Bible in 90 Days
The Deadly Stew
38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal,(A) there was a famine(B) in the land. The sons of the prophets(C) were sitting at his feet.[a](D) He said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and make stew for the sons of the prophets.”
39 One went out to the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment would hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, but they were unaware of what they were.
40 They served some for the men to eat, but when they ate the stew they cried out, “There’s death in the pot,(E) man of God!” And they were unable to eat it.
41 Then Elisha said, “Get some meal.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it for the people to eat.” And there was nothing bad in the pot.(F)
The Multiplied Bread
42 A man from Baal-shalishah(G) came to the man of God with his sack full of 20 loaves of barley bread from the first bread of the harvest. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.”(H)
43 But Elisha’s attendant asked, “What? Am I to set 20 loaves before 100 men?”(I)
“Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said, “for this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat, and they will have some left over.’” 44 So he gave it to them, and as the Lord had promised, they ate and had some left over.(J)
Naaman’s Disease Healed
5 Naaman,(K) commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight[b] and highly regarded(L) because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease.(M)
2 Aram had gone on raids(N) and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to[c] the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”
So he went and took with him 750 pounds[d] of silver, 150 pounds[e] of gold, and 10 changes of clothes.(O) 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read:
When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes(P) and asked, “Am I God,(Q) killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight with[f] me.”(R)
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel tore his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”(S) 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger,(T) who said, “Go wash(U) seven times(V) in the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.”
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and will wave his hand(W) over the spot and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?(X) Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.(Y)
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father,(Z) if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” 14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.(AA)
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel.(AB) Therefore, please accept a gift(AC) from your servant.”
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives,(AD) I stand before Him. I will not accept it.”(AE) Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry,(AF) for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but Yahweh.(AG) 18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship and I, as his right-hand man,[g](AH) bow in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow[h] in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”(AI)
Gehazi’s Greed Punished
After Naaman had traveled a short distance from Elisha, 20 Gehazi,(AJ) the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought: My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lord lives,(AK) I will run after him and get something from him.
21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”
22 Gehazi said, “It’s all right.(AL) My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them 75 pounds[i] of silver and two changes of clothes.’”(AM)
23 But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept 150 pounds.”[j] He urged Gehazi and then packed 150 pounds[k] of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes. Naaman gave them to two of his young men who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill,[l](AN) he took the gifts from them and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left.
25 Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi?” Elisha asked him.
“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” he replied.
26 But Elisha questioned him, “Wasn’t my spirit(AO) there[m] when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves? 27 Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased—white as snow.(AP)
The Floating Ax Head
6 The sons of the prophets(AQ) said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision[n] is too small for us. 2 Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”
“Go,” he said.
3 Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”
“I’ll come,” he answered.
4 So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!”(AR)
6 Then the man of God(AS) asked, “Where did it fall?”
When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.(AT) 7 Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.
The Aramean War
8 When the king of Aram(AU) was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, “My camp will be at such and such a place.”
9 But the man of God(AV) sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” 10 Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly[o] warned the king, so the king would be on his guard.
11 The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?”
12 One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”
13 So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.”
When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,”(AW) 14 he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”
16 Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid,(AX) for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”(AY)
17 Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes. He looked and saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire(AZ) all around Elisha.
18 When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Please strike this nation with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness,(BA) according to Elisha’s word. 19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.(BB) 20 When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes. They looked and discovered they were in Samaria.
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father,(BC) should I kill them? I will kill them.”
22 Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”(BD)
23 So he prepared a great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders(BE) did not come into Israel’s land again.
24 Some time later, King Ben-hadad(BF) of Aram brought all his military units together and marched up to besiege Samaria. 25 So there was a great famine(BG) in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for 80 silver shekels,[p] and a cup[q] of dove’s dung[r] sold for five silver shekels.[s](BH)
26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “My lord the king, help!”
27 He answered, “If the Lord doesn’t help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?”(BI) 28 Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter?”(BJ)
She said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her the next day, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him,’(BK) but she has hidden her son.”
