The group of prophets got permission from Elisha to build a new house for him and started cutting trees by the Jordan river. One of the prophet's ax heads, that were borrowed, fell in the water. Elisha tossed a stick into the water where the ax head was lost and it floated up to the surface.
Elisha forewarned the king of Israel about the king of Aram's ambush and apparently this happened so frequently the king thought Israel had a spy within his ranks. One of the king's men told him Elisha was the culprit and currently in Dothan. An aggressive force was sent by the king of Aram to capture him. A young man with Elisha, the Holy Man, saw horses and chariots surrounding the entire city and was frightened. Elisha prayed to God that the young man's eyes be opened and he saw they were made of fire! When the Aramean's arrived, God struck them blind just as Elisha prayed for. Without revealing his identity, Elisha told the men the man they were looking for was in Samaria. Their site was returned to them as they entered Samaria. When the king of Israel asked if they should be killed, Elisha suggested throwing a feast for them and sending them on their way.
Some time passed and king Ben-Hadad of Aram seized Samaria, which brought on a terrible famine. Food was extremely expensive. Donkey heads were 80 shekels ($21 US) and greens were 5 ($1 US). This caused mass hysteria which lead to cannibalism. A woman asked the king of Israel for help because of an altercation she had. Another woman approached her and said, "Give up your son and we'll have him for today's supper; tomorrow we'll eat my son." The woman told the king they cooked her son and ate him. The next day she approached the same woman only to find that she had hidden her son. The king ripped his robe and everyone saw he was wearing burlap underneath it. He cried out to God for the worst punishment possible if Elisha was still alive and sent an executioner to Elisha's home. Elisha already knew what the king planned so he instructed the elders with him to shut the door and lock it. Just then the king burst thew his door saying, "This trouble is directly from God! And what's next? I'm fed up with God!" Elisha announced the famine was over and the market would be full of affordable food again. The king's attendant thought Elisha was full of crap so Elisha told him he wouldn't get to eat at all.
Four lepers went to Aramean's camp, but it was completely empty. God made the men hear a mighty army approaching so they fled the area. They thought the Hittites and the kings of Egypt were sent by the king of Israel. The lepers ate and drank and looted silver, gold, and clothes. They continued searching for valuables, but their consciences kicked in so they went to the city gate and reported to the gate keeper what happened, which spread like wildfire. That night, the king of Israel was convinced Aram army was hiding in the field waiting to attack. One of his advisers suggested a few men go and take 5 of the horses left behind. They took 2 chariots w/ horses from the enemy camp and went to look for the army of Aram to determine what happened. The men reported back to the king of Israel that the route all the way to the Jordan was littered w/ clothes and equipment the army rid of in their panicked state. The rest of camp had been raided. The king's attendant who doubted Elisha's comment about the famine was trampled at the city gate as the mob of people returned.
Remember the widow and her son who Elisha brought back to life? They were instructed to live somewhere else b/c of the predicted famine so after 7 yrs they returned. They asked the king for their farm and home back. The king appointed an officer to assist her in getting all of her property back as well as all the profits it raised over the duration of the famine.
King Ben-Hadad feel ill in Damascus and was told Elisha was in town. Hazael, his servant, was told to ask Elisha if Ben-Hadad would recover. As a gift to the Elisha, Hazael brought a load so great it took 40 camels to carry it. The Holy Man told Hazael Ben-Hadad would recover but he was still doomed to die. As Elisha stared intently at Hazael, he wept b/c he read his heart and knew what would happen to Israel's children. Hazael asked why he was crying and Elisha replied, "I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women!” Hazael responded, “How could a nobody like me ever accomplish such great things?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are going to be the king of Aram.” Hazael reported back to his king but the very next day he took a water soaked quilt and suffocated Ben-Hadad.
When Joram was in his 5th year of reigning in Israel, Jehoram became king of of Judah. He was 32 and ruled 8 years. Johoram married into Ahab's family and continued to live in sin. Edom revolted and set up their own king. Jehoram's army was surrounded by Edom but they fought back triumphantly. Unfortunately for Jehoram, his men deserted him. Jehoram died and his son, Ahaziah, succeeded him. To this day Edom revolts against Judah. Joram was now in his 12th year of reigning and Ahaziah was a young man of 22 and ruled for a year. Ahaziah ruled like Ahab and sinned by marriage. He partnered up with Israel against Hazael at Ramoth Gilead. Joram went to Jezreel to recover from his injuries and Ahaziah visited him.
Elisha instructed a prophet to go to Ramoth Gilead with oil and seek out Jehu, for he was to anointed as king of Israel. The prophet was to do this and leave quickly. The young prophet anointed Jehu but dilly dallied saying it was God's word for them to attack the regime of Ahab their master. He went on to say he was avenging the death of his servants the prophets that was arranged by Jezebel and said he was going to destroy the entire group then made a run for it. Jehu's master officers asked what the prophet wanted. After he told them, they sprung into action.
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