2 Kings 8 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter concludes the section of the book that describes the miracles and prophecies of Elisha. It then describes the reign of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, as king of Judah, and it begins to describe the reign of Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, as king of Judah. 1. The woman whose son Elisha raised from the dead returns to Israel just as Gehazi is telling the king about her (1–6) 2. Elisha prophesies that Hazael will become the king of Aram (7–15) 3. King Jehoram of Judah (16–24) 4. King Ahaziah of Judah (25–29)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Did Elisha tell Hazael to say something that he knew was not true?

In 8:10, after King Ben Hadad of Aram sends his officer Hazael to ask Elisha whether he will recover from his illness, Elisha tells Hazael, “Go, say to him, ‘Reviving, you will revive.’” But Elisha then adds, “But Yahweh has made me see that dying, he will die.” This was not a contradiction. Elisha was not telling Hazael to lie. Yahweh revealed to Elisha that Ben Hadad’s illness was not fatal, and he would have recovered from it. However, Yahweh also revealed to Elisha that Ben Hadad was going to die of a different cause. Hazael was going to murder him in order to become king himself, as the author describes in 8:15. Elisha was subtly confronting Hazael about his ambitious, murderous character, which Elisha already sensed, and of which he then got a fuller vision after looking into Hazael’s face (8:11–12).

Who became king first, Jehoram (Joram) of Israel or Jehoram of Judah?

The author says in 1:17 that Jehoram became king of Israel in the second year of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. But he says in 8:16 says that Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, became king of Judah in the fifth year of Joram (Jehoram), the son of Ahab, the king of Israel. This makes it seem as if each one was already king before the other became king, which is impossible. The explanation is that Jehoshaphat made his son Jehoram his co-regent seven years before he died. The author indicates in 3:1 that this was in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign. After Jehoram had ruled Judah with his father for two years, Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel. After Jehoram had ruled Israel for five years, Jehoshaphat died and his son Jehoram became the sole king of Judah.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

The names Jehoram and Joram

The author calls the son of Ahab who succeeded him as king of Israel by the name Joram in verses 16, 25, 28, and 29 of this chapter, but in 1:17, 3:1, and 3:6 he calls him Jehoram.Similarly, the author calls the son of Jehoshaphat who succeeded him as king of Judah by the name Joram in verses 21, 23, and 24, but he calls him Jehoram in verses 16, 25, and 29.The name Joram is a shortened form of Jehoram. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use each king’s full name in every instance. Alternatively, you could use the same form of the name that the author uses in each place. Decide as a team what approach you will take.