2Kings:1-4

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* Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab . * And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria , and was sick : and he sent messengers , and said unto them , Go , enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease . * But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite , Arise , go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria , and say unto them , Is it not because there is not a God in Israel , that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron ? * Now therefore thus saith the LORD , Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up , but shalt surely die . And Elijah departed . * And when the messengers turned back unto him , he said unto them , Why are ye now turned back ? * And they said unto him , There came a man up to meet us , and said unto us , Go , turn again unto the king that sent you , and say unto him , Thus saith the LORD , Is it not because there is not a God in Israel , that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron ? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up , but shalt surely die . * And he said unto them , What manner of man was he which came up to meet you , and told you these words ? * And they answered him , He was an hairy man , and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins . And he said , It is Elijah the Tishbite . * Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty . And he went up to him : and , behold , he sat on the top of an hill . And he spake unto him , Thou man of God , the king hath said , Come down . * And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty , If I be a man of God , then let fire come down from heaven , and consume thee and thy fifty . And there came down fire from heaven , and consumed him and his fifty . * Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty . And he answered and said unto him , O man of God , thus hath the king said , Come down quickly . * And Elijah answered and said unto them , If I be a man of God , let fire come down from heaven , and consume thee and thy fifty . And the fire of God came down from heaven , and consumed him and his fifty . * And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty . And the third captain of fifty went up , and came and fell on his knees before Elijah , and besought him , and said unto him , O man of God , I pray thee , let my life , and the life of these fifty thy servants , be precious in thy sight . * Behold , there came fire down from heaven , and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties : therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight . * And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah , Go down with him : be not afraid of him . And he arose , and went down with him unto the king . * And he said unto him , Thus saith the LORD , Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron , is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word ? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up , but shalt surely die . * So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken . And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah ; because he had no son . * Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? * And it came to pass , when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind , that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal . * And Elijah said unto Elisha , Tarry here , I pray thee ; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel . And Elisha said unto him , As the LORD liveth , and as thy soul liveth , I will not leave thee . So they went down to Bethel . * And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha , and said unto him , Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day ? And he said , Yea , I know it ; hold ye your peace . * And Elijah said unto him , Elisha , tarry here , I pray thee ; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho . And he said , As the LORD liveth , and as thy soul liveth , I will not leave thee . So they came to Jericho . * And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha , and said unto him , Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day ? And he answered , Yea , I know it ; hold ye your peace . * And Elijah said unto him , Tarry , I pray thee , here ; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan . And he said , As the LORD liveth , and as thy soul liveth , I will not leave thee . And they two went on . * And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went , and stood to view afar off : and they two stood by Jordan . * And Elijah took his mantle , and wrapped it together , and smote the waters , and they were divided hither and thither , so that they two went over on dry ground . * And it came to pass , when they were gone over , that Elijah said unto Elisha , Ask what I shall do for thee , before I be taken away from thee . And Elisha said , I pray thee , let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me . * And he said , Thou hast asked a hard thing : nevertheless , if thou see me when I am taken from thee , it shall be so unto thee ; but if not , it shall not be so . * And it came to pass , as they still went on , and talked , that , behold , there appeared a chariot of fire , and horses of fire , and parted them both asunder ; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven . * And Elisha saw it , and he cried , My father , my father , the chariot of Israel , and the horsemen thereof . And he saw him no more : and he took hold of his own clothes , and rent them in two pieces . * He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him , and went back , and stood by the bank of Jordan ; * And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him , and smote the waters , and said , Where is the LORD God of Elijah ? and when he also had smitten the waters , they parted hither and thither : and Elisha went over . * And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him , they said , The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha . And they came to meet him , and bowed themselves to the ground before him . * And they said unto him , Behold now , there be with thy servants fifty strong men ; let them go , we pray thee , and seek thy master : lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up , and cast him upon some mountain , or into some valley . And he said , Ye shall not send . * And when