30 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes.(BL) Then, as he was passing by on the wall, the people saw that there was sackcloth(BM) under his clothes next to his skin. 31 He announced, “May God punish me and do so severely(BN) if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”
32 Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders(BO) were sitting with him. The king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger got to him, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer(BP) has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”
33 While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger[t] came down to him. Then he said, “This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”(BQ)
Aram Defeated
7 Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, six quarts[u] of fine meal will sell for a shekel[v] and 12 quarts[w] of barley will sell for a shekel.’”[x](BR)
2 Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man,(BS) responded to the man of God,(BT) “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?”(BU)
Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”(BV)
3 Four men with a skin disease(BW) were at the entrance to the gate. They said to each other, “Why just sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘Let’s go into the city,’ we will die there because the famine is in the city, but if we sit here, we will also die. So now, come on. Let’s go to the Arameans’ camp.(BX) If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”
5 So the diseased men got up at twilight to go to the Arameans’ camp. When they came to the camp’s edge, they discovered that there was not a single man there, 6 for the Lord[y] had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army.(BY) The Arameans had said to each other, “The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites(BZ) and the kings of Egypt(CA) to attack us.” 7 So they had gotten up and fled(CB) at twilight, abandoning their tents, horses, and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had fled for their lives.
8 When these men came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they picked up the silver, gold, and clothing and went off and hid them. They came back and entered another tent, picked things up, and hid them.(CC) 9 Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news.(CD) If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will catch up with us. Let’s go tell the king’s household.”
10 The diseased men went and called to the city’s gatekeepers and told them, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—no human sounds. There was nothing but tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” 11 The gatekeepers called out, and the news was reported to the king’s household.
12 So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving,(CE) so they have left the camp to hide in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.’”(CF)
13 But one of his servants responded, “Please, let messengers take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their fate is like the entire Israelite community who will die,[z] so let’s send them and see.”
14 The messengers took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.” 15 So they followed them as far as the Jordan. They saw that the whole way was littered with clothes and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king. 16 Then the people went out and plundered the Aramean camp.(CG)
It was then that six quarts[aa] of fine meal sold for a shekel[ab] and 12 quarts[ac] of barley sold for a shekel,[ad] according to the word of the Lord.(CH) 17 The king had appointed the captain, his right-hand man,(CI) to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway. He died, just as the man of God had predicted when the king came to him. 18 When the man of God had said to the king, “About this time tomorrow 12 quarts[ae] of barley will sell for a shekel[af] and six quarts[ag] of fine meal will sell for a shekel[ah] at the gate of Samaria,” 19 this captain had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” Elisha had said, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”(CJ) 20 This is what happened to him: the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.
The Shunammite’s Land Restored
8 Elisha said to the woman whose son he had restored to life,(CK) “Get ready, you and your household, and go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the Lord has announced a seven-year famine,(CL) and it has already come to the land.”
2 So the woman got ready and did what the man of God said. She and her household lived as foreigners in the land of the Philistines for seven years. 3 When the woman returned from the land of the Philistines at the end of seven years,(CM) she went to appeal to the king for her house and field.(CN)
4 The king had been speaking to Gehazi,(CO) the attendant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things Elisha has done.”
5 While he was telling the king how Elisha restored the dead son to life, the woman whose son he had restored to life came to appeal to the king for her house and field. So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman and this is the son Elisha restored to life.”(CP)
6 When the king asked the woman, she told him the story. So the king appointed a court official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, along with all the income from the field from the day she left the country until now.”
Aram’s King Hazael
7 Elisha came to Damascus(CQ) while Ben-hadad(CR) king of Aram was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God(CS) has come here.” 8 So the king said to Hazael,(CT) “Take a gift(CU) with you and go meet the man of God. Inquire of the Lord through him, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”(CV)
9 Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift: 40 camel-loads of all kinds of goods from Damascus. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son,(CW) Ben-hadad king of Aram, has sent me to ask you, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”
10 Elisha told him, “Go say to him, ‘You are sure to[ai] recover.’ But the Lord has shown me that he is sure to die.” 11 Then Elisha stared steadily at him until Hazael was ashamed.(CX)
The man of God wept,(CY) 12 and Hazael asked, “Why is my lord weeping?”
He replied, “Because I know the evil you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their little ones to pieces. You will rip open their pregnant women.”(CZ)
13 Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog,(DA) do this monstrous thing?”
Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”(DB)
14 Hazael left Elisha and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?”
He responded, “He told me you are sure to recover.” 15 The next day Hazael took a heavy cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face. Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned instead of him.
Judah’s King Jehoram
16 In the fifth year(DC) of Israel’s King Joram(DD) son of Ahab, Jehoram[aj](DE) son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah, replacing his father.[ak](DF) 17 He was 32 years old when he became king and reigned eight years in Jerusalem.(DG) 18 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for Ahab’s daughter was his wife. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.(DH) 19 The Lord was unwilling to destroy Judah because of His servant David, since He had promised to give a lamp(DI) to David and his sons forever.(DJ)
20 During Jehoram’s reign, Edom rebelled against Judah’s control and appointed their own king.(DK) 21 So Jehoram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. Then at night he set out to attack the Edomites who had surrounded him and the chariot commanders, but his troops fled to their tents.(DL) 22 So Edom is still in rebellion against Judah’s control today. Libnah(DM) also rebelled at that time.
