2 Kings 7-9
Complete Jewish Bible
7 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.” 2 The servant on whose arm the king was leaning answered the man of God: “Why, this couldn’t happen even if Adonai made windows in heaven!” Elisha answered, “All right, you yourself will see it with your own eyes; but you won’t eat any of it!”
3 Now there were four men with tzara‘at at the entrance to the city gate, and they said to each other, “Why should we sit here till we die? 4 If we say, ‘We’ll enter the city, then the city has been struck by the famine, so we’ll die there. And if we sit still here, we’ll also die. So let’s go and surrender to the army of Aram; if they spare our lives, we will live; and if they kill us, we’ll only die.” 5 They got up during the twilight to go to the camp of Aram. But when they reached the outskirts of the camp of Aram, they saw no one! 6 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.” 7 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. 8 When these men with tzara‘at reached the outskirts of the camp, they entered one of the tents, ate and drank; then took some silver, gold and clothing; and went and hid it. Next they returned and entered another tent, took stuff from there, and went and hid it. 9 But finally they said to each other, “What we are doing is wrong. At a time of good news like this, we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. If we wait even till morning, we will earn only punishment; so come on, let’s go and tell the king’s household.” 10 So they came and shouted to the gatekeepers of the city and told them the news: “We went to the camp of Aram, and no one was there, no human voice — just the horses and donkeys tied up, and the tents left in place.” 11 The gatekeepers called and told it to the king’s household inside. 12 Then the king got up in the night; he said to his servants, “I’ll tell you what Aram has done to us. They know that we’re hungry, so they’ve gone outside the camp and hidden in the countryside, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we’ll take them alive and then get inside the city.’” 13 One of his servants answered, “I suggest letting some men take five of the remaining horses that are left in the city — they’re like everything else in Isra’el that remains, like everything else in Isra’el, practically finished — and we’ll send and see.” 14 So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of Aram, saying, “Go, and see.” 15 They went after them all the way to the Yarden, and found the entire distance strewn with clothing and other articles Aram had thrown away in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king. 16 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.
17 The king put the servant on whose arm he had leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him down in the gateway, so that he died, as the man of God had said he would, who spoke when the king came to him. 18 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”; 19 the servant had answered the man of God, “Why, this couldn’t happen even if Adonai made windows in heaven!” and Elisha had said, “All right, you yourself will see it with your own eyes; but you won’t eat any of it!” 20 That is exactly what happened to him, because the people trampled him down in the gateway, so that he died.
8 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.” 2 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. 3 At the end of seven years the woman returned from the land of the P’lishtim and sought an audience with the king to claim her house and land. 4 The king was talking with Geichazi the servant of the man of God. “Tell me,” he said, “all the great things Elisha has done.” 5 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.” 6 On being asked by the king, the woman verified it. At this, the king appointed a special officer and charged him, “Restore everything that belongs to her, including the income her fields have produced from the day she left them until now.”
7 Elisha went to Dammesek. Ben-Hadad the king of Aram was ill; and he was told, “The man of God has come here.” 8 The king said to Haza’el, “Take with you a gift, go meet the man of God and consult Adonai through him; ask if I will recover from this illness.” 9 Haza’el went to meet him, taking with him a gift that included everything good Dammesek had, forty camel-loads. He came, stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you; he asks, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” 10 Elisha answered, “Go and say to him, ‘You will surely recover’ — even though Adonai has shown me that he will surely die.” 11 Then the man of God fixed his gaze on him for so long that Haza’el became embarrassed; finally Elisha began to cry. 12 Haza’el asked, “Why is my lord crying?” He answered, “Because I know the disasters you will bring on the people of Isra’el — you will set their fortresses on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword, you will dash their little ones to pieces and rip their pregnant women apart.” 13 Haza’el said, “But what is your servant? Nothing but a dog! How could he do anything of such magnitude?” Elisha answered, “Adonai has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
14 Then he left Elisha and returned to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?” “He told me you would surely recover.” 15 The next day he took a blanket, dipped it in water and spread it on his face, so that he died; and Haza’el took his place as king.
