2 Kings 8

Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose 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.

Elisha spoke gently to the woman, whose son he had brought back to life. "Get up," he urged, "take your family and find a place to stay wherever you can. God has called down a famine on our land, and it will last seven years."

And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

The woman, moved by the prophet's words, courageously led her family to live among the Philistines for seven long years.

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.

After seven long years, the woman finally left the land of the Philistines. Overwhelmed with emotion, she sought the king's help, pleading for her home and land.

And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.

The king turned to Gehazi, Elisha's servant, with a curious look in his eyes, "Please, share with me all the amazing deeds Elisha has performed."

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, 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.

As Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead body back to life, suddenly the woman whose son Elisha had revived came pleading to the king for her home and land. Gehazi turned to the king and said, "My lord, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha brought back to life."

And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.

When the king questioned the woman, she spoke her truth. Touched by her story, the king assigned an officer to her case. He commanded, "Return everything that was once hers, including all the harvests from her fields from the day she left until now."

And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

Elisha arrived in Damascus. Benhadad, the Syrian king, was ill. He was informed, "The holy man has come here."

And the king said unto Hazael, 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?

The king pleaded with Hazael, "Take a gift and find the holy man. Ask God through him, 'Will I be healed from this sickness?'"

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with 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?

With a heavy heart, Hazael approached, bearing a gift from the riches of Damascus, a load fit for forty camels. He stood before him, a messenger for King Benhadad of Syria, his voice trembling, "The king, your son, is ill. He sent me to ask, will he survive this sickness?"

And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

Elisha gently told him, "Go, reassure him that he may recover. However, God has revealed to me that he will indeed pass away."

And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on Hazael until Hazael grew ashamed, and then tears streamed down the face of the holy man.

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my 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.

Hazael asked, "Why are you crying, my lord?" The answer came, "Because I foresee the horrors you'll inflict on the people of Israel. You'll burn their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women."

And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

Hazael questioned, "How could I, your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?" Elisha replied, "God has revealed to me that you will reign as king of Syria."

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

So he left Elisha and returned to his master, who asked, "What did Elisha say?" He replied, "He assured me you will definitely get better."

And 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.

The next day, he soaked a heavy cloth in water and covered his face with it, leading to his death. Then Hazael took over his throne.

And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

In the fifth year of Joram's reign, son of Ahab, the ruler of Israel, Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah. It was during this time that Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son, ascended to the throne of Judah.

Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

He was just 32 when he ascended the throne, ruling Jerusalem for a brief span of eight years.

And he walked in 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.

He followed the path of Israel's kings, just like Ahab's family, for he was married to Ahab's daughter. He committed acts that deeply displeased the Lord.

Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.

Despite His disappointment, God couldn't bring Himself to obliterate Judah, out of love and respect for His servant David. He had made a promise to David, a promise of enduring hope and legacy for his descendants.

In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

During his reign, Edom, weary of Judah's rule, rebelled and chose their own king.

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.

Joram bravely journeyed to Zair, his chariots following. Under the cover of darkness, he fiercely attacked the surrounding Edomites and their chariot leaders. Overwhelmed, the people scattered, seeking refuge in their tents.

Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

Edom, filled with defiance, broke free from Judah's control and remains independent to this day. Simultaneously, Libnah, too, rebelled.

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?

Isn't everything else Joram did, all his actions, recorded in the history book of Judah's kings?

And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Joram joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to rest in the city of David. His son, Ahaziah, took over his throne, continuing his legacy.

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.

In the twelfth year of Joram's reign, son of Ahab, the king of Israel, Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, the king of Judah, started his rule.

Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

At the tender age of 22, Ahaziah ascended to the throne, ruling Jerusalem for just a year. His mother, Athaliah, was the proud daughter of Omri, the king of Israel.

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 the son in law of the house of Ahab.

He followed Ahab's path, committing sins that upset the Lord, just like Ahab's family. After all, he was tied to Ahab's family by marriage.

And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.

Ahaziah went with Joram, Ahab's son, to battle against Hazael, the Syrian king, at Ramothgilead. Sadly, Joram was wounded by the Syrians.

And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

King Joram, wounded in battle against Syria's King Hazael at Ramah, retreated to Jezreel to recover. Ahaziah, son of Jehoram and King of Judah, visited Joram, who was also his kin, in his time of illness.