23 The rest of the events of Jehoram’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(DN) 24 Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Ahaziah became king in his place.(DO)
Judah’s King Ahaziah
25 In the twelfth year of Israel’s King Joram son of Ahab,(DP) Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.(DQ) 26 Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king and reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, granddaughter of Israel’s King Omri.(DR) 27 He walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the Lord’s sight like the house of Ahab,(DS) for he was a son-in-law to Ahab’s family.
28 Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to fight against Hazael(DT) king of Aram in Ramoth-gilead,(DU) and the Arameans wounded Joram. 29 So King Joram returned to Jezreel(DV) to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him in Ramoth-gilead[al] when he fought against Aram’s King Hazael.(DW) Then Judah’s King Ahaziah son of Jehoram went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab since Joram was ill.
Jehu Anointed as Israel’s King
9 The prophet Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets(DX) and said, “Tuck your mantle(DY) under your belt, take this flask of oil(DZ) with you, and go to Ramoth-gilead.(EA) 2 When you get there, look for Jehu(EB) son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his colleagues, and take him to an inner room. 3 Then, take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I anoint you king over Israel.”’(EC) Open the door and escape. Don’t wait.” 4 So the young prophet went to Ramoth-gilead.
5 When he arrived, the army commanders were sitting there, so he said, “I have a message for you, commander.”
Jehu asked, “For which one of us?”
He answered, “For you, commander.”
6 So Jehu got up and went into the house. The young prophet poured the oil on his head and said, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, Israel. 7 You are to strike down the house of your master Ahab so that I may avenge the blood shed by the hand of Jezebel—the blood of My servants the prophets and of all the servants of the Lord.(ED) 8 The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will eliminate all of Ahab’s males,[am] both slave and free, in Israel.(EE) 9 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah.(EF) 10 The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land at Jezreel—no one will bury her.’”(EG) Then the young prophet opened the door and escaped.
11 When Jehu came out to his master’s servants, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this crazy person(EH) come to you?”
Then he said to them, “You know the sort and their ranting.”
12 But they replied, “That’s a lie! Tell us!”
So Jehu said, “He talked to me about this and that and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’”
13 Each man quickly took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps.[an](EI) They blew the ram’s horn(EJ) and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”(EK)
14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram.(EL) Joram and all Israel had been at Ramoth-gilead on guard against Hazael king of Aram. 15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought against Aram’s King Hazael. Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel.”
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
16 Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel since Joram was laid up there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to visit Joram. 17 Now the watchman(EM) was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s troops approaching and shouted, “I see troops!”
Joram responded, “Choose a rider and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’”(EN)
18 So a horseman went to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace?’”
Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace?[ao] Fall in behind me.”
The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them but hasn’t started back.”
19 So he sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace?’”
Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace?[ap] Fall in behind me.”
20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them but hasn’t started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi(EO)—he drives like a madman.”
21 “Harness!” Joram shouted, and they harnessed his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his own chariot, and met Jehu at the plot of land of Naboth the Jezreelite.(EP) 22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?”
He answered, “What peace can there be as long as there is so much prostitution and witchcraft from your mother Jezebel?”(EQ)
23 Joram turned around and fled, shouting to Ahaziah, “It’s treachery,(ER) Ahaziah!”
24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow went through his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.(ES) 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite.(ET) For remember when you and I were riding side by side behind his father Ahab, and the Lord uttered this oracle against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘so will I repay you on this plot of land’—this is the Lord’s declaration. So now, according to the word of the Lord, pick him up and throw him on the plot of land.”(EU)
27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what was happening, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot him in his chariot[aq] at Gur Pass near Ibleam,(EV) but he fled to Megiddo(EW) and died there.(EX) 28 Then his servants carried him to Jerusalem in a chariot and buried him in his fathers’ tomb in the city of David.(EY) 29 It was in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab that Ahaziah had become king over Judah.(EZ)
Jehu Kills Jezebel
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, so she painted her eyes,(FA) adorned her head, and looked down from the window. 31 As Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Do you come in peace, Zimri,[ar](FB) killer of your master?”
