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Victory over Ben-hadad

1 Now Ben-hadadking of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty-two kings,along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up, besieged Samaria,and fought against it.

2 He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says:

3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine! And your best wives and children are mine as well! ’ ”

4 Then the king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

5 The messengers then returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent messengers to you, saying: You are to give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.

6 But at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will lay their hands on and take away whatever is precious to you.’ ”

7 Then the king of Israel called for all the elders of the land and said, “Think it over and you will see that this one is only looking for trouble,for he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I didn’t turn him down.”

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen or agree.”

9 So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Say to my lord the king, ‘Everything you demanded of your servant the first time, I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ” So the messengers left and took word back to him.

10 Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severelyif Samaria’s dustamounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “Say this: ‘Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boastlike the one who takes it off.’ ”

12 When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinkingin the tents, he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.

13 A prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am Yahweh.’ ”

14 Ahab asked, “By whom? ”

And the prophet said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘By the young men of the provincial leaders.’ ”

Then he asked, “Who is to start the battle? ”

He said, “You.”

15 So Ahab counted the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he counted all the Israelite troops: 7,000.

16 They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kingswho were helping him were getting drunk in the tents.

17 The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

18 So he said, “If they have marched out in peace,take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”

19 The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city,

20 and each one struck down his opponent.So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them,but Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry.

21 Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a great slaughter on Aram.

22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider what you should do, for in the springthe king of Aram will march against you.”

23 Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country.That’s why they were stronger than we were. Instead, we should fight with them on the plain; then we will certainly be stronger than they will be.

24 Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place.

25 Raise another army for yourself like the army you lost — horse for horse, chariot for chariot — and let’s fight with them on the plain; and we will certainly be stronger than they will be.” The king listened to them and did so.

26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphekto battle Israel.

27 The Israelites mobilized, gathered supplies, and went to fight them. The Israelites camped in front of them like two little flocks of goats, while the Arameans filled the landscape.

28 Then the man of Godapproached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Because the Arameans have said: Yahweh is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,I will hand over all this great army to you. Then you will know that I am theLord.’ ”

29 They camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day,the battle took place, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans — 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.

30 The ones who remained fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell on those 27,000 remaining men.

Ben-hadad also fled and went into an inner roomin the city.

31 His servants said to him, “Consider this: we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. So let’s put sackcloth around our waistsand ropes around our heads, and let’s go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 So they dressed with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, went to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’ ”

So he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on thisand responded, “Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad.”

Then he said, “Go and bring him.”

So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot.

34 Then Ben-hadad said to him, “I restore to you the cities that my father took from your father,and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, like my father set up in Samaria.”

Ahab responded, “On the basis of this treaty, I release you.” So he made a treaty with him and released him.

Ahab Rebuked by the Lord

35 One of the sons of the prophetssaid to his fellow prophet by the word of theLord, “Strike me! ” But the man refused to strike him.

36 He told him, “Because you did not listen to the voice of theLord, mark my words: When you leave me, a lion will kill you.”When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said to him, “Strike me! ” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound.

38 Then the prophet went and waited for the king on the road. He disguisedhimself with a bandage over his eyes.

39 As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant marched out into the middle of the battle. Suddenly, a man turned aside and brought someone to me and said, ‘Guard this man! If he is ever missing, it will be your life in place of his life,or you will weigh out 75 poundsof silver.’

40 But while your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared.”

The king of Israel said to him, “That will be your sentence; you yourself have decided it.”

41 He quickly removed the bandage from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.

42 The prophet said to him, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Because you released from your hand the man I had set apart for destruction,it will be your life in place of his life and your people in place of his people.’ ”

43 The king of Israel left for home resentful and angry,and he entered Samaria.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/20-5ea145ba1dda3254cb13278c63d660c5.mp3?version_id=72—

Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard

1 Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreelnext to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyardso I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”

3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “I will never give my fathers’ inheritanceto you.”

4 So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angrybecause of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away,and didn’t eat any food.

5 Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat? ”

6 “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,” he replied. “I told him: Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place. But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard! ’ ”

7 Then his wife Jezebel said to him, “Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 So she wrote lettersin Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.She sent the letters to the eldersand nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

9 In the letters, she wrote:

Proclaim a fastand seat Naboth at the head of the people.

