointed the death of a person, he may nevertheless die, though not without the permission of God.’
Elisha stared at Hazael with a fixed gaze until he was embarrassed and then Elisha began to weep, 2 Kings 8:11.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Elisha fixed on Hazael a long and meaning look, until the latter’s eyes fell before his, and his cheek flushed. Elisha, it would seem, had detected the guilty thought that was in Hazael’s heart, and Hazael perceived that he had detected it. Hence the ‘shame’.’
Hazael asks Elisha why he is weeping and Elisha tells him, 2 Kings 8:12. Elisha knew what kind of man Hazael was, he was a serious troublemaker, he would commit many murderous acts, 2 Kings 8:12 / 2 Kings 10:32-33 / 2 Kings 13:3 / 2 Kings 13:7. Elisha knew he would cause a lot of trouble for the Israelites, 2 Kings 8:12. The terrible crimes mentioned here, which Elisha stated that Hazael would commit, were in no sense offensive to that evil man who would murder his way into becoming king.
Notice after being told the horrendous things he will do to the Israelites, he asks Elisha, ‘how could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?’ 2 Kings 8:13. Hazael compares himself to a dog, suggesting that a dog isn’t capable of doing such horrendous things. He’s telling Elisha he’s just a slave of Ben-Hadad and he possessed no power to do the horrendous things which Elisha mentioned. Elisha doesn’t mess with his words here, he plainly tells him of the prophecy of his accession to the throne of Aram, 2 Kings 8:13.
Hazael returns to Ben-Hadad and lies, he tells him he would recover, 2 Kings 8:13, when Elisha told him he would certainly die, 2 Kings 8:10. After murdering Ben-Hadad, Hazael became king, 2 Kings 8:15, and reigned from 841 to 798 B.C.
Whilst Hazael became king of Aram, Jehoram became king of Judah, 2 Kings 8:16 / 2 Chronicles 21:4. Although it can be confusing at times, we must remember that the name ‘Jehoram’ appears in the lists of kings of both Israel and Judah, but they are different people. Joram is a shortened version of the name Jehoram, 2 Kings 1:17.
Jehoram now becomes king of Judah and notice he has all his brothers along with some of the officials of Israel murdered, 2 Chronicles 21:4. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for eight years, 2 Kings 8:17 / 2 Chronicles 21:5.
However, he followed in the ways of the kings of Israel and like the house of Ahab had done, 2 Kings 8:18 / 2 Chronicles 21:6. This means that he committed idolatry and followed the gods of the Canaanites as Ahab did, 1 Kings 16:29-19:18.
This possibly happened because he married the daughter of Ahab, her name was Athaliah, and so, it’s possible that she may have influenced him in some way. In some ways, she not only influenced him but influenced the whole nation, because the idolatrous action of Israel was now happening in Judah.
Clarke in his commentary, says the following, concerning the daughter of Ahab, 2 Kings 8:18 / 2 Chronicles 21:6.
‘This was the infamous Athaliah and through this marriage Jehoshaphat and Ahab were confederates and this friendship was continued after Ahab’s death.’
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The very mention of such a thing in this paragraph is a mark of the diabolical threat that existed at this moment in the history of the Chosen People. In these events, Satan was moving swiftly and methodically toward that very goal, the total destruction of the house of David. And when Jehoram’s evil mother Athaliah was finally able to seize power for herself, she all but accomplished it.’
Jehoram did evil in the eyes of God, 2 Kings 8:18 / 2 Chronicles 21:6. He committed many acts of sins, one of them was the murdering of his six brothers because he wanted their wealth, 2 Chronicles 21:4 / 2 Chronicles 21:20. Make no mistake about it, God would have wiped them off the face of the earth because of their idolatry, if it wasn’t for David and the promise He made to David, 2 Kings 8:19 / 2 Chronicles 21:7 / 2 Samuel 7:12-16 / 2 Chronicles 21:12-19.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The natural consequence of Jehoram’s apostasy would have been the destruction of his house, and the transfer of the throne of Judah to another family. Compare the punishments of Jeroboam, 1 Kings 14:10, Baasha, 1 Kings 16:2-4, and Ahab, 1 Kings 21:20-22. But the promises to David prevented this removal of the dynasty; and so Jehoram was punished in other ways, 2 Kings 8:22 / 2 Chronicles 21:12-19.’
In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king and so, Jehoram went to Zair with all his chariots, 2 Kings 8:20-21 / 2 Chronicles 21:8-9 / Genesis 27:40. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night, 2 Chronicles 21:8, his army, however, fled back home, 2 Kings 8:21. We are told that to this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah. Libnah revolted at the same time, 2 Kings 8:22 / 2 Chronicles 21:10 / 2 Chronicles 21:16-17.
We know that great nations are held together by their loyalty to their kings. God originally created Israel as one nation and they were to be loyal to Him as their king, sadly here we read about what happens when a nation is divided and loyal to various kings.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Edomites had been subjected by David and remained under the dominion of Solomon, from whom they revolted for a time when the kingdom divided. However, they again came under the dominion of Judah during the reign of Jehoshaphat, but this revolt against Joram resulted in their independence. What seems to be reported here is a disastrous route of Joram’s army and his being surrounded by the Edomite troops. Jehoram with his chariots was able to break through the surrounding Edomites and escape with his life, leaving the rest of his army to escape as best they could. This military disaster which stopped just short of being complete was followed by the loss of Libnah a city to the southwest of Judah, probably in the area of the Philistines.’