32 He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs(FC) looked down at him, 33 and he said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses, and Jehu rode over her.(FD)
34 Then he went in, ate and drank, and said, “Take care of this cursed(FE) woman and bury her, since she’s a king’s daughter.”(FF) 35 But when they went out to bury her, they did not find anything but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 So they went back and told him, and he said, “This fulfills the Lord’s word that He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, the dogs will eat Jezebel’s flesh.(FG) 37 Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure(FH) on the surface of the field in the plot of land at Jezreel so that no one will be able to say: This is Jezebel.’”
Jehu Kills the House of Ahab
10 Since Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria,(FI) Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel,(FJ) to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s sons,[as] saying:
2 When this letter(FK) arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry, 3 select the most qualified[at] of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
4 However, they were terrified and reasoned, “Look, two kings(FL) couldn’t stand against him; how can we?”
5 So the overseer of the palace, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think is right.”[au](FM)
6 Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying:
If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, bring me the heads of your master’s sons at this time tomorrow at Jezreel.
All 70 of the king’s sons were being cared for by the city’s prominent men. 7 When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all 70, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. 8 When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” the king said, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”
9 The next morning when he went out and stood at the gate, he said to all the people, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him.(FN) But who struck down all these? 10 Know, then, that not a word the Lord spoke against the house of Ahab will fail,(FO) for the Lord has done what He promised through His servant Elijah.”(FP) 11 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel—all his great men, close friends, and priests—leaving him no survivors.
12 Then he set out and went on his way to Samaria. On the way, while he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?”
They answered, “We’re Ahaziah’s(FQ) relatives. We’ve come down to greet the king’s sons and the queen mother’s(FR) sons.”
14 Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So they took them alive and then slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked—42 men. He didn’t spare any of them.(FS)
15 When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab(FT) coming to meet him. He greeted him and then asked, “Is your heart one with mine?”[av]
“It is,” Jehonadab replied.
Jehu said, “If it is,[aw] give me your hand.”(FU)
So he gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot with him. 16 Then he said, “Come with me and see my zeal(FV) for the Lord!” So he let him ride with him in his chariot. 17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained from the house of Ahab in Samaria until he had annihilated his house, according to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah.(FW)
Jehu Kills the Baal Worshipers
18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal(FX) a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. 19 Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests.(FY) None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal. 20 Jehu commanded, “Consecrate a solemn assembly(FZ) for Baal.” So they called one.
21 Then Jehu sent messengers throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal[ax] came; there was not a man left who did not come.(GA) They entered the temple of Baal,(GB) and it was filled from one end to the other. 22 Then he said to the custodian of the wardrobe, “Bring out the garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out their garments.
23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look carefully to see that there are no servants of the Lord here among you—only servants of Baal.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
Now Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, and he warned them, “Whoever allows any of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape will forfeit his life for theirs.”(GC) 25 When he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Don’t let anyone out.”(GD) So they struck them down with the sword. Then the guards and officers threw the bodies out and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. 26 They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them 27 and tore down the pillar(GE) of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine(GF)—which it is to this day.
Evaluation of Jehu’s Reign
28 Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel, 29 but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—worshiping the gold calves that were in Bethel and Dan.(GG) 30 Nevertheless, the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”(GH)
31 Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
32 In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel.(GI) Hazael(GJ) defeated the Israelites throughout their territory: 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer(GK) which is by the Arnon Valley(GL) through Gilead to Bashan.[ay]
34 Now the rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(GM) 35 Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz(GN) became king in his place. 36 The length of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was 28 years.(GO)
Athaliah Usurps the Throne
11 When Athaliah,(GP) Ahaziah’s mother,(GQ) saw that her son was dead,(GR) she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. 2 Jehosheba,(GS) who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s(GT) sister, secretly rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed. 3 Joash was in hiding with Jehosheba in the Lord’s temple six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.
Athaliah Overthrown
4 Then(GU) in the seventh year, Jehoiada(GV) sent messengers and brought in the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.(GW) He had them come to him in the Lord’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son 5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: a third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath(GX) are to provide protection for the king’s palace. 6 A third are to be at the Sur gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.[az](GY)
7 “Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the Lord’s temple. 8 You must completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. You must be with the king in all his daily tasks.”[ba](GZ)
9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. They each brought their men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and went to Jehoiada the priest.(HA) 10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields(HB) that were in the Lord’s temple. 11 Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king—from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.