10 Then seat two wicked menopposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king! ”Then take him out and stone him to death.

11 The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had commanded them, as was written in the letters she had sent them.

12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.

13 The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king! ” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.

14 Then they sent word to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver,since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.”

16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.

The Lord’s Judgment on Ahab

17 Then the word of theLordcame to Elijah the Tishbite:

18 “Get up and go to meet Ahab king of Israel,who is in Samaria.You’ll find him in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it.

19 Tell him, ‘This is what theLordsays: Have you murderedand also taken possession? ’Then tell him, ‘This is what theLordsays: In the place where the dogs licked Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick your blood! ’ ”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So, you have caught me, my enemy.”

He replied, “I have caught you because you devotedyourself to do what is evil in theLord’s sight.

21 This is what theLordsays:‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will sweep away your descendants:

I will eliminate all of Ahab’s males,

both slave and free, in Israel;

22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboamson of Nebat and like the house of Baashason of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.

23 TheLordalso speaks of Jezebel: The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of landat Jezreel:

24 He who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,

and he who dies in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.’ ”

25 Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in theLord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him.

26 He committed the most detestable acts by going after idolsas the Amoriteshad, whom theLordhad dispossessed before the Israelites.

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackclothand walked around subdued.

28 Then the word of theLordcame to Elijah the Tishbite:

29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime,because he has humbled himself before Me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/21-9bc2613ca129654d9760fe257d4ffe77.mp3?version_id=72—

Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab

1 There wasa lull of three yearswithout war between Aram and Israel.

2 However, in the third year, Jehoshaphatking of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.

3 The king of Israel had said to his servants, “Don’t you know that Ramoth-gileadis ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram? ”

4 Sohe asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead? ”

Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what theLord’s will is.”

6 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men,and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain? ”

They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”

7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore?Let’s ask him.”

8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate himbecause he never prophesies good about me,but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king shouldn’t say that! ” Jehoshaphat replied.

9 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah! ”

10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah,clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floorat the entrance to Samaria’s gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

11 Then Zedekiahson of Chenaanah made iron hornsand said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’ ”

12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same: “March up to Ramoth-gileadand succeed, for theLordwill hand it over to the king.”

Micaiah’s Message of Defeat

13 The messengerwho went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

14 But Micaiah said, “As theLordlives,I will say whatever theLordsays to me.”

15 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should we refrain? ”

Micaiah told him, “March up and succeed. Yahweh will hand it over to the king.”

16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh? ”

17 So Micaiah said:

I saw all Israel scattered on the hills

like sheep without a shepherd.

And theLordsaid,

“They have no master;

let everyone return home in peace.”

18 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster? ”

19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of theLord: I saw theLordsitting on His throne,and the whole heavenly hostwas standing by Him at His right hand and at His left hand.

20 And theLordsaid, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? ’So one was saying this and another was saying that.

21 “Then a spirit came forward, stood before theLord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 “TheLordasked him, ‘How? ’

“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spiritin the mouth of all his prophets.’

“Then He said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail.Go and do that.’

23 “You see, theLordhas put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and theLordhas pronounced disaster against you.”

24 Then Zedekiahson of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Didthe Spirit of theLordleave me to speak to you? ”

25 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”

26 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,

27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prisonand feed him only bread and wateruntil I come back safely.’ ”

28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, theLordhas not spoken through me.”Then he said, “Listen, all you people! ”

Ahab’s Death

29 Thenthe king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.

30 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguisemyself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31 Now the king of Aram had ordered his 32 chariot commanders,“Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”

32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel! ” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.

33 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34 But a man drew his bowwithout taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,for I am badly wounded! ”

35 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening,and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.

36 Then the cry rang out in the army as the sun set, declaring:

Each man to his own city,

and each man to his own land!

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.

38 Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it, according to the word of theLordthat He had spoken.

