Historical
Ahaziah’s Messengers Meet Elijah
1 Now (A)Moab revolted against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber, which was in Samaria, and became ill. So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, (B)inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, (C)whether I will live from this sickness.” 3 But the angel of [a]Yahweh said to (D)Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of (E)Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Now therefore thus says Yahweh, ‘[b](F)You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” Then Elijah departed.
5 So the messengers returned to him, and he said to them, “[c]Why have you returned?” 6 And they said to him, “A man came up to meet us and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you and say to him, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending (G)to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore [d]you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’”’” 7 And he said to them, “What [e]kind of man was he who came up to meet you and spoke these words to you?” 8 And they said to him, “(H)He was a hairy man with a leather girdle girded about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 Then the king (I)sent to him a commander of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10 And Elijah answered and spoke to the commander of fifty, “If I am a man of God, (J)let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” (K)Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
11 So he again sent to him another commander of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and spoke to him, “O man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’” 12 And Elijah answered and spoke to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
13 So he (L)again sent the commander of a third fifty with his fifty. Then the third commander of fifty went up and came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and he begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two commanders of fifty with their fifties; but now let my [f]life be precious in your sight.” 15 (M)Then the angel of Yahweh spoke to Elijah, “Go down with him; (N)do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. 16 Then he spoke to him, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Because you have sent messengers (O)to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?—therefore [g]you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’”
Jehoram Reigns over Israel
17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of Yahweh which Elijah had spoken. And because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place (P)in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
Elijah Taken to Heaven
2 Now it happened when Yahweh was about to (Q)take up Elijah by a [h]whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with (R)Elisha from (S)Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “(T)Stay here please, for Yahweh has sent me as far as (U)Bethel.” But Elisha said, “(V)As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then (W)the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from over [i]you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
4 And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please (X)stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to (Y)Jericho.” But he said, “(Z)As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 (AA)Then the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “(AB)Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from over [j]you today?” And he [k]answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please (AC)stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to (AD)the Jordan.” And he said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So the two of them went on.
7 Now (AE)fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, but the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 And Elijah (AF)took his mantle and folded it together and (AG)struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 Now it happened when they crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a (AH)double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you (AI)see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared (AJ)a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and it separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a [l]whirlwind to heaven. 12 And Elisha was seeing this and he was crying out, “(AK)My father, my father, the [m]chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw [n]Elijah no more. Then (AL)he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” Indeed, he himself also (AM)struck the waters, and they were divided here and there! And Elisha crossed over.
Elisha Has the Spirit of Elijah
15 Then (AN)the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him and said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty excellent men, please let them go and search for your master, lest (AO)the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when (AP)they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him. 18 So they returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold now, the habitat of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land [o]is unfruitful.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt [p]in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 And he went out to the spring of water and (AQ)threw salt [q]in it and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘I have [r]purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or barrenness any longer.’” 22 So the waters have been [s]purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young boys came out from the city and (AR)mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” 24 Then he looked behind him and saw them. And he (AS)cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of [t]their number. 25 And he went from there to (AT)Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Moab Rebels Against Israel
3 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria (AU)in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, though not like his father and his mother; and (AV)he took away the sacred pillar of Baal (AW)which his father had made. 3 Nevertheless, (AX)he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, (AY)which he made Israel sin; he did not turn away from them.
4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder and (AZ)used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But it happened that (BA)when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 And King Jehoram went out of Samaria [u]at that time and mustered all Israel. 7 Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go up; (BB)I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 8 And he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he [v]answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”
9 So (BC)the king of Israel went with (BD)the king of Judah and (BE)the king of Edom; and they went around on a seven days’ journey, and there was no water for the camp or for the cattle that [w]followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! For Yahweh has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 11 But Jehoshaphat said, “(BF)Is there not a prophet of Yahweh here, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “(BG)Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, (BH)who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” 12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of Yahweh is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you? (BI)Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14 And Elisha said, “(BJ)As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you. 15 So now (BK)bring me a musician.” And it came about, when the musician played, that (BL)the hand of Yahweh came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’ 17 For thus says Yahweh, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley (BM)shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your livestock and your cattle. 18 And this is but a (BN)light thing in the sight of Yahweh; He will also give the Moabites into your hand. 19 (BO)Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’” 20 Then it happened in the morning (BP)about the time of offering the sacrifice, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
21 Now all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. And they summoned all who were able to [x]put on armor and older, and they stood on the border. 22 Then they rose early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. 23 Then they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and they have struck down one another. So now, Moab, to the spoil!” 24 So they came to the camp of Israel. And the Israelites arose and struck the Moabites. So they fled before them; and they went forward [y]into the land, striking down the Moabites. 25 (BQ)Thus they [z]tore down the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land and filled it. And they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees, until in (BR)Kir-hareseth they let its stones remain; however, the slingers went about it and struck it. 26 Then the king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him, so he took with him 700 men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not. 27 So he took his oldest son, who was to reign in his place, and (BS)offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they set out from him and returned to their own land.
