2 Kings 3-10

Narratives in 2 Kings 3-10

We see the providence of God in history such that the will of God is accomplished by His means working with the hearts and desires of men. Using evil men to judge evil men who are still accountable to God for their sin.

“Yahweh’s Word determines the course of history and thereby brings justice to his people.” -Dr. Dale Ralph Davis

The Campaign Against Moab (2 Kings 3:1-27)

Joram king of Israel allies with Jehoshaphat king of Judah and the king of Edom to attack Moab after Mesha king of Moab rebels. When the armies run out of water in the desert, they consult Elisha the prophet who, for Jehoshaphat's sake, prophesies water and victory. Water miraculously fills the valley, appearing as blood to the Moabites who attack carelessly and are defeated. When the Moabite king sacrifices his firstborn son on the wall, great wrath comes upon Israel and they withdraw.

The Widow's Oil Multiplied (2 Kings 4:1-7)

A widow of one of the prophets cries to Elisha because a creditor is coming to take her two children as slaves. Elisha instructs her to gather empty vessels and pour her small jar of oil into them. The oil miraculously multiplies, filling all the vessels. She sells the oil to pay her debt and lives on the remainder.

The Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:8-37)

A wealthy Shunammite woman provides hospitality to Elisha by building him a room. Elisha promises her a son despite her husband's old age, and she bears a son. Years later, the boy dies suddenly. The woman goes to Elisha at Mount Carmel, and he sends Gehazi ahead with his staff, but the child is not revived. Elisha himself comes, prays, and stretches himself upon the child twice, and the boy is restored to life.

Death in the Pot and Feeding One Hundred (2 Kings 4:38-44)

During a famine at Gilgal, someone puts poisonous wild gourds into the prophets' stew. Elisha neutralizes the poison with flour. Then a man brings twenty loaves of barley bread and fresh grain to Elisha, who commands it be given to one hundred men. Despite his servant's doubt, the food feeds everyone with some left over, as the Lord had promised.

Naaman's Leprosy Healed (2 Kings 5:1-27)

Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, has leprosy. A captive Israelite girl tells of Elisha's healing power. Naaman comes to Israel with a letter to the king, causing distress, but Elisha sends for him. Elisha instructs Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Initially angry, Naaman is persuaded by his servants and obeys, being completely healed. He professes faith in Israel's God and offers gifts, which Elisha refuses. Gehazi secretly pursues Naaman and lies to obtain silver and garments. For his greed and deception, Gehazi is struck with Naaman's leprosy.

The Floating Axe Head (2 Kings 6:1-7)

The company of prophets builds a new dwelling place at the Jordan River. While cutting trees, a borrowed axe head falls into the water. Elisha throws a stick into the water, causing the iron axe head to float, and the man retrieves it.

Elisha and the Blinded Syrian Army (2 Kings 6:8-23)

The king of Syria wars against Israel, but Elisha repeatedly warns Israel's king of Syrian plans, frustrating Syria's attacks. Syria's king sends an army to capture Elisha at Dothan. Elisha's servant fears, but Elisha prays for his eyes to be opened, and he sees horses and chariots of fire surrounding them. Elisha prays for the Syrians to be struck with blindness, then leads them to Samaria where their sight is restored. Israel's king wants to kill them, but Elisha commands they be fed and released, and the Syrian raids cease for a time.

The Siege of Samaria and Resulting Famine (2 Kings 6:24-7:20)

Ben-hadad king of Syria besieges Samaria, causing severe famine where people resort to cannibalism. The king of Israel blames Elisha and seeks to kill him. Elisha prophesies that within twenty-four hours, flour and barley will be sold cheaply at the gate. The king's captain doubts this word. Four leprous men venture to the Syrian camp and find it abandoned—God had caused the Syrians to hear the sound of a great army and flee, leaving everything behind. The lepers report to the city, the people plunder the Syrian camp, and food becomes abundant as prophesied. The doubting captain is trampled to death in the gate, fulfilling Elisha's word that he would see it but not eat of it.

The Shunammite Woman's Land Restored (2 Kings 8:1-6)

Elisha warns the Shunammite woman of a seven-year famine and she sojourns in Philistia. Upon returning, she appeals to the king for her house and land. Providentially, Gehazi is telling the king about Elisha's miracles, including the resurrection of her son, just as she arrives. The king orders everything restored to her, including all the produce of her fields during her absence.

Hazael Becomes King of Syria (2 Kings 8:7-15)

Ben-hadad king of Syria, being ill, sends Hazael to inquire of Elisha whether he will recover. Elisha tells Hazael that Ben-hadad will not die from his illness, but will certainly die. Elisha weeps because he foresees the evil Hazael will do to Israel. Hazael returns, tells Ben-hadad he will recover, but the next day smothers him and becomes king in his place.