12 He brought out the king’s son, put the crown(HC) on him, gave him the testimony,[bb](HD) and made him king. They anointed(HE) him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!”(HF)
13 When Athaliah(HG) heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at the Lord’s temple.(HH) 14 As she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar(HI) according to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.(HJ) Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason!”(HK)
15 Then Jehoiada(HL) the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds(HM) in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in the Lord’s temple.”(HN) 16 So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance(HO) to the king’s palace, where she was put to death.(HP)
Jehoiada’s Reforms
17 Then(HQ) Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people(HR) and another covenant between the king and the people.[bc](HS) 18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images into pieces,(HT) and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars.(HU)
Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for the Lord’s temple.(HV) 19 He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards,(HW) and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joash(HX) sat on the throne of the kings. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.
Judah’s King Joash
21 [bd]Joash[be](HY) was seven years old when he became king.(HZ) 12 1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king and reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, who was from Beer-sheba.(IA) 2 Throughout the time Jehoiada(IB) the priest instructed(IC) him, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s sight.(ID) 3 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.(IE)
Repairing the Temple
4 Then(IF) Joash said to the priests, “All the dedicated money brought to the Lord’s temple,(IG) census money,(IH) money from vows,(II) and all money voluntarily given(IJ) for the Lord’s temple, 5 each priest is to take from his assessor[bf] and repair whatever damage to the temple is found.”[bg](IK)
6 But by the twenty-third year(IL) of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damage[bh] to the temple.(IM) 7 So King Joash called Jehoiada(IN) the priest and the other priests and said, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple’s damage? Since you haven’t, don’t take any money from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple.” 8 So the priests agreed they would not take money from the people and they would not repair the temple’s damage.
9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest,(IO) bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the Lord’s temple; in it the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the Lord’s temple.(IP) 10 Whenever they saw there was a large amount of money in the chest, the king’s secretary(IQ) and the high priest would go to the Lord’s temple and count the money found there and tie it up in bags.(IR) 11 Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those doing the work—those who oversaw the Lord’s temple. They in turn would pay it out to those working on the Lord’s temple—the carpenters, the builders, 12 the masons, and the stonecutters—and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the Lord’s temple(IS) and for all spending for temple repairs.
13 However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver(IT) were made for the Lord’s temple from the money brought into the temple. 14 Instead, it was given to those doing the work, and they repaired the Lord’s temple with it. 15 No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity.(IU) 16 The money from the restitution offering and the sin offering was not brought to the Lord’s temple since it belonged to the priests.(IV)
Aramean Invasion of Judah
17 At that time Hazael(IW) king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.(IX) 18 So King Joash of Judah took all the consecrated items that his ancestors—Judah’s kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah—had consecrated, along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and in the king’s palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram.(IY) Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.
Joash Assassinated
19 The rest of the events of Joash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(IZ) 20 Joash’s servants conspired against him and killed him(JA) at Beth-millo(JB) on the road that goes down to Silla. 21 His servants Jozabad[bi] son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died.(JC) Then they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king in his place.(JD)
Israel’s King Jehoahaz
13 In the twenty-third year of Judah’s King Joash(JE) son of Ahaziah, Jehoahaz(JF) son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 17 years. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.(JG) 3 So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel,(JH) and He surrendered them to the power of Hazael(JI) king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad(JJ) during their reigns.
4 Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord heard him, for He saw the oppression the king of Aram inflicted on Israel.(JK) 5 Therefore, the Lord gave Israel a deliverer,(JL) and they escaped from the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel dwelt in their tents as before, 6 but they didn’t turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. Jehoahaz walked in them,(JM) and the Asherah pole also remained standing in Samaria. 7 Jehoahaz did not have an army left, except for 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them,(JN) making them like dust at threshing.(JO)
8 The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and his might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(JP) 9 Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash[bj] became king in his place.
Israel’s King Jehoash
10 In the thirty-seventh year of Judah’s King Joash, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 16 years. 11 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.(JQ)
12 The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and the power he had to wage war against Judah’s King Amaziah,(JR) are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. 13 Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam(JS) sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Elisha’s Death
14 When Elisha became sick with the illness that he died from, Jehoash king of Israel went down and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”(JT)
15 Elisha responded, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he got a bow and arrows.(JU) 16 Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So the king put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 Elisha said, “Open the east window.” So he opened it. Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot.(JV) Then Elisha said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, yes, the arrow of victory over Aram. You are to strike down the Arameans in Aphek(JW) until you have put an end to them.”