16 It was when Yoram the son of Ach’av king of Isra’el was in the fifth year of his reign that Y’horam the son of Y’hoshafat began his rule over Y’hudah. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eight years in Yerushalayim. 18 He lived after the example of the kings of Isra’el, as did the house of Ach’av; because he had married Ach’av’s daughter; he did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective. 19 However, Adonai was unwilling to destroy Y’hudah, because of his servant David; inasmuch as he had promised to give him and his children a lamp that would burn forever.
20 During his time Edom revolted against Y’hudah and set up its own king. 21 In response, Yoram crossed to Tza‘ir with all his chariots. At night he and his chariot commanders set out and attacked Edom who had surrounded him; then the people fled to their tents. 22 Nevertheless, since that day Edom has remained free of Y’hudah’s domination. Livnah revolted at the same time. 23 Other activities of Yoram and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y’hudah. 24 Yoram slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David, and Achazyah his son took his place as king.
25 It was in the twelfth year of Yoram the son of Ach’av king of Isra’el that Achazyah the son of Y’horam king of Y’hudah began his reign. 26 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. 27 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.
28 With Yoram the son of Ach’av he went to war against Haza’el king of Aram at Ramot-Gil‘ad, and the Aramim wounded Yoram. 29 King Yoram returned to Yizre‘el to be healed of the wounds which the Aramim had inflicted on him at Ramah while fighting Haza’el king of Aram. Achazyah the son of Y’horam, king of Y’hudah, went down to visit Yoram the son of Ach’av in Yizre‘el, because he was not feeling well.
9 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. 2 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. 3 Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, ‘This is what Adonai says: “I have anointed you king over Isra’el.”’ After that, open the door; and get away from there as fast as you can.”
4 So the young prophet left for Ramot-Gil‘ad. 5 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. 6 Yehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on his head and said to him, “This is what Adonai the God of Isra’el says: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of Adonai, over Isra’el. 7 You will attack the house of Ach’av your master, so that I can avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and of all the servants of Adonai, blood shed by Izevel. 8 The entire house of Ach’av will perish; I will cut off from Ach’av every male, whether a slave or free in Isra’el. 9 I will make the house of Ach’av like the house of Yarov‘am the son of N’vat and like the house of Ba‘sha the son of Achiyah. 10 Moreover, the dogs will eat Izevel in the dumping-ground of Yizre‘el, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.
11 Yehu returned to the servants of his lord, and one of them said to him, “Is everything all right? Why did this meshugga come to you?” He answered them, “You know the kind and how they babble.” 12 They said, “You’re being evasive. Come on, tell us the truth.” Then he said, “This is exactly what he said to me and how he said it: ‘Here is what Adonai says: “I have anointed you king over Isra’el.”’” 13 At this, they hurried each one to take his cloak and put it under Yehu at the top of the stairs. Then they blew the shofar and proclaimed, “Yehu is king!”
14 Yehu the son of Y’hoshafat, the son of Nimshi, formed a conspiracy against Yoram. (At the time, Yoram was guarding Ramot-Gil‘ad, he and all Isra’el, because of Haza’el king of Aram; 15 but Yoram himself had returned to Yizre‘el to recover from the wounds Aram had inflicted on him when fighting Haza’el king of Aram.) “If you agree,” said Yehu, “then don’t allow anyone to leave town and take the news to Yizre‘el.” 16 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.
17 The lookout standing on the watchtower in Yizre‘el saw Yehu’s troops approaching and said, “I see some troops coming.” Yoram said, “Have a horseman go to meet him and ask, “Are you coming in peace?” 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, “The king asks if you are coming in peace.” Yehu answered, “Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!” The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he isn’t coming back.” 19 So he sent out a second man on horseback, who, on coming to him, said, “The king asks if you are coming in peace.” Yehu answered, “Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!” 20 The watchman reported, “He reached them, but he isn’t coming back. Also, it looks like the driving of Yehu Nimshi’s [grand]son — he’s driving like a maniac!” 21 “Harness my chariot!” ordered Yoram. They got it ready. Then Yoram king of Isra’el and Achazyah king of Y’hudah, each in his chariot, went out to meet Yehu. They met him in the field of Navot the Yizre‘eli.