The Widow’s Oil
4 Now a certain woman of the wives of (BT)the sons of the prophets cried out to [aa]Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared Yahweh; and (BU)the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your servant-woman has nothing in the house except (BV)a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, ask for vessels for yourself, from those outside, from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. 4 And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. 6 Now it happened that when (BW)the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. 7 Then she came and told (BX)the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
The Shunammite Woman Will Bear a Son
8 Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to (BY)Shunem, where there was a [ab]prominent woman, and she prevailed upon him to eat [ac]food. Now it happened, as often as he passed by, that he turned in there to eat [ad]food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy (BZ)man of God passing by us continually. 10 Please, let us (CA)make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it will be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”
11 Now it happened that one day he came there and turned in to the upper chamber, and there he [ae]lay down. 12 Then he said to (CB)Gehazi his young man, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have been [af]careful for us with all this [ag]care; what can I do for you? Would you be spoken for to the king or to the commander of the army?’” And she [ah]answered, “I live among my own people.” 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi [ai]answered, “Truly she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 And he said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, “(CC)At this season [aj]next year you will embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God, (CD)do not lie to your servant-woman.”
17 Then the woman conceived and bore a son at that season [ak]the next year, as Elisha had said to her.
A Dead Boy Opens His Eyes
18 Then the child was grown. And the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head.” And he said to [al]his young man, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 Then he carried him and brought him to his mother, and he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. 21 Then she went up and (CE)laid him on the bed of (CF)the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 And she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return.” 23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither (CG)new moon nor sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her young man, “Drive and go; do not hold back the pace of the ride for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she went and came to the man of God to (CH)Mount Carmel.
Now it happened that when the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his young man, “Behold, [am]there is the Shunammite. 26 Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she [an]answered, “It is well.” 27 Then she came to the man of God (CI)to the hill and took hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is bitter within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘(CJ)Do not deceive me’?”
29 Then he said to Gehazi, “(CK)Gird up your loins and (CL)take my staff in your hand, and go; if you meet anyone, do not [ao](CM)greet him, and if anyone [ap]greets you, do not answer him; and (CN)lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30 But the mother of the boy said, “(CO)As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” And he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or [aq]response. So he returned to meet him and told him, saying, “The boy (CP)has not awakened.”
32 Then Elisha came into the house, and behold, the boy was dead and laid on his bed. 33 So he entered and (CQ)shut the door behind them both and prayed to Yahweh. 34 And (CR)he went up and lay on the child and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and (CS)stretched himself on him; and the boy sneezed seven times and the boy opened his eyes. 36 Then he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. Then she came in to him, and he said, “Take up your son.” 37 Then she came in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and (CT)she took up her son and went out.
The Death in the Stew
38 Now Elisha returned to (CU)Gilgal, and there was (CV)a famine in the land. [ar]As (CW)the sons of the prophets (CX)were sitting before him, he said to his young man, “(CY)Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 Then one went out into the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine and gathered from it wild gourds filling his cloak and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were. 40 So they poured it out for the men to eat. And it happened that as they were eating of the stew, they cried out and said, “O man of God, there is (CZ)death in the pot.” And they were unable to eat. 41 But he said, “Now bring flour.” (DA)He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people that they may eat.” Then there was no harm in the pot.
42 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, “(DB)Give them to the people that they may eat.” 43 And his attendant said, “What, (DC)will I give this before one hundred men?” But he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says Yahweh, ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’” 44 So he gave it before them, and they ate and (DD)had some left over, according to the word of Yahweh.
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