39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palacehe built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

40 Ahab rested with his fathers,and his son Ahaziahbecame king in his place.

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

41 Jehoshaphatson of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Israel’s King Ahab.

42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king; he reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

43 He walked in all the ways of his father Asa;he did not turn away from them but did what was right in theLord’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away;the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

46 He removed from the land the rest of the male cult prostitutes who were left from the days of his father Asa.

47 There was no king in Edom;a deputy served as king.

48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshishto go to Ophirfor gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

49 At that time, Ahaziahson of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing.

50 Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David.His son Jehorambecame king in his place.

Israel’s King Ahaziah

51 Ahaziahson of Ahab became king over Israel in Samariain the seventeenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphatand reigned over Israel two years.

52 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight.He walked in the way of his father,in the way of his mother,and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

53 He served Baal and worshiped him.He provoked theLordGod of Israel just as his father had done.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/22-23b7780d61b4ebaee70341dc50eee154.mp3?version_id=72—

Ahaziah’s Sickness and Death

1 After the death of Ahab, Moabrebelled against Israel.

2 Ahaziahhad fallen through the latticed window of his upper room in Samariaand was injured. So he sent messengers instructing them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub,the god of Ekron,if I will recover from this injury.”

3 But the angel of theLordsaid to Elijah the Tishbite,“Go and meet the messengers of the king of Samariaand ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? ’

4 Therefore, this is what theLordsays: ‘You will not get up from your sickbed — you will certainly die.’ ” Then Elijah left.

5 The messengers returned to the king, who asked them, “Why have you come back? ”

6 They replied, “A man came to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and declare to him: This is what theLordsays: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you’re sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from your sickbed — you will certainly die.’ ”

7 The king asked them, “What sort of man came up to meet you and spoke those words to you? ”

8 They replied, “A hairy man with a leather belt around his waist.”

He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”

9 So King Ahaziah sent a captain of 50 with his 50 mento Elijah. When the captain went up to him, he was sitting on top of the hill. He announced, “Man of God,the king declares, ‘Come down! ’ ”

10 Elijah responded to the captain of the 50, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men.

11 So the king sent another captain of 50 with his 50 men to Elijah. He took in the situationand announced, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down immediately! ’ ”

12 Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” So a divine firecame down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men.

13 Then the king sent a third captain of 50 with his 50 men. The third captain of 50 went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, “Man of God,please let my life and the lives of these 50 servants of yours be precious in your sight.

14 Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of 50 with their fifties, but this time let my life be precious in your sight.”

15 The angel of theLordsaid to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.”So he got up and went down with him to the king.

16 Then Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron — is it because there is no God in Israel for you to inquire of His will? — you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’ ”

17 Ahaziah died according to the word of theLordthat Elijah had spoken. Since he had no son, Jorambecame king in his place. This happened in the second year of Judah’s King Jehoramson of Jehoshaphat.

18 The rest of the events of Ahaziah’s reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/1-bdf47f6f3ff1ee89aa63cbfa6c142a0c.mp3?version_id=72—

Elijah in the Whirlwind

1 The time had come for theLordto take Elijah up to heavenin a whirlwind.Elijah and Elishawere traveling from Gilgal,

2 and Elijah said to Elisha,“Stay here;theLordis sending me on to Bethel.”

But Elisha replied, “As theLordlives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”So they went down to Bethel.

3 Then the sons of the prophetswho were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that theLordwill take your master away from you today? ”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; theLordis sending me to Jericho.”

But Elisha said, “As theLordlives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that theLordwill take your master away from you today? ”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here; theLordis sending me to the Jordan.”

But Elisha said, “As theLordlives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

7 Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

8 Elijah took his mantle,rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”

So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two sharesof your spirit.”

10 Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you,you will have it. If not, you won’t.”

11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of firesuddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.

12 As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel! ”Then he never saw Elijah again. He took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

13 Elisha picked up the mantlethat had fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

14 Then he took the mantle Elijah had dropped and struck the waters. “Where is theLordGod of Elijah? ” he asked. He struck the waters himself, and they parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.

15 When the sons of the prophets from Jericho who were facing him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground in front of him.

16 Then the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Since there are 50 strong men here with your servants, please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of theLordhas carried him away and put him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.”