they urged him till he was ashamed , he said , Send . They sent therefore fifty men ; and they sought three days , but found him not . * And when they came again to him , (for he tarried at Jericho ,) he said unto them , Did I not say unto you , Go not ? * And the men of the city said unto Elisha , Behold , I pray thee , the situation of this city is pleasant , as my lord seeth : but the water is naught , and the ground barren . * And he said , Bring me a new cruse , and put salt therein . And they brought it to him . * And he went forth unto the spring of the waters , and cast the salt in there , and said , Thus saith the LORD , I have healed these waters ; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land . * So the waters were healed unto this day , according to the saying of Elisha which he spake . * And he went up from thence unto Bethel : and as he was going up by the way , there came forth little children out of the city , and mocked him , and said unto him , Go up , thou bald head ; go up , thou bald head . * And he turned back , and looked on them , and cursed them in the name of the LORD . And there came forth two she bears out of the wood , and tare forty and two children of them . * And he went from thence to mount Carmel , and from thence he returned to Samaria . * 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 . * 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 . * Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , which made Israel to sin ; he departed not therefrom . * And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster , and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs , and an hundred thousand rams , with the wool . * But it came to pass , when Ahab was dead , that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel . * And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time , and numbered all Israel . * And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah , saying , The king of Moab hath rebelled against me : wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle ? And he said , I will go up : I am as thou art , my people as thy people , and my horses as thy horses . * And he said , Which way shall we go up ? And he answered , The way through the wilderness of Edom . * So the king of Israel went , and the king of Judah , and the king of Edom : and they fetched a compass of seven days ' journey : and there was no water for the host , and for the cattle that followed them . * And the king of Israel said , Alas ! that the LORD hath called these three kings together , to deliver them into the hand of Moab ! * But Jehoshaphat said , Is there not here a prophet of the LORD , that we may enquire of the LORD by him ? And one of the king of Israel 's servants answered and said , Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat , which poured water on the hands of Elijah . * And Jehoshaphat said , The word of the LORD is with him . So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him . * And Elisha said unto the king of Israel , What have I to do with thee ? get thee to the prophets of thy father , and to the prophets of thy mother . And the king of Israel said unto him , Nay : for the LORD hath called these three kings together , to deliver them into the hand of Moab . * And Elisha said , As the LORD of hosts liveth , before whom I stand , surely , were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah , I would not look toward thee , nor see thee . * But now bring me a minstrel . And it came to pass , when the minstrel played , that the hand of the LORD came upon him . * And he said , Thus saith the LORD , Make this valley full of ditches . * For thus saith the LORD , Ye shall not see wind , neither shall ye see rain ; yet that valley shall be filled with water , that ye may drink , both ye , and your cattle , and your beasts . * And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD : he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand . * And ye shall smite every fenced city , and every choice city , and shall fell every good tree , and stop all wells of water , and mar every good piece of land with stones . * And it came to pass in the morning , when the meat offering was offered , that , behold , there came water by the way of Edom , and the country was filled with water . * And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them , they gathered all that were able to put on armour , and upward , and stood in the border . * And they rose up early in the morning , and the sun shone upon the water , and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood : * And they said , This is blood : the kings are surely slain , and they have smitten one another : now therefore , Moab , to the spoil . * And when they came to the camp of Israel , the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites , so that they fled before them : but they went forward smiting the Moabites , even in their country . * And they beat down the cities , and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone , and filled it ; and they stopped all the wells of water , and felled all the good trees : only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof ; howbeit the slingers went about it , and smote it . * And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him , he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords , to break through even unto the king of Edom : but they could not . * Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead , and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall . And there was great indignation against Israel : and they departed from him , and returned to their own land . * Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha , saying , Thy servant my husband is dead ; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD : and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen . * And Elisha said unto her , What shall I do for thee ? tell me , what hast thou in the house ? And she said , Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house , save a pot of oil . * Then he said , Go , borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours , even empty vessels ; borrow not a few . * And when thou art come in , thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons , and shalt pour out into all those vessels , and thou shalt set aside that which is full . * So she went from him , and shut the door upon her and upon her sons , who brought the vessels to her ; and she poured out . * And it came to pass , when the vessels were full , that she said unto her son , Bring me yet a vessel . And he said unto her , There is not a vessel more . And the oil stayed . * Then she came and told the man of God . And he said , Go , sell the oil , and pay thy debt , and live thou and thy children of the rest . * And it fell on a day , that Elisha passed to Shunem , where was a great woman ; and she constrained him to eat bread . And so it was , that as oft as he passed by , he turned in thither to eat bread . * And she said unto her husband , Behold now , I perceive that this is an holy man of God , which passeth by us continually . * Let us make a little chamber , I pray thee , on the wall ; and let us set for him there a bed , and a table , and a stool , and a candlestick : and it shall be , when he cometh to us , that he shall turn in thither . * And it fell on a day , that he came thither , and he turned into the chamber , and lay there . * And he said to Gehazi his servant , Call this Shunammite . And when he had called her , she stood before him . * And he said unto him , Say now unto her , Behold , thou hast been careful for us with all this care ; what is to be done for thee ? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king , or to the captain of the host ? And she answered , I dwell among mine own people . * And he said , What then is to be done for her ? And Gehazi answered , Verily she hath no child , and her husband is old . * And he said , Call her . And when he had called her , she stood in the door . * And he said , About this season , according to the time of life , thou shalt embrace a son . And she said , Nay , my lord , thou man of God , do not lie unto thine handmaid . * And the woman conceived , and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her , according to the time of life . * And when the child was grown , it fell on a day , that he went out to his father to the reapers . * And he said unto his father , My head , my head . And he said to a lad , Carry him to his mother . * And when he had taken him , and brought him to his mother , he sat on her knees till noon , and then died . * And she went up , and laid him on the bed of the man of God , and shut the door upon him , and went out . * And she called unto her husband , and said , Send me , I pray thee , one of the young men , and one of the asses , that I may run to the man of God , and come again . * And he said , Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day ? it is neither new moon , nor sabbath . And she said , It shall be well . * Then she saddled an ass , and said to her servant , Drive , and go forward ; slack not thy riding for me , except I bid thee . * So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel . And it came to pass , when the man of God saw her afar off , that he said to Gehazi his servant , Behold , yonder is that Shunammite : * Run now , I pray thee , to meet her , and say unto her , Is it well with thee ? is it well with thy husband ? is it well with the child ? And she answered , It is well . * And when she came to the man of God to the hill , she caught him by the feet : but Gehazi came near to thrust her away . And the man of God said , Let her alone ; for her soul is vexed within her : and the LORD hath hid it from me , and hath not told me . * Then she said , Did I desire a son of my lord ? did I not say , Do not deceive me ? * Then he said to Gehazi , Gird up thy loins , and take my staff in thine hand , and go thy way : if thou meet any man , salute him not ; and if any salute thee , answer him not again : and lay my staff upon the face of the child . * And the mother of the child said , As the LORD liveth , and as thy soul liveth , I will not leave thee . And he arose , and followed her . * And Gehazi passed on before them , and laid the staff upon the face of the child ; but there was neither voice , nor hearing . Wherefore he went again to meet him , and told him , saying , The child is not awaked . * And when Elisha was come into the house , behold , the child was dead , and laid upon his bed . * He went in therefore , and shut the door upon them twain , and prayed unto the LORD . * And he went up , and lay upon the child , and put his mouth upon his mouth , and his eyes upon his eyes , and his hands upon his hands : and he stretched himself upon the child ; and the flesh of the child waxed warm . * Then he returned , and walked in the house to and fro ; and went up , and stretched himself upon him : and the child sneezed seven times , and the child opened his eyes . * And he called Gehazi , and said , Call this Shunammite . So he called her . And when she was come in unto him , he said , Take up thy son . * Then she went in , and fell at his feet , and bowed herself to the ground , and took up her son , and went out . * And Elisha came again to Gilgal : and there was a dearth in the land ; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him : and he said unto his servant , Set on the great pot , and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets . * And one went out into the field to gather herbs , and found a wild vine , and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full , and came and shred them into the pot of pottage : for they knew them not . * So they poured out for the men to eat . And it came to pass , as they were eating of the pottage , that they cried out , and said , O thou man of God , there is death in the pot . And they could not eat thereof . * But he said , Then bring meal . And he cast it into the pot ; and he said , Pour out for the people , that they may eat . And there was no harm in the pot . * And there came a man from Baalshalisha , and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits , twenty loaves of barley , and full ears of corn in the husk thereof . And he said , Give unto the people , that they may eat . * And his servitor said , What , should I set this before an hundred men ? He said again , Give the people , that they may eat : for thus saith the LORD , They shall eat , and shall leave thereof . * So he set it before them , and they did eat , and left thereof , according to the word of the LORD . * Now Naaman , captain of the host of the king of Syria , was a great man with his master , and honourable , because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria : he was also a mighty man in valour , but he was a leper .

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