18 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. 19 The man of God(JX) was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to them, but now you will only strike down Aram three times.” 20 Then Elisha died and was buried.(JY)
Now Moabite raiders(JZ) used to come into the land in the spring of the year. 21 Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When he touched Elisha’s bones, the man revived and stood up!(KA)
God’s Mercy on Israel
22 Hazael(KB) king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz, 23 but the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them,(KC) and turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.(KD) He was not willing to destroy them. Even now He has not banished them from His presence.(KE)
24 King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad(KF) became king in his place. 25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in war from Jehoash’s father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times and recovered the cities of Israel.(KG)
Judah’s King Amaziah
14 In(KH) the second year of Israel’s King Jehoash[bk](KI) son of Jehoahaz,[bl] Amaziah(KJ) son of Joash became king of Judah. 2 He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan[bm] and was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.(KK) 4 Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.(KL)
5 As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah killed his servants who had murdered his father the king.(KM) 6 However, he did not put the children of the murderers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where the Lord commanded, “Fathers must not be put to death because of children, and children must not be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin.”(KN)
7 Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(KO) He took Sela(KP) in battle and called it Joktheel,(KQ) which is its name to this very day. 8 Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us meet face to face.”(KR)
9 King Jehoash of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar(KS) that was in Lebanon,(KT) saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and you have become overconfident.(KU) Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you stir up such trouble that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
11 But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced off at Beth-shemesh(KV) that belongs to Judah. 12 Judah was routed before Israel, and everyone fled to his own tent.(KW) 13 King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash,[bn] son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down 200 yards[bo] of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gate(KX) to the Corner Gate.(KY) 14 He took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and some hostages.(KZ) Then he returned to Samaria.
Jehoash’s Death
15 The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(LA) 16 Jehoash rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.
Amaziah’s Death
17 Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash lived 15 years after the death of Israel’s King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.(LB) 18 The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(LC) 19 A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,(LD) and he fled to Lachish.(LE) However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there. 20 They carried him back(LF) on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.(LG)
21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,[bp](LH) who was 16 years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 He rebuilt Elath[bq](LI) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah the king rested with his fathers.
Israel’s King Jeroboam
23 In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam(LJ) son of Jehoash[br] became king of Israel in Samaria and reigned 41 years. 24 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(LK)
25 He restored Israel’s border(LL) from Lebo-hamath(LM) as far as the Sea of the Arabah,(LN) according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant, the prophet Jonah(LO) son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.(LP) 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter.(LQ) There was no one to help Israel, neither bond nor free. 27 However, the Lord had not said He would blot out the name of Israel under heaven,(LR) so He delivered(LS) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.[bs]
28 The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign—along with all his accomplishments, the power he had to wage war, and how he recovered for Israel Damascus(LT) and Hamath,(LU) which had belonged to Judah[bt] —are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(LV) 29 Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.(LW)
Judah’s King Azariah
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Azariah[bu](LX) son of Amaziah became king of Judah.(LY) 2 He was 16 years old when he became king and reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah, who was from Jerusalem. 3 Azariah did what was right in the Lord’s sight(LZ) just as his father Amaziah had done. 4 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.(MA)
5 The Lord afflicted the king, and he had a serious skin disease until the day of his death.(MB) He lived in a separate house,[bv](MC) while Jotham,(MD) the king’s son, was over the household governing the people of the land.(ME)
6 The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(MF) 7 Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.(MG)
Israel’s King Zechariah
8 In the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Zechariah(MH) son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months. 9 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight as his fathers had done.(MI) He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(MJ)
10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He struck him down publicly,[bw] killed him, and became king in his place.(MK) 11 As for the rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(ML) 12 The word of the Lord that He spoke to Jehu was, “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel,”(MM) and it was so.
Israel’s King Shallum
13 In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king; he reigned in Samaria(MN) a full month. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah(MO) to Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and became king in his place. 15 As for the rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.
Israel’s King Menahem
16 At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah,(MP) all who were in it, and its territory. Because they wouldn’t surrender,(MQ) he attacked it and ripped open all the pregnant women.(MR)
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel and reigned 10 years in Samaria. 18 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(MS)
19 Pul[bx](MT) king of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds[by] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grip on the kingdom.(MU) 20 Then Menahem exacted 20 ounces[bz] of silver from each of the wealthy men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.(MV)
21 The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. 22 Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.(MW)
Israel’s King Pekahiah
23 In the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned two years. 24 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(MX)
25 Then his officer, Pekah(MY) son of Remaliah, conspired against him(MZ) and struck him down in Samaria at the citadel of the king’s palace(NA) —as well as Argob and Arieh.[ca] There were 50 Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.
26 As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.
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