He answered, “Don’t send them.”

17 However, they urged him to the point of embarrassment,so he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men, who looked for three days but did not find him.

18 When they returned to him in Jerichowhere he was staying, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go? ”

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Even though our lord can see that the city’s location is good, the water is bad and the land unfruitful.”

20 He replied, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.”

After they had brought him one,

21 Elisha went out to the spring of water, threw salt in it,and said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness result from it.’ ”

22 Therefore, the water remains healthy to this very day according to the word that Elisha spoke.

23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel.As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and harassed him,chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy! ”

24 He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of theLord.Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the children.

25 From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel,and then he returned to Samaria.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/2-63f366e6309b735ed0f76da994c4f77f.mp3?version_id=72—

Israel’s King Joram

1 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat and reigned 12 years.

2 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight, but not like his father and mother,for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made.

3 Nevertheless, Joram clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.He did not turn away from them.

Moab’s Rebellion against Israel

4 King Mesha of Moabwas a sheep breeder. He used to paythe king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams,

5 but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

6 So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel.

7 Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphatof Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.Will you go with me to fight against Moab? ”

Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

8 Then he asked, “Which route should we take? ”

Joram replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”

9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edomset out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or their animals.

10 Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, theLordhas summoned three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”

11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of theLordhere? Let’s inquire of Yahweh through him.”

One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”

12 Jehoshaphat affirmed, “TheLord’s words are with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.

13 However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “We have nothing in common. Go to the prophets of your father and your mother! ”

But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is theLordwho has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”

14 Elisha responded, “As theLordof Hosts lives,I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,I would not look at you; I wouldn’t take notice of you.

15 Now, bring me a musician.”

While the musician played,theLord’s handcame on Elisha.

16 Then he said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’

17 For theLordsays, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,and you will drink — you and your cattle and your animals.’

18 This is easy in theLord’s sight.He will also hand Moab over to you.

19 Then you must attack every fortified city and every choice city. You must cut down every good tree and stop up every spring of water. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.”

20 About the time for the grain offeringthe next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

21 All Moab had heard that the kingshad come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, from the youngest to the oldest, were summoned and took their stand at the border.

22 When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and the Moabites saw that the water across from them was red like blood.

23 “This is blood! ” they exclaimed. “The kingshave clashed swords and killed each other. So, to the spoil, Moab! ”

24 However, when the Moabites came to Israel’s camp, the Israelites attacked them, and they fled from them. So Israel went into the land and struck down the Moabites.

25 They destroyed the cities, and each of them threw stones to cover every good piece of land. They stopped up every spring of water and cut down every good tree. In the end, only the buildings of Kir-haresethwere left. Then men with slings surrounded the city and attacked it.

26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took 700 swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom,but they could not do it.

27 So he took his firstborn son,who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/3-fcd6bbbaaa0a369e12715a5dfcd4d25c.mp3?version_id=72—

The Widow’s Oil Multiplied

1 One of the wives of the sons of the prophetscried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared theLord.Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”

2 Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house? ”

She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”

3 Then he said, “Go and borrow empty containers from everyone — from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.

4 Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.”

5 So she left.

After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.

6 When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.”

But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped.

7 She went and told the man of God,and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”

The Shunammite Woman’s Hospitality

8 One day Elisha went to Shunem.A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat.

9 Then she said to her husband, “I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God,

10 so let’s make a small room upstairs and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes, he can stay there.”

The Shunammite Woman’s Son

11 One day he came there and stopped and went to the room upstairs to lie down.

12 He ordered his attendant Gehazi,“Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she stood before him.

13 Then he said to Gehazi, “Say to her, ‘Look, you’ve gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you?Can we speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army? ’ ”

She answered, “I am living among my own people.”

14 So he asked, “Then what should be done for her? ”

Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

15 “Call her,” Elisha said. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway.

16 Elisha said, “At this time next year you will have a son in your arms.”

Then she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not deceive your servant.”

17 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same time the following year, as Elisha had promised her.