22 When Yoram saw Yehu he said, “Are you coming in peace, Yehu?” He answered, “Peace? With your mother Izevel continuing all her cult prostitution and witchcraft? What a question!” 23 Yoram wheeled around and fled, shouting, “Treachery, Achazyah!” 24 Yehu drew his bow with all his strength and struck Yoram between the shoulder-blades; the arrow went through his heart, and he collapsed in his chariot. 25 “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: 26 ‘Adonai says: “Yesterday I saw the blood of Navot and the blood of his sons.” Adonai also says: “I will pay you back in this field.”’ Therefore, pick him up; and throw him into the field, in keeping with what Adonai said.”
27 But when Achazyah the king of Y’hudah saw this, he fled on the road past Beit-HaGan. Yehu pursued him and ordered, “Strike him too in his chariot!” [So they struck him] at the Gur ascent, near Yivle‘am. He fled to Megiddo, but there he died. 28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Yerushalayim and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the City of David.
29 It was in the eleventh year of Yoram the son of Ach’av that Achazyah had begun his rule over Y’hudah.
30 When Yehu reached Yizre‘el, and Izevel heard of it, she put on eye make-up, fixed her hair and looked out the window. 31 As Yehu came through the city gate, she asked, “Are you here in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?” 32 Looking up at the window he said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three officers looked out toward him. 33 He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down. Some of her blood splashed onto the wall and the horses, and she was trampled underfoot. 34 He went in, ate and drank, and then said, “Deal with this accursed woman — bury her, because she’s a king’s daughter.” 35 They went to bury her but found no more of her than her skull, feet and hands. 36 So they came back and told him. He said, “This is what Adonai said through his servant Eliyahu from Tishbe: ‘In the field of Yizre‘el the dogs will eat the flesh of Izevel; 37 Izevel’s corpse in the field of Yizre‘el will be like dung on the ground, unrecognizable as Izevel.’”
Melachim Bais 7-9
Orthodox Jewish Bible
7 Then Elishah said, Hear ye the Devar Hashem; Thus saith Hashem, Machar (tomorrow) about this time shall a se’ah of solet (fine flour) be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of se’orim for a shekel, at the Sha’ar Shomron.
2 Then an officer on whose arm HaMelech leaned answered the Ish HaElohim, and said, Hinei, even if Hashem would make windows in Shomayim, could this thing happen? And he said, Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
3 And there were arba’ah anashim that were metzora’im at the petach haSha’ar (city gate); and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
4 If we say, We will enter into the Ir, then the ra’av (famine) is in the Ir, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us throw ourselves unto the Machaneh Aram (Syrian Camp); if they spare us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall die.
5 And they rose up at neshef (twilight, dusk) to go unto the Machaneh Aram; and when they were come to the edge of the Machaneh Aram, hinei, there was no ish there.
6 For Adonoi had made the Machaneh Aram to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of susim, even the noise of a chayil gadol (a great army); and they said one to another, Hinei, the Melech Yisroel hath hired against us the Melachim of the Chittim, and the Melachim of the Mitzrayim, to come upon us.
7 Therefore they arose and fled in the neshef (twilight), and left their ohalim, and their susim, and their chamorim, even the Machaneh just as it was, and fled for their nefesh.
8 And when these metzora’im came to the edge of the Machaneh, they went into one ohel, and did eat and drink, and carried from there kesef, and zahav, and begadim, and went off and hid it; and came back, and entered into another ohel, and carried from there also, and went and hid it.
9 Then they said one to another, We do not right; this day is a Yom Besorah, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till ohr haboker, some avon (punishment for being sinful) will overtake us; now therefore come, that we may go and tell the Bais HaMelech.
10 So they came and called unto the Sho’er HaIr (Gatekeeper of the City); and they told them, saying, We came to the Machaneh Aram, and, hinei, there was no ish there, neither voice of adam, but susim tied, and chamor tied, and the ohalim just as they were.
11 And he called the sho’arim (gatekeepers); and they told it to the Bais HaMelech within.
12 And HaMelech arose in the lailah, and said unto his avadim, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are starved by famine; therefore are they gone out of the Machaneh to hide themselves in the sadeh, saying, When they come out of the Ir, we shall catch them chayyim (alive), and get into the Ir.