Jehoram had forsaken God and so, he builds high places that his father had previously destroyed, 2 Chronicles 21:11. He did this probably to gain the favour of the people. By building these high places, Jehoram caused the people to prostitute themselves, that is, commit idolatry, 2 Chronicles 21:11 / James 4:4.
2 Chronicles 21, tells us that Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, 2 Chronicles 21:12. Remember that Elijah had been taken up in a whirlwind to God before the reign of Jehoram, 2 Kings 2:1. But it appears that Elijah had prophesied concerning the wickedness of Jehoram, even before Jehoram reigned. Elijah had prophesied against Ahab and Jezebel, the parents of Jehoram’s wife, Athaliah.
It’s not the first time in this book, a prophet has spoken about an upcoming disaster for kings, before it happens, 2 Chronicles 12:5 / 2 Chronicles 16:7 / 2 Chronicles 19:2 / 2 Chronicles 24:20 / 2 Chronicles 26:16. However, some commentators believe that Elijah was still alive at this point in time.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This is the only notice which we have of Elijah in Chronicles. As a prophet of the northern kingdom, he engaged but slightly the attention of the historian of the southern one. The notice shows that Elijah did not confine his attention to the affairs of his own state, but strove to check the progress of idolatry in Judah. And it proves that he was alive after the death of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 21:13, a fact bearing.
1. Upon the chronological order of 2 Kings 2:1.
2. Showing that Elisha, who prophesied in the time of Jehoshaphat. 2 Kings 3:11-19, commenced his public ministry before his master’s translation.
In an effort to bring the two kingdoms together, Jehoram married Athaliah, 2 Chronicles 21:13, but this resulted in evil arising within the family of David in Judah, 2 Chronicles 21:16-17. The prophecy was that Judah will suffer from a great plague, 2 Chronicles 21:14, and Jehoram was to be struck with a disease in his intestines, 2 Chronicles 21:15.
We are also told in 2 Chronicles 21, that the Philistines and Arabians, like the Edomites and Cushites, also took advantage of Judah’s weak condition, despite being suppressed earlier during the reign of Jehoshaphat. However, notice this was the Lord’s doing, 2 Chronicles 21:16.
They plundered the treasury of Judah and they killed all the descendants of David except for one son, the youngest, Jehoahaz, 2 Chronicles 21:17, who was also called Ahaziah, 2 Chronicles 25:23. It’s an amazing thought that through this one son, the seedline promise of the Messiah that God made to David would continue.
The Lord afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowel, 2 Chronicles 21:18, which resulted in his bowels coming out, 2 Chronicles 21:19 / 2 Chronicles 21:15 / Acts 1:18. Notice when Jehoram died in great pain, there wasn’t a lot of sympathy for him. Because there was little respect for him as a person and king, he wasn’t given the honour of being buried in the tombs of the kings of Judah, 2 Kings 8:24 / 2 Chronicles 21:19.
When he died there were no regrets, 2 Chronicles 21:20. This is seen in that there was no burning of incense for him. The other events of Jehoram’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 2 Kings 8:23. Jehoram rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, 2 Chronicles 21:20, and Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king, 2 Kings 8:24 / 2 Chronicles 22:1.
Ahaziah became king in 841 B.C. because the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older brothers, 2 Chronicles 22:1 / 2 Chronicles 21:17. He only reigned for one year, 2 Kings 8:25-26 / 2 Chronicles 22:2. We are told that Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, 2 Chronicles 22:2. Since his father was forty years old when he died, many commentators suggest that the account of 2 Kings 8, has the correct reading of twenty-two years old, 2 Kings 8:26.
Some translations say that Athaliah was the ‘daughter’ of Omri, 2 Kings 8:26 / 2 Chronicles 22:2. She would have been the granddaughter of Omri, because she was the daughter of Ahab. The word ‘daughter’ is often used to refer to one as a descendant.
Ahaziah followed in the idolatrous ways of Ahab, and his mother encouraged him to act wickedly, 2 Chronicles 22:3 / 1 Kings 16:29-19:18, and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, 2 Chronicles 22:4 / 2 Kings 8:27.
War once again breaks out, and so, Ahaziah and Joram, that is, Jehoram king of Israel in the north, goes out against Hazael at Ramoth Gilead, 2 Kings 8:28 / 2 Chronicles 22:5. They were trying to reclaim the city that was under Aramean control, 1 Kings 22:29-36.
Josephus, in his writings, says the following.
‘Joram was struck by an arrow in the course of the siege, but remained until the place was taken. He then withdrew to Jezreel, 1 Kings 18:45 / 1 Kings 21:1, leaving his army under Jehu within the walls of the town.’
The Arameans wounded Joram and so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him, 2 Kings 8:28-29 / 2 Chronicles 22:5. Then Ahaziah king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab, because he had been wounded, 2 Kings 8:29 / 2 Chronicles 22:6.