📖 2 Kings — Chapter 8 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Kings 8:1 Then spake Elisha unto the woman, Rwhose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.
2 Kings 8:2 And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went Rwith her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.
2 Kings 8:3 And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.
2 Kings 8:4 And the king talked with RGehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.
2 Kings 8:5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, Rbehold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.
2 Kings 8:6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain RTofficer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
2 Kings 8:7 And Elisha came to RDamascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.
2 Kings 8:8 And the king said unto RHazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
2 Kings 8:9 So RHazael went to meet him, and took a present Twith him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
2 Kings 8:10 And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, RThou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.
2 Kings 8:11 And he settled his countenance Tstedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God Rwept.
2 Kings 8:12 And Hazael said, Why weepeth Rmy lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
2 Kings 8:13 And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant Ra dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
2 Kings 8:14 So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, RHe told me that thou shouldest surely recover.
2 Kings 8:15 RAnd it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 8:16 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, RJehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah Tbegan to reign.
2 Kings 8:17 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 8:18 And he walked Rin the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
2 Kings 8:19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah Rfor David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a Tlight, and to his children.
2 Kings 8:20 In his days REdom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
2 Kings 8:21 So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.
2 Kings 8:22 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then RLibnah revolted at the same time.
2 Kings 8:23 And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 8:24 And Joram Rslept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and TAhaziah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
2 Kings 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned Rone year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the Tdaughter of Omri king of Israel.
2 Kings 8:27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was Rthe son in law of the house of Ahab.
2 Kings 8:28 And Rhe went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
2 Kings 8:29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds Twhich the Syrians had given him at TRamah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And RAhaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was Tsick.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 8:1–6 — The Shunammite’s property is restored
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Warned of a seven-year famine, the woman leaves with her household. Returning while Gehazi recounts her son’s restoration, she petitions the king and receives her property and its produce back.
Key Truth: Practical restoration matters alongside remembering past mercy.
Check What You Remember
1. How many years would the famine last? (2 Kings 8:1)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:1 (KJV).
2. Where did she sojourn? (2 Kings 8:2)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:2 (KJV).
3. Who identified her to the king? (2 Kings 8:5)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 8:7–15 — Elisha weeps over future cruelty
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Hazael asks about Benhadad’s illness. Elisha distinguishes recovery from the illness from the death he foresees, and weeps over Hazael’s coming violence. Hazael kills the king and succeeds him. Foretelling wrongdoing does not approve it.
Key Truth: Notice the suffering behind a rise to power.
Check What You Remember
1. Which city did Elisha visit? (2 Kings 8:7)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:7 (KJV).
2. Who brought Benhadad’s inquiry? (2 Kings 8:8)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:8 (KJV).
3. Who became king of Syria? (2 Kings 8:15)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 8:16–29 — Judah’s rulers follow Ahab’s house
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehoram and then Ahaziah follow Ahab’s ways. Edom and Libnah revolt, yet God preserves Judah for David’s sake. Ahaziah joins Joram’s campaign and visits the wounded king. Distinguish rulers with similar names by their kingdom and parentage.
Key Truth: Family influence does not remove personal accountability.
Check What You Remember
1. How many years did Jehoram of Judah reign? (2 Kings 8:17)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:17 (KJV).
2. Who succeeded him? (2 Kings 8:24)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:24 (KJV).
3. Where did Ahaziah visit wounded Joram? (2 Kings 8:29)
Find it in 2 Kings 8:29 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
2 Samuel 7:16 — God’s promise to David helps explain the preserved royal line.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How might your loyalties affect your choices? Consider the people who could be harmed by following a powerful but unfaithful example.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What timing brings the Shunammite woman’s case before the king?
2. What restoration does the king order for her?
3. Why does Elisha weep in Hazael’s presence?
4. Why does the LORD not destroy Judah despite Jehoram’s conduct?
5. What change in Edom occurs under Jehoram?
Notes
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