Do not overlook the last warning (2 Kings 8 note)

2 Kings 8:1-29

Key Verse 18-19 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless, for the sake of his servant David, the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah. He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

1.      [1-4] What did Elisha tell the woman to do and why (1; Ref. 4:8-37)? Where did she and her family go and stay for the seven years (2)? On returning home, why did she go to the king (3; Cf. 3:1)? At that time what was the king doing (4)?

A woman, well to do, at Shunem; unable to have a son, Elisha prayer for her and she bore a son; the son died and was revived by Elisha’s prayer. (4:8-37)

Elisha told her to move out of the country for a while (7 years) because a famine would strike the nation. Even though she was a well-to do, she left everything and moved out to the land of the Philistines. There, she and her family stayed there for seven years.  She believed the word of God delivered through Elisha.

On returning after seven years, she went to the king to plead to reclaim her land. Since she went to the king to plead, most likely her husband was dead by this time. This could complicate the situation for she was a widow.

Could her estate be restored to her? Restoration of the land to the one who God allotted to is an important theme under the promise of God. it is tied with the theme of the restoration of one’s place in God’s kingdom. After sojourning in Philistines, she found that her estate was taken either by her relative or by the king; most like in this case, it was the king. Here, only one question is raised; would the King her plead for her estate?  An interesting thing was that the king had no or little fear of the Lord and did not serve the Lord.

2.      [5-6] Discuss why the king was interested in all the great things that Elisha had done. What was the greatest thing that Elisha did (5a)? As Gehazi was finishing the story, who came in? How did she serve the king and Gehazi? Why did the king restore all the land back to her? Discuss God’s purpose of sending the famine and saving the woman’s life during the famine, particularly in regard to the nation Israel and her king Joram. 

During this time of famine, the king, Joram showed his interest in what Elisha did. So he called Elisha’s servant to hear all the works that Elisha did. Why did he show such interest? No direct reason was given. But the circumstance supplied the reason; there were seven years of famine, which would have devastated the kingdom and her people. This forced him to seek and find out how he could get through this famine. Famine is one of the covenant curses for the disobedience of his people (Lev 26:16; Deu 28:38) Whether it was the same one mentioned in 4:38-44 or 6:24-7:30 cannot be determined. Regardless, at this time, it was far worse than that happened during the king Ahab(3 years). Such a long (7 years) years of famine forces all people to utter starvation even to the point of death ( measure up to the famine in Egypt at the time of Joseph). Simply this famine was the worst ‘punishment’ of the Lord for the nation Israel since the time of Ahab. 

if the first one(during the time of Ahab-three years) is the second stage of Covenant curses (Lev 26:20), then this one would be the fourth stage of the Covenant curses(Lev 26:26); much severe, it is like the famine in Egypt; unless a provision would be made, there won’t be able to survive. It served as a serious warning for the fifth, the final curses where the nation would lose the kingdom/ the dynasty/nation. Being coupled with Aram’s siege (7:3-20) that was also be counted as a part of God’s curses imposed upon Israel/Omri dynasty for her sin against the Lord. ; the fourth stage of curses; Lev 26:27 “ ‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, 28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. 29 You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. 31 I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings.

In such a dire condition of the nation, Joram, be so helpless in finding a solution, might have sought help from Elisha. Near the end of Gehazi’s talk, this woman arrived in time to testify what God did in her life; the birth of a new boy and his resurrection; while the power of death overwhelmed by the draught, this testimony would serve the king as the witness of God’s power in love and His righteousness.

First, out of many what Elisha did, the story of this woman topped them all because it was about life, death, and resurrection that the LORD, the God of Israel, held in his authority and power. As Jesus’ life was the last witness of God’s justice and love for the world, so was this story given as the last witness for the Joram, the last heir of Omri dynasty.

How would he do? Could the last testimony change the heart of Joram? This story ends with silence from Joram, except that he restored the woman’s property to her. It could be taken as his repentance: But Joram and his children, i.e. the entire descendants of Ahab, would be totally eradicated by Jehu, the next king. This seems to indicate that he did not repent of his sin even after hearing the power of resurrection from this woman.

The testimony of the woman on her experience of life, death, and resurrection was the last chance for Joram; as soon as his unrepentance heart was set, the next thing Elisha did was to make a visit to the King of Aram, Ben-Hadad, to kick on God’s plan to punish the Omri dynasty.

