2 Kings 3-5 God Works Through Elisha

Thoughts

Kings 3

Jehoram, son of Ahab, becomes king over Israel in Samaria (the capital)/ He reigns 12 years. He removes the Baal pillar, but still participates in calf worship.

King Mesha of Moab, a sheep breeder, had paid tribute to Israel (100,000 lambs and wool). After Ahab’s death, he rebels against Israel.

Jehoram recruits Jehoshaphat (Judah) and the king of Edom to join in war against Moab. They march through the wilderness of Edom.

After seven days, they run out of water for the army and animals. Jehoshaphat asks for a prophet of the Lord. Elisha is summoned.

Elisha rebukes Jehoram but agrees to help out of respect for Jehoshaphat. A musician plays, and the hand of the Lord comes upon Elisha.

Elisha’s Prophecy: the valley will be filled with water though no rain or wind will be seen; God will also give Moab into their hands. They are to strike down cities, cut down trees, stop springs, and ruin fields with stones.

The next morning, at the time of the grain offering, water miraculously flows from Edom and fills the land.

The Moabites, seeing the water red in the morning sun, mistake it for blood. They assume the allied kings killed each other. They rush to plunder but are ambushed and defeated. 

King Mesha (of Moab), tries to break through to the king of Edom but fails. He sacrifices his oldest son on the city wall (to honor the gods)

Great wrath comes upon Israel, and the kings withdraw, returning to their own land.

Kings 4 Miracles Worked Through Elisha

The Widow and Oil

A prophet’s widow cries out to Elisha as her creditor is coming to take her two sons as slaves (she could not pay her debts).

Elisha asks what she has in her house and finds it is  just a little oil. He instructs her to borrow as many empty vessels as possible, then pour her oil into them. Miraculously, the oil keeps flowing until every jar is filled.

She sells the oil, pays the debt, and lives off the rest with her sons.

Miraculous Conception 

A wealthy Shunammite woman shows hospitality to Elisha whenever he passes by, even building him a furnished upper room. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, notes she has no child and her husband is old.

Elisha promises that by the next year she will hold a son. She doubts but conceives and gives birth to a boy as prophesied.

A Boy’s Resurrection

Years later, the same boy dies suddenly after a headache in the field.His mother lays him on Elisha’s bed and rides urgently to Mount Carmel.

Elisha sends Gehazi ahead with his staff, but the boy remains lifeless. Elisha himself comes, prays, stretches himself upon the child, and the boy revives. He sneezes seven times before opening his eyes.

Poisonous Stew

During famine, the prophets prepare a stew. Wild gourds are mistakenly gathered, and the stew becomes poisonous. Elisha adds flour, and the food is made safe to eat.

Multiplying Loaves

A man brings Elisha twenty barley loaves and some grain. Elisha instructs it be given to one hundred men. Everyone eats and there are leftovers!

Kings 5

Naaman, commander of the Aramean army has leprosy. A young Israelite servant girl tells Naaman’s wife that a prophet in Samaria could heal him.

Naaman goes to his king, who sends him with a letter, silver, gold, and clothing to the king of Israel. The king of Israel panics, thinking the request is a trap ( since only God can heal).

Elisha hears and sends word for the king to send Naaman to him. When Naaman arrives, Elisha doesn’t come out in person but sends a messenger telling him to wash 7 times in the Jordan. 

Naaman is furious, he expected a dramatic healing act and does not see why he has to wash in an Israel river. 

Naaman’s servants reason with him and Naaman humbles himself. He washes in the Jordan seven times, and is healed. 

He returns, declaring there is a God in Israel. He offers Elisha gifts, but Elisha refuses. Naaman takes soil from Israel back home so he can worship the Lord there.

He asks Elisha for pardon when required to accompany his king into the temple of Rimmon and worship. Elisha tells him to “go in peace.”

Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, thinks Elisha was too easy on Naaman. He runs after Naaman, lies, and asks for silver and clothing in Elisha’s name.

Naaman gladly gives him more than requested. Gehazi hides the goods. Elisha confronts and rebukes him. 

As judgment, Naaman’s leprosy clings to Gehazi and his descendants forever.

Questions

Why did the Shunammite woman lie to Gehazi and say her boy is well?

Why did Elisha have Gehazi lay his staff on the boy if it didn’t work?

Why did the man cut up random gourds to feed everyone he found in the wild when he didn’t know what they were?

Application

God provides! In Chapter 3, the kings needed water.  God provided abundantly and led them to victory. In Chapter 4 we see people needing freedom from debt, infertile, devastated by loss, poisoned and hungry. Again God working through Elisha provides for them all. In Chapter 5 Naaman needs healing but learns to humble himself when pride became his barrier. This contrasts with Elisha’s refusal of payment. From kings to widows, God extends provision to those who seek Him.