The Shunammite’s Son Raised

18 The child grew and one day went out to his father and the harvesters.

19 Suddenly he complained to his father, “My head! My head! ”

His father told his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

20 So he picked him up and took him to his mother. The child sat on her lap until noon and then died.

21 Then she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut him in, and left.

22 She summoned her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so I can hurry to the man of God and then come back.”

23 But he said, “Why go to him today? It’s not a New Moon or a Sabbath.”

She replied, “Everything is all right.”

24 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Hurry, don’t slow the pace for me unless I tell you.”

25 So she set out and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to his attendant Gehazi,“Look, there’s the Shunammite woman.

26 Run out to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your son all right? ’ ”

And she answered, “Everything’s all right.”

27 When she came up to the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet.Gehazi came to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone — she is in severe anguish,and theLordhas hidden it from me. He hasn’t told me.”

28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me? ’ ”

29 So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantleunder your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him.Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”

30 The boy’s mother said to Elisha, “As theLordlives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”So he got up and followed her.

31 Gehazi went ahead of them and placed the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or sign of life, so he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy didn’t wake up.”

32 When Elisha got to the house, he discovered the boy lying dead on his bed.

33 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to theLord.

34 Then he went up and lay on the boy:he put mouth to mouth, eye to eye, hand to hand. While he bent down over him, the boy’s flesh became warm.

35 Elisha got up, went into the house, and paced back and forth. Then he went up and bent down over him again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

36 Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” He called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”

37 She came, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; she picked up her son and left.

The Deadly Stew

38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal,there was a faminein the land. The sons of the prophetswere sitting at his feet.He said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and make stew for the sons of the prophets.”

39 One went out to the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment would hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, but they were unaware of what they were.

40 They served some for the men to eat, but when they ate the stew they cried out, “There’s death in the pot,man of God! ” And they were unable to eat it.

41 Then Elisha said, “Get some meal.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it for the people to eat.” And there was nothing bad in the pot.

The Multiplied Bread

42 A man from Baal-shalishahcame to the man of God with his sack full of 20 loaves of barley bread from the first bread of the harvest. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.”

43 But Elisha’s attendant asked, “What? Am I to set 20 loaves before 100 men? ”

“Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said, “for this is what theLordsays: ‘They will eat, and they will have some left over.’ ”

44 So he gave it to them, and as theLordhad promised, they ate and had some left over.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/4-dc68f5dcb978b62fa7c35859ae62df6b.mp3?version_id=72—

Naaman’s Disease Healed

1 Naaman,commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sightand highly regardedbecause through him, theLordhad given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease.

2 Aram had gone on raidsand brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.

3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go tothe prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”

4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.

5 Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”

So he went and took with him 750 poundsof silver, 150 poundsof gold, and 10 changes of clothes.

6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read:

When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.

7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothesand asked, “Am I God,killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight withme.”

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel tore his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.

10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger,who said, “Go washseven timesin the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.”

11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and will wave his handover the spot and cure the skin disease.

12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?Could I not wash in them and be clean? ” So he turned and left in a rage.

13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father,if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? ”

14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.

15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel.Therefore, please accept a giftfrom your servant.”

16 But Elisha said, “As theLordlives,I stand before Him. I will not accept it.”Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.

17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry,for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but Yahweh.

18 However, in a particular matter may theLordpardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship and I, as his right-hand man,bow in the temple of Rimmon — when I bowin the temple of Rimmon, may theLordpardon your servant in this matter.”

19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”

Gehazi’s Greed Punished

After Naaman had traveled a short distance from Elisha,

20 Gehazi,the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought: My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As theLordlives,I will run after him and get something from him.

21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right? ”

22 Gehazi said, “It’s all right.My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them 75 poundsof silver and two changes of clothes.’ ”

23 But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept 150 pounds.”He urged Gehazi and then packed 150 poundsof silver in two bags with two changes of clothes. Naaman gave them to two of his young men who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

24 When Gehazi came to the hill,he took the gifts from them and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left.

25 Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi? ” Elisha asked him.

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” he replied.

26 But Elisha questioned him, “Wasn’t my spirittherewhen the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?

27 Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased — white as snow.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/5-8fca15725ab4cd0dff032bb81451ca31.mp3?version_id=72—

The Floating Ax Head

1 The sons of the prophetssaid to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervisionis too small for us.

2 Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”

“Go,” he said.

