The Bible Book

DIRECTORY 335

ELISHA’S MIRACLES

2 Kings 4:1–7, 38–44; 6:1–7

The Prophet Elisha exemplifies the

divine principles of compassion

and charity in four simple yet

miraculous acts of kindness.

First, a widow who owes money

to her dead husband’s associate

asks Elisha for help. He tells her

to pour her valuable oil into as

many containers as she has. As she

pours the oil, she realizes that its

quantity has increased vastly, and

she sells it to pay off the debt.

Second, a servant unwittingly

poisons a large stew with deadly

berries. Using flour, Elisha removes

the poison. In another miracle,

there are only 20 loaves of bread

to feed 100 men but when Elisha

hands it out, there is plenty to go

around, with some to spare. Last,

cutting a beam, a man drops his

axe head in the river. Elisha throws

a stick, which brings the axe head

to the surface, so that the building

work can continue.

See also: The Raising of Lazarus

226–27 ■ Feeding the 5,000 228–31

ELISHA AND THE

CHILDLESS COUPLE

2 Kings 4:8–37

In repayment for bread and lodging

offered freely by an elderly, childless

couple in Shunem, Elisha promises

they will have a baby within the

year. This comes true and they

have a son. However, when the

child is a few years old, he dies.

The woman lays him on the bed

that the prophet used, before going

to tell him of the reason for her

grief. Consoling her, Elisha agrees

to help the child. He goes to the

woman’s house and shuts himself

in the room with the child, who

is miraculously restored to life.

By giving Elisha power to bring

the dead back to life, God shows

that through Him, all things

are possible.

See also: The Prophet Samuel

110 –15 ■ The Raising of Lazarus

226–27 ■ The Empty Tomb 268–71

ELISHA’S SKIN CURE

2 Kings 5:1–14

Naaman, commander of the Syrian

army, is advised by an Israelite

girl captive to seek a cure for his

leprosy from Elisha. The prophet

tells him to wash seven times in

the River Jordan. Believing the

Jordan to be an unworthy river,

Naaman at first refuses, but then

relents and washes himself. His

body becomes as unblemished

as a child’s, showing that even if

temporarily obstructed by pride,

faith results in great transformation.

See also: Baptism of Jesus 194–97

■ The Raising of Lazarus 226–27 ■

The Healing of the Beggar 284–87

ELISHA’S TEARS FOR

A KING

2 Kings 8:7–15

In Damascus, Ben-Hadad II, King

of Syria, is sick, so he sends his

servant Hazael to ask Elijah if he

will ever recover. In tears, the

prophet tells Hazael that not only

will the king die, but Hazael will

replace him and commit terrible

crimes against the children of

Israel. The following day Hazael

suffocates the king and seizes the

throne. Later, following the death

of Hazael, he is succeeded by his

son, Ben-Hadad III.

See also: The Prophet Jeremiah

156 –59 ■ Herod’s Infanticide 187

God relents and says he would not

bring down these curses on Ahab

and his family until after his death.

In this way, while the deception

and greed of Ahab and Jezebel

bring dire consequences for his

descendants, they allow for God to

display His justness and mercy.

See also: A Prophet Hiding 124 ■

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal 125

SOLOMON BECOMES KING

1 Kings 1:28–53

In poor health in his old age, King

David needs to name a successor.

Adonijah, his oldest son, proclaims

himself king. Solomon, his younger

son, is supported by his mother

Bathsheba, the priest Zadok,

Nathan the prophet, and the army

chief Benaiah. David has Solomon

crowned, and after David’s death

Solomon consolidates power by

executing Adonijah.

See also: David and Bathsheba

118–19 ■ The Wisdom of Solomon

120–23 ■ Proverbs 148–51

JEROBOAM AND REHOBOAM

1 Kings 12–2 Kings 25

As predicted by the prophet Ahijah,

Solomon turns away from God.

Consequently, when he dies, God

gives the lands in the north to

Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s

officials, and 10 tribes of Israel,

while Judah and Benjamin in

the south fall to Solomon’s son

Rehoboam. Rehoboam imposes

harsh working conditions on his

people, and many flee north to join

Jeroboam. Rehoboam’s attempts

to reunite the country fail.

See also: The Wisdom of

Solomon 120–23 ■ The Prophet

Jeremiah 156 –59

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