Jehoram's Reign in Judah (2 Kings 8:16-24)

Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah and does evil, walking in the ways of the kings of Israel, having married Ahab's daughter. Edom and Libnah revolt from Judah's rule during his reign. He dies and is succeeded by his son Ahaziah.

Ahaziah's Reign in Judah (2 Kings 8:25-29)

Ahaziah son of Jehoram becomes king of Judah at age twenty-two and reigns one year, doing evil like the house of Ahab, being related to them by marriage. He goes with Joram king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. Joram is wounded and returns to Jezreel to recover, and Ahaziah goes to visit him there.

3 Instruments of God’s Judgement for the apostasy of Ahab’s Dynasty

1 Kings 19:15–18 “15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

Syrian king Hazael

Jehu, king of Israel

Elisha the prophet

2 Kings 9

2 Kings 9:1–10 KJV

1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: 2 And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; 3 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not. 4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain. 6 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. 7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

Elisha sends the anointing oil to declare Jehu king of Israel

from that point Jehu just acts like who he is and Yahweh’s prophecy will be fulfilled

2 Kings 9:11-20 Jehu's Secret Anointing Becomes Public

When Jehu returned to his fellow commanders after being secretly anointed king, they demanded to know what the prophet had said, and when he told them, they immediately proclaimed him king by blowing trumpets and spreading their cloaks under his feet. Jehu then quickly organized his commanders to ride to Jezreel to kill King Joram, moving so fast that the watchman in the tower reported seeing a group approaching in the distance but couldn't identify who they were yet.

2 Kings 9:21–26 KJV

21 And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? 23 And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. 24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. 25 Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him; 26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 9:27-29 Ahaziah of Judah is Killed

Ahaziah fled by way of the road to Beth Haggan, a town seven miles southwest of Jezreel. Jehu and his men chased Ahaziah and wounded him just south of Beth Haggan.

According to 2 Chronicles 22:9, Ahaziah reached Samaria, about eight miles south of Beth Haggan, where he hid for a while.

Ahaziah then fled north to Megiddo, about twelve miles north of Samaria, where he died.

2 Kings 9:30–37 KJV

30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. 31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? 32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. 33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. 34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter. 35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: 37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

Her makeup worked for all the years with Ahab, but painting her face and putting up her hair couldn’t stop the judgement of Yahweh

God can, does, and will speak using whatever mouth he chooses. We see Jehu quoting the word of God about the judgement of God through him by the will of God

2 Kings 10

2 Kings 10:1–11 KJV

1 And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying, 2 Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour; 3 Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house. 4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand? 5 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes. 6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up. 7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel. 8 And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning. 9 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these? 10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah. 11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

Back in 1 Kings 21:17-24 God judged Ahab and Elijah delivered the message to Ahab that his entire house and lineage would be utterly wiped out

Even Jehu speaks the truth: “Know now that there shall fall uunto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord” here he meant about Ahab but it’s a truth for all times!

2 Kings 10:12-25 Jehu Eliminates Baal Worship

Jehu deceived the worshipers of Baal by pretending to honor their god even more than Ahab did, then gathered all the prophets, priests, and followers of Baal into one temple for a special sacrifice. Once he confirmed that only Baal worshipers were inside, Jehu had his guards kill everyone in the temple.

2 Kings 10:26–28 KJV

26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. 27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

By deceit Jehu lured them all together and killed them and destroyed the sacred stone and temple of Baal, removing Baal worship from Israel.

Jehu did it for personal or political reasons not because he had repented and wanted to serve Yahweh

2 Kings 10:29–31 KJV

29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

Jehu didn’t care about the word of God and was still condoning the rebellion idolatry for himself and Israel

2 Kings 10:32-36 Israel Loses Territory Under Jehu

During Jehu's reign, God began to reduce Israel's size by allowing Hazael of Syria to conquer all the Israelite territory east of the Jordan River, including the lands of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh. Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years in Samaria, and when he died, his son Jehoahaz became king after him.

Conclusion

God’s judgement is sure and final

2 Kings 9:9 “9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:”

Partial obedience is disobedience to God

2 Kings 3:1–3 “1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.”

Jehoram took down the pillar of Baal Ahab had made, but left all the other idols and priests and prophets of Baal in Israel

2 Kings 10:28–31 “28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.”

Even today we see many people do part of what God says in the Bible to do but to only do part is to finish none of God’s will. It’s easy for us to obey God when it’s convenient but not when it costs us or forces us to face and kill our “pet sins”

The Bible is our standard to live by and the one we will be judged against. In the end how many times we came to church, how much time or money we donated, or even how many people we talked to about our beliefs won’t matter if our heart hasn’t been changed by God and we faithfully follow the Lord in heart as well as deed

2 Kings 10:31 “31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.”