3 Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”

“I’ll come,” he answered.

4 So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.

5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed! ”

6 Then the man of Godasked, “Where did it fall? ”

When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.

7 Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.

The Aramean War

8 When the king of Aramwas waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, “My camp will be at such and such a place.”

9 But the man of Godsent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”

10 Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedlywarned the king, so the king would be on his guard.

11 The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel? ”

12 One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”

13 So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.”

When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,”

14 he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do? ”

16 Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid,for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”

17 Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So theLordopened the servant’s eyes. He looked and saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fireall around Elisha.

18 When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to theLord, “Please strike this nation with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness,according to Elisha’s word.

19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So theLordopened their eyes. They looked and discovered they were in Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father,should I kill them? I will kill them.”

22 Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”

23 So he prepared a great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raidersdid not come into Israel’s land again.

24 Some time later, King Ben-hadadof Aram brought all his military units together and marched up to besiege Samaria.

25 So there was a great faminein Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for 80 silver shekels,and a cupof dove’s dungsold for five silver shekels.

26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “My lord the king, help! ”

27 He answered, “If theLorddoesn’t help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress? ”

28 Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter? ”

She said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.’

29 So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her the next day, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him,’but she has hidden her son.”

30 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes.Then, as he was passing by on the wall, the people saw that there was sackclothunder his clothes next to his skin.

31 He announced, “May God punish me and do so severelyif the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”

32 Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elderswere sitting with him. The king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger got to him, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murdererhas sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him? ”

33 While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messengercame down to him. Then he said, “This disaster is from theLord. Why should I wait for theLordany longer? ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/6-8b93c61f9075dd202aed7d27069f310a.mp3?version_id=72—

Aram Defeated

1 Elisha replied, “Hear the word of theLord! This is what theLordsays: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, six quartsof fine meal will sell for a shekeland 12 quartsof barley will sell for a shekel.’ ”

2 Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man,responded to the man of God,“Look, even if theLordwere to make windows in heaven, could this really happen? ”

Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”

3 Four men with a skin diseasewere at the entrance to the gate. They said to each other, “Why just sit here until we die?

4 If we say, ‘Let’s go into the city,’ we will die there because the famine is in the city, but if we sit here, we will also die. So now, come on. Let’s go to the Arameans’ camp.If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”

5 So the diseased men got up at twilight to go to the Arameans’ camp. When they came to the camp’s edge, they discovered that there was not a single man there,

6 for the Lordhad caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army.The Arameans had said to each other, “The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittitesand the kings of Egyptto attack us.”

7 So they had gotten up and fledat twilight, abandoning their tents, horses, and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had fled for their lives.

8 When these men came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they picked up the silver, gold, and clothing and went off and hid them. They came back and entered another tent, picked things up, and hid them.

9 Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news.If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will catch up with us. Let’s go tell the king’s household.”

10 The diseased men went and called to the city’s gatekeepers and told them, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there — no human sounds. There was nothing but tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.”

11 The gatekeepers called out, and the news was reported to the king’s household.

12 So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving,so they have left the camp to hide in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.’ ”

13 But one of his servants responded, “Please, let messengers take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their fate is like the entire Israelite community who will die,so let’s send them and see.”

14 The messengers took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”

15 So they followed them as far as the Jordan. They saw that the whole way was littered with clothes and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king.

16 Then the people went out and plundered the Aramean camp.

It was then that six quartsof fine meal sold for a shekeland 12 quartsof barley sold for a shekel,according to the word of theLord.

17 The king had appointed the captain, his right-hand man,to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway. He died, just as the man of God had predicted when the king came to him.

18 When the man of God had said to the king, “About this time tomorrow 12 quartsof barley will sell for a shekeland six quartsof fine meal will sell for a shekelat the gate of Samaria,”

19 this captain had answered the man of God, “Look, even if theLordwere to make windows in heaven, could this really happen? ” Elisha had said, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”

20 This is what happened to him: the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2KI/7-664eb4559e596fa5bb72ae0aa400d5ac.mp3?version_id=72—