13 And one of his avadim answered and said, Let some of the men take, now, five of the remaining susim left; behold, they will be like kol hamon Yisroel (the whole multitude of Yisroel) that still survives; they are like the kol hamon Yisroel that has perished already. Let us send and find out.
14 They took therefore two chariots of susim; and HaMelech sent after the Machaneh Aram, saying, Go and find out.
15 And they went after them as far as Yarden; and, hinei, all the derech was full of begadim and kelim, which the Syrians had cast off in their haste. And the malachim returned, and told the Melech.
16 And the people went out, and plundered the Machaneh Aram. So a se’ah of solet (fine flour) was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of se’orim for a shekel, according to the Devar Hashem.
17 And HaMelech appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to have the charge of the Sha’ar; and the people trampled upon him in the Sha’ar, and he died, just as the Ish HaElohim had said, who spoke when HaMelech came down to him.
18 And it came to pass as the Ish HaElohim had spoken to HaMelech, saying, Two seahs of se’orim for a shekel, and a seah of solet for a shekel, shall be about this time machar (tomorrow) in the Sha’ar Shomron;
19 And that officer answered the Ish HaElohim, and said, Now, hinei, even if Hashem would make windows in Shomayim, could such a thing happen? And he said, Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
20 And so it happened unto him; for the people trampled upon him in the Sha’ar, and he died. T.N. The Scriptures say “Woe to me if I preach not the Besuras HaGeulah” as it says here in the Yom Besorah (7:9) for this is our day and we are the unclean saved by grace.
8 Then spoke Elishah unto the isha, whose ben he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine bais, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn; for Hashem hath called for a ra’av (famine); and it shall also come upon ha’aretz sheva shanim.
2 And the isha arose, and did according to the davar Ish HaElohim; she went away and her bais, sojourned in the Eretz Pelishtim sheva shanim.
3 And it came to pass at the end of the sheva shanim, that the isha returned from Eretz Pelishtim; and she went forth to make appeal unto HaMelech for her bais and for her sadeh.
4 And HaMelech talked with Geichazi na’ar Ish HaElohim, saying, Tell me, now, all the gedolot (great things) that Elishah hath done.
5 And it came to pass, as he was telling HaMelech how he had restored to life hamet (the dead), that, hinei, the isha, whose ben he had restored to life, cried out her appeal to HaMelech for her bais and for her sadeh. And Geichazi said, Adoni, HaMelech, this is the isha, and this is her ben, whom Elishah restored to life.
6 And when HaMelech asked the isha, she told him. So HaMelech appointed unto her a certain saris (official), saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the tevu’ot (increase) of the sadeh since the yom that she left ha’aretz, even until now.
7 And Elishah came to Damascus; and Ben-Hadad Melech Aram choleh (was ill), when it was told him, saying, Ish HaElohim has come here.
8 And HaMelech said unto Chazael, Take a minchah (a present) in thine yad, and go, meet the Ish HaElohim, and inquire of Hashem through him, saying, Shall I recover of this illness?
9 So Chazael went to meet him, and took a minchah (a present) with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, massa (burden, load) of arba’im gamal, and came and stood before him, and said, Binecha Ben-Hadad Melech Aram (Syria) hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this illness?
10 And Elishah said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou shalt certainly recover; howbeit Hashem hath showed me that he shall surely die.
11 And he fixed his gaze steadfastly, and stared at him until he was ashamed; then the Ish HaElohim wept.
12 And Chazael said, Why weepeth, adoni? And he answered, Because I know the ra’ah (evil, harm) that thou wilt do unto the Bnei Yisroel; their strongholds wilt thou with eish set ablaze, and their bochurim wilt thou slay with the cherev, and wilt dash their olelim, and their women with child thou wilt rip open.
13 And Chazael said, But what, is thy eved a kelev (dog), that he should do this davar hagadol (great thing)? And Elishah answered, Hashem hath showed me that thou shalt be Melech over Aram (Syria).
14 So he departed from Elishah, and came to adonav (his master); who said to him, What said Elishah to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.
15 And it came to pass on the next day, that he took hamakhber (the bedcover), and soaked it in mayim, and spread it on his face, so that he died; and Chazael reigned as Melech in his place.