While hearing her witness, God moved this unbelieving king and he gave her back all her estate. It was God’s provisional hand to His promise and care for those who put trust in Him.

3.      [7-15] Where did Elisha go and why (7-8; ref. 1 Kings 19:15-17)? Whom did the King Ben-Hadad send to welcome him (8)? And with what question (9)? What was the message for King Ben-Hadad (10)? Why did Elisha weep while staring at Hazael (11-12; Ref. 9:14-15; 10:32-33)?  What was God’s message revealed to him (13)? How did God’s word turn out (14-15;)? Discuss God’s purpose and His will for Israel revealed in these events (Ref. Lev 26:18-26). 

Having given the full/final opportunity to repent, God began to roll his plan to punish Omri’s dynasty as He gave His word to Elijah(1 Kings 19:15-17). Elisha went to Damascus, to see the King of Aram, Ben-Hadad. (He made an attempt to arrest Elisha but all his army/dispatchers were captured by Elisha and released. In this way, he earned the respect of Ben-Hadad. He came to recognize the power of the Lord in Elisha 6:8-23). 

Hazael, his commanding officer, went to meet Elisha and delivered the message of the king, “will I recover from this illness?” The answer was clear but puzzling to him. The king will recover from the illness but soon will die. The Lord knew what Hazael had in his heart; to murder the king and usurp his throne. In Addition, Elisha knew how much trouble Hazael would cause Israel and wept before him. Nevertheless, it was the will of the LORD according to His plan for the salvation of the nation. He obeyed and gave His word to Hazael. In this way, he carried out the duty that God gave to Elijah (1 Kings 19:15-17)

1 Kings 19:15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.  (1Ki 19:15 NIV)

Soon Hazael killed Beh-Hadad and became king of Aram.

The next two accounts on the kings of Judah were mentioned because they were a part of Ahab’s dynasty by marriage and were involved in the sins of Ahab. As the plan to exterminate Ahab’s dynasty began, the sins of these two kings were noted. 

4.      [16-24] When did Jehoram become king of Judah? How did he do in the eyes of the Lord (17-18a)? Why (18b)? Nevertheless, why did the Lord not destroy his family (19, 20; Ref. 2 Sam 7:11b-13; Exo 20:6 )? Discuss God’s care for His people and His will to keep His promise.

Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, began his reign as king of Judah.

17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. 18 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

He followed the ways of the kings of Israel instead of the king of Judah, his father Jehoshaphat; he had a choice to follow his father but he chose to follow the guidance of his mother and the kings of Israel—king of strength and power vs. kings of meekness

19 Nevertheless, for the sake of his servant David, the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah. He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

V20-23 Jehoram was defeated by Edom; he could have been cut off; but in God’s mercy, he kept his life and the throne was handed down to his son. (saving of Joash: the son of Ahaziah in ch 11) 

5.      [25-29] When did Ahaziah become king (25-26a)? How did he run the nation(27a)? And why (26b, 27b)? How did he follow the way of his mother’s family (28-29)? Discuss why he chose the way of his mother.

At the death of Jehoram’s son, Ahaziah took the throne of Judah. But he could not overcome the influence of Ahab dynasty:

25 In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 He followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family.

Father Jehoram(married with the daughter of Jezebel, Athaliah), his son Ahaziah, whose mother was Athaliah; two succeeding kings of Judah was influenced by Israel kingdom (Ahab + Jezebel union). The two kings of Judah  were charged for their sins :

18 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab.
27 He followed the ways of the house of Ahab

Two-generation was messed up by this association in marriage—Jehoshaphat’s wrong decision to go along with Ahab. But here, in addition, these two kings had the choice to follow their father Jehoshaphat instead of their wife’s family. They would bear the fruit of their sin along with the fate of Ahab’s dynasty. This tells us how important it is to marry a godly woman.

The word ‘follow’ was attached to both kings and it denotes their decision in choice. Man is to choose what is right and just; this is the faculty that God gave to man. So, it is Man’s forte, an ability to reason and to make sound judgment beyond his feelings.  

Likable and affable nature of womanhood often works detrimental effects on man’s decision. Fear of the Lord must be above all of his faculty of mind and spirit.