Melachim II Perek 8

Melachim II Perek 8-
Sefer Melachim II is taught by Adele Chabot, Judaic Studies teacher at Barkai Yeshiva; Author of “The Best Secret Revealed”.

A summary by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz of the Orthodox Union:

Before the famine of the previous chapter, Elisha told the Shunnamite woman (see chapter 4) that it was coming and that her family should relocate. They went and lived in the land of the Philistines for a few years. When they returned, they found squatters living on their land, who wouldn’t move. The Shunnamite woman went to the king so he would force the squatters to vacate. Gehazi was telling King Yehoram about his adventures with Elisha, including how Elisha revived the dead boy. In walked the Shunnamite woman and Gehazi said, “Speak of the devil! This is the mother of the boy I was just telling you about!” The king questioned the woman, who corroborated Gehazi’s stories, then the king ordered her property returned to her. Meanwhile, Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, had become ill and Elisha went to visit him. The king sent his servant Hazael to Elisha with forty camels, laden with gifts. Hazael was to ask Elisha if Ben-Hadad would recover from this illness. Elisha told Hazael, “Tell him yes, but he will indeed die.” Elisha started crying and Hazael asked why. Elisha replied, “I can see the evil you will wreak on Israel.” “Me?” asked Hazael, “What can I do?” Elisha replied, “G-d has shown me you as king of Aram.”

Hazael returned to Ben-Hadad, who asked what Elisha had said. “He told me you’ll recover,” said Hazael. The next day, Hazael smothered Ben-Hadad in his bed and became king.

In the fifth year of the reign of Ahab’s son Yehoram as king of Israel, Yehoshafat’s son, also named Yehoram, became king of Judah. The kings of Israel were generally a pretty rotten bunch, but the kings of Judah were usually okay. Yehoram of Judah was an exception. He married Ahab’s daughter who was the same kind of influence on him as Izebel had been on Ahab (i.e., not a good one). Yehoram of Judah reigned for eight years. During that time, Edom, which had been a vassal state, rebelled and appointed a king over themselves. Yehoram of Judah went to fight, but they were unable to re-conquer Edom.

Yehoram of Judah died and was succeeded by his son Ahaziyah. (This is our second Ahaziyah; the first was king of Israel before the other Yehoram.) Ahaziyah’s mother was Atalya, granddaughter of Omri (Ahab’s father). We don’t normally tell you about the mothers of the kings, but Atalya will be important to us in chapter 11. Like his father, Ahaziyah was an evil king, comparable to the family of Ahab, to whom they were related by marriage.

Ahaziyah (of Judah) and Yehoram (of Israel) went to war against Hazael, king of Aram. Yehoram was wounded and was sent to recuperate. Ahaziyah went to visit Yehoram. This sets the stage for what happens in the next chapter.

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