16 And in the fifth year of Yoram Ben Ach’av Melech Yisroel, Yehoshaphat being then Melech Yehudah, Yehoram Ben Yehoshafat Melech Yehudah began to reign as Melech.
17 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign as Melech; and he reigned as Melech shmoneh shanah in Yerushalayim.
18 And he walked in the derech malkhei Yisroel, as did the Bais Ach’av; for the Bat Ach’av was his isha; and he did rah (evil) before the eyes of Hashem.
19 Yet Hashem would not destroy Yehudah for the sake of Dovid His eved, in accordance with His promise to him to give a Ner (Lamp) for him and his banim kol hayamim.
20 In his yamim Edom pasha (rebelled) from under the yad Yehudah, and set a melech over themselves.
21 So Yoram went over to Tzair, and all the merkavot with him; and he rose by lailah, and attacked Edom who had him surrounded, and the commanders of the merkavot; and the army fled to their ohalim (tents, homes).
22 Yet Edom revolted from under the yad Yehudah unto this day. Then Livnah revolted at the same time.
23 And the rest of the acts of Yoram, and all that he did, are they not written in the Sefer Divrei HaYamim L’Malkhei Yehudah?
24 And Yoram slept with his avot, and was buried with his avot in Ir Dovid; and Achazyahu bno reigned as Melech in his place.
25 In the twelfth year of Yoram Ben Ach’av Melech Yisroel did Achazyahu Ben Yehoram Melech Yehudah begin to reign as Melech.
26 Achazyahu was 22 years old when he began to reign as Melech; and he reigned one year in Yerushalayim. And the shem immo was Atalyah Bat Omri Melech Yisroel.
27 And he walked in the derech of the Bais Ach’av, and did rah in the eyes of Hashem, as did the Bais Ach’av: for he was choson (son-in-law) of the Bais Ach’av.
28 And he went with Yoram Ben Ach’av to the milchamah (war) against Chazael Melech Aram in Ramot Gil‘ad; and the Aramim wounded Yoram.
29 And Yoram HaMelech returned to recover in Yizre’el of the makkim (wounds) which the Aramim (Syrians) had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against Chazael Melech Aram. And Achazyahu Ben Yehoram Melech Yehudah went down to see Yoram Ben Ach’av in Yizre’el, because he was choleh (ill with his wounds).
9 And Elishah HaNavi summoned one of the Bnei HaNevi’im, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this jar of shemen in thine yad, and go to Ramot Gil‘ad:
2 And when thou comest there, look there for Yehu Ben Yehoshaphat Ben Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his achim, and take him to a cheder becheder (an inner room);
3 Then take the jar of shemen, and pour it on his rosh, and say, Thus saith Hashem, Meshachticha (I anoint thee) Melech over Yisroel. Then open the delet, flee; tarry not.
4 So the na’ar, even the na’ar hanavi, went to Ramot Gil‘ad.
5 And when he came, hinei, the sarim of the army were sitting; he said, I have a davar for thee, O sar. And Yehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O sar.
6 And he arose, and went into the bais; and he poured the shemen on his rosh, and said unto him, Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel, I have anointed thee Melech over Am Hashem, even over Yisroel.
7 And thou shalt strike down the Bais Ach’av adoneicha, that I may avenge the dahm of My avadim the Nevi’im, and the dahm of kol avdei Hashem, shed by Izevel.
8 For the kol Bais Ach’av shall perish: and I will cut off from Ach’av mashtin b’kir (him that urinates against the wall, i.e., all males), and him that is atzur (bond) or azuv (free) in Yisroel:
9 And I will make the Bais Ach’av like the Bais Yarov‘am Ben Nevat, and like the Bais Ba’asha Ben Achiyah:
10 And the kelavim shall devour Izevel in the chelek Yizre’el, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the delet and fled.
11 Then Yehu came forth to the avadim adonav: and one said unto him, Is all shalom (well)? Why came this meshuga (crazy fellow) to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the ish and his babble.
12 And they said, It is sheker; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spoke he to me, saying, Thus saith Hashem, Meshachticha (I anoint thee) Melech over Yisroel.
13 Then they hasted, and took every ish his beged, and spread it under him on the top of the ma’alot (stairs), and blew the shofar, saying, Yehu is Melech.
14 So Yehu Ben Yehoshaphat Ben Nimshi plotted a kesher against Yoram. (Now Yoram had been shomer over Ramot Gil‘ad, he and Kol Yisroel, because of Chazael Melech Aram (Syria).
15 But Yehoram HaMelech had returned to recover in Yizre’el from the makkim (wounds) which the Aramim (Syrians) had inflicted on him, when he fought against Chazael Melech Aram. And Yehu said, If ye be so minded, then let none slip away nor escape from the Ir to go to tell it in Yizre’el.
16 So Yehu rode in a merkavah, and went to Yizre’el; for Yoram lay there. And Achazyahu Melech Yehudah was come down to see Yoram.
17 And there stood a tzofeh (sentinel) on the migdal in Yizre’el, and he saw the company of Yehu as he approached, and said, I see a company. Yoram said, Take a horseman, send to meet them, and let him say, Is it shalom?
18 So there went a rider on the sus to meet him, and said, Thus saith HaMelech, Is it shalom? And Yehu said, What hast thou to do with shalom? Fall in behind me. And the tzofeh told, saying, The malach reached them, but he cometh not back.
19 Then he sent out a second on sus, which came to them, and said, Thus saith HaMelech, Is it shalom? And Yehu answered, What hast thou to do with shalom? Fall in behind me.
20 And the tzofeh reported, saying, He reached them, and cometh not back: and the driving is like the driving of Yehu Ben Nimshi; for he driveth beshiga’on (like a meshuga, recklessly).
21 And Yehoram said, Harnasses ready! And his merkavah was harnessed. And Yehoram Melech Yisroel and Achazyahu Melech Yehudah went out, each in his merkavah, and they went out against Yehu, and met him in the chelek of Navot HaYizre’eli.
22 And it came to pass, when Yehoram saw Yehu, that he said, Is it shalom, Yehu? And he answered, What shalom, so long as the zenunei immecha Izevel (harlotries of your mother Jezebel) and her kheshafim (witchcrafts) are so many?
23 And Yehoram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Achazyahu, Mirmah (deceit, treachery!), O Achazyahu.
24 And Yehu drew his keshet, and struck Yehoram between the shoulders, and the khetz (arrow) went out at his lev, and he sunk down in his merkavah.
25 Then said Yehu to Bidkar his shalishoh, Take [him] up, and cast him in the chelek of the sadeh of Navot HaYizre’eli; for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ach’av Aviv, Hashem laid this massa (prophetic burden) upon him;
26 Surely I have seen yesterday the dahm of Navot, and the dahm of his banim, saith Hashem; and I will requite thee in this chelek, saith Hashem. Now therefore take and cast him into the chelek, according to the Devar Hashem.
27 But when Achazyahu Melech Yehudah saw this, he fled by the derech (way) Bais HaGan. And Yehu pursued after him, and shouted, Strike him down also in the merkavah. And they did so on the way up to Gur, which is by Yivle’am. And he escaped to Megiddo, and died there.
28 And his avadim carried him in a merkavah to Yerushalayim and buried him in his kever with his avot in Ir Dovid.
29 And in the eleventh year of Yoram Ben Ach’av began Achazyahu to reign as Melech over Yehudah.
30 And when Yehu was come to Yizre’el, Izevel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her rosh, and looked out at a chalon.
31 And as Yehu entered in at the sha’ar, she said, Did Zimri have shalom, who slaughtered his adon?
32 And he lifted up his face to the chalon, and said, Who is on my side? Who? And there looked out to him two or three sarisim.
33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of her dahm spattered on the wall, and on the susim; and he trampled her under foot.
34 And when he went in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this arurah (cursed woman), and bury her; for she is a Bat Melech.
35 And they went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the gulgolet (skull), and the raglayim (feet), and the kappot (palms) of her yadayim.
36 Therefore, they came back, and told him. And he said, This is the Devar Hashem, which He spoke by His eved Eliyahu HaTishbi, saying, In the chelek Yizre’el shall kelavim (dogs) eat the basar Izevel;
37 And the nevelah of Izevel shall be as dung upon the face of the sadeh in the chelek Yizre’el; so that no one will be able to say, This is Izevel.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International